Misty Cloud Mountain.
The handsome man's voice echoed across Misty Cloud Mountain. Every member of the Misty Cloud Sect burned with righteous fury, their gazes ablaze with anger as they glared at him. Even the three elders at the Dou King level had their surging Dou Qi roiling within them, ready to strike at any moment.
Even if their opponent was stronger, Misty Cloud Sect could not tolerate such humiliation.
"Cough, cough... Activate the Covering Sun Cloud Formation!"
Beneath the stone stele, Yun Leng swallowed a few pills, slightly easing the injuries within his body. His twisted face glared venomously at the handsome man. In a hoarse voice, he barked an order to the surrounding Misty Cloud Sect disciples.
At once, the countless disciples, all enraged by the handsome man's insults, sat cross-legged and closed their eyes. Moments later, streams of white energy began to seep from the tops of their heads.
Endless white mist rose up into the sky, rapidly blanketing the heavens. The handsome man stood calmly in place, completely unbothered.
Xiao Yan wanted to remind him, but seeing the man's unwavering confidence, he swallowed his words. Yet deep worry gnawed at his heart.
"Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit... Is being this arrogant really okay?"
As if sensing Xiao Yan's unease, the woman beside him spoke softly, her voice reassuring.
"Don't worry. It's just Misty Cloud Sect. They're no threat to him."
"Senior, may I ask… who are you people?"
Xiao Yan couldn't help but ask, his throat dry.
He had no ties to these people. Why had they come to save him?
"No need to overthink it. You'll find out soon enough."
The woman smiled lightly, but did not explain. Such matters were best left for others to reveal — it was, after all, a special instruction given by their senior sister before she left.
"Come. Let's step back. Senior Brother is about to make his move."
Taking Xiao Yan's hand, the woman flickered backward toward the edge of the grand formation. She made no move to attack, simply watching quietly.
Mist coiled underfoot. The handsome man's figure was soon engulfed by the white fog. Waves of powerful Dou Qi undulated from beneath, so fierce that Xiao Yan's heart pounded with fear.
Each surge of energy from within the mist was something he could never hope to withstand.
Whoosh!
As Xiao Yan's heart raced, a terrifying surge of Dou Qi exploded from below. The mist was instantly blasted apart.
At the center of the square, the handsome man floated slowly into the air, walking as if stepping on invisible stairs.
A vast tide of Dou Qi condensed in his right hand, and in the blink of an eye, it formed into a long white spear.
The young man stood, spear in hand. With a flicker, he thrust the spear forward — and a white dragon of energy roared into existence, charging straight toward the formation's barrier.
Crack!
The spear-dragon slammed into the barrier, shattering it instantly. The Misty Cloud Sect's protective array collapsed in a blink.
"Weak. Far too weak."
Suspended midair, the handsome man's Dou Qi exuded a terrifying pressure, instantly suppressing every Misty Cloud Sect member below, rendering them immobile.
"A Dou Ancestor!"
The onlookers gasped, their eyes wide with shock.
Even Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, Hai Bodong, and the others wore expressions of disbelief.
There had never been a Dou Ancestor within the Jia Ma Empire! The fact that this young man could walk through the air so effortlessly shook them to their core.
"Misty Cloud Sect is doomed!"
This thought echoed silently in the hearts of many.
A Dou Ancestor was something Misty Cloud Sect could never hope to resist. This time, Yun Leng had truly kicked a steel plate.
Watching the battered and broken Yun Leng, the onlookers couldn't help but feel a pang of pity and regret.
If only they hadn't stubbornly tried to capture Xiao Yan… Now they had brought calamity upon themselves.
With the protective array destroyed, Yun Leng's face turned pale. His internal Dou Qi was thrown into chaos. Yet, the real threat was the figure high above —
An airborne Dou Ancestor!
Yun Leng's expression grew increasingly grim. He clenched his fists tightly, but after a moment, he calmed, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes.
"Very well. Today, none of you will leave alive!"
His voice was cold as he pulled a cloud-white flute from his storage ring and blew it forcefully.
A sharp, eerie sound echoed across Misty Cloud Mountain, lingering endlessly.
The handsome man watched the scene unfold with detached indifference, his gaze shifting to a certain location deep within the mountain.
From there, a mighty and overwhelming aura awakened.
A white-robed figure stepped out from the depths of Misty Cloud Mountain, walking through the air toward the plaza. In just a few moments, he arrived.
"Sigh... How disappointing. Truly disappointing."
Sensing the newcomer's strength, the handsome man shook his head in disdain.
Barely stepping into Dou Ancestor level… So weak it didn't even pique his interest.
The newly arrived Yun Shan's face shifted dramatically as he locked eyes with the handsome man. In just one instant, his expression twisted in alarm.
Seeing Yun Shan appear, Yun Leng immediately rushed over, putting on a pitiful act.
Twisting the truth, exaggerating every detail, Yun Leng fueled Yun Shan's growing rage.
However, Yun Shan did not strike immediately. Instead, he carefully sized up the handsome man before him.
Such strength at such a young age... The power backing him might not be something Misty Cloud Sect can afford to offend.
"Sirs, you've come to my Misty Cloud Sect and caused such havoc. Shouldn't you give an explanation?"
By now, the truth no longer mattered.
Although Yun Shan could feel the young man's power, he had no choice but to act.
Misty Cloud Sect's prestige, built over many years, would be destroyed if they allowed this man to leave unchallenged.
"Hmph. An explanation? From you?"
The handsome man's cold voice rang out.
It was already merciful they weren't using their power to oppress others. Since when did they need to explain themselves to anyone?
Strength determines everything. If your fists aren't big enough, don't expect anything at all!
"Good! Very good! Let me personally test your strength today!"
Yun Shan was furious.
His Dou Qi exploded outward as he launched an attack. With the power of space itself, a dazzling beam of light shot directly at the handsome man.
The handsome man sneered. His white Dou Qi spear flickered slightly —
With a single thrust, a white dragon-shaped spear-blast ripped through the air.
The dragon-spear shattered Yun Shan's attack instantly, and in the next moment, under Yun Shan's horrified gaze, the spear struck him across the face with a tremendous crack.
Whoosh!
Yun Shan's body was sent hurtling backwards like a shooting star, crashing heavily into the plaza below and gouging out a deep crater, smoke and dust billowing into the air.
"Gulp..."
In the sky, Xiao Yan swallowed hard.
How monstrously strong must one be to swat down a Dou Ancestor in a single blow...?
It wasn't just Xiao Yan — Hai Bodong, Jia Xingtian, and the others all stared at the crater in utter disbelief.
The former Sect Master of Misty Cloud Sect... A mighty Dou Ancestor... reduced to such a miserable state!
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