48: Like a mayfly trying to shake a tree, how laughable and presumptuous!

"Sizzle!"

The moment the Jade Slip shattered, it was not a spatial rift opening, but a blinding purple-gold beam of light that shot into the sky. The terrifying energy it contained instantly tore through the clouds, causing even the heavens and earth to tremble.

Within the beam of light, a figure could faintly be seen stepping through the air. Golden Dou Qi swirled around his body. Just the aura leaking from him caused the air in the entire Yun Lan Mountain plaza to solidify like iron.

"Dou... Dou Zong?!"

The palm wind that Yun Ling had just struck out stopped abruptly in mid-air. His face instantly turned as pale as paper, and his pupils dilated from extreme terror.

That pressure, which transcended the Dou Wang Realm, felt like an invisible mountain pressing hard against his heart, making it difficult for him to even breathe.

The Cloud Mist Sect Disciples in the plaza were in an uproar; many were directly terrified into collapsing to the ground, their faces filled with fear.

"Lord Jiang Luo!"

Looking at the familiar figure in the beam of light, the suspended heart in Xiao Yan's chest finally relaxed.

With Lord Jiang Luo here, if the Cloud Mist Sect wanted to keep him, it would likely not be so easy.

As the beam of light dissipated, Jiang Luo stood before Xiao Yan with his hands behind his back, his majesty naturally imposing without needing to be angry. His gaze fell upon Yun Ling, instantly making the latter feel as if he were facing a formidable enemy.

"Cloud Mist Sect, This Sect Master has returned!"

Just a single sentence, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty. Yun Ling felt his blood surging and couldn't help but take half a step back, his lips trembling as he was unable to speak.

A Dou Zong is an existence capable of easily wiping out a Sect. Yun Ling was merely a Dou Wang; in front of the other party, he was no different from an ant.

The most critical part was that this person was also their Cloud Mist Sect's number one enemy!

With Sect Master Yun Yun abducted, the strongest in the Cloud Mist Sect at this moment was only a Dou Wang, and they were simply no match for Jiang Luo!

"Your Excellency has come to my Cloud Mist Sect again; do you really think my Cloud Mist Sect has no one?" Yun Ling asked while forcing himself to stand firm, though his voice carried an unmaskable tremor.

In the face of a Dou Zong's pressure, he, a mere Dou Wang, was as insignificant as an ant.

"This Sect Master once said, as long as Old Dog Yun Shan does not appear, This Sect Master will not let the Cloud Mist Sect go!"

"This Sect Master has limited patience; today is the final deadline!"

"If Old Dog Yun Shan does not appear again, This Sect Master sees no need for this Cloud Mist Sect to continue existing!"

As for saving Xiao Yan, it was merely a convenient act.

"Arrogant!"

"Your Excellency's actions—do you really think my Cloud Mist Sect is afraid!"

An angry shout came from the side of the plaza. Several figures quickly dashed to Yun Ling's side; they were all Elders of the Cloud Mist Sect, and their auras were all at the Dou Wang Realm.

Although they were similarly suppressed by Jiang Luo's pressure, turning their faces pale, they still forced themselves to take up a defensive stance.

"Mayflies shaking a tree, ridiculously overestimating themselves!"

Jiang Luo's eyes were indifferent. He flicked his finger lightly, and with a slight fluctuation of Dou Qi, those Elders were struck as if by a heavy hammer. They all groaned in unison, stumbled back several steps, and blood spilled from the corners of their mouths.

Such an effortless display left everyone in the plaza feeling scalp-numbingly terrified.

The terror of a Dou Zong had actually reached such a level!

Seeing this, Yun Ling's heart sank to the bottom.

He knew that if the Old Sect Master did not appear today, the Cloud Mist Sect would truly be in trouble.

But he knew better than anyone that the Old Sect Master had been in seclusion for many years attempting to break through to the Dou Zong Realm and had long ceased to concern himself with worldly affairs. To disturb him rashly at this moment would have unimaginable consequences.

"Your Excellency, the Old Sect Master is in seclusion and is truly inconvenient to receive guests." Yun Ling gritted his teeth and forced himself to say, "The matter regarding Xiao Yan is the Cloud Mist Sect's fault, and I offer him my apologies! Please, for the sake of the Cloud Mist Sect's century-old foundation, calm your anger for now!"

"Apologies?" Jiang Luo sneered, his gaze sweeping over the faint wounds on Xiao Yan's body. "My old acquaintance has suffered grievances here, and you want to settle it with a mere apology?"

"Furthermore, This Sect Master's teacher perished at the hands of Old Dog Yun Shan. If I do not see Yun Shan today, This Sect Master will flatten your Cloud Mist Sect!"

Jiang Luo's voice was like ice hitting the ground, carrying a bone-chilling coldness that made the temperature of the entire Yun Lan Mountain plaza seem to plummet.