59: Sword Intent Soars Through the Sky

That sneer, like a cold blade, scraped across everyone's hearts, easily shattering the Battle King pressure that Elder Yun Ling angrily unleashed, and snapping the chord of "shock" and "dead silence" on the square.

All eyes instantly shifted from the fallen Nalan Yanran and the struggling Xiao Yan, sharply turning toward the direction of the voice—the cyan-robed figure standing with his hands behind his back in the sky!

It was he!

That mysterious expert, Li Ao, who single-handedly stormed the Cloud Mist Sect, fought a Dou Zong, and retreated unscathed!

He had actually appeared again, at this time and in this place!

An indescribable chill, like a tide, instantly submerged the entire Cloud Mist Sect square. All the emotions that had arisen from Xiao Yan's upset victory—shock, disbelief, anger—were now replaced by a deeper dread.

Elder Yun Ling's face turned from ashen to deathly pale. Looking up at the figure, his throat felt constricted. The monstrous fury and killing intent he had just possessed rapidly melted away under Li Ao's indifferent gaze, like ice and snow exposed to the scorching sun, leaving only a tremor originating from the depths of his Soul!

He had no doubt that if he dared to make any further move, the terrifying Saber Intent that had annihilated a Dou Zong and turned Protector Wu to dust would descend upon him the next moment!

On the high platform, Yun Yun, who had maintained her composure, suddenly stood up. Her beautiful face was filled with shock and unprecedented solemnity.

She looked at Li Ao, then looked at Medusa next to him, who, despite her pale complexion, possessed peerless grace and an Aura identical to the rumors, causing huge waves to rise in her heart.

He not only returned, but... did he seem to have an unusual relationship with Queen Medusa? What did their joint appearance signify?

"Li... Li Ao!" Yun Ling's voice carried a barely noticeable tremor, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "This is a private matter between my Cloud Mist Sect and Xiao Yan. Why does Your Excellency interfere?"

Li Ao's gaze did not even land on Yun Ling. He continued to look down calmly at the entire square, as if he had merely flicked away a speck of dust just now.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly entered everyone's ears, carrying an unquestionable dominance:

"I didn't like it, so I interfered. Do you have an opinion?"

Do you have an opinion?

These simple four words were more oppressive than any threat! It was as if he was saying, Do I need a reason to act? Are you unconvinced?

Yun Ling's breath caught, his face flushed red, yet he dared not utter a single word of rebuttal. In the face of absolute strength, all reasoning and rules appeared pale and weak.

The entire square was silent. The Cloud Mist Sect Disciples were terrified, their former arrogance and superiority completely gone, replaced only by the fear of facing an irresistible force.

The representatives of the various powers who came to observe the ceremony were even more awe-struck, realizing that today's events would likely not end easily! This Li Ao was trouble!

Xiao Yan, lying on the ground, struggled to raise his head, looking at the cyan-robed figure in the sky, his eyes filled with immense complexity.

There was gratitude, but more so an indescribable heaviness. It was he again... appearing at his most critical moment. This favor was too great.

At the same time, Li Ao's absolute dominance, treating the Cloud Mist Sect as nothing, once again made him deeply feel the chasm-like gap between them.

Li Ao finally swept his gaze over the entire scene, settling it upon Sect Master Yun Yun, and spoke indifferently: "Sect Master Yun Yun, is this the hospitality of the Cloud Mist Sect?

When your Elder loses, he tries to kill a junior in front of everyone?"

Yun Yun took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and her cold voice rang out: "Elder Yun Ling acted rashly in the heat of the moment and lost his composure. This Sect will naturally punish him.

However, Your Excellency Li Ao, you came uninvited today, what is your intention?"

"Intention?" Li Ao curled his lips into a cold arc. "Last time I climbed the mountain, my inquiry into the Dao was unsuccessful. Today, I shall take advantage of this excitement to settle all unfinished business."

