QINGSHAN TOWN!

Upon recalling what Elder Jia Xingtian had mentioned to her, Yun Yun's heart skipped a beat. If what she suspected was true, then the situation could indeed become quite troublesome. There might be a Dou ancestor-level powerhouse with unknown intentions lurking within the Jia Ma Empire!

"Did you get a good look at this Dou ancestor appearance?" Yun Yun asked, her voice steady despite the unease she felt.

Gu He nodded slightly as he recalled, "He was a man dressed in a black robe, and he looked quite young—he couldn't have been much older than you, Sect Leader Yun."

This response left the elders of the misty cloud Sect momentarily stunned, and then their expressions grew more serious as they furrowed their brows.

If this statement hadn't come from Gu He, they would have found it impossible to believe that someone could reach the Dou ancestor level at around thirty years old. It defied their understanding; it was simply inconceivable.

Even Yun Yun was shocked. A wave of curiosity surged within her. Throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire, and even across the northwest region, those who had attained the rank of Dou ancestor were all elderly, near a century old!

Though Yun Yun herself was in her early twenties and lauded as the youngest Dou emperor in the Jia Ma Empire, she had no idea how many more years it would take her to reach the Dou ancestor level.

Yet now, there was a man barely older than herself who possessed such terrifying strength. It raised important questions about where this individual came from and what kind of powerful forces might be backing him!

 "Sect Leader, could this person be related to the presence you mentioned earlier, the one that surpassed the Dou emperor level?" Elder Yun Ling asked, breaking the silence.

"I'm not entirely sure," Yun Yun replied with a slight shake of her head. "But it's clear that this person is not from the Mulan Empire."

"If he went out of his way to rescue Elder Gu He, it suggests he doesn't harbour any enmity toward our sect. Should he reappear in the Jia Ma Empire, our sect should simply treat him with courtesy," Yun Yun concluded.

"Sect Leader is wise!" the misty cloud Sect elders responded in unison, their voices filled with respect.

This conclusion brought some relief to the gathered elders. As long as this powerful figure wasn't aligned with the Mulan Empire, the situation was much more manageable.

"Very well, I'll discuss this further with Elder Jia Xingtian. You are all dismissed," Yun Yun said, waving her hand to indicate that the meeting was over.

"Yes, Sect Leader," the elders replied, bowing before turning to leave the grand hall, leaving only Yun Yun and Gu He behind.

Yun Yun turned to Gu He and spoke softly, "Elder Gu He, you may leave as well. I'll take it upon myself to investigate this matter."

Hearing Yun Yun address him so formally, Gu He felt a twinge of joy and spoke up, "Yun'er, I've kept some special pills aside for you. If you'd like—"

"Elder Gu He!" Yun Yun interrupted sternly, her delicate brows furrowing.

"Yun'er, I—" Gu He began, but Yun Yun cut him off.

 "Enough! Elder Gu He, you are to address me as Sect Leader or Sect Leader Yun, not Yun'er!" Yun Yun's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Gu He hesitated for a moment, his words caught in his throat. Finally, he sighed and reluctantly nodded, "Yes, Sect Leader Yun."

It was no secret that Gu He harboured feelings for Yun Yun, and many knew that he had joined the misty cloud Sect largely because of her. However, no matter how much effort he put in, he had never won her heart. Instead, she always treated him with cold indifference.

Despite this, Gu He never gave up and continued to remain by Yun Yun's side, hoping she would eventually recognize his sincerity. This hope kept him going, even now.

Watching the dejected expression on Gu He's face, Yun Yun sighed inwardly. "Elder Gu He, I've always seen you as an older brother. There is nothing more between us. Please don't waste your time on me."

Gu He's heart ached at her words, and a bitter smile spread across his face as he murmured, "Like a brother, is it…"

Seeing him in such a state, Yun Yun felt a pang of guilt. But she knew she couldn't reciprocate his feelings. Her heart had no room for romance, especially with the heavy responsibilities of the sect resting on her shoulders.

After a long pause, Gu He finally spoke, "Sect Leader Yun, I will take my leave now."

With a forlorn expression, Gu He bowed to Yun Yun and slowly made his way out of the grand hall.

As she watched Gu He's despondent figure disappear into the distance, Yun Yun felt a sense of sorrow. But she knew that she couldn't give him the love he desired. She could only hope that he would one day find the happiness he deserved.

---

Qingshan Town

Qingshan Town was a small, remote settlement located on the eastern edge of the Magic Beast Mountain Range within the Jia Ma Empire. Due to its isolation, it was not prosperous, and the population was sparse. Most of the town's residents were ordinary civilians with no significant cultivation ability.

As a result, the town had poor law and order. Those with a bit of power often caused trouble, forming bandit groups to rob travellers passing through.

On this day, the town was scorching under the relentless sun, the heat seemingly intent on baking the earth. Most passerby wore light clothing, seeking shade under trees or resting on clean patches of grass, enjoying the idle tranquility of the day.

On a broad road leading into town, a man dressed in black, Xie Tianxiao, appeared quietly.

"Qingshan Town," Xie Tianxiao murmured to himself as he scanned his surroundings. "This place is indeed impoverished. Most of these people haven't even reached the Dou practitioner level."

Suddenly, a loud shout broke the peace.

"Stop right there!"

A group of about twenty men quickly surrounded Xie Tianxiao, approaching him with hostile intent.

 Xie Tianxiao looked up to see that these men were mostly at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, with a few having reached the Dou practitioner level. The leader of the group was a Five-Star Dou practitioner.

"What do you want?" Xie Tianxiao asked calmly, his tone as still as a dead sea.

"Heh! Kid, this must be your first time in Qingshan Town," the Five-Star Dou Practitioner sneered. "Don't you know that all newcomers have to pay a thousand gold coins as protection money? Otherwise, we can't guarantee your safety here!"

The leader's eyes gleamed with a predatory light as he stared at Xie Tianxiao, noticing the refined storage ring on his hand—a clear sign that Xie Tianxiao was someone of wealth. Ordinary cultivators wouldn't be able to afford such an expensive item.

"looks like he is in Trouble… That young man has run into Mu Xue!"

"Yeah, his luck is really bad. Mu Xue is a Five-Star Dou Practitioner and a member of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group!"

"He should have brought some bodyguards with him if he's going to walk around Qingshan Town looking like that."

"Who knows, maybe he's confident in his own strength."

"Maybe…"

Nearby, townsfolk began to murmur amongst themselves, pitying Xie Tianxiao for his unfortunate encounter with the infamous Mu Xue of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

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