Queen Medusa ultimately signed that disclaimer.
"I've signed the agreement, and I will also gather the required items. But if you try to shirk your responsibility when the time comes, I will not let you off lightly," she said coldly, her tone carrying an unmistakable seriousness.
Lin Yuan smiled faintly and replied sincerely, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. When the time comes, I will certainly give my full assistance. After all, I also wish to witness such a miracle." Indeed, he was filled with great interest in the mysteries of soul evolution and the process of condensing a new body.
"That's good. I hope you remember what you promised. I have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave for now. I will take this notebook back and study it carefully," Queen Medusa said as she rose and walked toward the door.
When she reached the doorway, her figure paused slightly, and her voice became faint and distant. "Don't die in your battle with Yun Shan. The Fourth Elder's poison hasn't been cured yet, and don't create any additional obstacles for my evolution plan."
With that, her figure vanished beyond the doorway.
Lin Yuan was momentarily stunned, then broke into a helpless laugh. Truly worthy of a queen's style.
"Young Master…" Qing Lin spoke from behind, hesitating.
Hearing her, Lin Yuan pulled Qing Lin over and had her sit in front of him. Looking at her, he smiled lightly and said, "What is it, Qing'er? You look like you want to say something but can't."
"Young Master, are you really going to fight a Dou Ancestor?" She was no longer an ignorant beginner in cultivation, and precisely because she understood more, she knew how vast the gap was between a Dou King and a Dou Ancestor, which was why she felt worried.
Lin Yuan gently patted Qing Lin's head and said seriously, "Not necessarily. But even if a battle happens, it doesn't matter. Qing'er, remember this: don't be deceived by the superficial strength others display. Once you've identified an enemy, gather intelligence, think carefully, formulate a strategy, and then execute the plan, this is the proper way to face an opponent."
At this point, Lin Yuan suddenly felt inspired, a spark of interest arising in his heart. He took out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. "Qing'er, grind the ink for me."
"Yes, Young Master." Qing Lin nodded and began grinding the ink. Then Lin Yuan's brush flew swiftly, and an essay titled Ten Victories and Ten Defeats appeared on the page.
Yun Shan's cultivation is that of a Dou Ancestor, far surpassing my Dou King realm. Yet in this battle, I hold the upper hand in all respects. With ten victories on my side, Yun Shan shall suffer ten defeats.
First, the cultivation technique I practice is a High-Tier Earth-Class manual, vast and profound. Yun Shan's technique is merely High-Tier Black-class, unworthy to be compared with mine.
Second, my Dou Skills are likewise Earth-Class, unmatched in power and capable of shaking heaven and earth. Yun Shan's Dou Skills belong only to the Black-Class, unable to withstand my thunderous strike.
Third, I diligently cultivate body-refining Dou Skills, forging my physique like indestructible steel. Yun Shan has not ventured into this path, possessing no such defense, and thus cannot block my edge.
Fourth, I possess a Heavenly Flame at my side, capable of burning all things. Yun Shan has no strange wind or equivalent aid, and his power is therefore limited.
Fifth, I cultivate secret arts that can temporarily cause my strength to surge. Yun Shan has never touched such methods and cannot comprehend their mysteries.
Sixth, as an alchemist, I possess medicinal pills to assist me. Yun Shan does not practice alchemy and thus cannot contend with me in this regard.
Seventh, my soul strength and soul perception far surpass Yun Shan's, like the bright moon compared to fireflies, utterly beyond his reach.
Eighth, I understand Yun Shan deeply and can scheme against him knowingly, seizing the initiative at every turn. He, however, knows nothing of me and is naturally restrained everywhere.
Ninth, in this battle, the home-field advantage is mine. Favorable terrain and circumstances are all under my control, while Yun Shan will find it difficult to exert his strength and will be forced into passivity.
Tenth, I am Lin Yuan, a hidden dragon lying in the abyss, destined to ascend to the peak. Yun Shan is but a common man, unworthy to contend with me.
Therefore, this battle is firmly in my grasp, and Yun Shan's defeat is already sealed.
