Shrouded Sky

"What arrogance!" The two cultivators from the Li Clan looked grim. "You… are you trying to start a war between sects?"

"A sect war? Do you really think you're worth it? You're not even on the map," replied the armored rider coldly.

"Fine! Very well! Let's see if you can make it out of the State of Yan alive!" The Li Clan cultivators' faces turned cold, their eyes flashing with malice. They were already plotting to provoke the wrath of the elders at Red Mist Grotto-Heaven to retaliate.

"You think the likes of you could keep us trapped in the State of Yan?" the rider sneered. "With trash like you, ten or even a hundred thousand wouldn't make a difference."

"You…" The two Li cultivators were deeply humiliated, but also terrified. It was clear these people were not ordinary, they wouldn't dare talk like this otherwise. Still, they had no way back now. They had to bind themselves to Red Mist Grotto-Heaven in hopes of crushing the enemy, so one of them growled, "Since you don't respect Red Mist Grotto-Heaven, I'll report this to our elders, they'll teach you what fear is!"

"You're not worthy." The rider took one heavy step forward. Without even attacking, the two Li cultivators were sent flying like scarecrows, crashing into the wall with a sickening crack, bones breaking and blood pouring from their noses and ears.

"You…" Their bones were mostly shattered. They hung limp against the wall like sacks of flesh, eyes full of terror.

Jiang Yifei gestured to stop the rider from killing them, they still had questions to answer.

"Did you murder Tingting's parents?" Jiang Yifei's voice was calm, but to the Li cultivators, it boomed like thunder. This composed man in white robes now felt like a towering mountain, impossible to face directly.

"We'll talk…"

"Who's being so arrogant, disregarding Red Mist Grotto-Heaven?" A middle-aged man strode into the courtyard. But when he saw the exotic beasts, his face darkened. "Who are you? Why have you harmed my Red Mist disciples?"

"Just eliminating evil," said one of the riders, stepping forward to block his path.

"Are you saying Red Mist Grotto-Heaven itself is evil?" the man snapped.

"I don't know if your whole sect is evil," said the rider coldly. "But these two certainly are, they've taken lives."

"That's just your side of the story. Before we investigate, how dare you act so violently? And they are our disciples. If they've done wrong, we will punish them. Outsiders have no right to interfere."

Jiang Yifei still looked composed, but his tone was frosty. "They've committed evil for years, and yet Red Mist Grotto-Heaven never punished them. And now you still try to protect them. Looks like I'll have to visit your sect personally and demand an explanation."

"Such arrogance! Do you think you can just walk into Red Mist Grotto-Heaven and walk out again?" The man stared coldly at them.

Jiang Yifei let out a faint laugh. "Is Red Mist Grotto-Heaven supposed to be impressive? I've never even heard of it. But I'll be sure to pay it a visit shortly."

"You really think you're untouchable," the man growled. "Red Mist Grotto-Heaven is one of the six great superpowers of the State of Yan. If you stir trouble, a sect war will be unavoidable!"

Jiang Yifei shook his head. "The Eastern Wilderness is vast and endless. No one even knows how many nations exist. Yan is but a speck. I've truly never heard of your sect."

"How arrogant! Then let me see just how powerful you are!" The man flew into the air, summoning a violet-gold shield and a blood-red spear.

A beast roared. A rider mounted his steed and shot into the sky like a streak of green light.

"Ahhh!"

A scream pierced the air. The Red Mist Grotto-Heaven cultivator's violet-gold shield was instantly split in two, and his blood-red spear snapped apart. His chest and abdomen were almost completely torn open, and he plummeted to the ground, blood gushing out.

Had he been an ordinary man, he would've died on the spot. But cultivators had strong bodies. He managed to stop the bleeding and stabilize his injuries, but his face was pale as he retreated in fear.

Ye Fan was shaken. These dozen riders were incredibly strong, even more powerful than the Ji Clan and the Radiant Light Sacred Ground's elites he'd seen at the Demon Emperor's tomb.

At that moment, several more immortal masters who had been staying at the Li residence finally emerged from the back courtyard, alarmed by the commotion.

"Who are you people?" an elder asked with a frown. He had heard some of what was said and was furious at how these strangers treated Red Mist Grotto-Heaven as nothing.

"Be so kind as to lead us to Red Mist Grotto-Heaven," Jiang Caixuan said with a cold smile. "Please, go ahead."

