Chapter 56 - Wang Yunfeng
The grand hall materialized from arcane force to a masterpiece of jade and white stone sculpted by hands that understood the nature of reality itself.
Pillars rose like frozen moonlight, carved with ancient runes that glowed softly with contained power, supporting a ceiling that seemed to stretch into infinity, although it wasn’t. The entire space radiated wealth and authority in ways that transcended simple decoration.
Fifteen men bearing black wind-emperor pendants filed through the portals and took their positions before their designated seats.
Sael and his butler stood rigidly behind one side of them, waiting with the patience of those accustomed to hierarchy.
Everyone present understood the significance of this gathering, the Vice Sect Leader of the Boundless Wind Sect, known throughout the continent as the Wind Emperor himself, was about to grace them with his presence.
A tier-three sect by classification, yet the Boundless Wind Sect’s true strength lay in its leadership. The current sect leader and his vice had maintained dominance for centuries through sheer cultivation prowess alone.
Wisps of smoke coalesced near the throne.
Every person in the hall dropped into a bow instantly, hands clasped before their chests in the prescribed gesture of respect. The very space before the jade throne began to warp and distort, reality itself seemed to melt beneath an invisible force.
Black and golden spiritual energy wove together like living threads, forming flesh, robes, and long strands of dark hair from pure nothingness. A figure materialized within the ethereal haze, his body translucent yet carrying an indescribable majesty that made the air itself seem inadequate to contain him.
Wang Yunfeng descended onto the dragon-carved throne with casual grace. He reclined with one arm resting upon the armrest while the other casually held a black-and-gold spear, its tip trailing wisps of dark smoke that seemed almost alive.
The instant his cold eyes opened, the entire void fell silent.
His ’will’ released unknowingly, he hadn’t even attempted to suppress it. But that residual pressure alone was enough to push everyone bowing even lower. Sael’s subordinates literally collapsed to their knees, their bodies convulsing as they struggled to find air to breathe in the suffocating weight of his presence.
Yunfeng sighed, releasing smoke with his breath like some primordial beast stirring from slumber, he waved his had lazily.
"It’s been long since I went into indoor cultivation, and now that geezer decides to invade beyond the wastelands. Truly, if only he wasn’t our clan’s ancestor, I’d have ended this nonsense centuries ago."
He released the spiritual pressure, and the assembled elders immediately straightened, their voices unified and reverent.
"We, the low-rank elders of the Celestial Wang Family, pay respects to the Wind Emperor, Lord Wang Yunfeng, Patriarch of the Celestial Wang Family!"
Yunfeng simply waved his hand dismissively.
"Finish this meeting quickly or don’t. I’m only supervising today. I don’t have time for such charades. The gates to the Maleficent Realm will open soon, and I’d rather be preparing than sitting here listening to you people squabble."
"Yes, Lord Yunfeng," came the unanimous reply.
The meeting proceeded with as plans were discussed. Fifteen minutes passed in rapid succession before Sael and his entourage approached one of the elder’s positions, offering respectful bows.
"Lord," Sael began carefully, "we have found traces of Nexus Lord cultivation energy. The person in question is a student at the academy."
The elder’s eyes narrowed. "Go on."
"His cultivation advancement is... well ... quite unprecedented. Even a ducal house cannot support a single heir with this level of resources. The growth rate alone suggests external intervention."
The elders exchanged meaningful glances. One nodded slowly.
"If it’s a ducal house, there’s a possibility Merth—the Nexus Lord himself—made contact. We haven’t been able to confirm whether he survived the infighting between the two tier-seven sects on the northern borders."
Another elder added, "His original sect, the Abyss Flame Sect, still exists as a tier-six power. They’ve declared him missing, which is... suspicious."
"How should we approach this academy?" someone asked. "They’re distributing bloodlines and racial transformations like candy to these children. If they can’t even maintain racial purity within their own institution..."
"We shall appeal to the human emperor," another cut in smoothly. "He despises dragons and demons with every fiber of his being. With his backing, the clans and sects under his influence will fall in line immediately."
The butler remembered something crucial. "My lord, the student in question hails from a ducal house descended from dragons."
One elder’s grin widened into something predatory. "Hoh... it is perfect then, isn’t it."
Yunfeng had been listening quietly, his expression unreadable. Now he leaned forward slightly, his pipe trailing smoke.
"Did Merth take him as a disciple?" he mused aloud. "No, that doesn’t fit his character. An artifact, perhaps? But what could a ducal house from the wastelands possibly offer someone of his caliber?" He paused, his cold gaze sweeping across the assembly. "And our spies confirm his original sect never betrayed him, they still wait for his return."
He exhaled slowly, the smoke curling into intricate patterns.
"What if these two have no connection whatsoever?"
The elders fell silent, the possibility hanging heavy.
One finally spoke. "My lord, perhaps we should send a few masters from the branch families to assess this student’s strength directly. They’re expendable enough—even if they fall, it matters little."
Sael interjected quietly, "He’s currently traveling with a Peak Master Stage woman, lord."
"Then add some Grandmasters to the fray," another elder scoffed. "What does it matter? We have thousands such anyways, even if some died. If they lose to something like this better be ready for what’s about to come."
Yunfeng sighed heavily, suggesting his patience was wearing thin. Here he was, a cultivator of unimaginable power, reduced to managing conflicts between children while expendable elders threw away Grandmaster-ranked fighters like they were pawns. He could end this entire charade with a thought and kill them all and be done.
But such was the burden of hierarchy. He was merely a supervisor today, after all.
’The low-rank elders waste resources like insects,’ he thought coldly. ’The real elders of the clan remains elsewhere, breaking through to the next major realm. Those at Peak Emperor Stage don’t leave our territory unless the threat reaches Emperor Stage itself. And here I sit, listening to children squabble over a student.’