The luxurious palanquin gradually came to a halt at the foot of the mountain. Xiao Yan opened his eyes and up at the towering peak that pierced the clouds. A stone staircase that seemed to lead straight to the heavens extended into the cloud layer above, where the renowned Misty Cloud Sect of the Jia Ma Empire was situated.
For disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect who wished to descend the mountain to purchase supplies, they had to traverse this sky-reaching stairway. For those with weaker strength, even the return journey proved challenging.
Xiao Yan looked at the sect faintly visible sect above the clouds and said calmly, "Announce my arrival. They should know who has come."
The moment his words fell, the four Dou Spirits simultaneously circulated the Dou Qi within their bodies and shouted in unison, "The Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan, has arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect!!"
The combined Dou Qi–infused roar of the four Dou Spirits thundered like rolling clouds, the sound echoing throughout the entire Misty Cloud Mountain and even reaching Misty Cloud City behind them.
Their voices reverberated across the entire sect.
Behind Xiao Yan, Jia Xing Tian and the others following him could only shake their heads with wry smiles.
"This little fellow truly doesn't put the Misty Cloud Sect in his eyes at all."
"Good grief, it's been so many years since someone dared to shout so brazenly at the Misty Cloud Sect. This old man has forgotten who the last one was."
At this moment, some Dou Practitioner and Dou Master disciples climbing the stone steps up to the Misty Cloud Sect couldn't help but look downward.
"The Xiao Clan? Which clan is that? How dare they be so arrogant, shouting at the Misty Cloud Sect like this!"
"Wait a minute, why does the name Xiao Yan sound so familiar?"
"I remember now! Isn't Senior Sister Yanran's fiancé named Xiao Yan?"
"No way!! A few years ago, wasn't there talk about Senior Sister Yanran wanting to annul the engagement? It's been years; what happened with that matter? Why was there no follow-up?"
"I heard that Senior Sister Yanran emerged from the Gate of Life and Death the day before yesterday, and today there are over a thousand senior brothers and sisters gathered at the square. Even the First Elder and the Sect Leader are present. Could it be related to this matter?"
A sense of an impending storm suddenly filled the hearts of all the Misty Cloud Sect disciples. Everyone understood that something significant was about to happen.
Many disciples sensed the unusual atmosphere and hurriedly began to make their way toward the sect.
At this moment, nearly a thousand people were seated cross-legged in the Misty Cloud Sect's Dueling Arena. They formed a semicircle, and without exception, all were dressed in moon-white robes. The cloud and sword emblems on their sleeves fluttered in the wind like living creatures, faintly exuding traces of sword intent.
At the top of the arena, a series of towering stone seats extended upwards. The higher the seat, the older the occupant tended to be. On the highest stone platform sat Sect Leader Yun Yun with her legs crossed. Below her were over a dozen white-robed elders sitting with their eyes closed in meditation.
Although these elders appeared ordinary on the surface, the fact that their robes remained as still as steel despite the blowing wind made it clear to everyone that these elders were not simple figures!
Below these white-robed elders was a solitary stone step. Nalan Yanran, dressed in a moon-white gown, had her eyes slightly closed. The gentle breeze pressed her robe tightly against her delicate body, revealing the perfect curves beneath. Her beautiful face was serene and indifferent.
The shouts of the four Dou Spirits naturally reached the arena.
First Elder Yun Leng seated in the center knitted his brows tightly. Next to him, Elder Yun Du snorted coldly and said, "Does he think this is a place where someone from a petty clan can shout and bellow as they please?"
"A mere clan from a small border town, truly thinking too highly of themselves," Elder Yun Sha on the other side said, his eyes also filled with displeasure.
Before long, the sounds of wind being cut through echoed in the air. Several figures appeared atop the towering treetops surrounding the arena. Standing on the tips of these giant trees were many figures: Fa Ma, Jia Xing Tian, Nalan Jie, and other clan leaders and their juniors. Even Mu Zhan and those who had previously clashed with Xiao Yan were present to observe the duel.
These people had all received invitations from the Misty Cloud Sect to personally witness the duel and serve as its witnesses.
