The Misty Cloud Sect was situated upon Misty Cloud Mountain, only several dozen li away from the Jia Ma Sacred City. It was the strongest faction within the Jia Ma Empire and had stood within the empire for several centuries.
After generations of inheritance and accumulation, it had long since reached the pinnacle of the Jia Ma Empire.
Every generation of the Jia Ma Imperial Family had been deeply wary of this enormous power so close at hand. Even the empire's strongest elite legion was not stationed at the borders, but instead remained garrisoned at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain. Through mutual tacit understanding, both sides maintained an uneasy peace.
After all, everyone understood deep down that on the Dou Qi Continent, the true factors deciding victory and life or death had always been the battlefields of high-level experts.
Meanwhile, upon the broad road leading from the Jia Ma Sacred City to the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan dressed in black robes walked alone toward the distant Misty Cloud Sect at an unhurried pace.
Along the road, luxurious carriages occasionally cast surprised glances toward him. These belonged to the guests heading to the Misty Cloud Sect to witness the ceremony. Earlier, Yun Leng had deliberately invited numerous prestigious figures to attend the Three-Year Agreement in order to increase Nalan Yanran's prestige as the future Sect Leader.
However, Xiao Yan seemed completely oblivious to those gazes.
Though he had waited three full years for this very day, he was unexpectedly calm at this moment, as though the burden that had weighed upon his heart all this time was slowly dispersing.
Not far from Xiao Yan, Lin Yuan, Yao Lao, and Ling Ying were holding their final secret discussion.
"You two, how are the preparations for your respective responsibilities?" Yao Lao was the first to break the silence.
Hearing this, Lin Yuan nodded and said in a deep voice, "Senior Yao, everything on my side is ready. The Breath-Changing Pill has already been successfully refined. My Queen can now fight with her full strength. Together, the two of us can hold back a four-star Dou Ancestor."
Ling Ying slightly nodded as well.
"The hiding places and rendezvous points on my side have also been prepared. Here are the maps and code signals. The details are as follows…"
As he spoke, he handed the maps over to the other two and carefully explained everything.
After listening, Yao Lao nodded in satisfaction.
"Very good. Everything is now prepared. If any unforeseen circumstances occur, we shall act according to the plan we previously decided upon. No matter what happens, after today, you all shall be friends of this old man and of the Falling Star Pavilion…"
As the conversation ended, the figures of the three gradually faded into the air.
Misty Cloud Mountain towered majestically into the sky. At the mountain's base, stone stairways wound upward like a giant dragon weaving through clouds and mist.
At the end of the stairway lay a vast plaza constructed entirely from enormous stone slabs, ancient and imposing in appearance. At the center of the plaza stood several giant stone monuments engraved with the names of successive Sect Leaders and those who had rendered great service to the Misty Cloud Sect.
Upon the plaza, nearly a thousand disciples sat cross-legged in a semicircular formation.
They wore uniform moon-white robes, while cloud-patterned longswords embroidered upon their sleeves fluttered gently in the wind like living creatures, faintly containing traces of sword intent.
At the highest section of the plaza stood rows of elevated stone seats arranged in ascending tiers. The higher the seat, the older the person occupying it.
The very highest stone platform remained empty.
Below it sat over a dozen white-robed elders with closed eyes, each radiating powerful auras ranging from Dou Spirit to Dou King.
Beneath those elders was a solitary stone seat occupied by a woman clad in moon-colored robes, Nalan Yanran.
Her eyes were lightly closed. As the breeze passed by, her robes clung tightly to her graceful figure, outlining perfect curves. Her expression was calm and indifferent, like a blooming white lotus, especially dazzling among the many disciples.
Yet deep within her heart lay a heaviness she had never experienced before.
Yesterday, after returning to the Misty Cloud Sect, the Second Elder Yun Ming had informed her of devastating news.
Elder Yun Leng was dead.
Elder Yun Du was dead.
Elder Yun Sha was dead as well.
More importantly, her grandmaster, Yun Shan, the Dou Ancestor who had personally guided her for the past three years had also perished.
The current Misty Cloud Sect was extremely fragile. Though it still bore the title of the strongest faction within the Jia Ma Empire, it could no longer produce even a single Dou Emperor expert.
Nalan Yanran slowly opened her exquisite eyes and swept her gaze around the plaza.
She looked at the disciples proudly carrying the glory of the Misty Cloud Sect, before finally fixing her eyes upon the stone monuments at the center of the plaza, the monuments engraved with the names of the sect's successive leaders and meritorious figures.
Several traces of determination and resolve flashed through her eyes.
As the Young Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, she had received countless teachings and enjoyed endless honor.
Now, it was time for her to repay the sect with her own body and strength.
Her grandmaster was dead.
Her master had left.
From now onward, the Misty Cloud Sect would rest upon her shoulders alone, Nalan Yanran.
Having lost those who once sheltered her from the wind and rain, Nalan Yanran seemed to have grown up overnight.
Suddenly, sounds of rushing wind echoed through the air. Immediately afterward, figure after figure appeared atop the towering trees surrounding the plaza.
Not only were Lin Yuan and Hai Bodong present, but even Fa Ma, Jia Xing Tian, Nalan Jie, and the heads and younger generations of several major clans, including Mu Zhan, who had once clashed with Xiao Yan had all arrived.
