Floating high above the Sound Nurturing Sect, Jiang Yun reflected on his journey. "Just how many people have I offended? It never ends. Every time I turn around, I remember another enemy."
"It's annoying, but since there are too many to hunt down, I might as well destroy them as I encounter them."
After settling his thoughts, Jiang Yun shouted, "I have killed Yi Yujun, which one of his elders is responsible? Come out and let's settle our accounts."
An old man emerged, followed by several spectators eager to watch someone court death.
"I am Yi Shen, the ancestor of the Yi family," the old man declared. "Why have you killed my descendant? Can you even afford the consequences?"
"Because I felt like it," Jiang Yun replied calmly. "He offended me, so I killed him."
Yi Shen's face twisted in rage. He unleashed his tribulation transformation aura, attempting to crush Jiang Yun where he stood. To the ancestor's shock, Jiang Yun didn't even flinch; he stood there as if nothing had happened.
"How are you unaffected?" Yi Shen stammered, bewildered.
"I can't sense any cultivation from you, and your bone age suggests you are quite young."
"Of course you can't tell," Jiang Yun thought. "I have unified with the Dao, I am the rules of this world itself. Besides, my lifespan is infinite, and my vitality overflows—of course I look young."
"It doesn't matter what you're hiding!" Yi Shen barked, interrupting his thoughts. "I am in the tribulation transformation realm, one of the most powerful people in the world. I refuse to believe you are stronger than me."
Yi Shen launched his strongest attack, landing it squarely on Jiang Yun. To his horror, not even Jiang Yun's clothes were torn, let alone his skin.
Filled with sudden dread, Yi Shen realized, "Someone who can take this hit unscathed must be leagues above me."
"Sect Master help me!" Yi Shen shouted toward the halls. "A dangerous person is here to destroy the sect!"
"This old man is shameless. I never said I was going to destroy the whole sect."
The spectators murmured in confusion and worry, wondering who the man was and what he wanted.
Soon, the elders and the sect master of the Sound Nurturing Sect arrived. Jiang Yun spotted a few familiar figures: the very elders who had called him "trash" all those years ago. Surprisingly, they didn't seem to recognize him. The sect master stepped forward, looking guarded.
"For what reason do you seek to destroy my sect? I don't believe we have any grudges with you."
He looked at Jiang Yun with a confused expression, unable to fathom the cultivation level of this seemingly ordinary young man.
"I don't hold a grudge against the entire sect," Jiang Yun replied, "Just some discontent. My main issue is with your elder here. His descendants intruded on my territory and tried to harm my people."
"I'm here to resolve the root of the problem. Otherwise, every time I offend a junior, an elder comes out and the cycle repeats. I might as well finish it all at once."
With a casual wave of his hand, Jiang Yun turned Yi Shen into a mist of blood. The sect master turned livid.
"How could you kill him while we were still talking? How dare you do that in front of me?"
He prepared to strike, but before he could move, Jiang Yun vanished and reappeared in front of him, slapping the sect master into a deep crater in the ground.
The sect master lay half-dead, his face pale with horror. He hadn't even been able to react. Jiang Yun hoisted him back into the air.
"A few hundred years ago, I was just a small foundation establishment cultivator," Jiang Yun announced to the gathered crowd. "Back then, I met your daughter and became her friend, but she was taken by those elders over there."
He gestured toward the group who had separated them. "I'm not here to take her away. I'm here to settle the score with Yi Shen and to ask how Nangong Yu has been."
The sect master replied, "Is that all? My daughter is doing fine. She is a prodigy of our sect. In just a few hundred years, she has reached the ninth level of soul formation and is soon to attempt the break into void solidification."
"I see," Jiang Yun replied, a hint of warmth in his voice. "I'm glad she is doing well."
"Would you like to meet her, sir?" the sect master asked.
He was unsure what to call a man who looked like a peer to his daughter, but possessed power far beyond a Mahayana expert. However, he knew it wouldn't be bad for his sect to stay on good terms with such a being.
"All right," Jiang Yun said. "I'm already here; I might as well see her before I leave."
The sect master used a communication device, and moments later, a beautiful woman descended.
"Father, what is wrong? Why did you call me here, and why are you injured?"
The sect master winced. "I called you here for this gentleman. He says he is your friend. As for my injuries, it was just a misunderstanding."
Nangong Yu turned to face Jiang Yun. Her eyes widened in absolute shock as she recognized him. She had never expected to see him again, let alone see him standing so leisurely before her father and the sect's elite.
Jiang Yun breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe, and she had grown from that foundation establishment girl into a soul formation expert.
"How have you been all these years?" he asked.
Nangong Yu took a moment to compose herself. "I have been fine."
Jiang Yun pulled a pouch from his storage ring and tossed it to her. "This is for you. Thanks for keeping me company back then."
Nangong Yu peered inside and gasped. The pouch was filled with rare resources enough to guarantee her breakthrough to void solidification instantly. She hesitated to take it.
"I have no use for these anymore," Jiang Yun said. "I have mountains more just like them."
Since he had traveled so much, he had grown a habit of hoarding, even if he no longer needed the gifts.
Nangong Yu accepted the gift, expressing her sincere gratitude.
"I have done what I came to do," Jiang Yun said, turning away. "I've settled my scores and seen an old friend. Take care."
As he began to fade, Nangong Yu called out, "Wait! Let me come with you. We haven't seen each other in so long, can you really leave after just a few words?"
She turned to her father. "Can I go with him? I want to catch up."
The sect master, realizing the potential benefits of the connection, nodded. "Go ahead; you aren't a child anymore."
Jiang Yun shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Nangong Yu's face lit up. She moved to his side, and with a touch on her shoulder, Jiang Yun vanished. The onlookers were left stunned by his speed, unable to even track his departure.
Back at the Invincible Cloud Sect, Jiang Yun and Nangong Yu appeared in the main hall, where Bai Yue and Tang Mei were waiting.
"Wow, you're so fast!" Bai Yue exclaimed. "You weren't gone long at all. I've barely finished explaining everything to sister Tang Mei."
Tang Mei looked up, confused by the arrival of a beautiful woman she had never met. "Who is this?"
"An old friend," Jiang Yun replied. "We met a long time ago, shortly after I was chased by the Flaming Phoenix Sect."
He introduced the two women to each other. Nangong Yu and Tang Mei exchanged curious glances, both seemingly realizing they had a lot to talk about. The four of them sat down, preparing for a long conversation. Jiang Yun recounted the events that had transpired while he was away.
As he spoke, the three women listened with expressions of genuine surprise, and Nangong Yu exchanged glances before asking, "You're so strong now—just how powerful have you become to defeat a Mahayana-level powerhouse so easily?"
"Neither of you would understand," Jiang Yun replied calmly.
After finishing his story, Jiang Yun took Bai Yue aside to cultivate. The recent events had made it clear to both of them that she was still far too weak to defend herself. While Jiang Yun could easily protect her, he knew that becoming too dependent on his aid would hinder her development.
Nangong Yu and Tang Mei did not interrupt them, as they were eager to have a conversation of their own. Once Jiang Yun and Bai Yue were completely out of sight, the two women turned to each other and asked simultaneously, "What is your relationship with Jiang Yun?"
They had both been harboring the same thought, each deeply curious about the other's place in his life, and what the future might entail. This conversation was important for each of them to understand what future actions would be taken.