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

252: Section 252During those days, he first became acquainted with this world and the women who would accompany him throughout his life.

More memories represented the chaos and disputes of his clan, which eventually led him to live a ’Dream of the Red Chamber’ style of life, where complex emotional entanglements were hidden beneath the surface of prosperity.

Speaking of which, Xun’er did have a bit of Daiyu’s shadow—elegant and refined, yet carrying a hint of sensitivity and sorrow. However, upon closer reflection, the differences were quite significant; they couldn’t be lumped together.

If Xun’er truly had a personality like Daiyu’s, she would be too prone to sentimentality and melancholy, which didn’t suit her.

Furthermore, Daiyu was full of jealousy, whereas Xun’er didn’t care about such matters at all; instead, she was quite interested in his harem theory.

”What’s this? I finally got Yanran to stop being jealous, and now another ’vinegar jar’ is coming?” A hint of helplessness flashed through Yun Xiancheng’s heart as his sword light flickered, striking out.

The sword light seemed to transform into the outline of a manor, carrying a unique artistic conception—it was his initial conception of ’home’. ”At last, I have a Dou Skill that belongs to me.”

Yun Xiancheng nodded with satisfaction. This single strike already possessed the level of an Earthen Rank Low-Level Dou Skill, capable of initially drawing upon the power of heaven and earth. But it was just that—neither exceptional nor poor, not considered top-tier.

However, he didn’t experience any emotional fluctuations due to the level of the Dou Skill, remaining immersed in the study of his new sword moves. Every sword move corresponded to a profound memory, a period of time shared with an important person.

”Secluded Green Mountain, Fading Mortal World.”

He had lived outside Qingshan Town for over half a year.

During those days, Xiao Yan was training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, while he lived a happy life in seclusion with Xiao Yi Xian and Linger. Far from the hustle and bustle, with only each other, that tranquility and warmth stood in stark contrast to his previous clan disputes.

Especially after breaking through the final barrier, those days were filled with nightly revelry and daily songs; from morning to night, it was so sweet it felt as if it would melt. Xiao Yi Xian’s gentleness and Linger’s obedience allowed him to experience unprecedented relaxation and happiness.

While reminiscing about the past, he was also pondering new sword moves. Yun Xiancheng thrust again, the tip of the sword trembling slightly as if a low lion’s roar could be heard, carrying a hint of wildness and power.

”True Form Revealed within the Amethyst Cave.”

The existence of the Big and Little Lions was completely beyond Yun Xiancheng’s initial expectations. He never thought he would develop such deep bonds with Magical Beasts. Moreover, both of his masters felt he was a ”beast-con,” which made him feel very wronged. He had always only liked cute and beautiful young girls. Memories flashed of the Little Lion’s first transformation, her small form leaning obediently in his arms with the innocence of a child.

He then thought of the Big Lion’s first transformation, lazily leaning on her hand, those purple eyes gazing at him with a mature charm. ”Refining Golden Pills in Blackrock City.”

The theme of Blackrock City was pill refining. There, Yun Xiancheng and Medicine Lady experienced the fusion of their souls, a wondrous and profound connection.

He had also ”disciplined” Medicine Lady a bit, making her show that bashful expression, which carried a bit of an elder’s helplessness and a junior’s mischief.

Furthermore, at the local Alchemist Guild, he had encountered an unexpected ”little fan”; that look of adoration gave him a sense of novelty.

Yun Xiancheng’s strike was a ”flick,” the tip of the sword light and agile. At the moment of the flick, a faint pill fragrance actually wafted out, permeating the light. The pill fragrance scattered and fed back into Yun Xiancheng’s body, making him feel a wave of comfort.

This move actually had a certain feedback effect, giving him the stamina to continue with the next strike. This could serve as a connecting move within a set of sword techniques.

Quickly stacking the power of the Dou Skill made the sword dance even more fluid and continuous.

”Great Desert Yellow Sands, Transforming into Serpent Form.”

This strike contained his experiences in the desert. That vast and mysterious land was full of danger and opportunity. Of course, the main part was the stories with those beautiful snake women.

