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--- Chapter 278 ---
"I am the Misty Mountain Sage, Murong Yun, and my motto is to peak early and retire early. Throughout heaven and earth, only I am the sleepy one!"
"What the hell?" Han Yuan blinked in awe. "A-Aren't you supposed to have passed away or something?"
Murong Yun covered her mouth, giggling. "That's what the world believes, but I haven't truly died."
"Physically, I indeed have passed away."
"But spiritually?"
"Let's just say I cheated death in my own way."
Han Yuan stared at Murong Yun. "So, you're currently just a soul?"
Murong Yun nodded and placed her hand on her hip. "That's correct. My soul is still alive and healthy. I've been resting in this secret plane of mine for years. It's rather boring, but I enjoy sleeping anyway."
"The outside world is even more boring," she continued.
"The conflicts are boring." She counted on her fingers.
"The men are boring."
"And gosh, the women are super boring!"
Murong Yun sighed. "I'd rather drink wine and sleep forever than talk to those jealous bitches..."
"You're pretty blunt, huh?" Han Yuan couldn't help but comment.
Murong Yun smiled. "That's just me being myself. Most people don't even know my real gender until I reveal it out of frustration. Those old-timers can't believe women can be amazing too."
Han Yuan frowned and recalled that when he received the inheritance from Misty Mountain Range, the system noted that the Misty Mountain Sage was a man, but Gu Xun'er had told him it was a woman.
"No, that's not right," Han Yuan narrowed his eyes. "You're lying."
Murong Yun raised a beautifully arched eyebrow. "Oh? What do you mean by that?"
Han Yuan rubbed his chin. "When I arrived at the Misty Mountain Range, something always felt off. The test was unbearably easy, some of the legacy was incomplete compared to what I obtained, and more importantly, you're not the first Misty Mountain Sage."
"So, you're either someone related to the Misty Mountain Sage or the second Misty Mountain Sage—in other words, his inheritor."
Murong Yun's eyes gleamed, fascinated that this fellow could deduce her secret, known to only a few people. She leaned closer to Han Yuan and studied his silver eyes for any change in expression. Then, she snapped her fingers.
"Ping pong! You've nearly uncovered the truth, my inheritor."
"What's important for you to know is that the Misty Mountain Range, or perhaps I should say Misty Mountain Sect, is the ancient sect founded by the Ancient Murong Clan."
"Unfortunately, the Ancient Murong Clan perished in the fight for the last dominion, leaving only two members: my late grandfather and me."
"So, not only am I the last true heir of the Misty Mountain Sect, but I am also the second Misty Mountain Sage."
"I see..." Han Yuan nodded in understanding.
"So instead of reviving your clan, you chose to drink your sorrow and abandon your body to survive?"
"W-Who said I drink my sorrow?!" Murong Yun raised her voice. "Is it Little Dragon? Damn, just wait. I'll beat him up later!"
"Hmph! Hmph!" She pouted angrily, raising her pumped fist indignantly.
"You weren't?" Han Yuan was confused.
Murong Yun cleared her throat and looked away. "Ehem, how should I put it? My death has been greatly exaggerated. I did choose to abandon my body voluntarily, but that's mainly because I got poisoned."
"The Hall of Souls wanted to take me down, and they poisoned me while I was taking a bath. I was furious! They don't respect a woman's personal time at all!" Murong Yun swung her arms in frustration.
'The Hall of Souls? They're truly the source of the problem in this world, huh?' Han Yuan acknowledged this internally.
Murong Yun huffed. "That poison was strange. It not only shut down my Dou Qi and sealed my perception of heaven and earth, including my spatial power, but it also corroded my body from within."
"Back then, I had less than twelve hours to make a decision."
"So, I chose to abandon my body," she shrugged, as if having a body wasn't that important to her. "Thankfully, I discovered this secret realm, which not only kept me alive but also nourished my soul."
