[Cai Lin]: What new script do you have this time? Don't tell me it's another self-proclaimed clever idea that we'll have to help you patch up.
[Yun Yun]: This time it's not self-proclaimed cleverness. I really thought of a good idea.
[Cai Lin]: So you admit that getting yourself sealed and acting as a maidservant wasn't self-proclaimed cleverness?
"Uh!" Yun Yun subconsciously touched her chest.
She had originally thought it was a good idea. After all, she was the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect. If she wanted to appear by Xiao Ting's side without arousing suspicion, normal methods definitely wouldn't work.
But after becoming a maidservant and continuously being bullied, she had indeed regretted it afterward and felt she should have thought of a better plan.
For example, having Cai Lin go cause trouble for the Hall of Souls, then her stepping in to help, naturally becoming friends and getting closer to Xiao Ting.
But now, after that unexpected incident with Xiao Ting, she couldn't say whether she regretted it or felt fortunate.
She didn't seem to dislike that kind of closeness.
[Yun Yun]: Sister Cai Lin, that's not the point. The point is you have to help me teach my teacher a lesson.
[Cai Lin]: Now you've got my attention.
"Tsk!" Cai Lin's consciousness awakened. A flash of interest appeared in her purple eyes.
Being begged by the Misty Cloud Sect Leader to go beat up the previous Sect Leader—she was no longer sleepy.
Among the Ten Strongest of the Jia Ma Empire, Hai Bodong was far inferior to her, and Yun Shan was also slightly weaker.
[Yun Yun]: This time you accompany me back to the Misty Cloud Sect. With your strength, discovering that my teacher has problems is only natural.
[Yun Yun]: As long as it's exposed that my teacher is being used by the Hall of Souls—or that his soul has been tampered with—then naturally he won't help the Hall of Souls anymore. The deadly grudge between the Misty Cloud Sect and the Xiao Family will be resolved by half.
[Cai Lin]: Not necessarily. Your Misty Cloud Sect still has its Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix.
[Yun Yun]: Ge Ye has already been promoted in name but demoted in reality by me and sent to guard the northern border. Yun Leng is the Great Elder and hard to move, but as long as my teacher doesn't support him, he won't be able to stir up any waves.
[Cai Lin]: Then we'll do as you say.
[Yun Yun]: I'll perfect the details a bit more.
Yun Yun walked into her room, sat down on the bed, and wore an unprecedentedly serious expression.
She had always believed that Yun Shan was not the kind of person who couldn't distinguish right from wrong and would be bewitched by the Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix into going all-out against Xiao Yan, creating an irreconcilable grudge between both sides.
Facts had proven that Yun Shan had been changed in personality by Hall of Souls methods without even knowing it, turning him into a tool.
As long as that point was exposed, half the deadly knot would be undone.
If he continued staying by Xiao Ting's side, the other half of the knot could also be resolved.
"Hall of Souls—we won't stop until one of us is dead!"
…
The next morning.
Yun Yun found Xiao Ting with a normal expression.
"You came quite early," Xiao Ting said teasingly. "So eager to leave?"
"Could it be that I've become addicted to being a maidservant?" Yun Yun retorted somewhat irritably, arms crossed. "Let's handle proper business. This Sect Leader will return to the sect, arrange everything, and then come find you. I won't delay your studies at Jia Nan Academy."
"Alright." Xiao Ting didn't bicker with the woman he had taken quite a few advantages from. He reached into his sleeve and gently stroked the head of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python.
The Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python swayed out, flashed in front of Xiao Ting, and affectionately rubbed her head against his cheek.
If this scene only made Yun Yun feel as if she had caught one of Cai Lin's black histories, the next scene made her wish she had never come.
The Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python showed a fawning expression, flicked her tongue at Xiao Ting, and the latter reached out to tap her forehead. "Little gluttonous snake, I really owe you."
With that, Xiao Ting took out the accompanying Amethyst Source and dripped several drops for the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python, who immediately showed an expression of enjoyment.
Yun Yun: Heaven help me—Xiao Ting is actually raising Queen Medusa, who has transformed into the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python, as a pet.
If I see this scene, I won't be silenced, right?!