The earliest was little Qing Lin. As his maidservant, after experiencing adventures, she had proactively proposed that she wanted to join his big family.

Yun Xiancheng liked such proactive girls the most; that pure attachment warmed his heart. A green snake-shaped Dou Qi coiled around his arm, nimble and swift.

Next was Yue Mei. This snake woman could be said to have become friends with him through a fight; during his time with the Snake-People Tribe, he had troubled her many times, leaving a deep impression on him.

Though it was also related to the fact that she was completely unable to defeat the Heavenly Lion.

A faint red snake-shaped Dou Qi leaned against his shoulder, carrying a bit of charm.

As the personal guard of the Medusa Protagonist, Hua She Er had always been very simple and knew little of matters between men and women, appearing somewhat ignorant. However, when serving him together with Yue Mei, she was very diligent and serious; that serious look made him feel pity and affection.

A grey little snake-shaped Dou Qi wrapped around Yun Xiancheng’s wrist, appearing somewhat reserved. ”What are you looking at?”

Cai Lin, who was watching from the side, sensed something was wrong.

She could feel that in the Dou Skill Yun Xiancheng was practicing, there seemed to be a bit of her power, even carrying her unique soul aura. But she clearly hadn’t done anything!

Yet she saw a seven-colored little snake-shaped Dou Qi leaning on Yun Xiancheng’s head, looking half-happy and half-proud, as if declaring its existence.

This strike was a ”cleave,” carrying a momentum as heavy as a mountain, as if it would split all obstacles apart.

”Earthen Rank Mid-Level now.” Yun Xiancheng felt a surge of joy, realizing that the power of this sword move was already several points stronger than the previous ones. This sword dance was constantly sublimating along with his memories and insights.

His enlightenment had not yet ended.

He struck out again, and this time it seemed to condense the remaining power of all the previous sword moves. Scenes of the Jia Ma Imperial City and Yun Lan Mountain drifted through the sword light; that was where he grew up and where his deepest bonds lay.

At the same time, the silhouettes of Heavenly Moon, Yao Ye, his master, and his junior sisters flashed by; they were indispensable parts of his life. ”Sword Emerges from Cloud Mist, Sweeping Jia Ma!”

The final strike seemed to be the sublimation of all previous moves, integrating all memories and emotions. The sword light soared into the sky, its power instantly skyrocketing.

It reached the level of an Earthen Rank High-Level for a moment.

Cai Lin had watched Yun Xiancheng perform this entire sword dance from scratch.

She had never seen such a peculiar Dou Skill that could integrate past experiences into it, move by move, stacking from an Earthen Rank Low-Level Dou Skill until finally reaching the level of an Earthen Rank High-Level Dou Skill.

”This youth...” Cai Lin was amazed in her heart. Then, she gave a half-annoyed huff: ”He must be doing this on purpose for me to see! He is so handsome, and this sword dance...”

”...is also so beautiful. Is he trying to stack both to conquer me?”

”Hmph, this level of showing favor is useless.” She thought this, but her face remained impassive, though her beautiful eyes could not pull away from Yun Xiancheng.

Yun Xiancheng actually didn’t have that many thoughts; he was completely immersed in the sword dance Dou Skill he had created and was very satisfied. This sword dance was not only a manifestation of his strength but also a microcosm of his past life.

”This set shall be the Yunlan Sword Dance,” Yun Xiancheng pondered. ”If I can finish the entire set, it will be an Earthen Rank High-Level Dou Skill. At the current stage...”

”...it is enough.”

Just as small sword moves could be integrated into the sword dance, if he gained new insights in the future, they could be woven into an even larger system. At that time, it would likely be a Heaven Rank Dou Skill. This sword dance had infinite growth potential.

He sheathed his sword, looked at Cai Lin nearby, reached out his hand, and smiled. ”Sorry for the wait, let’s go.”

Cai Lin looked at his outstretched hand, and her heart stirred slightly; her tsundere nature and stubbornness seemed to soften a bit at this moment. Finally, she nodded gently and took his hand, letting him lead her toward the next light portal.

Yun Xiancheng vaguely saw a figure looking at him tenderly, eyes filled with love and expectation, but he couldn’t see the specific appearance clearly.

