Yun Shan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Yun Shan is the eighth sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, a sect founded more than six centuries earlier by Yun Potian. By his era, the sect has endured over three hundred years of decline following a succession dispute: a defeated candidate for fourth sect leader colluded with outsiders, likely the Heavenly Serpent Imperial Family, and launched an attack that killed much of the sect’s leadership. The attackers stole the sect’s Earth Rank and higher cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, leaving its strength below one-tenth of its former peak. 190

The catastrophe also shaped the relationship between the Misty Cloud Sect and the Jia Ma Empire. The Jia Ma Imperial Family established its state during the sect’s weakened period, when the Misty Cloud Sect may have needed an alliance to survive and rebuild. In Yun Shan’s time, this history has become minor friction: the sect refuses royal control, while the royal house remains wary of such a powerful independent force within its borders. 2 190

Before his breakthrough, Yun Shan carries the responsibility of reviving the sect while being unable to reclaim its inheritance from the Heavenly Serpent Empire. Learning that the lost technique Wind’s Extremity: Annihilation is in that empire’s hands initially excites him, then leaves him deeply frustrated by the disparity in power. 189 191

His early effort to recruit Xiao Lin reflects the sect’s shortage of younger experts: at the time, aside from Yun Shan himself, its remaining Dou Wangs are two elderly cultivators. Although Xiao Lin declines to join, Yun Shan welcomes closer cooperation with the Xiao Household. 60

After Xiao Lin returns the lost inheritance, Yun Shan is able to replace the Misty Cloud Sect’s incomplete cultivation foundation and advance to Dou Zong. His breakthrough restores the sect’s former confidence and allows him to lead it without the fear that it will remain permanently behind the other major factions of the Northwest Continent. 204 206 207

By the time of Xiao Lin’s staged health crisis, Yun Shan has reached Five-Star Dou Zong. Believing Yun Yun is ready to manage the Misty Cloud Sect, he expresses his intention to retire from leadership and concentrate on cultivation. Dou Zong, once his principal goal, no longer satisfies him, and he sees a genuine prospect of reaching Dou Venerable. At this point, his retirement is discussed as a plan rather than a completed transfer of office. 354

Not long after Xiao Lin retires, Yun Shan hands the position of Misty Cloud Sect Master to Yun Yun. He spends most of his time cultivating toward Dou Venerable, though Xiao Lin occasionally visits him at the sect to chat. Yun Yun proves capable in her new position, and the sect’s prestige continues to rise. 385

His secluded cultivation grounds are on the Misty Cloud Sect’s rear mountain, which also houses the Gate of Life and Death. He instructs Yun Yun to notify him whenever Xiao Lin visits so that he can seek guidance on cultivation difficulties. The restored inheritance and these consultations help him reach Seven-Star Dou Zong. Despite finding Xiao Lin increasingly unfathomable, Yun Shan still assumes that his friend is an advanced Dou Venerable and does not consider that he has already reached Dou Sheng. 466 467

By Protector Wu’s arrival, Yun Shan has advanced to Eight-Star Dou Zong. Xiao Lin has warned him that the Soul Hall may approach him and that its supposed breakthrough assistance can be used to tamper with a cultivator’s soul. Confident that he can reach Dou Venerable through his own cultivation, Yun Shan is not genuinely tempted by Wu’s offer. Instead, he follows a plan with Xiao Lin to conceal their awareness and mislead the Soul Hall. 508

After obtaining an upfront payment from Wu, Yun Shan visits Xiao Lin at night to report the encounter. Xiao Lin confirms that keeping Wu alive serves the Xiao Household’s interests and encourages Yun Shan to continue their performance while extracting further resources if possible. Yun Shan initially hesitates but accepts the plan. 509 510

Yun Shan subsequently gives public support to Nalan Yanran’s marriage challenge against Xiao Yan, creating the appearance that he favors the Nalan Family and intends to suppress the Xiao Household. Protector Wu interprets this as progress toward turning Yun Shan against the household, but Xiao Lin later confirms to Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue that the apparent hostility is a coordinated deception. 519 520

The performance also misleads members of the Misty Cloud Sect. Yun Shan refuses Yun Yun’s suggestion to send a congratulatory gift for Xiao Li’s engagement to Princess Yao Ye, keeping his disciple ignorant of the deception. Yun Leng interprets the exchange as approval to suppress the Xiao Household and independently attacks their joint interests. To halt the real conflict without sacrificing his longtime subordinate, Yun Shan persuades Yun Leng to relinquish his duties and leave to seek a Dou Emperor breakthrough. The household’s persecution stops, but Protector Wu subsequently approaches Yun Leng in the Tagor Desert. 532 534 535

When Gu He, Yan Shi, and Feng Li report that Yun Yun has been ambushed and taken away, Yun Shan suspects Protector Wu from their descriptions of the attackers’ techniques. He secretly consults Xiao Lin, and the two discover that neither has seen Wu for two or three months. Xiao Lin assures him that Yun Yun is safe with her rescuer, Xiao Yan, and revises their strategy: rather than kill Wu and risk Soul Hall scrutiny, they should capture and imprison him. 556 557 558

Yun Shan accompanies Xiao Lin to observe Yun Yun and Xiao Yan secretly during her recovery. Xiao Lin hints that Xiao Yan is accompanied by a powerful teacher in soul form, explaining how the young cultivator could display strength far above his own realm. Yun Shan cannot independently detect this teacher, but understands the implication and refrains from pressing for further details. 561 562

He witnesses Xiao Yan refine a second Heavenly Flame and advance to One-Star Dou Ling, then realizes that Yun Yun has developed romantic feelings for her martial nephew. Alarmed by the implications for Yun Yun, Xiao Yan, and Nalan Yanran, he considers separating them, but Xiao Lin persuades him to wait rather than endanger Yun Yun’s emotional state and prospective breakthrough. 562 563

After Yun Yun’s recovery, the two elders follow her toward the sect and witness Yun Leng use Yun Shan’s name to lure her into a valley. Yun Shan initially hopes that his old subordinate has not betrayed him, but the appearance of Protector Wu and Yun Leng’s admission of his ambitions confirm the betrayal. Yun Yun kills Yun Leng to protect the sect; Xiao Lin then destroys the Soul Locks threatening her as he and Yun Shan intervene. Yun Shan openly reveals that his cooperation with Wu was an act and condemns the protector for manipulating Yun Leng and attacking Yun Yun. 565 566 567 568

Once Xiao Lin brings Protector Wu under his control, Yun Shan explains the deception and the shareable portions of Xiao Lin’s circumstances to Yun Yun. The Misty Cloud Sect and Xiao Household no longer need to maintain their apparent conflict and resume normal relations. Yun Shan’s knowledge of Xiao Lin remains incomplete: he can tell Yun Yun only that Xiao Lin is stronger than himself and is suspected to have progressed far into Dou Venerable. 571

