"No need, we're pressed for time, it's better to go directly through the Misty Mountains," Elder Bai Mei said.
"Elder Bai, won't it be dangerous to fly over directly?" the middle-aged female officer continued to ask.
"Our Yunyang Sect shouldn't have anyone daring enough to provoke us; there won't be any problems. There hasn't been any trouble in Wudu City for years," Elder Bai Mei replied, then summoned the two rock eagles.
Everyone mounted the rock eagles and set off once again towards Yunyang Sect.
Li Lin was curious about the Misty Mountains that even a Yunyang Sect officer worried about, wondering what kind of place it was.
"Elder, what is the Misty Mountains?" Li Lin asked.
"The Misty Mountains are a range that connects to the ancient region. On the edge of the mountains lies Wudu City, which is under the control of Yunyang Sect. However, the Misty Mountains are vast and somewhat chaotic, with occasional appearances of demonic beasts. Ordinary people dare not enter," Elder Bai Mei explained.
"I see," Li Lin thought. He had heard about the ancient region recorded in the Li family's weapon archive. Surrounding the Lingwu Continent are four other continents, not much smaller in size than Lingwu itself.
To the east of Lingwu Continent lies Donghai Mocloud City, to the west the Xichuan Ancient Region, to the south the Nanyuan Ancestral Demon Forest—a territory of demonic beasts where humans hardly ever return alive—and to the north, Linghuang Cliff, the domain of spiritual beasts, where humans also rarely survive.
In the center is the largest, Lingwu Continent, with Yunyang Sect being one of the Three Sects and Four Schools. Although the Three Sects and Four Schools are immensely powerful, they cannot easily interfere with the surrounding ancient regions and Mocloud City. As for the Ancestral Demon Forest and Linghuang Cliff, they don't even consider it, as the demonic and spiritual beasts there are not to be trifled with.
"Boom, boom..."
Far ahead in the sky, two massive explosions sounded, followed by two fireworks-like flares shooting up and scattering in the distance. Even during the day, it was somewhat dazzling.
"Elder, that's our Yunyang Sect's distress signal," an officer from another rock eagle shouted. The expressions of several officers, Elder Bai Mei, Li Wushuang, Wang Liang, Yang Man, all changed dramatically.
"It's just ahead. Someone from our sect has encountered trouble; we'll go there immediately," Elder Bai Mei loudly declared, directing the rock eagle to hurry towards the signal, his expression turning grave. This being Yunyang Sect's territory, it must be a serious matter for the sect members to issue a distress signal so readily.
"Are we running into trouble?" Li Lin pondered, observing Elder Bai Mei's serious expression, realizing the trouble must be significant and he needed to be cautious.
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In the mountains, the strong branches swayed in the wind, resembling menacing claws, with occasional dead leaves drifting in the breeze.
Nearby was a steep, towering cliff, a thick scent of blood wafting through the air. On the ground lay the bodies of about thirty people, blood-stained and dressed in the garb of two opposing forces.
"Wang Mingyue, do you think anyone from the Yunyang Sect will come to your rescue here? Hand over the Heavenly Silkworm Armor, and I will spare your life," a man in his fifties, wearing a black robe and with deep wrinkles on his forehead, said coldly to a man in his forties in front of him. The elderly man's eyes, set deep in their sockets, emitted a sharp and sinister glare.
The middle-aged man, dressed in a white robe now stained with blood—unclear whether it was his own or that of those he had killed—held a large saber dripping with fresh blood. He appeared somewhat weakened, his eyes fiercely fixed on the elderly man in the black robe.
Behind the elderly man stood three middle-aged men, all in tight-fitting clothes, with sharp, fierce looks in their eyes and an aura of killing intent surrounding them, an aura that seemed to have been condensed from years of slaughter, something ordinary people would not possess.
Behind the middle-aged man were seven or eight youths and another middle-aged man, all showing signs of weakness, clearly having gone through a fierce battle.
This middle-aged man, recognizable to anyone in Wudu City, was Wang Mingyue, an outer sect elder of the Yunyang Sect and the lord of Wudu City, followed by disciples of the Yunyang Sect.
"Fire Yin Fiend, this is Yunyang Sect's territory. Stealing from Yunyang Sect, you won't get away with it. Leave now if you know what's good for you, and I'll let this slide," Wang Mingyue said, his gaze locked on the elderly man in black.
"Heh, using the Yunyang Sect to intimidate me? Don't forget, the ancient region is not under your Yunyang Sect's control, and even here in the Misty Mountains, what can your Yunyang Sect do?" The elderly man in black sneered coldly. "The Heavenly Silkworm Armor is not a possession of your Yunyang Sect. Whoever obtains it, owns it. Hand it over willingly, or you have only death to look forward to."
"Dream on, the Heavenly Silkworm Armor will not be surrendered unless I'm dead," Wang Mingyue retorted coldly, his saber vibrating with Qi, not willing to give up the Heavenly Silkworm Armor so easily.
"Then die," the elderly man in black sneered, his eyes sweeping with a fierce light as a surge of scorching Qi burst from his hand, charging directly at Wang Mingyue.
Following the elderly man's attack, the three middle-aged men behind him, also emanating a murderous aura, lunged towards the Yunyang Sect disciples. The disciples, each at the level of martial artists, were outmatched by the three more powerful assailants.
Seeing the Fire Yin Fiend's attack, Wang Mingyue leaped into the air, narrowly evading the assault.
The Fire Yin Fiend smirked, as if he had anticipated this, and at the moment Wang Mingyue took to the air, he formed a seal with his hands. From his right hand, a stream of scorching flame shot directly at Wang Mingyue. The Fire Yin Fiend, a fire element martial artist, emitted a flame carrying a faint, foul smell, unlike ordinary fire.
In mid-air, Wang Mingyue's figure spun rapidly, vanishing from the spot, only to reappear behind the Fire Yin Fiend and slash down with his saber, creating a sharp sonic boom as the air rippled around the blade's path.
"Back off," the Fire Yin Fiend, seemingly unphased, twisted his body slightly, changing the seal in his hands. A fiery palm print soared up, meeting the saber's edge in an instant. The temperature around them soared, becoming intensely hot.
With a loud "bang," the space exploded with fire, and the saber's light instantly dissipated.
A figure was sent flying backward, stumbling and retreating upon landing. It was Wang Mingyue, who was clearly at a disadvantage from the exchange.
"You're already exhausted, not a match for me," the Fire Yin Fiend shouted again, tapping the ground with his toes, his Qi vibrating as he charged forward.