A magnificent aura, as if a great dragon had just awakened, instantly enveloped the entire Yunlan Mountain. A powerful pressure—something that Xiao Yan had never felt before—began spreading from the mountain's depths, eventually filling the plaza. At once, every disciple of the Yunlan Sect could no longer contain their awe, and knelt on one knee before the spreading aura. Although Yun Ling and the other senior elders of the Yunlan Sect did not kneel, they respectfully bowed their bodies. "This aura…" Lan Yan's beautiful eyes were fixed on the deep parts of Yunlan Mountain, her delicate face expressing profound astonishment. She had never expected that even this long-time secluded senior master would be stirred by today's events. "Oh no… this old man is truly not dead yet!" As the aura surged to life, Hai Bo Dong's expression suddenly changed, his voice trembling with unmistakable shock. "It's… the former Master of the Yunlan Sect, Yun Shan?"
Xiao Yan's expression grew considerably gloomier at that moment, recalling what Hai Bo Dong had said the previous night. He furrowed his brows and asked.
"Indeed," Hai Bo Dong nodded, his voice low. "The aura here—he has truly broken through the Duke of the Realm barrier and ascended to the level of a Master of the Realm."
"A Master of the Realm, then?" Xiao Yan's hand slightly trembled. Among the strongest beings he had ever encountered were Queen Medusa and the warrior Jia Xingtian. Though the difference between Duke and Master of the Realm was merely one rank, the gap was worlds apart. Previously, Hai Bo Dong had been able to swiftly defeat three Duke-level warriors single-handedly. Yet even a Master of the Realm would find it no great challenge to defeat three Dukes.
"Damn it. Always this way—so many complications." With a quiet sigh, Xiao Yan found himself growing increasingly impatient with the series of unexpected events. Each time he thought he was finally ready to leave, something new always arose.
"Haile... Since Yunshan has truly emerged, then you—perhaps you'll also have to retreat?" Suddenly recalling Hai Bo Dong's words from that night, Xiao Yan softly sighed.
Hearing this, Hai Bo Dong was momentarily stunned, his expression shifting between gloom and uncertainty. After a while, he suddenly clenched his teeth and said, "Though I don't particularly enjoy getting involved in matters, I do believe in seeing things through. Even if Yunshan truly stands in the way today, I will do my utmost to bring you down from Yunlan Mountain!"
Watching Hai Bo Dong with a firm grip, Xiao Yan paused, then felt a gentle warmth spread through his heart. Though Hai Bo Dong's steadfastness in this moment could be partly attributed to the Fu Zi Ling Dan, it was still beyond Xiao Yan's expectations—especially considering the risk of alienating Yunlan Sect. He had willingly stepped in to help him escape, a gesture that far surpassed what he had anticipated. At least, it was significantly better than that of many others.
"Thank you, Hai Elder. Your assistance today will be deeply remembered. In the future, I will surely repay you!"
Xiao Yan took a deep breath and bowed respectfully to Hai Bo Dong, his refined features serious and focused. "Let's discuss the future later. For now, we need to get rid of that old man. Once Yun Shan awakened, the entire Yunlan Mountain came under his aura, and now, even if he wants to move, it will be quite difficult." Hai Bo Dong shook his head with a wry smile, glanced at the massive Tian-Tian Python hovering behind Xiao Yan, and then at Ling Ying nearby, constantly weighing the relative strengths of both parties. As the two quietly discussed, the growing power emanating from deep within Yunlan Mountain intensified steadily. Finally, a sharp cry burst upward, and under the attention of countless onlookers, a white figure suddenly emerged from the depths of Yunlan Mountain, stepping through the void and slowly making its way toward the Yunlan Sect's plaza.
The white figure did not summon wings of qi, yet his speed in stepping through the void was no slower than that of Hai Bode and the others. With each footfall, ripples spread out across the space, only to vanish as the figure had already appeared a hundred meters away—remarkably strange. After several such strides, within mere moments, he materialized atop the stone stele at the center of the plaza. With a calm gaze sweeping over the scattered scene, his brows slightly furrowed, and the pressure he radiated over the plaza grew noticeably stronger. Floating in the sky, Xiao Yan carefully studied the white figure who had appeared—meticulously assessing the former Cloud岚 Sect Master.