Yun Shan eventually completes his secluded cultivation and breaks through to Dou Venerable. He immediately visits the sect’s ancestral memorial tablets to share the news, regarding the breakthrough as the fulfillment of his long-standing responsibility to revitalize the Misty Cloud Sect. One month later, the sect holds a grand celebration in Misty Cloud Plaza, attracting factions from the Jia Ma Empire and other Northwest Continent empires. 777

Arriving with Yun Yun through a deliberately displayed Spatial Passage, Yun Shan publicly confirms his advancement. He assures the assembled guests that he will not act against their factions unless they encroach upon the Jia Ma Empire. His presence elevates the empire beyond its recently attained first-rate status into a regional hegemonic power, while Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong recognize the benefits of his deterrence against external threats. 778

The Soul Hall subsequently challenges this security through Venerable Qing Hai, who demands that Yun Shan surrender Xiao Zhan and offers to overlook Wu Ying’s disappearance if the sect does not interfere. Yun Shan refuses to abandon his disciple and fights Qing Hai with swordsmanship and wind-attributed Dou Techniques. 781

During the battle, Yun Shan is explicitly identified as a One-Star Dou Venerable. His strength surprises Qing Hai, who holds only a narrow advantage, estimated at roughly 5.5 to 4.5. Yun Shan’s repeated releases of Sword Qi consume more strength than Qing Hai expends, making a prolonged contest unfavorable to him, but Qing Hai is unwilling to wait for that outcome. 782

The battle turns decisively against Yun Shan after Qing Hai consumes more than a hundred enslaved Soul Bodies to temporarily attain Four-Star Dou Venerable strength. Gravely wounded and facing a fatal attack, Yun Shan still orders Xiao Zhan to retreat and tells Yun Yun to take her junior brother away rather than allow them to risk their lives for him. 784 785

Yun Shan survives the crisis and stays at the Xiao Household Ancestral Residence while recovering. Xiao Lin gives him a soul-repairing pill and explains that the Soul Hall’s true target is an item held by the Xiao Household. Although curious, Yun Shan does not press for the secret. When Xiao Lin suggests traveling to the Central Plains, Yun Shan is tempted by the opportunity to follow Yun Potian’s path and improve further, but chooses instead to send Yun Yun and return to managing the sect himself. 794 795

Yun Shan persuades Yun Yun to accompany Xiao Lin and asks that his reasons remain concealed so that she will not feel guilty over his sacrifice. He also offers Nalan Yanran the opportunity to go, but she declines because she intends to travel to the Central Plains with Xiao Yan. After bidding Yun Yun farewell, Yun Shan returns to the sect’s main hall, expressing his belief that she may someday surpass Yun Potian. 795

When Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran later visit, Yun Shan explains that Yun Yun needs the Central Plains’ opportunities to realize her potential. His decision also has a private emotional motive: having repeatedly seen Yun Yun unhappy and lost in thoughts of Xiao Yan, he hopes that sending her to the same region will give their relationship a chance. Conscious that this disadvantages Nalan Yanran, he does not reveal the full reasoning to the young couple. Before their own departure, he assures them that he will handle matters left in his care and dismisses the Heavenly Poison Woman as insufficient to intimidate him. 827 862

Yun Shan later joins the leading fighters gathered by Medusa at Xuanhuang Fortress as the Flame Alliance prepares for the Lion Nether Sect’s threat. When Xiao Yan returns, Yun Shan and the other elders recognize his strength and praise his cultivation and Soul Power. Xiao Yan offers to help defend the Jia Ma Empire and its leading factions, demonstrating that his rise has not diminished his regard for them. Under Yun Shan’s restraint, the Misty Cloud Sect continues to recruit and train disciples without interfering in the royal house’s rule. 1128 1129

After Xiao Yan and Yun Yun reveal their relationship to Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue, Xiao Yan returns to the Northwest Continent to bring Yun Shan to Starfall Pavilion. Yun Shan joins the relatives and elders who witness the couple’s engagement. Xiao Lin later tells Xiao Yan that he and Yun Shan had known about Xiao Yan and Yun Yun for a long time. 1317 1342

Yun Yun subsequently reaches One-Star Dou Saint, surpassing the level Yun Shan had last been confirmed to possess. With Xiao Yan’s help, she fully absorbs the previous Flower Sect leader’s empowerment and uses a drop of Demon Saint Essence Blood in her advancement. 782 1471

Personality

Yun Shan is initially portrayed as an upright, composed grandmaster. He does not react excessively to the Jia Ma Royal House’s pressure or to the rise of other Dou Wang families, concentrating instead on his own cultivation and the Misty Cloud Sect’s development. 2 26

He values honor and conduct befitting a powerful cultivator. He openly scorns Ying Changkong for becoming a bandit despite being a Dou Emperor, and he refuses to covet Xiao Lin’s Secret Realm inheritance after learning of it. 58 60

His refinement is tempered by a fierce sense of duty. The Misty Cloud Sect’s ruined history fills him with sorrow, self-reproach, and hatred for its traitor; pressure to restore the sect and avoid falling behind rivals causes him genuine anxiety. 190 192 He is also highly protective of his disciples, taking pride in Yun Yun’s ambition and formally arranging the sect’s succession to prevent another internal conflict. 191 203

Yun Shan is willing to honor promises even when doing so limits his faction’s freedom. After breaking through to Dou Zong, he uses his increased authority to end the Misty Cloud Sect’s political friction with the Jia Ma Royal House rather than attempting to seize imperial control. 206 207

His confidence rises sharply after recovering the sect’s inheritance, but he remains aware of the limits of his strength. Although he becomes the Jia Ma Empire’s leading public expert, he admits that he has only a twenty-percent chance of defeating Xie Biyan. 207 217

His ambition extends beyond defeating old rivals. During his battle with Yan Luotian, he declares that his goal is continual growth rather than merely overcoming Yan Luotian. This outlook persists after he reaches Five-Star Dou Zong, when he begins aiming for Dou Venerable. He subsequently gives up the demands of sect leadership to devote more time to cultivation. 215 354 385

He is less inclined toward secrecy than Xiao Lin and admits that, if he possessed Xiao Lin’s strength, he would have publicized it long ago. Nevertheless, once Xiao Lin explains the danger behind his concealment, Yun Shan accepts the need for caution and helps maintain the deception. His willingness to assist also reflects the personal warmth of their friendship: the two discuss playing chess together after retiring and continue to meet after stepping down. 354 355 385

