45: Yunshan

That "Enough!" was like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens, carrying unparalleled majesty and power; it wasn't just a sound, but a declaration of rules!

The moment the sound rang out, the entire Cloud Mist Sect plaza, no, the space within the entire Yun Lan Mountain, seemed to be thrown into an invisible crystal, suddenly solidifying!

The wind stopped, the clouds froze, and even the light seemed to become viscous.

All the Disciples and Elders, including Yun Yun who had just escaped danger, felt their bodies rigidly confined by a vast, incomprehensible, irresistible force, like an abyss.

Even turning their eyeballs became incredibly difficult, and a primal fear and sense of submission surged from the depths of their Souls.

A Dou Zong!

Only a Dou Zong, who had stepped into that Realm and initially controlled the power of space, could possess such Heaven-Defying might!

Li Ao's black iron-colored palm, which was about to touch Yun Yun's neck, stopped abruptly when it was only a finger's width away from her fair skin, as if it had fallen into ten thousand years of profound ice.

Its speed became extremely slow, and every inch of progress required immense power.

The sharp Saber Intent around him also seemed to be compressed by an invisible barrier, only able to intensely vibrate and roar within three feet of his body, unable to Breakthrough the shackles of this space.

He suddenly looked up, his black iron-colored pupils sharp as blades, piercing towards the direction from which the pressure came—the depths of the Cloud Mist Sect's back mountain.

There was no panic on his face from being confined; instead, the cold arc of his mouth became even more pronounced, carrying a mocking "Just as expected" and... a Battle Intent born from seeing a worthy opponent.

"Finally... couldn't hold back?" he muttered in a low voice, which was strangely clear and audible in the solidified space.

In the sky above the back mountain, clouds and mist frantically gathered and spun, forming a giant vortex.

At the center of the vortex, a blurry figure slowly emerged, initially just a black dot, then appearing above the plaza as if by instantaneous movement.

It was an Old Sect Master in a simple white robe, with white hair and beard, and a lean, ascetic face.

He appeared to be an immortal, but his open eyes did not hold the expected clarity and vicissitudes; instead, they were tinged with a strange grayness and indifference, as if viewing all things as mere straw dogs.

No powerful energy fluctuations emanated from him; he simply floated quietly in the air, yet he seemed to become the center of this world, with all rules revolving around him.

It was the Cloud Mist Sect's Old Sect Master, Yun Shan!

"Old Sect Master!"

"The Old Sect Master has emerged from seclusion!"

"Welcome, Old Sect Master!"

Although their bodies were confined by the pressure and difficult to move, countless Cloud Mist Sect Disciples still shouted frantically in their hearts, as if seeing a savior descend.

Elders like Yun Ling were also extremely excited; with the Old Sect Master here, the Cloud Mist Sect's dignity would surely be preserved!

Yun Yun looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure in the sky, her beautiful eyes filled with incredibly complex emotions: joy, awe, but deep down, there was a hint of worry she herself hadn't clearly perceived.

Her teacher's aura... seemed different from before.

Yun Shan's gray gaze first fell upon Yun Yun, who was locked by Li Ao's Qi, and he frowned slightly, then turned to Li Ao, the only one still able to move in the field, who was resisting the spatial confinement with his Saber Intent and physique.

"Young man, learn to be lenient when you can," Yun Shan spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable majesty, each word stirring the surrounding spatial power, like a heavy hammer striking one's mind.

"The Cloud Mist Sect is not a place for you to run wild.

Given the difficulty of your Cultivation, leave now, and this Sect will let bygones be bygones."

His words seemed magnanimous, but his condescending posture and implied threat were fully exposed.

Upon hearing this, Li Ao not only didn't retreat but let out a sneer.

The black iron-colored Qi and blood light around him suddenly flared, and it was as if muffled thunder rolled within him.

The power of the Black Iron Hegemon Body was pushed to its limit, and his stopped palm actually moved forward another half-inch, almost touching Yun Yun's skin, the cold touch making her delicate body tremble slightly.

"Let bygones be bygones?" Li Ao looked up, meeting Yun Shan's gaze in the sky, his eyes defiant and cold.

