Seeing Yun Shan stepping through the air with ghost-like speed—one moment just a bck silhouette on the horizon, and with just a siep arriving at the Misty Cloud Sect's square—everyone present was shocked, their pupils diting and faces turning pale.

  "Walking through the air, ae Dou Aor!" Mu Zhan excimed from atop a rge tree upon witnessing Yun Shan's seemingly teleportation-like ability.

  Like Dou Emperors, Dou Aors could also dense Dou Qi into wings. However, Dou Aenerally didn't use Dou Qi wings to fly because they could already manipute subtle Spatial Strength, allowing them to shorten distances between spaces and achieve traveling a thousand miles in a siep.

  Advang from a Dou Aor to a Dou Vee rocess of tinuously mastering Spatial Strength.

  "A Dou Aor, huh..." Xiao Yan muttered as he sat on the panquin, his fiapping lightly on the wooden frame, produg a crisp sound.

  He had been almost certain that Yun Shan wasn't dead. Just as he had deduced earlier, Yun Leng's ability to wield power wasn't due to his impressive methods, nor was it because Yun Yun, a Dou Emperor, was foolish. Rather, Yun Shan had never relinquished the position of Sect Leader from the very beginning.

  The power of the Misty Cloud Sect had always been in Yun Shan's hands. Yun Leng was merely a puppet during Yun Shan's secluded cultivation.

  This hadn't been just his specution. He could be so certain because, having joihe Hall of Souls himself, he uood their way of doing things very well.

  To put it bluntly, an old thing like Yun Leng who cked both strength and talent wasn't qualified to join the Hall of Souls at all.

  If the Hall of Souls wao infiltrate the Misty Cloud Sect, they would naturally start with the Sect Leader. But from the earlier versation, Xiao Yan had firmed that Yun Yun, the stro Dou Emperor and curre Leader, was actually unaware of the Hall of Souls' existence.

  Therefore, there was only one answer. Not only was Yun Shan not dead, but he was also the first to join the Hall of Souls. Yun Shan had always beerue troller of the Misty Cloud Sect.

  However, Yun Shan reag the Dou Aor realm was something he hadn't wao see, as it would make things much more troublesome.

  He might even have to stand up now.

  Yun Shan was dressed in aremely pin white robe. His robe fluttered as a gentle breeze blew, giving him a rather transdent ahereal air. His appearance didn't seem at all like someone from the same geion as Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong.

  There were no wrihat an old man should have on his face. Instead, he looked no more than thirty.

  "This old fellow's lifespan has beeended after breaking through to the Dou Aor realm, making his body younger," Hai Bodong couldn't help but click his tongue as he looked at Yun Shan's appearanot b to ceal the envy in his voice.

  Hai Bodong didn't dare to tinue suppressing Yun Leng. He flew to Xiao Yan's side, pnning to take him and escape immediately if things really went south.

  In the square below, Yun Leng got up from the ice shards upon hearing Yun Shan's questioning and k on the ground with a thud. Tears streamed down his face as he cried out, "Sect Leader! If you hadn't e, the Misty Cloud Sect would have beeroyed by this traitor Yun Yun colluding with outsiders!!"

  Yun Leng k on both knees; his tear-streaked old fad disheveled hair made him look particurly miserable, like a pitiful old man abandoned by his children with no oo rely on.

  Yun Shan g Yun Yun, then at the square that looked like ruins, and finally locked his gaze on Xiao Yan's panquin.

  At this moment, Xiao Yan slowly put down the wine cup and wi in his hands. Sitting on the panquin, he cupped his hands toward the white figure in the sky and calmly said, "This junior Xiao Yan pays his respects to Old Sect Leader Yun Shan."

  "In all the years sihe founding of my Misty Cloud Sect, this is the first time I've seen someone capable of causing such destru," Yun Shan replied indifferently.

  Yun Leng's spirit was lifted when he heard this. Pointing at Xiao Yan, he loudly procimed, "Old Sect Leader, everything that happeoday was caused by him!"

  "Relying on his status as a 5th-tier alchemist possessing a Heavenly Fme, he disregarded our Misty Cloud Sed killed our External Deao g. When we sought him out to inquire about the truth, not only did he call the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong and several Dou Kings to injure us, but eve Leader Yun Yun helped this criminal, refusing to lend a hand and even having her own disciple escort him away!"

  Most of what Yun Leng said was true, but by subtly alteriaiails, he shifted all the bme onto Xiao Yan.

