Hearing the voice that came down from the cloud-covered peak, Yun Leng's expression lit up with joy. He proceeded upward along the stone steps, his heart filled with reverence and anticipation.
At last, Yun Leng arrived at the summit of the mountain. There, he saw Yun Shan seated cross-legged with his eyes closed, faint Dou Qi light radiating from his body, as though he had merged with heaven and earth itself. Seeing this, Yun Leng hurriedly straightened his robes and respectfully knelt on the ground, lowering his head as he said, "Yun Leng pays respects to the Sect Master."
Sect Master Yun Shan slowly opened his eyes. A sharp brilliance flickered within them, as if they could see straight through Yun Leng's heart. He spoke calmly, his voice carrying unquestionable authority. "Yun Leng, I have warned you before—unless it is a matter of utmost importance, you are not to disturb my cultivation. You have always abided by the rules. Since you have come today, something major must have occurred. Speak."
Hearing this, Yun Leng's heart tightened. He replied respectfully, "The Sect Master is wise. This matter is of great importance, and Yun Leng had no choice but to disturb you. The details are as follows…"
Daring not conceal anything, Yun Leng recounted everything that had happened during this period in full.
After listening, Yun Shan frowned slightly and fell into contemplation. After a moment, he slowly spoke. "So that is how it is. Yun Yun and Gu He have been detained by the Snake-People Tribe. This matter is indeed no small issue. Rest assured, this matter will be handled personally by me. You may withdraw."
"Yes!" Upon hearing this, Yun Leng felt completely at ease. With the Old Sect Master taking action, this matter would surely be resolved smoothly. He rose, took his leave, and departed from the rear mountain.
After Yun Leng left, a disturbance stirred within the shadows in the corner. A mass of black mist then emerged in a strange manner, slowly drifting to Yun Shan's front. Yun Shan looked at the eerie black mist before him, his expression solemn, deep apprehension visible in the depths of his eyes.
"Jie jie jie… Misty Cloud Sect, how utterly laughable. Even your own Sect Master has been captured by others. I'm beginning to wonder whether my choice to cooperate with you and the Misty Cloud Sect was a mistake on this Protector's part." A sinister voice slowly drifted out from within the black mist.
Yun Shan frowned slightly and said coldly, "Protector Wu, there's no need for such sarcasm. This incident was nothing more than Queen Medusa bullying the weak. Also, do not underestimate the Misty Cloud Sect. I alone am the one who truly represents the strength and foundation of the Misty Cloud Sect. I will personally resolve this matter. If you are interested, you may as well come along and observe."
A strange laugh echoed from within the black mist as it mocked, "Jie jie jie, this Protector has no interest in joining such a spectacle. Before that matter is completed, it would be inconvenient for me to expose myself before others. Right now, the entire Jia Ma Empire is watching this incident. It would not be appropriate for this Protector to appear at such a time or place, being discovered by certain people would be troublesome. Let this incident serve as a test of whether you are qualified to be my partner."
"Also—jie jie jie—when you refer to yourself as 'this Sect,' I hope you don't forget who saved you at the critical moment and helped you break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. When it's time for you to act, make sure you put in the effort, Sect Master Yun Shan," Protector Wu warned in a chilling tone.
"Rest assured. I know my limits. When action is required, I will cooperate with you," Yun Shan replied indifferently as he looked at the black mist before him. However, inside his wide sleeves, his hand clenched fiercely, his fingers piercing into his palm.
"Jie jie jie, that's good." The voice within the black mist seemed to nod in satisfaction. "I appreciate those who know what's good for them."
Immediately after, the mass of black mist dissipated strangely into the air, as though it had never existed.
Sensing that the other party had already departed, Yun Shan let out a deep breath of turbid air, anger flashing through his eyes. The contempt and mockery in the other party's tone were like sharp blades stabbing into the heart of Yun Shan, who had long occupied a position of authority. Yet, with the other party's strength and influence far beyond what the Misty Cloud Sect could resist, he could only forcibly suppress the fury within his heart.
Yun Shan calmed the anger in his heart and glanced in the direction of the Jia Ma Sacred City and the Tager Desert, his gaze turning sharp. "Since I can't vent my anger on Protector Wu, then I'll vent it on Medusa and that old monster Jia. After contending for so many years, since this seat has taken the lead in breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm, it's time to settle the outcome between us."
"It's time to let the world once again witness the sharp edge of my Yun Shan," he murmured to himself.
