51: Proton (13)

The Yun Family Head's face was ashen.

Qianshan Sect.

These three words weighed on him like a great mountain, making it hard for him to breathe.

Forget his tiny Yun Family; even a behemoth like the Xuan Yuan Dynasty dared not easily offend the Qianshan Sect, which was guarded by Three Yuan Realm Experts.

"I, Yun, was blind and offended your Sect's Young Lord. I hope your esteemed Sect can forgive me." The Yun Family Head took a deep breath and bowed deeply toward the figure in the air.

The Heavenly Spirit Realm Elder also wasn't prepared to make things too difficult; after all, this was the Xuan Yuan Dynasty, not the Qianshan Sect's territory.

The Qianshan Sect Elder spoke indifferently.

“Disperse.”

The guests felt as if they had received a great pardon, rising one after another to take their leave, daring not to linger for another moment.

Yun Haitian was pried off the pillar, and he glared venomously at Chi Yun.

He spat out a mouthful of congested blood, and his Dao Heart instantly shattered.

From then on, the Xuan Yuan Dynasty lost a Prodigy and gained a cripple who was reduced to a laughing stock.

Chi Yun did not spare him another glance. He walked up to Yun Xi, and under the complex gazes of the crowd, he took her cold hand, turned, and followed the Heavenly Spirit Realm Elder, stepping into the air and leaving.

Aboard the Flying Boat returning to the Qianshan Sect.

That Heavenly Spirit Realm Elder sensibly stayed at the bow of the boat, leaving the space for the two of them.

Chi Yun removed the hood of his black robe, revealing a face both familiar and strange to Yun Xi.

"Chi Yun... you're alive?" Yun Xi's body froze. She looked at his face, her shock immeasurable.

Chi Yun nodded.

After the momentary shock, a slight anger at being deceived welled up in Yun Xi's heart, but it was quickly washed away by the complex emotions of reunion.

Yes, it was him.

The person who rescued her from the Beast Tide in the Northern Wastes was probably him too.

"You..." A thousand words clogged Yun Xi's throat.

Chi Yun squeezed her hand tightly.

"You are my woman, Chi Yun's woman. How could I let anyone harm a single hair on your head?"

Yun Xi's eyes reddened, and unable to suppress her emotions any longer, she leaned into his embrace.

Soon, astonishing news centered on the Qianshan Sect swept like a storm across several Imperial Dynasties, including Xuan Yuan and Diyuan.

Chi Yun, the "long-dead" hostage Prince of the Diyuan Dynasty, was not only alive but had also become the Qianshan Sect's Old Ancestor's successor and one of the candidates for Young Sect Master!

This news caused immense turmoil in the Diyuan Dynasty, while in the Xuan Yuan Dynasty, it filled countless people who had once looked down on him with deep dread.

Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

Chi Yun settled Yun Xi on his own mountain peak within the Qianshan Sect, using his status as a Young Sect Master Candidate to secure massive amounts of Cultivation resources for her.

The two began a stable life of Dual Cultivation, far away from the turmoil of the outside world.

However, the Sect's situation was not optimistic.

In the higher-level factional struggles among the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Lands, the Qianshan Sect unfortunately chose the wrong side and suffered ruthless suppression from the victors.

To make matters worse, the Qianshan Sect Master, a powerful Three Origins Realm existence who served as the Sect's stabilizing force, mysteriously disappeared during a Secret Realm exploration, his fate unknown.

Plagued by internal strife and external threats, the Sect was precarious.

To stabilize morale, the Sect Leadership conferred and decided to confirm the Young Sect Master ahead of schedule.

Chi Yun's main rival was Lin Xuan, the direct grandson of the Sect's Grand Elder.

Lin Xuan possessed exceptional talent. While still young—under fifty years old—he was already a Rank Four Earth Spirit Expert, and he had a deep Foundation within the Sect, extensive connections, and strong support from many Elders and Disciples.