"Who do you think you are?

A pseudo-Dou Zong who hides his head and shows his tail, Breakthroughing with external forces, dares to flaunt spatial power in front of me?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire scene was shocked!

Pseudo-Dou Zong? Breakthroughing with external forces?

Everyone was stunned by Li Ao's earth-shattering words!

For the first time, Yun Shan's placid face showed a clear change; a hint of gloom and killing intent flashed across his gray eyes.

The peaceful spatial fluctuations around him instantly became sharp, like invisible needle tips, stabbing towards Li Ao!

"Ignorant junior, spouting nonsense!

Since you insist on seeking death, I shall grant your wish!"

Yun Shan stopped talking nonsense, slowly raised his withered palm, and gently pressed it downwards towards Li Ao below.

The movement was understated, as if merely brushing away dust.

But the moment his palm pressed down, the space above Li Ao's head, spanning ten feet in radius, suddenly collapsed!

It wasn't a physical collapse, but an extrusion and folding at the rule level!

It was as if an invisible giant hand fiercely squeezed that area of space like clay!

"Space Annihilation!"

Yun Ling exclaimed in shock, his eyes filled with fanaticism and awe.

This was the power of a Dou Zong!

Controlling space, dictating life and death!

Li Ao, in the center of the collapsing space, immediately felt unprecedented pressure!

Every inch of his skin, every bone in his body, groaned under the immense strain, as the invisible spatial power crushed him from all directions, intending to completely annihilate him along with that space!

His Saber Intent was compressed to the extreme, and his dark, heavy saber trembled violently, letting out a mournful cry.

The black iron-colored luster on his skin flickered frantically, resisting the omnipresent tearing force, and fine cracks had already appeared, oozing threads of blood!

Dou Zong and Dou Huang, a single word difference, but a world apart!

This was the absolute suppression of Realms!

"Roar—!"

Li Ao let out a low roar like a trapped beast, his eyes instantly turning crimson!

Not only did he not yield, but he pushed the Black Iron Hegemon Body to an unprecedented, frenzied state!

His Qi and blood surged within him like magma, and the wisp of refined "Nirvana" rule power was completely activated, mixed with the monstrous Evil Qi accumulated from days of slaughter, all poured into the long saber in his hand!

The dark, heavy saber suddenly burst forth with dazzling silver-gray light!

Upon the saber's body, it was as if phenomena of all things withering and stars perishing emerged!

He gripped the saber with both hands, condensing all his power, will, and understanding of the "Nirvana" rule into this Heaven-Defying strike!

He fiercely slashed out towards the collapsing space pressing down, towards Yun Shan floating in the air!

"Hegemon Saber—Nirvana Slash!"

A silver-gray saber Qi, spanning heaven and earth, shot skyward!

Wherever the saber Qi passed, space was not cut open, but... annihilated!

It was as if an invisible eraser wiped away the collapsing spatial structure, the omnipresent spatial power, along with light, sound, and all existence, from within it!

Leaving behind a pure, Void Realm, terrifyingly dark trajectory that made one's Soul tremble just by looking at it!

"What?!"

Yun Shan, who had always been indifferent, finally showed a drastic change in expression!

From that silver-gray saber Qi, he felt a power that could threaten his Origin!

It was not a pure energy clash, but... a clash of rules!

A more fundamental rule of destruction, superior to the spatial power he had initially mastered!

"Nirvana... rules?!

This is impossible!" he exclaimed in shock, no longer able to maintain his composure.

His withered palms waved repeatedly, and majestic Dou Qi mixed with deeper spatial power, forming layers of defense in front of him!

"Boom!"

The silver-gray saber Qi violently collided with Yun Shan's spatial defenses!

An indescribable roar shook the entire Yun Lan Mountain!

At the center of the collision, space shattered like a broken mirror, countless dark cracks spreading, frantically devouring everything around!

An energy storm swept outwards like a tsunami, the plaza ground cracked inch by inch, huge stone pillars snapped in half, and nearby Disciples were even shocked into blood mist by the aftermath before they could scream!