Immediately after, as if waking from a great dream, he suddenly snapped his eyes open. What met his eyes was Yun Lan Mountain, obscured by a dense black mist. ”Jie Jie, are you still putting up a stubborn resistance?”

A burst of hair-raising, eerie laughter reached his ears; the voice was cold and evil, clearly not the laugh of a good person.

Focusing his gaze, he saw two strange men dressed in black robes laughing arrogantly. The cold aura emanating from them, along with those signature black robes, made it clear at a glance that they were people from the Hall of Souls.

They stood high in the sky, using black mist and chains to constantly strike at Green Savage and Shadow. The two women were struggling to block the attacks, with injuries already appearing on their bodies. They seemed unable to counterattack, but showed no signs of being defeated yet.

It could only be said that with various enhancements, their ability to contend with four or Five-Star Dou Zongs for a long time with the strength of a One-star Dou Zong already far surpassed the experts of their generation.

Yun Xiancheng’s appearance out of thin air naturally surprised everyone present. His appearance was so abrupt, as if he had stepped out of the void, carrying an aura that transcended the mortal world.

”Xiancheng!?” Yun Yun, Yun Ziyi, Green Savage, and Shadow, as well as Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran, and Linger in the distance, all showed expressions of surprise and joy upon seeing him appear. That joy of recovery diluted the tension and pain of the battle.

But the battle was urgent right now, leaving no room for catching up.

His figure flickered, and he stood atop the illusory South Heaven Gate like a descending god, looking down at the battlefield below.

210 Breaking the Pass

”What kind of Dou Skill is this?”

The two Dou Zong Protectors from the Hall of Souls were slightly stunned as they felt the ”Cloud Above Heavenly Palace” being performed by Yun Xiancheng.

This was the first time they had seen such a Dou Skill; they were unclear about its reality or function, and could not even perceive the source of its power. This sea of clouds appearing out of thin air, along with that towering phantom of the South Heaven Gate, both exuded an air of strangeness and mystery.

However, before they could react, they saw Green Savage and Ying suddenly surge in aura as if bolstered by some power. Their speed and strength jumped more than a level as they charged directly at them.

The two protectors had initially been disdainful, thinking they could easily take down these two One-star Dou Zongs. But soon, they noticed something was wrong with their opponents.

It was as if they had grown much stronger out of thin air. Previously, during their one-on-one skirmishes, the protectors had the upper hand, even suppressing them to the point of breathlessness.

But now, it was like they were facing opponents of the same level. Their moves were sharp, and their cooperation was seamless. When fighting them, one couldn’t afford the slightest negligence, or they would suffer.

”Yun Shan, that kid is weird. There’s something wrong with the Dou Skill he’s using. Kill him now!” Vulture Protector shouted, alerting Yun Shan with a hint of gravity in his voice.

Yun Shan didn’t dare to be negligent. Although he was surprised by Yun Xiancheng’s sudden appearance and power boost, there was no time to think. He turned his gaze toward Yun Xiancheng, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.

”A Dou Master?” Although he was internally shocked that Yun Xiancheng had somehow gained a fortuitous encounter and broken through to the Dou Master realm in such a short time, there was no time for deep thought. He also saw that Yun Xiancheng’s arrival had drastically changed the one-sided situation. Yun Yun and Yun Ziyi’s

strength also seemed to have been enhanced. He had to deal with this variable as soon as possible, or things would change for the worse.

Even a Dou Wang wouldn’t last long against a Dou Zong. Yun Shan was very confident in this; he was a genuine One-star Dou Zong!

Yun Xiancheng’s hand lightly rested on the small seven-colored snake atop his head. Two wills spoke in his mind simultaneously, their voices intertwining with a bit of dispute and amusement.

”Papa, do you want Xiaoer to act?” The small snake’s voice had a hint of childishness, filled with dependence.

”What? You want me to act? Are the current enemies not something you can handle?” Cai Lin’s consciousness responded coldly, her tone carrying a bit of tsundere. ”Also, little thing, he isn’t your father! Don’t call him that randomly. Theoretically, you’re even my daughter. I won’t let you just recognize a father like that.”

