Smiling on the Surface, Murderous Intent Beneath

The red-clad woman was greatly alarmed upon hearing this. "Young Master, are we starting our plan? Isn't it too early? Our influence has only just begun to rise."

"It's not too early."

Duan Yu shook his head. "Within twenty years, the landscape of this world will change. Old and new powers will replace one another, and the table will be reshuffled."

"And what I need to do is make Cloud Dream Marsh a newly rising force at that table. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect will be my finest stepping stone."

As he spoke, Duan Yu handed over a stack of papers. "I've already written the information on these papers and infused them with spatial power."

"When the time comes, you only need to use your Streamlight Sprite to scatter them into the air. I've already arranged your identity with Spirit Hall. You can depart tomorrow. Go prepare my things first."

"Yes, Young Master!"

The red-clad woman respectfully accepted the order, stepped forward to take the papers, then turned and departed.

Dawn.

At the gates of Heaven Dou City, a carriage arrived before the city entrance. Protected by a group of guards, Duan Yu stepped forward and boarded it.

From this moment on, he was no longer the idle Duan Yu, but Nie Wuming, the young master of the Cloud Dream Marsh sect.

They traveled onward through hardship.

Half a month later, Spirit City finally came into view.

Duan Yu examined Spirit City. Before he had even entered the city, before he had even entered Spirit Hall, he could already sense the city's formidable strength.

Everyone was a Soul Master.

That was Duan Yu's most immediate impression. Everyone in Spirit City possessed at least the cultivation of a Grand Soul Master.

Before Duan Yu could think further, the carriage slowly stopped at the city gates. Unlike ordinary people, sect forces entering the city would be specifically greeted by Spirit Hall personnel as a gesture of goodwill.

As for the grandeur of the reception, that depended on the strength of the sect force.

For ordinary sect forces, Spirit Hall would casually send a few people to handle the matter. For powerful sect forces, Spirit Hall would dispatch important figures to extend their welcome.

The Cloud Dream Marsh founded by Duan Yu happened to be among those top-tier forces, so Spirit Hall had specifically sent Platinum Bishop Salas.

At the city gates, Salas wore a red robe, with two units standing behind him as he waited.

When Duan Yu arrived, Salas offered a salute. "The young master of Cloud Dream Marsh has arrived in Spirit City. Platinum Bishop Salas has come to welcome you."

Duan Yu smiled faintly and returned the salute. "Sect affairs are numerous, and my father truly could not spare the time. Nie Wuming, young master of Cloud Dream Marsh, greets Bishop Salas."

A glint flashed through Salas's eyes, though his expression remained unchanged. "I understand, I understand. However, Young Friend Nie, your face is...?"

Naturally, Salas was referring to the mask Duan Yu was currently wearing. Duan Yu smiled and answered calmly:

"To my shame, I was disfigured in a fire when I was young. I wear this mask only to avoid frightening you, Bishop. I hope you will not mind."

"Oh, so that is the case?"

Salas laughed heartily. "No matter, no matter. In that case, Young Friend Nie may keep the mask on and take a look around with this old man."

Within Spirit City, Duan Yu and Salas walked side by side along the streets.

During that time, Salas continuously probed Duan Yu with questions regarding Cloud Dream Marsh. Duan Yu was in no hurry; no matter what Salas asked, he played dumb.

By the end, Salas's expression had turned somewhat unpleasant. "Young Friend Nie, I heard that your father has now broken through to become a Seven-Ring Soul Saint. Is that true?"

"If it is true, then Spirit Hall must prepare a gift and pay him a visit to offer our congratulations."

"It is true."

Duan Yu admitted it without hesitation. "My father officially broke through to become a Seven-Ring Soul Saint not long ago. However, he is currently consolidating his realm, so I fear he may not know when he will be able to personally receive you, Bishop."

"Oh, that truly is a pity."

Salas glanced at Duan Yu. "I personally quite wish to get acquainted with your father."

Duan Yu smiled faintly and was about to reply when he saw a group of burly men wielding blades charging toward them from afar.

Without a word of nonsense, soul power erupted around them. One was a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, while all the rest were Soul Venerables.

The sudden change made Duan Yu glance instinctively at Salas. Seeing Salas's calm expression, how could he fail to understand that this was meant to test whether powerful experts were following nearby to protect him?

Salas was merely a Soul Emperor. Even if a Soul Saint were secretly lurking nearby, he would not be able to sense them.

But now that he had arranged an assassination, so long as the person behind Duan Yu did not want him dead, that person would definitely intervene.

However...

The corners of Duan Yu's lips rose slightly. Accompanied by an impassioned dragon's roar, the phantom of the Spacetime Dragon King emerged, while three black soul rings pulsed beneath his feet.

Those three dazzling black soul rings were extraordinarily conspicuous at that moment, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

And the most shocked of them all was undoubtedly Salas.

Three black Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings—what did that even mean? Even he himself possessed only two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings, yet this junior before him already had three.

Duan Yu swept a disdainful glance across them, then lightly raised a finger. The Dragon King coiled through the sky.

"Roar!"

A clear dragon's cry rang out. The Dragon King danced as it spiraled through the air, countless strands of temporal power spreading around him.

As the dance ended, time froze.

As the Time Dragon King continued to dance, temporal power continuously descended upon the men. At first, they merely felt their movements slow somewhat and paid it no mind.

But in the next instant, they realized something was wrong. This was not simply moving half a beat slower. It felt more like their entire bodies had sunk into a swamp. Their limbs were unbearably heavy, and even circulating their soul power had become difficult.

The Four-Ring Soul Ancestor was the first to realize something was wrong. The light of his fourth soul ring flared as he prepared to activate it, but at that very moment, something unexpected happened.

That fourth soul ring, which had been shining brightly and was about to activate, suddenly dimmed again and failed to release its skill.

This was... his soul skill had been interrupted?! Salas stared at Duan Yu in utter shock and disbelief.

But it was not over. Not only had the Four-Ring Soul Ancestor failed to release his soul skill, even he himself froze in place beneath the gaze of the dancing Time Dragon King, unable to move.

Only then did he realize the danger. His expression changed drastically as he looked toward Salas in the distance, trying to call for help. He stammered for a long time, yet could not say a single word.

Duan Yu sneered and raised his finger before pressing it downward.

The Dragon King phantom circling in the sky swooped down at that moment, its dragon claw grasping through the air.

Temporal power contracted, and an invisible domain spread toward the men.

A flash of silver light flickered. The men who had been charging over so fiercely just moments ago had now become statues, frozen in place. Their faces held countless expressions—fear, pleading—but not the resolve to fight to the death.

Still, upon reflection, it was understandable. Before absolute strength, fighting to the death would only add to the joke.