A white figure wore a simple white robe, which gently swayed in the breeze, exuding a refined and ethereal grace. He appeared not particularly old—his face bore no signs of age, instead resembling a warm, luminous jade block. Were it not for his snow-white hair, Xiao Yan would have found it difficult to believe he was a master of the same generation as Hai Bo Dong. Yet, from the expressions of awe on the faces of the Yunlan Sect disciples below, it was clear that this man was none other than the previous Yunlan Sect Master, Yun Shan.
"Master Elder, you've finally come! If you'd arrived any later, I fear Cloud岚 Sect would have been completely destroyed!" Cloud Shan's gaze landed on him, and instantly Cloud Ling's legs gave way, his knees buckling beneath him as he fell to one knee. The blood streaks across his face made him look especially pitiful. "Where is Yun Yun?" Cloud Shan frowned, asking. "The Master has gone out, and has not yet returned," Cloud Ling replied promptly. "Summarize what happened," Cloud Shan said, his hands resting in his sleeves, his tone calm and composed. "This is the first time in all these years that our Cloud岚 Sect has been damaged so severely." Upon hearing this, Cloud Ling perked up, pointing toward the sky where Xiao Yan stood, and declared loudly, "Master Elder, everything that has transpired today was entirely caused by him!"
"Speaking, Yun Ling hurriedly recounted the suspicions surrounding Xiao Yan's and Mo Cheng's deaths. Of course, it must be acknowledged that as the Grand Elder of Yunlan Sect, Yun Ling possesses solid administrative abilities. Thus, when describing the situation, he framed the initial insistence as a gentle suggestion that Xiao Yan temporarily rest at the sect for a few days until the matter was clarified. These words were indeed spoken on the spot, yet the tone of the request—originally firm and insistent—was vastly different from the more subtle, accommodating one. Consequently, despite his careful phrasing, no one could immediately challenge it. Then came Xiao Yan's resistance, followed by successive appearances of powerful figures from behind the scenes. Ultimately, Yun Ling, stepping into the role of a protector, mobilized the entire sect to uphold its reputation—yet still fell short. It was only then that he resorted to his flute, summoning Yun Shan, who was in seclusion, to intervene.
Most of the words Cloud Lens spoke were true, yet subtly interwoven with elements of his own perspective—now, the responsibility for the matter had entirely shifted onto Xiao Yan. On the plaza, silence reigned, broken only by the steady rise and fall of Cloud Lens's voice, tinged with anger. After a long while, when Cloud Lens finally finished speaking, he said with a tone of deep sorrow, "Respected Elder Master, although Mu Cheng holds only the position of a steward within the sect, his contributions over the years have been immense. If we allow him to be killed at will, without even a gesture of concern, then who else would dare to serve the sect in the future? Would that not chill the hearts of those devoted to it?"
"Our Yunlan Sect is no party that arbitrarily accuses others. We merely wish for Xiao Yan to stay within the Sect for a while, until the matter is clarified. Should we indeed be mistaken in our accusations, I myself will personally apologize to him. Yet he, relying on his backing from behind, shows no willingness to consider my suggestions. After our talks proved futile, he even resorted to a physical altercation. Though he himself lacks considerable strength, he has a number of allies. With the Sect Master currently away, I can only risk disturbing his presence to invite you here—indeed, I have no choice but to do so."
After listening to Yun Ling's account, Yun Shan's face remained expressionless. He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the square, and offered a gentle smile. "I didn't expect today's events to have stirred such a commotion—even the two of you, old fellows, Jia Xingtian and Fama, have come over." Jia Xingtian and Fama exchanged a glance and smiled, then pointed toward the sky. "There's one more there." "I know," said Yun Shan, "Hai Bodo. When I first came out, I sensed his presence. I just didn't expect, after all these years, that he would still be alive. I thought he had been slain by Queen Medusa." Yun Shan looked up at Hai Bodo. "Heh—he's just as stubborn as you, old fellow," Hai Bodo chuckled, taking a step forward so that Xiao Yan was now positioned behind him. "That's Xiao Yan, isn't it?" Yun Shan glanced at Xiao Yan standing behind Hai Bodo. "Young master Xiao Yan, at your service, Master Yun."
