The vast plaza had grown unusually quiet at this moment, everyone staring in wide-eyed astonishment at the sudden development. Even some Cloud Ridge Sect elders looked utterly bewildered—wasn't this enigmatic Wu Sect Master supposed to be the chief assistant of the Sect Master? How...? The sound of chewing echoed strangely against the stillness of the sky. Some could already imagine the terrifying scenes unfolding within that black mist, and merely thinking of it sent shivers down their spines. "That guy seems to have devoured Yunshan's soul..." The elderly pharmacist now had an unusually serious expression, sensing that within the black mist, a cold and eerie aura was rapidly intensifying. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's face slightly tightened. He hadn't expected the Wu protector to be so ruthless—without a word, he had simply extracted Yunshan's soul and forcibly consumed it. It now appeared that today's events were far from over. "The Hunsan realm's elite are remarkably unusual. I hadn't expected them to be able to so strongly absorb souls to strengthen their own power. However, based on my assessment, such a technique should come with significant drawbacks. Even if he manages to successfully absorb Yunshan's soul at this moment, he will likely bear considerable costs afterward. Otherwise, he wouldn't have reached this point of having to employ such a method." The pharmacist said solemnly. "What should we do next?" Xiao Yan’s lips twitched slightly, his arm trembling subtly due to the intense pain radiating from his wrist. Yet this was no time for rest—so he asked seriously. "Cannot allow him to smoothly absorb Yunshan’s soul!" The old doctor narrowed his eyes, then a cold gleam flashed across them. With a sweep of his sleeve, a dense, bone-essence cold flame surged forth and shot directly at the black mist. The pale flame streaked across the sky, but as it neared the black mist, the latter suddenly surged with intense vibrations—waves of cold, dark mist surged out and collided with the flame. The two forces eroded each other, ultimately dissolving into nothingness. "Hah! Yao Chen! How can you possibly break my Hu Dun Secret Technique?" A strange, eerie cackle erupted from the mist, then the tone shifted, resonating across the heavens, "Since Yunshan has now perished, the Yunlan Sect no longer holds any value to me. Certain things—indeed, it's time to reclaim them!" Hearing the eerie laughter emanating from the black mist, all the cloud-lake sect elders turned pale, then seemed to grasp what was happening, and hurriedly stepped back. However, as soon as their bodies began to move, a strange suction force suddenly surged forth from the mist, sweeping down in an overwhelming tide. While this force posed no harm to ordinary people, several elders who had turned to flee found themselves suddenly frozen—then as if turned into lifeless puppets, their bodies rigid, their faces contorted with intense pain and agony. "What are you doing?!" Cloud Yun's delicate features paled upon seeing these elders, their faces twisted in suffering. These elders were the backbone of the cloud-lake sect. If anything happened to them, the sect itself would truly be in peril. As she drank deeply, Yun Yun suddenly felt a robust qi gradually rising within her body, pausing momentarily before realizing that with the fall of Yunshan, the seal she had placed within her own body was beginning to automatically dissipate. Yet now, as this seal dissolved, it only deepened the sorrow on her cheeks. "Hah! They have accepted the power of my Soul Temple. Otherwise, how could Yunlan Sect have grown so strong in just three years? Once they've gained the benefits, it's only natural that they now demand a price." A cold, chilly laugh echoed from within the black mist. "Out!" The cold command from the Jue Protector rang out sharply, and immediately, nearly a dozen senior monks of Yunlan Sect collapsed, their bodies going limp. One by one, ethereal soul forms drifted out from their foreheads, rising slowly through the astonished and stunned gazes of the onlookers, before being completely drawn into the strange black mist. Gazing at the Cloud Lan Sect elders who had suddenly lost their vital essence, Yun Yun trembled throughout her delicate frame, her cheeks gradually turning iron gray. After a moment, a sharp cry of rage erupted, and a powerful aura surged forth from within her body! "Damn it! Return their souls!" Her face now ashen, twin jade-blue wings of qi rapidly emerged behind her. With a single flap, she darted skyward, swiftly heading toward the black mist. "Hmph! Overreaching!" A