Yun Leng, the Grand Elder!

"What exactly do you mean by that, Jia Lao?" Gu He, standing nearby, had also sensed that something was amiss and immediately turned to Jia Xing Tian.

Jia Xing Tian chuckled. "I imagine the Misty Cloud Sect has received some news as well. The Mo Clan of Salt City in the northeast of the empire has shown no respect for the imperial family and refuses to submit to the empire. Princess Yaoye has already ordered Mu Chen of the Mu Clan to lead troops to Salt City and bring them to justice!"

Yun Yun said softly, "The Mo Clan does not seem to have any connection to the Misty Cloud Sect."

"Is that so? But as far as I know, the Mo Clan has been supplying the Misty Cloud Sect with a great deal of wealth and cultivation herbs all these years," Jia Xing Tian said blandly.

Yun Yun's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Ever since she had taken charge of the Misty Cloud Sect, she had spent most of her time cultivating. The sect's affairs had basically been managed by Grand Elder Yun Leng on her behalf.

If the Mo Clan truly had ties to the Misty Cloud Sect, then they must have been connected to Yun Leng!

"I will investigate this matter thoroughly when I return," Yun Yun said as she looked at Jia Xing Tian.

Jia Xing Tian nodded. "Fine. This is an internal matter of your sect, so I will not interfere. But the Mo Clan can no longer be allowed to exist!"

Yun Yun said nothing.

Gu He looked at Jia Xing Tian. "Jia Lao, the imperial family and the Misty Cloud Sect have always stayed out of each other's affairs. Now that the empire is making such a major move, are you not afraid it will affect the relationship between the two sides?"

Upon hearing Gu He's words, Jia He stepped forward and said calmly, "How can one allow others to snore beside one's bed? Has the imperial family truly failed to notice the little schemes the Misty Cloud Sect has been carrying out within the empire all these years?"

"Since you are defending the Misty Cloud Sect so fiercely today, does that mean you and the Misty Cloud Sect are one and the same?" Jia He said blandly.

Gu He frowned and rebuked him, "This is a discussion among our elders. Is a junior like you qualified to take part?"

Jia Xing Tian said calmly, "He'er can fully represent the imperial family!"

Gu He's expression changed slightly at once.

With his status as a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, he had no fear whatsoever even when facing a Peak Dou Emperor like Jia Xing Tian.

Logically speaking, Jia Xing Tian should have treated him with great courtesy. Could it be that, now that Fama had become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, the imperial family no longer had any reservations?

With that thought, Gu He looked coldly at President Fama. "President Fama, the Alchemist Association has always maintained neutrality. Could it be that you have now tied yourselves to the imperial family?"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone around them was shocked.

Jia Xing Tian was already a Peak Dou Emperor. If Fama, now a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, and the entire Alchemist Association were added to his side, then the imperial family's strength would surpass that of the Misty Cloud Sect!

Fama's somewhat clouded eyes turned toward Gu He. "The Alchemist Association has indeed always remained neutral. I have never tied myself to the imperial family either. Please do not speak nonsense!"

Gu He frowned, truly unable to understand what Jia Xing Tian and Fama meant.

"Enough, Gu He. Do not say any more," Yun Yun said, shaking her head.

Then Yun Yun looked at Jia Xing Tian. "I will return and investigate the matter of the Mo Clan thoroughly. As for everything else, the Misty Cloud Sect has always strictly observed its rules and will not overstep them in the slightest!"

"Yanran, rest at home for a few days before returning to the sect. President Fama, farewell!" With that, Yun Yun turned and left.

Gu He took his disciples and followed Yun Yun away.

Jia He watched Yun Yun's retreating figure, his thoughts unknown.

Misty Cloud Sect, main hall.

After Yun Yun returned, she summoned Grand Elder Yun Leng.

When Yun Leng arrived at the main hall, only Yun Yun and Gu He were there.

Yun Leng clasped his fists respectfully. "Sect Master, Mr. Gu He, may I ask why you summoned me to the main hall? Has something happened in the sect?"

Sitting at the head of the hall, Yun Yun frowned as she looked at Yun Leng. "Do you know of the Mo Clan of Salt City?"

"The Mo Clan of Salt City?" Yun Leng frowned slightly, but quickly seemed to remember something.

"Does Sect Master mean the Mo Clan of Salt City in the northeast?" Yun Leng asked.

Yun Yun nodded slightly. Yun Leng said, "I do know them. Strictly speaking, the Mo Clan has some connection to our Misty Cloud Sect!"

Yun Yun's heart sank at once, and she asked, "What connection? Why did I not know that the Mo Clan had ties to the Misty Cloud Sect?"

Yun Leng hurriedly said, "Mo Cheng, the Mo Clan's grand elder, was once a disciple of our Misty Cloud Sect in his early years. Later, something happened in his family, and he withdrew from the sect!"

"Over the years, he developed and strengthened the Mo Clan, and gradually expressed a desire to return to the sect. Moreover, some people he had been close to in the sect back then had now become deacons and elders."

"Those people occasionally pleaded on his behalf. Coupled with the many things Mo Cheng offered to our sect, I allowed him to take up an elder position in the outer sect!"

In just a few sentences, Yun Leng explained Mo Cheng's entire situation.

But Yun Yun suddenly erupted in anger. "Since he had already left the sect, why did you allow him to become an outer sect elder? Was it merely because he made offerings to the sect, or because he gave you personal benefits?"

Yun Leng said somewhat indignantly, "How can you say that? Mo Cheng was originally a member of the Misty Cloud Sect. Now that he has risen to prominence in Salt City, he has contributed greatly to our Misty Cloud Sect. As the Grand Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, do I not even have this much authority?"

