"What do you mean, 'get going'? I'm your friend, what's so shameful about that?"
Yan Qingshan shook his head and chuckled. Then, he turned to Yun Yun with a serious expression. "I came to the Misty Cloud Mountain today not just to escort you back. There's someone else I want to see."
"Who do you want to see?"
Yun Yun asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. Yan Qingshan's origins were a mystery to her; she still couldn't figure out his background. He also acted with a certain reckless abandon, which was precisely why she had urged him to leave quickly—she was afraid he'd get into a conflict with the Misty Cloud Sect members and stir up trouble.
As the current Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, her every move represented the sect. Many things couldn't be based on her personal will, and even making friends had to be done with great caution, lest she become the subject of gossip.
Yan Qingshan smiled faintly, his gaze turning toward the back mountain of the Misty Cloud Sect. "The person I want to see is your master, the previous Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shan."
Yun Yun's delicate brows furrowed, and she shook her head in refusal. "It's impossible for you to see my master. He has been in a secluded death-like retreat for a long time.
Even I cannot contact him. Before he went into seclusion, he instructed me that he should only be awakened and brought out if the sect faces a life-or-death crisis, and only through a special method."
Yan Qingshan looked directly at Yun Yun, his voice calm. "What if I told you that the Misty Cloud Sect is now facing a moment of life and death? If things go wrong, the entire sect could be toppled. Would you believe me?"
"I... I believe you, but this reason won't convince others. I still can't do it."
Yun Yun looked up, her eyes flashing with a hint of sorrow and grievance. "I don't know what you're thinking, but please don't harm the Misty Cloud Sect. This is my home."
The corner of Yan Qingshan's mouth curved into a smile. He flipped onto the back of the little Amethyst Winged Lion King. "Alright! If that's the case, I'll come back in a few days. The next time you see me, you will agree."
The little Amethyst Winged Lion King's form moved, its wings unfurled, and it swiftly left Misty Cloud Mountain. Yun Yun stared at his departing figure for a long time, lost in her thoughts. The sound of the wind grew closer—the strong cultivators of the Misty Cloud Sect had sensed the commotion and were rushing over.
…
In the Sacred City of Jia Ma, within the Mittel Clan's compound, Gu Sheng sat alone in a quiet room on a small building, leaning back and silently reading a book.
On the table in front of him, there was a stack of books filled with various messages. A myriad of blue lights flashed in his eyes as Dawn recorded and categorized the numerous data entries into its database. Just as he finished recording the last page, the sound of familiar footsteps echoed from outside.
"Brother Qingshan!"
The enchanting Ya Fei was as charming as ever. In fact, after Yan Qingshan's "repeated development," she was even more captivating. The moment she saw him, she passionately offered her beautiful body for a wolfish kiss. After their fiery embrace, she remembered the important matter at hand.
"The news from the royal family has been confirmed."
Yan Qingshan leaned against the headboard, his arm around Ya Fei, and asked in a low voice.
Ya Fei's slender finger traced circles on his cheek. "Old Hai personally confirmed the news. That person has indeed come out of seclusion, and Old Hai said he felt a power of that level."
Yan Qingshan nodded. "That's good. Later, send a message over. Tell him that in three nights, I'll take a trip to Misty Cloud Mountain with him."
…
The bright moonlight shone down on the great hall of the Misty Cloud Sect's inner court. Yun Yun sat alone on a mat, her treasured sword laid across her lap as she circulated her dou qi through her meridians. Suddenly, her delicate brows furrowed, and she abruptly opened her eyes. At some point, a figure had appeared before her, smiling at her.
Yun Yun sighed, her brow still furrowed, and spoke softly. "Why are you here again? I've already told you, I'm the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect. I have my own responsibilities and duties, and I can't act so capriciously. Let's just treat what happened in the Magical Beast Mountain Range as a dream, okay?"
"I came here today to see your master. How about I propose marriage to him?"
Yan Qingshan smiled and walked over to sit beside Yun Yun. He reached out to hold her jade-like hand, but she dodged him. He reached out again, this time with faster speed. After grabbing her hand precisely, he didn't give her another chance to escape.
Yun Yun bit her lip and shook her head. "This is impossible. Please don't do this. I'm so much older than you. There's no way we could..."
"Why not? How do you know it's impossible if you haven't tried?"
Yan Qingshan replied with confidence. Then, his tone shifted. "Speaking of which, I'm not just here for our matter when I go to see your master today."
With a wave of Yan Qingshan's hand, a sack flew in from outside the hall. The sack's opening was slightly loose, revealing half of a head with a full head of white hair and an aged face. Yun Yun recognized him immediately.
"First Elder!"
Yun Yun stared in shock at the unconscious person trapped in the sack. She turned to Yan Qingshan, her eyes filled with anger. "Yan Qingshan, you... how could you do this? Whatever our business is, why did you lay a hand on the First Elder?"
"I didn't do this. I was just watching from the side. Someone else did it, but I took this."
Yan Qingshan said, pulling something from his robe. It was a cloud-white flute. "If I'm not mistaken, this should be the item used to summon your master. How is it supposed to be played? Like this? Or like this?"
