Mite'er Family

Chapter 25

Located at the border junction of the Jia Ma Empire and two neighboring great empires, the renowned ancient academy stood quietly there, radiating an air of age and antiquity.

Though the academy did not possess an especially imposing appearance, its immense prestige and incomparably profound strength meant that even colossal powers like the Three Great Clans had to treat it with respect, not daring to show the slightest disrespect or negligence.

Within the ancient academy gathered students from all corners of the land. In their own little territories, they might have been exceptionally gifted talents, geniuses praised by ordinary people.

But geniuses seemed to be found by the basketful here. Thus, the cultivation talent they had once been proud of in their hometowns was merely barely passable here...

Because this was Jia Nan Academy!

On a secluded mountain peak within the ancient academy, beside a cliff, a Young Girl dressed in a pale green gown stood elegantly. The gentle breeze before her stirred her long dark hair, which fell to her hips, making it drift softly. As the hem of her skirt fluttered, it faintly outlined her perfect figure.

The Young Girl gazed quietly toward the distant eastern sky, silent and still, like a green lotus untouched by the dust of the mortal world.

After a long silence, the Young Girl suddenly spoke. Her clear, pleasant voice gave one the strange feeling that their soul had been cleansed.

"Come out..."

As her words fell, a green figure suddenly and strangely separated itself from a large tree behind her. He respectfully looked at the Young Girl with her back to him, dropped to one knee, and said respectfully, "Miss."

The Young Girl slowly turned around, revealing an exquisitely beautiful profile like flawless jade. It was Xun'er, who had entered Jia Nan Academy...

"Miss, Young Master Xiao Yan has arrived at the Jia Ma Imperial Capital!"

The Young Girl slowly turned around, and a gentle smile appeared on her delicate, elegant face. She softly said, "Brother Xiao Yan has finally made it there..."

Seeing the gentle expression on the Young Girl's lovely face, the green figure wisely remained silent. Only after some time, when her gaze focused on him again, did he slowly recount Xiao Yan's general experiences over this period.

However, the green figure's account was disjointed and scattered, as though it could not be connected at all, causing Xun'er's brows to furrow repeatedly.

A trace of bitterness appeared on the green figure's face as he said helplessly:

"Miss, Old Master Xiao is with Young Master Xiao Yan. According to Master Ling, Old Master Xiao seems to possess some special methods. He even detected him and issued a warning. We simply did not dare follow too closely..."

A flicker of surprise passed through Xun'er's bright eyes as she murmured softly:

"With Grandpa Xiao there, Brother Xiao Yan should be safe. But this time, he is going to the Misty Cloud Sect..."

"Pass on my orders. Have Master Ling protect Brother Xiao Yan and mind his limits. Do not follow too closely, do not anger Grandpa Xiao, and do not expose my identity..."

Because of Xiao Lin's special status, Ling Ying feared that he might possess some inherited method that would identify him, so he did not dare follow too closely. After receiving the warning, he directly withdrew.

Thus, the people Xun'er had sent out had not noticed Grandpa Xiao's true strength at all.

After Xiao Lin's group entered the Imperial Capital, their first priority was to find somewhere to stay.

Xiao Lin had long made plans for this. He looked toward Hai Bodong, dressed in blue robes, and directly set his sights on him.

After all, the Mite'er Family was one of the Three Great Clans of the Jia Ma Empire, with a long history and deep foundations. With their group right beneath the Misty Cloud Sect's nose, only the Mite'er Family was relatively safe.

Hai Bodong was no longer surprised by the Xiao Family's Old Clan Head seeming to know everything.

Since the other man had been able to find him hiding in the Ancient Map shop, it was only natural that he knew of his connection with the Mite'er Family.

Inside the reception hall at the Mite'er Family headquarters.

A group of old men from the Mite'er Family sat trembling in their chairs, casting respectful looks toward Hai Bodong, who sat in the seat of honor.

"Elder Hai, I never expected to see you again today. When you left and never returned, I nearly exhausted all my resources, yet I could not find even the slightest trace of you."

Below the seat of honor, an Old Man dressed in luxurious robes spoke with a somewhat excited expression.

"Something happened back then, so I lived in seclusion for all these years. Fortunately, it is all resolved now..."

Hai Bodong held a cup of fragrant tea, took a light sip, and said.

"Teng Shan, after all these years, you have become a Dou Wang as well. You have carried the Mite'er Family's heavy burden well. From now on, continue managing the Mite'er Family. I do not wish to interfere too much anymore. I imagine news of my return will reach that old monster in the imperial palace before long."

Hai Bodong nodded slightly and spoke softly.

"Hehe, Elder Hai's return is naturally the Mite'er Family's greatest joy."

The Old Man called Teng Shan was naturally the head of the Mite'er Family and one of the Jia Ma Empire's Ten Great Experts, Mite'er Teng Shan.

"By the way, those people will be staying temporarily with our Mite'er Family. Warn everyone below. They are distinguished guests of our family, so do not neglect them."

After catching up, Hai Bodong turned directly to Mite'er Teng Shan and spoke with great seriousness.

Seeing Hai Bodong's rare solemn expression, the elders in the hall and Mite'er Teng Shan could not help feeling shocked.

Knowing his temperament, they naturally understood that in the entire Jia Ma Empire, there were no more than five people qualified to make Hai Bodong treat them this way.

Just what sort of background did this group possess?!

Inside the distinguished guest room, Xiao Lin and Xiao Yan looked at the information Hai Bodong had just sent over and exchanged glances.

Several years ago, the Old Man of the Nalan Family had fought a Tier 5 Magical Beast, the Iron-branded Poison Seal Python, which was incomparably venomous.

Although he had ultimately killed it, he had unfortunately been injected with a terrifying poison, Brand Poison, by the beast...

Records contained no shortage of Tier 6 Magical Beasts that had been poisoned to death across tiers by the Iron-branded Poison Seal Python, which was enough to demonstrate the poison's terror.

Over the years, the Old Man of the Nalan Family had relied on his formidable Dou Qi to suppress the poison, but as he grew older, the poison's backlash became increasingly fierce.

Half a month ago, the Brand Poison lurking within him finally erupted completely. Under this outbreak, Old Master Nalan, whose strength was at the Dou Wang level, thoroughly collapsed.

Now, the entire Nalan Family was in chaos, searching everywhere for Alchemists to render aid.

Even Pill King Gu He could not completely remove the Brand Poison, because only someone possessing Heavenly Flames could thoroughly eliminate that poison.

Hai Bodong knew that Xiao Yan possessed Heavenly Flames. Considering the complicated relationship between the Xiao Family and the Nalan Family, he had specially sent someone to deliver this information.

"Grandpa, what do you think?"

Xiao Yan did not make a decision on his own. Instead, he first looked to the Old Clan Head. After all, Nalan Jie and the Old Clan Head had once made a pact as brothers sworn through life and death.

"Me?"

"I would rather he died."

Xiao Lin took a sip of tea and chuckled.

Not to mention that fifteen years ago, after Xiao Lin fell unconscious, the Nalan Family had immediately kicked him while he was down.

Nor was he even mentioning the Nalan Family's breaking off the engagement three years ago.

In the original plot, after Xiao Yan displayed heaven-defying talent atop the Misty Cloud Sect, that life-and-death brother's first thought had been to hope that the Misty Cloud Sect would kill Xiao Yan.