The Gu Clan's One and Only Designated Dou Emperor

Yun Congxin brought the sisters Yao Ye and Yao Yue away from the Imperial Capital, then picked up Nalan Yanran, who was recovering from her injuries in Black Flame City.

With that, the framework of his planned Jia Ma Empire Genius Cultivation Group was finally in place.

With Nalan Yanran as leader, Yao Ye as her deputy, and Third-Grade Alchemist Yao Yue handling logistics, the team boasted quite a luxurious lineup.

On Misty Cloud Mountain, Yun Congxin looked at the three young women before him and sighed.

Mr. Gu He's disciple was quite promising, but his plan to brave the Black-Corner Region was far too dangerous. In all likelihood, Gu He would refuse to let his disciple go. What about the three great clans of the Imperial Capital? Their names were so illustrious—did they have any noteworthy talents...

Yun Congxin racked his memory for ages, only to come up with that battle junkie Mu Zhan.

The problem was, that fellow's talent was nothing special either! Besides, Yun Congxin always felt there was something wrong with his head. He belonged at the table next door with the "anyone who doesn't dare stir up trouble is a mediocrity" crowd...

Alas, the vast Jia Ma Empire was truly starved of talent. He couldn't even put together a galactic dream team!

"Grandmaster, what's wrong?" Nalan Yanran asked in confusion after Yun Congxin stared at her and the imperial sisters for a long while, then let out a deep sigh.

"Nothing. I just feel... rather wistful."

Yun Congxin lamented inwardly, All the talent in the Jia Ma Empire has been lured away...

The Woeful Poison Body had run off to the neighboring Chu Yun Empire to become its boss, and the Blue-Eyed Three-Flower Pupils had been snatched away by the Heavenly Snake Mansion. If he hadn't arrived in time, even Xiao Yan would have been driven out of the Jia Ma Empire by the Misty Cloud Sect!

And which talents had the Jia Ma Empire's major powers managed to keep?

Mu Zhan? Nalan Yanran?

"Alas..." Yun Congxin sighed again. "Stay here for now and cultivate diligently. In a while, I'll take you out to broaden your horizons. Yanran, you especially need to review your battle in Wutan City with the sect elders more often. You had plenty of ingenuity but not enough ruthlessness. It was like you were fighting in a tournament. You need to improve."

"I have other matters to attend to. I'll come see you again in a while. I hope to see progress from all of you by then. That's all. You're dismissed."

Before his words had fully faded, Yun Congxin was gone.

"To think that after all these years, this remote backwater has produced another Dou Zong, and from the Misty Cloud Sect founded by Yun Potian, no less... A pity he's only a little Dou Zong who barely scraped through his breakthrough. He hasn't inherited a shred of Yun Potian's abilities..."

In Black Flame City, Ling Ying sat on a rooftop, watching the Xiao Clan's grand procession arrive at the plaza where Flying Magical Beasts could be rented. Bored out of his mind, he began muttering to himself.

"Could his abilities really have been lost entirely? Did he leave nothing for his descendants? That shouldn't be..." Ling Ying kneaded his dark-attribute Dou Qi into a little black ball and tossed it between his hands. "He was, after all, a mighty regional titan who once commanded the winds and clouds of the Northwest Continent. That uncanny movement Dou Technique had no equal under heaven. How could it have been lost..."

"What's been lost?" Yun Congxin's voice suddenly came from behind him, nearly making Ling Ying jump out of his skin.

Even from a great distance, Yun Congxin had recognized the identity of this mysterious man who kept hiding in the shadows.

A Dou Huang expert who wielded dark-attribute Dou Qi, wasn't from the Jia Ma Empire, and constantly lurked in the shadows to secretly observe Xiao Yan's movements—who else could it be but Ling Ying, the Gu Clan's one and only designated Dou Emperor?

"Who's there?!"

In the blink of an eye, Ling Ying struck like lightning. The little ball of dark energy he had been kneading instantly became a long black spear, which thrust straight toward the source of the voice.

"Myriad Wind Binding!"

The spear tore through the air, moving so fast it nearly left afterimages. In an instant, its point reached Yun Congxin.

But that was as far as it went. Pale green ropes seemed to condense out of thin air. Four ropes from four directions locked the long black spear firmly in place before Yun Congxin, preventing it from advancing another inch.

He extended his right index finger and gently touched the spearhead. The instant they made contact, the spear collapsed.

"Your face is unfamiliar, my friend. You're probably not from the Jia Ma Empire, are you?" Yun Congxin asked with a genial smile, feigning ignorance despite knowing the answer perfectly well.

"What, am I not allowed to be here if I'm not from the Jia Ma Empire?" Ling Ying remained extremely wary, and his words were far from polite.

"Oh, not at all. I can't speak for the Imperial Family, but the Misty Cloud Sect has always welcomed friends from across the continent as guests." Yun Congxin cupped his hands. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Yun Shan, sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"Ahem, I am Ling Ying." Seeing how courteous Yun Congxin was, Ling Ying felt rather embarrassed about having just bad-mouthed him. He coughed and returned the cupped-hand salute.

"My friend, judging by what you were saying just now, you seem quite familiar with our Misty Cloud Sect's predecessor," Yun Congxin said, cutting straight to the point.

"Ahem, ahem..." Ling Ying coughed awkwardly and began trying to smooth things over. "Yun Potian won tremendous fame in the Northwest Continent back in his day. Who hasn't heard of him..."

Indeed, that name alone told you he was no ordinary man. What normal person would dare call himself "Heaven Breaker"?

Yun Potian... Yun Potian... Could this background figure among background figures really have left some treasure behind? Yun Congxin muttered inwardly.

Could there really be another secret within the Gate of Life and Death? As he pondered this, Yun Congxin continued speaking to Ling Ying. "I sensed your presence back at the Misty Cloud Sect. It seems that wherever young Xiao Yan appears, you appear as well. Have I misunderstood?"

"Alas, I'm carrying out a request..." Ling Ying sighed. "Rest assured, Sect Master Yun. I bear no ill will toward either the Misty Cloud Sect or that little fellow Xiao Yan."

After saying that, he hesitated, but ultimately offered a warning. "I would advise you not to ask any further, Sect Master Yun. Too much is involved in this matter. Knowing too much would do neither you nor the Misty Cloud Sect any good..."

An expert from the Gu Clan certainly spoke with confidence. Even a Dou Emperor dared address a Dou Zong like that...

"Very well. I trust you, Mr. Ling." After an inward struggle, Yun Congxin still asked, "Mr. Ling, have you ever heard the name Hall of Souls?"

At that name, Ling Ying's smile visibly stiffened. "Why would you suddenly bring them up, Sect Master Yun?"

"To tell you the truth, I only broke through to Dou Zong thanks to the Hall of Souls." Though he had already prepared for this in his mind, Yun Congxin was still extremely nervous.

The Gu Clan had never been a bunch of saints. The only reason he dared speak openly with Ling Ying was that he trusted Ling Ying and Xun'er not to harm Xiao Yan's friend.

Once the bow was drawn, there was no recalling the arrow. Now that he had spoken, there was no turning back.

Yun Congxin gritted his teeth and continued, "They have made extensive arrangements across the Northwest Continent and are plotting something enormous. Yet they take great care to keep their feathers clean, seemingly afraid of being discovered by someone, so they have backed a great many people."

"Unfortunately, I am one of them."