Xiao Lin's gaze swept across everyone present before settling on Jia Xing Tian and Yao Ye at one spot around the round table.
He had not expected the royal family to send two people, both of them figures of considerable weight: Jia Xing Tian, the royal family's guardian deity, and Yao Ye, the future Empress.
As though sensing Xiao Lin's gaze lingering on them, Jia Xing Tian said with a smile, "This matter concerns the future of the Jia Ma Empire and is of great importance, so this old fellow came along."
"The royal family thinks so highly of this matter. The Xiao Family is deeply honored."
Xiao Lin and Jia Xing Tian exchanged pleasantries, each praising the other, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant.
This allowed the people from the other factions to breathe a sigh of relief. It was good that these two families had not fallen out over this matter.
Xiao Lin withdrew his gaze, then looked toward everyone and said, "Since everyone is here, let us discuss the main matter."
At those words, everyone hurriedly focused their attention.
Xiao Lin did not waste words and went straight to the point in a grave voice.
"You should all know that the Jia Ma Empire holds no lofty position in the Northwest region of this continent. Even in the past, with a faction like the Misty Cloud Sect, we still amounted to little in the Northwest.
"Now that the Misty Cloud Sect has been destroyed, the Jia Ma Empire's standing in the Northwest will decline severely. As people of the Jia Ma Empire, I assume none of you wish to see such a situation, correct?"
Hearing this, everyone nodded slightly, though their eyes remained on Xiao Lin. This situation had existed for a long time already.
The Jia