His later conduct reveals considerable skill in deception and negotiation. Against Protector Wu, he carefully feigns temptation and hesitation rather than agreeing too quickly, then demands an upfront payment to exploit Wu’s recruitment attempt. His apparent greed conceals continued loyalty to Xiao Lin and Xiao Zhan, and he privately mocks the Soul Hall agent after obtaining the resources. 508 509

Yun Shan also displays a more informal, competitive side during his leisure time. After losing eight consecutive games of Go to Xiao Lin, he refuses to continue and makes excuses to end their matches. 467 The memory of these defeats remains vivid enough that Xiao Lin’s later suggestion of another game makes him shudder and briefly consider leaving before attending to the serious business of Protector Wu’s arrival. 510

His attachment to longtime subordinates can complicate his judgment. Although he recognizes the danger posed by Yun Leng’s unauthorized actions, he tries to save him out of gratitude for his loyalty rather than allow Xiao Lin to punish him. Even after Yun Leng deceptively invokes his name, Yun Shan asks to continue observing instead of condemning him without proof. The eventual betrayal leaves him deeply distressed. 534 535 566

His love for Yun Yun is almost parental. Having never married or had children, he regards her nearly as his own daughter, and threats to her safety cross his personal bottom line. Nevertheless, he does not blindly blame Gu He and his companions for her disappearance, remaining fair enough to hear their account and investigate. Once assured she is safe, he immediately wishes to thank her rescuer as a benefactor of both himself and the sect. 556 558

His protective instincts also make Yun Yun’s romantic attachment to Xiao Yan difficult for him to accept. He becomes alarmed and angry, but allows Xiao Lin to dissuade him from premature intervention. Despite his displeasure over her personal feelings, he recognizes that Yun Yun fulfills her responsibility as sect master by stopping Yun Leng’s betrayal. 562 563 565 568 Seeing that she has not forgotten her duties dispels his earlier anger, and by the aftermath of the marriage challenge he has decided to let her relationship take its natural course. 568 588

His Dou Venerable breakthrough brings pride and relief rather than a desire for conquest. He honors the sect’s ancestors and deliberately demonstrates his advancement, but publicly limits his intervention to defending the Jia Ma Empire from encroachment. 777 778 This declaration also demonstrates political restraint: by affirming protection without announcing expansionist ambitions, he avoids needlessly provoking collective opposition from the Northwest Continent’s other factions. 778

His commitment as a teacher remains stronger than his concern for personal safety. Although Xiao Zhan’s discipleship originally arose from an agreement with Xiao Lin, Yun Shan does not discriminate between his two disciples. Even after Xiao Zhan spends less time at the sect, he visits to answer his cultivation questions, and he refuses to surrender him to Qing Hai despite the danger to himself. 785 795

Yun Shan ultimately places Yun Yun’s future above his own opportunities. He gives up the prospect of adventuring in the Central Plains so that she can leave the sect’s responsibilities behind, then asks Xiao Lin to conceal the sacrifice. His later willingness to give her feelings for Xiao Yan a chance contrasts with his initial opposition, though he feels uncomfortable about the consequences for Nalan Yanran. He ultimately witnesses Yun Yun and Xiao Yan’s engagement among their relatives and elders. 794 795 827 1317

Abilities & Skills

Dou Zong Cultivation

After recovering the Misty Cloud Sect’s lost Earth Rank inheritance, Yun Shan advances from Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor to Dou Zong and becomes the Jia Ma Empire’s first publicly acknowledged Dou Zong in more than a century; Xiao Lin had reached the realm earlier while concealing his strength. 66 206 207

• His breakthrough greatly improves his confidence and removes the long-standing power balance between the Misty Cloud Sect and the Jia Ma Royal House. 206 207
• He leads the Jia Ma Empire’s delegation in the Sect Tournament of the Four Great Empires. 209
• He defeats Yan Luotian, a fellow newly advanced Dou Zong, with Wind’s Extremity: Annihilation. Both are One-Star Dou Zongs at the time of their battle. 214 215
• He admits that he has, at most, a twenty-percent chance of defeating Xie Biyan. 217
• He recognizes that Xiao Lin is stronger than himself but keeps Xiao Lin’s identity and actual cultivation realm secret from the other Jia Ma Empire experts. Even after his own Dou Zong breakthrough, he cannot see through Xiao Lin’s concealed cultivation. 201 203 217
• His cultivation later reaches Five-Star Dou Zong, giving him a real chance of advancing to Dou Venerable. He retires from sect leadership to devote most of his time to that pursuit. 354 385
• At Seven-Star Dou Zong, he continues benefiting from the recovered Earth Rank cultivation method and Xiao Lin’s guidance. Although he believes Xiao Lin has progressed far within Dou Venerable, he remains unaware of his friend’s Dou Sheng cultivation. 467
• At Eight-Star Dou Zong, he is substantially stronger than the Four-Star Dou Zong Protector Wu, but does not assume that superior cultivation guarantees he can prevent Wu from escaping. 508
• He remains the Jia Ma Empire’s strongest publicly known figure when Yun Yun disappears. Gu He, Yan Shi, and Feng Li seek his intervention because they believe he can resolve a crisis involving a Dou Zong attacker. 556
• Despite his Eight-Star Dou Zong cultivation, he cannot detect the soul-form teacher accompanying Xiao Yan without Xiao Lin’s hint. 561

Dou Venerable Cultivation and Spatial Power

Yun Shan eventually reaches Dou Venerable, fulfilling the cultivation goal for which he initially retired. His advancement becomes a decisive source of deterrence for the Jia Ma Empire throughout the surrounding Northwest Continent. 777 778 His precise cultivation is subsequently confirmed as One-Star Dou Venerable. 782

• Spatial Passage — He opens a Spatial Passage and brings Yun Yun through it to the sect’s celebratory gathering, deliberately demonstrating his new mastery of space. 778
• Space Strangulation — He and Venerable Qing Hai activate this signature Dou Venerable spatial attack simultaneously during their initial contest. He later contests Qing Hai with it again, but is overpowered after Qing Hai temporarily raises his cultivation to Four-Star Dou Venerable. 782 784
• His combination of swordsmanship and wind techniques initially allows him to fight Qing Hai nearly evenly and exceed the Soul Hall expert’s expectations. Qing Hai resorts to consuming enslaved souls to gain a decisive advantage. 782 784
• Before Qing Hai’s temporary enhancement, the balance of their fight is approximately 5.5 to 4.5 in Qing Hai’s favor. Yun Shan’s repeated Sword Qi attacks consume more strength, leaving him at a disadvantage if the battle continues long enough. 782
• His new realm does not place him beyond danger from stronger Dou Venerables. Qing Hai’s temporary increase leaves him repeatedly wounded and near death; he later requires treatment for soul injuries. 784 785 794
• He considers himself below the heights once reached by Yun Potian, despite having entered the same broad realm. 794
• He believes that few people on the Northwest Continent can match him outside the Soul Hall and is confident enough to dismiss the Heavenly Poison Woman as a threat that does not require special wariness. 862