Setting down the brush, Lin Yuan revealed a bright, hearty smile. At this moment, he had decided exactly how he would defeat Yun Shan.
Several days later, a shocking piece of news rapidly spread among the upper echelons of the Jia Ma Empire. Yun Shan, the former sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect who had been in seclusion for many years, had emerged from retreat and successfully broken through, becoming the sole Dou Ancestor powerhouse of the Jia Ma Empire.
According to rumors, after reentering the world, Yun Shan's first stop was Jia Ma Scared City, not far from the Misty Cloud Sect. He personally visited his old friend, the guardian deity of the Jia Ma royal family, Jia Xing Tian. The two sat together to discuss the Dao and exchange insights in depth. After several hours, Jia Xing Tian sighed toward the heavens and lamented, "I am inferior."
Once the news spread, the name Yun Shan, silent for many years, once again shone like the midday sun, and the Misty Cloud Sect's momentum grew even stronger.
Meanwhile, atop a tall tower within the imperial city at the center of Jia Ma Scared City, an elderly man dressed in coarse robes gazed into the distance with ethereal eyes, staring toward the faraway Tager Desert. At this moment, a tall woman in a purple brocade robe approached, faint authority visible on her delicate face. She asked with concern, "Great-Grandfather, are your injuries all right?"
The old man coughed lightly and shook his head. "Cough, it's nothing serious. That old fellow Yun Shan came here after reemerging, nothing more than wanting to recover the Misty Cloud Sect's lost face after their sect master was captured, and to draw a conclusion to our years of rivalry. Yao Ye, stop your actions on your end. Don't continue spreading the news of the Misty Cloud Sect master being captured."
Yao Ye bit her lip lightly, speaking with some reluctance. "But this is clearly a rare opportunity…" Over these past days, it was she who had been secretly pushing the spread of the news about the Misty Cloud Sect master's capture.
Jia Xing Tian sighed and said solemnly, "Great-Grandfather knows you want to use this to weaken the Misty Cloud Sect's prestige. But you must understand that the Dou Qi Continent ultimately respects strength above all else. Yun Shan has already broken through to Dou Ancestor. Such petty tactics are child's play before him and will instead invite disaster."
Yao Ye fell silent for a moment, then asked somewhat dejectedly, "Great-Grandfather, is the gap between peak Dou Emperor and Dou Ancestor really that great?"
Jia Xing Tian nodded gravely. Recalling his 'discussion' with Yun Shan, he touched the wound on his chest and smiled bitterly. "Between Dou Emperor and Dou Ancestor, though there is only a single step, the difference is truly as vast as heaven and earth. After that fellow's breakthrough, even his temperament seems to have become far more domineering. It seems the many years of peace in the Jia Ma Empire may soon be shattered."
The Tager Desert stretched endlessly, vast and boundless, with rolling yellow sands.
Today, after many years, Yun Shan once again set foot upon this land. He wore a simple white robe, and his appearance did not seem particularly aged. If not for his snow-white long hair, it would have been difficult to recognize him as a powerhouse of the same generation as Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bo Dong.
Standing in midair, Yun Shan's gaze swept toward the depths of the desert, as if piercing through the veil of sand to behold the Serpent-People Scaret City in the distance.
"After so many years in seclusion… the Serpent-People Tribe, the Tager Desert—long time no see."
Stepping through the void, Yun Shan walked forward toward the direction of the Serpent-People Scared City, one step at a time. With each step he took, ripples spread through the empty space beneath his feet. When the ripples dissipated, his figure would appear a hundred meters away. His speed was no slower—indeed, even faster, than flying with Dou Qi wings.
As Yun Shan walked through the void step by step, he gradually released his aura bit by bit, steadily proclaiming his overwhelming pressure to the Serpent-People Tribe.
Within the Serpent-People Scared City, Queen Medusa sensed that exceptionally powerful aura from afar, her heart tightening. "Yun Shan has arrived. It seems today is the day. But before that… let me test the might of a Dou Ancestor for myself."
