The Thousand-Year Sky-Piercing Pine, the Undying Misty Cloud Sect

"The thousand-year Sky-Piercing Pine, the undying Misty Cloud Sect."

In the Misty Cloud Sect's plaza, Yun Congxin stood facing the towering ancient tree with his hands behind his back. Gazing at its lush foliage, he murmured softly.

"Teacher, what did you say?"

Sensing his presence, Yun Yun had hurried over, arriving just in time to hear his heartfelt remark.

"Yun'er, this tree has lived for well over a hundred years. Why do you think it's still flourishing?" Yun Congxin asked.

Yun Yun stood beside him and followed his gaze toward the towering tree. "The disciples tend it carefully, watering it, keeping pests away, and pruning its branches. These trees are well cared for, so naturally they thrive," she said softly.

"Yes, watering it, keeping pests away, pruning its branches." Yun Congxin nodded. "If even a tree needs such care, how much more does a sect?"

"Teacher?" Noticing that something was amiss with his mood, Yun Yun lowered her voice and spoke gently.

"I'm fine. Let's get down to business." Yun Congxin shook his head and said quietly, "While I was away, I found a way to make that old fellow Jia Xingtian yield. From now on, our Misty Cloud Sect will also take part in defending the borders. Let's get these juniors moving before they fart away all their idle hours. Let them compete with the talented experts of the Chu Yun Empire and the other powers of the Northwest Continent."

Yun Congxin scoffed. "Otherwise, they spend all day scheming for power and personal gain without making the slightest progress!"

"I'll have the sect elders confirm the details, so you don't need to worry about that. But for our first trip to the border, we must leave the Border Army with a good impression. Yun'er, you'll lead the team yourself."

"Be careful out there," Yun Congxin added after some thought.

Yun Yun smiled. "Don't worry, Teacher. Yun'er is a Dou Huang expert now! What danger could threaten me?"

"Don't be careless. Experts abound like clouds on the Dou Qi Continent. Your little bit of strength is still nowhere near enough..." Yun Congxin lightly tapped her forehead.

"Also, I'll be entering the Gate of Life and Death again soon. Have the sect elders make preparations."

"The Gate of Life and Death?" Yun Yun asked in puzzlement. "Why have you suddenly thought of that place?"

"There are some things I need to confirm..." Yun Congxin waved a hand without explaining further.

Ever since overhearing Ling Ying's exceptionally high praise of Yun Potian, Yun Congxin had been unable to make sense of one question.

After all, among the Eight Ancient Clans, Dou Zun walked everywhere and Dou Zong were as common as dogs. However extraordinary Yun Potian had been, could he really have been even more outrageous than that cheat, Xiao Yan?

What had made him worthy of being remembered by someone from the Gu Clan?

Yun Congxin could not help recalling the tales he had heard storytellers recount in Black Flame City. Those storytellers, who seldom even saw a Dou Wang in their ordinary lives, had actually imagined Yun Potian as a bizarrely mismatched legendary figure.

In their tales, Yun Potian possessed a magnificent pair of Seven-Colored Wings and had even created his own Earth Tier Cultivation Method and Dou Techniques. He had stood alone as an army, routing invading enemies, and at the climax, he had unleashed a miraculous Staff Technique that blocked weapons which had already struck his body.

The storytellers had embellished their accounts until flowers seemed to rain from the heavens: sword wounds vanished inexplicably, weapons that had already landed were blocked, and the contempt in his enemies' eyes turned to terror...

But it all boiled down to one sentence: Yun Potian had turned back time!

He had thought little of it back then, but now Yun Congxin wondered whether such a battle had truly taken place. Had Yun Potian defeated a mighty enemy with a miraculous Movement Dou Technique and his mastery of the power of space? Had the account grown stranger with every retelling until it no longer resembled the truth?

Then why had Yun Potian not passed down such a powerful Movement Dou Technique? Could it be that, contrary to the sect's records, Yun Potian had not died a natural death?

Yun Congxin clenched his fists. He was a Dou Zong expert himself now and knew very well how tremendous one's vitality became after reaching that level.

Would even an expert like that one day pass away in seated meditation?

Yun Congxin remained doubtful, so he decided to investigate the Gate of Life and Death, where Yun Potian had supposedly passed away in meditation.

Once the Xiao Clan takes over Lin City and all the Misty Cloud Sect's affairs are in order, I'll go see what really happened...

Having made up his mind, Yun Congxin instead began to relax. Though the shadow of the Hall of Souls still loomed over the Misty Cloud Sect, at least he, its former sect master, had reined in the horse at the precipice. With Xiao Yan and Yao Lao's help as well, he believed everything would get better.

"All right, I really am fine, Yun'er." Seeing the worry on Yun Yun's lovely face, Yun Congxin smiled helplessly. "Go tend to your work. And send Yun Sha over for me while you're at it..."

"Yes, Sect Master."

Yun Yun took her leave, leaving Yun Congxin alone to gaze at the towering tree before him, lost in thought.

When he had first transmigrated, Yun Congxin had actually been rather pleased. Already a piece of duckweed drifting between heaven and earth, he had felt that living was living, wherever he was. Here, he was even the master of a sect and possessed Dou Zong-level strength. Although a Dou Zong hardly counted as an expert in either the Great Thousand World or the Dou Qi Continent, it should still have been enough for him to live comfortably.

But the more he learned about his situation, the more he felt danger lurking on every side. Whether it was the Soul Hall Protector hanging over his head like an executioner's blade or the Chu Yun Empire watching hungrily from the sidelines, both left him feeling troubled.

When reading the story before, Yun Congxin had seen things through Xiao Yan's eyes and regarded them as clay chickens and pottery dogs. But now, from the Misty Cloud Sect's perspective, these stepping-stone bosses, none of whom had lasted even a single volume in the original story, were each a grave threat at its very heart.

"Former Sect Master, you called for me?"

Yun Sha had arrived.

"Mm..." Yun Congxin nodded, his mind heavy with worries. "Make preparations and take a few of the sharper sect elders to the Imperial Capital to negotiate with the Imperial Family."

"It's about the Misty Cloud Sect's involvement with the Border Army. You can be generous with the resources we commit. The Border Army produces talent. Don't drive people away by being petty, or all our efforts will have been wasted," Yun Congxin instructed. "And remember, there must be no infighting at the border. Maintain good relations with every faction from the Imperial Capital. We aren't going there to cause trouble. Don't say anything that undermines unity. Understood?"

"Yes, Sect Master."

"This will be a magnificent beginning. Our Misty Cloud Sect will unite all the Jia Ma Empire's promising young talents and people of noble ideals around us! This is an era full of opportunities for our sect. We must learn to see the strengths of every faction and every talented individual, and tolerate flaws that aren't fatal, rather than forever looking down on everyone from above."

"You know everyone has their strengths, don't you?"

"Except the people of the Imperial Family." Yun Sha gave a knowing smile, playing along.

"Except... even the people of the Imperial Family!"