"Sect Leader, I understand."
Yun Leng bowed his head and replied. In truth, he had already guessed this outcome. Compared to the more forceful old sect leader, the new sect leader, perhaps due to her gender, was unwilling to incite conflict and would not easily take risks in such a situation.
Based on the reactions of the imperial family and the various forces in the Sacred City, combined with the intelligence from the sect's spies, the Misty Cloud Sect could easily deduce that Jia Xingtian was most likely attempting a breakthrough in secluded cultivation.
The relationship between the Misty Cloud Sect and the imperial family was tense and complicated. At a time like this, the Misty Cloud Sect was naturally unwilling for the imperial family to have a Dou Ancestor. Yun Leng's idea was to sabotage the breakthrough secretly, but the new sect leader was unwilling to provoke a conflict and chose to wait and see. In Yun Leng's eyes, this was not a firm enough stance.
But how could he know that the new sect leader had more to consider than he did?
Just as Yun Leng was about to take his leave, the sect leader behind the curtain spoke again.
"Great Elder, I will be leaving for a while soon. I must trouble you to look after the Misty Cloud Sect's affairs."
"Sect Leader? If you have something to handle, you could simply command me and the others."
Yun Leng looked up, calling out. Although he was dissatisfied with some of the new sect leader's decisions, he was very clear that with the old sect leader, Yun Shan, in a death-seclusion, the new sect leader was the pillar of the Misty Cloud Sect. With the situation in the Sacred City being unclear, it was a time for caution, and he could not understand why the sect leader had to leave.
The new sect leader behind the curtain explained, "That child Yanran has been cultivating extremely diligently lately, and her progress is quite impressive. I asked Gu He to specially formulate a pill for her, but the main ingredient requires an Amethyst Crystal shed by a Tier 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King. This is something only I can retrieve from the Magical Beast Mountain Range!"
"Since it concerns the Young Sect Leader, I must say one more thing. Sect Leader, the Young Sect Leader comes from the Nalan Clan, and that Nalan Jie... this matter may cause some trouble in the future."
Yun Leng did not try to stop the new sect leader from leaving. The Amethyst Crystal shed by a Tier 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King was likely something only a Dou Emperor could retrieve. However, he was still concerned about Nalan Yanran, feeling that her special identity might cause problems later.
The voice from behind the curtain carried a hint of displeasure. "Yanran's talent and cultivation are the best among the Misty Cloud Sect's current generation of disciples. Both in reason and sentiment, she can be established as the Young Sect Leader. I believe the Great Elder understands what I mean."
"Sect Leader, I was indeed presumptuous. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
Yun Leng did not argue. He bowed once more and retreated. A sigh slowly drifted out from behind the curtain. This was not the first time they had had this conversation about Nalan Yanran.
Shortly after Yun Leng left, a figure slowly walked out from behind the curtain. A pale green Dou Qi flared around her, and with a whoosh, she shot into the air like a moon palace fairy, quickly heading in the direction of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
…
At the Mittel Clan, inside Ya Fei's pavilion.
Yan Qingshan sat alone on the pavilion's rooftop balcony, enjoying the sunlight while continuously refining his Dou Qi. The warm sunlight bathed him in a golden glow. Just as he finished a cycle, the flapping of wings echoed from a distance.
"She went to the Magical Beast Mountain Range!"
Yan Qingshan looked up. A carrier pigeon landed on the balcony. After taking the intelligence it carried, a strange smile appeared on Yan Qingshan's lips.
After letting the pigeon go, he left a letter in his bedroom. Then, unfurling his purple wings, he quickly flew towards the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Within the Jia Ma Empire's Magical Beast Mountain Range, a purple stream of light rapidly descended from the horizon, landing gracefully on a stone cliff like a swallow returning to its nest.
"I'm back, Magical Beast Mountain Range!"
Standing on the cliff's peak, Yan Qingshan overlooked the familiar scenery below, a smile playing on his lips. He spread his arms as if embracing the entire world.
"Hmm! Interesting. Xiao Yan actually came here."
Yan Qingshan was just about to head into the familiar deep regions of the Magical Beast Mountain Range when his brow furrowed slightly. He turned his gaze, locking onto an area near the outskirts of the mountain range.
When he left the Xiao Clan, he had left a soul-imprinted item on Xiao Yan, originally to make it easier to contact Yao Lao. He didn't expect it to serve as a location tracker now.
Without much hesitation, Yan Qingshan unfurled his wings and flew toward Xiao Yan's sensed location.
Near a waterfall in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a young man was wielding a heavy ruler, fighting against the powerful water current. Not far from the waterfall, an old man, glowing with a faint halo, floated in a tree like a ghost—or rather, he was a ghost, but so solidified he appeared like a living person.
"Xiao Yanzi, at your current pace, you still have to work hard to catch up with that girl from the Misty Cloud Sect! Although that girl's temperament is a bit flawed, her talent is indeed not bad. While she doesn't compare to that Yan kid, she's not too far behind you right now."
The old man stroked his nonexistent beard with a faint smile. Hearing his words, the young man struggling against the waterfall became even more fierce.
