Ye Liuyun had withdrawn from combat during this period, focusing solely on cultivation. After countless sparring sessions with Qiang Hui and Tuolin—both formidable experts at the fourth level of Dominator—he finally broke through to the same realm.

Eager to test his newfound strength, Ye Liuyun, accompanied by his doppelganger, led Qiang Hui, Tuolin, and their own duplicates into the vast expanse of the starry sky for an unrestrained bout. Initially, he fought two against three, but soon realized he could hold his own alone. Eventually, he alternated with his doppelganger in a one-versus-three battle.

Ye Liuyun’s prowess wasn’t limited to just his formidable soul power. He placed equal emphasis on his physical body and bloodline strength, both of which shone in combat. His robust physique bolstered his defenses, ensuring that even when struck, he remained battle-ready. Meanwhile, the suppressive effect of his bloodline restricted Qiang Hui and the others, hampering their full potential.

Moreover, his mastery of blade intent had recently advanced, making the one-versus-three challenge far from overwhelming. As he grew more accustomed to wielding the power of a fourth-level Dominator and his command of celestial forces improved, handling the trio became increasingly effortless.

After several days of relentless training, Ye Liuyun had fully acclimated to his new realm’s power and returned to his base.

His current residence was none other than the royal palace of the Lingyun Dynasty. Since the dynasty’s founding, the palace had exhibited a peculiar trait—only the entrance was guarded, while the interior remained largely unpatrolled. Even first-level Dominator cultivators could enter freely.

However, Qiong Qi had woven numerous intricate formations throughout the palace. Any intruder would find escape nearly impossible. Yet, these formations remained inactive as long as Ye Liuyun was present. He had long hoped for someone bold enough to attempt an ambush, but none had dared—until now.

It wasn’t until their forces marched against the Hongyu Dynasty that the Lingyun Palace received its first uninvited guest: the ancestral elder of Hongyu, a fifth-level Dominator powerhouse.

The moment the elder arrived, he unleashed his oppressive aura, enveloping the entire palace. Yet, upon scanning with his divine sense, he found only Ye Liuyun inside—composed and gazing back at him with unshaken calm. Flustered, the elder withdrew his pressure.

"So, you are Ye Liuyun?" he called across the distance.

Ye Liuyun soared into the air to meet him. "Indeed, that’s me," he replied. "And you must be the ancestral elder of Hongyu?"

The old man nodded in acknowledgment when he realized Ye Liuyun recognized him. "Indeed, I am Moran," he said, his voice carrying the weight of years. "Since you’ve guessed who I am, you must know why I’ve come."

"Call off your troops? Not a chance. Unless you can beat me in a fight!" Ye Liuyun replied with a grin, his eyes alight with anticipation. Deep down, he was eager to see just how far his own strength fell short against this legendary figure.

Moran was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Ye Liuyun to show not even a flicker of fear.

*Could this brat really have some extraordinary ability? The rumors say he can teleport people...*

Moran narrowed his eyes and warned, "Withdraw your forces now, or I’ll reduce this entire planet to dust with a single strike. You’re not even close to my level—you wouldn’t survive it."

"You’d have to hit me first!" Ye Liuyun shot back. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing far beyond the planet’s atmosphere, streaking toward the void of space.

But Moran wasn’t fooled. "You might escape, but what about your palace? This world?"

"Keep it! It’s all yours!" Ye Liuyun called back, his tone almost cheerful. "There’s no one there I care about, anyway. But just remember—whatever you do to this world, I’ll do the same to the Hongyu Dynasty!"

He wasn’t worried in the slightest. The Hongyu Dynasty had far deeper roots than he did. If anyone feared the destruction of worlds, it would be them.

Moran hesitated, weighing his options. In the end, he decided it wasn’t worth risking everything over a lone rogue like Ye Liuyun. Instead, he gave chase.

Seeing Moran follow, Ye Liuyun smirked and accelerated, darting deeper into the cosmos. To his surprise, Moran’s spatial abilities were lackluster—he couldn’t even keep up.

*He must’ve spent too much time meditating in his palace, polishing his cultivation in isolation,* Ye Liuyun mused. Unlike himself, who had honed his spatial powers through constant travel across the stars, Moran clearly lacked real-world experience.

Through his golden pupils, Ye Liuyun noticed something else—Moran’s energy wasn’t as refined as it should be. Perhaps he had trained alone for too long, with no worthy opponents to test himself against. Or maybe his dwindling lifespan made him reluctant to waste energy in battle.

Ye Liuyun led him far away from his own planet before finally coming to a stop.

"Right here! If you can defeat me, I’ll give you something special to extend your life a little longer," Ye Liuyun said to Moran with a confident smirk.

"Hmm?" Moran raised an eyebrow, surprised that the young man could see through his weakness. He shook his head with a wry smile. "Must we really do this? I may be running on fumes, but you’re still no match for me."

"Don’t be so sure, old master. Give it your best shot! If I say I can prolong your life, I mean it. You could even stay by my side afterward as my sparring partner," Ye Liuyun replied earnestly.

Moran couldn’t help but chuckle at the audacity. The young man’s tone was respectful enough, yet his words were nothing short of astonishing.

"Such confidence in youth. Well, if you insist, this old man will have to give it everything he’s got!" With a resigned sigh, Moran began channeling his true essence.

Ye Liuyun met him head-on, throwing his full strength into their first palm strike. Despite his condensed profound energy, the impact sent him flying backward. His body, usually resilient as tempered steel, couldn’t withstand the force—both his arms shattered from the shockwave.

As he soared through the air, a thought flashed through his mind: *The gap between the fifth and fourth levels of the Sovereign Realm is even vaster than I imagined.* Each tier in this realm was worlds apart.

This outcome had caught him completely off guard.

Moran, though rarely honed through combat, was no novice. Seizing the opportunity, he harnessed spatial energy to close the distance, aiming to deliver a finishing blow.

Reacting swiftly, Ye Liuyun activated his temporal power, freezing time around him. He downed a drop of Life Spring Water, accelerating his recovery. By the time time resumed its flow, his injuries had significantly healed. In a blink, he teleported away, evading Moran’s strike.

When time normalized, Moran appeared at Ye Liuyun’s previous location, only to find the young man already at a safe distance—his arms nearly fully restored.

*This kid really has some tricks up his sleeve,* Moran mused silently.

Without hesitation, he launched another palm strike toward Ye Liuyun.