Battle Through the Heavens: Beauties Abound Starting with Yunlan and Her Disciples

249: Section 249Yanran paused at this point, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness. ”It seems... the number of Young Sect Leaders Master has taken in is a bit much.”

”But according to the sect’s tradition, whoever breaks through to Dou Huang first will be the sole successor. From that perspective, it will undoubtedly be Senior Brother.”

Xiao Yan asked curiously, ”Since Master didn’t have a Master, who was the Former Sect Master’s eldest Disciple?” Yanran replied, ”It is the current Great Elder of the sect, Yun Ling.”

Xiao Yan pondered for a moment and said softly, ”So that means we... are from the branch line?” Nalan Yanran nodded slightly in agreement.

As they spoke, they simultaneously looked up toward the mountainside. A group of Disciples dressed in Cloud Mist Sect attire was standing ready, swords in hand.

Seeing this, Nalan Yanran’s brows furrowed slightly, and she asked in a displeased, deep voice, ”Why are you gathering here? What is your intent?”

The leading Disciple cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, but he couldn’t hide the coldness in his eyes. ”Reporting to the two Young Sect Leaders, the Great Elder has ordered the setup of this formation to test your current cultivation Realms.”

Behind him, the swords held by the many Disciples glinted with a chilling light; their stance made it clear they did not come with good intentions.

The atmosphere froze instantly. Linger, standing to the side, did not hesitate for a second. Her long sword cleared its scabbard in an instant, crossing in front of Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan. She looked at her two sisters with clear, determined eyes. ”In that case, sisters, let us face them together.”

In the crowd, a Disciple saw Linger step forward and a flash of contempt crossed his eyes as he shouted harshly, ”Yun Linger! Don’t think that just because the Sect Master took you in, you are actually a formal Disciple of the Cloud Mist Sect!”

This malice-filled shout caused Linger’s face to turn pale instantly, her body trembling slightly.

But at that moment, Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan both placed their hands on her shoulders, providing silent support and comfort. Xiao Yan looked at Nalan Yanran and asked calmly, ”How should we handle this?”

Nalan Yanran’s gaze turned cold as she replied indifferently, ”Severely wounding them is fine; there’s no need to take lives. After all, this is our Yun Lan Mountain; it’s not appropriate to let it be stained with blood.” Feeling the warmth and strength from her two sisters, the fear in Linger’s heart vanished, and her grip on her sword became firmer and more powerful.

Before her voice had even faded, the three women moved, charging into the crowd of Cloud Mist Sect Disciples like a gale scattering clouds. These Disciples were only at the Dou Master level and had almost no resistance against the fierce offensive of Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan.

”How... how can they be so strong?!” A Disciple was sent flying over a dozen meters by the xuan heavy ruler, his head ringing as he collapsed onto the ground, muttering. Only ten minutes had passed, and the hundred Cloud Mist Sect Disciples from before were now sprawled across the ground, groaning in pain.

Nalan Yanran withdrew her hand and stood still, looking at Xiao Yan. ”You are already an Eight-Star Great Dou Master?” Xiao Yan nodded slightly, speaking with a hint of emotion, ”Mhm, it’s all thanks to Senior Brother.”

She looked at Nalan Yanran with a smile in her eyes. ”You aren’t bad either, a Seven-Star Great Dou Master. Without realizing it... you’re almost at the Dou Ling Realm.”

They turned to look to the side, where Linger was seriously wiping away the bits of blood on her sword. Even she was now a One-Star Great Dou Master.

Such an astonishing rate of progress was naturally thanks to the surging Dou Qi shared back with them after their two sisters broke through to Dou Zong, allowing their cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds. The three did not Linger, continuing up the bluestone steps toward the summit of Yun Lan Mountain.

On the way up, Nalan Yanran gazed at the familiar yet strange scenery around her, a complex emotion rising in her heart. She had been recommended by her Senior Brother early on and taken as a Disciple by Master Yun Yun, growing up on this Yun Lan Mountain since childhood.

However, just because she had gone out to train with her Senior Brother three years ago, this place had gradually become unfamiliar. This sense of estrangement was especially strong after her Master and Senior Brother left, almost making her feel at a loss.

Only now did she suddenly realize that what she was truly used to and attached to was not the Cloud Mist Sect itself, but the time spent by the side of her Senior Brother and Master. ”Senior Brother and Master will be back soon.”