Yan Qingshan gestured with the flute in his hand. When Yun Yun saw it, her expression turned extremely grim. She snatched the Cloud Flute from Yan Qingshan's hand. "What exactly do you want?"
"I want to see your master. I told you that day, and now that I'm here, it's time for things to come to an end."
Yan Qingshan said solemnly. "I am not joking with you. Your master is involved in a major matter. I must have a good talk with him face-to-face for there to be a chance of a solution. Otherwise, the best outcome for the Misty Cloud Sect will be for the sect to disband and its disciples to scatter."
"You're not joking!"
Yun Yun stared at Yan Qingshan. He nodded solemnly in return. Looking into his bright eyes that were fixed on her, Yun Yun finally made a decision in her heart. She circulated her dou qi, and a breeze flowed into the Cloud Flute, producing a strange, sharp melody that slowly emanated.
The subtle flute sound resonated throughout Misty Cloud Mountain, lingering and spreading outward. Upon hearing this sound, the faces of many elders in the Misty Cloud Sect changed.
Deep within Misty Cloud Mountain, a vast and powerful aura, like that of a giant dragon awakening from ancient times, flashed and then vanished. A spiritual sense swept across the entire Misty Cloud Sect, finally locking onto the direction of the Sect Master's main hall.
A white figure suddenly emerged from the depths of Misty Cloud Mountain. In the moonlight, he walked through the air. He had no dou qi wings behind him, yet he moved through the void as if taking a leisurely stroll.
Wherever his foot landed, the void would ripple. As the ripples dissipated, the figure would already be a hundred meters away, an extremely mysterious sight.
A figure appeared inside the inner hall of the Misty Cloud Sect. His calm gaze swept over the hall. He noticed the shocked Yun Yun holding hands with Yan Qingshan, and his brow slightly furrowed. When his gaze fell upon the First Elder, Yun Leng, inside the sack, a flash of anger appeared in his eyes, and an invisible pressure emanated from him.
While this white figure was observing everything in the hall, Yan Qingshan was also observing the previous Misty Cloud Sect Master, Yun Shan. Yun Shan wore a very simple white robe. As the gentle breeze came, his robe fluttered, giving him an ethereal and otherworldly aura.
His age didn't seem to be very old. His face didn't have the wrinkles a senior should have; instead, it was like a piece of warm jade glowing with a faint light. His head of snowy white hair shimmered with a silvery glow, and faint spatial ripples surrounded his body.
Yun Shan's gaze turned to Yun Yun, and he spoke in a calm voice. "Yun'er, give me an explanation. You know I said not to disturb my quiet cultivation unless it was a matter of utmost importance.
And what's going on with Yun Leng? Even if he offended you, you shouldn't treat him with such methods!"
Before Yun Yun could reply, Yan Qingshan spoke, a smile on his face, neither arrogant nor submissive. "Elder Sect Master Yun, it was not Yun'er who summoned you here today, but me."
Yun Shan glanced at him, a hint of surprise in his eyes. After a more careful look, he finally spoke. "Impressive bearing... At such a young age, you have already advanced to the Dou Emperor realm. Your strength and talent surpass even Yun'er's. Who are you, and why do you seek me?"
Yan Qingshan looked Yun Shan in the eye and said, "Elder Sect Master Yun, my name is Yan Qingshan. I used to be a small medical apprentice in Qingshan Town in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Now, I have a bit of a background and can be considered a prominent figure in the Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy."
"The Jia Nan Academy of the Black-Corner Region? The Misty Cloud Sect and Jia Nan Academy shouldn't have any dealings with each other."
A hint of wariness flashed in Yun Shan's eyes. At its peak, the Jia Nan Academy in the Black-Corner Region had made all factions within the region afraid to offend it, and the major empires surrounding it didn't dare to show the slightest disrespect.
Although the current Jia Nan Academy was not as great as it once was, it was still a force that Yun Shan was quite wary of. And the Jia Nan Inner Academy, in particular, was a complex place. The students there were elites from various places, and some were even descendants of powerful forces from the Central Plains.
It could be said that the students of the Jia Nan Inner Academy had a powerful network of connections. Without strong strength or power, acting recklessly could easily stir up trouble.
"My visit this time has nothing to do with Jia Nan Academy. I just felt that I should have a talk with you about certain matters concerning your breakthrough. For example, the Hall of Souls."
Yan Qingshan said with a smile. The moment he uttered the words Hall of Souls, Yun Shan's expression changed dramatically, his gaze turning dark and sharp.
Yun Shan's aura became grave and oppressive, and he spoke in a cold voice.
"What do you mean by that?"
Yan Qingshan smiled and continued. "Elder Sect Master Yun, there's no need to be so nervous. I found out about your cooperation with the Hall of Souls by chance. It's a good thing that you broke through to the Dou Ancestor realm.
However, cooperating with the Hall of Souls is like a tiger conspiring with its prey. Do you know that you are currently standing on the edge of a deep abyss? One wrong step, and you could be doomed forever."
"You want to intimidate this old man, you whelp? You think too highly of yourself!"
Yun Shan naturally didn't believe Yan Qingshan's words. He was a Dou Ancestor powerhouse, a formidable figure in the entire Dou Qi Continent. How could he be scared by such doomsday talk?