Before his voice faded, his gaze suddenly turned toward the direction of the Cloud Mist Sect's back mountain. His voice abruptly turned sharp, like a peerless fierce blade drawn from its sheath, carrying the will to cut through everything, and boomed across the four directions:

"Yun Shan! Cowardly wretch, how long are you going to hide? Get out here!"

"Get out here—!"

"Out—!"

"Here—!"

The sound, like rolling thunder, echoed through Yun Lan Mountain, causing the clouds and mist to churn and the mountain itself to hum!

Everyone's hearts trembled violently! He... he actually called the Old Sect Master by his name, and in such an impolite manner, telling him to get out?!

This was no longer a simple provocation; it was an outright declaration of war!

"Presumptuous!"

"Arrogant!"

Several Cloud Mist Sect Elders were both shocked and furious, unable to help but shout reprimands.

However, their reprimands had only just begun—

"Alas..."

A sigh, seemingly containing endless years and vicissitudes, faintly drifted from the depths of the Cloud Mist Sect's back mountain.

The sigh was not loud, yet it strangely suppressed all the noise, clearly resounding deep within everyone's Soul.

Following this sigh, a terrifying pressure, vast as an abyss, far more concentrated and unfathomable than when Yun Shan had previously acted, slowly spread from the back mountain, like an ancient Dragon awakening from slumber, enveloping the entire Yun Lan Mountain!

The clouds in the sky rolled back, the sunlight dimmed, and space itself seemed to solidify!

A blurry figure slowly condensed in the clouds and mist above the back mountain, transitioning from illusory to solid.

He was still in the simple white robe, still possessing that immortal Dao appearance, but the grayness in Yun Shan's open eyes was much denser than before, faintly revealing a strange black glow. The Aura emanating from his body had completely stabilized at the Dou Zong level, perhaps... even a step stronger!

He hovered in the air, facing Li Ao in the distance. His gray eyes fell upon Li Ao, then swept over Medusa beside him. His voice was calm, yet carried a chilling intent that made hearts tremble:

"Li Ao, you truly didn't die. Not only are you alive, but your strength seems to have improved. It seems the disturbance at the Soul Burial Ravine was also your doing?"

Facing this Dou Zong pressure that far surpassed the previous one, Li Ao's figure remained straight as a pine. Silver-gray flames leaped in his dark iron pupils. Not only did he not retreat, but his Battle Intent grew even more fervent.

"What if it was me?" he coldly retorted. "I came today for two reasons: first, to see what this old turtle was doing hiding in his shell, and second... to take your life."

To take your life!

Another declaration so direct, so domineering!

A ripple of coldness finally appeared on Yun Shan's placid face. He slowly raised his withered palm, and the surrounding space twisted and folded accordingly.

"Young man, having sharp Qi is a good thing, but being too rigid breaks easily. Since you insist on courting death, then this Sect... shall grant your wish!"

As his voice fell, Yun Shan's Aura erupted! Spatial power, far more terrifying than half a month ago, surged toward Li Ao like invisible giant waves! The entire sky above Yun Lan Mountain seemed to tremble under his will!

A great battle was imminent!

And this time, it was no longer a test, but a true fight to the death!

Everyone's hearts were in their throats. Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran's Three-Year Agreement had, at this moment, become an insignificant interlude.

The Peak confrontation that would truly determine the future structure of the Jia Ma Empire was about to explode completely atop this Yun Lan Mountain!

Li Ao's eyes were icy cold. He slowly grasped the hilt of the saber behind his back. The dark, heavy saber hummed with a thirst for blood, and the intent of annihilation began to gather around him.

Medusa's seven-colored gaze was solemn. Although her injuries were not yet healed, she secretly gathered her remaining strength, ready to strike at any moment.

Yun Yun watched the two people poised for battle in the sky, her jade hands tightly clenched, knuckles turning white, her eyes filled with helplessness and deep worry.

The storm had arrived!