Several days later, a shocking piece of news spread throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire.
The Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun, had ventured deep into the Great Desert and encountered Queen Medusa. After being defeated, she was captured. Soon after, the former Sect Master, Yun Shan, emerged from seclusion and personally went to the desert to rescue Yun Yun.
Just as everyone believed the matter had come to an end, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
Citing Yun Yun's defeat and capture while serving as Sect Master as a grave stain upon the Misty Cloud Sect's dignity and reputation, Yun Shan resolutely stripped her of her position as Sect Master and exiled her. He declared that Yun Yun would be given ten years, if she could break through to the Dou Ancestor realm within that time, she would be allowed to return to the Misty Cloud Sect. Otherwise, she would be permanently expelled from the sect.
Now that Yun Shan, who had already broken through to the Dou Ancestor realm, had reassumed control, the most powerful faction of the Jia Ma Empire underwent a dramatic upheaval overnight.
Within the inner hall of the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran, clad in a moon-colored dress stood before the graceful woman in a plain white gown. The eyes that were usually filled with pride and confidence were now brimming with reluctance and sorrow, tears shimmering at their edges.
"Teacher is being stripped of her position and exiled just because she was defeated and captured once. This punishment is completely unreasonable," Nalan Yanran said, her voice trembling with sobs.
Yun Yun gently stroked Nalan Yanran's head, her tone soft and calm.
"Yanran, don't be willful. Your teacher made a mistake this time, tarnishing the prestige and dignity accumulated by the Misty Cloud Sect over generations. Receiving such punishment is only proper."
"Teacher, let's go and beg Grandmaster again! At the very least, ask him not to exile you," Nalan Yanran pleaded, her voice thick with tears, clearly unable to accept this cruel reality.
Yun Yun let out a soft sigh and spoke gently,
"Yanran, you don't understand your Grandmaster's temperament. Once he has made a decision, he will not easily change it. After I leave, you must not slack off in your cultivation. He has already said that he will personally instruct you. You must be obedient and stop being willful. Your Grandmaster is much stricter than I am, but it is all for your own good."
"Sect Master Yun Yun, I feel deeply ashamed about this incident."
The refined middle-aged man, Gu He, looked at Yun Yun with deep remorse in his eyes.
Yun Yun shook her head lightly, calmness showing in her gaze.
"Brother Gu He, this matter has nothing to do with you. It was my own fault. In truth, this may not be entirely a bad thing. I had long harbored thoughts of traveling the world perhaps this is a gift from the heavens. I will have to trouble you to take extra care of the Misty Cloud Sect and Yanran."
A surge of impulse rose in Gu He's heart, and he nearly spoke. However, as he watched Yun Yun's retreating figure, he ultimately swallowed the words—'Why don't I go with you…' back down.
Once Yun Yun's figure completely disappeared from sight, Gu He murmured softly, "I will remain here in the Misty Cloud Sect, quietly waiting for your return… Yun'er."
Outside the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun gazed at the familiar and solemn mountain gate. A storm of emotions churned within her—attachment, guilt, reluctance, melancholy, sorrow, loneliness, countless feelings intertwined. In the end, her memories froze on Yun Shan's indifferent expression and his meaningful gaze. She let out a soft sigh, as if bidding farewell to her past self, then circulated her Dou Qi. Green Dou Qi wings unfurled from her back, and with a single beat of her wings, her figure swiftly vanished into the distant horizon.
High atop the cloud peak, Yun Shan silently watched Yun Yun depart. A trace of reluctance surfaced in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by resoluteness and determination. He silently prayed in his heart.
"By doing this, even if the worst should happen here, the seed of the Misty Cloud Sect can still be preserved. Ancestors of past generations, please aid me and aid the Misty Cloud Sect in overcoming this life-and-death crisis."
"When the news of Yun'er's exile reaches that alchemist fellow, he should understand my reasoning. I hope he will look after her a little for the sake of our cooperation. Forget it—next time I contact him, I'll explain it directly. If he happens to encounter Yun'er outside, he can look after her somewhat."