Xiao Yan gazed steadily at Yun Shan, who radiated an imposing presence, and smiled with composure. "Your bearing is quite good... though a bit lacking in strength." Yun Shan replied calmly. "Hmph. Yun Shan, when you were seventeen, you couldn't even muster excitement at the sight of a Cultivator of the Grand Master rank—let alone a Grand Master himself." Hai Bo Dong remarked with a dismissive sigh. "A Grand Master at seventeen, then?" For the first time, a subtle sense of surprise flickered in Yun Shan's usually serene gaze. Shaking his head, he looked up and said, "Didn't Yun Ling mention anything that you found difficult to challenge?" "Haha. If Master Yun Shan believes it, then why ask further?" Xiao Yan replied with a slightly condescending smile. "I trust Yun Ling half the time—his character, I know well," said Yun Shan, surprisingly, shaking his head. "But regardless of who is right or wrong in this matter, you are responsible for the way our Yunlan Sect has been reduced to this state."
"As for the Cloud Mountain Sect Master, what would he like to do?"
"I won't waste time with formalities or polite words. Today's uproar has significantly damaged Cloud Lake Sect's reputation—this reputation must be restored. Since you all have managed to bring my sect to such disarray, then let me have a few sparring sessions with each of you." Cloud Mountain calmly glanced over Hai Bo Dong, Ling Ying, and the massive, sky-floating Tian-Shun Python, then slowly extended his hand from his sleeve, speaking with composed calm.
"You may all join me." Cloud Mountain lowered his gaze, gently adjusting his sleeve, adding casually.
"Hah! I didn't expect Cloud Lake Sect to have produced a Dou-Zong-level master. Now they're finally able to hold their own among the top-tier continental powers. Still, compared to Yun Po-Tian back in the day, there's clearly still a gap." Ling Ying moved swiftly, appearing before Xiao Yan, facing Cloud Mountain directly, and chuckled.
"You're one of the strong contenders on the continent, aren't you? From which faction do you hail?"
Though I've been secluded for a long time, I still have a fair grasp of the powers on the mainland." Cloud Shan paused slightly, lifting his hand as he raised his gaze. "That, however, cannot be revealed..." Ling Yin spread his hands, then his expression grew serious as he said firmly, "But just bear this in mind—don't think that once you become a Douzong, you'll be able to do as you please. I strongly advise you not to disturb this young one. Otherwise, you'll certainly regret it later!" "On this continent, there are many forces capable of wiping out your Yunlan Sect!" Cloud Shan furrowed his brows, looking at Ling Yin. "Is this a threat?" "You may very well see it that way! Don't doubt the truth of what I've just said!" Ling Yin stared steadily at Cloud Shan, his voice low and firm. "Then let's proceed together... The reputation of Yunlan Sect, accumulated over many generations, must not be lost to me. But if you can both leave Yunlan Mountain from my hands, then this matter shall be settled for good."
Exhaling a long breath, Yun Shan remained silent, his body rising slowly and unexpectedly into the air. The powerful energy radiating from him caused the surrounding void to tremble slightly. Frowning intently at the ascending figure of Yun Shan, Hai Bo Dong and Ling Ying exchanged a glance. Hai Bo Dong then turned to Xiao Yan and said firmly, "Have your great serpent protect you. I'll hold off Yun Shan with him." "Be careful," Xiao Yan hesitated before nodding. His gaze then shifted to Ling Ying, and he asked, "Mr. Ling, could I inquire about you?" "Don't ask me anything about myself. Once you leave the Cloud Ranges Sect, I'll depart from the Gamma Empire. When the time comes, you'll find out on your own." With a wave of his hand, Ling Ying cut off Xiao Yan's inquiry. Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then nodded with a wry smile, and took to his wings, retreating. "Ah... I never thought that finally we'd managed to stir up this old man, Yun Shan."
Looking up at the situation in the sky, Fama shook his head and sighed. "A True Combat Sovereign... Hey, I never thought this old fellow would actually achieve it." Jia Xingtian chewed his lip, a visible sense of admiration on his face. Now himself already at the pinnacle of Combat Sovereign rank, he only needed one more step to reach that coveted realm—yet, despite years of dedicated cultivation, he still fell just short of that final leap. "What should we do now? How about we try to mediate?" Fama frowned.
“Useless…” Jia Xingtian shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the field below, taking in the unconscious disciples of Yunlan Sect and the shattered plaza, before chuckling bitterly, “This time, Xiao Yan and his companions have indeed dealt a serious blow to Yunlan Sect. To salvage their reputation, Yunshan must defeat them in front of all of us. Of course, perhaps he won’t be too harsh on Xiao Yan afterward—after all, the mysterious supporter behind Xiao Yan has made him quite cautious. Until he fully understands the nature of that hidden power behind Xiao Yan, Yunshan won’t dare to touch him lightly.”