Xiao Yan said from the side, ”Mhm, I understand.”

Medicine Lady sat atop the Ice Lotus, her bare feet adorned with red bells, following closely behind Xiao Yan.

Although her existence had already appeared in the family network, as long as she remained invisible, no one would ever know her specific appearance! After multiple cultivation sessions with Yun Xiancheng, Medicine Lady’s soul had recovered quite well; she believed she could briefly possess the power of a Dou Zong, enough to serve as Xiao Yan’s trump card.

At the peak of Yun Lan Mountain, Yun Ling and Gu He stood side by side, chatting with each other.

One of these two had his Sect Master position taken by Yun Yun, and the other had been backstabbed by her; their faces were full of hatred for Yun Yun. By extension, they naturally wouldn’t show any kindness to Nalan Yanran or Xiao Yan.

This was the result of Yun Yun’s momentary soft-heartedness back in the Snake-People Tribe, but she was a stubborn person; without major upheavals, that kind of soft-heartedness was hard to change. ”They have death written all over their faces.”

Medicine Lady looked at the two of them, rolled her eyes, and commented.

”Two Young Sect Leaders, according to the agreement from three years ago, please conduct your duel here...” Great Elder Yun Ling said.

”The loser must be stripped of the title of Young Sect Leader and obediently go down the mountain.” Hearing this additional condition, Nalan Yanran’s brow furrowed as she rebuked:

”Yun Ling, stop adding your own drama! When did we ever agree to such a condition?”

202 Shadows of the Past Generation

Nalan Yanran stood before the crowd with a stern expression, actually rebuking Great Elder Yun Ling in public. Her manner of disregarding her elders was truly eye-opening.

It had long been an open ”secret” within the Cloud Mist Sect that the Disciples under Yun Yun did not respect their elders. And the source of all this could be ”credited” to the first Young Sect Leader—Yun Xiancheng.

Since the age of three, he had developed an attitude of ignoring and being indifferent to everyone except Yun Yun. Having been influenced by what she saw and heard, Nalan Yanran had actually learned her Senior Brother’s ”wicked” temperament, acting arrogantly and disregarding her seniors.

Hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Yun Ling’s eyes, yet it was mixed with a sense of relief that someone was finally backing him up. He snorted coldly, speaking with a hint of mockery: ”Yun Yun’s Disciples are always this spoiled and willful. It’s just like how she didn’t know the heights of the heavens and depths of the earth when she forced her way into the Gate of Life and Death back then!”

Perhaps limited by talent, Yun Ling’s strength had always remained at the Peak Dou Wang level, unable to break through to the Dou Huang Realm no matter what. Consequently, during the decade or so after Yun Yun promoted to Dou Huang, he had to act humble and was even looked down upon by two half-grown juniors for years. Now that the Former Sect Master was about to emerge from seclusion, he could finally hold his head high.

He looked at Nalan Yanran’s enraged appearance, and the joy deep in his heart grew even thicker. But he suppressed the urge to laugh out loud, only saying coldly: ”This is naturally an order from the Former Sect Master. It’s just that the current Sect Master’s actions have been somewhat against the rules. When in the history of our Cloud Mist Sect has there ever been a precedent for establishing so many Young Sect Leaders?”

The Cloud Mist Sect had always passed its legacy to a single successor for nine generations, but now the power had been ”usurped” by an ordinary Disciple. Now that the Former Sect Master was about to come out, things were finally going to be set right and return to the proper track.

The duel between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan was merely a joke from three years ago. If they were truly to go all out, it wouldn’t be a simple sparring match.

The two women’s eyes met instantly, their minds in sync. Nalan Yanran crossed her arms and said calmly, ”In that case, we won’t fight.” Yun Ling’s attitude also became forceful: ”If you won’t fight, then obediently leave Yun Lan Mountain and go down.”

The era where he had to tuck his tail between his legs and didn’t even dare return to the sect was over. Now, as the Great Elder of the Cloud Mist Sect, he naturally had the power and authority to discipline this generation’s Young Sect Leaders.

Hearing this, Nalan Yanran’s brows tightened, her tone incredibly firm: ”The only ones who can decide whether we stay or leave are Master and Senior Brother. You have no right to decide!” Xiao Yan was the same; she gripped the handle of her ruler tightly, staring straight at Yun Ling as she said in a heavy voice, ”You have no right to command us.”

