WTF, how did the Misty Cloud Sect end up like this.GIF

"Did I hear that right? That old bastard Yun Shan apologized to a junior?" Hai Bodong stared, dumbfounded. Pointing at Yun Congxin in the square, he asked in disbelief.

Jia Xingtian gave a wry smile. "That was truly... unexpected. How many years has it been since we last heard that old ghost admit he was wrong?"

Fa Ma shook his head. "I can't remember. Ever since he became the Misty Cloud Sect's young sect master, I've never heard him apologize."

The old men exchanged looks, all sharing the same thought.

Had that old scoundrel changed his stripes after advancing to Dou Zong?

In the square, Yun Congxin frowned and waved a hand, releasing a trace of his Dou Zong might to silence the uproar.

He was waiting for Xiao Yan's response.

Xiao Yan gave a bitter laugh. Things had gone in the exact opposite direction from what he had expected. He had thought the Misty Cloud Sect was a dragon's pool and a tiger's den, and had spent ages planning and preparing to get out unscathed. Yet an old sect master had suddenly appeared, and he was unexpectedly quite amiable.

A kindly old man? A smiling tiger?

For a moment, Xiao Yan genuinely couldn't tell. He cupped his hands in greeting. "You're too kind, sir."

"I've only just emerged from seclusion and have nothing else on me, so please accept this, young friend, as an apology from our Misty Cloud Sect." Smiling, Yun Congxin handed Xiao Yan an object. "This Jade Slip is reserved for the Misty Cloud Sect's Guest Elders. I personally engraved your name on it. Keep it, young friend. Should you ever run into trouble, bring this Jade Slip to the Misty Cloud Sect and ask for me."

Xiao Yan hesitated, but accepted it.

To him as he was now, a favor from a Dou Zong expert was worth a fortune.

"Thank you, sir. It would be discourteous of me to refuse."

Yun Congxin nodded in satisfaction. "There are still some matters within the Misty Cloud Sect that need my attention, so I won't see you out. Please feel free to take your leave, young friend."

Don't rush. I absolutely mustn't rush this. I have to display the breezy composure of an otherworldly master!

Yun Congxin's goal was to become Xiao Yan's angel investor, not his bootlicker!

He intended to latch onto that powerful backer while still standing tall!

Xiao Yan, who regarded Misty Cloud Mountain as a dragon's pool and a tiger's den, felt as though he had been granted amnesty. He hurriedly cupped his hands to thank Yun Congxin, then raced down the mountain without stopping as Yun Congxin watched him leave.

Once Xiao Yan had left, the warm smile vanished from Yun Congxin's face. With his back to Yun Leng and the other Misty Cloud Sect Elders, he said coldly, "Clean up your own mess. Since you invited so many guests, make sure they leave happy. Don't disgrace the Misty Cloud Sect's manners."

"Once you're done here, all of you will wait for me in the Council Hall!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he strolled through the air and entered the Suppression Hut atop the enormous tree.

The Dou Wangs and juniors from the Three Great Families could be left to others to see off, but the Dou Emperors and Alchemists in the private room required him, the old sect master, to attend to them personally.

General against general, king against king.

"That old fellow's putting on airs now..." Hai Bodong muttered, curling his lip.

Jia Xingtian, however, said nothing. His eyes were filled with envy—as a Peak Dou Emperor, he knew all too well what an immense gulf lay between Dou Emperor and Dou Zong.

"Hehe, let's bring today's affairs to a close. The juniors were fooling around. I'm afraid they've made a spectacle of themselves before you all." With a genial smile, Yun Congxin gave his guests their cue to leave.

"Hehe, Sect Master Yun Shan, you jest. Since the matter is settled, we won't overstay our welcome. When we have time another day, we'll certainly visit the Misty Cloud Sect for a cup of tea." Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma, neither of whom knew Yun Shan well, rose with smiles and cupped their hands in farewell, taking Yun Congxin's hint.

"The Misty Cloud Sect will keep a seat waiting for you."

"Old fellow, how did even your face become younger after you reached Dou Zong?" Hai Bodong, who went way back with Yun Shan, remained firmly seated, leisurely sipping his tea.