"Teacher, I have a question. Is it common on the continent for someone with that surname, Yan, to become a Dou King at such a young age?"
Because he was battling the water current, the young man couldn't afford to be too distracted, and his words were intermittent, sounding quite strange.
"That Yan kid is only about three years older than you. To become a Dou King at his age, both talent and opportunity are indispensable,"
the old man calmly commented. "I can sense that his foundation is extremely solid. The flow of his Dou Qi is so powerful that even I feel a sense of threat. The grade of his cultivation method must be above the Di-tier, and his Dou Skills go without saying."
"If your cousin is not mistaken, his background is far more humble than yours. I have traversed the continent for a hundred years and have seen countless geniuses. Among geniuses with such a background, he can be ranked in the top ten. Even in the Central Plains, where experts are as numerous as the clouds, he is a top-tier genius."
"A top-tier genius even in the Central Plains? I will catch up to you."
The young man was not discouraged by the old man's words. After cleaving the waterfall with his ruler, he surged his Dou Qi, blocking the water and sending it rolling upwards.
On a mountain nearly a mile away from the waterfall, a figure watched the scene from the woods, muttering to himself with a similar lip shape to the young man.
"A top-tier genius even in the Central Plains? Should I be proud?"
Yan Qingshan repeated the phrase Xiao Yan had muttered to himself, a peculiar smile on his lips. He chose not to reveal himself to the two of them at this time. Instead, he watched from a distance without alarming Yao Lao.
"She's here!"
Just as Yan Qingshan was about to turn, he suddenly looked in another direction of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. A solemn expression flashed in his eyes, and with a movement, he headed in that direction.
"Teacher, what's wrong?"
At the waterfall, Yao Lao's hand, which was stroking his beard, suddenly trembled involuntarily, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. His strange expression naturally caught Xiao Yan's attention.
Yao Lao shook his head. "It's nothing. It's just strange, the image of that Yan kid suddenly flashed through my mind. It's probably because we were just talking about him!"
BOOM!!!
In the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a thunderous roar startled a hundred birds into flight and caused a stampede of beasts. Two powerful auras confronted each other in the air, and a great change was about to erupt.
In the vast blue sky, violent energy fluctuations continuously created sounds like muffled thunder. Yan Qingshan emerged from the shadows of the forest, looking up at the sky in the distance.
Blue and red colors permeated half the sky, even the blue sky and white clouds tinged with the dual hues. The continuous roars of thunder brought waves of energy fluctuations, and the powerful pressure caused the beasts to flee in panic, throwing the forest into chaos.
In the azure sky, the blue and red colors covered a full half of the heavens, a truly spectacular sight. The Amethyst Winged Lion King, its body glowing with purple flames, was confronting a human woman. The clash between the two had caused the great commotion just now.
The woman in the sky was clad in a simple dress that wrapped around her full, graceful body. She held a strange-looking long sword that emitted a green glow. Gusts of wind swirled around her, and the light-green Dou Qi wind runes whipped up small tornadoes.
Her pale blue hair was styled into a noble phoenix hair ornament. Her beautiful face appeared calm and serene, and her dignified demeanor held a hint of softness. Behind her were a pair of green feathered wings, though they appeared slightly ethereal.
"Dou Qi Wings" was the mark of a powerful expert above the Dou King stage. To be able to confront the Amethyst Winged Lion King without being at a disadvantage, this woman had to be a Dou Emperor expert.
In the sky, the mysterious woman stood serenely. Her beautiful face, though placid, revealed a dignity and nobility that her simple dress could not conceal.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King in the sky bellowed in human speech. "Human woman, why do you disturb my rest?"
"Lion King, I have only one request for coming to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I wish to borrow your Amethyst Crystal for a while!"
The woman's beautiful eyes were fixed on the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Her red lips parted, and her calm voice was as clear and pleasant as pearls dropping onto a jade plate.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King spoke with a mocking tone. "Amethyst Crystal? My Amethyst Winged Lion race can only shed a small piece from our bodies every twenty years. Who do you think you are to ask for it just like that?"
The woman's words were not forceful; she seemed to have already anticipated that things would not be easy. She said softly, "Lion King, I can exchange it for something you need."
The Amethyst Winged Lion King let out a hearty laugh. "An exchange? Heh, alright, I am currently in the process of shapeshifting. If you can get me a Body Transformation Pill, then I will give you the Amethyst Crystal. How about it?"
The woman's elegant eyebrows furrowed slightly, then she shook her head and said softly, "I apologize. A Body Transformation Pill is something that very few people in the Jia Ma Empire can produce. However, if the Lion King is willing, I can exchange it for three Tier 5 Magical Cores, as well as a High-grade Xuan-tier cultivation method and Dou Skill for you to practice."
"Hehe... Tier 5 Magical Cores and High-grade Xuan-tier cultivation methods and Dou Skills? Do you think I don't have those already?"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King suddenly let out a mocking laugh. The purple energy around its body began to fluctuate as waves of power surged along special lines. A lion-shaped halo of pale purple light merged with its body, and its aura suddenly increased significantly.