Chapter 9

**Boom!**

A deafening explosion jolted Xiao Ran out of his meditation. A heavy pressure made him feel extremely uncomfortable, and in his confusion, he looked up at the sky, almost instantly stunned!

There was actually a hole in the sky, several dozen miles in diameter!

What was going on?

Was the sky about to collapse?

"Ha ha ha! Xuanyangzi, even if your cultivation improves tenfold, you're still no match for me. Just accept your fate in this life!"

That voice belonged to his master!

Heaven! The old man was simply too powerful, actually charging alone with a sword against the Orthodox Sect!

Xiao Ran was both shocked and delighted, looking at the hole that was several dozen miles in diameter. He found it incredibly hard to believe that a person could be so powerful as to punch a hole in the sky.

"Ren, if you have the guts, don't run. Stay and fight me fairly. Running away is no skill at all!"

The angry shout echoed, and Xiao Ran, who was in the Mist City, felt his ears ringing. Looking at Yunmeng Mountain, which was several dozen miles away, he was shocked again!

The martial artists in this world were simply too powerful. A single shout could travel over a hundred miles, and even from such a distance, his eardrums were painfully vibrating. If he were closer, he would probably be killed by a single roar!

Thinking of his master, Ren Yao, Xiao Ran became excited. With such a powerful master, if he learned his skills, wouldn't he also become this powerful?

...

Numerous figures streaked across the sky, with Ren Yao leading the way. Behind him was a purple-robed martial artist with a sage-like demeanor, and the two were equally fast, while the others were far behind.

The purple-robed martial artist, seeing that he couldn't close the distance despite his best efforts, was furious, roaring continuously. Although his realm was one level higher than Ren Yao's, he didn't know how Ren Yao had cultivated, as his true essence was no less concentrated than his. If this continued, Ren Yao would escape again, and their Orthodox Sect would lose face repeatedly.

Ren Yao laughed triumphantly at the purple-robed martial artist's roars.

"Hey! Isn't that Lord Yue? You're chasing so hard, not trying to have your daughter marry me? Ha ha ha! What a generous offer, I just finished the wedding with your beloved daughter."

The purple-robed martial artist, Zimutian, the true first expert of the Orthodox Sect and father of Ziyu, was enraged by Ren Yao's reckless words. His throat emitted a thunderous roar, and his speed instantly increased by a third.

Seeing his father-in-law suddenly speed up as if he had taken drugs, Ren Yao was startled. He quickly shut up and fled at full speed. If he were caught, it would be a big trouble.

Seeing the distance between them closing, Zimutian was extremely excited. He seemed to already see the scene of cutting the other down with his sword, and his speed unconsciously increased.

Suddenly, just as Ren Yao entered Zimutian's attack range, he vanished. Zimutian stopped, his divine sense frantically scanning the sky. He was shocked to find that Ren Yao had disappeared within a hundred miles.

How could this be?

He was just in front of him, how could he suddenly disappear?

Shocked! Extremely shocked!

Zimutian scanned again, only to find that Ren Yao had indeed vanished. He couldn't accept this fact. Even if Ren Yao's true essence was as concentrated as his, he was still one realm lower, far from being his match, and there was no way he could escape so easily.

Someone must have intervened, rescuing Ren Yao without his notice?

While Zimutian was in shock, dozens of figures appeared beside him. Among them, Xuanyangzi, with a face full of anger, rushed to Zimutian, his eyes bloodshot, and shouted, "Where is he? Did he escape?"

Zimutian frowned deeply, already extremely frustrated that someone had escaped under his nose. Now this guy was making things worse, and his attitude was so terrible.

"Xuanyangzi, you disappoint me. How do you run the sect? Letting people wreak havoc in the Orthodox Sect repeatedly, you've completely ruined our reputation as the number one sect in the world."

Xuanyangzi trembled, not sure if he was angry or scared, and stammered, "Father-in-law! I..."

"I don't have a son-in-law like you. What have you been doing all these years? Do you deserve my daughter?"

Hearing Xuanyangzi call him father-in-law, Zimutian's anger flared up.

"But today..."

"Hmph! You have the nerve to say that. If you hadn't been fooling around outside, this wouldn't have happened. You brought this on yourself."

Xuanyangzi was so angry that he trembled all over. He clenched his fists and roared, "Are we just going to let Ren Yao off?"

"What do you want to do? Attack the Sword Sect? Not to mention whether we can win, even if we do, we'll be expelled from the top ten orthodox sects, and countless people will laugh at us."

Then he sneered, "Xuanyangzi, you don't need to be the sect leader anymore. Xuanyinzi, you will take over as acting leader until a new leader is chosen."

"Great Elder, where did Ren Yao go?" Xuanyinzi's eyes flashed with excitement, and he respectfully asked.

"He disappeared here."

Zimutian's face was dark, his eyes glowing with purple lightning. To evade his divine sense, the other party must have entered a powerful expert's cave or another world. Thinking of this, Zimutian's face changed, and his eyes scanned the space with surprise. The person's cultivation must have reached a terrifying level to evade his perception.

"From now on, no one is to mention Ren Yao. This is the end. Let's go!"

After one last look at the space, Zimutian turned into a beam of sword light and disappeared into the sky. The others exchanged glances and returned reluctantly, leaving Xuanyangzi standing in the air with a dark face.

Xuanyangzi watched his disciples leave, his eyes bloodshot, and he roared in frustration, his resentment overwhelming.

