"Boom!"
Deep within the Misty Cloud Mountain, a figure shrouded in dense black mist shot up into the sky, arriving at the plaza in an instant. A terrifying aura erupted, instantly suppressing the entire field. The black mist surging from his body blotted out the sky and obscured the sun.
An indescribable, oppressive pressure gripped everyone's hearts. Xiao Yan, Hai Bodong, and the others found themselves completely immobilized by the overwhelming force.
"Hmph."
The black figure swept his gaze over the spatial wormhole above. With a flick of his hand, a colossal black mist palm slammed downward.
Terrifying ripples of Dou Qi burst out, causing the very void to ripple violently. As the black figure's aura erupted, even the handsome young man and his companions momentarily froze in shock.
"A Dou Venerate...! There's a Soul Hall Elder here!"
The handsome young man couldn't help but cry out in shock. A Dou Venerate—such a powerhouse would command awe even in the Central Plains! That Soul Hall would deploy an Elder of such caliber to a place as remote as the Jia Ma Empire was completely beyond his expectations.
However, upon seeing the spatial passage above fully formed, the young man relaxed slightly, a faintly playful glint flashing through his eyes as he looked toward the black figure.
As everyone buckled under the pressure of the black mist, the massive palm slowly descended toward the spatial passage, shattering the surrounding void. The black figure's intentions were clear: destroy the portal.
Yet just as the black palm was about to reach it, an elder clad in a blue robe shot out from within the passageway. Dou Qi gathered in his hand, and with a mighty strike, he collided with the giant black palm.
"Bang!"
A terrifying wave of Dou Qi erupted from the elder's body. In an instant, blinding lights pierced through the black mist, riddling the massive hand with holes until it finally collapsed into nothingness.
After shattering the giant palm, the elder did not pursue his advantage but instead floated calmly by the portal, silently guarding it, as though waiting for someone.
"A Dou Venerate! Who are you to dare obstruct my Soul Hall...?"
Sensing the elder's terrifying aura, the black figure barked sharply. Yet, before he could finish speaking, his eyes caught sight of the ancient tree insignia on the elder's chest—and he froze.
"You... you're from the Titled Palace!"
The black figure instantly recoiled, retreating like he had seen a monstrous beast. His gaze swept over the handsome young man and the others—and he noticed the same ancient tree insignia on their chests. His heart gave a violent lurch.
"What? Titled Palace?!"
Protector Wu, hovering nearby, cried out in shock upon hearing the words. His gaze swept toward the Dou Emperor-ranked woman nearby—and sure enough, on her chest was the unmistakable ancient tree insignia. His face twisted in terror as he turned and fled without hesitation.
Before, his focus had been solely on Xiao Yan, and he hadn't noticed the insignia. Now that he had, Protector Wu wasted no time—he fled as fast as he could.
"Whoosh."
High in the air, the Soul Hall Dou Venerate Elder, having recognized the opposing faction, decisively abandoned everything and prepared to flee as well.
The Titled Palace... they were mortal enemies of the Soul Hall. Over the years, many Soul Hall branch halls across the Central Plains had been obliterated by them.
Otherwise, for mere soul collection, would a Dou Venerate powerhouse like him have needed to come to such a backwater place?
"Think you can leave so easily?"
Just as the black figure moved, a cold voice echoed from above. He lifted his head—and there, a robust middle-aged man stood, a long spear casually resting in his hand, smiling lightly.
"It's you—Spear Venerate Wang Chen!"
The black figure instantly recognized him. Wang Chen, a Dou Venerate powerhouse of the Titled Palace, an Eight-Star Dou Venerate who had earned a fearsome reputation for destroying Soul Hall branches in recent years.
"Tsk tsk, who would've thought I'd find a Soul Hall Elder even in a place like this?"
Feeling the black figure's aura—only that of a mere Three-Star Dou Venerate—Spear Venerate Wang Chen smiled faintly. In a flash, he blurred into motion, the void beneath his feet shattering as he closed in.
A horrific surge of Dou Qi spread across the skies, shaking the heavens. Yet after only a few explosive clashes, the battle ended.
With a single thrust of his spear, Wang Chen pierced through the black figure, gravely injuring him. Grabbing the battered figure with one hand and his spear with the other, Wang Chen returned to the skies above the spatial portal.
Meanwhile, the elder who had first intervened also floated there, grasping another figure—it was none other than the fleeing Protector Wu.
"The Young Palace Mistress is about to arrive. We'll let her decide everything."
The elder spoke calmly to Wang Chen. The Spear Venerate nodded slightly. Meanwhile, the two captured Soul Hall members hung limply, their faces ashen with despair.
The Titled Palace's Young Mistress... there was only one—the woman hailed as the number one genius of the Central Plains!
The Dou Venerate black figure's eyes were filled with utter hopelessness. How could his luck be so cursed?
He was a dignified Dou Venerate, sent to this remote "starter village," bullying a few nobodies—and now, a bunch of supreme powerhouses arrived via teleportation, ganging up on him! How was he supposed to survive?
"Buzz..."
The space trembled slightly. The elder and Wang Chen exchanged glances before respectfully stepping aside.
At that moment, everyone present lifted their heads curiously, eyes fixed on the spatial portal. Just who could command such an awe-inspiring entourage?
"Whoosh."
A slender, graceful figure emerged from the portal.
She wore flowing violet robes. Her long, dark green hair was casually tied with a faint purple silk ribbon, cascading down her delicate curves. Occasionally, a breeze would lift those silken strands, adding to her ethereal beauty—like an immortal mistakenly descended to the mortal world, pure and untouchable.
The violet-clad figure walked slowly, her gaze sweeping the crowd. As if searching for something—or someone—her brilliant eyes finally settled.
Amid countless astonished stares, she turned slightly, her luminous gaze falling gently upon a young man below. Upon seeing the disbelief frozen on his face, she couldn't help but smile—an exquisitely beautiful, radiant smile.
With a gentle step, she floated before Xiao Yan, extending a hand as flawless and translucent as white jade. She lightly grasped his hand, and in that moment, the calm depths of her bright eyes rippled like a serene lake touched by the wind.
"Brother Xiao Yan..."
"Xun'er..."
At the sight of the girl he had longed for day and night, Xiao Yan trembled uncontrollably, overcome with emotion. Three years had passed; the once-tender girl had grown into a stunningly beautiful young woman. Yet what filled Xiao Yan's heart with the greatest warmth was the familiar tenderness that still shone within her autumn-water-like eyes.
The two stared at each other, lost in their reunion. After a moment, Xiao Yan could no longer suppress the feelings he had buried deep in his heart for years.
With a sudden step forward, he opened his arms and, in full view of everyone, pulled the breathtaking girl into a fierce embrace.
"Xun'er, I've missed you so much!"
"Brother Xiao Yan, I've missed you too!"
Xun'er murmured sweetly, a flush blooming across her cheeks, her gaze brimming with gentleness.
For a moment, a faint scent of decay seemed to drift over the Misty Cloud Sect. Watching from the side, Hai Bodong's expression shifted. Glancing at his still-bleeding wounds from rescuing Xiao Yan, he said nothing, his silence filled with silent complaint.
"I got myself hurt just to save you, and here you are flaunting your love life in front of a poor single soul like me!"
As Hai Bodong silently wiped away his tears and the others were force-fed a mouthful of dog food, a powerful Dou Emperor aura suddenly surged from nearby. In an instant, a figure appeared in the center of the field. His gaze swept across the gathered crowd before landing on Xiao Yan.
The figure froze for a heartbeat—then, unable to suppress his shock, cried out:
"Yan Xiao!"
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