Chapter 331: Chapter 327: Crisis: The Great Upheaval of Cyan Cloud Country
SHIIIIING.
From within the valley, a flash of sword light shot out first, swift as lightning and carrying an incredibly sharp aura.
Behind it, two other figures followed closely.
Three breaths later, the trio came to a halt outside the valley.
"Blood Sword Sect, don’t push us too far!"
Sword King Chu Bai stood at the forefront, watching the figures ahead with a grave expression.
These people wore matching uniforms, with a small, blood-red sword embroidered on their chests that was quite conspicuous.
The Blood Sword Sect.
This was one of the Sects that had once resided in the Cyan Cloud Country a century ago. At that time, Cyan Cloud Country had been home to a great number of Sects, and the Blood Sword Sect was among them.
But later, the Cyan Cloud Country underwent a massive transformation. Its Spirit Veins disappeared one by one, forcing the various major Sects to relocate far away from the country.
But unexpectedly, in just the last two years, the Spiritual Qi in the Cyan Cloud Country had suddenly erupted, causing a dramatic change.
The flora and fauna began to grow explosively, becoming larger and more aggressive. After absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, ordinary wild animals began evolving into incredibly ferocious Demon Beasts.
At the same time, Martial Artists themselves also changed significantly.
Many people felt they had suddenly grown stronger and healthier. Cultivation became far easier than before; Realms that once took ages to reach were now achieved with ease. On the Innate List, many Innate Limit experts who had long been unable to advance successively shattered their bottlenecks and stepped into the Spirit Realm.
Before, not a single person had reached the Spirit Realm in decades, but now, they were popping up one after another.
In just two short years, the entire Cyan Cloud Country seemed to have entered a golden age. Martial Artists broke through their bottlenecks one by one, and Grandmasters emerged in droves.
The change was so great that even the people of Cyan Cloud Country found it unbelievable.
Just two years ago, every Innate Limit expert was a celebrated figure who shook Cyan Cloud. They were like dragons among men, high and mighty, and completely out of reach for most Martial Artists.
As for Spirit Realm powerhouses, there had only been one in all of Cyan Cloud: the Lin Family Master. And even he, the sole Spirit Realm expert, was slain by Ning Jiang.
But now, by a conservative estimate, there were at least a thousand Innate Limit experts in Cyan Cloud Country.
There were even as many as a hundred Spirit Realm masters.
Such a change could be called earth-shattering, so great that many people in Cyan Cloud Country found it hard to accept.
Now, a new master seemed to emerge every few days.
Such a transformation naturally caught the attention of the Sects that had once left. Although they had moved out of Cyan Cloud Country, it was their homeland, after all, and they still held some lingering attachment.
Every few years, they would send people back to check on the place.
And so, they discovered the shocking changes in Cyan Cloud Country.
The Cyan Cloud Country of today was a tangled web of powers. The political landscape was completely different from when Ning Jiang had left.
When Ning Jiang had left, his Kunlun and the Alchemy Alliance reigned supreme. They were the greatest powers in Cyan Cloud Country; a single stomp of their foot could make the entire country tremble.
But now, everything had changed.
Experts emerged in droves, and powerful factions vied for dominance. Cyan Cloud Country was now divided among several major forces.
Among them, the greatest powers were naturally those returning Sects. The strength of any one of them was greater than the forces Ning Jiang had left behind.
In today’s Cyan Cloud Country, the ones truly in charge were those Sects.
"Hahaha, so what if we, the Blood Sword Sect, decide to bully you? This world has always been a place where the strong devour the weak and might makes right. Since you’re not as strong as us, you have no choice but to be bullied."
Among the Blood Sword Sect members, the young man in the lead laughed heartily.
"That’s right, our strength is indeed inferior to yours right now. But when the Lord of Kunlun returns, you will be held accountable for everything you’ve done."
Sword King Chu Bai’s voice was stern.
"The Lord of Kunlun? You mean that so-called Young Master Wushuang? How laughable. Someone from a tiny country dares to call himself unrivaled? He truly doesn’t know his own limits. If he ever dares to appear before me, I’ll slap him to death."
The young man sneered, saying nonchalantly, "Alright, enough with the nonsense. Tell Ning Yu’an to come out. It’s her good fortune to have caught my eye. Tell her not to be ungrateful."
"There’s nothing more to say to you. If you have the guts, then come in and try."
Sword King Chu Bai snorted coldly.
"Hmph, do you really think we can’t do anything about this Array?"
A flash of annoyance crossed the young man’s eyes. This wasn’t his first time attacking this place, but the Array protecting it was rather tricky.
With this Array in the way, even someone at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm would have difficulty getting in.
"Master Ao, I’ll leave it to you."
The young man glanced at an old man behind him.
The old man, dressed in gray robes, stepped forward and said, "Rest assured, Young Master. I am now confident I can break this Array."
As he spoke, the old man took a step forward.
He held several Array Banners in his hand and thrust them into several spots on the ground. As the Array Banners fell into place, the airflow in the area immediately began to surge.
"Marvelous."
The young man watched from the sky. He saw that as Master Ao set up his array, the very terrain of the Demon Mist Mountain Range seemed to be instantly severed and split in two.
"Young Master, it is done."
A short while later, Master Ao returned to the young man’s side.
"Master Ao’s work is truly extraordinary," the young man laughed.
"You flatter me, Young Master. In truth, compared to the one who arranged this Array, my methods are but trivial tricks. The person who set up this Array fused the Array Power with the terrain, making them indistinguishable. I am still far from reaching such a Realm."
Master Ao gave a bitter smile and said, "I haven’t actually broken the Array. I’ve only severed its connection to the terrain, causing it to fail for a short time. But it will only last for about a quarter of an hour. Whatever you need to do, Young Master, please complete it within this time."
"I understand."
A strange glint flashed through the young man’s eyes.
This Master Ao was an esteemed guest he had personally invited. Not only was his status respectable, but more importantly, he was deeply versed in the art of Arrays. It was unexpected that he would rate the Array here so highly.
"Without the Array, let’s see what you can do! Attack!"
At the young man’s command, several figures behind him shot forward. Every one of them was a Spirit Realm powerhouse, their momentum fierce and menacing.
"Fight!"
The expressions on Chu Bai and his two companions turned grim. They were already prepared for a great battle.
SWOOSH.
But just then, a ray of purple light shot out, and a palm struck out from a distance.
BOOM.
Purple gas billowed up, vast and mighty, and swept forward.
PFFT.
The charging figures had come quickly, but they retreated even faster. The moment the purple gas touched them, they were sent flying backward, spitting blood, as the sound of snapping bones and tearing sinews echoed from within their bodies.
"What? Ning Yu’an, your strength has improved so quickly?"
The young man’s expression changed abruptly, a look of shocked fury appearing in his eyes.
"Get lost. I don’t want to kill you and dirty my hands," Ning Yu’an said, her expression ice-cold. At the same time, she was being cautious of the Blood Sword Sect behind these people.
"Fine. Fine. Just you wait." The young man’s face was ashen as he prepared to leave with his men.
But as he turned, he saw a white-haired figure appear behind him.
"Sister An, I’m back."