Wind-Attributed Dou Qi

Yun Shan specializes in wind-attributed Dou Qi and fights with high mobility, aerial combat, and destructive wind techniques. 214 215

• Wind’s Extremity: Setting Sun Glory — Creates a spiraling mass of wind with a falling-sun-like core; used against Yan Luotian in the Sect Tournament. 214 Later rendered as Wind’s Extremity: Setting Sun Radiance, it sends azure wind down upon Venerable Qing Hai like an aurora, exerting pressure severe enough to impede his breathing. 784
• Great Wind Handprint — Shatters Hai Bodong’s Ninefold Ice Blades during their challenge match. 199
• Great Sorrowful Wind-Ripping Hand — A High-Grade Profound Rank technique that forms an enormous azure energy hand; it tears apart Hai Bodong’s four ice dragons, though the backlash leaves Yun Shan’s right hand frostbitten and bleeding. 200
• Wind’s Extremity: Annihilation — A recovered Earth Rank technique from the Misty Cloud Sect’s signature Wind’s Extremity series; Yun Shan uses it to decisively defeat Yan Luotian. The technique condenses a cyan wind blade between his palms and sends it tearing through space toward his opponent. He later uses it against Venerable Qing Hai. 189 215 782

Sword Dao

Yun Shan possesses talent in both the Sword Dao and wind-attributed Dou Qi, the combination required of a Misty Cloud Sect Master. In his earlier years, he concentrates on wind techniques and develops his swordsmanship less deeply. Recovering the sect’s lost inheritance prompts him to pursue the Sword Dao more seriously in order to strengthen himself and restore the sect. 784

• By his confrontation with Venerable Qing Hai, he is explicitly recognized as a Sword Cultivator. 781
• His mature fighting style combines Sword Dao attacks with wind-attributed Dou Techniques rather than replacing one with the other. 784
• His repeated releases of sword energy help him contend closely with Qing Hai before the latter’s enhancement, but impose a greater expenditure of strength than Qing Hai’s attacks. 782
• He unleashes Sword Qi against Qing Hai, though the latter breaks through these attacks after temporarily attaining Four-Star Dou Venerable strength. 784

Sect Leadership and Mentorship

Yun Shan combines personal cultivation with long-term planning for the Misty Cloud Sect’s recovery.

• He recruits promising cultivators and offers the Xiao Household three training placements at the Misty Cloud Sect each year. 60 187
• He presents three Tier 5 medicinal pills at the Xiao Household’s coming-of-age and succession celebration alongside his offer of annual training placements. 187
• He shares his experience of sect administration with Xiao Lin when the latter seeks advice after becoming household head. 188
• He formally appoints Yun Yun as chief disciple and young sect leader, ensuring that her succession is clear from the outset. 203
• He accepts Xiao Zhan as his second disciple after reaching an agreement with Xiao Lin, strengthening the alliance between the Misty Cloud Sect and the Xiao Household. 204 205
• He guides Xiao Zhan in cultivating the Xun Wind Art; under Yun Shan’s instruction and the Misty Cloud Sect’s resources, Xiao Zhan advances from Three-Star Dou Master to Seven-Star Da Dou Shi over two years. 181 205
• He reassures Jia Xing Tian that the sect will not interfere with imperial rule or shield disciples who violate the law, ending the previous friction with the Jia Ma Royal House. 207
• He arranges the tournament lineup with attention to his delegation’s strengths, asks Xiao Lin to lead the Dou Wang matches, and respects Xiao Lin’s wish to conceal his true power. 210 211
• He secretly transfers part of the Misty Cloud Sect’s tournament rewards to the Xiao Household after the Sect Tournament. 221
• He judges Yun Yun ready to take charge of the sect and plans to relinquish administrative responsibilities so he can concentrate on cultivation. He later hands the sect master position to her and spends most of his time cultivating. 354 385
• During Xiao Lin’s staged illness, he supports the Xiao Household’s stability and discreetly encourages Xiao Zhan to assume responsibility before succeeding his father as household head. Misty Cloud Sect disciples and elders also assist the household during the transition. 353 355
• When Xiao Yan later suffers repeated losses of cultivation, Yun Shan examines him at Xiao Lin’s hint. Aware that Xiao Lin is behind the condition, he keeps the secret and pretends he cannot help. 412
• Even after retirement, his authority as former sect master and grandmaster of both Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran gives his public endorsement of their marriage challenge considerable weight. Outsiders interpret his support for Yanran as a shift in the sect’s stance toward the Xiao Household. 519
• He stops Yun Leng’s unauthorized campaign against the Xiao Household by directing him to hand his administrative duties to other elders and concentrate on seeking a Dou Emperor breakthrough. 534 535
• After Yun Yun’s disappearance, he hears the reports of Gu He, Yan Shi, and Feng Li without unfairly assigning blame, then assumes responsibility for investigating the attackers. 556
• Following Protector Wu’s defeat, he explains the staged hostility to Yun Yun and shares only the information about Xiao Lin that he can reveal, restoring her confidence in him. 571
• He continues personally advising Xiao Zhan after the latter starts a family, visiting the Xiao Household to resolve his cultivation questions. 785
• After reaching Dou Venerable, he returns to sect administration so that Yun Yun can gain experience in the Central Plains under Xiao Lin’s protection. He believes the region’s opportunities are necessary for her to surpass Yun Potian. 794 795 827
• He offers Nalan Yanran the opportunity to accompany Yun Yun, but respects her decision to wait and travel with Xiao Yan instead. 795
• He reassures Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran before their departure that he will take responsibility for the matters entrusted to him. 862
• Under his restraint, the Misty Cloud Sect concentrates on recruiting and training disciples rather than interfering with the Jia Ma Royal House’s rule, maintaining good relations between the two powers. 1129

Deception and Negotiation

Yun Shan uses controlled performances and his public standing to assist Xiao Lin’s schemes without exposing their alliance.

