Salt City's Mo Family (Seeking Recommendations, Collections, and Investment)

The next morning, before the thin mist had dispersed, a faint scent of blood lingered throughout the Xiao Family estate.

Along with it came soft sobs and mournful cries, an air of slaughter and desolation.

"Have you found out?"

The Xiao Family's First Elder wore an incomparably grim expression.

Who could have imagined that, while the younger generation of the Xiao Family had been celebrating last night, someone would come to assassinate them?

If Xiao Chen had not raised the alarm, the entire Xiao Family might have been finished.

Even so, the Xiao Family's situation was far from optimistic.

Nearly every member of the younger generation had been injured, and almost half the guards had been killed or wounded. If not for Xiao Ding and Xiao Li turning the tide, the casualties would have been even worse.

"It was the Mo Family of Salt City."

Salt City lay in the eastern provinces of the Jia Ma Empire. Its broad roads, crisscrossed by travelers, made it an essential passage to the eastern provinces from within the empire. Its strategic position was exceptionally favorable, which was why this city, known as the largest in the Jia Ma Empire's eastern provinces, was garrisoned by heavy imperial troops year-round.

Within Salt City, aside from the empire's forces, the Mo Family was the strongest power.

Due to the Mo Family's tyrannical monopoly, nearly sixty percent of Salt City's industries belonged to them. Even after deducting the necessary taxes and the vast sums spent greasing palms, their annual profits still fed the Mo Family until it grew ever fatter.

Although a large tree attracted the wind, with the colossal Misty Cloud Sect as its backer, even the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Family would not lightly seek trouble with the Mo Family. Thus, under such unrestrained growth, the Mo Family's influence had practically made it Salt City's local overlord. If the other three great families of the eastern provinces had not kept it in check, the Mo Family would likely have expanded its territory into other major cities long ago.

Even so, over the past few years, relying on its powerful backer, the Mo Family had steadily suppressed the three great families, assuming the posture of a sole, dominant hegemon.

"The Mo Family... this is troublesome."

After hearing the report from his subordinate, the First Elder's expression turned somewhat grave.

With the Misty Cloud Sect behind it, the Mo Family could crush the Xiao Family with a single slap, Xiao Chen aside.

Though the Mo Family could not be considered a first-rate force in the Jia Ma Empire, it was unquestionably among the best of the second-rate forces.

Moreover, because it had the Misty Cloud Sect behind it, even Dou Wang experts from first-rate forces would show it some respect.

After arranging compensation for the dead and wounded, the Xiao Family's First Elder departed to discuss with the other elders how they should deal with this matter.

As for Xiao Zhan, he had already consumed the Life Devouring Pill and would not emerge from seclusion anytime soon.

But once he did, he would be able to become a Dou Wang expert in one leap.

The Dou Wang realm was the first great chasm in Dou Qi cultivation, a chasm that directly blocked more than ninety percent of cultivators.

One could imagine that anyone capable of reaching this stage would be a regional overlord.

In the original story, aside from the Central Continent, where Dou Zongs were everywhere and Dou Emperors were worthless, Dou Wangs could be considered experts in all other places.

Once Xiao Zhan emerged from seclusion, even with the Misty Cloud Sect behind it, the Mo Family would have to pay a bloody price for this act.

In any case, the Xiao Family and the Misty Cloud Sect were bound to fight eventually.

Still, the First Elder could not understand why the Mo Family had attacked the Xiao Family with the intention of wiping them out completely.

One Dou Ling, more than ten Da Dou Shis, and over thirty Dou Masters—such a force was not easy even for the Mo Family to assemble.

"Cut off their heads and hang them outside. I want everyone to know: those who offend the Xiao Family—die!"

"Isn't that Blood Fiend, the empire's wanted criminal? He's a Three-Star Dou Ling expert!"

"Three years ago, the empire sent three Dou Ling experts to hunt him down, yet they still returned defeated. Who would have thought that such a notorious figure would fall into the Xiao Family's hands? Tsk, tsk! The Xiao Family truly runs deep. When I return, I must tell the family elders in advance that we can only befriend the Xiao Family, never offend them."

"Isn't that the Mo Family's Third Commander? How did he...?"

Before he could finish, the speaker hurriedly shut his mouth. Then, beneath the strange gazes of many people, he quickly left the crowd.

In less than half a day, news that the Xiao Family had cut off Blood Fiend's head and hung it outside their gates spread throughout the major cities around Stone Desert City.

At the same time, when Mo Cheng of the Salt City Mo Family received the news while awaiting word, his face first darkened with fury, then filled with concern.

Three years ago, Blood Fiend had escaped the pursuit of three imperial Dou Ling experts because Mo Cheng had secretly intervened.

If this matter were exposed, then...

"Spread the news. Say that the Xiao Family has obtained a treasure left behind by a Dou Emperor expert, and that Mo Jing colluded with Blood Fiend in an attempt to seize the Dou Emperor's treasure. The Mo Family deeply regrets this and has expelled all of Mo Jing's family from the Mo Family."

After pondering for a moment, Mo Cheng spoke in an icy voice filled with killing intent.

"Oh, and send the Xiao Family a generous gift as an apology. Make the apology as grand as possible. Better yet, go in person."

After hearing Mo Cheng's words, the Mo Family Patriarch could not help feeling a trace of sympathy for the Xiao Family.

Whether or not the Xiao Family had truly obtained the relic of a Dou Emperor expert—

From this day onward, they would know no peace.

After all, even some lone Dou Wang experts might be tempted by a treasure left behind by a Dou Emperor expert.

Although the Xiao Family had displayed strength that made the Mo Family wary, the Mo Family Patriarch believed that as long as he could tempt a single Dou Wang expert, the Xiao Family would not have an easy time.

As for why the Mo Family had attacked the Xiao Family, it was mainly because of Nalan Yanran.

After all, the entire Jia Ma Empire knew that Nalan Yanran, the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, was engaged to Xiao Yan, the Xiao Family's Third Young Master.

And this had become a major obstacle to Mo Ling of the Mo Family pursuing Nalan Yanran.

If the Xiao Family had obediently remained in Wutan City, the Mo Family would have had no way to deal with them.

But who would have expected the Xiao Family to come right beneath the Mo Family's nose?

How could the Mo Family possibly let such an opportunity pass?

Moreover, to ensure nothing went wrong, they had dispatched Blood Fiend, a notorious Dou Ling expert. Yet they had never expected to fail regardless.

"First Elder, this subordinate has already investigated the reason Blood Fiend and the others failed."

Suddenly, a black shadow entered from outside the hall.

"Speak!"

At this, Mo Cheng's eyes flashed with vicious light.

"The Xiao Family has a little girl capable of controlling a Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. It was this girl who controlled the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and joined forces with the Xiao Family's Dou Ling elder to kill Blood Fiend."

"Boom!"

"Is that true?!"

Before the words had even finished, Mo Cheng abruptly rose to his feet. The light in his sinister eyes surged as he demanded an answer.

His tone carried a thread of excitement he could not conceal.

At the same time, his powerful aura made even the black shadow below tremble.

"This subordinate has verified it repeatedly. It was indeed a little girl named Qing Lin who controlled a fourth-rank Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake Demon Beast and killed Blood Fiend."

"Good! Good! Good!"

"Heaven truly wishes to see the Mo Family flourish!"

"Mo Lin, prepare the gifts. This old man will personally go to the Xiao Family shortly and offer an apology."