"Ancestors of the Misty Cloud Sect through the ages, please wait a little longer. Once matters on Protector Wu's side are concluded, I will once again take command of the Misty Cloud Sect and lead its foundation to even greater heights." Yun Shan gazed toward the heavens, as though he had already seen the Misty Cloud Sect's future brilliance.
Within a palace of the Snake-People Sacred City, Lin Yuan and Queen Medusa sat facing each other, with Qing Lin standing behind Lin Yuan.
Queen Medusa's gaze swept over Qing Lin, and a trace of surprise arose in her heart. This snake-person mixed-blood girl, who claimed to be Lin Yuan's little maid, had progressed at an unusually fast rate. In just over a month, she had broken through from a seven-star Dou Practitioner to a one-star Dou Master.
"Everything has been done as you said. Based on my understanding of Yun Shan, if he has truly broken through to the Dou Ancestor realm, he will surely come knocking before long. What do you plan to do?" Suppressing her chaotic thoughts, Queen Medusa asked in a deep voice, a hint of anticipation in her heart.
Queen Medusa was more than willing to see Lin Yuan clash with Yun Shan. In her view, when two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured. If Yun Shan were injured, the future pressure the Snake-People Tribe would face from the Jia Ma Empire would be greatly reduced. If the Alchemist Elder were injured, then in future cooperation with him, the Snake-People Tribe could reclaim some initiative. No matter how this game developed, she and the Snake-People Tribe stood to reap the benefits as the fisherman.
For this reason, Queen Medusa had been highly cooperative with Lin Yuan during this period, hoping to bring about the great battle between the two.
"Heh heh, what should I do? Naturally, I'll face him head-on. I've been waiting for him for a long time." Lin Yuan chuckled lightly. Queen Medusa's thoughts were perfectly clear to him, but he did not mind in the least, because this was exactly the situation he wanted.
When Lin Yuan carried out his plans, he was quite willing to share the gains with his partners. That was the reward they deserved. When it came to cooperation, his style was to first work together to create greater benefits, and then divide the spoils. Of course, if disputes still arose during the distribution under such circumstances, Lin Yuan would distribute things according to his own will.
Lin Yuan picked up the wine cup on the table before them and poured himself a drink. A hint of anticipation appeared in his deep, unfathomable gaze. This scheme was finally about to enter its concluding stage. The outcome of this round would determine many things in the future.
Since returning to the Jia Ma Empire, there were two places Lin Yuan had deliberately avoided: Wu Tan City and the Misty Cloud Sect.
He avoided Wu Tan City because it contained far too many uncontrollable factors. In a city where a young lady of the Gu Clan resided, nothing was truly surprising.
Lin Yuan did have designs on the Ancient Jade of the Xiao Clan. However, as a sixteen-year-old high-tier Dou King, if he were to rashly appear there and draw unnecessary attention, all of his plans would become uncontrollable. Therefore, before the timing was ripe, he had always avoided Wu Tan City.
As for avoiding the Misty Cloud Sect, that was naturally because of the Soul Hall—because of Protector Wu.
To Protector Wu, Lin Yuan, a Dou King–level sixth-grade alchemist, was practically the perfect prey. As for concealing himself from Protector Wu, Lin Yuan had no such confidence. The Soul Hall's research into the soul far surpassed his own. Even Gu He, a sixth-grade alchemist who had stayed in the Misty Cloud Sect for many years, had never detected Protector Wu's presence.
Moreover, Lin Yuan did indeed have certain plans involving Protector Wu. Protector Wu was a crucial link in one of Lin Yuan's plans. If it succeeded, the path ahead would become much smoother for him.
Lin Yuan had designs both on the Soul Hall and on the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade, and Yun Shan was the entry point he had chosen.
On one hand, Yun Shan was Protector Wu's collaborator or a chess piece of the Soul Hall within the Jia Ma Empire. On the other hand, he would be the actual executor when the time came to move against the Xiao Clan. If Lin Yuan could gain control over Yun Shan, then with his foreknowledge, his schemes regarding the Ancient Jade and Protector Wu could be carried out far more conveniently.
In order to achieve this seemingly simple goal of "cooperation" with Yun Shan, Lin Yuan had planned for a long time. This scheme had been laid step by step ever since he returned to the Tager Desert and took advantage of the situation to help Hai Bodong remove the seal that Queen Medusa had placed on him.
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