• He conceals his advance knowledge of Protector Wu’s approach and keeps the agent talking rather than risking an unsuccessful attempt to capture or kill him. 508
• He feigns conflict between loyalty to his disciple and the desire to reach Dou Venerable, encouraging Wu to believe that the Soul Hall’s offer has tempted him. 508 509
• He demands proof of sincerity in the form of an upfront payment, obtaining a Storage Ring filled with resources while promising only to consider Wu’s proposal. 509
• He consults Xiao Lin after the recruitment attempt and agrees to preserve Wu’s life while continuing the deception, rather than immediately eliminating the agent. 510
• He publicly backs Nalan Yanran’s challenge as part of a plan with Xiao Lin to make a hostile observer believe that the Misty Cloud Sect is turning against the Xiao Household. 519 520
• He extends the performance by refusing a congratulatory gift for Xiao Li’s engagement and leaving Yun Yun ignorant of his real intentions. This helps sustain the façade but also causes Yun Leng to mistake the act for authorization to attack the household. 532
• His later consultations with Xiao Lin take place secretly at night to avoid prying eyes and preserve their apparent estrangement. 557
• He respects Xiao Lin’s discretion: when his friend reveals only part of a sensitive matter, Yun Shan does not press him for the rest. 562
• In the valley confrontation, he abandons the façade, tells Protector Wu that their supposed cooperation was a deception, and declares that Wu will not be allowed to leave. The performance ends once Xiao Lin brings Wu under his control. 568 571
• He keeps the hidden expert’s whereabouts secret despite repeated efforts by Fa Ma and the Jia Ma Imperial Family to obtain information from him. Their inability to learn more leads Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian to speculate that this expert helped Yun Shan reach Dou Zong. 590
• Even after reaching Dou Venerable, he maintains discretion regarding the Xiao Household’s secrets. When Xiao Lin identifies a household possession as the Soul Hall’s true objective without naming it, Yun Shan does not pry. 794