"I have reached the Heavenly State. My soul force is now on par with most Dou Saints. I'm quite amazing, aren't I?" She smiled smugly at Han Yuan, leaving him speechless. "I am one step away from reaching the legendary God (Di) State."
"I guess," Han Yuan shook his head helplessly.
Murong Yun snorted. "Kids these days don't appreciate talent at all! You don't even know how incredible it is to reach this state."
"Is it really that hard?" Han Yuan frowned.
"Here, try it." Murong Yun snapped her fingers, and suddenly, Han Yuan felt a spiritual pressure weighing down on him, as if an immovable mountain sat on his shoulders.
BANG!
Han Yuan's expression shifted as he had never experienced anything like this in his life, not even when he met the God of Destruction. Then again, maybe it was because the God of Destruction was kind and didn't want to bully him.
What Han Yuan didn't know was that even Murong Yun was surprised he could endure so much of her Soul Force.
'This kid, he's something else!' Murong Yun fully expected that Han Yuan would get embarrassed and kneel on the ground, humbling himself. Then, he'd gasp in shock at how super amazing she was and admired her, but his body only bent a little.
'If he were to be born in my era, how great it would be.'
Murong Yun pressed her lips slightly and cancelled her Soul Force pressure before sighing, 'What am I even thinking?'
"So, what do you think?"
Han Yuan smiled and apologized, "I am sorry for belittling you, senior. You have fully opened my eyes."
"Hmm, at least you're teachable," Murong Yun praised casually. "Kid, tell me your name."
Han Yuan stared at her calmly, "My name is Han Yuan."
"Han Yuan?" Murong Yun nodded unconsciously. "Good, from now on, you are not only my inheritor, but also the successor of the Misty Mountain Sect."
She gazed at him playfully, "I am too lazy of a person, so are you willing to shoulder the responsibility to revive the sect?"
"Honestly, you can say no, I wouldn't bat an eye."
Han Yuan's mouth twitched, 'You said that, but your eyes said different things.'
From Murong Yun's eyes, Han Yuan could see a faint desire to surpass something. She hides it quickly, but his observation skill is just too powerful.
"I am willing."
Murong Yun giggled and smacked Han Yuan's shoulder lightly, "Oh, you, don't be pressured. Our lineage is very casual."
"But I am satisfied with your answer."
"So, let's start with your first responsibility as my direct disciple and the true heir of Misty Mountain Sect," She added naturally. "Kill a Protector from Hall of Souls for me."
"Once you finish this task, I will reward you with something. A treasure beyond this world."
Han Yuan put on a weird expression, "Does it have to be the Protector of Hall Souls? Any of them?"
Murong Yun nodded and replied indifferently, "Yes, those sons of bitches made me suffer, and as my disciple, you're responsible for avenging me."
"So, you-!"
Before Murong Yun could finish her words, Han Yuan had already dropped a corpse to the ground. It was none other than the corpse of Protector Wu, which he planned to turn into a Mysterious Demon Puppet.
"This..." Murong Yun's eyes widened. She could recognize people from the Hall of Souls at first glance. After all, their features are similar.
She then laughed, "Hahaha, good riddance, good riddance, Han Yuan."
"I didn't expect you to have killed one of these trash already."
"It seems fate really connects us."
Murong Yun aimed her hand at the Protector Wu's corpse and frowned as she couldn't sense his soul.
"Don't bother, I've destroyed his soul," Han Yuan suddenly said, putting the corpse away. "As for this corpse of Protector, I planned to refine the puppet with it."
"Puppet? Pfft, hahaha, those bastards really deserve it. Good, Han Yuan, good, it seems we are going to get along well," Murong Yun hurriedly leaned over again, an inch away from Han Yuan's face. Her fair face is red with excitement.
"With you, I am confident we can destroy the Hall of Souls, no, the Ancient Hun Clan to dust."
Han Yuan shrugged, "One step at a time."
"Indeed, one step at a time..." Murong Yun was stunned by his calmness, but then giggling even more while lifting his chin with her finger. "I can't wait for that masterpiece of a day to come."