Cai Lin scolded the small snake’s consciousness again, seemingly very dissatisfied with the address. ”Is that so? Then are you mama?” the small snake asked curiously, her voice full of innocence.

”Don’t call me that! We just share a body!” Cai Lin’s consciousness scolded again, appearing a bit frantic, seemingly uncomfortable with such intimate terms.

Yun Xiancheng ignored the entanglement between the two; their bickering actually made him feel a bit relaxed. He looked up, his gaze locking onto Yun Shan. In that brief moment, Yun Shan had already made a move. His first strike was his specialty Dou Technique—Wind-Extreme: Meteor Kill.

The longsword in his hand trembled violently, and the tip condensed extreme Wind-Attribute Dou Qi. A deep light beam, so small it was barely the size of a thumb, shot out instantly, carrying a terrifying power that could pierce through anything, heading straight for Yun Xiancheng.

But in that same instant, an identical beam appeared before Yun Shan’s attack, carrying the same terrifying power. The two collided, triggering a massive shockwave that distorted the surrounding space and made an ear-grating sound.

Yun Yun was seen standing with her sword in front of Yun Shan, green Dou Qi swirling around her to block the shockwave. Her posture was upright, her face cold and stern. ”Yun Shan, this should be our struggle,” she said with a frown, her tone firm and unquestionable.

She knew that although Yun Xiancheng had broken through to Dou Wang, facing a Dou Zong was still too dangerous. Yun Shan looked at her with a mocking smile: ”Oh? An Eight-Star Dou Huang now?”

He could feel that Yun Yun’s aura was much stronger than it was three years ago, but in the end, she was only a Dou Huang, which was fundamentally different from a Dou Zong.

The Big Lion Yun Ziyi appeared beside Yun Yun, her purple eyes looking coldly at Yun Shan, a dangerous light flashing within them. She said slowly, ”The two of us have enough strength, you half-baked Dou Zong.”

Her words were blunt, directly striking the most sensitive spot in Yun Shan’s heart.

Yun Shan looked as if he had been poked in his most unbearable spot. He had broken through to Dou Zong thinking he could look down on everyone and restore the majesty of the Cloud Mist Sect, only to be mocked as ”half-baked” by a Dou Huang and a magical beast.

He suddenly let out a roar, a look of distortion flashing across his face. Ignoring Yun Xiancheng, he raised his sword and executed the Wind Spirit Fractal Sword, transforming it into countless sword shadows,

carrying violent Dou Qi as he stabbed toward the Big Lion.

Two Eight-Star Dou Huangs and one One-star Dou Zong thus began a fierce battle in the sky above Yun Lan Mountain. Surprisingly, with Yun Yun and the Big Lion working together, they really didn’t fall behind. In fact, with their seamless cooperation and the enhancement of Yun Xiancheng’s ”Cloud Above Heavenly Palace” domain, they even held a slight advantage.

”You also have a way to deal with the other elders of the Cloud Mist Sect,” Cai Lin’s consciousness laughed again in Yun Xiancheng’s mind.

Yun Xiancheng looked toward the Little Lioness Yun Yan and Xiao Yan. They were protecting Nalan Yanran and Linger behind them, resisting the attacks of the Cloud Mist Sect’s Dou Wang Elders.

Xiao Yan’s hair was now half black and half white, likely borrowing a small portion of Medicine Lady’s power to exert strength comparable to a Dou Wang.

The one-armed Yun Ling led several low-star Dou Wangs and over a dozen Dou Lings; this seemed to be the weakest combination of combat power on Yun Lan Mountain. The ordinary disciples seemed to have been shaken off the mountain by the Dou Zong’s aftershocks; whether they could survive depended on their own fate.

”Well, in that case, I’ll go first. If I can’t handle it, then you act,” Yun Xiancheng responded softly, his hand slowly gripping the hilt of his sword. ”Hmph, I absolutely won’t act.”

Cai Lin transformed into a stream of consciousness, wandering within Yun Xiancheng’s mental space.

After unfolding the Cloud Above Heavenly Palace domain, his wives had turned from a disadvantage to a stalemate, even gaining the upper hand in some areas.

