Ghost-Suppressing Pass!
This is the name of the fortress before Mo Tang, and it sounds quite menacing.
Built into the mountainside, like a ferocious tiger, it guards the vital route leading out of the empire.
Anyone wishing to leave the empire must pass through this massive fortress, a heavily fortified structure that has consumed countless battlefield souls over the years...
As one of the most important fortresses on the empire's borders, the commander of Ghost-Suppressing Pass possesses peak Dou Ling power. He is none other than Mu Tie, a member of the Mu family, one of the three great families of the empire. Of
the three great families of the empire, the Mitel family originated in commerce, while the Nalan and Mu families both rose through the military.
The Nalan family's former patriarch, Nalan Jie, was the Lionheart Marshal of the Gama Empire, once the foremost figure in the imperial military!
Unfortunately, after contracting a severe poison, he gradually withdrew from the empire's stage, and the entire Nalan family declined with him.
It was for these reasons that the Nalan family initially urged Nalan Yanran to become a disciple of Yun Yun of the Yunlan Sect, hoping to leverage the Yunlan Sect's prestige to protect the Nalan family from decline.
After the Nalan family gradually withdrew from the military, the Mu family became the sole dominant force.
Furthermore, the Mu family members were all war-loving, with many of their sons and daughters serving as generals, virtually wielding significant influence throughout the Jiama Empire's military and holding key positions.
With the cultivation of their patriarch, Mu Chen, a four-star Dou Wang, and the family's influence, the Mu family became a formidable force within the Jiama Empire.
Of course, while the Mu family were battle-mad, they weren't foolhardy.
Seeing Mo Tang fly directly into the fortress, bearing the token of a Yunlan Sect elder, Mu Tie politely let him pass.
After passing the Ghost-Suppressing Pass, the journey was smooth sailing.
Half a month later, Mo Tang once again saw the sword-like peak piercing the sky.
Yunlan Mountain, we've arrived!
Arriving at the steps at the foot of the mountain...
Military camps still stretched out below, and the faint sounds of countless soldiers training drifted in, adding a touch of solemnity to the once quiet mountain.
The events of the original novel had vanished; Yunshan remained in seclusion, and the Yunlan Sect hadn't fallen out with the imperial family over excessive ambition.
Everything seemed serene and peaceful.
Ascending the steps, the Yunlan Sect disciples guarding the gates dared not stop Mo Tang, now dressed in the attire of a Yunlan Sect outer elder.
As he was about to enter the sect's main gate, Mo Tang spotted a familiar face again...
"Huh? Elder Ge, are you leaving again?"
It seemed as if he and Ge Ye had a special connection; they'd always run into each other at the gate upon returning from an outing.
Hearing the voice, Ge Ye looked up, and upon seeing Mo Tang, a look of surprise crossed his face.
It had been nearly four months since Mo Tang left the Yunlan Sect, and Ge Ye had initially assumed he had returned to take charge of the clan.
After all, Mo Tang, an outer sect elder, was different from Ge Ye. He was still the chief elder of the Mo Clan. He only needed to submit the Mo Clan's annual offerings, and no one would force him to stay in the sect.
"Elder Mo? Are you back from Yancheng?" Ge Ye asked curiously.
Of course, apart from Yun Yun, no one else in the Yunlan Clan knew about Mo Tang's trip to the Black Horn Region.
Mo Tang didn't intend to say much, so he just smiled and nodded.
"Elder Ge, are you going out on business again?" Mo Tang asked with a smile.
Ge Ye laughed and said, "I'm not like you, Elder Mo, who's overwhelmed with chores. Just a few days ago, something happened to the Nalan Clan, and Miss Yanran returned to the family. So, the Sect Master sent me to Miss Yanran's side to await his orders."
Mo Tang raised an eyebrow...
The Nalan Clan was in trouble at this time. Could it be that old man Nalan Jie finally gave up and died?
Without Xiao Yan to detoxify him as in the original novel, Nalan Jie's condition would have been enough to make him die...
But this didn't concern Mo Tang, nor did he care.
So, after exchanging a few pleasantries with Ge Ye, he took his leave and left to find Yun Yun.
Even after they parted, Ge Ye muttered a bit curiously, "Huh? Why didn't I notice Elder Mo's cultivation level just now? Strange, strange..."
...
...
Outside the sect hall, Mo Tang looked sternly at the two disciples guarding the gate and clasped his fists, saying, "Please inform the two that Outer Sect Elder Mo Tang wishes to see the Sect Master." The two
guarding the sect hall were both Yunlan Sect's inner disciples, among the most gifted. Naturally, they knew Mo Tang, an Outer Sect Elder who enjoyed the Sect Master's trust, and they didn't dare to neglect him, immediately going in to report.
Entering the hall, Mo Tang happened to see Yun Yun dismissing two Yunlan Sect elders. Mo Tang exchanged greetings with them, and only breathed a sigh of relief when the hall was clear of outsiders.
Seeing Mo Tang's momentary relief, Yun Yun chuckled softly, then took light, graceful steps and sauntered over to Mo Tang's side.
"So, what did you gain from your trip to the Black Horn Region?"
Yun Yun had originally posed the question with a hint of joking in mind, but when she tried to check on Mo Tang's progress, she suddenly realized she couldn't discern his level of cultivation...
"What are you doing..."
"The Breath Containment Technique?"
Mo Tang smiled faintly and nodded.
"Do you want to know my current strength?"
Yun Yun raised an eyebrow, looking at the smug face before her, and pouted. "What strength? Do you think you can surpass me?"
"No!"
Mo Tang rolled his eyes.
"Our Mo Clan tradition is that women are stronger than men, so it's only natural that you're stronger than me..."
"Nonsense!"
Yun Yun's pretty face flushed instantly as she raised her finger and pinched Mo Tang's arm, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Shh! Stop!"
Startled, Yun Yun quickly rushed over to cover Mo Tang's mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with anxiety as she glanced towards the main hall entrance.
Damn it...
This is the sect's main hall!
If someone heard and ran in to see this scene, would she still be able to hold on as the sect leader?
After ruthlessly slashing the odious little man who was clearly teasing her, Yun Yun sternly warned, "Behave yourself! If you dare mess around again, I'll teach you a lesson!"
With his mouth covered, Mo Tang nodded repeatedly, like a little girl being coerced, his face aggrieved.
But when Yun Yun wasn't paying attention, he actually licked the palm of his hand...
After being discovered and nurtured by Su Mei, the young woman in the Black Horn Territory, it seems that Mo Tang's inner LS has been fully aroused...
This is too much for Yun Yun, a pure little woman!
Thanks to fellow reader Weng Long for the reward!
(End of this chapter)