# Chapter 1587: Warning
Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er thus stayed in the Tiangang Cloud Clan, spending half their time cultivating each day and the other half casually wandering through the clan, silently observing everything here.
The Ancestral Ground... to him, who had lost all familial affection, he ultimately could not completely disregard this place.
Previously, Yun Shang had been constantly gloom-ridden, immersed in the shadow of her father's death. Upon returning to the clan this time, perhaps due to receiving Heaven's blessings, or maybe because she had shaken off that shadow, she had become much more cheerful, her face always bearing a smile that could melt one's heart... especially when she ran to find Yun Che every day.
The news that she was about to be appointed as the young clan head had also spread throughout the clan. Amid the gloom of their impending doom, this matter, along with the almost miraculous changes in Yun Shang, had been particularly heartening.
On the third day after their return, a voice arrived outside the Thunder Domain right on schedule.
"Sin Cloud Clan, today is your last chance!" This voice was haughty and arrogant, carrying a heavy oppressive pressure: "Hand over the 'Sacred Cloud Ancient Pill' obediently, and I guarantee that within three days, that little girl will be returned to you unharmed. Otherwise... she will end up just like the previous ones!"
Of those who had secretly left the Sin Domain together to help Yun Shang escape that day, half had been captured by the Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace. The Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace was using their lives as leverage... but the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pill was far too important to the Tiangang Cloud Clan. They could not hand it over, and could only swallow their blood and tears as they watched their captured clansmen be slaughtered.
And in the Qianhuang Realm, without permission from the Qianhuang Divine Sect, any Yun clan member who left the Sin Domain could be justifiably killed by anyone... In such a situation where the other party was clearly despicable and cruel, they didn't even have the right to rebuke or condemn them.
Perhaps having forced some information about Yun Shang from the captured Yun clan members, the Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace used this to threaten them... hitting the Tiangang Cloud Clan right in their weak spot.
Just as Yun Xiang and Yun Lu had said before, if Yun Shang had not returned safely, they really might have handed over the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pill.
"They're finally here." This time, facing the Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace's arrival, the Tiangang Cloud Clan no longer felt anxious.
"It's Cang Jian." Clan Chief Yun Ting looked up at the sky, his expression bleak: "It's him this time. I heard that some time ago, he lost his palace's guardian sword, as well as the most outstanding disciple of this generation at the Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace. It seems he's eager to earn merits to offset his crimes."
"Yun Jian, Yun Fu, Yun Hua." Yun Ting gave the command: "Go and meet him."
"Yes." The three Yun clan elders stirred their profound energy, their arms gleaming with Arcane Firmament.
"I'll handle it." Yun Xiang stepped forward, his gaze like a hungry eagle: "Just a mere Cang Jian, I alone am enough! They've been oppressing us by using Shang'er's safety for so long—it's time to collect some debts!"
With that, before Yun Ting could respond, he soared into the air, passed through the Thunder Domain, and faced a man across the distance.
"An eighth-level Divine Sovereign, in this Qianhuang Realm, he should be a big shot. Cang Jian? Sounds somewhat familiar." Qianye Ying'er glanced to the south.
"Palace Master of the Cang Jian Palace of the Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace, Bei Hanchu's master," Yun Che said.
"What a coincidence." Qianye Ying'er gave a faint cold smile, then closed her eyes and leaned down, paying no further attention to the commotion outside.
The one who had come from the Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace was indeed the Cang Jian Venerable. During this period, he had experienced a rollercoaster of fortunes in life. His disciple Bei Hanchu had achieved the Divine Sovereign realm at less than ten Jiazi of age and had been honored on the Northern Domain Heavenly Lord List—such glory! But in less than a month, he had died!
He had died in a small mid-rank star realm, and his body had been utterly destroyed!
He had rushed there desperately, only to encounter someone who had nearly scared him out of his wits... He had no choice but to swallow the death of Bei Hanchu in silence, and the entire Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace had to obediently swallow it too. Not only did they dare not investigate in anger, they did not even dare to make a single outcry.
And the fury of the Chief Palace Master would inevitably be vented upon him.
If he could successfully obtain the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pill today, it might slightly temper the Chief Palace Master's anger.
"So it's the young clan head," facing Yun Xiang, the Cang Jian Venerable clasped his hands behind his back and smiled faintly: "I have confirmed it, you know—that little girl called Yun Shang possesses a purple demonic arcane firmament that has never appeared in your Sin Cloud Clan before. This is a miracle for your entire clan. Exchanging it for a mere Sacred Cloud Ancient Pill—what a bargain."
Yun Xiang subtly gestured with his left hand and smiled lightly: "My Shang'er's life and safety—not even a single ancient pill, let alone a hundred or a thousand, can compare."
