After breaking through to the Fifth Layer of the Opening Realm, Lin Yun decided not to tell Ye Yunlong. When night fell, he quietly went to Imprisoned Dragon’s room. The two sat in chairs, and Lin Yun spoke softly. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"I’m leaving tomorrow."

Hearing this, Imprisoned Dragon appeared very calm; he had long expected this day. "Did you break through to the Fifth Layer of Opening?"

Nodding, Lin Yun looked at Imprisoned Dragon. He was as cold as ever, his face expressionless. With a slight smile, Lin Yun asked, "What about you? What are your plans? Why don’t you come with me? We can go to Yanhuang Academy together."

Having extended the invitation, Lin Yun eagerly awaited Imprisoned Dragon’s reply. However, after a long moment, Imprisoned Dragon finally looked at Lin Yun and said slowly, "I’m not going."

"Why? Could it be..." Lin Yun began, but before he could finish, Imprisoned Dragon spoke again, forcing Lin Yun to swallow his words.

"I’m different from you. Going to Yanhuang Academy is useless for me. You know, Lin Yun, some choices can’t be changed once they’re made. I came to the Death Row Shelter when I was eight, and it’s been eleven years since."

"I wouldn’t learn anything even if I went to Yanhuang Academy," Imprisoned Dragon said calmly.

Hearing this, Lin Yun understood what Imprisoned Dragon meant. Although he understood, he still felt a little disappointed. Seeing Lin Yun like this, Imprisoned Dragon gave a rare, slight smile.

"Don’t be like that. We’re friends. I’ve been following you around since we were little, and it’s the same now that we’re grown."

Imprisoned Dragon offered a rare bit of comfort. The two looked at each other and then shared a knowing smile, each understanding the other’s thoughts.

Looking at Lin Yun, Imprisoned Dragon’s expression grew serious. "I’m going to the Death Row Shelter headquarters. I can become stronger there, and I’ll wait for you. When that day comes, I, Imprisoned Dragon, swear that I will become the sharpest sword in your hand, helping you cut down any enemy who stands in your way."

Imprisoned Dragon spoke with great seriousness, and Lin Yun was deeply moved. He gave Imprisoned Dragon a tight hug. "We are brothers. Wait for me at the Death Row Shelter. I will definitely come find you."

They each had their own goals, but this didn’t diminish their bond. On the contrary, at this very moment, they both truly saw each other as brothers.

"Imprisoned Dragon, you have to stay alive in the Death Row Shelter."

The words had barely left his lips when the entire Mysterious City suddenly shook violently, as if from an earthquake. At the same time, deep within the Yunlu Mountain Range, a towering fire erupted, soaring into the sky.

With the sudden upheaval, Lin Yun and Imprisoned Dragon had no time for goodbyes. They rushed out of the room and looked toward the Yunlu Mountain Range. A raging inferno, like a giant of flame, soared into the heavens.

"What is this...?" Lin Yun murmured, unsure of what was happening. Just then, Ye Yunlong appeared in the air above them. He gazed toward the Yunlu Mountain Range, a grave look in his eyes.

’Something must have happened in the Yunlu Mountain Range...’ Lin Yun thought.

All night, the people of Mysterious City watched the Yunlu Mountain Range. The three Primordial Ocean Realm experts all sent men into the mountains to investigate, but without exception, not a single one had returned by morning.

Dawn arrived, but on this day, the skies above Mysterious City were thick with dark clouds. Not a single ray of sunlight broke through, and an unusually heavy atmosphere settled over the entire city.

The three great Primordial Ocean Realm experts gathered together. In the main hall of the Iron Blood Gang, Ye Yunlong, Iron Blood, and the Blood Refining Ancestor were all present.

"A massive change must have occurred in the Yunlu Mountain Range. All the Demon Beasts in the mountains have become extremely frenzied. The Tier Three Demon Beasts from the depths have invaded the territory of the Tier Two Demon Beasts, and the Tier Two Demon Beasts have invaded the territory of the Tier One Demon Beasts. The displaced Tier One Demon Beasts have already gathered outside the city," Iron Blood said in a low, heavy voice.