The Red Mist cultivators' faces darkened. One of them growled, "Such arrogance at such a young age. Didn't your elders teach you to respect your seniors?"

Jiang Caixuan snapped, "You train disciples who murder the innocent, bully orphans and elderly people, and push a 70-year-old man to despair. And you think you're qualified to speak of respect? You've lost that right!"

"Where's your proof?"

"They confessed themselves."

Another elder frowned. "Even if your interrogation forced their confession, that doesn't give you the right to handle things yourselves. Our sect has its own rules and justice."

Jiang Caixuan's face turned icy. "Your so-called justice allowed the murderers to run free for two years, to keep persecuting the weak. That's your sect's righteousness? Even now, you're trying to cover up their crimes. It's no wonder your disciples are criminals, you're cut from the same cloth."

"You, " The lead elder's eyebrows shot up, but he didn't dare attack. The sight of the golden qilin alone made him wary.

Then Jiang Yifei spoke calmly: "Arrest them all." Several riders moved forward at once.

The lead elder shouted, "Retreat!" He soared into the air, fleeing in a rainbow flash. The others scattered in all directions.

The exotic beasts howled. The sky trembled as several riders gave chase in different directions.

"Ahhh!"

Screams echoed moments later as the riders returned, dragging their captives back like dead dogs. Each prisoner, including the elder, was badly injured.

Ye Fan was stunned. The Ancient Desolate Jiang Clan truly was a colossus. These riders were terrifying.

Jiang Yifei assigned two riders to remain behind and deal with the Li Clan, ordering them not to kill innocents, only the ringleaders.

"We're going to Red Mist Grotto-Heaven."

Jiang Yifei personally helped Old Jiang onto the golden qilin, riding with him. Jiang Caixuan cradled little Tingting on her divine deer. Ye Fan rode with another warrior, soaring into the sky.

"No need to go… those two beasts are dead. Justice is served…" Old Jiang wept as he learned the truth behind his son's death.

Beside him, little Tingting cried as well.

"We're going," Jiang Yifei said calmly, but with undeniable strength. "No one gets to kill someone from the Ancient Desolate Jiang Clan and live to see another day."

Ye Fan sighed inwardly. He still had a long way to go. Compared to such ancient bloodlines, he was insignificant.

The townspeople stood in stunned silence, then erupted in cheers. The plague on their town had finally been wiped out.

Faced with life and death, the Red Mist prisoners submitted and agreed to lead the way.

Over a dozen exotic beasts soared through the clouds, rumbling like an army charging into battle or a tsunami crashing through the sky.

Just then, Ye Fan felt someone watching him. He turned and saw the proud boy, Jiang Yichen, staring.

As their eyes met, Jiang Yichen looked away, a cold smirk playing at his lips.

Ye Fan frowned. Why is he looking at me like that? Has he figured something out?

Soon, the group arrived at Red Mist Grotto-Heaven. The peaks were lush, with drifting mist and hidden radiance, it truly lived up to its name.

"Who dares trespass on our holy land?!" a voice shouted.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The captives were tossed forward, shocking the disciples at the gate.

"Enemy attack!" Red Mist Grotto-Heaven erupted in chaos.

Mist burst into the sky. Dao Runes carved into the mountains blazed, forming radiant defenses to block the intruders.

"Is that all?" sneered Jiang Yichen. The arrogant youth finally made his move. A violet-gold gourd flew from his body, radiating dazzling light. It expanded in midair and sucked up all the mist with terrifying force.

In moments, the Dao Rune's power was completely suppressed.

Then, the gourd grew to the size of a hill, releasing a purple mist as it slammed forward. Screams rang out, many figures were drawn into the gourd, swallowed whole.

Ye Fan was stunned. He hadn't expected such devastating power from this violet-gold gourd. It had easily shattered the protective Dao Runes and absorbed many cultivators. It was terrifying.

"The heritage of an ancient desolate clan is terrifying… and this boy is only looks sixteen or seventeen, yet they've already given him such a powerful treasure…" Ye Fan thought uneasily.

"There's no need to do this…" Old Jiang pleaded from the side.

Jiang Yifei shook his head. "Tingting's parents committed no crime, yet they were persecuted. We will demand justice. The Jiang Clan does not fear trouble."

Boom!

Just then, a mighty wave of energy burst from Red Mist Grotto-Heaven, pushing back the violet-gold gourd. An old voice echoed through the air.

"So it's the people of an ancient desolate clan… I ask, what grudge does Red Mist Grotto-Heaven owe you?"