The vast sky was shrouded in darkness, the black shadows blotting out the sun entirely—so intense that even the sunlight streaming down struggled to penetrate. The plaza was now completely plunged into gloom, and the crowd could only rely on the faint glow of their aura to glimpse the battlefield above. As the darkness enveloped the sky, a colossal cloud arrow suddenly burst forth from the void. The immense pressure at the tip of the arrow sent ripples like waves through the surrounding space, accompanied by sharp sonic booms that resonated continuously. One white, one black, two ribbons of color distinctly different yet each radiating equally terrifying energy, sliced through the sky, crashing together with a thunderous roar under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers. Instantly, a sound like a thunderclap erupted from the heavens, and then, a powerful surge of energy erupted from the point of impact, so intense that it scattered much of the dark veil blanketing the sky. Sunlight poured through the gaps in the veil, casting scattered glimmers across the plaza. No matter what, Yunlan Sect remains our power within the Jima Empire." Jia Xingtian furrowed his brows, paused thoughtfully, and said, "Let's first observe the situation. It seems the mysterious Du Phong isn't particularly intent on causing a disturbance at Yunlan Sect. As long as Xiao Yan can safely depart, he won't stay long. Moreover, we still don't know whether he has backing from other forces behind him. Therefore, it's best not to act too hastily." Hearing this, Fama nodded slightly and remained silent. "Ha ha! Indeed, he has some real ability—no wonder he's been so bold." From the sky, Ling Ying gradually emerged from the dark veil, gazing down at Yun Ling, whose face was slightly pale, and laughed heartily. Yun Ling clenched his teeth, his eyes piercing through the gaps in the veil toward Xiao Yan, who was now nearly exiting the plaza. His jaw twitched with effort, and the intense pain radiating from his head steadily eroded his composure. "Leave me here!" A low roar erupted, and a fresh flush of crimson rose upon Yun Ling's pale face. The surging ki gradually overflowed from within his body, shaking the cloud sea that enveloped the surrounding space and causing it to ripple incessantly. "Hmph! Stubborn! Do you really think I won't strike you down?" Observing Yun Ling's unwavering determination, Ling Ying's expression grew steadily more stern. Slowly, his hand extended from his sleeve, and dark energy mist rapidly coalesced at his palm. In moments, it solidified into a black spear nearly two meters long. Dense black patterns adorned the spear's surface, with energy flowing like ripples, constantly shifting. A steady mist of black vapor rose around it, lending the spear a notably eerie and solemn atmosphere. Holding the black long spear tightly, Ling Ying glanced at Yun Ling below, gave a slight curl of his lips, then gripped it even harder. Taking a half-step back with his right foot, his body formed a half-rotating stance, his right hand firmly gripping the spear, slightly lowering his center of gravity. Suddenly, his body twisted, and the long spear surged forward, sweeping out a vast, flowing ribbon of energy stretching over ten paces, aimed directly at Yun Ling in the cloud sea. A surge of fear rose in Yun Ling's heart, and she quickly waved her hands. Instantly, the surrounding sea of clouds rippled, and waves of cloud-colored energy surged upward, swirling continuously above her head. Within a blink of an eye, a cloud-colored shield about three meters wide and long was formed. The surface of the shield shimmered with a subtle glow, appearing solid and remarkably sturdy. After the cloud shield was cast, the sea of clouds around it grew noticeably thinner, clearly indicating that the shield had consumed considerable energy. The black lance of energy, however, did not waver in the slightest, maintaining its relentless, fierce momentum. Under the collective gasps and trembling of the onlookers, it struck the cloud shield with tremendous force. At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted, shaking the ground and prompting the disciples of Yunlan Sect to instinctively cover their ears. A deep black glow intertwined with a pale cloud-like radiance in the sky, and where the two met, the very space seemed to warp and distort. Ling Ying's attack was indeed formidable—truly worthy of a Duke-level warrior. "Hmph. Let me break it!" Gazing at the two energies locked in steady opposition, Ling Ying slowly formed hand seals. After a moment, a low roar burst from his throat. As the roar echoed, the black glow on his long spear surged dramatically, rising to form a colossal black energy serpent stretching seven to eight zhang in length. The serpent lifted its massive maw, exuding a cold, blood-scented aura, and opened it wide. To Yun Ling's stunned gaze, it then swallowed the cloud-colored shield whole. Though the black spear grew somewhat