In the days following the meeting with Hai Bodong, Xiao Yan did not venture out much. Instead, he remained quietly within the Xiao Estate, focusing on his recovery. He knew that if he wanted to establish a force in the Jia Ma Empire that was stronger than the Yunlan Sect, he must have sufficient strength to intimidate the empire’s various forces and powerhouses. Otherwise, it would all just end up as a laughing matter.
While Xiao Yan was recuperating, Mount Yunlan finally became empty. With the departure of many Yunlan Sect disciples, people in the empire who had previously believed the rumors were now convinced that this powerful sect, which had stood for hundreds of years, was indeed disappearing from the empire.
With the dispersal of the Yunlan Sect disciples, the situation within the empire became somewhat strange. The dominant power of the Jia Ma Empire had always been the Yunlan Sect, but now that it had fallen, the vacuum left by its absence would naturally cause many forces to covet and lust after the position. However, while they coveted it, no one was foolish enough to loudly proclaim their intention to replace the Yunlan Sect, for everyone knew that the only one with the qualifications and strength to do so was the Third Young Master of the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan, who had defeated Yun Shan!
Everyone was waiting to see what the actions of this reticent young man would be next.
Within a quiet hall in the Jia Ma Imperial City, Jia Xingtian and Princess Yao Ye were seated, occasionally frowning and murmuring to each other.
“Yun Yun has already dismissed the Yunlan Sect’s disciples. In the future, the Yunlan Sect will become a historical term of the Jia Ma Empire,” Yao Ye rubbed her forehead. She had been closely watching the Yunlan Sect’s every move, and upon confirming that Yun Yun had indeed acted according to the agreement, she breathed a sigh of relief. The imperial family had been worried and wary of this behemoth located near the imperial city for many years. Now, with the chance to topple it, they would not give it any chance to rise again.
Jia Xingtian nodded slightly, but his face held no trace of a smile. His gaze swept through the window, staring at a particular direction within the capital, muttering, “Although we have eliminated the Yunlan Sect, a new, even more powerful young lion has emerged. I wonder whether this is a blessing or a curse for the Jia Ma Royal Family.”
Yao Ye fell silent, then sighed, smiling bitterly, “There was no other way. With our strength alone, we could never bring down the Yunlan Sect. Their ambitions were well-known, and if left unchecked, they would certainly act against the royal family. At that point, Yun Shan alone could easily wipe out the entire royal family.”
Jia Xingtian’s face was grave as he slowly spoke, “I have received news that Xiao Yan intends to form a powerful force within the empire. When that happens, it might be another ‘Yunlan Sect’. What should we do about this?”
Upon hearing this, Yao Ye’s delicate face also grew serious. After pondering for a while, she shook her head with another bitter smile, “Xiao Yan’s current power is already no less than that of the Yunlan Sect. Not to mention that he himself can contend with Battle Sect-level experts, but there is also an actual Battle Sect by his side, the Queen Medusa, who once caused great damage to our Jia Ma Empire. If we show even a hint of hostility, it might instead bring disaster upon ourselves.”
“Should we just watch him build his power unchecked?” Jia Xingtian frowned.
“Xiao Yan is not as ruthless as Yun Shan. He values loyalty and righteousness. For such a person, trying to confront him head-on would only backfire. Therefore, we must take a roundabout, conciliatory approach,” Yao Ye said after a moment’s thought.
“A conciliatory approach?”
“If you show respect to Xiao Yan, he will return it tenfold. But if he discovers that you have ill intentions, he will immediately turn hostile, and his retribution will be merciless.” Yao Ye added, “Since we cannot stand in his way with our current strength, we might as well go with the flow. In the future, it might even benefit the continuity of the royal family.”
“You mean not only not obstructing him but also helping him?”
“There is no other way,” Yao Ye nodded helplessly. Xiao Yan had many powerful allies. If he was provoked and sent out the Queen Medusa, how many in the imperial city could stand up to her? Since force wasn’t an option, there was no choice but to use softer means.
Frowning, Jia Xingtian tapped his finger lightly on the table, then sighed, “Very well, let’s try as you suggest. I hope this young man doesn’t have the same thoughts as Yun Shan and wants to replace our Jia Ma Royal Family. Otherwise, even if it means fighting to the mutual destruction, we won’t let him get away with it.”
