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"It's a shame. I appreciate the offer, but I'll have to decline." Wei Yang shook his head. "First off, I'm human—and I don't plan to become someone else's dog."
"A person is a person because of emotion—because of love, friendship, and the ability to think for oneself... I'd rather not lose my humanity, and I definitely don't want anything to do with cold-blooded monsters like you."
With a calm smile, Wei Yang turned to glance at Xiao Yan beside him. "In my pursuit of the peak, I'd much rather have a trustworthy companion walking by my side—someone to fight beside me."
"Brother Wei..."
Xiao Yan felt a warmth rise within him, eyes glimmering with emotion.
As the saying goes: It's easy to add flowers to a bouquet, but hard to offer coal in a snowstorm.
At that moment, Xiao Yan swore silently in his heart: In this life, I will never let Brother Wei down.
On his finger, the plain black ring—his storage ring—flickered with a faint pulse of light.
The old soul slumbering within it gave a quiet chuckle. A warm ripple of emotion flowed from his spirit form.
Once, I was blind...
But at least the heavens showed me some mercy.
At my lowest, I encountered not one, but two extraordinary young men...
"So that's your answer, is it?"
The black mist squirmed and gave a low, eerie chuckle. "Heh... what a pity."
"In that case—Yun Shan, make your move. Go deal with that Xiao Clan remnant."
The mist's voice shifted, commanding coldly, "As for Wei Yang... I'll handle him personally."
Clearly, it was no longer feasible to rely on Yun Shan to stall Wei Yang. Plans had to change.
Now, Yun Shan was being assigned to take on Xiao Yan instead. Surely that wouldn't be a problem?
"But be careful," the black mist sent a message through spiritual transmission. "Don't underestimate him just because he's a mere Dou Wang. His soul is fused with Yao Chen's soul. Don't mess this up again."
"Understood."
Yun Shan nodded calmly.
He slowly descended from the air, eyes cold as he looked down at Xiao Yan from above. "It was I who gave the order to destroy your Xiao Clan," he said, his voice laced with disdain. You want revenge? Come. Let this old man see what qualifications you have to demand a debt from me."
Xiao Yan looked up at him indifferently, then turned to Wei Yang. "Brother Wei, leave Yun Shan to me."
Wei Yang gave a slight nod.
Whoosh!
Xiao Yan's wings spread wide, launching him into the air as he closed the distance toward Yun Shan.
He came to a stop a short distance away, facing his enemy head-on.
"Xiao Yan, I'll admit it—you've improved a lot over the past three years."
Yun Shan's voice echoed out as he calmly brushed his sleeve. "To rise from a Da Dou Shi to a Dou Wang is impressive. But in the end, you're still just a Dou Wang," he said coldly. "In my eyes, you're just a slightly bigger ant."
"If that's all the strength you've brought, then I'll be blunt—you won't be leaving Yun Lan Mountain alive today."
"Becoming a Dou Zong isn't as simple as you think."
With a cold chuckle, Yun Shan's expression darkened as he suddenly clenched both fists.
A terrifying pressure burst from within him, sweeping outward like a crashing tide.
The aura was so overwhelming that the many strong cultivators surrounding the square instantly felt their breath catch.
Then, they all realized in horror—under this pressure, even their own Dou Qi had started to slow and become sluggish.
The might of a Dou Zong... just its aura alone was this fearsome?!
Earlier, Yun Shan had appeared almost pitiful when Wei Yang casually blocked his attack. But one must not forget—he was still a Dou Zong. He was never truly weak.
"Now do you see the difference between us?" Yun Shan sneered.
Xiao Yan's expression turned grim as he sensed the overwhelming force emanating from Yun Shan's body.
He was confident dealing with low-tier or even average mid-level Dou Huangs.
But a Dou Zong...?
Even though Yao Lao had recovered quite a bit over the past weeks and was no longer as fragile as he had been after emerging from the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower, his spiritual energy was still limited.
Every bit he used was a bit gone forever.
And in the shadows, there were still two Hall of Souls Protectors watching hungrily for a chance to strike.
That meant both Xiao Yan and Yao Lao had to reserve some of their attention, constantly staying alert for ambushes.
As for Yun Shan... he wasn't someone easy to deal with either.
