Chapter 62: Dominance

“Qianchuan, come out here at once!” A voice, seething with anger, echoed above the main peak of the Xuandao Sect. All disciples of the sect looked up in shock and dread upon hearing it, then leapt to their feet and rushed towards the source of the outcry.

“Fellow Daoist Huanglong, what is the meaning of this?” Elder Yufeng arrived swiftly, his voice stern. In Xuandao Sect, to call the sect master by name was nothing short of a provocation against the sect’s authority.

Elder Yufeng could not understand why Daoist Huanglong wore such a furious expression, but he, too, felt a surge of anger. No matter how grave the matter, could it not be resolved calmly and peacefully?

“Hmph, you know full well what your Xuandao Sect has done. How dare you ask me?” Daoist Huanglong replied with a cold snort.

“I am perfectly aware of all the actions of my Xuandao Sect. For you, Elder Huanglong, to shout and call me by name in my own sect, is it that you no longer regard the dignity of Xuandao Sect?” A figure approached unhurriedly. Qianchuan looked at Elder Huanglong with a calm expression, though his tone was icy.

“Hmph! Your Xuandao Sect conspired to murder an elder of my Qingyun Sect. Even if I killed someone here today, it would be justified. If you do not give my Qingyun Sect an explanation today, then in the days to come, we will raze your Xuandao Sect to the ground! Hand over the person at once!” Elder Huanglong’s voice boomed with rage.

His words created a great uproar. The Xuandao Sect disciples who had hurried over turned pale with shock. Daoist Huanglong’s declaration was reckless and without concern for consequences.

If Xuandao Sect refused to hand over the person, war with Qingyun Sect would be inevitable, resulting in countless casualties. Yet if they yielded, Xuandao Sect would lose all standing before Qingyun Sect.

Whether they complied or resisted, Xuandao Sect seemed doomed to suffer. Many disciples were utterly confused—where did this accusation of conspiring to murder a Qingyun Sect elder even come from?

Faced with such aggression, the Xuandao Sect disciples were incensed. Disciples who had been frustrated by their recent defeat in competition now found their repressed anger bursting forth.

“When has Xuandao Sect ever murdered a Qingyun Sect elder? Such slander! Do you take our sect for easy prey?”

“That’s right! What is your attitude? If you want war, then so be it! We brothers and sisters of Xuandao Sect will see it through to the end!”

One after another, the disciples shouted back, indifferent to the status of the Qingyun elders, their voices unyielding.

“Hmph, a pack of ignorant whelps!” Elder Huanglong’s face darkened, his gaze slicing across the disciples with a chilling sharpness. A wave of formidable pressure emanated from his body, enveloping all present.

At once, the faces of Xuandao Sect’s disciples turned ashen. Under this overwhelming aura, they felt as insignificant as ants, their bodies betraying their will, trembling uncontrollably.

Some could endure no longer; their legs turned to jelly, and they nearly collapsed to their knees.

“Huanglong, do not go too far. This is Xuandao Sect!” Another figure flashed forward, standing in front of the disciples, shielding them from Huanglong’s aura. The disciples behind him breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Elder Yufeng’s gaze was grim as he stared at Daoist Huanglong; he had not expected such blatant disregard for decorum in the heart of Xuandao Sect.

“Hmph. And what of it? Let me put it straight—before long, Xuandao Sect will vanish from Qingshui Nation altogether.” Several figures swiftly appeared, standing in the air, looking down coldly at the crowd below.

“Hand over Yin Tianfang, or we will lay waste to your entire sect!” another elder from Qingyun Sect declared, his chilling gaze sweeping over Xuandao’s ranks.

The sect was thrown into uproar—Qingyun Sect’s stance was a clear declaration of war. Though there had always been enmity between the two sects, and their disciples showed no mercy during training encounters, those were mere skirmishes.

Now, matters had escalated into open sect warfare.