dimmer due to the absorption of the shield, for Yun Ling—already stripped of his primary defense—the effect was nothing short of terrifying, as if his very spirit had been scattered. Yet the black lance did not waver at all in response to his terror, plunging downward with fierce determination and striking directly at his heart. The sharp tip of the lance continuously expanded within his pupils. In the final moments, Yun Ling had no choice but to grit his teeth, channeling his ki to cover his hands, and desperately clenching the lance with both palms. At the same time, his body twisted swiftly. "Plush!" As soon as his hands made contact with the black lance, the overwhelming power emanating from it caused him to spew out a gush of blood, and his body was violently shaken, falling toward the ground. As Yun Ling stepped out of the sea of clouds, the vast expanse of cloud that had once filled the sky gradually thinned, eventually fading completely into nothingness. With the sea of clouds dissipating, the elders standing at the four corners of the square grew pale, their hands pressed against their chests, emitting low, painful murmurs from their throats. Compared to the faces of the senior elders, the disciples of Yunhai Sect who had contributed strength to the cloud sea appeared notably more desperate. Many of the weaker disciples spat out blood immediately, collapsing with pale faces, while even the stronger ones managed to hold on, though their visibly weary expressions revealed that the disruption of the cloud sea had deeply affected them. With a single strike, Ling Ying had effectively brought the entire Yunhai Sect to a near-paralyzed state—how formidable the Duke-Class warriors truly were! "Boom!" Above, the immense force carried by the black lance directly hurled Yun Ling off the sky and crashed him heavily onto the plaza, sending stone fragments flying and creating vast cracks that spread out like an earthquake from the point of impact. These cracks were so severe that even the Yunlan Sect disciples had to rise and take cover—clearly demonstrating the terrifying power of Ling Ying's attack. "Not yet dead..." Jia Xingtian gazed at the dark, deep pit, sighed softly. The situation had truly become increasingly difficult to manage. As soon as his words settled, the pit emitted a series of sharp, labored coughs. Gradually, a figure emerged, crawling out with a disheveled appearance—no longer a shadow of the dignity once held by the Grand Master of Yunlan Sect. Now, Yunling's robes were torn, his face streaked with blood, and blood was continuously seeping from his waist, flowing steadily and nearly soaking the ground. Though he had managed to grasp the black spear and avoid critical injuries, the sharp pressure emanating from its tip had still inflicted serious wounds upon him. Watching the Grand Master, now looking as if a hunted creature, every member of the Yunlan Sect breathed a quiet sigh. Cloud Ling, having climbed out of the deep pit, was surprisingly calm—free of any anger, his expression as still as a pond of still water. He coldly glanced at the blood dripping from his waist, then gently touched the severe wound on his head, a mark left by Xiao Yan. Suddenly, a soft smile broke upon his face—a smile tinged with an unmistakable frenzy. "You are indeed strong..." lifting his head, Cloud Ling spoke to Ling Ying with a stern, composed demeanor. "Regardless of who you are, you are the first person in all these years to have brought my Yunlan Sect such disgrace. If today I allow you to leave unscathed, I fear that within the Gama Empire, our Sect will soon have no standing at all. For the honor of our Sect, today—you shall not! leave! think you!" "You don't have it in you..." Ling Ying said with scorn. "I indeed don't have it in me... though..." With a low, quiet smile, Yun Ling, under the watchful eyes of all present, suddenly drew out a white cloud-colored flute from his meditation case, brought it to his lips, and blew with force. Instantly, a strange, sharp tone burst forth from the flute. The sharp flute sound echoed throughout the entire Yunlan Mountain, lingering on and on. On the plaza, everyone fell silent, captivated by Yun Ling's actions, and could only hear the flute's melody resonating. Jia Xing Tian narrowed his eyes, exchanged a glance with Fama, and then suddenly, as if remembering something, his pupils contracted sharply. "It's the old man! He's truly not dead!" As Jia Xingtian and Fama fell silent, a mighty and resounding presence surged forth from the depths of Yunlan Mountain—like a colossal dragon awakening from ancient times, bearing an irresistible aura and overwhelming pressure. At the very moment this presence awoke, in the sky hundreds of miles away from Yunlan Sect, a streak of white light suddenly halted mid-air, revealing a graceful and elegant figure. She was gazing toward the distant Yunlan Sect, her composed and serene face now filled with astonishment. "Master... how did he awaken?"