Some black histories were bargaining chips; some were death warrants.
"Go on. Accompany her on this trip and slightly loosen a portion of her deep seal so she can recover her Dou King cultivation. Once she finishes handling her trivial matters, come back with her."
"If she tries any small tricks, just wake Cai Lin and let the Misty Cloud Sect experience the shock of a Dou Ancestor powerhouse."
Xiao Ting stroked the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python's head and pointed at Yun Yun.
The Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python nodded obediently and flew to Yun Yun's side, staring at her with wide, beautiful snake eyes.
Yun Yun: "..."
At that moment, purple light bloomed from the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python's body.
Yun Yun immediately felt part of the seal on her body loosen. She could now summon Dou King-level Battle Qi.
"Before you depart the day after tomorrow, this Sect Leader will definitely return. I won't go back on my word."
Yun Yun let out a light hum with unclear meaning. Battle Qi surged out and formed wings behind her as she soared into the sky.
Xiao Ting's gaze remained on her until she disappeared into the clouds.
"Time to start another day of hard work."
Xiao Ting stood up, stretched, and returned to the secret room to begin cultivating his pill refinement arts.
…
High in the sky, after Yun Yun and the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python flew more than a hundred li away, the latter's body bloomed with seven-colored light and instantly transformed into a tall, graceful figure.
It was Yun Yun's first time seeing Cai Lin after she had stepped into Dou Ancestor. She couldn't help but look a few more times, a trace of doubt rising in her heart.
"What?" Cai Lin stepped on empty air, one hand on her hip as she glanced sideways at Yun Yun.
"Sister Cai Lin, I feel like you're a bit different now, but I can't quite put my finger on it," Yun Yun said without hiding anything.
Cai Lin seemed even more womanly than during her Dou Emperor period. But this Queen had always been naturally charming and seductive—any woman who saw her would think she was full of womanly charm.
It also seemed as if there was an extra unique charm between her brows, as if carrying a trace of Xiao Ting's shadow?
"What's different?" Cai Lin's heart skipped a beat. She secretly sighed at Yun Yun's sharp senses, but her expression remained unchanged as she said indifferently, "This Queen has broken through to Dou Ancestor. Naturally I'm different from before."
"Do you know how strong a Dou Ancestor is? Of course you don't!"
Yun Yun suddenly felt it was pointless and stopped thinking about it. She took a deep breath. "I'll see it soon enough. Let my teacher be the first to experience the power of a Dou Ancestor powerhouse."
Cai Lin's lips curved slightly. She pointed a finger at Yun Yun through the air, restoring all of her strength.
The two then flew at full speed toward the northern part of the Jia Ma Empire. In just a few hours they arrived at Misty Cloud Mountain, where the Misty Cloud Sect's mountain gate was located.
The Misty Cloud Sect's main hall, grand plaza, Transmission Hall, and rear mountain were all on a massive floating mountain peak.
Upon returning to the Sect Leader's grand hall, Yun Yun immediately summoned her trusted aides and arranged various trivial matters and tasks.
That way, even if Xiao Ting suddenly decided to investigate, he wouldn't find any flaws.
Once those matters were settled, Yun Yun went to the rear mountain and spoke to Cai Lin in a performative tone, "Queen Medusa, this Sect Leader will be leaving for quite some time. Before that, I would like to inform my teacher. Is that alright?"
"As you wish," Medusa said with arms crossed, appearing completely indifferent.
Yun Yun nodded slightly, formed hand seals, and activated the special grand formation on the rear mountain.
As a spatial vortex appeared, she led Cai Lin inside.
Inside the formation was a cluster of towering peaks, each like a sharp sword descending from the heavens and piercing the earth.
Yun Yun led Cai Lin to a mountain peak in the southwest direction, cupped her fists, and was about to speak.
Cai Lin spoke first. "Something's wrong!"
"What's wrong?" Yun Yun's movements paused, showing a puzzled expression. "This is the rear mountain of my Misty Cloud Sect. What could be wrong?"
"This Queen senses an aura here that makes me uncomfortable," Cai Lin said, looking toward the mountain peak ahead with a pressuring gaze. "Are you sure this is where Yun Shan is in seclusion?"
…
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