Jia Ma Empire

Biodata

Power Progression

The following milestones concern the empire's resident factions and political balance, rather than a cultivation realm belonging to the empire itself.

Geography and Locations

• Monster Beast Mountain Range migration area: The territory sought by the Snake People lies outside the empire's borders. Imperial mercenaries and members of major families nevertheless hunt magical beasts there, creating potential conflicts over its use 526.
• Cloud Mist Empire: Comparable to, and in some respects larger than, Jia Ma in territory, but considerably more chaotic 235.

Government and Major Factions

Imperial Family

• Jia Xing Tian — Royal guardian and, at the Alchemist Convention, the empire's strongest publicly recognized figure. He handles major security and diplomatic decisions 370 384 534.
• Yao Ye — Grand Princess and later acting regent. She oversees the convention's security force of fifty thousand troops and conducts palace negotiations 370 532.
• Nalan Jie — Highest-ranking general commanding the empire's forces during the eastern fortress war 337.

Domestic Power Blocs

Cultivation, Commerce, and Transport

• Regional power standard: A faction with a Dou Huang or Dou Zong can qualify as first-class within Jia Ma. The same strength would only barely reach second-rate status in the Central Continent 452.
• Prestige of alchemists: Alchemists hold a noble social position, with robes and emblems identifying their professional grade 286.
• Gu He's early reputation: After winning the empire's alchemy competition and joining the Yun Lan Sect, Gu He becomes a Sixth-Grade Alchemist and the empire's foremost alchemist 1.
• Mittel Auction House: The Mittel Family operates auction-house branches, though pressure from rival powers forces it to seek opportunities in remote cities such as Wutan 50.
• Flying transport: The empire provides civilian flying transport teams in sufficiently large cities. A journey from Blackrock City to the capital takes approximately three days 22.
• Relative purchasing power: Three thousand gold coins is described as an astronomical sum in Jia Ma, but buys only a comprehensive Northern Region map in the Central Continent 446.

History

Rivalry Between Throne and Sect

The imperial family and Yun Lan Sect maintain a peaceful public relationship while clashing privately. The Mu Family backs the throne, the Nalan Family increasingly leans toward the sect, and the Mittel Family initially remains neutral. Gu He's refinement of a Sixth-Grade Pill at the Mittel Auction House causes Jia Xing Tian to suspect that the Mittel Family has changed allegiance 85.

Snake People Offensive

Long-standing hostility separates Jia Ma from the Snake People, whose confinement to the barren Tagor Desert motivates their search for better living conditions. Queen Medusa orders an advance toward the empire's eastern border 295 305.

At the border fortress, Nalan Jie's four Dou Wang defenders struggle against four Snake People leaders using a combined formation. Xiao Yan, acting as Yan Xiao, joins them and restores the balance. Yao Ye seeks Yun Yun's assistance, while an expert associated with Liu Ling protects Stone Desert City. Nalan Jie later credits Yun Yun and the reclusive Stone Desert City expert with the enemy's retreat 337 338 369.

Alchemist Convention and Political Shift

The Seventh Alchemist Conference brings competitors and influential families to the capital's Royal Plaza. Liu Ling's performance and the mysterious Black Robe participant attract particular attention; the latter is eventually recognized as Little Doctor Immortal 368 372 394.

Little Doctor Immortal's subsequent battle with Xiao Yan publicly exposes the Yun Lan Sect's hidden strength. Jia Xing Tian concludes that the royal family can no longer treat the sect as it previously did. Gu He and Yun Yun's wedding then draws the empire's royal family, major clans, and alchemists, with many guests seeking marriage alliances involving Gu He's disciples 410 411 416 417.

Negotiated Snake People Migration

Liu Ling agrees to help the Snake People leave the desert after Queen Medusa and seven tribal leaders swear not to proactively attack Jia Ma's people. He travels to the capital with Yue Mei to obtain passage through the empire's fortress 530 532 533.

Yao Ye fears that settlement near the border will threaten imperial subjects, but also worries that refusal could antagonize Liu Ling and the Dan Sect. Jia Xing Tian approves the request without additional conditions. Liu Ling reinforces the tribal oaths by promising to intervene if the Snake People threaten the empire 534.

Mercenary Guild Expansion

The Luo Yan, Mu Lan, and Xuan Hua empires attempt to recruit Jia Ma into an alliance opposing Liu Ling's Mercenary Guild. Jia Ma has not declared a position when Elder Liu reports the proposal, but Liu Ling is confident that it will not obstruct him. After the opposing alliance is suppressed, Jia Ma and the Cloud Mist Empire welcome the guild's development within their borders 598 608.

External Threats

• Soul Hall recruitment of Yun Shan: A Soul Hall agent offers to help Yun Shan reach Dou Zong, suggesting that he could then eliminate the royal family and unify the empire 83.
• Xiao Family Ancient Jade: Soul Hall operatives enter Jia Ma to obtain the jade. To avoid openly violating agreements between the eight great clans, they seek local factions as cover, making the Yun Lan Sect a likely scapegoat 421.
• Gu He's countermeasures: Gu He prevents his sect from taking the blame. His controlled protectors are later stationed near Wutan City and the imperial capital 421 431.

Royal Emblem and Founding Legend

• Royal crest: Depicts a massive mythical beast roaring upward, surrounded by a peculiar flame that produces water-like ripples 387.
• Founding legend: Folk accounts claim that a powerful divine beast repeatedly saved the imperial family during the empire's early history. The narration explicitly cautions that these unofficial stories contain exaggeration 387.
• Surging Dragon Beast: Fa Ma and Hai Bodong identify Princess Yao Yue's blue flame as its Azure Water Flame and express surprise that the long-dormant beast is still alive. Jia Xing Tian smiles without explaining further 387.