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Jia Ma Empire.

Misty Cloud Sect.

A middle-aged man paced back and forth within the sect, looking somewhat anxious, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Elder Gu He, the Sect Master has emerged from seclusion!"

Just then, a Misty Cloud Sect disciple hurried over and reported to the middle-aged man.

"Sect Master Yun has emerged from seclusion? Good, I'll head over at once!"

After hearing the disciple's words, delight appeared on the middle-aged man's face as he hurried toward the sect's main hall.

Inside Misty Cloud Sect's main hall, a beautiful woman dressed in a plain skirt that wrapped around her voluptuous figure sat at the upper end of the hall, watching the several dozen Misty Cloud Sect elders below.

"We congratulate the Sect Master on successfully emerging from seclusion!"

"Welcome back, Sect Master!"

The Misty Cloud Sect elders rose one after another and bowed to the woman seated above.

"No need for such formalities. Please rise."

The woman seated upon the throne raised a hand in a gesture of support and spoke with a faint smile.

This woman was none other than Yun Yun, the eighth-generation Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect!

At her right rested a somewhat peculiar long sword that emitted a cyan glow.

Her long black hair was arranged into an elegant phoenix coiffure. Her beautiful, captivating face was calm and serene, yet even her plain attire could not conceal her dignity and nobility.

"Thank you, Sect Master!"

Hearing the woman's words, the Misty Cloud Sect elders below all rose to their feet.

"I called you here today to hear your opinions on the frequent appearances and provocations by people from the Mulan Empire along the empire's borders."

Yun Yun swept her gaze over everyone and spoke softly.

"Sect Master, the Mulan Empire has been appearing frequently around the various neighboring empires, acting arrogantly and domineeringly, as though they have nothing to fear."

"Therefore, I believe the sect should wait and observe, pending the royal family's stance."

At these words, a white-robed elder standing at the very front stepped forward and spoke first.

"Great Elder Yun Ling is right."

"Our sect and the royal family may appear to be on good terms, but turbulent undercurrents have long been hidden beneath the surface. If we rashly intervene, I fear... it may be detrimental to our Misty Cloud Sect."

Another white-robed elder echoed him.

"Sect Master, this matter does not truly concern us much. The ones who should be troubled are those people from the royal family."

"After all, the Jia Ma Empire does not belong to our Misty Cloud Sect."

At this moment, an elder standing farther back stepped forward and bowed.

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent. All the Misty Cloud Sect elders turned their gazes toward Yun Yun, who sat above.

"Mm, what you have said is reasonable. Teacher is in deathly seclusion, and the sect's strength has greatly diminished. It is indeed unwise for us to get involved, lest we bring unnecessary trouble upon the sect."

After hearing everyone's views, Yun Yun paused before continuing, "Before I entered seclusion, Jia Xing Tian, Elder Jia, the royal family's guardian, and I sensed an aura at one of the empire's borders that seemed to belong to someone beyond the Dou Huang realm."

"Someone beyond the Dou Huang realm?!"

The Misty Cloud Sect elders were all shocked upon hearing this, their faces filled with disbelief.

"That's right. Based on Elder Jia's and my own speculation, this person may very well be plotting something against the empire."

"However, by the time we arrived, that aura had vanished without a trace," Yun Yun said with a slight nod.

"Sect Master, then—"

Before Yun Ling could finish, he was interrupted by the hurriedly arriving middle-aged man.

"Sect Master Yun!"

The middle-aged man entered the main hall and addressed the woman in the plain skirt seated at the head, "Sect Master Yun, I have an urgent matter to report."

"Mm?"

Hearing the middle-aged man's words, all the Misty Cloud Sect elders were slightly taken aback.

"Elder Gu He, what has made you so flustered?" Yun Ling asked, glancing at him.

The middle-aged man was the sixth-tier alchemist, Pill King Gu He. He was also an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect and held an extremely lofty status within the Jia Ma Empire.

The Misty Cloud Sect elders all attached great importance to his words.

Yun Yun looked at the arriving Gu He and could not help raising her delicate brows slightly. "Elder Gu He, what happened to make you rush here in such a hurry?"

Yun Yun was somewhat surprised. She had not expected the usually composed Gu He to show such urgency.

"Sect Master, everyone."

Gu He cupped his hands toward those around him, then looked solemnly at Yun Yun seated above. "Some days ago, while I was heading to a desert at the border to search for medicinal ingredients, I encountered someone from the Mulan Empire."

"This person wanted to take me to Mulan Valley. I refused, but his strength was formidable—he was a Dou Huang expert!"

"I was no match for him, so he captured me and took me to Mulan Valley."

At this point, shame appeared on Gu He's face.

After all, as a sixth-tier alchemist and a Dou Wang, he could be considered a powerful figure within the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Yet before that person, he had still been utterly helpless and could only submit to being captured.

"Who would dare?!"

"Something like that happened?!"

"The Mulan Empire is truly becoming more and more presumptuous! They actually dared to secretly abduct an elder of our Misty Cloud Sect!"

As soon as Gu He finished speaking, every Misty Cloud Sect elder present cried out in alarm.

Everyone was angered by the Mulan Empire's brazen behavior.

"Mulan Valley?"

Upon hearing Gu He's words, Yun Yun's brows immediately furrowed. "Do you know who captured you? And how did you escape?"

"I don't know."

Gu He shook his head and said bitterly, "I thought I was doomed this time, but unexpectedly, when we reached the empire's border, a mysterious Dou Zong saved me."

What!

A Dou Zong expert!

How was that possible?

When had another existence beyond the Dou Huang realm appeared in the Jia Ma Empire!?

After hearing Gu He's account, all the Misty Cloud Sect elders wore expressions of utter disbelief.

Yun Yun was also greatly startled. With a grave expression, she said, "Elder Gu He, are you sure you did not see wrongly? You should understand what this means."

The Jia Ma Empire had not seen a Dou Zong for many years.

If any faction had someone break through or gained the support of a Dou Zong expert, it would mean the empire's balance of power would be shattered. This was unquestionably an extremely serious matter.

"Sect Master, I am certain."

"Moreover, that person seemed to know me. But after saving me, he left. I do not know who he was," Gu He added after pondering for a moment.

As for how he had been humiliated by that person, and how his storage ring had been taken, he did not mention it.

After all, he was the Pill King of the Jia Ma Empire. How could he possibly speak of such things? It would be far too humiliating to his status.

"That truly is strange."

Upon hearing Gu He's words, Yun Yun's brows drew together. She then asked, "When did this happen?"

"Half a month ago."

"I intended to inform you sooner, but you happened to be in seclusion at the time, so it was delayed until now," Gu He replied.

"Half a month ago..."

"Could the aura we sensed back then and the Dou Zong expert Gu He spoke of be the same person?"

Hearing Gu He's answer, Yun Yun's frown deepened.

That was because the timing coincided precisely with when Jia Xing Tian and she had sensed an aura beyond the Dou Huang realm at the border.

Ugh, every time I write an author's note after a chapter, Chuangshi fails to display it.

So I'll say it here: the female leads will generally be taken in after no more than three meetings. Also, thank you all for your recommendation votes. Although updates are slow, this story will not be dropped. It should remain free going forward as well. Thank you all for your support.