In the final competition, Chi Yun ultimately lost to Lin Xuan due to his shallow Foundation.

Chi Yun was not surprised by this outcome; he was even somewhat relieved.

He had never been interested in power, and this result allowed him to temporarily avoid the spotlight and dedicate all his energy to Cultivation.

Another twenty years passed.

A piece of grim news finally arrived from the outside world and was confirmed.

The Qianshan Sect Master, who had been missing for years, had perished.

As soon as the news broke, the surrounding hostile Sects, who had been eyeing them covetously, immediately pounced like sharks smelling blood, beginning to devour the Qianshan Sect's assets and territory.

The Sect's sphere of influence rapidly shrank, plunging it into the greatest crisis since its founding.

At this critical juncture of life and death, Lin Xuan withstood the pressure, successfully Broke Through to the Heavenly Spirit Realm, and formally succeeded to the position of Sect Master.

Using decisive measures, he managed to stabilize the precarious Sect with great difficulty.

Chi Yun, naturally, became an ordinary Elder who stayed out of worldly affairs, living in seclusion with Yun Xi on a remote peak deep within the Sect named "Yun Peak."

During these twenty years, he completely faded out of the center of power and Cultivated frantically.

Through Dual Cultivation with Yun Xi, his Cultivation Base advanced by leaps and bounds.

Within twenty years, Chi Yun's Cultivation Base quietly reached the Seventh Rank of the Earth Spirit Realm, and Yun Xi also stepped into the Earth Spirit Realm with his help.

Another fifteen years passed.

The new Sect Master, Lin Xuan, displayed his extraordinary political acumen, successfully cozying up to a Prodigy within a Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land through a series of maneuvers.

With this backing, the Qianshan Sect finally gained a precious opportunity to breathe, began to redevelop, and gradually emerged from the gloom.

During these thirty-five years, Chi Yun paid no attention to the changes in the outside world, dedicating his entire focus to Cultivation.

His Cultivation Base had now reached the Ninth Rank of the Earth Spirit Realm.

At the summit of Luoyun Peak, the stone door of the Immortal Cave Chi Yun had opened on the peak slammed shut.

He was formally entering a Death Seclusion, preparing to charge the Heavenly Spirit Realm.

Five years passed.

On this day, the sky above the Qianshan Sect changed color dramatically.

A terrifying pressure, without warning, shot up from the direction of Yun Peak, stirring the Spiritual Qi for hundreds of miles around.

In the sky, Spiritual Qi converged into a massive vortex, and astonishing Natural Phenomena appeared.

All the Disciples of the Qianshan Sect trembled under this pressure, which far surpassed that of an ordinary Earth Spirit Realm cultivator.

“It's the direction of Yun Peak!”

“It's Elder Chi! He is about to Break Through to the Heavenly Spirit Realm!”

A figure in white was the first to appear outside the Immortal Cave—it was Yun Xi. Feeling the familiar yet powerful aura, her face was filled with joy and pride.

Moments later, Sect Master Lin Xuan led a group of Elders and rushed over.

After an unknown amount of time, the Natural Phenomena slowly dispersed, and the terrifying pressure completely receded.

The stone door of the Immortal Cave opened silently.

Chi Yun, dressed in a Blue Robe, slowly walked out. His aura was unfathomable, as if he had merged with the heavens and the earth.

Heavenly Spirit Realm: Success.

"Congratulations, Husband." Yun Xi was the first to greet him, the affection in her eyes nearly overflowing.

Chi Yun gave her a gentle smile.

Immediately afterward, he looked toward Lin Xuan and the others nearby.

Lin Xuan led the Elders forward and cupped his hands in greeting toward Chi Yun.

"Congratulations, Elder Chi, on achieving great success and stepping into the Heavenly Spirit Realm."

Chi Yun entering the Heavenly Spirit Realm meant the Qianshan Sect gained another Heavenly Spirit Realm Expert, which was undoubtedly good news for him.