There was no doubt that the Misty Cloud Sect had immense confidence in Nalan Yanran, who had returned from the Gate of Life and Death! They believed that while Xiao Yan was undeniably skilled in alchemy, combat was not his forte.
After the echoes gradually faded, Xiao Yan gave a slight nod. Only then did the four Dou Spirit dark guards dare to step forward and ascend the steps of Misty Cloud Mountain.
The moment Xiao Yan's body crossed onto the mountain, his eyes suddenly snapped open, and his gaze became serious!
'This is...!!'
Moments later, Xiao Yan discreetly took out the Soul Command Token from his storage ring. Just as he had entered Misty Cloud Mountain, he noticed that the Soul Command Token had reacted.
A wisp of soul light visible only to him extended from the Soul Command Token in his hand and pointed in a certain direction.
'Just as I suspected, the Hall of Souls is indeed within the Misty Cloud Sect. But why would the Hall of Souls be inside the Misty Cloud Sect? Is it a coincidence?' Xiao Yan furrowed his brows, sensing that something was amiss.
The Hall of Souls and the Misty Cloud Sect were different kinds of factions. Why would these two entities be intertwined? Logically, this was not possible.
Xiao Yan put away the Soul Command Token, but his expression remained extremely grave.
Because not only had the Soul Command Token reacted just now—even his own body had reacted!
In that instant, his heart suddenly pounded violently, and the blood in his body began to flow rapidly. The Heavenly Flame within his Acceptance Soul seemed on the verge of losing control!
Xiao Yan knew what this feeling was. He had almost inexplicably activated the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change!
And the pounding sensation in his heart just now was the same sensation he had when he first discovered the black jade piece containing the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change!
This was what truly shocked Xiao Yan. What he couldn't understand the most was why coming to the Misty Cloud Sect would trigger the same sensation from that day!
'Is it because I cultivated the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change? But wasn't the creator of this Secret Technique a genius from a certain Dou God Clan? Could it be related to the Hall of Souls?!'
Xiao Yan clearly remembered that the cultivation scroll for the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change was in the possession of the Hall of Souls.
In the end, he slowly leaned back in the palanquin, a faint smile emerging on his face as he thought, 'It seems this trip to the Misty Cloud Sect wasn't in vain after all. Things are getting more and more interesting.'
Time passed second by second. Then, at a certain moment, the creaking sound of the palanquin and footsteps suddenly rang out from the stone steps outside the arena.
This sound caused a subtle change in the atmosphere within the arena.
All the Misty Cloud Sect disciples opened their eyes, their gazes locked onto the stone steps where an exquisitely crafted and extravagantly luxurious palanquin gradually came into view.
Nalan Yanran on the stone platform also slowly opened her bright eyes, her gaze settling on that palanquin.
In a departure from his usual self, Xiao Yan now resembled a noble young master as he sat in the palanquin with his eyes closed.
For some reason, Nalan Yanran's previously calm heart suddenly began to beat erratically.
After all, the cause of this duel was her unsuccessful attempt to annul their engagement, which meant that Xiao Yan was still her fiancé.
The footsteps drew closer and closer until even the dozen or so white-robed elders on the stone platform and Yun Yun opened their eyes, all gazes converging on the same spot.
When Yun Yun's eyes fell upon Xiao Yan in the palanquin, her elegant and noble face showed a moment of astonishment before becoming dazed. Her beautiful eyes filled with shock.
Yun Yun naturally hadn't known that Xiao Yan was Yao Yan. Now that she thought about it, Yao Yan = Xiao Yan the Alchemist, she immediately understood that this guy had used an alias just like she had!
Their gazes met. Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose, a hint of guilt in his voice as he said to Yun Yun, "Uh... long time no see, Yun Zhi."
For a moment, many people present widened their eyes, glancing from Xiao Yan to the stunned Yun Yun, then to the utterly confused Nalan Yanran.
All of them gasped inwardly. Complicated! Very complicated!
Not only was this triangle stable, but it was also incredibly complex! So complex that even the Pythagorean Theorem could only throw up its hands in defeat!
In the shadows, Ling Ying's eyebrows furrowed upon realizing the situation was far from simple.
"This fellow truly has a peach blossom fate," he murmured.
Ling Ying had already made up his mind. He would definitely report everything to Xun Er once he returned.