These guests did not disrupt the tranquil atmosphere of the plaza in the slightest. The Misty Cloud Sect disciples showed no reaction whatsoever and continued sitting silently in place, as though they had long since received instructions.
Standing atop a treetop, Lin Yuan's gaze landed upon Nalan Yanran. His eyes narrowed slightly.
The aura surrounding her seemed somewhat different from before.
However, Lin Yuan paid little attention to it and quickly shifted his gaze away.
Because she was merely an ant.
Lin Yuan glanced with interest toward the Misty Cloud Sect disciples and nodded faintly. Though their strength was mediocre, the connection between their auras contained a somewhat mysterious linkage.
"This aura traces of a formation. The Cloud Mist Covering Sun Formation, somewhat interesting. After this matter is concluded, I'll conveniently obtain it as well."
"For now, business first."
Thinking this, Lin Yuan calmed his mind and carefully sensed his surroundings, attempting to locate Protector Wu's aura.
The Hall of Souls' concealment methods were exceptional. Once they fully hid themselves, they became extremely difficult to detect. However, because Lin Yuan had previously studied Soul Envoys and was somewhat familiar with the Hall of Souls' techniques, coupled with his powerful perception, he was still capable of detecting certain traces.
After probing carefully for a while, Lin Yuan finally sensed the cold and sinister aura unique to those cackling "jie jie" lunatics.
"So they really came."
A trace of delight flashed through Lin Yuan's eyes.
"In that case, all the effort spent during this period wasn't wasted."
Thinking this, Lin Yuan slightly moved his lips and transmitted his voice to Hai Bodong.
"Old Hai, there's likely going to be a major battle here later. It'll be extremely dangerous. Be careful."
Hai Bodong's expression turned slightly solemn. He nodded almost imperceptibly, though curiosity rose within his heart.
"So the undercurrents hidden within the Jia Ma Empire are finally about to reveal themselves today? Let this old man see exactly what kind of existence it is."
Meanwhile, Jia Xing Tian glanced at the Misty Cloud Sect's seating arrangement today, and delight flashed through his eyes.
"Yun Shan, Yun Leng, Yun Du, and Yun Sha are all absent. It seems the intelligence gathered recently was most likely true. Enemy of the Misty Cloud Sect, I truly owe you my thanks. This shall be the Jia Ma Imperial Family's best opportunity to eliminate the Misty Cloud Sect threat."
Time silently passed.
Before anyone realized it, the blazing sun had already reached the center of the sky.
At a certain moment, faint footsteps slowly echoed upward from beneath the stone stairways outside the plaza.
The light sounds gradually spread upward, causing subtle changes within the previously tranquil atmosphere.
Within the plaza, all the disciples and elders of the Misty Cloud Sect opened their eyes simultaneously, their gazes locking onto the stone stairway.
The neither-light-nor-heavy footsteps were coming from there.
Upon the stone platform, Nalan Yanran also slowly opened her bright eyes, her gaze fixed upon the end of the stairway.
Under the watchful eyes of thousands present, a young figure dressed in black gradually appeared. A massive black ruler rested upon his back as he calmly stepped onto the final stair.
The young man's gaze swept across the enormous plaza before finally settling upon the beautiful woman atop the stone platform who was likewise staring at him.
He gently lifted his foot and steadily placed it down, taking three steps forward in succession.
Throughout the entire process, only his deep footsteps echoed across the empty plaza.
After the third step fell, the young man raised his head and calmly spoke beneath the countless gazes fixed upon him.
"Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan, has come to honor the agreement!"
The calm words drifted across the enormous plaza, causing the atmosphere filling the area to tremble and fluctuate slightly.
Back then, after the so-called Three-Year Agreement spread throughout the sect, the Misty Cloud Sect disciples had all regarded Xiao Yan's arrogance as a joke.
A mere trash whose Dou Qi had regressed to the Third Stage actually dared challenge their Young Sect Leader?
Yet today, as they looked at this young man—still calm and composed even under the collective pressure of nearly a thousand Misty Cloud Sect disciples, everyone felt inwardly shaken.
Such calmness and confidence were not something a cripple could possess.
On the plaza, Nalan Yanran slowly stood up.
Her posture was as straight and proud as a snow lotus standing amidst frost. Her bright eyes stared directly at Xiao Yan as her calm yet resolute voice rang out.
"Nalan Clan, Nalan Yanran, has waited a long time!"
Meanwhile, at the observation area occupied by the many powerful experts of the Jia Ma Empire.
Fa Ma's gaze lingered on Xiao Yan for a moment. His brows furrowed slightly as he muttered softly to himself,
"So this is that little fellow from the Xiao Clan? I don't know why, but he somehow feels strangely familiar to me."
"Hehe, of course he feels familiar."
Not far away, Jia Xing Tian laughed secretly in his heart.
"This is the champion of your Alchemist Grand Meeting."
Soon afterward, he sensed Xiao Yan's aura, and traces of admiration and regret flashed through his eyes.
"A three-star Dou Grandmaster already? What a pity Such talent cannot enter my Jia Ma Imperial Family. Both Yao Ye and Yue'er are nothing more than friends in his eyes, there is no fate of romance there."
Mu Clan Head Mu Chen even began teasing Nalan Jie, provoking several fierce glares from the latter.
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