Seeing their unyielding attitude, the annoyance in Yun Ling’s heart intensified. He stopped wasting words and turned his head to say to Gu He beside him:

”Grandmaster Gu He, please look. These are the Disciples Yun Yun has taught—they truly have no respect for their elders!”

Hearing this, Gu He nodded slightly and echoed, ”Yun Yun has always been narrow-minded; the Disciples she teaches are naturally all of the same stock.” Although he had been spared by Yun Yun, he still harbored resentment toward her in his heart.

As the two spoke, over a dozen Dou Ling Experts had already closed in. Yun Ling had already used the news of the Former Sect Master’s imminent emergence to easily mobilize most of the Cloud Mist Sect’s power.

Among these Dou Ling, a few wore Cloud Mist Sect attire, but most were outside experts, likely helpers invited by Gu He.

Many Cloud Mist Sect Disciples were also gathered around. Nalan Yanran had originally thought they would support Yun Yun’s lineage, but she didn’t expect that at this critical moment, they would actually...

choose to stand on Yun Ling’s side.

Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan, and Linger stood back-to-back. No words were spoken between them, but messages were rapidly being exchanged through that miraculous family network.

”Senior Brother says, kill those who should be killed,” Xiao Yan said slowly after receiving the message from Yun Xiancheng.

Hearing this, a flash of decisiveness crossed Nalan Yanran’s eyes, and she nodded slightly. ”Since Senior Brother has said so... then let’s see whose results look better!”

Meanwhile, in the skies of the Jiama Empire, Yun Xiancheng looked at the pale-faced Yun Yun beside him and said softly, ”Master, this is the consequence of your momentary soft-heartedness.”

Killing Yun Shan was not difficult for Yun Xiancheng. But how to make Yun Yun willing to personally slay Yun Shan and even purge most of the old forces within the Cloud Mist Sect—that was the real challenge.

Yun Xiancheng had originally been having a headache over this, but unexpectedly, someone had provided a solution just when he needed it. Great Elder Yun Ling’s actions had precisely handed Yun Xiancheng the blade for the slaughter.

Yun Yun sighed softly, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation. ”Gu He is, after all, a Sixth-Rank Alchemist... the Cloud Mist Sect needs him.”

”Then does the Cloud Mist Sect need us?” Yun Xiancheng asked in return, his tone carrying a hint of coldness. ”Yanran and Yaner are currently being treated as enemies by them, and are even about to be driven off the mountain.”

Hearing this, a flash of guilt crossed Yun Yun’s face: ”It was my momentary soft-heartedness that caused Yanran and Xiao Yan to fall into such danger.” Looking at his self-reproachful Master, Yun Xiancheng moved slightly, flying to her side and gently embracing her.

Seeing this, the young beauties nearby tacitly looked away, turning their gaze toward the Cloud Mist Master and Disciple to give them space. Feeling her Disciple’s warm embrace, a complex emotion welled up in Yun Yun’s heart. She said slowly, ”I... I feel that I have done right by the Cloud Mist Sect.” She didn’t understand why Yun Ling would show his fangs at this moment. Though she came from the background of an ordinary Disciple, she had done her utmost since taking over the position of Sect Master.

She was diligent and responsible, often acting as the sect’s ’sword,’ rushing about everywhere. But in the end, was her sacrifice still not recognized?

”That only shows that the old factions of the Cloud Mist Sect were unwilling to accept Master from the start,” Yun Xiancheng said softly. ”They came with prejudice, so naturally, they wouldn’t see your contributions.”

He paused slightly, a cold light flashing in his eyes: ”In my opinion, those who should be killed must be killed.”

In normal times, Yun Yun would certainly have opposed such blood-soaked rhetoric from Yun Xiancheng. But now, after hearing it, she remained silent and did not object.

”We have lived on Yun Lan Mountain for over a decade; I don’t want it to be snatched away by outsiders,” Yun Xiancheng added. Hearing this, Yun Yun tightly gripped the hilt of her sword, her gaze gradually becoming firm: ”Mhm... I understand.”

She had made her choice after all. Although a trace of hesitation remained in her heart, after learning of Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran’s current predicament, she chose to stand on Yun Xiancheng’s side.

”It seems you really are quite lost, Yun Yun,” the Big Lion, Yun Ziyi, said as she flew in front of her.

