At the sound of the clear laughter echoing through the sky, countless gazes in the square instantly turned upward, only to see a large group of figures breaking through the wind far above, finally filling the skies. The sudden appearance of these numerous figures also caused a stir in the square, for they found that each figure standing in the sky had a pair of Dou Qi wings behind them. This meant that these people were at least Dou Wang level experts! At this thought, many felt a chill creep up their spines. There were at least dozens of those figures in the sky, and such a multitude of Dou Wangs—probably even the formidable Yanran Sect couldn’t field such a force! Upon hearing the laughter, Yun Shan’s face darkened, and as he lifted his head, his gaze pierced through space, staring at the black-robed youth with emerald fire wings fluttering in the sky. A cold voice resounded through the square. “Haha, a dog once driven from its home now dares to speak such boastful words. Xiao Yan, three years ago, I could make him run like a scurrying dog, and it will be the same three years later!”
Yun Shan’s sneer triggered a wave of murmurs throughout the square. “That person is Xiao Yan? The very Xiao Yan from the Xiao Family, who was once wanted by the Yanran Sect?” “Hehe, who else could it be? He has a blood feud with the Yanran Sect, and no one expected this guy to return after being hunted out of the empire. Not only has his strength greatly increased, but he has also brought back quite a few powerful supporters.” “It’s said that not long ago, the strong fighters sent by the Yanran Sect to wipe out the Mithril Family met their end at Xiao Yan’s hands. If this is true, then this guy is incredibly terrifying!” “It seems the Yanran Sect is in for big trouble today…” “Heh, that’s not necessarily the case. The Yanran Sect has Battle Sect expert Yun Shan, and if it really comes to fighting, Xiao Yan and his group might not have much of a chance.”
Xiao Yan also overheard some of the whispers below, and with a smile, he gazed towards Yun Shan, his eyes turning chilly. “Old Dog Yun Shan, you destroyed my Xiao Clan, creating a blood feud that can only be settled by your miserable head!”
Yun Shan, who had been the Yanran Sect Master for many years, had never heard anyone call him an old dog before, except for Xiao Yan. Even with his gloomy demeanor, his face darkened visibly. As his eyes swept over the figures in the sky, stopping on Jia Xing Tian and others, Yun Shan sneered: “What, Jia Xing Tian, Fama, are you both going to side with this insolent whelp?”
“Yun Shan, we’re well aware of the Yanran Sect’s ambitions over the past few years. Do you think we’re just going to sit back and wait for our destruction? Is it really that easy?” Jia Xing Tian didn’t need to fear Yun Shan anymore, so his words were heavily laced with mockery.
“Haha, good, very good!” Upon hearing Jia Xing Tian, Yun Shan laughed loudly, “I didn’t think that the mere return of a brat I once drove out would give you all such courage. Fine, now that you’re here, there’s no need for you to leave!”
As Yun Shan finished laughing, loud whistles echoed from the massive Yanran Mountain, followed by bursts of light and surging energy. The elders of the Yanran Sect who were already waiting in the shadows appeared one by one. At the sight of the Yanran Sect elders flashing into view, another wave of commotion erupted across the square. It seemed that a grand battle was inevitable today.
The moment Xiao Yan and his group appeared, Gu He’s face turned sour, especially when he noticed the red-draped woman beside him trembling at Xiao Yan’s voice. Unnamed rage surged within him. Why, why are you always so concerned about this brat?
“Xiao Yan, today is my wedding day. Coming to cause chaos in the Yanran Sect, isn’t that too arrogant of you?” Taking a deep breath, Gu He raised his head and roared.
Xiao Yan glanced indifferently at Gu He, but his gaze paused on the red-draped woman beside him, her familiar, graceful figure causing his heart to tremble. “Is it not arrogant for the Yanran Sect to have destroyed my Xiao Clan? Is it not arrogant for the Yanran Sect to forcefully exterminate the Mitril Clan? If the Yanran Sect dares to be arrogant, then so can I, Xiao Yan. I bear a life-and-death grudge against the Yanran Sect, and I’m here to settle scores!”
His icy gaze locked onto Gu He, and his voice dripped with mocking laughter. “Revenge is a sham; ruining the wedding, that’s the real deal, no?”