Yun Yun was swept away by Yun Shan's wave of his hand in the first instant, avoiding the core of the collision, but she was still terrified by the horrifying sight, her face turning pale.

Smoke and dust filled the air, and energy currents raged.

When everything slightly subsided, everyone looked on in horror.

Li Ao was seen kneeling on one knee, supporting his body with his long saber plunged into the ground.

His clothes were torn and covered with crisscrossing wounds, some deep enough to reveal bone.

Cracks covered his black iron-colored skin, and blood had almost dyed him a blood-red figure, his aura extremely weak.

Clearly, forcefully unleashing the "Nirvana Slash" beyond his own capacity and directly clashing with a Dou Zong's Space Annihilation had caused him extremely severe backlash.

However, he was still alive!

And his black iron-colored pupils still burned with an unyielding flame, staring fixedly at the sky.

In the sky, Yun Shan still floated, his white robe slightly disheveled, and his aura a bit chaotic.

Nearly half of the layers of spatial defense he had set up were actually shattered by that single slash!

In front of him, a subtle, almost invisible silver-gray Qi current, like a persistent parasite, was still stubbornly eroding his protective Dou Qi, making a hissing sound.

He looked down at the young man below, who was almost exhausted but still held his back straight, and for the first time, his gray eyes showed extreme solemnity, and even a hint of... apprehension.

This child... must not be allowed to live!

And Li Ao, amidst his heavy breathing, feeling the nearly depleted power and severe injuries within him, his consciousness was unusually clear.

He looked at the System panel, at the Black Iron Hegemon Body's proficiency, which had increased again due to his extreme outburst, and at his deeper understanding of the "Nirvana" rule, a difficult but cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"A Dou Zong... is nothing more than this."

He knew that he could not kill Yun Shan today, and even staying longer posed a risk of death.

But his goal had been achieved—he had successfully established his own "momentum" in front of the Empire's top Sect, in front of this pseudo-Dou Zong!

His gaze swept over Yun Yun, who was deeply shocked, then over the still-frightened Cloud Mist Sect Disciples, and finally met Yun Shan's murderous gaze once more.

"Today's 'inquiry' ends here for now.

Yun Shan, your life... I will take it next time."

Before his words finished, he slammed the ground, using the rebound force to shoot out like a bloody meteor towards the foot of Yun Lan Mountain!

At the same time, he injected his last bit of power into the Thunder Sound Steps, and his speed soared!

"Trying to leave? Stay!" Yun Shan's killing intent surged; how could he allow him to leave so easily?

His withered palm raised again, spatial power condensed, about to intercept him.

However, the moment he made his move, in the Void Realm in the direction Li Ao had left, a subtle, almost imperceptible silver-gray Saber Intent residue, like a pre-set trap, suddenly erupted.

Although it couldn't harm Yun Shan, it successfully interfered with his control over that area of space for a moment!

It was this moment of delay that Li Ao's figure had already disappeared into the vast mountain forest and mist, his aura rapidly receding.

Yun Shan's face was so gloomy it almost dripped water; he floated in the air, gazing in the direction Li Ao had disappeared, motionless for a long time.

The plaza was a mess, with many dead and injured, and the Cloud Mist Sect's prestige was utterly trampled today.

Everyone in the Cloud Mist Sect was immersed in a complex mix of emotions, feeling both relief after escaping a disaster and utter disbelief.

A young man, alone, stormed the Cloud Mist Sect, defeated several Elders, forced the Sect Master to personally intervene, and finally, after taking a direct blow from the Old Sect Master, a Dou Zong, he was severely injured but successfully escaped!

This news would undoubtedly sweep across the entire Jia Ma Empire and even the Northwest Continent like a hurricane!

The name Li Ao, after today, would be known to all!

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan, who was diligently Cultivating somewhere in the Holy City, when he "saw" the earth-shattering collision and the soaring Nirvana Saber Qi from the direction of Yun Lan Mountain through Yao Lao's perception, his hand gripping the ruler trembled violently from excessive force.

His eyes were filled with unprecedented shock and... a hint of gloom, called "gap," that he himself could not deny.

The storm had begun.

And both he and Li Ao had been drawn into the eye of this vortex.