Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

"hehe."

Before the chuckle had even faded, the sword was already drawn.

There was no sign of her drawing her sword; instead, two cold, moon-like sword lights suddenly shone brightly.

The light was so pure and so swift, it seemed not to emanate from the blade, but rather to be born directly from the void.

Mittel Tengshan didn't even have time to assume a defensive stance.

He felt a chill on his shoulders, followed by a wave of intense pain. Looking down, he saw that both his arms were severed at the shoulders, the cuts clean as a mirror. Blood gushed out a moment later, blooming into two poignant red flowers in the moonlight.

"what--!!!"

A scream ripped through the night sky. Mittel staggered backward, his fighting spirit surging out of control, shattering the tables and chairs around him into dust.

He stared at Yun Yun, his eyes filled with disbelief and deep-seated fear.

"You actually...you actually dared..." he hissed, his face contorted in agony, a terrifying sight: "Yun Yun! The Gama Royal Family will not let you go! The Yunlan Sect cannot protect you either!"

But then, an even more terrifying realization struck him.

The speed, power, and almost tangible sword intent of that sword strike—this is definitely not a realm that a beginner Dou Huang can reach.

Yun Yun's strength far surpasses that of others of the same level. And Yun Shan has secretly nurtured her for so many years; his intentions must be immense. Tonight, having stumbled upon this secret, he is certain to die.

The instinct to survive overwhelmed everything.

"Wait! Wait!" Mittel Tengshan's voice suddenly softened. He even knelt down on the ground, disregarding his status, and the blood from his severed arm spread out in a large dark red pool on the ground.

"Young Master Yun, I have something to say! I now know about Sect Master Yunshan's plan, and I can help you! The Mittel family is incredibly wealthy, and I can offer you all of our family's resources to help you fight against the royal family!"

He spoke very quickly, his mind racing: first, feign surrender to save his life, and there would always be a chance to turn the tables later.

Yun Yun looked at him quietly, her eyes devoid of any emotion, as if she were looking at an ant struggling for its last breath.

The moonlight shone on her pale face, and her once gentle and beautiful features were now only cold and icy, as if sculpted by ice and snow.

The experience with the snake-people four years ago had completely killed the naive young sect leader of the Yunlan Sect. Now, she is a soul that has crawled back from hell, living only for one person.

Live for the person who gave him a new life!

And this fool before us, attempting to harm the person the young master is protecting, even trying to fathom the young master's plans—

They don't deserve to live even a moment longer.

Mittel Tengshan continued his endless promises, each vow more eloquent and humble than the last. He even began to reveal the secret treasures of the Mittel family, exposing hidden assets that even Mittel Xue and her mother had never heard of.

Yun Yun raised her hand.

Bring your index and middle fingers together to form a sword gesture.

With just this simple movement, Mittel Tengshan's voice abruptly stopped. His eyes widened, and a thin, hair-like sword aura was reflected in his pupils. The sword aura was as transparent as crystal, almost invisible in the moonlight, yet it exuded a chilling aura that made one's soul tremble.

The sword energy pierced through his throat.

Mittelten's expression froze on his face, his lips still in the shape of speaking.

A thin line of blood appeared on his neck, and then his head slowly slid off his torso, rolling to the ground with a dull thud.

The headless corpse stood frozen in place for several seconds before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Then she turned to Mittelshe and Yafei, who were already standing there dumbfounded.

Chapter 139 Yunshan Takes the Blame (2)

The mother and daughter embraced each other, their faces pale and their bodies trembling slightly.

But in Mittel's eyes, besides fear, there was also a barely perceptible shock—she had witnessed firsthand what true power was, what decisive killing was.

"The danger has been eliminated." Yun Yun's voice remained indifferent, but the chilling killing intent from before was gone: "You should continue to complete the tasks assigned by the young master."

She turned to leave, the moonlight casting a long shadow behind her.

But his steps faltered slightly.

As if suddenly remembering something, Yun Yun turned half her face to the side. The moonlight illuminated her straight nose and long eyelashes, casting a faint shadow on her cold face.