In the Alchemy Hall of the Serpent-People Sacred City, Lin Yuan was studying the clone-type Dou Technique he had obtained from Yun Shan—Afterimage Clone.
Afterimage Clone, a High-Tier Black-Class Dou Technique, allowed the user to condense tangible energy clones. However, these clones could only reach at most twenty percent of the original body's strength. As a result, they were exceedingly fragile in battles between peers—shattering at the slightest touch and were widely considered a rather useless combat technique.
Yet Lin Yuan had some special ideas regarding this technique, and he had already been researching it for several days.
At this moment, Lin Yuan's eyes suddenly sharpened. The hand seals he formed shifted rapidly as green light erupted from his entire body. Immediately afterward, as if a soul were leaving the body, a strange afterimage "walked" out from Lin Yuan and solidified into form, standing quietly before him.
From its appearance, the entity formed from the afterimage was identical to Lin Yuan, except its energy level was only about half a percent of his own.
Lin Yuan carefully examined the energy clone. After a moment, his fingers once again formed seals. Following a series of complex hand signs, he gently pointed toward the clone's brow.
"Open the Heavenly Eye. Awaken the Spiritual Light."
Lin Yuan gave a soft shout as vast soul power surged into the energy clone. After some time, the clone slowly opened its eyes, a spark of vitality flickering within them.
Lin Yuan and the clone exchanged a glance, both revealing satisfied smiles.
"Let's begin the test," Lin Yuan's main body said with a smile. As he spoke, he handed an unopened secret art of the Serpent-People Clan to the energy clone, while he himself sat down cross-legged and began cultivating.
The energy clone took the secret art and walked to the side of the hall, reading and comprehending it.
Before long, the energy clone finished reading the entire secret art and gained some insights. It then walked back to Lin Yuan's main body.
Lin Yuan, who had been cultivating in a cross-legged position, withdrew his cultivation seals and stood up. Circulating the Purifying Spirit Art, he entered a state of Void clarity.
"Come," he said softly.
The energy clone nodded. Its solid form gradually turned illusory, then took a step and "walked" into Lin Yuan's body. As the clone returned, the portion of soul power Lin Yuan had split off merged once more with his main soul. The vast amount of information the clone had obtained also flowed back into the main body. In his state of Void clarity, Lin Yuan rapidly absorbed the clone's knowledge and insights regarding the Serpent-People Clan's secret art.
Moments later, the state of perfect void clarity faded. A trace of fatigue flashed through Lin Yuan's eyes, but it was far outweighed by excitement.
"It worked," he murmured. "Just as I suspected. Since this clone Dou Technique obtained from Yun Shan can utilize Dou Techniques, that means it can carry the main body's intelligence. If it can carry intelligence, then it can acquire knowledge, judge, deduce, and comprehend. The true value of this Dou Technique lies not in combat, but in cultivation."
The Afterimage Clone and the technique for using soul power obtained from that Eighth-Grade alchemist's inheritance, the Soul Clone produced a wondrous synergistic effect. Using an energy clone of the same origin as the main body to house a soul clone greatly stabilized it, significantly reducing the required consumption and allowing it to be maintained for long periods of time. At the same time, the energy clone carrying the soul clone became far more sentient and functionally versatile.
This composite clone possessed exceptionally strong auxiliary cultivation capabilities, especially in learning and comprehension, nearly matching the efficiency of the main body.
At this moment, Lin Yuan was in an extremely good mood.
"In this way, while the main body cultivates, the clone can handle studying and comprehending knowledge. The issue of insufficient time should be greatly alleviated. At the same time, during dangerous encounters, the clone's existence can significantly increase safety."
"Moreover, these tangible clones aren't entirely useless in combat either. Combined with the afterimages of the Could Dragon Afterimages, they might produce unexpected effects."
"Next, I'll continue testing the clone's maintenance duration, maximum distance, and the upper limit on the number of clones."
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