Yun Leng: Humiliated, Utterly Humiliated!

The Jia Ma Empire was structured similarly to a feudal system. On the Dou Qi Continent, where the strong reigned supreme, such a system was fairly reasonable.

The imperial family was the empire's ruler in name, yet its territory was carved up and occupied by forces large and small. Although every major city had a City Lord's Mansion appointed by the imperial family, it was sometimes merely symbolic.

Such an empire resembled a coalition of families, with the imperial family simply being the largest among them.

In cities without powerful factions, the City Lord held the greatest authority.

But in cities with Local Snakes and petty tyrants, the City Lord had to keep his tail tucked between his legs.

An empire's territory was vast and its cities numerous, while the imperial family's experts were limited.

Wutan City could barely be considered a first-rate city within the Jia Ma Empire, yet the City Lord sent by the imperial family was only an ordinary Da Dou Shi.

A battle involving the Three Great Families swiftly ended in a one-sided fashion after the Xiao Family's top experts entered the fray.

Though the battle had ended, the chain reaction it caused had only just begun.

Xiao Family, Xun'er's courtyard.

Beneath a large tree stood a graceful girl dressed in a pale green gown. The gentle breeze blew her long black hair, which cascaded to her hips, causing it to drift softly. As her skirt fluttered, it faintly outlined her flawless figure.

The girl's eyes were calm as she gazed toward the Xiao Family's back mountain in silence, like a green lotus in the mortal world, untouched by dust.

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

"Elder Ling, what do you think of the Xiao Family's situation?"

Dou Emperor Ling Ying, dressed in a black robe, emerged from the shadows and respectfully asked Xun'er:

"Miss, the Xiao Family Clan Members' increase in strength is rather abnormal! Also, Young Master Xiao Yan often disappeared before, and even Clan Leader Xiao Zhan vanished a few days ago. Old Man suspects that the Xiao Family may have a Dou Sheng Small World left behind!"

"The item Miss is searching for may be within that Dou Sheng Small World. Should we contact the clan?"

Ling Ying respectfully bowed as he observed Xun'er's reaction.

It was more than merely abnormal. In less than a year, Xiao Zhan had broken through from a Five-Star Great Dou Shi to the Spirit Battle Realm, while Xiao Han, whose qi vortex had been crippled, had directly become comparable to a Six-Seven Star Dou Ling!

The former could still be explained as being a Late Bloomer, and was barely acceptable.

But what about the latter? Even his qi vortex had shattered, reducing him to a cripple. Yet he had suddenly recovered? As a Dou Ling, it was impossible that he had once consumed a Seventh-Grade Pill, the Yin Yang Xuan Dragon Pill, right?

"Senior Xiao Xuan once entrusted our Ancient Clan with taking good care of the Xiao Clan, didn't he?"

Without responding to Ling Ying's words, Xun'er lightly caught a fallen leaf drifting down from above with her slender, jade-like fingers and spoke calmly.

"Uh, that was a Thousand Years Ago. Miss, you know that Old Man had not even been born a thousand years ago, so I do not know those secrets."

Ling Ying froze slightly, then gave a helpless bitter smile.

For Dou Sheng Experts such as Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi, a thousand years was nothing.

But as a mere Dou Emperor, even if he lived a Second Life, he could not possibly live for a thousand years.

Besides, how could a minor Dou Emperor like him possibly know of agreements between experts of that level?

"Four Da Dou Shi. Even in the Ancient Clan, such a level would be exceedingly rare, wouldn't it? Is this how our Ancient Clan took care of the Xiao Clan?"

"It is only because Senior Xiao Xuan does not know. Otherwise, when the Heavenly Tomb opens, who would still dare enter?"

Xun'er shook her head.

As the Ancient Clan's young lady, after learning about what had happened back then, even she felt that her family's conduct had been utterly disgraceful.

The Xiao Family had previously been Reduced To only four Da Dou Shi. Was this how the Ancient Clan had taken care of them?

Even if Hun Tiandi, Xiao Xuan's enemy from back then, learned of this, he would laugh at the Ancient Clan, wouldn't he?

Xiao Xuan: Gu Yuan, four whole Da Dou Shi. Is this how you took care of my Xiao Clan?

Hun Tiandi thought for a long time and still could not remember what realm Da Dou Shi even was!

"Miss, you mean...?"

Ling Ying was somewhat dumbfounded.

"Brother Xiao Yan has his own secrets, so let him be. The Xiao Family has no Dou Sheng Small World. Even if it does, it does not. Elder Ling, you should understand what I mean."

The girl raised her exquisite face. In her beautiful eyes, which resembled autumn waters, a wisp of tiny golden flame suddenly surged forth...