Relationships

• Xiao Lin — Initially a promising young Dou Wang whom Yun Shan attempts to recruit; their relationship becomes a close alliance after Xiao Lin returns the Misty Cloud Sect’s lost inheritance. Yun Shan promises that the Xiao Household will endure as long as the Misty Cloud Sect remains. He also recognizes that Xiao Lin is stronger than himself and protects the Xiao Household while Xiao Lin travels away from the Jia Ma Empire. During Xiao Lin’s staged health crisis, he learns that the concealment is intended to avoid scrutiny from an expected visitor ranked among the continent’s three strongest experts. He agrees to help and spreads the requested account of Xiao Lin’s condition. Their friendship includes plans to play chess after retirement, and Xiao Lin later visits him at the sect to chat. Yun Shan also keeps Xiao Lin’s involvement in Xiao Yan’s cultivation troubles secret. Their later visits include cultivation consultations and Go matches; Xiao Lin’s guidance contributes to Yun Shan’s advancement, although Yun Shan remains unaware that his friend has reached Dou Sheng. After Xiao Lin warns him about the Soul Hall, they coordinate a deception against Protector Wu and stage apparent political hostility toward the Xiao Household. 60 197 201 205 235 354 355 385 412 466 467 508 509 519 520 Yun Shan later seeks Xiao Lin’s help over Yun Yun’s disappearance, trusts his assurance that she is safe, and accepts his strategy of capturing Wu rather than killing him. They secretly observe Yun Yun’s recovery together, though Xiao Lin’s amusement at her romance with Xiao Yan repeatedly exasperates Yun Shan. Xiao Lin also respects Yun Shan’s earlier request to spare Yun Leng, until the elder’s betrayal becomes clear. Their understanding remains close, but Yun Shan still has only fragmentary knowledge of Xiao Lin’s true circumstances at that time. 557 558 562 563 565 566 571 After the Qing Hai crisis, Xiao Lin treats Yun Shan’s soul injuries and entrusts him with a limited explanation of the Soul Hall’s objective. He agrees to take Yun Yun to the Central Plains and praises Yun Shan as a worthy teacher whose readiness to protect his disciples vindicates their original arrangement. 794 795 Xiao Lin later tells Xiao Yan that Yun Shan had known his secret and that both elders had long known about Xiao Yan and Yun Yun. 1342
• Yun Yun — His first disciple, chief disciple, and designated young sect leader. Yun Shan is openly proud of her potential and comforts her when she worries about him. After judging her ready to take charge, he hands her the position of Misty Cloud Sect Master so he can focus on cultivation. She lives up to his expectations as his successor. He instructs her to notify him whenever Xiao Lin comes to the sect; she faithfully follows the instruction, though she does not fully understand the connection between the two men. 183 189 203 354 385 466 467 He regards her almost as his own daughter. His deceptive hostility toward the Xiao Household initially makes her fear that he has changed, but her disappearance provokes a deeply personal response. He secretly protects her during her recovery, becomes distressed by her attachment to Xiao Yan, and ultimately intervenes alongside Xiao Lin against Protector Wu after she kills Yun Leng. He acknowledges her commitment to her duties despite his displeasure over her romantic feelings. Afterward, he explains his act, completely reassuring her about his principles. 532 556 562 563 565 568 571 His Dou Venerable breakthrough fulfills their shared dream of restoring the sect. Later, he sacrifices his own chance to travel so that she can explore the Central Plains while he manages the sect, asking Xiao Lin not to make her feel guilty over the arrangement. He hopes she will surpass Yun Potian and privately intends the journey to give her and Xiao Yan an opportunity to develop their relationship. 777 794 795 827 He later witnesses their engagement at Starfall Pavilion. Yun Yun subsequently reaches One-Star Dou Saint. 1317 1471
• Xiao Zhan — His second disciple and Yun Yun’s junior brother. Yun Shan guides Xiao Zhan’s cultivation at Misty Cloud Mountain and uses the relationship to strengthen the alliance with the Xiao Household. When Xiao Lin appears incapacitated, Yun Shan is regarded as the household’s greatest available backer through his position as Xiao Zhan’s teacher. He also helps prepare Xiao Zhan to succeed his father. Protector Wu later dismisses Xiao Zhan as a replaceable disciple, but Yun Shan’s apparent willingness to consider betraying him is only an act. Xiao Zhan is eventually informed that his teacher’s public stance against the household is part of a deception. 204 205 353 355 508 520 Their continuing master-disciple relationship also helps outsiders accept the restoration of normal relations between the sect and household after the apparent suppression ends. 571 Xiao Zhan is explicitly his final disciple. Yun Shan supplies medicinal pills during Yang Xiyue’s pregnancy with Xiao Ding and continues visiting to advise Xiao Zhan after he starts a family. When Qing Hai demands Xiao Zhan’s surrender, Yun Shan fights to protect him; when Xiao Zhan rushes into the battle to help his wounded teacher, Yun Shan sternly orders him away. 204 264 781 785 795 He and Yun Yun also attend Xiao Zhan’s wedding in person. 228
• Xiao Yan — Xiao Zhan’s son and Yun Shan’s martial grand-disciple. Yun Shan makes a show of examining Xiao Yan’s unexplained cultivation loss but, having received a hint from Xiao Lin about its cause, conceals what he knows. Xiao Yan believes even his grandmaster cannot help him. Yun Shan later publicly endorses Nalan Yanran’s marriage challenge against him, giving the dispute political significance without revealing the coordinated plan behind his intervention. 412 519 520 When Xiao Yan rescues Yun Yun, Yun Shan considers her rescuer a great benefactor and wishes to thank him. Watching Xiao Yan successfully contain two Heavenly Flames and advance to One-Star Dou Ling astonishes him enough to believe that the youth might someday reach Dou Sheng, though not Dou Emperor. His gratitude and admiration become entangled with anger when he recognizes Yun Yun’s romantic interest in Xiao Yan, who is already engaged to her disciple. 558 562 563 565 He eventually stops opposing the relationship and later sends Yun Yun to the Central Plains partly because Xiao Yan is expected to travel there after graduating from Jia Nan Academy. He does not disclose this motive when Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran visit, but reassures both of them before their departure that he will handle matters in his care. 588 827 862 At Xuanhuang Fortress, Yun Shan recognizes Xiao Yan’s increased strength, while Xiao Yan offers his aid to his grandmaster and the Jia Ma Empire. Xiao Yan later brings Yun Shan to Starfall Pavilion to witness his engagement to Yun Yun. 1128 1317
