Battle Through The Heavens : I Am The Thunder Emperor

Chapter 206: Battle with Yun Shan

As the old voice faded, a shadowy figure slowly appeared, and in just an instant, a black-robed figure materialized in everyone's view.

With this figure's arrival, the expressions of Hai Bodong, Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, Yun Leng, and others changed dramatically.

"Another Dou Huang powerhouse?" Jia Xing Tian exhaled slowly, his voice betraying his shock.

"It seems this Mo Yu has some powerful reinforcements. This guy clearly has a formidable backing," Fa Ma said, his face unusually serious.

The entire square fell silent as the black-robed man appeared. His casual deflection of the spiraling energy sphere left everyone in awe.

"Who are you?!" Yun Leng demanded, his eyes fixed on the mysterious Dou Huang in the sky, his voice laced with both anger and fear.

"You can call me Ling Ying," the black-robed man replied, revealing a dark, aged face with a smile.

"Are you from the Xiao family? When did the Xiao family gain someone as powerful as you?" Yun Leng asked, surprised by the way the man addressed Mo Yu.

The Xiao family of Wu Tan City, while once somewhat influential during the time of the previous patriarch, Xiao Lin, was now just an insignificant, declining family. Even at its peak, no one had ever heard of a Dou Huang within its ranks, let alone now, in its weakened state. Could it be that the Xiao family had been hiding its true strength? The thought made Yun Leng's expression change subtly. If the Xiao family was either hiding to avoid powerful enemies or concealing its strength with other intentions, both scenarios posed a significant threat to the Jia Ma Empire's top sect, the Yun Lan Sect.

"The Xiao family? Sure, let's go with that," Ling Ying replied with a chuckle after a brief pause.

Ling Ying was a personal guard for Xun Er, who could be considered half a member of the Xiao family. So, for now, he could reluctantly count himself as part of the Xiao family. However, if Xun Er returned to her clan, Ling Ying would have no further connection with the Xiao family.

This statement from Ling Ying caused a stir among the crowd.

The Xiao family had a Dou Huang?

It was well known that the most powerful figures in the empire's three major families were only Dou Wang. Even Jia Xing Tian, the protector of the Jia Ma Empire's royal family, was only a Dou Huang. If the Xiao family had a Dou Huang, wouldn't it instantly become a superpower on par with the royal family?

Nalan Jie's face showed a mix of complex emotions. He had been a close friend of Xiao Yan's grandfather, Xiao Lin, for decades, but even he had never heard of the Xiao family having such deep resources. If he had known, he would have never allowed the Nalan family to cancel the engagement, no matter what!

Hai Bodong was also surprised as he looked up at the black-robed elder in the sky. He could sense that this person was even more powerful than he was.

"The Xiao family has such a strong person?" Hai Bodong muttered in disbelief.

Xiao Yan also looked up at the elder in confusion, his brows furrowed slightly before he glanced over at Mo Yu.

As the young master of the Xiao family, Xiao Yan was very familiar with his family's situation and knew there was no such powerhouse among them. Noticing Xiao Yan's puzzled look, Mo Yu smiled faintly and sent him a telepathic message, uttering just two words: "Xun Er."

Hearing this name, Xiao Yan's pupils contracted slightly, and his face lit up with surprise before he quickly looked up at the black-robed figure with a thoughtful expression.

Although Mo Yu had only said two words, Xiao Yan, being quick-witted, immediately made the connection. After all, Xun Er had always been mysterious to him. It wasn't hard to deduce that this Dou Huang had something to do with her. Feeling relieved, Xiao Yan also felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Xun Er had silently done so much for him...

"Sir, Mo Yu attacked my Yun Lan Sect first. I hope you will give our sect some face and let us deal with him. As for Xiao Yan, you may take him with you," Yun Leng proposed after weighing the potential relationship between the Dou Huang and the Xiao family.

Not knowing the exact nature of this Dou Huang's relationship with the Xiao family, Yun Leng decided to let Xiao Yan, the legitimate heir of the Xiao family, go while demanding that Mo Yu, an outsider to the Xiao family, be handed over to the Yun Lan Sect to save face. If the other party was reasonable, this incident could end peacefully. After all, Yun Leng didn't want to provoke a Dou Huang if it could be avoided.

"Haha, the Yun Lan Sect is impressive, but it holds little weight on the Dou Qi Continent. What gives you the right to speak to me like this?" Ling Ying retorted mockingly.

As a member of the Ancient Clan, Ling Ying had every right to look down on the Yun Lan Sect. Although he wasn't a direct member of the Gu Clan, even the top factions in Central Plains had to respect the clan's power.

His words made Yun Leng and the others' faces darken considerably. Initially, Yun Leng intended to let things go out of respect for the other's strength. But Ling Ying's outright disdain and lack of respect made it impossible for Yun Leng to back down without losing face.