“Do you truly intend to go to war with Xuandao Sect?” Qianchuan walked forward, hands behind his back, an imposing aura radiating from him. Spiritual light soared into the sky, winds howled, clouds churned.

The Daoists of Qingyun Sect regarded Qianchuan warily, their eyes heavy with seriousness, but not a trace of fear—indeed, they seemed to have something up their sleeves.

The tension in the air grew palpable, swords drawn; Xuandao Sect’s disciples surrounded the Qingyun invaders, thousands gathering with murderous intent, stirring the very wind and clouds.

On the northern peak, Elder Xuan Yin hurried over after hearing Ge Bin’s report. Upon seeing Yin Tianfang unconscious on the bed, his brow furrowed.

“You all, wait outside,” Elder Xuan Yin instructed Nuolan and the others.

Ge Bin and Qingluo complied and left the room, but Nuolan refused to leave Yin Tianfang’s side, standing guard stubbornly. After a moment’s thought, Elder Xuan Yin sighed in resignation. “Very well. Some things you would have learned eventually.”

He waved his sleeve, sealing the room from the outside, and approached Yin Tianfang. A streak of spiritual light entered Yin Tianfang’s body. Gradually, a brilliant white radiance emerged, coalescing into a figure that appeared in the center of the room.

“Xuan Yin pays his respects to my lord,” Elder Xuan Yin saluted Daochenzi with utmost reverence.

Nuolan stared in astonishment, her lips parted, unable to believe her eyes as the figure emerged from within Yin Tianfang.

“My lord, what of the young master?” Elder Xuan Yin inquired.

Daochenzi, however, ignored the question, turning his attention to Nuolan with an amused look. “And who is this little girl? She is quite comely.”

“My lord, this is the young master’s betrothed,” Elder Xuan replied, glancing at Nuolan with a faint smile. Nuolan, startled from her reverie and hearing Elder Xuan’s words, blushed deeply.

Though she was astonished by the man’s sudden manifestation and by Elder Xuan Yin’s respectful address, she had heard his words clearly. She could never have imagined that Yin Tianfang was Elder Xuan’s young master.

It was almost beyond belief—and that this middle-aged man was Yin Tianfang’s father.

“Junior Nuolan greets Uncle,” she said, regaining her composure, rising to her feet and offering a respectful bow.

“Haha, this boy is truly fortunate,” Daochenzi laughed heartily, studying Nuolan with growing approval.

“Lord, this is not the time for such matters. The young master—”

“I know.” Before Elder Xuan Yin could finish, Daochenzi interrupted. “Tianfang is destined for hardship and suffering. This is but the beginning. I believe he can conquer the darkness within him, but the time is not yet ripe. This wisp of my spirit can do little to help him; in the end, his fate is his own.”

“The tribulations of the mortal world are bitter, young lady. Should you choose to walk with him, your life will be fraught with hardship. You must consider this carefully,” Daochenzi said gravely, turning to Nuolan.

“So long as I can be with Tianfang, I fear no amount of hardship,” Nuolan replied, lifting her head, her gaze unwavering.

Daochenzi gazed at her, his eyes flickering, and after a long pause, a smile broke across his face. “Meeting you is Tianfang’s blessing. As his father, I regret that I cannot protect him better—I am, indeed, lacking in my duty.”

“Since this is our first meeting, let me grant you a chance at destiny.” Daochenzi raised his hand, and a beam of white light shot into the center of Nuolan’s brow, leaving a mark.

“In the days to come, take care of yourselves,” he said, his figure slowly fading, dissolving into light that flowed back into Yin Tianfang’s body.

Nuolan touched her brow, then glanced at Elder Xuan Yin. She was about to ask something when Elder Xuan’s expression suddenly changed.

“Care for Tianfang well. I’ll return shortly!” With a flash, Elder Xuan vanished from the room, reappearing atop the main peak.

Facing the menacing ranks of Qingyun Sect, Elder Xuan Yin’s face was grim. “You have ten breaths to leave. If not, you die!”