Chapter 28

Yun Xi truly deserved to be Yun Ling's most beloved grandson. At such a young age, his cultivation had already reached the realm of a peak Da Dou Shi, and he was even considerably stronger than Nalan Yanran, the future heir to the position of Misty Cloud Sect Master.

If Yun Xi had been a few years younger, then the position of Misty Cloud Sect Master in the future would likely have had nothing to do with Nalan Yanran.

So when such a gifted junior met with an accident in a godforsaken backwater like Wu Tan City, how could Yun Ling, Yun Xi's grandfather, not be anxious?

After a thorough search, Yun Ling eventually learned of Xiao Ming's whereabouts.

Yun Ling had always held the Xiao Clan of Wu Tan City in utter contempt.

If it had not been for the bond forged through hardship between the Nalan Clan Patriarch and the Xiao Clan Patriarch, Nalan Yanran would never have become entangled with trash like Xiao Yan in her lifetime.

Yet Yun Ling still could not understand it. He had visited the Xiao Clan many times before, and in his view, aside from the Xiao Clan Patriarch, no one in the entire clan possessed the strength to threaten Yun Xi.

Moreover, from the citizens of Wu Tan City and those who had escaped from the two great clans, Yun Ling heard Xiao Ming's name more than once.

No matter how hard Yun Ling racked his brains, he could not recall who Xiao Ming was.

But as the Grand Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Ling's perception of danger far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Thus, even though he knew no one in the Xiao Clan could escape the Misty Cloud Sect's grasp, Yun Ling still chose to act personally this time.

After all, Yun Xi's life was at stake.

Yun Ling used every means at his disposal along the way and finally arrived at Wu Tan City several days earlier.

"The Xiao Clan? Heh heh! You really know how to cause trouble for our Misty Cloud Sect!" Yun Ling looked at the Magical Beast Mountain Range before him, the corners of his mouth curling slightly upward.

Although the Misty Cloud Sect had always kept a low profile and rarely showed itself, no faction or sect within the Jia Ma Empire dared provoke it.

The Misty Cloud Sect was an exceedingly mysterious and ancient existence. Its accumulated foundation inspired immense fear, and even the imperial family of the present-day Jia Ma Empire had to treat it with the utmost courtesy.

In conflicts with neighboring empires, the Misty Cloud Sect was undoubtedly the Jia Ma Empire's sharpest blade. Any empire or outside force that wished to touch the Jia Ma Empire's core had to first obtain the Misty Cloud Sect's approval.

Thus, throughout the countless years the Jia Ma Empire had stood upon this continent, the Misty Cloud Sect had played the role of the Jia Ma Empire's guardian for most of that time.

This gradually allowed the Misty Cloud Sect to establish an image within the Jia Ma Empire that surpassed even the imperial family's prestige.

Many young cultivators now regarded joining the Misty Cloud Sect as their ultimate goal. Even numerous clans and factions of considerable strength within the Jia Ma Empire hoped their younger members could join the Misty Cloud Sect, thereby gaining its protection to some extent.

Over time, this situation had quietly established the Misty Cloud Sect as the number one sect in the Jia Ma Empire. Even when the imperial royal guards recruited each year, fewer and fewer people came to enlist.

Therefore, as the Grand Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Ling had become almost godlike within the Jia Ma Empire. Those people or sects who dared defy him generally met no good end.

However, Yun Ling was feeling rather troubled now.

His grandson Yun Xi had unexpectedly met with an accident in a remote place like Wu Tan City. More importantly, the three-year agreement between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan was about to arrive. As the Grand Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Ling naturally had to be present at such a crucial moment, so he had left without anyone knowing.

If he could not return to the Misty Cloud Sect on the day of the three-year agreement, Yun Ling was certain the Sect Master would blame him.

But at such a critical time, Yun Ling did not mind having someone else in the sect take his place for the time being. So long as his grandson was safe, Yun Ling could accept punishment from the Sect Master.

After all, Yun Xi was all his future hope.

"Yun Rui, stay close. Don't get lost, or you'll suffer for it~" With a wave of his hand, Yun Ling led the disciple beside him into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

In Yun Ling's eyes, although Yun Rui was extraordinarily talented, he was still too inexperienced. He needed to get out more, or he would only become a flower raised in a greenhouse, forever unable to stand on his own.

At this moment, just as Yun Ling and Yun Rui stepped into the bounds of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, they sensed the surrounding aura become incomparably dense.

The aura was filled with the stench of blood.

Yun Rui's face instantly turned pale. Clearly, these sudden changes were difficult for Yun Rui, who had always remained within the Misty Cloud Sect, to accept.

"Th-this... what exactly happened? Why has so much bloody aura suddenly appeared? Could it be..." Yun Rui could not help swallowing, his eyes filled with terror.

"This bloody aura should have been caused by someone hunting magical beasts in this area not long ago."

Seeing the change in Yun Rui's expression, Yun Ling could not help but sigh inwardly that bringing him along on this journey had undoubtedly been an extremely wise choice.

If Yun Rui were allowed to remain in the Misty Cloud Sect like this, then when he fought enemies in the future, his immature temperament would surely cause him to suffer many losses.

And when experts clashed, victory and defeat often came down to a single thought. One moment of carelessness could result in both body and soul being destroyed.

That was why Yun Ling had brought Yun Rui to the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

"I wonder where this bloody smell is coming from. Could a powerful expert have entered this area?" A trace of gravity flashed across Yun Ling's face. After all, they had encountered such a situation the moment they entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

In a lawless place like the Magical Beast Mountain Range, encountering such an expert was no small matter.

If that person was bloodthirsty by nature, then he would surely become a major hidden danger to Yun Xi's life.

Furthermore, that person's direction of travel was the same as Yun Ling and Yun Rui's. If he were allowed to continue slaughtering, the bloody smell spreading through the area would certainly draw every magical beast nearby.

That would also be quite troublesome for Yun Ling.

Although Yun Ling was the Grand Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect and possessed not only an extremely lofty status, but also cultivation at the peak Dou Wang level.