Located between the Central Cloud Continent and the Eastern Lin Cloud Continent, deep within the mountains of a secluded cloud island, Lei Dong let out a sound of astonishment, utterly bewildered.

He stood in a study atop a sheer cliff face. Outside the window, mist coiled ethereally, while the room within was exquisitely refined.

Seated beside him was Yan Fan, the Master of the Five Absolutes Manor, his expression complex—a mixture of admiration tinged with regret.

Lei Dong held a communication talisman, silently probing the message within with his intent.

"The Tai Ling Sect suffered a crushing defeat? Heh, even the foremost Daoist sect has come to this? This Tan Qiu is truly formidable, capable of turning clouds into rain with a mere flip of his hand. To achieve such results with only eight hundred Cangsheng Xuan Long Knights is remarkable."

As for the hundred-odd elite disciples of the Cangsheng Dao who followed, Lei Dong paid them no mind whatsoever.

He knew the true nature of such supposed 'elites' all too well. The Five Absolutes Manor had similar types, yet they were shielded so tightly by their sect elders that they dared not suffer a scratch. Untested, they were like flowers raised in a greenhouse, utterly useless until they gained sufficient experience.

Then, a thought struck Lei Dong: "Mastery of the extreme of Sword Intent, defeating Ji Lingzi with a self-created swordsmanship from the Black Spirit Valley Dao? Sword Dao attainment, unparalleled in battle formations—could this Tan Qiu be my sect brother, Zong Shou?"

Others might not know, but having witnessed the Battle of Ruo Strait firsthand, he was clearer than anyone.

Among the unmatched generals, besides Zong Yuan, there was another—Zong Shou!

"I am uncertain, but it is highly likely," Yan Fan nodded slightly, his expression filled with poignant sentiment. "Do you know that every hand among the Ten Great Holy Lands, Nineteen Spirit Mansions, and all the aristocratic sects now holds a copy of this communication talisman? It's no exaggeration to say it has spread throughout the cosmos. It is being hailed as the second martial miracle since the Heavenly Demon King Zong Shou defeated the trio of Long Ruo atop Julong Peak! Already, some are ranking this Tan Qiu and Zong Shou alongside that master from our Sword Sect's main hall, calling them the Three Rising Sword Prodigies of the Cloud Realm..."

Lei Dong’s expression immediately grew peculiar. This was quite something; his own younger brother accounted for two of the Three Rising Sword Prodigies.

"After this battle, it is estimated that no sect in the Cloud Realm will dare lightly offend the Cangsheng Dao for the next decade. Forcing the Tai Ling Sect into a thirty-year non-aggression pact means the Three Sects and Six Gates can field over a thousand Cangsheng Xuan Long Knights, now blessed with such an unmatched general to lead them. Such strength is enough to annihilate sects! In less than a year since joining, he has vastly amplified the sect's prestige. I wonder if the Sect Master’s decision back then was right or wrong? Will he regret it upon hearing of the Black Spirit Valley Dao battle?"

Yan Fan sighed and mused over the matter, but Lei Dong merely rolled his eyes. He knew this old man had always regretted not recruiting Zong Shou into the Sword Sect. Impatient, the moment Yan Fan paused, Lei Dong cut in, "Enough of the nonsense. Uncle, why did you summon me back? It couldn't possibly be just for news about my brother Zong Shou?"

Yan Fan instantly bristled with slight anger, glaring fiercely at Lei Dong, but after a moment, his expression smoothed back to placidity.

"Why else would I call you back? Naturally, it is for that matter of Jue Yu!"

Lei Dong already knew the answer and sneered coldly, "What has that got to do with me? Though I hail from the Five Absolutes Manor, I wield a saber, not a sword. If the Sword Sect isn't too ashamed, I, Lei Dong, would be quite interested in battling that fellow!"

"Then abandon the saber and learn the sword! I have indulged you for twenty years; it is time, Dong'er, that you settle your heart." Yan Fan spoke leisurely, a sly smile dawning in his eyes as he watched Lei Dong’s expression change. "This is your grandfather's will. Do you dare defy it?"

Lei Dong indeed scoffed in disdain. "Grandfather? So what if it’s Grandfather? Even if the old man were here, I wouldn't agree. That stubborn old fool won't make me, Lei Dong, abandon my saber for a sword!"

As his resolute words fell, Lei Dong’s pupils contracted, and the color drained from his face. He stared fixedly outside, where, beyond the precipice of the ten-thousand-foot cliff, a figure stood.

A man of about seventy years stood there, his expression grim, coldly observing the study with a look that chilled Lei Dong to the bone.

For some inexplicable reason, he suddenly felt a resonance with his uncle's words just spoken. If that fellow Zong Shou had joined the Five Absolutes Manor, why would he be needed to take the fall now?

※※※※

At the same time, in the central region of the Eastern Lin Cloud Continent, a place of lush mountains and clear waters.

Xuan Yuan Yiren gazed joyfully at the object in her hand.

It was a crimson phoenix egg threaded with fine gold veins. Flames visibly enveloped the shell. It had been kept warm in a jade vase, but Xuan Yuan Yiren had taken it out and held it in her palm, feeling no heat at all. Her jade-white hands, scorched by the flames, remained entirely unharmed.

"It's actually an egg of the Scarlet Fire Golden Phoenix. Did Brother Shou send this for you?"