”Mhm,” Yun Yun sighed softly, her eyes filled with sentiment. ”After all, it is the place I once fought for my entire life.” ”Wrong,” the Big Lion shook her head slightly, correcting her. ”What is truly worth investing our lives in is right here.”

As she spoke, her figure moved, flying in front of Yun Xiancheng. Due to momentum, Yun Xiancheng’s small consciousness form plunged headlong into her soft and deep valley.

Yun Xiancheng subconsciously withdrew his Dou Qi and shed his momentum to ensure the impact wouldn’t cause the Big Lion pain. The Big Lion wrapped her arms around him, burying him deep in her embrace.

Seeing the Big Lion comfort Yun Yun in such a manner, Green Savage couldn’t help but chuckle. After laughing, her expression turned serious. She looked at Yun Yun and said firmly, ”Yun Yun, we’ll get justice for you.”

Feeling the warmth and support from this family, Yun Yun was moved and finally nodded gently: ”Thank you.”

As sisters who would spend the rest of their lives under the same roof and even on the same bed, helping each other was only natural.

203 Blood-Stained Cloud Mist

On Yun Lan Mountain, the atmosphere was tense, and the color of blood had already begun to spread quietly.

Of the dozen or so Dou Ling Experts besieging Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, several already lay in pools of blood.

”We can’t delay any longer,” a trace of anxiety rose in Yun Ling’s heart. Although Sect Master Yun Yun had traveled far to the Izumo Empire with an uncertain return date, the fact that Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran dared to come up the mountain now likely meant that Yun Yun was about to return.

Once Yun Yun appeared, he would lose all his say. At this moment, he not only wanted to drive these two off the mountain but also felt a strong killing intent. Tearing off the mask of civility was already a foregone conclusion; letting them leave would be no different from releasing tigers back to the mountain. Once they grew up in the future, wouldn’t he be the one left without a proper burial?

After all, these two Young ladies before him could actually contend with and even kill Dou Lings while only being in the Great Dou Master Realm. Such talent was simply too dazzling—dazzling enough to strike fear into his heart.

He had been stuck at the Peak Dou Wang for many years, and he feared he would never make another inch of progress in this life. Facing the brilliant younger generation, the only thought in his mind was to stifle them.

Gu He, standing nearby, seemed to see through his thoughts and spoke softly with a hint of allure, ”Elder Yun Ling, you must not release the tigers back to the mountain.” These words were like the final straw that broke the camel’s back, pushing Yun Ling to make his decision. ”In that case, I shall take action personally!”

As Yun Ling finished speaking, the Dou Qi wings on his back instantly materialized. His figure was like lightning as he gripped his longsword, carrying the killing intent of a Dou King Expert, and lunged straight for Nalan Yanran.

How could a Great Dou Master withstand the wrathful strike of a Peak Dou Wang expert? Yun Ling was fully confident that this single sword strike would be enough to kill Nalan Yanran.

However, a bizarre scene unfolded. Yun Ling’s certain-kill strike miraculously deflected the moment it was about to touch Nalan Yanran. The blade traced an incredible arc and stabbed directly into a nearby Dou Ling instead.

That Dou Ling didn’t even have time to react before being skewered by the sword; his head instantly turned into a mist of blood, and his body and soul were extinguished.

”There’s a Dao Protector?!” Seeing his attack fail, a flash of alarm crossed Yun Ling’s eyes. But he prided himself on being a Peak Dou Wang and was confident in fighting even a low-star Dou Huang.

That Dao Protector was hiding their head and tail, so their strength must be limited. While thinking this, his tongue remained sharp as he continued to fabricate charges against Nalan Yanran: ”How bold of you, Nalan Yanran! To dare collude with outsiders and bring them into the sect’s sacred grounds—could it be you intend to commit treason?!”

However, such malicious words no longer stirred any emotional fluctuations in Nalan Yanran.

Just then, an aged yet somewhat childlike voice echoed in the minds of the three girls: ”Children, fight with peace of mind. This trash Dou King, this old lady can handle him.”

To Xiao Yan, this voice was incredibly familiar—it was Medicine Lady. But to Nalan Yanran and Linger, the voice sounded distant and mysterious. They knew there had always been an entity in the family network who refused to reveal their name, but they never expected this mysterious senior to actually come here.

