The Misty Cloud Sect was one of the greatest powers in the Jia Ma Empire.
It lay only a few dozen li from the imperial capital, perched atop a majestic mountain. Because of the Misty Cloud Sect, the mountain had come to be called Misty Cloud Mountain.
Misty Cloud Mountain was extremely steep, bordered by cliffs on three sides. Only one road led to its summit, making it a stronghold easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Two towering walls had been built on Misty Cloud Mountain, dividing the entire mountain into three sections.
Each area also represented a different status.
At the foot of the mountain lived the Misty Cloud Sect's outer disciples. Their cultivation was low, mostly between the third and eighth stages of Dou Power; they were not even Dou Zhe.
This area housed the most disciples and was also the Misty Cloud Sect's main recruiting ground for talent.
Anyone who advanced to Dou Zhe before the age of twenty could pass beyond the first towering wall, ascend to the mountainside, and become an inner disciple!
Whether in resources or treatment, they received countless times more than the outer disciples.
But anyone who broke through to Dou Shi before the age of thirty could pass beyond the second towering wall, ascend to the Misty Cloud Sect's summit, and become a core disciple!
Every core disciple was a priority for the Misty Cloud Sect's training. Once they attained that status, they could choose one of the Six Dou Wang Elders as their master, opening up a future without limits!
Only two li from the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain, the empire had stationed fifty thousand armored cavalry.
Though their stated purpose was to defend the capital, anyone could see that the empire's ruler was guarding against this fierce tiger crouching so close to it.
Clouds and mist wreathed the summit of the Misty Cloud Sect's Back Mountain, making it seem like an immortal paradise. Cultivating here allowed one to sense and absorb Dou Qi far faster than elsewhere.
On a jutting black rock, a young woman in a moon-white dress sat with her eyes closed, quietly cultivating through an exquisite breathing method.
Each inhalation and exhalation seemed to complete a cycle, drawing wisps of green energy from the world around her into her body.
The world contained many types of Dou Qi, but only the strands matching one's own attribute could be fully absorbed.
The efficiency of that absorption was directly tied to the corresponding cultivation method.
The more profound and powerful the cultivation method, the more Dou Qi it could absorb.
Some cultivation methods, once developed to a certain level, even allowed the body to automatically absorb Dou Qi from the world and increase its cultivation without actively practicing.
"Senior Sister, Master Nalan Su has come to the Misty Cloud Sect. He wants you to see him immediately."
Seeing that the young woman had completed a cultivation cycle, another Misty Cloud Sect disciple beside her spoke urgently.
Her cultivation and talent fell far short of Nalan Yanran's. She was not even qualified to enter the sect's summit.
But because of Nalan Yanran's special status, the sect had deliberately assigned several female disciples to serve as her attendants and tend to her daily needs.
She was one of those Nalan Yanran had chosen, which gave her the right to set foot on the summit.
Nalan Yanran slowly opened her eyes and asked in confusion, "Father? What is he doing here at a time like this?"
"Senior Sister, he looked terribly upset. I'm afraid it isn't good news."
Recalling Nalan Su's expression, the disciple could not help trembling.
"All right, all right, I understand. You may go."
In truth, Nalan Yanran had some idea of what was going on. Her secret trip to Wutan City must have been exposed.
Her father had probably been sent over by the old man, too.
Inside a spacious, brightly lit hall, a middle-aged man with a somewhat gloomy expression held a teacup.
His other hand rested on the table, its fingers drumming irritably against the surface.
"Father, how did you find the time to visit me at the Misty Cloud Sect today?"
The moment Nalan Yanran appeared, Nalan Su nearly flew into a rage. But remembering that people from the Misty Cloud Sect were still nearby, he could only restrain himself.
"You unfilial daughter! So you still remember that I'm your father? I merely led the army to the empire's western region for a year, and you went and made such an enormous mess!"
Nalan Su's face was livid. He had only learned of this from Nalan Jie after returning to the family.
Had the old man not been ill, he would surely have dragged his dying body here to confront Nalan Yanran himself.
"I only slipped out of the sect for a trip to Wutan City. Is all this really necessary? Besides, Father, you haven't seen me for over a year, yet the moment we meet, you start calling me to account. Even if I respect you, Mother would certainly scold you if she found out."
Nalan Yanran gave a petulant huff and turned her head away from Nalan Su.
"You would dare let your mother know? If you go home, your grandfather will be the first to break your legs!
"You really have grown bold over the years! Do you think being the Misty Cloud Sect's favored daughter of heaven means you can disregard your father and the entire Nalan Family?"
At this, Nalan Su slammed his teacup onto the table, splashing tea everywhere. The Misty Cloud Sect disciples nearby hurriedly cleared away the cup, wiped the table, and brought him a fresh cup.
"Yes, I went to Wutan City, but so what? Nothing serious happened anyway. Are you and Grandfather really going to punish me severely over such a trivial matter?"
Nalan Yanran was still a young woman, after all. Being scolded by her father without a chance to explain left her resentful.
"Nothing serious happened? You actually have the nerve to say that? You killed Xiao Yan of Wutan City's Xiao Clan, and you call that nothing serious?!"
Nalan Su was furious beyond measure. How could his daughter be so foolish?
Even if she did not want to marry Xiao Yan, she had no need to resort to such an extreme method and kill him in a duel to the death.
Not only had she cost the Nalan Family a son-in-law with limitless potential, but she had also earned herself the infamy of murdering her husband and kin.
This was undoubtedly a devastating blow to the Nalan Family's reputation!
Hearing Nalan Su's words, Nalan Yanran looked utterly bewildered. "Father, what nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly have killed Xiao Yan?"
He was a six-star Da Dou Shi who had defeated her in a single move. He had been perfectly fine when she left. How could he have died of grievous wounds?
"You still dare deny it? All of Wutan City is buzzing with the news! They say you refused to marry Xiao Yan, demanded a duel to the death, and wounded him so badly that he eventually died!"
The Mittel Merchant Guild had alerted the Nalan Family to this in advance. Had the family not kept the rumors in check,
the rumors that Nalan Yanran had murdered her husband and kin would probably have already spread throughout the Misty Cloud Sect and the imperial capital.
"What-"
"None of that makes any sense! Xiao Yan was alive and well when I left. How could I have killed him?"
"Xiao Yan is already a Six-Star Dou Shi. He defeated me in one move. How could I possibly have killed him?"
Nalan Yanran pouted, looking deeply aggrieved.
"You're saying Xiao Yan is already a Six-Star Dou Shi?"
If this was true, then the Nalan Family's prospective son-in-law was even more monstrously talented than the rumors suggested.
"Every word I've said is true. I did consider asking Xiao Yan to break off the engagement, but my plan was to defeat him in a duel and make him recognize the difficulty and retreat. Instead, I lost as soon as we exchanged blows, so I dropped the matter of ending the engagement. If you don't believe me, Father, you can ask Old Ge, who accompanied me, to verify it."
Nalan Yanran did not mention some of the finer details.
After hearing Nalan Yanran explain what had happened, most of Nalan Su's anger immediately dissipated.
Nalan Su nodded. Compared with the rumors outside, he still trusted Nalan Yanran's words more.
"If that is truly what happened, then I owe you an apology. I wrongly blamed you. Once I return, I'll explain everything to your grandfather and suppress these rumors further. Whoever dares slander the Nalan Family must pay the price!"
Nalan Yanran's fists were clenched now, too. If she found out who had saddled her with this blame, she would slaughter them!
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