• Nalan Yanran — A disciple of Yun Yun and therefore Yun Shan’s martial grand-disciple. She offers to seek Yun Yun’s help when Xiao Yan loses his cultivation, but he declines after Yun Shan’s apparent inability to diagnose the problem. Yun Shan later publicly supports her proposal that the outcome of a duel determine whether she marries Xiao Yan normally or he marries into the Nalan Family. His endorsement appears to favor her family over the Xiao Household, but is part of his deception with Xiao Lin. 410 412 519 520 Her engagement to Xiao Yan contributes to Yun Shan’s alarm over Yun Yun’s feelings for him. Even after the deception ends, the publicly established marriage challenge remains in effect; the eventual duel ends in a draw, and the couple retain their engagement while postponing marriage. 562 573 588 She returns from her travels to attend the celebration of his Dou Venerable breakthrough. He later offers to send her to the Central Plains with Yun Yun, but she chooses to go with Xiao Yan instead. Yun Shan feels that privately helping Yun Yun pursue a chance with Xiao Yan does Yanran a disservice, making him reluctant to explain his full reasoning. 777 795 827 Yanran has mixed feelings when Yun Yun and Xiao Yan become engaged, but is also happy for her teacher. 1317
• Jia Xing Tian — Leader of the Jia Ma Royal House. They temporarily cooperate against an unknown threat, then later establish a formal understanding to end tensions between their factions. 2 207 After Yun Shan reaches Dou Venerable, Jia Xing Tian accepts that his strength benefits the empire against external powers, especially because neither Yun Shan nor his successors appears intent on imperial rule. 778 The two later gather with the Flame Alliance’s leading fighters, while Yun Shan’s restraint keeps the sect from interfering with the royal house’s rule. 1128 1129
• Yan Luotian — Sect Master of the Golden Goose Sect and Yun Shan’s long-standing rival. Yan Luotian injures Yun Shan during the Secret Realm expedition, but Yun Shan later defeats him with Wind’s Extremity: Annihilation. Although Yan Luotian treats surpassing Yun Shan as a central goal, Yun Shan maintains that his own ambition lies beyond their rivalry. 59 214 215 216
• Hai Bodong — A fellow Jia Ma Empire Dou Emperor who challenges Yun Shan to measure their difference in strength. Yun Shan honors an old promise to accept the challenge and defeats him. 199 200 During their opening exchanges, Yun Shan restrains his strength and offers guidance through the fight, which Hai Bodong recognizes before committing to his strongest attack. 199 Hai Bodong later regards Yun Shan’s Dou Venerable breakthrough as an opportunity to shift attention from internal rivalry toward the Jia Ma Empire’s standing among neighboring empires. 778
• Xie Biyan — A Cloud Empire Dou Zong whom Yun Shan expects to face in the Sect Tournament. Yun Shan considers himself heavily disadvantaged, estimating only a twenty-percent chance of victory. He ultimately withdraws from the decisive battle in favor of the disguised Xiao Lin and assures his delegation that Xiao Lin will win. 216 217 218
• Ying Changkong — A Falling Goose Empire bandit leader whom Yun Shan contemptuously drives away after interrupting his attempt to kill Xiao Lin. 58 59
• Protector Wu / Wu Ying — A Four-Star Dou Zong protector of the Soul Hall who tries to recruit Yun Shan to attack the Xiao Household in exchange for assistance reaching Dou Venerable. Forewarned by Xiao Lin, Yun Shan disguises his contempt and lack of interest, feigns temptation, and extracts an upfront Storage Ring of resources. Wu subsequently mistakes Yun Shan’s public support for Nalan Yanran as evidence that his recruitment effort is succeeding. 508 509 519 Wu later exploits Yun Leng and attacks Yun Yun, crossing Yun Shan’s personal bottom line. Yun Shan and Xiao Lin initially misjudge his absence, then plan to capture him to delay Soul Hall scrutiny. When Wu again attempts to kill Yun Yun, Yun Shan and Xiao Lin intervene; Yun Shan exposes the false cooperation and rejects Wu’s threats of retaliation. Xiao Lin subsequently brings Wu under his control. 535 556 557 558 568 571
• Yun Leng — The Misty Cloud Sect’s Grand Elder and Yun Shan’s longtime subordinate. Yun Shan trusts him and values his personal loyalty, despite his domineering behavior and tendency to oppose Yun Yun. When Yun Leng independently persecutes the Xiao Household after misunderstanding Yun Shan’s act, Yun Shan asks Xiao Lin to spare him and directs him away from sect affairs to seek a breakthrough. His attempt to save Yun Leng fails: the elder allies with Protector Wu, invokes Yun Shan’s name to lure Yun Yun into a trap, and seeks to seize the sect master position. Yun Shan is devastated by the confirmed betrayal, and Yun Yun kills Yun Leng to prevent him from endangering the sect. 532 534 535 566 567 At the time Yun Shan tries to redirect him toward cultivation, Yun Leng has served him for fifty-two years. Despite their bond, Yun Shan ultimately regards death at the hands of the current sect master as the best possible end for his traitorous subordinate. 534 568
• Gu He, Yan Shi, and Feng Li — Jia Ma Empire experts who accompany Yun Yun on the expedition to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame. After her ambush, they report to Yun Shan and each accepts responsibility. He refuses to blame them unfairly, hears their descriptions, and undertakes the investigation himself, earning their relief and respect. 556
• Venerable Qing Hai — A Soul Hall Dou Venerable who holds Yun Shan responsible for Wu Ying’s disappearance and demands Xiao Zhan’s surrender. Yun Shan refuses to abandon his disciple and fights him. 781 Qing Hai initially holds only a slight advantage over the One-Star Dou Venerable Yun Shan and is surprised by his combat ability. Unwilling to rely on winning a prolonged battle, he escalates the confrontation. 782 Qing Hai is forced to consume enslaved Soul Bodies to temporarily reach Four-Star Dou Venerable, after which he gravely wounds Yun Shan and brings him to the verge of death. 784 785
• Yun Potian — The Misty Cloud Sect’s founding ancestor and a model for Yun Shan’s efforts to restore its prestige. Reaching Dou Venerable fulfills Yun Shan’s revival goal, but he acknowledges that he has not yet equaled Yun Potian’s former heights. Although tempted to retrace the ancestor’s path through the Central Plains, he sends Yun Yun in his place and hopes that she will eventually surpass the founder. 777 794 795

