Chapter 1589: Warning

Yun Che and Qianye Ying’er remained with the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might. They spent half their time cultivating and the other half wandering freely through the clan, silently observing everything.

For Yun Che, who had lost all his loved ones, the Ancestral Land, after all, was a place he couldn't completely disregard.

Previously, Yun Shang had been constantly melancholic, immersed in the painful shadow of losing her father. Her return to the clan, perhaps due to a divine blessing or perhaps because she had cast off that shadow, had made her much more joyful. Her face always bore a smile that could melt hearts, especially when she ran to find Yun Che each day.

The news that she was about to be made Young Clan Master had also spread throughout the clan. Amidst the gloom of an impending calamity, this news, along with the miraculous transformation in Yun Shang, was particularly heartening.

On the third day after their return, a voice, as if by appointment, echoed from outside the Thunder Domain.

"Cloud Clan of Sin, today is your last chance!" The voice was arrogant, yet laden with heavy pressure. "Hand over the 'Sacred Cloud Ancient Pellet' obediently, and I guarantee that little girl will be returned unharmed within three days. Otherwise... she will suffer the same fate as the others before her!"

On that day, half of the clansmen who had secretly left the Sin Domain with Yun Shang to help her escape were captured by the Nine Star Heaven Palace. The Nine Star Heaven Palace used their lives as leverage. However, the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pellet was too important to the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might, so they couldn't hand it over. They could only watch, tears in their eyes and blood in their mouths, as their captured kin were brutally massacred.

Moreover, in the Thousand Desolation Realm, any Cloud Clan member who ventured outside the Sin Domain without the permission of the Thousand Desolation Divine Sect could be legitimately killed by anyone. Even in such a clearly vile and cruel situation, the Cloud Clan had no right to rebuke or condemn.

Perhaps they had coerced information about Yun Shang from the captured Cloud Clan members, and the Nine Star Heaven Palace used this as leverage, striking a critical weakness of the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might.

Just as Yun Xiang and Yun Lu had said before, had Yun Shang not returned safely, they might truly have handed over the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pellet.

"Finally, they've arrived." This time, facing the Nine Star Heaven Palace at their doorstep, the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might felt no trepidation.

"It's Zang Jian," Clan Master Yun Ting said, looking up, his face grim. "It's him this time. I heard he recently lost his palace-guarding sword and the most outstanding disciple of the Nine Star Heaven Palace's current generation. It seems he's desperate to atone for his failures."

"Yun Jian, Yun Fu, Yun Hua," Yun Ting commanded, "Go and meet him."

"Yes," the three Cloud Clan elders responded, their profound energy surging and profound aura shining on their arms.

"I'll go," Yun Xiang stepped forward, his eyes like those of a hungry eagle. "A mere Zang Jian? I alone am enough! They've oppressed us using Shang'er's safety; it's time to collect some debts!"

With that, without waiting for Yun Ting's reply, he soared into the air, passed through the Thunder Domain, and stood facing a person from afar.

"An eighth-level Divine Sovereign should be a big figure in the Thousand Desolation Realm. Zang Jian? That name sounds familiar," Qianye Ying'er said, glancing south.

"The Palace Master of the Hidden Sword Palace of Nine Star Heaven Palace, Beihan Chu's master," Yun Che replied.

"What a coincidence," Qianye Ying'er sneered faintly, then closed her eyes and leaned back, no longer paying attention to the commotion outside.

The one who arrived from the Nine Star Heaven Palace was indeed Venerable Zang Jian. During this period, he had experienced the great ups and downs of life. His disciple, Beihan Chu, had become a Divine Sovereign at less than sixty years old, earning a place on the Northern Region's Heavenly Sovereign List—what an honor! Yet, in less than a month, he was dead!

He had died in a small, mid-level star realm, leaving no trace of his body!

He had rushed there with all his might, only to encounter someone who had nearly scared him out of his wits. Beihan Chu's death was something he, and the entire Nine Star Heaven Palace, had to silently endure. They dared not even utter a word, let alone pursue the matter in anger.

And the Grand Palace Master's fury would undoubtedly be directed at him.

If he could successfully obtain the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pellet today, he might slightly mitigate the Grand Palace Master's wrath.

"So, it's the Young Clan Master," Venerable Zang Jian said, hands behind his back, smiling faintly at Yun Xiang. "This Venerable One has confirmed it: that little girl, Yun Shang, possesses purple devil profound energy, something your Sin Cloud Clan has never seen before. It's a miracle for the entire clan. How incredibly worthwhile to exchange her for a mere Sacred Cloud Ancient Pellet."

Yun Xiang subtly made a hand gesture with his left hand and chuckled faintly, "Shang'er's life and safety cannot be compared to one ancient pellet, let alone a hundred or a thousand."