Since every battlefield was currently in a stalemate, someone was needed to break the deadlock and completely turn the tide. He was that person.

Yun Xiancheng’s gaze locked onto the one-armed Yun Ling, a cold light flashing in his eyes. This guy was the fuse for all of this and the person he most wanted to settle things with personally.

”Yun Ling, fight me!” Without hesitation, his figure moved like lightning. His longsword unsheathed, carrying the intent of the ”Yunlan Sword Dance” he had just comprehended, along with a sharp and transcendent aura, as he stabbed directly at Yun Ling.

211 Killing Yun Ling

Although Yun Ling had lost an arm, he was still a Peak Dou Wang expert. The Dou Qi in his body was far more robust than that of Yun Xiancheng, who had just entered the Dou Wang realm.

Seeing Yun Xiancheng being so arrogant, new and old grudges surged together. Looking at Yun Xiancheng’s flawless face, endless anger welled up in his heart.

He let out a roar, his remaining Dou Qi exploding instantly. With a flick of his longsword, a sharp sword qi whistled out like a Wind Blade. It was the Cloud Mist Sect’s Mysterious Level Middle Grade Dou Skill—Wind Spirit Fractal Sword—meeting Yun Xiancheng head-on.

Sword qi and sword edge clashed in mid-air, producing a piercing grinding sound.

Yun Xiancheng only felt a surge of majestic Dou Qi rebounding. His body swayed slightly, pushed back several feet by this force. His heart tightened; indeed, the gap in realms was not easily bridged. Yun Ling’s Dou Qi was indeed far superior to his.

However, this brief clash also gave Yun Xiancheng a preliminary judgment of Yun Ling’s strength. He no longer hesitated. Dou Qi circulated within him, and the longsword in his hand trembled slightly as the first form of the sword dance quietly unfolded.

Amidst the flowing sword light, a fleeting scene of the Red Mansion’s extravagance seemed to pass by, carrying the dreamlike quality of their first meeting in Wutan City and the chaos of the family. The sword momentum was gentle yet long, winding toward Yun Ling like silk threads. It looked powerless but was actually full of tenacity.

Seeing this, a flash of doubt appeared in Yun Ling’s eyes. This sword move was strange and unfamiliar, completely different from any Dou Skill in the Cloud Mist Sect. But he didn’t dare to be careless. He danced his longsword again, and Wind Blades wove into a net, attempting to tear apart the winding sword light.

Relying on his robust Dou Qi, he barely managed to neutralize the move, but a sense of wariness grew in his heart. What kind of fortuitous encounter did this kid have for his Dou Skill to be so peculiar?

Yun Xiancheng’s sword momentum did not stop; the second form of the sword dance followed immediately.

The sword light became serene, like the tranquility of living in seclusion in the Green Mountains, yet also carrying a bit of the lingering affection of nightly revelry. The sword tip tapped lightly, seemingly random, yet containing an unpredictable trajectory, like a breeze brushing against willows, making its true form hard to capture.

Yun Ling’s face changed slightly. This sword move was even more unpredictable than the previous one, as if it had no fixed pattern.

Not daring to be careless, he abruptly executed the Wind Spirit Fractal Sword. Dozens of Wind Blades whistled out, attempting to completely crush Yun Xiancheng’s sword momentum. The two forces collided with a dull thud. Yun Ling neutralized the sword move again, but his body involuntarily retreated half a step. He was shocked; the grade of this kid’s Dou Skill seemed to far exceed the Mysterious Level!

In the third form of the sword dance, there was a faint depth of the Amethyst Cave in the sword light, along with a hint of wildness and frenzy. The sword momentum became more condensed, like a sleeping beast suddenly awakening, carrying a majestic and unstoppable force.

The sword tip stabbed straight forward, and a low lion’s roar seemed to accompany it, shaking the soul.

Yun Ling felt the pressure double. These sword moves were linked one after another, their power layering up, and each move carried a different artistic conception, making them impossible to guard against. He gritted his teeth, the Dou Qi in his body circulating frantically as he abruptly executed Wind-Extreme: Meteor Kill. The longsword in his hand trembled, and a small, deep light beam shot out.