Strangers

Jia Ma Holy City, deep within the imperial palace, inside a vast, secluded pool.

Jia Xingtian, clad in coarse hemp robes, was using his Dou Qi to help the Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast sort out the chaotic energy within its body and stabilize its internal injuries, preventing its strength from declining.

Splash!!

All of a sudden, the Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast, which had been quietly resting moments ago, shot out of the pool as though it had been provoked. Its face was filled with terror as it stared toward the eastern Tagore Desert.

The next moment, Jia Xingtian, who had still been puzzled, sensed something as well and abruptly turned his head. Vaguely, he felt an incomparably powerful and domineering aura spreading from the distant Tagore Desert, causing his expression to turn grave.

"That direction is the Tagore Desert. Could Medusa Queen have broken through?"

"That should be impossible. Breaking through to Dou Zong would not cause such a huge disturbance. This seems more like the arrival of some rare treasure."

The Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast spoke in a deep, muffled voice tinged with weakness and exhaustion. In its early years, it had fought across the land for the Jia Ma Royal Family and accumulated far too many injuries. By now, they had become deeply entrenched and difficult to heal.

"A rare treasure appearing? The Tagore Desert is the territory of the snake people. Even if a rare treasure has descended, it will likely fall into the snake people's hands first. Forget it, we won't get involved in this."

After pondering briefly, Jia Xingtian gently shook his head. If the Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast had been at its peak, he might have tried to fight for it. But now, caution had to come first. He could not afford any mishap, or the Jia Ma Royal Family might be in danger.

"For now, the most urgent matter is gathering all the medicinal ingredients and seeing whether we can invite that person from the Yang Clan to act and heal the injuries in your body."

"The Yang Clan?"

A strange look flashed through the Deep Sea Flood Dragon Beast's enormous eyes. It remembered that it seemed to know a young man surnamed Yang, and it even owed that little bastard its life. However, that had been twenty or thirty years ago.

Cloud Mist Mountain, within the sect's main hall.

Yun Yun strode over and took her seat on the sect leader's throne. Her calm gaze swept across the Yunlan Sect elders. After pausing briefly on Gu He, she moved her disappointed gaze away under his hopeful stare and finally settled on Yun Leng as she spoke softly.

"Elder Yun Leng, why exactly did you convene this elders' assembly? Everyone is here now, so you should be able to say it."

Hearing the indifference in Yun Yun's tone, Yun Leng did not care in the slightest. His expression was even filled with pride. He now held great power in his hands. Though he was not the Yunlan Sect leader, most of the sect's authority was, in practice, in his grasp.

Of course, Yun Leng had not dared to go too far. He had distributed Yun Yun's and Nalan Yanran's shares of cultivation resources according to their allotted amounts. After all, the Yunlan Sect still needed Yun Yun, a Dou Huang, to maintain appearances. Otherwise, the army stationed at the foot of the mountain might have charged up long ago.

"Sect Leader Yun Yun, you must have sensed that aura from earlier with your strength, correct?"

Yun Leng smiled faintly. There was no longer any of his former respect in the way he spoke to Yun Yun, and his gaze shifted toward Gu He, who sat opposite him.

Before this, Yun Leng had already spoken with Gu He. The reason he had suddenly convened this elders' assembly was to make Gu He give up completely and stand wholly on their side.

At that point, Yun Leng would truly hold absolute authority. With Gu He's help, he might even be able to break through to Dou Huang and sit upon the sect leader's throne himself.

"Indeed, I sensed it. However, the aura came from the depths of the Tagore Desert, Medusa Queen's territory."

Yun Yun said nothing else, merely stated a few facts. Yet this indifferent attitude undoubtedly made her stance clear: she did not wish to interfere in this matter.

Ever since she had secretly taken Nalan Yanran down the mountain to meet Yang Chen, Yun Yun had noticed that the entire Yunlan Sect had become increasingly distant toward the two of them. Vaguely, it seemed they had already erased master and disciple alike from the ranks of the Yunlan Sect.

Though Yun Yun felt saddened by this, she did not explain herself. Some matters could not be made clear, especially since the Yunlan Sect had already embarked on the wrong path. All she could do was protect the sect her teacher had left behind to the best of her ability.

It was also because of the gossip within the sect that Yun Yun had spent nearly all her time these days in secluded cultivation with Nalan Yanran. Had Yun Leng not summoned her today, Yun Yun would not have stepped outside at all.

"What the sect leader says is correct. That is indeed snake people territory, but precisely because of that, Sect Leader Yun Yun must make a trip there on behalf of our Yunlan Sect."

After hearing Yun Leng's words, Yun Yun's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She looked at him in confusion but did not respond, merely watching him perform in silence.

Seeing that Yun Yun had not immediately refused, Yun Leng smiled slightly. Rather than explaining himself, he smiled and looked toward Gu He. A trace of amusement flashed through his gloomy eyes.

"Let Elder Gu He explain. As a sixth-tier alchemist, he is well-informed."

"Sect Leader, you also know that the fluctuation came from deep within the Tagore Desert. Based on the aura I sensed, it was violent and domineering. If my guess is correct, it is very likely the legendary Heavenly Flame!"

Gu He spoke with some excitement. The environment there had always met the conditions for a Heavenly Flame to be born, and now such an unusual phenomenon had appeared. It was only natural that Gu He would immediately think of a Heavenly Flame.

"Heavenly Flame?"

Yun Yun's brows furrowed even deeper. She knew just how tempting that thing was to alchemists. If even Gu He was so moved, then that person, no matter how composed he was, would likely be unable to sit still.

Not long ago, that person had set aside past grievances. Not only had he forgiven Yanran and her, he had even passed down such a precious cultivation technique to her. How could she now compete with him for it?

"That's right. It is highly possible that a Heavenly Flame has appeared there. Yun Yun, as long as you help me obtain it, I will definitely surpass that person. Then I can help the Yunlan Sect wash away its humiliation. If you apologize again, the misunderstanding between you two will be resolved."

Gu He's tone became even more excited. Seeing Yun Yun's tightly furrowed brows, he thought she was considering how to travel to the Tagore Desert and seize the Heavenly Flame.

Yun Yun's expression changed slightly at his words, and the way she looked at Gu He became cold and detached, as though she were looking at a stranger. She merely snorted softly.

"There is no need. I still need to enter seclusion and consolidate my cultivation. I have no time for such idle matters. Elder Gu He, please seek someone else."

With that, Yun Yun flicked her sleeve and left the sect's main hall directly, leaving Gu He standing there blankly in a daze.

Yun Leng watched Yun Yun's departing figure and sneered. Then he walked to Gu He's side, patted his shoulder, and said, "Elder Gu He, I told you already. If you wish to win the beauty's heart, you must give me your full support. If you and I cooperate, both the Heavenly Flame and the beauty will be yours."

"Fine!"

After pondering for a while, a fierce glint flashed across Gu He's gentle, refined face. He nodded heavily.