Overnight, the Yunlu Mountain Range had descended into complete chaos. With their territories seized by Tier Two Demon Beasts, the Tier One Demon Beasts had no choice but to leave the Yunlu Mountain Range and enter human territory. At this moment, many Tier One Demon Beasts were already prowling the outskirts of Mysterious City.

"Everything must be related to the fire in the Yunlu Mountain Range. Whether it’s the Tier Three or Tier Two Demon Beasts, they all seem to be afraid of something—something deep within the Yunlu Mountain Range," Ye Yunlong said.

Due to the sudden upheaval, Ye Yunlong had no time to pay attention to Lin Yun and had gone straight to the Iron Blood Gang. Meanwhile, Lin Yun had already assumed a different appearance and was walking the streets of Mysterious City.

"Did you hear? All the Tier One Demon Beasts from the Yunlu Mountain Range have come into human territory. Over ten thousand of them have gathered outside the city now."

"Of course. I heard from someone in the Iron Blood Gang that the Demon Beasts seem to be afraid of something in the mountains. That’s why they fled and came to the outskirts of the city."

Listening to the discussions around him, Lin Yun grew curious. ’What could possibly make these Demon Beasts behave so abnormally, to the point they wouldn’t even dare stay in the mountains?’

’Oh well. No one knows who I am right now anyway. I’ll stick around for now and see what’s going on,’ Lin Yun decided.

Taking advantage of the upheaval in the Yunlu Mountain Range, Lin Yun had escaped from the Death Row Shelter. He had also used the Disguise Technique to change his appearance. Now, even if Ye Yunlong were standing right in front of him, he wouldn’t be able to recognize him.

Before he left, however, Lin Yun had written a letter to Ye Yunlong and placed it on the table in Ye Yunlong’s main hall. As long as Ye Yunlong returned, he would surely see it.

The letter didn’t say much, only that the inheritance was fake and he should stop cultivating it, otherwise he would certainly suffer a cultivation deviation.

Over the past few months, Ye Yunlong had indeed helped him quite a bit. Although his motive was to obtain his inheritance, Lin Yun believed in repaying kindness with kindness and enmity with enmity. Before leaving, he still gave Ye Yunlong a warning.

In any case, he hadn’t lost anything; in fact, he’d gotten Ye Yunlong to invest so much in him. Lin Yun felt that giving him a warning was only fair.

Mingling with the crowd, Lin Yun slowly made his way to the top of Mysterious City’s walls. By this time, several thousand of the city’s Martial Artists had already gathered there.

Looking out beyond the city walls at the densely packed horde of Tier One Demon Beasts, Lin Yun’s curiosity only deepened.

Judging by the actions of these Demon Beasts, the Yunlu Mountain Range where they once lived had now become like a demon, striking immense fear into them. They didn’t even dare to get close to the mountain range anymore.

’What on earth could make these Demon Beasts so terrified?’ Lin Yun wondered.

Logically, not even a Tier Three—or even a Tier Four—Demon Beast should be able to terrify the entire population of Demon Beasts in the Yunlu Mountain Range into abandoning their territories.

The Tier Three Demon Beasts fled the depths of the Yunlu Mountain Range for the territory of the Tier Two Demon Beasts. In turn, the Tier Two Demon Beasts abandoned their own lands and ran to the outskirts of the range, while the Tier One Demon Beasts didn’t even dare to remain on the outskirts, fleeing directly into the territory of the Human Race.

With this sudden upheaval, everyone was guessing that something incredible had emerged, or perhaps some kind of treasure.

At this moment, it wasn’t just Mysterious City. Tier One Demon Beasts were appearing throughout the entire Yunlu Mountain Range, Iron Gate Pass, the Nan Feng Kingdom, and in all the major towns and villages.