Storming the Yunlan Sect!

After taking Yao Chen as his master, Xiao Yan began cultivating diligently under his guidance.

With Yao Chen around, along with the backing of a powerful uncle who was also an alchemist, Xiao Yan was not worried about the coming-of-age assessment a year from now. After all, his talent had returned. Reaching the seventh stage of Dou Qi was not impossible.

Even taking the worst-case scenario, if he failed the assessment in the end, Xiao Yan did not believe those old fogeys in the family would truly dare to exile him. The most likely outcome was that they would arrange for a clansman at the seventh stage of Dou Qi to lose to him.

Still, Xiao Yan hoped to pass the coming-of-age assessment through his own efforts.

Xiao Yan greatly agreed with what Nalan Yanran had said during the day. Only strength was truly one's own foundation!

He, Xiao Yan, would show the Xiao Family that even without his uncle backing him, he could still earn their respect!

Meanwhile, after leaving the Xiao Family, Yang Chen headed straight for Cloud Mist Mountain.

Yunlan Sect, Cloud Mist Mountain.

On this day, a gentle breeze blew as layers upon layers of white clouds wrapped around the towering mountain. The drifting clouds and mountain mist gave this famed mountain of the Jia Ma Empire an ethereal, otherworldly aura.

At the mountain peak, countless Yunlan Sect disciples stood upon the enormous jade plaza. Today was the sect's monthly minor examination, and Sect Leader Yun Yun had personally led the Yunlan Sect's elders to observe the assessment.

"Whoosh!!"

Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind, faintly mingled with the rumble of thunder, resounded throughout Cloud Mist Mountain, instantly alarming all the Yunlan Sect's experts.

Yun Yun, whose graceful figure was outlined by a plain, close-fitting gown, looked up at the sky with a slight frown. To her left stood a rather handsome middle-aged man, while on her other side stood an old man with a gloomy gaze.

They were Gu He, an elder of the Yunlan Sect, and Yun Leng, the Grand Elder!

Before Yun Yun could speak, Yun Leng stepped forward and shouted coldly.

"What petty wretch dares trespass upon my Yunlan Sect? You truly do not know how the word 'death' is written!"

High in the sky, Yang Chen stood atop the clouds, his expression darkening. The next moment, his black robe was covered by silver armor, while a black cloak hung down over the sea of clouds.

With a flash of light, the folding fan in his hand instantly transformed into a chilling silver three-pointed, double-edged spear. In the next instant, Yang Chen leaped down from the sky.

"Rumble!!"

The thunder that had previously been barely audible within the wind now echoed beside everyone's ears. Amid that mighty thunder came a voice even more imposing than the heavenly lightning itself.

"Hmph! Then let me see how that word 'death' is written!"

The completely undisguised aura of a Dou King caused many faces to change. Even Yun Leng looked awkward for an instant.

A Dou King was already a powerhouse of one side. Even a force as powerful as the Yunlan Sect had to show such a person some respect. If someone had mistakenly entered the Yunlan Sect, at most they would make him apologize; they would not go so far as to insult him with words.

But Yun Leng was proud of his status. How could he possibly lower his head and admit fault? Besides, this was Cloud Mist Mountain, and Yun Leng had nothing to fear. Seeing that the other party not only refused to apologize but even wanted him, the Yunlan Sect's dignified Grand Elder, to bow his head, he found it utterly intolerable.

Before Yun Yun could stop him, Yun Leng had already replied coldly.

"What sort of rat are you? Do you dare reveal yourself?"

"Boom!!"

The moment Yun Leng finished speaking, a dazzling silver light descended from the clouds and crashed fiercely into the jade plaza, kicking up billowing dust. At the same time, the sweeping force directly knocked every Yunlan Sect disciple to the ground.

Yun Yun's brows furrowed slightly. Seeing that the sect disciples were not injured, merely left in a sorry state, she said nothing. After all, Yun Leng had insulted the man first; it was understandable that the other party was angry.

But Yun Leng did not see it that way. In his eyes, putting aside his own mistake, the other party's crimes were simply unforgivable.

Not only had he trespassed into the Yunlan Sect, he had also scorned its dignity. Now he was acting so arrogantly, trying to use the Yunlan Sect to establish his prestige. This fiend deserved death a thousand times over.

"Hmph, so arrogant! Once this elder captures you, I will make you kneel to death at the foot of Cloud Mist Mountain!"

Yun Leng shouted furiously and raised a hand. A sharp sword appeared in his grasp, and he charged straight into the dust, attacking Yang Chen directly.

Yun Leng's sudden attack instantly changed Yun Yun's expression. Once she came to her senses, she hurriedly shouted.

"Both of you, stop!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Yun Yun followed after him, intending to make the two stop before Yun Leng and that mysterious Dou King truly came to blows.

A faint radiance covered Yang Chen's eyes, allowing him to see Yun Leng's movements clearly. When Yun Leng slashed at him with his sword, Yang Chen merely raised his three-pointed, double-edged spear with a casual flick, parrying Yun Leng's furious strike.

Yun Leng was startled when his attack was so easily blocked. Then his expression changed, because an incomparably powerful force surged through his sword, forcing him to suppress it with all his strength just to steady the strange spear.

With only a fraction of his strength, Yang Chen had already forced Yun Leng into a stalemate. Then Yang Chen suddenly exerted force with his wrist, instantly overwhelming Yun Leng's strength. His three-pointed, double-edged spear spun together with the sword in Yun Leng's hand.

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, Yang Chen clenched his grip. The three-pointed, double-edged spear immediately came to a halt, its trembling shaft letting out a hum as Yun Leng's sword was flung away. Then Yang Chen thrust out his hand, and the spear shaft slammed directly into Yun Leng, sending him flying.

"Pfft!!"

Before he had even fallen from the air, Yun Leng spat out a mouthful of blood.

Outside the dust cloud, the Yunlan Sect members watched as Grand Elder Yun Leng and Sect Leader Yun Yun rushed in one after the other. Yet in the blink of an eye, Grand Elder Yun Leng flew out of the dust. While still in midair, he was already coughing up blood.

"Thud!"

Under the gazes of countless Yunlan Sect disciples, Yun Leng crashed heavily onto the ground with a dull sound. Before he could regain his senses, a crisp, sharp sound rang beside his ear.

"Sshk!"

Yun Leng turned his head, and his pupils immediately contracted as terror welled up within him.

His sword had pierced straight into the jade right beside his head. If it had landed two inches closer, or if he had fallen even slightly to one side, he would already be dead.

The thought sent a chill through Yun Leng's heart. Had the Sect Leader not acted in time and drawn that man's attention, he, the Grand Elder, would likely already be dead.

And after the fear receded, humiliation and hatred began to consume Yun Leng's heart.