"Ren, I swear I'll kill you or I won't be a man!"

...

The scenery in front of him changed, and Ren Yao was stunned. He stopped, his eyes wide with surprise as he looked around.

Suddenly, a towering figure appeared, hands behind his back, as if the world revolved around him. Ren Yao slowly landed and walked toward the man, sensing a familiar aura from him.

The towering man slowly turned, revealing an ordinary face. Though his appearance was plain, his eyes were like stars, and he smiled at Ren Yao.

"Second Master! You... how did you come to Tianyuan?"

Ren Yao looked at the man with surprise and excitement, giving him a bear hug.

"Isn't it because of our master, little brother? It seems you're living quite comfortably in Tianyuan, with a big reputation."

Everything must have been seen by Second Master. Ren Yao, feeling embarrassed, said, "Hehe, just so-so. Second Master, you didn't come to Tianyuan just for me, right?"

"Ha ha ha, little brother, our master sent me to bring you back immediately."

"Immediately? Can I have a little more time? I just took on a disciple and haven't had the chance to pass on my legacy."

Second Master nodded, smiling, "Since he's your successor, he's part of our lineage. You should take responsibility for his training, but our master is very strict. You should brief your disciple and come with me, so he doesn't have to come and bring you back himself."

Ren Yao exclaimed, "Just a brief talk? That would be too irresponsible of me as a master."

Second Master laughed, "Little brother, don't be upset. If Elder Brother came, he wouldn't waste words. You'd probably be chatting with your father face-to-face by now."

With a wave of his hand, Ren Yao was taken away, leaving him no time to make more excuses. Looking at the sky of Tianyuan where he had lived for a thousand years, Ren Yao was lost in thought, feeling a mix of emotions. Was he really leaving?

"Little brother, remember to return to Tianyun Sword Sect today, or your father will come to fetch you."

Return today?

Ren Yao was extremely frustrated. It was almost the end of the day, and a round trip would take almost the whole day. But thinking of his father's angry face, he took to the air and rushed off.

...

The clouds in the sky gradually closed, and Xiao Ran was extremely excited, completely losing his interest in cultivation. He looked up at the sky, hoping his master would return soon.

The massive collision naturally alarmed everyone in the Mist City. Just as Xiao Ran was anxiously waiting, thinking something might have happened to his master, he returned like a bolt of lightning.

Xiao Ran rushed over, looking at his master with admiration, "Master, did you manage to kidnap Xuanyangzi's wife?"

Ren Yao laughed, "Though I didn't kidnap her, I made sure that guy wears a big green hat. I'm sure his position as sect leader is over."

Xiao Ran, excited, was about to speak when Ren Yao waved him off, "Don't talk, I'm in a hurry. I have something to tell you."

Ren Yao took out a ring, quickly selected some items from his storage ring, and said, "Take this. Inside is one of the four great techniques of the Zhan Clan, the 'Heavenly Demon Technique.' It's returning to its rightful owner. I've also put many cultivation techniques and secrets from our sect, along with some of my personal collections. Train hard in the future. Remember, I come from the Sword Sect in the Tianyun Mountains of Dasha Kingdom. I'm a first-generation disciple, and you will be a second-generation disciple. Don't tarnish my reputation..."

By the time he finished, Ren Yao had already disappeared into the sky, leaving Xiao Ran standing there, stunned, holding the ring. He felt a deep sense of grievance.

Without the activation incantation, what good is this ring?

Fortunately, you gave me a boxing manual beforehand, or those kowtows would have been in vain.

Just as Xiao Ran was feeling aggrieved, a sound broke the air, and in the blink of an eye, two beautiful figures appeared before him. They were Zhan Wan'er and Ren Qianyao. Seeing Xiao Ran's gloomy face, Zhan Wan'er asked, "Zhan'er, what's wrong? Why are you so upset?"

Although his newly appointed master was unreliable, Xiao Ran was still very satisfied. Thinking of his master's reputation, he said excitedly, "Mother, I just took a master, and he's very powerful!"

Zhan Wan'er's face changed, and she asked urgently, "Someone came to Miaoyu Hall just now. Who was he? Did he do anything to you?"

Xiao Ran smiled, "He's the sword immortal, Ren Yao. He gave me a set of boxing techniques to improve my constitution."

"Ren Yao, the sword immortal?"

Ren Qianyao was shocked and immediately knelt before Xiao Ran, grabbing his shoulders, "Is your master here?"

Seeing Aunt Yao's excited and urgent expression, Xiao Ran confirmed his suspicion. His master and Aunt Yao must have a history. He honestly said, "He just left."

"What?"

Ren Qianyao looked disappointed, muttering, "Since he came, why didn't he see me? How could he just leave?"

Seeing Aunt Yao's disappointed and aggrieved face, Xiao Ran's curiosity flared. It seemed his master and Aunt Yao had a story. He thought for a moment and said, "Aunt Yao, my master probably isn't avoiding you."

Ren Qianyao's eyes lit up, hoping, "Why not?"

Xiao Ran said excitedly, "Not long ago, my master charged alone with a sword to the Orthodox Sect to take revenge on Xuanyangzi. He was busy running away, so he didn't have time to meet you."

Ren Qianyao's face showed a hint of joy, and she playfully tapped Xiao Ran's forehead, "Little rascal, no wonder he took you as a disciple. You're just like him."

---

The sky gradually closed, and Xiao Ran was extremely excited, completely losing his interest in cultivation. He looked up at the sky, hoping his master would return soon.