"You!" Yun Yun's chest heaved violently in anger at his words.

Gu He hurriedly stepped forward. "Yun Leng, if the Mo Clan truly has ties to the Misty Cloud Sect, then do not mention this matter again. Do not tell outsiders that Mo Cheng is connected to the Misty Cloud Sect either!"

Yun Leng immediately frowned. "Why? In the Jia Ma Empire, could anyone possibly dare make trouble for our Misty Cloud Sect?"

"The imperial family has clashed with the Mo Clan of Salt City. It would be best if we did not interfere in this matter," Gu He said as he looked at Yun Leng.

Unexpectedly, Yun Leng said at that moment, "I am afraid it is already too late to say that now!"

Yun Yun looked at Yun Leng. "What do you mean by that?"

Yun Leng said, "The Mo Clan sent our sect a letter asking for help earlier. I dispatched three elders to Salt City to help the Mo Clan overcome this crisis!"

"What? Yun Leng, who gave you the nerve to act so recklessly? Do you truly think you are the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect?" Yun Yun glared at Yun Leng, her beautiful face filled with fury.

Yun Leng said coldly, "I would not dare. But as the Grand Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, these are matters I should handle. And since Mo Cheng is a deacon elder of our Misty Cloud Sect, we naturally cannot stand by and do nothing when he is in trouble!"

"It is the imperial family taking action! Do you truly think the Misty Cloud Sect has no enemies within the empire?" Yun Yun shouted angrily.

"The imperial family? What are they worth? Our Misty Cloud Sect does not fear the imperial family!" Yun Leng said with his neck stiffly raised.

"Insolence!" A vast and powerful aura erupted from Yun Yun's body within the hall, and the overwhelming pressure instantly forced Yun Leng to his knees.

"Send word to the Law Enforcement Hall. Grand Elder Yun Leng has disregarded the sect's safety. Strip him of his position as Grand Elder immediately and send him to the Cliff of Reflection to reflect for one year!" Yun Yun's cold voice thundered throughout the entire Misty Cloud Sect!

Countless Misty Cloud Sect disciples and elders looked toward the main hall in shock.

Inside the hall, Yun Leng looked at Yun Yun with a grim expression. "Does Sect Master truly intend to punish me?"

Yun Yun said coldly, "I am the Sect Master. Are you saying I cannot punish you?"

Yun Leng nodded fiercely. "Fine, very fine. You are the Sect Master. Since I cannot remain in the position of Grand Elder, then farewell!"

Then Yun Leng strode out of the main hall. Dou Qi Transformation Wings appeared behind him, and he shot toward the horizon.

Watching Yun Leng leave, Gu He said, "This Yun Leng truly does not hold you in any regard!"

"He is the most senior member of the sect and followed my teacher in his early years. If my talent had not been greater, allowing me to become a Dou Emperor, then perhaps the position of Sect Master would have belonged to Yun Leng," Yun Yun said softly.

Clearly, Yun Yun was deeply helpless when it came to Yun Leng. After all, his seniority was unlike that of the others!

Northeast of the empire.

Several hundred miles from Salt City, a massive army stretching for miles was marching rapidly toward Salt City.

Mu Chen rode a low-tier magical beast at the center of the army.

"Clan Head, in another three hundred miles, the army will arrive outside Salt City. It will take roughly another two hours!" a general beside him said respectfully.

"Can the troops below still keep up?" Mu Chen asked.

The general replied, "They can. Especially the Imperial Guard—of these ten thousand men, ninety percent are Dou Zhe, while some have already broken through to Dou Shi and become Da Dou Shi. Several officers have even reached the Dou Ling realm. Since when did the Imperial Guard become this strong?"

One had to know that even among the troops controlled by the Mu Clan, most people were only at the Dou Qi stage.

Take the general beside Mu Chen, for example. He was merely a five-star Da Dou Shi.

The stronger a person was, the less willing he was to submit to management. Thus, the empire's armies had always been rather weak!

Mu Chen shook his head. "I am not sure either, but the imperial family has undergone major changes recently. The army becoming stronger is a good thing for us."

Two hours later, the army arrived outside Salt City.

Under Mu Chen's command, the thirty-thousand-strong army set up camp outside the city. Then he sent someone to the city gates with the empire's military order.

"This is an imperial military order. Open the city gates at once!"

Salt City's defending general was a trusted subordinate of City Lord Bo'er. Upon seeing the imperial military order, he frowned slightly. "Without the city lord's command, we cannot open the gates!"

"Bold fool! This is an imperial military order. Is it not worth more than the city lord's command?" the messenger shouted angrily.

The defending general said, "There is nothing we can do. We are also imperial officers, and this is Salt City. Who knows whether you are rebels?"

After just a few exchanges, the messenger left in a rage.

Mu Chen had long guessed that Salt City might put up resistance, but he had not expected even the defending general to show such disregard for the imperial family.

"Since they do not know what is good for them, follow me and take the city!" Mu Chen said softly.

Immediately afterward, Dou Qi Transformation Wings appeared behind Mu Chen as he shot toward the city gates.

Boom!

With a deafening blast, Mu Chen smashed the city gates open directly.

The army surged rapidly into Salt City. A city without even a Dou Wang expert was conquered in mere moments!

At the same time, in the main hall of the Misty Cloud Sect, an elder from the Law Enforcement Hall came to report, "Sect Master, Grand Elder Yun Leng did not go to the Cliff of Reflection. Instead, he left the sect without authorization. His destination is unknown!"

Second update, three thousand words delivered!

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