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Unknown Soul-Power Incident — Yun Shan travels from Misty Cloud Mountain to the Jia Ma Imperial Palace after sensing Xiao Lin’s overwhelming soul power. He proposes a temporary alliance with Jia Xing Tian to protect the empire from the unidentified expert. 2
• Seventh-Order Magical Beast Core Auction — Yun Shan competes with Jia Xing Tian and Fa Ma for the core on behalf of the Misty Cloud Sect. He stops bidding when Fa Ma offers seven million gold coins, leaving the Alchemist Guild as the successful buyer. 38
• Secret Realm Expedition — As a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, Yun Shan competes with Yan Luotian for the Secret Realm’s central resources. Injured in their clash, he nevertheless saves Xiao Lin from Ying Changkong and begins cooperating with the Xiao Household. Yan Luotian’s destruction of the Savage Sect’s cultivation methods and Dou Techniques prevents Yun Shan from obtaining the inheritance he most values. 42 58 59 60
• Xiao Household Alliance — Yun Shan personally attends Xiao Lin’s succession ceremony, supports the household with pills and training opportunities, and later shares the Misty Cloud Sect’s hidden history with Xiao Lin. 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191
• Restoration of the Misty Cloud Sect — Xiao Lin returns the sect’s lost Earth Rank and higher inheritance in exchange for a binding alliance. The returned materials include the High-Grade Earth Rank Cloud Mist Sword Canon. Yun Shan takes Yun Yun and Xiao Zhan as disciples, securing both succession and ties to the Xiao Household. 197 203 204 205
• Hai Bodong’s Challenge — Yun Shan accepts Hai Bodong’s long-standing challenge and defeats him with the Great Sorrowful Wind-Ripping Hand, publicly reinforcing his position as one of the Jia Ma Empire’s strongest experts. 198 199 200
• Breakthrough to Dou Zong — After receiving the Misty Cloud Sect’s lost inheritance from Xiao Lin, Yun Shan advances to Dou Zong and publicly reveals the breakthrough before the Sect Tournament. 204 206 207
• Sect Tournament of the Four Great Empires — Now a Dou Zong, Yun Shan leads the Jia Ma Empire’s delegation, settles the sect’s political relationship with the royal house, and defeats Yan Luotian in their decisive rivalry. Against the Cloud Empire, he acknowledges his poor chances against Xie Biyan and accepts Xiao Lin’s offer to fight instead. He formally withdraws in favor of the disguised Xiao Lin and reassures the delegation of their ally’s strength. 207 214 215 216 217 218
• Tournament Victory and Resource Allocation — After the Jia Ma Empire wins first place, Yun Shan helps secure the Misty Cloud Sect’s share of the rewards and secretly transfers two Jade Crystal Veins, an Ironwood Forest, and a gold mine to the Xiao Household. He publicly claims that Xiao Lin had taken a liking to one of the Misty Cloud Sect’s prizes to conceal the alliance’s true nature. 221
• Protection of the Xiao Household — When Xiao Lin leaves the Jia Ma Empire under the pretext of seclusion, Yun Shan continues protecting the Xiao Household and helps ensure that it can develop safely in Xiao Lin’s absence. 235 His support extends to family matters: he attends Xiao Zhan’s wedding with Yun Yun and provides medicinal pills during Yang Xiyue’s first pregnancy. 228 264
• Xiao Lin’s Staged Illness and Leadership Transition — Yun Shan personally visits after hearing that Xiao Lin is gravely injured and unconscious, temporarily easing the household’s anxiety. In private, Xiao Lin explains that the illness is a deception intended to prevent an expected, exceptionally powerful visitor from discovering his hidden strength. Yun Shan agrees to assist, informs the household of Xiao Lin’s supposed lingering condition, and lets the news spread at Xiao Lin’s request. His support helps stabilize the household while Xiao Zhan takes over its affairs and formally succeeds his father three months later. 353 354 355
• Retirement and Yun Yun’s Succession — Having reached Five-Star Dou Zong, Yun Shan tells Xiao Lin that he intends to leave the sect to Yun Yun and pursue a higher realm, with Dou Venerable now a realistic ambition. Not long after Xiao Lin’s own retirement, Yun Shan transfers the sect master position to Yun Yun and devotes most of his time to cultivation. 354 385
• Xiao Yan’s Cultivation Troubles — After Xiao Yan repeatedly loses his cultivation, Xiao Lin hints to Yun Shan that he is responsible. Yun Shan examines his martial grand-disciple only for appearances, keeps Xiao Lin’s involvement secret, and leaves Xiao Yan believing that his condition cannot be treated. 412
• Cultivation Guidance and Go Matches — Xiao Lin visits Yun Shan at his rear-mountain cultivation grounds, offering guidance that contributes to his advancement to Seven-Star Dou Zong. They then play Go, but Yun Shan loses eight consecutive games and refuses to continue. Although Yun Shan increasingly recognizes the depth of Xiao Lin’s strength, he still does not suspect his Dou Sheng breakthrough. 466 467
• Protector Wu’s Recruitment Attempt — Now an Eight-Star Dou Zong, Yun Shan confronts Protector Wu after the Soul Hall agent infiltrates the Misty Cloud Sect. Following Xiao Lin’s prior warning, he avoids a rash attack, conceals his awareness of the scheme, and pretends to consider betraying the Xiao Household for a Dou Venerable breakthrough. He demands an upfront payment, obtains a Storage Ring filled with resources, and then leaves for the Xiao Household Ancestral Residence to consult Xiao Lin. 508 509 During their meeting, Xiao Lin confirms that they should keep Wu alive and continue the planned performance. 510
• Marriage Challenge and Feigned Factional Conflict — Yun Shan publicly backs Nalan Yanran’s challenge: a duel in one year will determine whether she marries Xiao Yan normally or he marries into the Nalan Family. His authority turns the private dispute into a public commitment and makes Protector Wu believe he has begun suppressing the Xiao Household. Xiao Lin escalates the dispute by issuing an unauthorized statement in Xiao Yan’s name that Yanran must become his concubine if defeated, prompting her to enter the Gate of Life and Death. Xiao Lin later explains to Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue that Yun Shan’s apparent hostility is part of their plan to mislead a hostile figure. The Misty Cloud Sect’s subsequent absence from Xiao Yan’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony further encourages rumors of factional conflict. 519 520 521
• Yun Leng’s Unauthorized Suppression — Yun Shan maintains his act by rejecting a congratulatory gift for Xiao Li and Princess Yao Ye’s engagement, leaving Yun Yun troubled by his apparent change. Yun Leng mistakes the exchange for permission to undermine joint ventures, withdraw sect support, reclaim properties, and injure Xiao Household stewards. Yun Shan intervenes indirectly, encouraging Yun Leng to surrender his duties and seek a Dou Emperor breakthrough. This stops the persecution and temporarily restores calm, but Wu Ying follows Yun Leng and targets him as a new pawn. 532 534 535
• Yun Yun’s Disappearance and Revised Soul Hall Strategy — Gu He, Yan Shi, and Feng Li return with news of Yun Yun’s ambush. Yun Shan refuses to blame them, suspects Wu Ying from the techniques described, and visits Xiao Lin secretly at night. Comparing their observations reveals that Wu has been absent for months. Xiao Lin assures him that Yun Yun is safe after Xiao Yan’s rescue and proposes capturing Wu rather than killing him, thereby delaying investigation by the Soul Hall. 556 557 558
• Secret Observation of Yun Yun and Xiao Yan — Yun Shan and Xiao Lin secretly watch the pair for about six weeks, initially to protect the injured Yun Yun. Xiao Lin hints at the soul-form teacher behind Xiao Yan’s extraordinary displays of strength, and Yun Shan understands without seeking further disclosure. 561 562 Yun Shan is astonished when Xiao Yan refines the Green Lotus Core Flame despite already possessing the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, advancing from Seven-Star Da Dou Shi to One-Star Dou Ling. His amazement turns to alarm as Yun Yun’s behavior reveals her feelings for Xiao Yan. He resolves to take her away, but Xiao Lin persuades him not to confront her prematurely or jeopardize her prospective breakthrough. 562 563
• Yun Leng’s Betrayal and Yun Yun’s Rescue — Following Yun Yun home, Yun Shan and Xiao Lin witness Yun Leng invoke Yun Shan’s name to divert her into a remote valley. Yun Shan insists on observing further before condemning his longtime subordinate, but Protector Wu’s appearance and Yun Leng’s open ambition confirm the betrayal. Yun Yun kills Yun Leng with a concealed sword attack despite being outmatched by Wu. Xiao Lin destroys the Soul Locks threatening her, and Yun Shan reveals his supposed cooperation with Wu as a deception and condemns the protector’s actions. Xiao Lin steps in to end the confrontation. 565 566 567 568
• End of the Deception and Marriage Challenge Aftermath — After Xiao Lin brings Protector Wu under his control, Yun Shan explains his conduct to Yun Yun, dispelling her fear that his character has changed. The sect and household end their staged hostility and restore normal relations, although the marriage challenge cannot simply be withdrawn. Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran eventually fight to a draw, reconcile, and retain their engagement while agreeing that neither is ready to marry. 571 573 588
• Dou Venerable Breakthrough and Regional Ascendancy — Yun Shan breaks through to Dou Venerable after seclusion and reports the achievement before the sect’s ancestral tablets. A month later, he and Yun Yun arrive through a Spatial Passage at a celebration attended by factions from across the region. He declares that he will protect the Jia Ma Empire without attacking others unless they encroach upon it, and the empire emerges as a regional hegemon. 777 778
• Qing Hai’s Demand and Yun Shan’s Peril — Venerable Qing Hai demands Xiao Zhan’s surrender and offers to set aside Wu Ying’s disappearance if Yun Shan stays out of the matter. Yun Shan instead protects his disciple and engages Qing Hai with swordsmanship and wind techniques. 781 His cultivation is confirmed as One-Star Dou Venerable, and he initially fights almost evenly with Qing Hai, though his greater expenditure of strength leaves him slightly disadvantaged in a prolonged contest. 782 After Qing Hai absorbs more than a hundred enslaved souls to temporarily reach Four-Star Dou Venerable, Yun Shan is overwhelmed and gravely wounded. When Xiao Zhan rushes to intervene and Yun Yun follows, Yun Shan orders them to withdraw despite his own imminent danger. 784 785
• Recovery and Yun Yun’s Central Plains Journey — While recovering at the Xiao Household Ancestral Residence, Yun Shan receives a soul-repairing pill from Xiao Lin and learns that the Soul Hall seeks an item belonging to the household. Rather than pursue his own interest in the Central Plains, he asks Xiao Lin to take Yun Yun and chooses to manage the Misty Cloud Sect himself. He persuades her to leave, keeps his sacrifice private, and bids her farewell as she enters Xiao Lin’s Spatial Passage. 794 795
• Support for the Younger Generation’s Departure — Yun Shan later tells Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran that the Central Plains offers Yun Yun the chance to surpass Yun Potian, without revealing that he also hopes to give her and Xiao Yan an opportunity together. Before the pair depart on their own journey, he confidently reassures them that he will handle the responsibilities entrusted to him and is not intimidated by the Heavenly Poison Woman. 827 862
• Flame Alliance Gathering — At Xuanhuang Fortress, Yun Shan joins Medusa, Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, Hai Bodong, and other leading fighters preparing for the Lion Nether Sect’s threat. He recognizes Xiao Yan’s growth when his grand-disciple returns and offers to help defend the Jia Ma Empire. The gathering reflects the improved relations among the empire’s factions and with the Snake-People Tribe. 1128 1129
• Yun Yun and Xiao Yan’s Engagement — After their relationship is brought into the open, Xiao Yan returns to the Northwest Continent to bring Yun Shan from the Misty Cloud Sect to Starfall Pavilion. Yun Shan joins the relatives and elders witnessing their engagement. Xiao Lin later confirms to Xiao Yan that both he and Yun Shan had long known about the relationship. 1317 1342

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