A clear sword cry echoed through the heavens, and then a rainbow-colored sword light flashed out from behind the Cloud Sect’s mountain. In a few breaths, it appeared in the sky above the devastated square. As the rainbow light dissipated, a figure revealed itself. She wore a black dress, and her long, flowing dark hair cascaded over her fragrant shoulders, across her waist, to her delicate hips. The woman had perfectly arched eyebrows and skin as white as snow. Her slightly thin but beautiful face formed a perfect silhouette, causing anyone to secretly admire her beauty.
The sudden appearance of the woman made her pause at the sight of the devastated square. Her gaze quickly shifted to Yun Yun, who was staring blankly at her from the sky. Her delicate face instantly bloomed with a captivating smile, and her melodic voice rang out like that of a hundred nightingales. “Teacher…”
“Yan Ran… You… Have you really broken through the Life and Death Gate?”
Looking at the woman who was more mature than she had been a few years ago, Yun Yun was overjoyed. From her address, the newcomer was none other than Nalan Yanran, who had a complex relationship with Xiao Yan!
Nalan Yanran’s Dou Qi wings gently flapped, and she swiftly flew to Yun Yun’s side. She glanced around and, with a slight frown, asked, “Teacher, what has happened to the Cloud Sect?”
Hearing this, Yun Yun’s smile dimmed slightly, and she clenched her fists. In a slightly melancholic tone, she said, “Yan Ran… the Cloud Sect is probably finished…”
Startled, Nalan Yanran also sensed something was wrong. She quickly scanned the square, her eyes focusing on Grand Elder Yun Shan and the elders who had lost their vital energy. A look of shock filled her eyes as she gritted her silver teeth and hissed, “Who did this?”
As she spoke, Nalan Yanran’s eyes turned to the sky. Suddenly, they froze on the vaguely familiar black-robed figure. Her gaze slowly moved up, incredulity in her eyes, until they rested on the bloodied face.
“You… Are you Xiao Yan?! What are you doing here?”
Despite the blood, Nalan Yanran immediately recognized the face and couldn’t help but exclaim.
“I didn’t expect you to reach this level after only a few years…” Xiao Yan looked at Nalan Yanran with some surprise. He could feel that her strength had reached the peak of Dou Wang, and from the signs of her fluctuations, she was on the verge of breaking through to Battle Emperor. This was astounding, especially considering he had spent three years of intense cultivation, with the help of swallowing the Falling Heart Flame, to reach this level. And yet, this woman…
“Although her Dou Qi is strong, it doesn’t truly belong to her. It seems like she inherited some kind of power. Only when she completely assimilates it will she control it perfectly. This must be a legacy of the Cloud Sect, and she’s quite lucky,” the Pharmacist Elder commented, shaking his head with a practiced eye.
Xiao Yan let out a sigh of relief after hearing the elder’s words. Regardless of his growth, he still had a small, competitive streak towards the woman who had almost become his wife.
“Did you do this to the Cloud Sect?” Nalan Yanran slowly recovered from her shock. She pointed at the devastation below and, in a heated tone, shouted, “Xiao Yan, if you have issues, direct them at me. Why bother the Cloud Sect? We settled things back then. I didn’t think you’d still hold onto it. Are you even a man?”
“This has nothing to do with you. Don’t take on more than you can handle; you don’t have the qualifications or the ability…” Ignoring Nalan Yanran’s fury, Xiao Yan’s voice was cold. “The Cloud Sect was responsible for my father’s disappearance, my older brother’s paralysis, and almost wiped out the Xiao Clan. Can you ask me to forgive these blood debts like a saint? If being a man means being a coward, then there’s no difference.”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s emotionless, cold voice, Nalan Yanran’s face changed, and she replied sternly, “That’s nonsense. Given the Cloud Sect’s position in the Jia Ma Empire, how could we do such a thing to the Xiao Clan?”
“Why not ask your teacher right next to you? Then you’ll know what your oh-so-honorable Cloud Sect has been up to in recent years,” Xiao Yan mocked, shaking his head.