Venerable Zang Jian's smile widened. "So, the Young Clan Master has come to his senses?"

"Indeed." Yun Xiang extended his arm, and lightning flashed in his palm. "This is the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pellet. You of the Nine Star Heaven Palace must uphold your promise!"

"Hahahaha, naturally." Venerable Zang Jian laughed heartily, then his gaze shifted, and his expression suddenly changed.

*Crack!*

The lightning exploded, transforming into the Sky Dragon Thunder God Spear in Yun Xiang's hand, carrying ten thousand feet of black energy and ten thousand bolts of purple lightning directly towards Venerable Zang Jian.

"You!" Venerable Zang Jian hastily struck, and the power of two eighth-level Divine Sovereigns collided in mid-air, unleashing an immensely vast realm of disaster.

"Shang'er has returned to the clan completely unharmed. You, the Nine Star Heaven Palace, are a great sect with a history of three hundred thousand years, yet you resort to such despicable and shameless acts... Do you truly think my Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might is easy to bully?!"

Yun Xiang's furious roar shook the heavens. Amidst the thunderous sky, his left arm suddenly flashed with blue light, and the blue profound aura transformed into a massive thunder dragon, striking downwards.

Both Venerable Zang Jian and Yun Xiang were eighth-level Divine Sovereigns. However, in terms of profound energy density, Venerable Zang Jian far surpassed Yun Xiang. Yet, the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might's unique "Heavenly Might Divine Power" was enough to ensure their invincibility in battles of the same level. The blue "Heavenly Might," which could augment their own power by sixty percent, could even easily create an overwhelming advantage.

*Boom!*

Amidst a colossal roar that seemed to split the sky, Yun Xiang, though slightly weaker in raw power, instantly shattered Venerable Zang Jian's Nine Star Sword Array with his Heavenly Might Divine Power, sending him dozens of miles backward through the air.

This was Venerable Zang Jian's first encounter with Yun Xiang. He had never dreamed that he, whose prestige was like the heavens in the Thousand Desolation Realm, would be so easily suppressed by a junior from the Sin Cloud Clan. He roared, "You brat from the Sin Cloud Clan! Your clan is on the verge of death! My Nine Star Heaven Palace has been on good terms with the Thousand Desolation Divine Sect for generations. Hand over the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pellet, and my Nine Star Heaven Palace can speak favorably on your behalf to the Thousand Desolation Divine Sect. But if you remain stubborn... your entire clan will perish without a burial ground!"

Yun Xiang's face instantly contorted into a fierce grimace. The Sky Dragon Thunder God Spear let out an angry dragon's roar. Behind him, the power of the Thunder Domain was also stirred, and combined with the Heavenly Might Divine Power, all three forces simultaneously pressured Venerable Zang Jian.

"Waaah!!"

In the distant sky, a brief scream echoed. Amidst the sky-high thunderclouds, Venerable Zang Jian fled in disarray, quickly vanishing into the dim horizon.

Immediately, earth-shattering cheers erupted within the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might. Having endured too much darkness and suppression for too long, this time, they finally vented their resentment to their heart's content.

Yun Xiang descended from the sky, still crackling with residual lightning, his hair fluttering amidst the flickering electric flashes, looking like a majestic god descended to earth. Young men and women of the Cloud Clan rushed forward, surrounding him and cheering with raised arms. Their gazes held a myriad of stars as they looked at him.

"Hahahaha," Yun Ting slowly nodded, stroking his beard and smiling.

Yun Xiang had just turned five thousand years old, yet he was already an eighth-level Divine Sovereign, and currently the Young Clan Master and guardian deity of the Cloud Clan. His talent surpassed even Yun Ting's own in his youth. In the future, he had the potential to become a Divine Master.

He and the Cloud Clan elders had secretly resolved that, regardless of the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might's fate a month from now, they would spare no effort to protect Yun Xiang and Yun Shang.

"So that's what you call 'Profound Aura'? It possesses such divine power?" A strange glint flashed in Qianye Ying'er's eyes. "Why have I never seen you use it?"

"It cannot be interfered with by the Heretic God's divine power," Yun Che explained. "So it's useless to me."

"I see," Qianye Ying'er said, not doubting him, because during the Conferred God Battle, he hadn't used such power even when Luo Changsheng had beaten him to the brink of death. However, her eyes immediately flashed again, and she asked, "The 'Illusory God Technique' you used in the Conferred God Battle, was that perhaps with the aid of Profound Aura?"

Yun Che frowned. "Women who are too smart are truly annoying."

Yun Xiang's defeat of Venerable Zang Jian not only let him vent his anger but also greatly boosted the morale of the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might. Following this, the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might began preparations for the Clan's Grand Ceremony.