"I don't care what kind of backing the Xiao family has. This is the first time in so many years that someone has dared to humiliate our Yun Lan Sect like this. For the sake of the sect's reputation, none of you will leave today, no matter who comes forward!" Yun Leng declared, his voice cold and resolute.

"You don't have the ability," Ling Ying sneered.

"Indeed, I don't. But..." Yun Leng trailed off, his eyes narrowing as he realized that the mysterious man wasn't someone he could easily deal with, especially with Hai Bodong present. But if anyone thought the Yun Lan Sect's power ended here, they would be gravely mistaken.

Taking a deep breath, Yun Leng's expression grew eerie. He gave a sinister laugh and suddenly pulled out a cloud-white flute from his ring. Bringing it to his lips, he blew hard, producing a sharp and strange sound that echoed throughout the Yun Lan Mountain, lingering for a long time.

The entire square fell silent, with only the flute's sharp notes reverberating.

Jia Xing Tian squinted and exchanged a glance with Fa Ma. Suddenly, as if recalling something, their eyes widened in shock.

"Yun Shan, so he really isn't dead!"

As the flute's sound lingered, a vast and overwhelming aura, like that of a waking dragon, enveloped the entire Yun Lan Mountain and then spread across the square.

Suddenly, all the Yun Lan Sect disciples in the square, unable to resist the deep respect and fear in their hearts, knelt down in unison. Even Yun Leng and the other elders, though not kneeling, bowed deeply in reverence.

Mo Yu raised his eyebrows slightly. Yun Shan, the Dou Zong of the Yun Lan Sect, was finally about to show himself.

While Mo Yu pondered, the powerful aura emanating from deep within Yun Lan Mountain grew stronger. Finally, a clear and piercing cry echoed through the sky, and under the gaze of countless eyes, a white figure suddenly emerged from the depths of Yun Lan Mountain, slowly stepping through the air toward the Yun Lan Sect square.

The white figure didn't summon Dou Qi wings but walked through the air, each step creating ripples in the void that dissipated as the figure appeared hundreds of meters away, exuding a mysterious aura.

Dressed in a simple white robe with flowing white hair, the figure had a serene and otherworldly presence. Though not appearing very old, his face lacked any wrinkles, looking as smooth as polished jade.

"Yun Leng, explain. You know I said not to disturb my seclusion unless it was of the utmost importance," Yun Shan said calmly, his gaze shifting to Yun Leng below.

"Old Sect Leader, it's good that you're here! If you had come any later, the Yun Lan Sect's reputation would have been trampled into the ground!" Yun Leng said, his voice trembling slightly as he knelt.

"Where is Yun Yun?" Yun Shan asked, frowning.

"The Sect Leader is away and hasn't returned yet," Yun Leng quickly replied before adding fuel to the fire by recounting how Xiao Yan was suspected of cheating and how Mo Yu had injured the Yun Lan Sect elders.

Though Yun Leng's account was half-true and half-false, with some embellishments, it made the Xiao family appear entirely at fault.

"You aren't from the Xiao family; you must be a strong figure from the Dou Qi Continent," Yun Shan said, addressing Ling Ying after hearing Yun Leng's account.

"Heh, as expected of a Dou Zong, your perception is indeed sharp. But that's not important. What matters is that you cannot touch Xiao Yan or Mo Yu, even if the Yun Lan Sect now has a Dou Zong," Ling Ying warned, unfazed by Yun Shan's appearance.

Yun Shan's eyebrows furrowed slightly at this and he glanced at Mo Yu and Xiao Yan. The Xiao family had connections to a powerful force from the Dou Qi Continent?

"What if I say no?" Yun Shan remained silent for a moment before his body, without warning, began to rise, causing the surrounding space to tremble slightly under the surge of energy.

Faced with so many onlookers, Yun Shan wasn't about to back down because of a potentially powerful but vague connection to some distant force. That would be too humiliating for both him and the Yun Lan Sect.

Seeing this, Mo Yu sighed softly. It wasn't surprising that Yun Shan, who had just broken through to Dou Zong with the help of the Soul Hall, would be brimming with confidence and unwilling to retreat because of a few words from Ling Ying.

As Yun Shan slowly ascended, his energy causing the air to ripple, Ling Ying and Hai Bodong both tensed, preparing for the impending clash.

Just as the battle was about to begin, a young man unexpectedly stepped forward.

"Sect Leader Yun Shan, this matter started because of me. Let me be your opponent."

The calm voice echoed across the square, making everyone pause in surprise.

Countless eyes turned to the speaker, and when they saw that it was Mo Yu, the so-called "culprit" behind the incident, their faces showed shock, followed by a wave of confusion and disbelief.

Mo Yu was going to challenge a Dou Zong?

(End of Chapter)

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