Battle Through the Heavens: Rise Begins at Jia Nan Academy, Part 39

Jia Xing Tian waved to Yao Ye, rose to his feet, and slowly walked out of the hall.

He needed to properly study the earth-tier cultivation method Qin Chen had given him.

The imperial family had nurtured talents for many years, yet had never managed to produce a Dou Emperor.

Looking across the entire imperial family, its only two Dou Emperor-level combatants were Jia Xing Tian and the Nether Sea Flood Dragon. If Jia Xing Tian were to perish, the imperial family would inevitably suffer a devastating blow.

But if Jia Xing Tian could break through to Dou Zong, then every problem would be easily resolved.

Reunion with Yun Yun

Mite'er Family headquarters.

After Jia Xing Tian and Yao Ye left, Qin Chen went to find Hai Bodong, who had yet to begin his secluded cultivation.

Seeing the confusion on Hai Bodong's face, Qin Chen smiled softly. Then, with a flip of his hand, a green jade token appeared in his palm.

It was the Misty Cloud Sect token Yun Yun had given him when they parted ways in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

He looked at Hai Bodong and said, "Old Hai, please send someone trustworthy to deliver this token to the Misty Cloud Sect. In the name of a trade, invite Sect Leader Yun Yun here to meet me."

Protector Wu was most likely still in the Misty Cloud Sect. If Qin Chen went there personally, it would be far too dangerous.

There were less than two months left before the Three-Year Agreement. He had to make preparations in advance and absolutely could not let Protector Wu escape!

"Yun Yun?"

Upon hearing this, Hai Bodong frowned tightly and stared at the token in confusion.

He knew Qin Chen was not from the Jia Ma Empire, so how had he become involved with Yun Yun, that aloof Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect?

Moreover, judging from the terms of Qin Chen's deal with him, this trip to the Misty Cloud Sect was likely to involve danger, perhaps even a battle.

But now, why was he inviting their sect leader here?

What exactly was this brat trying to do?

Qin Chen chuckled. "Didn't I tell you? In two months, we'll be taking a trip to the Misty Cloud Sect. For now, let's call their sect leader over and discuss our strategy."

"The matter is too complicated for me to explain right now. You'll naturally understand when the time comes."

Though Hai Bodong was puzzled, he still nodded. "All right. I'll handle it now."

Misty Cloud Sect, within the sect leader's private cultivation chamber.

Yun Yun, dressed in a snowy white cloud-patterned robe, sat cross-legged on the couch, her long dark hair cascading down like a waterfall.

From afar, she resembled a pristine white lotus—cool and elegant, radiating a flawless glow that made others dare not harbor the slightest disrespectful thought.

Gently stroking the slightly rough, oversized robe in her hands, Yun Yun murmured, "It's been almost a year since we parted. I wonder how that little fellow is doing now..."

Knock, knock!

Just then, a faint knocking sound suddenly came from the stone door nearby.

Yun Yun's heart jolted. She hurriedly put away the black robe in her hands, then said calmly, "Come in."

The stone door opened, and a maid carrying an exquisite jade box slowly entered the cultivation chamber.

Arriving before Yun Yun, the maid first bowed. "Sect Leader!"

"What is it?" Yun Yun asked expressionlessly.

"Elder Hai Bodong of the Mite'er Family sent someone to deliver this. He said he wishes to invite you to their headquarters to discuss a trade."

As she spoke, the maid handed the jade box to Yun Yun.

Yun Yun frowned slightly and immediately accepted the jade box, opening it.

The instant she saw the item inside, her heart trembled.

Wasn't this the token she had given that little bastard? What had happened to him? How had he gotten involved with the Mite'er Family?

Though countless thoughts flashed through her mind, Yun Yun remained calm on the surface. "You may leave first."

"Yes." The maid cupped her hands in salute and slowly withdrew.

Yun Yun let out a soft breath and forced herself to calm down.

Based on what she knew of Qin Chen, that little fellow did not seem like someone who had encountered danger.

He must have done this deliberately to conceal his identity, unwilling to let others know who he truly was, just as he had done in the Snake-People Holy City.

With that thought, Yun Yun rose to her feet and quickly left the cultivation chamber. She then tapped the ground with the tip of her foot, shot into the sky, and sped toward the imperial capital.

The moment she arrived above the Mite'er Family, Yun Yun spotted Hai Bodong, who had been waiting for some time.

Seeing her, the green wings behind her back flapped, and in the blink of an eye, she arrived before Hai Bodong.

"Old Mister Hai, may I ask why you invited me here?" Yun Yun asked calmly, her red lips parting slightly.

Hai Bodong immediately cupped his hands and smiled. "It's like this, Sect Leader Yun Yun. A young friend wishes to see you. Please follow me."

After saying that, Hai Bodong turned and entered through the gates of the Mite'er Family. Yun Yun followed after him.

Before long, the two arrived outside a neat and elegant courtyard.