  The square was silent, save for Yun Leng's slightly angry voice ringing out incessantly.

  No one preseed Yun Leng's words, as everyone here was an old hand. They all uood that Yun Shan was no fool. He could naturally guess that things weren't so simple and that Xiao Yan wouldn't attack the Misty Cloud Sect without reason.

  But no one dared to tradict Yun Leng because they all khat the Misty Cloud Sect was now uhe rule of one man's words. Yun Shan was the stro, so however he saw things, that was how they would be presented as fact.

  Yun Shan hadn't even asked Yun Yun a single question!

  Yun Yun, the curre Leader and his direct disciple, had bee the eime. Yun Shan should have sought her opinion, but instead, he only questioned Yun Leng.

  The implication was very clear.

  When Yun Shan heard that Xiao Yan was a 5th-tier alchemist who also possessed a Heavenly Fme, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Xiao Yan. Yun Leng also nodded imperceptibly.

  Yun Shan had been in seclusion for so long that everyone believed he had died, as the ces of him advang to the Dou Aor realm were almost ent.

  He had even ed a peak Tier 6 Zong Breaking Pill but still failed to break through.

  "I believe half of what Yun Leng says. I uand his character..."

  "However, regardless of who is right in this matter, it's a fact that you killed Mo g. No matter what, you should stay at the Misty Cloud Sed expin things clearly in persht? Why don't you stay at our Misty Cloud Sect for a few days? I'll send someoo ihe Mo here for a face-to-face frontation. How does that sound?" Yun Shan spoke like a gentle and reasonable elder.

  But only Xiao Yan, who was also ected to the Hall of Souls, uood that this was a Hongmen Ba.

  It was a trap.

  "Although I indeed want to stay at the Misty Cloud Sect for a while, we o be clear about who is the host and who is the guest. My choosing to stay and you makiay are two different things," Xiao Yan said with a slight smile, his fingers lightly stroking the wine cup as his eyes narrowed.

  Even Yun Shan was taken aback upon hearing Xiao Yan's words. "Oh? Don't tell me you wish to be the host?"

  "I think I be."

  The atmosphere instantly grew tense. Not only Yun Shan but everyone present was astonished, unsure of what Xiao Yan to!

  Hai Bodong transmitted his voice, "Xiao Yan, although that trump card of yours is powerful, you're still only at the Dou Grandmaster realm. Yun Shan could kill you with just a flick of his finger. Even if that old thing Jia Xing Tian and I join forces, we 't stop Yun Shan!"

  Xiao Yan chuckled, "Old Hai, you're overthinking it. I hope you help me hold back Sect Leader Yun Yun, that's all."

  Hai Bodong was momentarily stunned. Nan Yanran beside him was also dumbfounded. Why hold back Yun Yun? Even if she doesn't help you, she wouldn't attack you... probably.

  But soon, the two of them uood. Xiao Yan didn't wa Leader Yun Yun to be caught in a difficult position, torween two sides. By having Hai Bodong hold her back, then no matter what, she wouldn't be able to intervene.

  Hai Bodong gave Xiao Yan a sidelong gnbsp;You're being so siderate I could cry. When have you ever been this geh me?

  "Are you sure about this?" Hai Bodong couldn't help but ask.

  "When have I ever lied?" Xiao Yan replied with a soft ugh.

  Nan Yanran furrowed her delicate brows slightly beside him. It seemed he indeed hadn't.

  Hai Bodong slowly moved away from Xiao Yan's panquin and approached Yun Yun, not in a hurry to attack. Everyone's attention was focused on Xiao Yan, eager to see what other trump cards he had that made him dare to challenge Yun Shan, ae Dou Aor!

  "If you're trying to buy time, there's no need. You'll have plenty of time at the Misty Cloud Sect," Yun Shan said as he instantly gathered the surrounding clouds and mist to form a giant hand, reag out to grab Xiao Yan.

  Just as the giant hand was about to seize him, a green lotus floated up in front of him. Xiao Yan transmitted his voice, "Queen, if you still wao use the Ten Thousa Fme to help you refine your body, solidate your bloodline, and assist in refining the Spirit Fusion Pill, now is a good opportunity to win me over."

  A voice that could make one's bones go weak emanated from within the green lotus, "One year. I want to see the Spirit Fusion Pill within one year."

  Xiao Yan smiled knowingly.

  "Deal."