Yun Congxin glanced at him and reminded him, "Weren't you the one who brought that youngster up here? He's gone down the mountain. Aren't you going after him?"

"Oh! It's your fault for suddenly showing up and giving me a fright, you old fellow. I nearly forgot what I came here for!" Hai Bodong almost sprang out of his chair and hurried off as well. "I'll be leaving, then. Don't forget to visit the Mittel Family sometime. I still have things to ask you!"

"If you have things to ask me, shouldn't you come to the Misty Cloud Sect to find me?!" Yun Congxin called after Hai Bodong's retreating back.

The guests came and went like scenery glimpsed from horseback, leaving the room empty. Yet Yun Congxin was in no hurry to head to the Misty Cloud Sect's Discussion Hall to meet that bunch of useless freeloaders occupying positions they didn't deserve. He found a clean teacup, poured himself some fine tea, and sat down to savor it sip by sip.

Getting Xiao Yan safely off Misty Cloud Mountain didn't mean everything was over. That hotheaded idiot Yun Leng would still pull the rotten stunt of attacking the Xiao Clan in the future. When an enraged Xiao Yan came knocking, all his efforts to save the Misty Cloud Sect would go down the drain.

That was still a minor issue. Keeping a mere Dou Wang in check would be as easy as turning his hand over.

The greatest problem was still... the Hall of Souls!

Although Yun Congxin had seen no sign of a Soul Hall Protector within the Jia Ma Empire in Yun Shan's memories, he knew that when Yun Leng launched his deadly attack on the Xiao Clan, Hall of Souls members would intervene and snatch Xiao Zhan away.

If I stop Yun Leng, will the Hall of Souls members act personally or force the Misty Cloud Sect to move? If they act, what level of expert will they send?

Ultimately, the crux of the matter was whether the Hall of Souls learned that this Xiao Clan was the ancient Xiao Clan before Xiao Zhan was captured or afterward.

Yun Congxin believed it must have been after Xiao Zhan's capture, probably even after Xiao Yan's rise. Otherwise, given the Ancient Jade's importance, the Soul Clan would surely have sent people to the Xiao Clan long ago, striking at what Xiao Yan had to protect to force him to hand it over.

Then what should I do... Right now, Yun Congxin could neither afford to offend the Hall of Souls nor bear the thought of offending Xiao Yan. After turning it over in his mind, he felt there was only one path available.

He would fabricate a history for the Xiao Clan as an ordinary family native to the Jia Ma Empire. Even if Hall of Souls members exposed the lie, he would have to find a way to convince them that this was merely a minor branch that had escaped from the Xiao Clan back then.

Oh, right. I also have to hint to Xiao Yan, both openly and subtly, that the Hall of Souls has its eye on his family. First, so he can prepare early. Second, so he doesn't mistake me for their lackey and leave all my efforts thankless.

The more he thought about it, the more troublesome it became, until his head felt twice its usual size. Irritated, Yun Congxin cursed inwardly, Why did you have to transmigrate me into Yun Shan?! I don't have the strength I need or a position I can stand on, and I'm saddled with the Misty Cloud Sect, a deadweight full of absolute lunatics. One careless step, and I'll be doomed beyond redemption!

Forget it. When the time comes, I'll go to Wutan City and wait by the stump for the rabbit, then take things one step at a time! Even if I can't stop the Hall of Souls from taking Xiao Yan's father, I at least have to keep my Misty Cloud Sect completely out of it!

For now, I'd better head to the Discussion Hall and knock some sense into those blockheads! The Misty Cloud Sect's people have grown used to living in pampered comfort in this remote backwater. Every last one of them has developed an overbearing air, like a bunch of walking troublemaking machines.

WTF, how did the Misty Cloud Sect end up like this.GIF

I have to cleanse the problem at its source and set this chaos right. At the very least, I need to squeeze all the water out of these bastards' brains so they'll stop making trouble for me!

Even if the Misty Cloud Sect can't lend me a hand, it should at least stop dragging me down!

Yun Congxin made up his mind. He would strip those who deserved it of their cultivation and punish those who needed punishment before considering anything else!