“Can Hai Bo Dong and Ling Ying possibly defeat Yunshan?” Fang Ma nodded slightly, then asked.
“It’s difficult…” On the plaza, Yun Ling stared at the rising figure of Yunshan, then glanced toward Xiao Yan in the distance, a subtle, coldly satisfied smirk passing across his eyes.
… "Hai Bopo Dong, considering our past relationship, if you now withdraw, I shall not hold against your earlier actions." Cloud Shan spoke calmly, floating parallel to Hai Bopo Dong in the sky. "Ah, well, it's too late now to say all this," Hai Bopo Dong sighed, shaking his head. As he rotated his palms, a cold, white aura surged forth from within him, instantly lowering the temperature around them. "Let me see just how much stronger you've become since reaching the Battle Sect level." With a gentle exhalation, Hai Bopo Dong twisted his palms sharply, and suddenly, several snow-white circular ice blades—each about half a zhang wide—materialized in front of him. Spinning rapidly, they cast continuous streaks of motion and emitted a steady, resonant hum.
By the side, Ling Ying's expression grew steadily more serious. Her sleeves gently swayed, and an eerie black shadow continuously expanded and contracted beneath her feet. With a slight grip of her palms, the black aura rapidly coalesced, and in an instant, a black spear several feet long formed once more. The spear trembled slightly, its tip causing ripples in the air.
As the two launched their attacks, Xiao Yan swiftly settled his wings and landed lightly upon the head of the Devouring Sky Python. With a single command, the python instantly turned around, its massive body moving with an astonishingly swift speed. Observing the reactions of Hai Bo Dong and the others, Yun Shan shook his head slightly, then raised both hands slowly, aiming them steadily at the converging circular ice blade and the black lance rushing toward them. With a gentle motion of his lips, he softly uttered: "Wind Wall!"
The circular ice blade and the black lance reached the surface of the wind barrier simultaneously, clashing with a thunderous roar that echoed across the sky, sending out ripples of energy spreading outward from the point of impact. Yet the vast, almost overwhelming deep green wind barrier remained utterly undisturbed—seeming to pose little threat to the combined assault of Haibo Dong and Ling Ying.
Gazing at the immense wind barrier spanning the heavens, Haibo Dong and Ling Ying both registered a subtle shift in expression.
Glancing briefly at the soaring Tian-Tian Serpent, Yunshan raised his right hand, sweeping across the Serpent’s flight path—a gust of wind surged, and suddenly a colossal wind wall materialized before the Serpent, forcing it to swiftly raise its altitude to avoid a direct collision.
"Ten-thousand-Wind Envelopment!"
After blocking the flight path of the Sky-Devouring Python, Yun Shan suddenly grasped the hands of Hai Bo Dong and Ling Ying. Instantly, tangible ropes formed from rushing winds surged forth in all directions, intertwining with one another and eventually taking the shape of long serpentine forms that gracefully weaved through the void. In moments, Hai Bo Dong and Ling Ying found themselves unexpectedly bound, without realizing when or how. With their inner qi surging urgently, they attempted to break free, only to find that every time they severed a few ropes, more and more wind ropes erupted from the air, tightening their bonds and securing them even more firmly. "Hmph. Truly a Master of the Battle Sect. Though his attack style isn't particularly brilliant, even two Master of the Realm-level warriors find themselves with little room to counterattack under his hands. This is the gap between the two ranks, isn't it?" Observing Hai Bo Dong and Ling Ying, who had been completely restrained in just one exchange of combat, Jia Xingtian and the others couldn't help but marvel.
"Looks like Xiao Yan and the others have truly been defeated this time..." After momentarily restraining Hai Bodo and the other two, Yun Shan glanced toward the Devouring Sky Python, who was attempting to weave past the barrier of wind walls. With a single step forward, Yun Shan reappeared directly in front of the serpent. Fixing the clouded gaze of the python, the creature opened its massive maw, spewing forth a torrent of vibrant, toxic liquid aimed directly at Yun Shan. With a gentle wave of his hand, Yun Shan summoned a wall of wind before him, which swiftly absorbed and dissolved the liquid, turning the tangible barrier into mere emptiness. Yet, as the python prepared to launch a renewed assault, a powerful surge of force erupted from its tail. Turning its head, it found Yun Shan—previously positioned ahead—now unexpectedly materialized upon the very tip of its tail. "Now, descend!" With a light tap of his foot upon the python's tail, the immense force caused the creature to emit a piercing cry, and then, it plunged downward with a sudden, dramatic motion.