Seeing Jia Xingtian nod, Yao Ye smiled slightly, then suddenly said, “Actually, the downfall of the Yunlan Sect has brought some disadvantages to our Jia Ma Empire. Without the Yunlan Sect, we will no longer qualify to participate in the Regional Sect Conference in the northwest. That would lead to more mockery from neighboring empires. Oh, right… I heard that the State of Departed Cloud has undergone significant changes in recent years. Many small and large forces have disappeared, and now, only one massive force remains in the empire.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of this. It seems to be called the ‘Poison Sect,’ both mysterious and highly formidable. Intelligence reports say that the enigmatic master of the Poison Sect might be strong enough to rival Battle Sect-level experts. Perhaps, at the next ‘Sect Conference,’ the Poison Sect will become a major force capable of matching the Sky Serpent Manor and Thunderbolt Sect. Then, the State of Departed Cloud might truly become a threat…”
As Jia Xingtian spoke, his expression darkened. The State of Departed Cloud and the Jia Ma Empire had long been at odds, with conflicts breaking out along their borders almost annually.
“If our Jia Ma Empire cannot present a formidable force and strong experts, our status in the northwest region will diminish,” Yao Ye sighed.
Jia Xingtian nodded slightly, his eyes flashing for a moment, then he said firmly, “It seems we must rely on Xiao Yan. All right, this time, I’ll trust the kid!”
“Grandfather, you won’t be disappointed,” Yao Ye smiled. She was a good judge of character and knew that Xiao Yan, who valued loyalty and gratitude, would not betray those who helped him.
“Are you so confident in him?” Seeing Yao Ye’s unwavering belief in Xiao Yan, Jia Xingtian’s eyes turned peculiar, and he scanned her face before laughing, “Yao Ye, do you fancy the boy?”
“Grandfather, what are you saying!” Yao Ye’s cheeks flushed red as she scolded him.
“That boy’s talent is unmatched, and his looks are not bad either. Though cold and stern, he is a man of deep feeling. He is indeed an excellent choice. If you truly like him, Grandfather can help mediate. If the two families can unite, I would be completely at ease.”
Ignoring Yao Ye’s red cheeks, Jia Xingtian continued talking.
“Stop dreaming. That guy already has a beauty like Queen Medusa by his side. Even if you want to marry Yao Ye off, he might not be interested,” Yao Ye shook her head helplessly, giving Jia Xingtian a look.
Though she admired Xiao Yan greatly, as a princess destined to become the Empress, her pride would never allow her to share her husband, no matter how excellent he was.
Jia Xingtian frowned and nodded helplessly. It seemed that the guy had quite a few women around him, and he didn’t show any interest in Yao Ye, which made him very helpless. He had to dispel the idea.
“Let it be. Once that kid recovers, you can visit him on behalf of the royal family and convey our intentions. The Jia Ma Empire needs a strong and competent force and expert. From the looks of it, he is the best choice.” Jia Xingtian waved his hand and stood up, heading out of the hall as he spoke.
Watching Jia Xingtian’s departing figure, Yao Ye nodded slightly.
“Oh, send out more spies to gather information on the ‘Poison Sect’ of the State of Departed Cloud. More intelligence never hurts,” Jia Xingtian suddenly stopped at the door, adding, “Pay close attention to this. I feel something is amiss with the ‘Poison Sect.’ To have wiped out all the forces in the State of Departed Cloud, they must be extraordinary. But the State of Departed Cloud… shouldn’t have such a formidable group, right?”
Puzzled, Jia Xingtian sighed and shook his head, “Ah, it seems the State of Departed Cloud has been quite chaotic in recent years. This damn ‘Poison Sect,’ where did it come from?”
Finding no answers, Jia Xingtian sighed and left the hall.
Watching his disappearing figure, Yao Ye gave a bitter smile. She had already sent many spies, but the ‘Poison Sect’ was too mysterious. Gaining internal information was extremely difficult, and even if the spies managed to infiltrate, it was still hard to reach the core. The last intelligence she received from the State of Departed Cloud was just two words: Poisoness!
“Poisoness?” In the hall, Yao Ye muttered, her voice filled with confusion and bewilderment.
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