The man in fine robes and his surrounding guards swallowed hard. They looked at Zhou Yan, who appeared unfazed, and finally understood that his declaration to destroy the Xuan Yin Sect was no idle boast.
"Can you truly destroy the Xuan Yin Sect?" the man in fine robes asked, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.
Sensing the turbulent emotions within him, Zhou Yan replied, "It seems you bear a great grudge against the Xuan Yin Sect."
"Do you have the confidence to eliminate them?" the man in fine robes inquired, his hope evident.
"A mere Xuan Yin Sect, what difficulty is there in its annihilation?" Zhou Yan answered with supreme confidence.
*Bang!* The man in fine robes immediately knelt before Zhou Yan, cupping his hands in a gesture of utmost respect. "If the immortal master can truly destroy the Xuan Yin Sect, I will spare no effort to assist you."
"Your Highness!" The guards around him gasped in surprise at their prince's prostration. However, recalling Zhou Yan's display of power, they conceded that such reverence was indeed fitting.
"Aren't you afraid I might fail? You place too much trust in strangers," Zhou Yan observed, his expression unperturbed.
"I, Zhang Hua, am willing to take this gamble. However, does the immortal master know anything about the Xuan Yin Sect?" Zhang Hua looked at Zhou Yan.
"Why bother understanding so much? Aren't they just a few old geezers at the peak of the Demigod realm? I can eliminate them with a flick of my wrist," Zhou Yan responded dismissively.
*Just a few peak Demigods...*
Zhang Hua and his guards were speechless. The sheer arrogance in his tone was astounding.
If not for Zhou Yan's earlier demonstration, which had proven his formidable strength, they would have certainly accused him of bragging.
"I am Zhang Hua, the First Prince of the Falling Cloud Kingdom. If the immortal master is absolutely certain, I am willing to lend my full support," Zhang Hua stated.
"You may rise. I do not require your full support, nor is it necessary. A mere Xuan Yin Hall, I can handle alone. You must be under the Xuan Yin Sect's protection, so why do you wish to destroy them?"
Zhou Yan was unaware of the Xuan Yin Hall's transgressions against these affiliated nations, but he could surmise they were not benevolent.
Zhang Hua stood up and replied, "The Xuan Yin Hall has indeed protected our nations for countless years. In the past, we were deeply grateful to them."
"However, as time passed, the Xuan Yin Hall's exploitation of our nations grew more severe. They are no longer what they once were."
"Their demands for resources each year increase, and more than half of our nation's annual revenue must be surrendered to them."
"Yet, they remain insatiable and seek even more. This is becoming unbearable for our nations."
"Several countries have been forced to increase taxes on their populace due to the Xuan Yin Hall's demands, only to face widespread resentment and rebellion."
"Two nations have already fallen due to popular uprisings, but this is of no consequence to the Xuan Yin Hall. New nations will simply be compelled to surrender wealth."
"Otherwise, they will be eradicated by the Xuan Yin Hall. A newly enthroned emperor, dissatisfied with their demands, was already eliminated by the Xuan Yin Hall. The entire imperial city, from top to bottom, was bathed in fresh blood."
"Tens of thousands of soldiers were massacred, and the entire imperial city was plundered. It is truly a situation that leaves one seething with silent rage!"
Listening to Zhang Hua's account, Zhou Yan was genuinely surprised. The Xuan Yin Sect was indeed a wicked entity, engaging in such atrocities.
"You are the First Prince of the Falling Cloud Kingdom, and you fear suffering the same fate, don't you?" Zhou Yan looked at him.
"Though I yearn to resist, I understand the consequences. Yet, if I do not resist, our entire nation will likely be destroyed eventually."
"The people of the Xuan Yin Hall have no regard for the survival of our nations, nor for the well-being of our citizens."
Zhang Hua openly shared his thoughts.
"Does the immortal master have some time? Perhaps you could grace the Falling Cloud Kingdom with your presence and rest there. In a few days, the Xuan Yin Hall will come to collect tribute from our nation, and you will witness their true faces then."
Zhang Hua's invitation was sincere, yet its underlying implication was clear: he sought Zhou Yan's assistance.
"Very well. Let me see the current state of your Falling Cloud Kingdom," Zhou Yan nodded.
"Thank you, immortal master. May I know your name?" Zhang Hua quickly inquired.
"Zhou Yan," Zhou Yan replied.
"Which direction is the exit? I will guide you. You are moving too slowly," Zhou Yan asked.
"Thank you, immortal master. We can reach it by flying in this direction," Zhang Hua quickly responded.
In the next moment, Zhang Hua and his guards felt themselves soaring through the air. Zhang Hua watched the mountains and valleys blur beneath them, utterly astonished.
The Falling Cloud Kingdom's imperial palace had its own Demigod realm protectors, but none of them could transport them through the air with such effortless grace as Zhou Yan.
"Is that the imperial palace of your Falling Cloud Kingdom?" Zhou Yan inquired.
"So fast!" Zhang Hua looked at the familiar palace below, his shock deepening.
If they had traveled on their own, it would have taken several days to return.
But how long had it taken Zhou Yan? Less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. The speed was simply astounding.
"Immortal Master Zhou Yan, this is indeed the place." Zhang Hua's respect for Zhou Yan grew even more profound.
*Swish!*
In the blink of an eye, Zhou Yan whisked Zhang Hua and his companions off the sky. When they opened their eyes again, they were standing outside the Falling Cloud Kingdom's imperial palace.
Zhang Hua looked at the grand imperial palace before him and let out a wry smile. While the entire Falling Cloud Kingdom was protected by a defensive array, it was merely a joke in the face of true power.
Zhang Hua became increasingly convinced that Zhou Yan possessed profound strength and that his vow to destroy the Xuan Yin Sect was no mere jest.
"Who goes there?" The imperial guards, seeing individuals suddenly appear outside the imperial city, rushed forward.
However, upon recognizing Zhang Hua, they immediately knelt. "Greetings, First Prince!"
Zhang Hua nodded and then said to Zhou Yan, "Immortal Master Zhou Yan, please."
They walked in calmly. Zhou Yan's current strength and cultivation were already formidable, but he lacked certain insights and experiences.
The reason Zhou Yan had come alone to destroy the Xuan Yin Sect was to gain more profound understanding.
It is said that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. This saying also holds true in the path of cultivation.
Zhou Yan was currently venturing into various worlds to gain experience, to deepen his comprehension of the myriad principles of heaven and earth, the diversity of human life, and the cycles of cause and effect in the mortal realm.
Otherwise, with Zhou Yan's power, he could easily locate the Xuan Yin Hall and annihilate it without difficulty, negating any need to waste time here.
But Zhou Yan had not chosen the easy path; he had his reasons.