Nalan Yanran’s gaze quickly turned to Yun Yun, who, with a pale face, avoided her eyes and hissed, “I was under house arrest during those years. Those were the acts of a confused old ancestor.”
Hearing Yun Yun’s admission, Nalan Yanran felt dizzy. How could the Cloud Sect, with its supreme status, act like brutal bandits?
“Your ancestor was defeated by Xiao Yan, but in the end, his soul was forcibly taken away by that demon, along with the souls of several other elders!” At this, Yun Yun’s face burned with anger as she turned to the dark-clothed, hovering Wuhuo Guard and raged.
Though Yun Yun’s words about Yun Shan’s defeat further shocked Nalan Yanran, her gaze soon turned to the Wuhuo Guard in the sky. Her eyes narrowed, and her expression became serious. She could sense an extremely terrifying power from this mysterious figure.
“Teacher, what’s going on?!”
“We’ll talk later. Now, I need to avenge our Cloud Sect’s fallen elders!”
Yun Yun waved her hand, her face growing cold. She glanced at the white mist surging from the bodies of the Cloud Sect disciples below and, turning to Nalan Yanran, said gravely, “Yan Ran, help me control the formation!”
“Yes, Teacher!” Although Nalan Yanran was flustered by the sudden change, she quickly chose to obey Yun Yun.
Seeing Nalan Yanran nod, Yun Yun didn’t hesitate. With a hand seal, the countless white energy mists beneath her surged upward, forming a sea of clouds around her.
Standing in the cloud sea, Yun Yun waved her slender hand, and the remaining three Cloud Sect elders rushed into the cloud. Their palms moved, causing the white mist to ripple and generate a powerful energy wave.
“Cloud Covering the Sun Formation!”
Her cold command reverberated, and the cloud sea began to ripple. In a moment, it condensed into a massive energy sword, adorned with intricate patterns. The sword quivered, and the immense energy within shook the very space.
“Evil demon, die!”
With a fierce blow, the giant sword shot towards the Wuhuo Guard in the sky.
“Heh, do you think this formation can handle me? Ridiculous!” The Wuhuo Guard sneered, shaking his head, and with a grim laugh, he flicked his sleeve, unleashing a strange, corrosive black fog that enveloped the giant sword.
The black fog ate away at the vast energy within the giant sword in an instant, cutting off Yun Yun’s connection to it. Helplessly, she watched as the sword faded away.
The powerful strike, condensed by the Cloud Sect’s top fighters, had failed to affect the Wuhuo Guard!
Seeing the attack fail, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran’s faces paled. The Wuhuo Guard’s power far exceeded their expectations.
“Damn it!” Despite her anger, Yun Yun did not give up. She performed another hand seal, causing the cloud sea to surge once more.
“Annoying flies!” Seeing Yun Yun’s persistence, the Wuhuo Guard’s face darkened. Angered by her repeated attacks, he let out a cold snarl. A dark, potent energy surged from his body, forming a massive black palm that slammed down towards the cloud sea.
“Boom!”
The black palm moved at blinding speed, appearing overhead in an instant. It smashed down, releasing a horrifying burst of energy that shattered the cloud sea, dissipating the condensed Dou Qi of the Cloud Sect disciples.
Puff!
With the cloud sea shattered, the Cloud Sect disciples below suffered, and many coughed up blood, their faces turning pale.
Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, and the others hastily retreated, stopping only moments later, their expressions grim. They hadn’t expected this adversary to be so powerful, and their combined efforts couldn’t even withstand one hit!
“Today, it seems the heavens have forsaken the Cloud Sect…” Bitterness crept into Yun Yun’s mouth as her eyes filled with defeat.
Nalan Yanran gnashed her silver teeth, deeply affected by facing such an invincible enemy right after emerging from her cultivation.
The Wuhuo Guard’s target was clearly not the remaining Cloud Sect members. After driving Yun Yun and the others back, he fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan and the Pharmacist Elder, his voice laced with cruel intent ringing out through the air.
“Heh, today, neither of you shall escape. I want your souls, and I need the Xiao Clan’s people!”
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