cold laugh echoed from within the black mist as she surged forward. Suddenly, a lance of black qi shot out, aimed directly at Yun Yun's forehead. Her face grew cold. With a delicate motion of her fingers, Yun Yun sent a sharp blade of energy sweeping from her fingertips, colliding fiercely with the arrow-like aura—both forces then vanished, neutralizing the attack. Raising her wings, she instantly appeared beside the black mist. A luminous, sharp blade of deep green materialized in her jade hands. As the blade trembled, it emitted a sharp cry and a cutting energy surge, shooting straight into the black mist. A burst of energy erupted, and Yun Yun's figure seemed struck by a powerful blow, swiftly sliding downward across the sky. Her twin wings vibrated several times before she steadied herself, her face now pale—her strength truly found it difficult to match that of Wu Fu. Xiao Yan nodded with a wry smile. Now that the qi within his body was nearly depleted, he had no combat strength left—he could only wish to help, but lacked the strength to act. "This person's defense when absorbing souls is exceptionally strong; it seems impossible to break through it now. Today might prove to be troublesome." The elder medicine master sighed, glanced at Xiao Yan beside him, and his eyes flickered with a subtle flicker of concern. For many years, this was the first time Xiao Yan had heard such hesitation and lack of confidence in the elder's voice. His face, already streaked with blood, paled slightly, and he said firmly, "No matter what happens, I will not let my teacher fall into the Soul Palace's hands!" The elder smiled, patting Xiao Yan's shoulder gently, and said slowly, "Do your best. I've taught you everything I know. Beyond that, it will all depend on you. After all, though the Soul Palace is strong, your potential is limitless. Eventually, you will surely be able to stand against them." Hearing the Elder’s tone, which seemed as though he were delivering final instructions, Xiao Yan’s heart suddenly tightened. As the two spoke softly, the fluctuations of the black mist grew increasingly intense, eventually reaching a boiling state—constantly exhaling dark rings toward the sky. After a few such expulsions, the mist began to shrink rapidly, and finally, a figure emerged, fully enveloped in a dark armor, slowly coming into view under everyone’s gaze. The armor was deep and somber, crafted from an unknown material, adorned with strange patterns—upon closer inspection, these were vivid images of fierce, grim-faced human heads. Upon further examination, it became clear that these heads were precisely the cloud-peak sect elders whose souls had been forcibly drawn away. This eerie and haunting scene left every person present trembling, their hands and feet cold with fear. The Wù Protector reappeared, and a terrifying, cold aura—now several times stronger than before—slowly rose, eventually enveloping the entire Yunlan Mountain. At that moment, the once-clear sky grew dark and gloomy, with gusts of chilly wind sweeping through. "You devil!" Cloud Yun stared in trembling disbelief at the strange armor, where several human heads, each bearing expressions of agony, began to emerge. With her teeth clenched tightly, an unusual fury surged through her, slightly distorting her delicate features. "The Protector's objective is Yao Chen—nothing to do with you. Should you grow any more restless, before Xiao Yan even moves, I shall extinguish your Yunlan Sect right here." The Wù Protector glanced at Cloud Yun with calm indifference, his voice cold and composed. Cloud Yun drew a deep breath, steadying her turbulent emotions, then raised her hand, her voice rising in anger and echoing across the heavens. "All disciples, officers, and elders of the Yunlan Sect—listen!" "Form the array!" "Upon hearing Yun Yun's command, the countless Yunlan Sect disciples on the plaza first paused in astonishment, then erupted into unified voices of outrage, each sound crisp and resonant. One after another, they settled into seated positions, and a continuous surge of pure white energy mist poured forth, sweeping across the sky in an overwhelming tide. 'Stubborn!' Yun Yun's resolute action prompted Wu Fuzheng to emit a cold, sharp laugh. Yet, as he prepared to act, a powerful, resounding sword aura suddenly burst forth from the rear mountains of the Yunlan Sect, its clear, piercing tone echoing clearly in every ear. At that very moment, a strong aura surged unexpectedly from the rear mountains. 'This aura...' Xiao Yan in the sky was momentarily taken aback, then his eyes narrowed slightly. 'Nalan Yanran?'