"Thwump!" The Heaven-Devouring Python slammed hard into one corner of the plaza, instantly causing the solid ground to crack and splinter under the weight of its massive body. "Pfft." When Yun Tian released his subtle pressure, Xiao Yan, who was precisely upon the Python's body, also felt the subtle force seeping through. Though only a slight pressure, it was enough to make the powerful Duoshishi-level cultivator pale and gasp, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The Cloud Mountain slowly descended to the ground, then, under the gaze of all present, advanced step by step toward Xiao Yan.
"Ah!" As the Cloud Mountain drew nearer, the Sky-Consuming Python emitted several sharp cries from its mouth. Yet this did not cause the Cloud Mountain to pause. At a certain moment, as the mountain grew ever closer, the Python suddenly whipped its massive tail with great force, casting a vast shadow that crashed down upon the mountain. The overwhelming shadow, however, failed to move the Cloud Mountain's expression. With a casual gesture upward, the mountain summoned a massive, seven to eight zhang-long handprint of vibrant green energy that materialized out of thin air and struck the Python's tail. The immense force of the handprint sent the Python's tail flying in a new direction, and where the tail passed, over a dozen towering trees were snapped in two.
"Ah...!" The intense pain transmitted through the tail caused the Python to emit another series of cries, each one carrying unmistakable agony.
Having glanced briefly at the massive Tian-Shan Python, Yun Shan's brow furrowed slightly—this creature's durability far exceeded that of an ordinary five-stage beast. Its serpent eyes glowed a deep crimson, fixed intently on the approaching Yun Shan. With a wide opening of its massive jaws, the python expelled a stream of seven-colored liquid once more. Yet this time, Yun Shan made no attempt to dodge, calmly walking straight through the liquid, his robe and body untouched. His footsteps gradually slowed to a halt. He gazed quietly at Xiao Yan before him, then gently raised his hand, allowing it to drift softly toward Xiao Yan.
"Watching Xuanyin desperately trying to break free, Yunshan spoke calmly. "Shhh!" Behind him, the Sky-Eating Python's massive mouth slammed into Yunshan with a fierce bite, only to be knocked back again by the latter's palm. The palm grew larger and larger within the dark pupils of Yunshan's eyes, and Xuanyin's own palm, tightly gripping his Xuanzhong Chi, trembled more and more. In his mind, silence reigned—only the steady beat of his own heart remained. In this quiet world, it seemed as though an immense force was about to surge forth. Yet, just as that force was about to erupt, it suddenly halted, then swiftly retreated—vanishing as if it had never existed. As the force withdrew, Xuanyin's stillness broke. He looked up—Yunshan's palm was now only half a centimeter from his shoulder—and despair surged through his heart. "Shhh!"
At the crucial moment, the Heaven-Eating Python behind Xiao Yan suddenly raised its head and roared loudly, a powerful beam of light bursting forth violently from within its body. The Python's sudden transformation immediately captured everyone's attention, even the Cloud Mountain, who furrowed his brows, intently observing the intense glow. Yet at a certain moment, his otherwise composed face suddenly transformed dramatically. Behind Xiao Yan, within the radiant light, a slender, graceful jade hand gracefully extended—though appearing slow, it precisely intercepted Cloud Mountain's hand just in time. As the two palms made contact, the earth trembled violently, and a series of terrifying cracks spread across the ground, spreading out like an earthquake. "Old fellow, wasn't that exciting?" a cool, alluring voice—so charming it nearly made men's bones feel soft—echoed gently across the plaza, causing several less composed spectators to blush deeply, their faces turning as crimson as a sunset.
Countless pairs of eyes turned toward the sound. When they saw the graceful and alluring figure standing behind Xiao Yan, they all found themselves momentarily breathless. However, those who were more informed—such as Hai Bo Dong—were visibly terrified. Xiao Yan swallowed hard, then slowly turned his head, revealing a flawless face that combined cold elegance, grace, and charm.