Having become the absolute core of the entire clan, Yun Shang was surrounded almost every moment. She would still go to Yun Che daily, telling him about what she had done that day.

"Today, I taught Clan Master Grandpa a new Heavenly Might Thunder Cloud Art, and Clan Master Grandpa was so excited! But Clan Master Grandpa is learning so slowly, much, much slower than I did back then... No, it must be because Senior taught me so well. Hehe."

"Today, the Elder Grandpas specially opened the Ancestral Forbidden Land, which had been sealed for many years. From now on, I'll cultivate there, and every day, many people will guide and assist me with my cultivation."

"...They said all the highest-grade resources in the clan must be used on me... Tomorrow, Elder Grandpa will refine the Flying Frost Pellet and the Cloud Prayer Immortal Dew for me. I don't know how long it will take to complete, so I might come to see Senior a bit later."

"Look, this is the Heavenly Might Treasure Robe; only the Clan Master can wear it, you know! Clan Master Grandpa gave it to me early... Hmm, I don't know why, but I'm not really happy, and I'm a little tired today... But I will work even harder."

Ten days later, the Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might's Grand Ceremony was held, and Yun Shang was formally appointed Young Clan Master. All members of the Cloud Clan were present, and the light of hope in their eyes and hearts converged entirely upon her slender figure.

After that, Yun Shang, now the Young Clan Master, still visited Yun Che daily. However, her visits became later and later, and her time there grew shorter and shorter. Often, she would just arrive before being called away.

The faint smile on her face also became less frequent and increasingly forced.

One day, as night fell, Yun Shang gently pushed the door open. She looked at Yun Che without speaking, then rushed a few steps forward and collapsed weakly into his arms, closing her eyes.

"What happened?" Yun Che asked.

Yun Shang shook her head in his embrace, whispering, "Nothing... just a little tired. But... there's still so much to do... so much to learn..."

"If you're tired, rest properly. Don't push yourself so hard," Yun Che said.

Yun Shang continued to shake her head, her voice carrying a weariness she no longer tried to hide. "It's me... I'm not good enough... The best of everything in the clan has been given to me... They say I'm the hope of the entire clan, and I... I can't disappoint them..."

"Shang'er!"

No sooner had the shout ended than the door was violently pushed open. Yun Xiang strode in hastily, and his eyes immediately fell upon the sight of Yun Shang collapsed in Yun Che's arms. His brows instantly furrowed deeply.

Yun Shang slowly rose. "Brother Xiang."

Looking at Yun Shang, Yun Xiang's face broke into a smile. "The 'Heavenly Might Cloud Spirit Array' that seventeen elders prepared for you has been completed. It can temper your lightning body to be even purer. The Grand Elder even risked his life to procure three drops of Thunder Dragon blood for you... Go quickly now."

"Mm, I understand." Yun Shang nodded, then gave Yun Che a faint, somewhat forced yet still sweet smile. "Senior, I have to go to the Ancestral Temple. See you tomorrow!"

Yun Shang left, but Yun Xiang did not. Instead, he remained standing, his gaze fixed on Yun Che.

"Something to say?" Yun Che asked.

"Brother Yun Che," Yun Xiang said, a gentle smile on his face, "You two have been guests in our clan for many days. When do you plan to depart?"

"Are you asking us to leave?" Yun Che's reply was simple and cold.

The smile on Yun Xiang's face gradually faded, and his voice turned cold. "You two saved Shang'er's life, which is a great kindness to my Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might. You've witnessed our current plight, and you should also be well aware of what Shang'er means to our clan."

"So?" Yun Che's expression remained unchanged, even as Yun Xiang clearly and deliberately released his aura.

"Shang'er is the end of our clan's ten-thousand-year nightmare, a Heaven-blessed hope and treasure! She is now our Young Clan Master, and the future Clan Master! Her safety and her future mean more to us than anything in this world. My Cloud Clan of Heavenly Might will not permit anyone or anything to interfere with her... especially emotionally!"

Yun Che: "..."

"Leave here soon, the farther the better!"

*Rip!*

Lightning flashed from Yun Xiang's fingertips. "Otherwise... even if you saved Shang'er's life, I will not... hold back!"

The lightning struck down, instantly tearing apart the ground in front of Yun Che. The lingering electric flashes buzzed and crackled, refusing to die out for a long time.

"Consider this my final warning!" Yun Xiang turned and left coldly.

Yun Che remained motionless. As for the lightning that had struck near his feet, he didn't even glance at it.

"Should I kill him?" Qianye Ying'er casually asked, as if referring to a flea on the roadside.

"..." Yun Che said nothing, but his brows slowly began to furrow.