The Cang Jian Venerable's smile grew even more: "So, young clan head, have you thought it through?"
"Yes." Yun Xiang extended his arm, and lightning flickered in his palm: "This is the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pill. Your Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace had better keep your promise!"
"Hahahaha, of course." The Cang Jian Venerable laughed loudly, turning his gaze, then his expression suddenly changed.
CRACK!!
The lightning exploded, transforming in Yun Xiang's hand into the Heavenly Dragon Thunder God Spear, rolling with ten thousand zhang of black aura and countless purple thunderbolts as it struck straight at the Cang Jian Venerable.
"You!" The Cang Jian Venerable hastily struck back, and the power of two eighth-level Divine Sovereigns collided in the air, spreading out an enormous domain of disaster.
"Shang'er has already returned to the clan intact! Your Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace is supposed to be a thirty-thousand-year great sect, yet you resort to such despicable and shameless acts... Do you really think my Tiangang Cloud Clan is easy to bully?!"
Yun Xiang's roar shook the heavens. Amid the thunder that filled the sky, blue light suddenly flashed from his left arm, and his blue Arcane Firmament transformed into a massive thunder dragon, crashing down.
Both the Cang Jian Venerable and Yun Xiang were eighth-level Divine Sovereigns, but in terms of profound energy depth, the Cang Jian Venerable far surpassed Yun Xiang... However, the Tiangang Cloud Clan's unique "Tiangang Divine Power" was enough to put them in an invincible position in battles of the same level, and the blue "Arcane Firmament," which could enhance one's own power by sixty percent, could easily create an overwhelming advantage.
BOOM!
With a sound like the sky splitting apart, Yun Xiang, who was slightly weaker in power, used his Tiangang Divine Power to shatter the Cang Jian Venerable's Nine Firmament Sword Array, sending him flying back dozens of miles through the air.
This was the first time the Cang Jian Venerable had fought Yun Xiang. He had never dreamed that he, whose prestige was like heaven in the Qianhuang Realm, would be so easily suppressed by a junior of the Sin Cloud Clan. He roared furiously: "Sin Cloud brat! Your sinful clan is already on the verge of death! My Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace has been on good terms with the Qianhuang Divine Sect for generations. Hand over the Sacred Cloud Ancient Pill, and my Nine Firmament Heavenly Palace can still put in a good word for you with the Qianhuang Divine Sect. But if you remain stubborn... your entire clan will die without a burial place!"
Yun Xiang's face twisted with ferocity. The Heavenly Dragon Thunder God Spear let out an angry dragon's roar. Behind him, the power of the Thunder Domain was also stirred. Combined with the Tiangang Divine Power, three forces bore down on the Cang Jian Venerable together.
"Waaah!!"
Far above, a fleeting scream rang out. Amid the thunderous clouds, the Cang Jian Venerable fled in disgrace, quickly disappearing into the dim horizon.
Within the Tiangang Cloud Clan, earth-shaking cheers erupted. Having endured too long in darkness and oppression, they finally vented their hatred thoroughly this time.
Yun Xiang descended from the air, still carrying residual lightning that hadn't fully dissipated. His hair danced in the continuously flashing thunder, as if a god had descended to earth, majestic and awe-inspiring. The young men and women of the Yun clan hurried over, surrounding him with raised arms and cheers, their eyes upon him containing countless stars.
"Hohoho." Yun Ting slowly nodded, stroking his beard and smiling.
Yun Xiang had just turned five thousand this year, yet he was already an eighth-level Divine Sovereign, and he was now the young clan head and guardian deity of the Yun clan. In talent, he surpassed even Yun Ting in his younger days... In the future, there was a possibility he would achieve the Divine Lord realm.
He and the Yun clan elders had already made a secret decision: one month later, no matter what the outcome for the Tiangang Cloud Clan... they would exhaust everything to protect Yun Xiang and Yun Shang.
"So that's the 'Arcane Firmament' you mentioned? It actually has such divine power?" Qianye Ying'er's eyes flickered with a strange light. "Why have I never seen you use it?"
"It cannot be interfered with by the Evil God's Divine Power," Yun Che said. "So it's useless to me."
"I see." Qianye Ying'er didn't doubt it, because during the Divine Battle of Sealing that year, he had been beaten to the brink of death by Luo Changsheng without using such power. But then, her gaze sharpened, and she asked again, "That 'Illusion Divine Art' you used during the Divine Battle of Sealing—was it based on the Arcane Firmament?"
Yun Che furrowed his brow and said, "Too clever a woman really is annoying."
...
Yun Xiang's defeat of the Cang Jian Venerable not only vented their anger but also greatly boosted the morale of the Tiangang Cloud Clan. Following that, the Tiangang Cloud Clan began preparing for the Grand Clan Ceremony.
