Entering the Jia Ma Empire

Great!

Zhang Nian felt ecstatic inside. Rank 1 to Rank 6 medicinal herbs were common enough, but once they reached Rank 7, they were considered rare treasures, and Rank 9 was incomparably precious. With this herb vault, he could save himself a lot of trouble.

Moreover, Zhang Nian already had a plan in mind. The system prompt stated that medicinal pills gifted to disciples would not be returned, but it never said that pills he refined himself wouldn't be returned. Heh heh!

Not only that, but once his own cultivation realm dropped, the existence of the herb vault would highlight his mastery over spatial abilities, allowing him to keep his two disciples in check in the future.

Inside the spatial rift, little Zi Yan curiously examined everything around her, occasionally asking questions as childish as those of a toddler.

"Master, where are we going~"

"Master, it's so strange around here."

"Why are there little bubbles around me? Can I pop them!"

Zhang Nian didn't say much. He flipped his hand and tossed out a Rank 4 Zilan Flower, saying domineeringly, "Be good, Zi Yan. Have this as a snack; we'll be there soon." With that, he raised his hand and rubbed Zi Yan's little head. It had to be said, Zi Yan's innocent and ignorant cute face was truly irresistible. He glanced to his right at the cold and glamorous Medusa, the two forming a stark contrast.

Before he could even sigh, a bright light appeared ahead. Zhang Nian quieted down slightly, immersing his mind into his consciousness to check the prompt board. Hmm, ten more minutes—that would be enough.

Since he had chosen the Jia Ma Empire as his landing spot, he naturally had to make a bit of a scene. As for why it was the Jia Ma Empire, it was simply because this was a small place.

People in small places were always easily satisfied. What Zhang Nian needed right now wasn't some peerless genius; through the system, he could be the strongest one himself. However, he had to improve his strength as quickly as possible, and the best way to do that was to increase his disciples' favorability. Increasing favorability would boost the return multiplier. As for whether their aptitude was good or bad, he could always find ways to change it.

"Boom!"

Jia Ma Empire.

Imperial Capital.

A crack suddenly appeared in the blue and white sky, a black void accompanied by peals of thunder, telling the people below that today was no ordinary day.

"Hiss... this aura..."

At this moment, on the misty Misty Cloud Mountain, inside a quiet chamber, Yun Shan was slightly stunned. This unusual aura made him feel fear—yes, fear. The noisy sounds from the sect outside caught his attention, and he immediately stood up, pushed open the door, and flew outside. Yun Yun was organizing the sect disciples to prevent a larger riot.

He revealed a look of relief; it seemed that in a few more years, he would be able to officially step down.

"Swish~"

"Swish~"

Several figures gathered above the Misty Cloud Sect. The first to arrive was the hemp-robed old man Jia Xingtian, the guardian of the Jia Ma Imperial Family.

"You noticed it too, right? This... I'm afraid a powerhouse has descended..." Jia Xingtian didn't say much. He hoped more than anything that it was a rare treasure appearing; if not, tearing through space was a method belonging to a Dou Sheng.

"Hoo... you might not be wrong." Yun Shan's gaze was grave as he stared fixedly at the crack not far above. He could already feel three auras rapidly approaching: one was a Dou Spirit, one was a Dou King, and the third was unfathomable. His perception collided with it like an egg hitting a rock; even just a momentary contact made his mind surge.

"Yo, quite a full house, aren't we?" A cold aura descended, causing the two to frown. This guy was still so fond of showing off his Ice Dou Qi; every time he appeared, he had to make people shiver. The person who arrived was none other than the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, though his current strength had barely reached a one-star Dou Emperor, and he was inevitably feeling a bit high-spirited.

"Swish~"

Following a sound of breaking air, three figures flashed past and stood directly above the Misty Cloud Sect. Zhang Nian couldn't help but size them up. Judging by their auras, the one radiating cold air should be the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, the one in the hemp robe was definitely the Jia Ma Imperial Family's guardian Jia Xingtian, and as for the last one, using the process of elimination, he knew it was Yun Shan. In the Jia Ma Empire, there were only two people who could possess the strength of a peak nine-star Dou Emperor.