"Don't reveal my identity," she instructed, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable authority.

"If someone asks, just say you don't know."

As she finished speaking, a pale blue aura emanated from her body. A pair of wings, entirely formed from battle qi, unfurled behind her, and with a gentle flap, a refreshing breeze swept through the hall.

Yun Yun's figure transformed into a streak of azure light and soared into the sky.

The moment she left, the surrounding space rippled slightly, and a transparent barrier dissipated like melting snow—it was a soundproof barrier she had set up beforehand to ensure that none of the commotion had escaped the room.

The moonlight flowed in again, and the candlelight began to flicker once more.

There was now a headless corpse and two terrified people in the hall.

Mittel Xue's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground. She looked at Mittel Tengshan's corpse, then at the boundless night sky outside the door, and finally realized that she and her daughter had just walked through the gates of hell.

“Mother…” Ya Fei supported her, her voice trembling slightly, but a certain light gradually ignited in her eyes: “The ‘young master’ that senior mentioned…”

“Don’t ask.” Mittel held her daughter’s hand tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh. “From now on, my daughter and I will just focus on running the auction house well and carrying out the business plan that the young master entrusted to us. As for other things—don’t ask, don’t think, and don’t get involved.”

She recalled Yun Yun's gaze before she left. Though there was no murderous intent in that gaze, there was something far more unsettling: an absolute, unquestionable control. It was as if they were merely pawns on a chessboard, while the one holding the pieces was far away in the clouds, looking down upon all living beings.

Ya Fei remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Outside the window, the capital city remained peaceful at night. In the distance, from the direction of the imperial palace, several powerful soul forces swept across the city, pausing briefly above the Mittel Manor, but found nothing unusual—the barrier set up by Yun Yun not only isolated the sound, but also perfectly concealed the fluctuations of battle qi; the skill was far superior to that of an ordinary Dou Huang.

The night was darker.

As Mittel and her daughter began dealing with the scene, a hundred miles away in the clouds, Yun Yun folded her battle wings and landed in Su Baichen's courtyard. Facing east—the direction her young master cultivated—she slowly knelt down.

"Young Master, the threat has been eliminated." She murmured to herself, a rare hint of warmth appearing in her cold eyes: "The people you asked me to protect, Yun'er has protected. Those ants who tried to guess your plans, Yun'er has dealt with."

The night breeze lifted her long hair and brushed against her cheeks; she closed her eyes slightly.

Four years ago, in the territory of the Snake-People, when she was abandoned by her mentor, severely injured, and lying in a dungeon awaiting death, it was Young Master who descended like a god, not only saving her but also giving her a new life. From that moment on, Yun Yun, the young sect master of the Yunlan Sect, was already dead.

Only the young master's maidservant survived.

That's it.

"Okay, I understand. You did a good job. Find an inn to rest first, and come find me tomorrow. I'll give you some pointers on your cultivation." Su Baichen's voice reached Yun Yun's ears.

When she reopened her eyes, the warmth had faded, leaving only a glacial resolve. Her azure wings unfurled once more, and her figure blended into the night.

Time quietly brought the morning to dawn.

The Mittel family's top brass did not sleep all night. From their initial confidence in victory, to the fact that the patriarch, Mittel Tengshan, had not returned by the time night deepened, a vague unease began to permeate the council hall.

At first, some people tried to remain calm, guessing that perhaps the clan leader had other business to attend to or was delayed by some accident.

But as the eastern sky began to lighten, the lights in the council chamber reflected increasingly anxious faces, and the thought they didn't want to dwell on finally overwhelmed all their hopes.

"Could something really have happened?" someone whispered, and the air froze instantly.

This speculation made them uneasy. The Tengshan Clan Chief was a Dou Wang powerhouse; capturing Mitelxue, a high-level Dou Ling, should have been as easy as taking candy from a baby.

The implications of not returning home all night are self-evident. Panic, like a cold vine, quietly creeps into everyone's heart.

"We can't wait any longer!" An elder suddenly stood up: "Send someone to the Ya family's new residence immediately!"