Nalan Yanran’s heart steadied as she respectfully replied, ”Senior, please rest assured, we will never lose face for you.” Linger subconsciously shrugged her shoulders, but then she tightly gripped her sword, her gaze becoming even firmer.

Medicine Lady’s phantom quietly emerged, sitting cross-legged and barefoot atop the crystalline Ice Lotus above Xiao Yan’s head. Seeing the respectful manner of the two juniors, she actually felt a bit of secret satisfaction.

Ever since being ’pushed down’ by Yun Xiancheng, that ’bad Disciple’ was always ’riding his Master,’ making her almost forget she was still an elder.

With these thoughts in mind, she pointed a finger through the air. The movement was calm and composed, yet it contained an indescribable mystery. An invisible force instantly spread out, firmly trapping that Cloud Mist Sect Dou King—Yun Ling.

Yun Ling only felt the space around him instantly freeze, as if he had fallen into a quagmire; every inch of movement became exceptionally difficult. Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, and his heart was filled with horror.

This unknown Dao Protector of Nalan Yanran or Xiao Yan seemed much more powerful than he had imagined. Clearly, the opponent had used a Dou Technique, yet he couldn’t sense even a shred of their aura!

He roared, his Dou Qi exploding like a tide, and he swung his longsword in an attempt to tear through this invisible restraint. However, no matter how he struggled, that force followed him like a shadow, pinning him down.

His sword Qi struck empty air, failing to stir even a single ripple.

Hearing this, Yun Ling’s face turned ashen, humiliation and anger intertwining in his heart.

He, the grand Great Elder of the Cloud Mist Sect, a Peak Dou Wang expert, was actually trapped and unable to move by an existence whose aura he couldn’t even detect, using a Dou Technique he had never heard of!

At the very moment Yun Ling was struggling with all his might and his mind was wavering, Xiao Yan’s clear eyes keenly caught this fleeting opportunity. A cold arc curled at the corner of her mouth.

”Elder Yun Ling, excuse me!”

Xiao Yan gave a delicate shout, and the xuan heavy ruler in her hand instantly swung. Atop the ruler’s body, green Dou Qi and scorching flames intertwined, turning into a surging wave that rushed straight for Yun Ling’s head with an incomparable, sharp momentum. It was precisely the Di-rank Dou Technique Medicine Lady had taught her—Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler!

”No!” Yun Ling’s eyes widened in terror. Trapped by Medicine Lady’s Dou Technique, he was completely unable to dodge. *Bang!*

With a dull thud, the Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler smashed heavily against Yun Ling’s forehead.

The body of the ruler resonated with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The powerful force contained within the Di-rank Dou Technique erupted, smashing him until his head bled, and blood instantly blurred his vision.

Yun Ling let out a shrill scream, his figure trembling violently in mid-air.

This strike did not damage his foundation, but the pain and humiliation burned his soul like wildfire. ”I will kill you!”

Yun Ling fell into an impotent rage, frantically unleashing several Dou Techniques in an attempt to break free from Medicine Lady’s control.

”Your words are quite arrogant, but without matching power, it just looks pathetic.” Medicine Lady manipulated the spatial force, torturing the Dou King Yun Ling until he was unable to move.

Having been a Peak Dou Zun in her prime, now that her soul power had recovered to the level of an early-stage Dou Zong, her application of the Way of Space made her far superior to ordinary Dou Zongs.

Yun Ling’s pathetic display of impotent rage even caused the crowd besieging Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan to disperse.

They were not an army to begin with and had essentially no morale; now that their leader had made a fool of himself, their will to fight was weak.

Feeling the crushing sensation around him, fear crept into Yun Ling’s heart. ”Master, save me!”

204 Lord of Cloud Mist

From the burial grounds of the past Sect Masters of Yun Lan Mountain, a dormant and ancient aura suddenly erupted. Accompanied by this aura, an aged voice slowly drifted over, carrying a hint of majesty: ”This fellow Daoist, please release my Disciple.”

This aura surged like ocean waves, tentatively striking the spatial restraint Medicine Lady had placed on Yun Ling, attempting to snap it.

Following that, an elderly figure came walking through the air. With every step he took, ripples visible to the naked eye appeared in the space beneath his feet, as if he were treading on invisible water, his aura extraordinary.

Seeing this, Medicine Lady did not dare to be the least bit careless. Her soul body instantly merged completely into Xiao Yan’s body, becoming one with her.