The three were the first to arrive. They looked at each other, feeling the aura of the powerhouse above, and didn't dare to move a muscle. They were, after all, people from a small empire; although they were knowledgeable, they couldn't overcome the layer of fear in their hearts. Compared to the two elders of the Snake-People Tribe and the various elders of Jia Nan Academy, they were quite lacking.

Seeing that they didn't make a move, Zhang Nian didn't intend to bother with these clowns. He turned his head to look at the two disciples he had just taken in and said with a doting smile, "What do you think of the scenery of this Misty Cloud Mountain?"

Looking down at the mist-shrouded mountain range and the lush environment, the optimistic Zi Yan didn't know what was about to happen and said from the heart, "It's very nice here; I quite like it."

Medusa seemed to have thought of something. For some reason, she was actually looking forward to it happening. The reason was simple: the Jia Ma Empire's attitude toward the Snake-People Tribe made her hold hostility toward anything belonging to the empire. She said with a hint of shyness in her voice, which was as melodious as a nightingale, "I also like it here, Master."

Zhang Nian didn't think too much about it. He turned his head to look down, raised his hand to support his two disciples, and sped downward.

A gust of wind blew, and facing them was a young man with two girls of different appearances, one of whom made the three men alert.

A Snake-Person!

Could it be!

They were suspicious and uneasy. Could this be a powerhouse from the Snake-People Tribe coming to seek revenge?

Just as they regained their composure, the three figures arrived in an instant. Zhang Nian's naturally imposing aura made the hearts of the three men pound.

"My Lord, I wonder what brings you here." Jia Xingtian was the first to respectfully cup his hands and bow. At a time like this, being blind would only lead to a faster death.

The other two followed suit. What a joke, this was a Dou Sheng!

Zhang Nian raised his hand slightly, and the space around him surged, appearing with faint, water-like ripples. Immediately after, Hai Bodong and Jia Xingtian were pushed outside the barrier. The two outside breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed he wasn't targeting them.

Inside the barrier, Yun Shan swallowed nervously. In the Jia Ma Empire, he was the boss, but in front of Zhang Nian, he was nothing. He was very clear about that.

"That... Saint, you..."

Zhang Nian raised his hand to interrupt. He had six minutes left and didn't want to waste time. He said, "I've taken a liking to this Misty Cloud Sect. I won't say much more: three Rank 8 medicinal herbs, and this mountain belongs to me."

Rank 8??

Yun Shan rubbed his ears in disbelief. It wasn't a robbery, but an exchange?

Although the Misty Cloud Sect's treasury had many treasures, the most precious were only some Rank 5 or 6 pills and a single Rank 7 herb. Rank 8 was something he would never reach in his entire life.

"Hoo~ Are you sure?"

Taking a deep breath, Yun Shan confirmed again, his tone even more respectful than before. The waist that had never bent before was now bowed at a sixty-degree angle.

He flipped his palm and casually took out three medicinal herbs. With a flick of his wrist, wrapped in Dou Qi, the herbs flew forward like meteors, stopping abruptly right in front of Yun Shan.

"The payment is settled; from this moment on, Misty Cloud Mountain is my territory."

As his voice fell, Zhang Nian waved his hand to dispel the barrier, and a repulsive force silently sent Yun Shan dozens of miles away. Immediately after, he aimed both hands at Misty Cloud Mountain, his gaze sharpening. In an instant, the colors of the heavens and earth shifted, and seven-colored light filled the horizon. At the same time, the people below in the Misty Cloud Sect plaza were pushed outward as if rejected by their surroundings, landing steadily outside the reach of the light.

"Boom!"

Following a tremor that shook the heavens and earth, the Misty Cloud Mountain, once shrouded in mist and breathtakingly beautiful, seemed to be draped in a veil. Viewed from the outside, it appeared only as a blur, and then a powerful voice emanated from within, its Dou Qi wrapping around and extending for ten thousand miles.

"I, Zhang Nian, known as the Qinglian Saint, now reside at Misty Cloud Mountain in the Jia Ma Empire. The boundaries of this place are clearly defined; trespassers will be punished!"