Having completely become the core of the entire clan, Yun Shang was surrounded almost every moment. She went to find Yun Che every day, telling him about what she had done.
"Today, I taught Grandpa Clan Chief the new Tiangang Thunder Cloud Art. Grandpa Clan Chief was so excited. But, Grandpa Clan Chief learns so slowly, much slower than I did back then... No, it should be that Senior taught well. Hehe."
...
"Today, the Grand Elders specially opened the Ancestral Ground that had been sealed for many years. From now on, I will cultivate there, and every day, many people will guide and assist me in cultivation."
...
"...They said that all the highest-grade resources in the clan must be used on me... Tomorrow, the Grand Elder will refine the Flying Spirit Pill and Praying Cloud Immortal Dew for me. I don't know how long it will take. I might be a little late to see Senior."
...
"Look, this is the Tiangang Treasure Robe. Only the clan chief can wear it. Grandpa Clan Chief gave it to me early... Hmm, I don't know why, but I'm not really happy. I'm a little tired today too... But I will work even harder."
...
Ten days later, the Tiangang Cloud Clan's Grand Clan Ceremony was held, and Yun Shang was established as the young clan head. All the Yun clan members were present, and the light of hope in their eyes and hearts was all focused on her delicate form.
After that, Yun Shang, now the young clan head, still went to find Yun Che every day. Only, she arrived later and later, and stayed for shorter and shorter periods... Many times, just as she arrived, she was already being called away.
The faint smile on her face grew less and less frequent, more and more forced.
That day, as night fell... Yun Shang gently pushed open the door. Looking at Yun Che, she said nothing, then took a few hurried steps forward, falling weakly against him, and closed her eyes.
"What happened?" Yun Che asked.
She shook her head in his embrace and said very softly, "Nothing... Just a little tired. But... there's still so much to do... so much to learn..."
"If you're tired, rest well. Don't push yourself so hard," Yun Che said.
Yun Shang shook her head again, her voice carrying a weariness she no longer needed to hide: "It's me... It's because I'm not working hard enough... The clan has given me all the best things... They say I am the hope of the entire clan... I... I can't let them down..."
"Shang'er!"
The shout had barely faded when the door was suddenly pushed open. Yun Xiang strode in, and the moment he saw Yun Shang collapsed against Yun Che... his brow sank deeply.
Yun Shang slowly straightened up. "Brother Xiang."
Looking at Yun Shang, a smile appeared on Yun Xiang's face. "The 'Tiangang Cloud Spirit Formation' prepared by the seventeen elders has taken shape. It can refine a purer thunder body for you. The Supreme Elder even risked himself to hunt down three drops of Thunder Dragon blood for you... Go quickly."
"Mm, I understand." Yun Shang nodded, showing Yun Che a somewhat forced but still sweet smile. "Senior, I'm going to the Ancestral Temple. See you tomorrow."
Yun Shang left... But Yun Xiang did not follow. Instead, he stood in place, his eyes fixed on Yun Che.
"Something to say?" Yun Che asked.
"Brother Yun Che," Yun Xiang said with a smile, his tone gentle. "You two have been guests in our clan for many days now. When do you plan to leave?"
"Asking your guests to leave?" Yun Che's response was simple and cold.
The smile on Yun Xiang's face gradually faded, and his voice also turned cold. "You two saved Shang'er's life. To my Tiangang Cloud Clan, that is a great kindness. My Tiangang Cloud Clan's current situation is something you both have seen with your own eyes, and what Shang'er means to my clan should be clear to you as well."
"So?" Facing Yun Xiang's clearly deliberate release of pressure, Yun Che's expression did not change in the slightest.
"Shang'er is the end of our clan's ten-thousand-year nightmare, a gift and treasure from Heaven! She is now our young clan head, and the future clan chief! Her safety, her future, are more important to us than anything in this world. My Tiangang Cloud Clan will not allow anyone or anything to interfere with her... especially emotionally!"
Yun Che: "..."
"Leave this place as soon as possible, and the farther away, the better!"
SZZZZK!
Thunder flashed suddenly on Yun Xiang's fingertip. "Otherwise... even if you saved Shang'er's life, I will not... show mercy!"
CRACK!
Thunder crashed down, instantly tearing open the ground in front of Yun Che. The residual lightning exploded and hissed, lingering for a long time.
"I've said all I have to say!" Yun Xiang turned and left coldly.
Yun Che never moved, nor did he even glance at the lightning that had struck at his feet.
"Should I kill him?" Qianye Ying'er spoke lazily, as casually as pointing at a flea on the roadside.
"..." Yun Che said nothing, only his brows began to slowly knit together.