"Miss, I understand!"

Ling Ying's heart trembled, and he hurriedly replied.

Sigh, Young Master Xiao Yan, you truly had the upper hand. At such a young age, you already stole Miss's heart. Their relationship has not even been confirmed, yet she is already taking your side.

"Yan'er, the Misty Cloud Sect's Dou Ling elder has already been killed by Fourth Uncle. Next, we will likely face retaliation as fierce as a storm."

Inside the council hall, five figures gathered together. Xiao Zhan spoke first, drawing everyone's attention to Xiao Yan.

"The Misty Cloud Sect Leader, Dou Emperor Yun Yun, is one of the Empire's Top Ten Experts. Under her command are multiple Dou Wangs, such as Yun Leng and Gu He. If they are determined to avenge that Dou Ling elder... we cannot stop them on our own!"

After hesitating for a moment, the Great Elder voiced his thoughts.

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the hall grew somewhat heavy.

"No matter. Spread the news throughout the Jia Ma Empire. Say that on the day our Xiao Family Clan Leader advanced to the Spirit Battle Realm, he joined forces with the family's experts to kill a Dou Ling spy from the Chu Yun Empire, celebrating the empire's prosperity!"

"At the same time, request a reward from the imperial family!"

Xiao Yan's expression remained calm. The situation's development was entirely within his grasp.

He had not only accounted for their strength, but had also calculated the personalities of the Misty Cloud Sect's many experts. This was called an Open Conspiracy!

With the personalities of old fogies like Yun Leng, even if the one who died were Yun Leng himself, they would never allow Misty Cloud Mountain's thousand-year reputation to be ruined!

Although the Misty Cloud Sect's doctrine was not to interfere in changes of the imperial family, whenever foreign enemies such as the Snake People Tribe, Chu Yun Empire, or Luo Yan Empire invaded, they would always be the first to resist.

At this time, after operating for over a thousand years and through the efforts of generations of sect leaders, one could call the Misty Cloud Sect domineering, but never evil!

At the very least, they valued their public reputation greatly.

A mere Dou Ling was not enough to make them abandon that reputation. At most, they would act in secret; they would never make a grand spectacle of it.

"Young Clan Leader, is this the Moral Blackmail you mentioned before? Although the Misty Cloud Sect's conduct has become increasingly hypocritical, they cannot cast off the mask of a hypocrite so quickly!"

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

The Second Elder's eyes lit up as he clapped and laughed.

"Kill Two Birds with One Stone. Regardless of the truth, once the news spreads, in the eyes of the empire's citizens, our Xiao Family will be heroes—the heroes who killed a Dou Ling spy!"

"Yun Leng was already stopped by Mu Chen when he came down the mountain. With, uh... public opinion, yes, the public opinion Young Clan Leader once mentioned, if the Misty Cloud Sect truly makes a move, the nearby Jia Ma Imperial Family will definitely not stand idly by!"

The Third Elder considered an even deeper layer and praised him repeatedly.

"The Young Clan Leader is not only a cultivation genius. His grasp of human nature is truly incisive!"

Xiao Han smiled as well.

"The family's Shadow Guard should keep watch on the movements of the Misty Cloud Sect and the imperial family at all times. Time is on our side."

Xiao Yan stroked the Ancient Ring on his hand, and his gaze suddenly deepened.

Once Teacher awakened, they would gain another Dou Emperor-level Ally, one who would not attract the Soul Hall's attention.

Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, one of the previous generation's Empire's Top Ten Experts!

Although he had been afflicted by Queen Medusa's Snake Seal Technique, once Teacher recovered his Four-star Dou Zong strength, breaking a seal left behind by a Peak Dou Huang would be effortless.

A faint smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face. He was not worried that the Xiao Family would encounter danger in the short term. Instead, he was rather looking forward to Yun Leng's reaction.

Kill Two Birds with One Stone?

No, Kill Three Birds with One Arrow!

This was an opportunity, an opportunity for the imperial family to test the Misty Cloud Sect.

How could one allow another to sleep beside one's bed? The Misty Cloud Sect had been pressing down on the Jia Ma Imperial Family for so many years. Yun Shan had vanished without a sound, Yun Yun was still immature, and Xiao Yan did not believe that Linen-robed Elder Jia was any kind soul!

Two days later, Misty Cloud Sect.

"Humiliated! Utterly humiliated!"

"No, Old Man cannot swallow this outrage!"

He viciously slammed a notice onto the table. Staring at the glaring words "Chu Yun spy" written on it, Yun Leng's eyes instantly turned bloodshot as he panted like a bull.