The men sent on their way were hurried and their hearts were heavy. When they arrived at the mansion, they saw Mittelxue standing calmly in the courtyard, looking as if she had just gotten up early to enjoy the scenery, and did not seem to have experienced any great changes.

"Mittelxue!" The newcomer suppressed his surprise and asked sharply, "Where is the chieftain?"

"Clan leader?" Mittel Xue tilted her head slightly, a faint hint of mockery playing at the corners of her lips. "What clan leader?"

"Stop pretending! It is naturally our clan leader, Mittel Tenshan!"

"Heh." She chuckled lightly, her gaze sweeping over the anxious yet furious faces before her. "You're looking for that old bastard Tengshan, so why have you come here?"

"You—!" The first man was furious, veins throbbing on his forehead.

“However…” Mittel Xue’s tone shifted, becoming playful, as if she had suddenly remembered something insignificant: “Last night when I was resting, I seemed to hear stray dogs barking outside, which was quite annoying. When I went out to take a look, I didn’t see anything decent, just an old dog lying there on its deathbed, which looked… rather offensive.”

"You bastard! Mittelxue, how dare you insult the clan chief, you..." The man was furious and almost rushed forward, but was held down by the shoulder by another person next to him.

"Calm down!" his companion urged in a low voice, his eyes fixed on Mittelxue. "The chieftain is in her hands. If we act now, we'll be the ones who suffer."

He took a deep breath, turned to Mittelshee, and tried to keep his voice steady: "What do you want to release them?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Mittel's eyes. The fish had taken the bait.

“Simple!” she said calmly, her voice clear and each word striking the other person’s heart: “Give back to me everything you’ve seized and swallowed up these past few days, in its entirety, without missing a single detail. Also…”

She paused, noticing the sudden change in the other person's expression, and slowly uttered an even more astonishing condition: "In addition, the ownership of an auction house in the capital."

"Hiss—" The man gasped, his eyelids twitching violently. These conditions weren't just harsh; they were outrageous, practically demanding the lion's share, threatening to rip out a huge chunk of the family's pride and joy! The Imperial Capital Auction House was one of the family's core sources of profit!

"This...this is absolutely not something I can decide!" His voice was hoarse. "I must go back and discuss it with the elders."

"Go ahead." Mittel smiled slightly, but there was little warmth in that smile. "Go, let's discuss this properly. But..."

She glanced at the gradually brightening sky and said meaningfully, "I might be able to wait, but I wonder if that 'old man' can wait any longer?"

The two men's expressions changed again, and they dared not utter another word. They gave Mittelxue a deep look, then turned around and disappeared into the end of the street at an even faster speed than when they came, leaving behind only a quiet mansion and the cold, confident smile on the lips of the woman in the courtyard.

Chapter 140 The Mittel Family's Compromise

Inside the Mittel family hall, the air was as still as lead.

Upon hearing the news brought back by their subordinates, every high-ranking official sitting at the long table had a deathly pallor on their face.

The candlelight flickered on the wall, casting long, distorted shadows of the crowd, as if foreshadowing the impending doom of this once-glorious family.

The environment was eerily silent, with only the ancient clock in the corner stubbornly ticking away, each second striking a chord in everyone's hearts.

"Snapped--!"

A burly elder slammed his hand down on the heavy mahogany table, causing the teacups to jump and spill brown tea all over the parchment bearing the family crest that covered the table.

"Why is everyone so quiet? Speak up! The clan chief is still in that traitor's hands!" Elder Reina's eyes were bloodshot, his voice booming, and veins bulging on his neck. He was Mittel Tengshan's younger brother, and his anger was mixed with an undisguised panic.

All eyes turned to him, their gazes complex—some filled with shared anxiety, others with indifference, and still others with hidden calculations.

After a long silence, Elder Lawrence, who was sitting opposite Reina and in charge of the family finances, sighed heavily and broke the silence: "Reina, it's not that we don't want to talk, but we don't know what to do."

This statement was like opening a floodgate.