“Wedding? When the bride herself is a puppet, what’s the point of such a wedding?”
Xiao Yan smiled, snapped his fingers, and a wisp of emerald flame shot down like lightning, appearing in front of the red-clad bride in an instant. Just as the flame was about to strike, a weak black beam suddenly shot out from her body, colliding with the flame with a resounding crash, sending the bride stepping back hastily.
“Yun Yun!” Seeing the bride retreat, Gu He panicked and reached out, but from beneath the red veil came a slightly shaken voice: “I’m fine.”
People looked at each other in shock as this was the first time the bride spoke since making her appearance. Feeling the unease, under the myriad of gazes, a pair of slender, jade-like hands reached out from the sleeves, tearing off the red veil. As the veil fell away, a face as white as snow appeared before everyone, revealing the all-too-familiar face of Yun Yun.
Tearing off the veil, Yun Yun’s eyes were slightly lowered, flickering but not looking up at the sky. The familiar voice that she could never forget rang out from above, laced with a cold laugh. “Yun Shan, to win over powerhouses, using such low means—how fitting of such a ‘compassionate master’…”
“Escape wasn’t enough last time. This time, I’ll pull out your teeth one by one when I catch you!”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s mockery, Yun Shan’s face twitched, and a malevolent glint flashed in his eyes, but his voice remained calm. “Master, today’s matter concerns me greatly. This person, please hand him over to me!”
Upon hearing this, Gu He’s face grew grim, and he spoke slowly, “Oh?”
Raising his eyebrows, Yun Shan stroked his beard in contemplation. “Gu He, your specialty isn’t combat. You don’t need to take him seriously. Once I capture this brat, you can handle him as you see fit.”
Shaking his head, Gu He glanced at Yun Yun, whose hand tightened. Taking a deep breath, he replied, “I want her to know that I am the only one fit for her.”
Seeing Gu He’s determination, Yun Shan frowned, then reluctantly nodded. “Xiao Yan, no matter who you’re after, disrupting my wedding is a fact. Leave now, and I’ll pretend it never happened. But if you still insist on ruining things, I must warn you that I, Gu He, am not someone to be trifled with!”
With Yun Shan’s nod, Gu He raised his head to look at Xiao Yan in the sky, his voice stern. “Gu He…you…”
Upon hearing Gu He’s words, Yun Yun lifted her face, her voice urgent. “Yun Yun, be silent!”
Before Yun Yun could say more, Yun Shan’s face turned cold, and he barked. Watching the increasingly agitated Gu He, Jia Xing Tian and the others frowned. On the square were many powerful friends of Gu He, and should he intervene, they couldn’t just stand by. That would only strengthen the Yanran Sect’s forces.
Shaking his head, Xiao Yan signaled to Jia Xing Tian and the others not to worry. Glancing at Gu He, he said firmly, “Today is a showdown between the Xiao Clan and the Yanran Sect. Anyone who obstructs me, including you, Gu He, will be treated as an enemy.”
“Haha, very well!” Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Gu He sneered, his shoulders quivered, revealing a pair of purple fire wings. Shaking the wings, he suspended in the air, facing Xiao Yan. “In that case, let us fight. As the most promising young man in the Gama Empire, I really wonder how strong you’ve become.”
“Within ten moves, if I don’t defeat you, Xiao Yan will turn and leave immediately. But if you can’t hold out for ten moves, then I won’t interfere in the Yanran Sect’s affairs,” Xiao Yan declared, smiling confidently.
At Xiao Yan’s declaration, a wave of commotion swept through the square. In the past three years, Gu He had entered the Battle Emperor stage, and aside from Yun Shan, no one in the Gama Empire could claim to best him in ten moves. The boldness of this young man, who seemed no more than 20, left many shaking their heads in disbelief at his arrogance.
Even Yun Yun was startled by Xiao Yan’s words, and her grip tightened. What’s with this reckless attitude, even after three years? Up in the sky, Gu He, enraged by Xiao Yan’s arrogant declaration, burst into laughter. “Fine, I, Gu He, accept your challenge and shall take on your ten moves. Let’s see if you have the qualifications to be so overconfident!”
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