The Scarlet Fire Golden Phoenix is one of the subspecies closest to the true Phoenix, having long vanished in the Cloud Realm. Moreover, they are easiest to tame before hatching. Nurtured with essence blood later on, they can recognize one as a parent, often overcoming one or two cultivation tiers. With a sufficiently potent spiritual object, it might even be cultivated into a natal guardian beast...

However, what pleased Xuan Yuan Yiren most was not the egg's preciousness, but Zong Shou's thoughtfulness in remembering her.

"Indeed!"

The one who replied was Zhu Junhou of Xuan Mountain City. Since the Qian Tian Mountain and the Dan Quan Sect were at odds, it was inconvenient to visit directly, so Zong Shou had asked him to come instead.

Zhu Junhou’s expression was unusually serious now.

"The Lord also gave instructions, asking the Young Miss to return to Xuan Mountain as soon as possible. Once he comes of age and is crowned, he can marry the Young Miss. Since the Dan Quan Sect shows no sign of reconciliation, there is no benefit to the Young Miss staying here. The current situation among the Eastern Lin sects is turbulent; if you do not return soon, unforeseen changes are likely to arise..."

"Unforeseen changes?" Xuan Yuan Yiren frowned slightly, looking up at the sky. She was well aware of the strange circumstances within the Dan Quan Sect. The phrase 'delay breeds change' resonated deeply with her.

Zhu Junhou’s expression was now extremely earnest. "Not only the Lord said this, but the City Lord also gave the exact same instructions. Even I believe the same. As for the Dan Quan Sect, it is best to ignore it."

Xuan Yuan Yiren remained noncommittal, saying serenely, "Uncle Junhou, do you know that my master, Elder Ming Dan, has been in seclusion for three years with no word whatsoever? Moreover, when I sought an audience in recent days, there was no result. I recall that before entering seclusion, he explicitly stated he would only be in secluded practice for a few months, yet there is still no news. Master has shown me immense kindness and care. If I were to leave now, I truly cannot rest easy."

Zhu Junhou’s brow furrowed immediately. He had always known Xuan Yuan Yiren to be willful and quirky, placing too much importance on loyalty. He had feared this situation upon arrival, and indeed, it had occurred. With a soft sigh, he thought, Ah, Zong Shou, Zong Shou. In the past, this girl’s temperament gave the City Lord and his wife headaches; now it should be your turn to worry about her. He also inwardly criticized Xuan Yuan Tong; the City Lord was good in every way, except when it came to raising his children—truly exasperating. Just as he was pondering how to persuade her further, Xuan Yuan Yiren suddenly raised an eyebrow and tucked the Scarlet Fire Golden Phoenix egg into her flowing sleeve.

Moments later, several disciples hurried past nearby.

"Did you hear? That Sword Young Master Jue Yu seems to have arrived? He’s almost fighting Senior Brother Li now."

"How so quickly? It hasn't even been ten days since this person swept through the Xue Hua Gate. I heard that he sustained significant injuries in that battle. Usually, he rests for twenty or thirty days before seeking out the next sect; why the exception this time?"

"I fear this person underestimates our Dan Quan Sect! It's a shame, Senior Brother Li Yuan Dan could perhaps have managed a fight. But now his physical body is destroyed, and he's reportedly gone to the Ling Yun Sect to reconstruct it. Only Senior Brother Li Yuan Luo can fight now. He is also at the Seventh Tier; perhaps he can manage a match!"

The group of Dan Quan disciples rushed past, and soon their sounds faded away. A trace of surprise flickered in Xuan Yuan Yiren’s eyes.

"Jue Yu, the Sword Young Master?"

Without hesitation, Xuan Yuan Yiren leaped up, apologized briefly to Zhu Junhou, and rushed down the mountain. She descended like a streak of fire, plummeting swiftly. Just as she reached the mountain gate, a brilliant flash of sword light suddenly erupted, illuminating the heavens and earth. Following a familiar muffled groan, dust and smoke billowed from that direction.

Xuan Yuan Yiren’s heart jolted with alarm, and she urgently increased her escape speed. She saw that the vast mountain gate area on the mountainside had vanished completely. Senior Brother Li Yuan Luo, who had always treated her kindly, was kneeling to one side, his face colored a ghastly purple-gold. All the surrounding Dan Quan Sect disciples were silent, utterly still.

A cold, clear voice sounded not far away.

"Does this vast Dan Quan Sect not have a single person capable of withstanding one sword strike from me, Jue Yu?"

The owner of the voice was a youth as beautiful and refined as jade, standing tall. Though handsome, the impression he gave was one of icy coldness, as if he were not truly alive. His gaze swept over the crowd sharply, lingering over the Eighth and Ninth Tier elders of the Dan Quan Sect, his eyes filled with disappointment and disdain. It wasn't that there was no one capable of fighting him; it was that these individuals were unwilling to engage.

After several breaths, an old man stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Our sect's disciple Li Yuan Dan is skilled in spiritual techniques and will return to the mountain shortly. If Sword Light Child is willing, you may wait a year before visiting the Dan Quan Sect again."

"Li Yuan Dan? That defeated subordinate of the Heavenly Demon King? A contemptible person. Not interested!" As the old man stepped forward, the glimmer of hope that had briefly sparked in Jue Yu’s eyes vanished instantly. He flicked his sleeve and turned to leave down the mountain.

Suddenly, a bamboo bird appeared before everyone's eyes, traversing space directly to land on his shoulder. It chirped incessantly, its voice surprisingly crisp and exceedingly pleasing.

"Cangsheng Dao Tan Qiu?"