"He is inside. Please go in, Sect Leader Yun Yun." With that, Hai Bodong did not linger and turned to leave.

After giving the courtyard a brief glance, Yun Yun pushed the door open without hesitation.

"Ah..."

The moment she stepped inside, a black shadow flashed past. Yun Yun felt herself tightly embraced, and the door closed behind her.

Yun Yun had intended to struggle, but after sensing those familiar large hands... no, that familiar aura, she quickly relaxed.

"What a little bastard..." Yun Yun's beautiful face was filled with helplessness.

"Hehe, it's been almost a year since we parted. Did you miss me, Sister?"

Inhaling Yun Yun's faint fragrance, Qin Chen's hands unconsciously tightened around her as he chuckled.

A woman three years older was worth a fortune—absolutely intoxicating!

Besides, Yun Yun's cultivation talent was quite good as well. Qin Chen could sense that she had already advanced to a four-star Dou Emperor.

One had to know that she cultivated only a mysterious-tier cultivation method.

"No!" Yun Yun snapped after coming back to her senses.

"Don't be angry, Sister. I had no choice but to do this," Qin Chen said with a smile.

"Hmph!" Yun Yun snorted softly, clearly unconvinced.

Hugging me the moment we meet was something you had no choice but to do?

"What did you need me for?"

After a moment, Yun Yun spoke calmly.

"Well..."

When it came to serious matters, Qin Chen's expression became more solemn. He released the soft, wonderful-feeling flesh in his arms and said in a deep voice, "An extremely dangerous person has appeared in the Jia Ma Empire. The reason I used this method to meet you was to avoid his spies."

"A dangerous person? Who is it?" Yun Yun's slender brows furrowed slightly as she asked in confusion.

After thinking briefly, Qin Chen explained, "His name is Wu Ying. He comes from an evil faction called the Soul Hall. Ever since its founding, this faction has sought to collect souls."

"They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. They have stirred up countless bloody storms across the continent, causing countless experts—especially alchemists—to tremble at the mere mention of them."

"Fortunately, several extremely powerful factions keep them in check from the shadows, preventing them from acting too brazenly in public."

"What? Have they set their sights on you?" Yun Yun's heart lurched, and her beautiful eyes widened.

"Not exactly."

Qin Chen shook his head and continued, "I've concealed myself well. He hasn't discovered me."

"But after investigating, I found that he is currently hiding within the Misty Cloud Sect. Moreover, he has quite a significant connection with your teacher, Yun Shan."

"Perhaps... more than half of the Misty Cloud Sect is already under his control."

"The Soul Hall never cooperates with other factions. It only exploits them, using forces in the open to handle its dirty work behind the scenes."

"Once the other party loses its value, they will not hesitate to kill them. In my judgment, Senior Yun Shan has most likely already been tampered with by him."

"What?!"

Yun Yun was instantly shocked pale, her lovely face drained of color.

Formulating a Plan

Inside the room, Qin Chen and Yun Yun sat facing each other on the soft bed.

After Qin Chen explained for a quarter of an hour, Yun Yun finally understood the full sequence of events and realized just how powerful the Soul Hall was.

"If things are truly as you say, then why hasn't this Protector Wu made a move against me?" After a long while, Yun Yun let out a deep breath and asked.

Though she, as sect leader, usually did not involve herself in sect affairs, she was still a Dou Emperor. Wouldn't controlling her be more worthwhile than controlling the sect elders?

"Senior Yun Shan should be stopping him in secret," Qin Chen replied after some thought.

Although Yun Shan had broken through to Dou Zong with the Soul Hall's assistance and had been subjected to their methods, he was still a Dou Zong expert.

The Soul Hall's forbidden technique had not yet deeply eroded Yun Shan. If they pushed him too hard and he chose to fight Protector Wu to the death, the losses would be considerable.

Even on the Battle Qi Continent, energy could not appear from nothing. If Protector Wu wanted to use this secret technique, he would surely have to pay a substantial price.

Otherwise, why would he choose only the Misty Cloud Sect rather than simply bringing the imperial family under his control as well?

Such a mutually destructive outcome offered Protector Wu no tangible benefit.

Besides, it was precisely because Yun Yun did not manage sect affairs that Protector Wu could still control the Misty Cloud Sect through others even without her. Why would he bother doing something so thankless?

"Protector Wu..." As she murmured that name, Yun Yun's voice gradually became suppressed and low. "Teacher actually made a deal with someone like him?"

It was no wonder she reacted this way. The Misty Cloud Sect had always prided itself on being a righteous sect and was even regarded by the people of the Jia Ma Empire as a sacred place of cultivation. As for her teacher Yun Shan, he had always been the person she admired most.

"Yun'er, from now on, the Misty Cloud Sect will be entrusted to you. Do not disappoint the expectations of the previous sect leaders..."

Thinking of the gentle look in her teacher's eyes before he entered seclusion, she truly found it difficult to believe this was real.

"That may not necessarily be the case..."