This was going to be a life-or-death battle.
"All members of Yun Lan Sect, hear my command!" Yun Shan's icy voice echoed across the sky, his eyes flashing coldly.
"Not a single one of today's intruders is to leave alive. Kill them all!"
"I want the entire Jia Ma Empire to know—anyone who dares defy Yun Lan Sect will be shown no mercy!"
As far as Yun Shan was concerned, unless someone was at Wei Yang's level, he didn't consider them worth fearing.
As Yun Shan's cold and commanding shout rang out—the tension over Yun Lan Sect soared instantly, like a taut string ready to snap.
A gust of autumn wind swept past, carrying a few falling leaves, laced with the chill of impending bloodshed.
All around the mountain, Yun Lan Sect's elders—already standing at the ready—unfolded their Dou Qi wings the moment they heard Yun Shan's order.
With a twist of their palms, cold gleams of deadly light flashed as weapons appeared in their hands.
One after another, piercing gazes shot toward the opposing side in the sky—a group whose power was equally terrifying.
At the same time, Yun Shan flicked his fingers.
A beam of black light shot down, piercing through the air and heading directly toward Yun Yun below—then disappeared into her body with a soft pop.
Pop—
Yun Yun's body trembled slightly.
Then suddenly—an overwhelming peak Dou Huang aura exploded from within her, beyond her ability to suppress.
The sight stunned Xiao Yan. A moment later, a sinking heaviness filled his heart.
The moment I least wanted to see... it's finally come.
"Yun'er," Yun Shan spoke calmly, "as a member of Yun Lan Sect, now that the sect is under siege and faces a crisis of life and death—you should know what your duty is."
"You old dog... Yun Shan!" Xiao Yan's jaw clenched as he glared.
But Yun Shan only gave him a glance and said flatly, "This is a matter between this Sect Master and my disciple. What business is it of an outsider like you?"
Xiao Yan was instantly silenced.
Even the words "shameless" that had reached his lips were forcibly swallowed back down.
After all, Yun Yun—no matter what—was a member of Yun Lan Sect. Not just that, she had once been the Sect Master herself.
And he, Xiao Yan... was just an outsider.
Xiao Yan slowly lowered his head, his gaze falling upon Yun Yun.
His fists clenched.
At that moment, all eyes turned toward Yun Yun.
Everyone wanted to know what her decision would be.
After a moment, the violent aura bursting from her body finally began to recede.
Her tightly shut eyes slowly opened.
Her body quivered slightly—and the crimson robes she wore began to disintegrate inch by inch, dissolving into fragments that fluttered away like red petals.
Beneath, her moon-white gown shimmered into view.
As her strength was fully released, Yun Yun's entire aura shifted.
Gone was the soft and fragile woman from before.
In her place stood the figure who had once shaken the Jia Ma Empire and the surrounding nations—Sect Master Yun Yun.
The familiar sight left Xiao Yan dazed.
In his mind, an image from the past surfaced: the moment Yun Zhi had shed her identity to once again become Yun Yun.
How hauntingly similar this moment was to that day.
Yun Yun quietly lifted her head and looked at Xiao Yan.
Their eyes met.
Then, she slowly lowered her gaze again. In her eyes was a storm of conflict and sorrow.
And then—an almost inaudible whisper escaped her lips, like a ghost's sigh carried by the wind: "...I'm sorry."
She drew a deep breath.
All traces of emotion vanished from her expression.
And as she raised her head once more—the legendary Yun Yun, pride of Yun Lan Sect, had returned.
Lightly pressing her toe to the ground, her body lifted into the sky.
Faint azure wings unfolded behind her as she took flight.
With a wave of her delicate hand, a long, slender sword appeared and landed firmly in her grasp.
Hummmm—
The sword rang out.
Countless threads of razor-sharp sword qi coiled around the blade, so intense they seemed to slice the very air around her.
She raised her arm slightly.
The blade trembled, slicing through the air with a shrill whistle.
At last, the sword pointed straight at Xiao Yan.
After a brief pause—it slowly shifted to point toward Jia Xingtian and the others as well.
Her cool, icy voice rang out across the sky: "Xiao Yan. All of you. Leave now—while you still can."
"If not... don't blame me for what happens next."
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