Queen Medusa formed a small purple energy serpent. With a flash, it shot off toward the direction where the four great elders resided.
Immediately after, her figure flickered as she spread her Dou Qi wings and flew toward that powerful aura. Not long after, Yun Shan and Queen Medusa met in the desert.
Upon seeing Yun Shan, Queen Medusa curled her lips into a cold smile and said, "Yun Shan, you've finally come. I thought you would keep hiding in the Misty Cloud Sect and refuse to come out."
Yun Shan did not grow angry and merely replied calmly, "Medusa, I know it was you who captured Yun Yun and Gu He. I came this time only to bring them back safely to the Misty Cloud Sect. As long as you hand them over, I can let bygones be bygones."
Queen Medusa's sneer deepened as she taunted, "Yun Shan, you certainly speak with confidence. It seems that after breaking through to Dou Ancestor, you have great faith in your strength. In that case, let me test you and see just how different you are from before your breakthrough."
As her words fell, Queen Medusa swiftly formed several strange hand seals. Vast Dou Qi surged and gathered, and an extremely sharp, seven-colored brilliance condensed into form.
"Heavenly Rainbow Sword Qi!" A cold light flashed in Queen Medusa's eyes as the seven-colored edge shot forth like an arrow released from the bow, blasting straight toward Yun Shan.
Yun Shan's expression was calm and placid as water, his gaze locking onto the incoming seven-colored radiance. He spoke no unnecessary words. Facing this once-familiar technique, he slowly raised both hands and aimed them at the dazzling seven-colored sword qi, his voice calm and resolute.
"Wind Barrier."
As Yun Shan's words fell, violent winds suddenly arose in the sky, as though the very breath of heaven and earth was under his control at that moment. In the blink of an eye, a deep cyan wind wall condensed into existence, like an indestructible fortress.
"Boom!"
The seven-colored edge slammed fiercely into the wind wall. A deafening explosion echoed between heaven and earth as energy ripples spread outward like waves. Yet the deep cyan wind wall stood unmoving, as if it had not even trembled in the slightest. Queen Medusa's strongest attack appeared utterly pale and powerless before Yun Shan's defense.
Yun Shan calmly gazed at the old rival before him, a trace of indescribable emotion rising in his heart. The old monster Jia Xing Tian and Queen Medusa, figures who had once battled him for many years, had now become opponents he could deal with effortlessly. Thinking of his choice to bow his head to the Soul Hall and to Protector Wu, he actually felt a hint of relief.
Seeing her strongest attack blocked so easily, Queen Medusa's heart could not help but tremble. From this single strike, she had clearly realized the gap between peak Dou Emperor and Dou Ancestor—truly a difference like clouds and mud. Looking at Yun Shan's calm expression, as if he had not even exerted himself, a trace of dimness flashed through her eyes. But soon, that dimness transformed into firm resolve, buried deep within her heart.
"If you want to rescue Yun Yun and Gu He, then follow me," Queen Medusa said slowly after taking a deep breath. "Go and meet the one who truly set this whole scheme in motion. They are in his hands now, and he has already been waiting for you for a long time."
Thinking of Lin Yuan, she herself did not know what she was feeling. What followed would be a contest between an alchemist and Yun Shan.
"Oh? It seems the capture of Yun Yun and Gu He is not so simple. Interesting," Yun Shan said, raising an eyebrow slightly. Though somewhat surprised, his tone remained calm. Having broken through to Dou Ancestor, he possessed absolute confidence to deal with anything. Moreover, he had not sensed any particularly powerful aura, which only made him more curious about the mastermind behind the scenes.
"Follow me," Queen Medusa said as her figure moved, flying toward the depths of the desert. Yun Shan curled his lips into an amused smile, stepping through the void as he followed closely behind.
In the end, they arrived at an oasis within the desert. There, a man in a green robe sat quietly in cultivation. Yun Yun and Gu He were each leaning against two trees within the oasis, completely unharmed.
Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes and looked at Yun Shan. A bright smile spread across his face as his clear voice reached Yun Shan's ears.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, Misty Cloud Sect Master—Yun Shan."
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