Betrothal Gift—Pill of Breaking Sect

Xiao Zhan was not surprised by the Imperial Family's arrival, as he had long since received the visiting card they had sent.

Moreover, he had been informed in advance of the Imperial Family's purpose in coming.

Thus, the Xiao Family arranged their grandest welcoming ceremony to receive Jia Xingtian and the others.

For a time, cups were raised and exchanged, and both hosts and guests enjoyed themselves.

"Brother Xiao, have you considered this old man's proposal?"

After the banquet ended, Jia Xingtian, Yao Ye, Xiao Zhan, and the Xiao Family's three elders gathered in the main hall. Jia Xingtian spoke with a smiling expression.

As soon as he spoke, a captivating blush appeared on Yao Ye's pretty face beside him, making her look especially alluring.

The Imperial Family had come to forge a marriage alliance with the Xiao Family.

Princess Yao Ye, the Jia Ma Empire's eldest princess and future ruler of the empire, was to be betrothed to Xiao Ding, the Xiao Family's eldest young master.

It had to be said that this was a tremendous gamble, for even now, the Imperial Family could not confirm whether the heavenly phenomenon from some time ago was related to the Xiao Family.

However, there was one thing the Imperial Family could be certain of: everyone who had secretly set their sights on the Xiao Family during this period had vanished without a trace.

Among them were quite a few Dou Wangs, and even an old Dou Emperor who had long been hidden away within the Jia Ma Empire.

Yet without exception, they had all disappeared from the face of the earth, including the two Dou Ling experts sent by the Imperial Family.

Therefore, Jia Xingtian could be certain that the heavenly phenomenon from before was absolutely connected to the Xiao Family.

Especially after the phenomenon vanished, there had been a fleeting instant when an imposing aura, as though a deity stood towering over heaven and earth, had alarmed every expert in the Jia Ma Empire.

Though it had lasted only a moment, Jia Xingtian was one hundred percent certain that such a terrifying aura could only belong to the peak experts who existed solely in legends and myths.

This was also the crucial reason why the Imperial Family was in such a hurry to form a marriage alliance with the Xiao Family.

There was another reason as well.

If nothing unexpected happened, the eastern region of the Jia Ma Empire would soon fall under the Xiao Family's control.

But if the Imperial Family formed a marriage alliance with the Xiao Family, then the empire's eastern region would effectively be under the Imperial Family's control as well.

In truth, the Imperial Family's control over the entire Jia Ma Empire was not particularly strong.

It could even be said that if not for the Mu Family, the Nalan Family, the Mite'er Family, and other families friendly with the Imperial Family among the border armies, the Misty Cloud Sect would have long since taken complete control.

Even so, many people who had emerged from the Misty Cloud Sect held high-ranking positions in the army.

This could be seen clearly enough from the original story, when the Misty Cloud Sect pursued and captured Xiao Yan.

To put it bluntly, if Xiao Yan had not risen to prominence in the original story, then once Jia Xingtian fell, the Jia Ma Empire would likely have changed hands.

Even if Yun Yun had no desire to control the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect elders and the sect's forces throughout the empire would not have minded staging a foreign-world version of a military coup and donning the yellow robe.

It could not be helped. On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong devoured the weak.

As for laws, never mind whether they existed; even if they did, they applied only to ordinary people. For the strong, only rules laid down by someone even stronger had any effect.

Therefore, Xiao Zhan could not help but admire the Imperial Family's resolve. This was a tremendous gamble.

If they won, then after Jia Xingtian fell, the Jia Ma Imperial Family would at least not be utterly powerless against the Misty Cloud Sect.

At the very least, the eastern region controlled by the Xiao Family could serve as a path to survival.

Originally, besides Yao Ye, the younger princess Yao Yue had also come for a marriage alliance.

Her intended match was Xiao Yan, whose talent had recovered, but Gu He had been far too unreliable.

Even now, there had been no news of Nalan Yanran breaking off her engagement with Xiao Yan.

"Since Elder Jia thinks so highly of the Xiao Family, then my Xiao Family is naturally deeply honored. I, Xiao Zhan, will accept this marriage agreement on the Xiao Family's behalf."

"This is the betrothal gift from my Xiao Family. Elder Jia, please accept it."

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan took out the betrothal gift he had prepared long ago from his Storage Ring.

"Haha! Ye'er, why haven't you greeted your Uncle Xiao?"

Hearing Xiao Zhan agree, Jia Xingtian felt as though the stone hanging over his heart had finally fallen away, and he laughed heartily.

"Yao Ye greets Uncle Xiao."

At this, Yao Ye sighed softly inwardly. She rose with graceful and dignified bearing, her every movement revealing the noble aura of the Imperial Family. She gave Xiao Zhan an open and proper bow, without the bashfulness of a young maiden.

She did not agree with Jia Xingtian's decision in her heart, but the Imperial Family was weak and could only take this gamble.

After speaking, she accepted the brocade box from Xiao Zhan.

Though she was somewhat curious about what was inside, this was not the time to open it.

After returning to her seat, she handed the brocade box to Jia Xingtian.

What followed was a discussion between Jia Xingtian and the Xiao Family regarding the wedding date.

Within the Xiao Family's guest building, Jia Xingtian and Princess Yao Ye sat in the guest room arranged for them by the Xiao Family, speaking softly.

"Ye'er, do you blame me?"

Yao Ye fell silent, then let out a quiet sigh and said with a bitter smile, "There was no other choice. The Misty Cloud Sect is too powerful. If we allow them to continue developing, they will inevitably make a move against our Imperial Family. Once Ancestor falls, I fear Yun Yun alone would be enough to easily wipe out everyone in the Imperial Family."

"As for the Xiao Family, I cannot see through them, but I can be certain that they must have someone backing them. I only hope the Xiao Family does not become a second Misty Cloud Sect. Otherwise, this would not be driving off a wolf to swallow a tiger, but inviting a wolf into the house."

"Since our current strength cannot hinder them in any way, we might as well go with the flow and lend them a hand. Adding flowers to brocade is good, but it can never compare to delivering charcoal in snowy weather."

"Then let us only hope the Xiao Family does not become a second Misty Cloud Sect and seek to replace the Jia Ma Imperial Family. Otherwise, even if we must fight until both sides are ruined, we will make sure they pay dearly."

"Great-Grandfather, you jest. From what I have observed, though Xiao Zhan has some vision, he ultimately lacks great courage. The person behind the Xiao Family, however, is certainly no simple figure if they have allowed the family to develop so rapidly."

"By the way, Great-Grandfather, have you looked at the betrothal gift the Xiao Family gave us?"

"Not yet. What is it?"

"Then open it and take a look. I have a feeling it is something good."

A moment later.

"The Xiao Family truly has made a grand gesture!"

Looking at the pill inside the jade bottle, along with the energy ripples and medicinal fragrance it stirred in the surroundings, Jia Xingtian sighed.

The Pill of Breaking Sect could be considered a top-grade pill even among sixth-tier medicinal pills. Its effects were enough to make countless peak Dou Emperors green with envy. This pill did not increase one's strength, but it could raise a peak Dou Emperor's chance of advancing to Dou Zong by ten percent. Moreover, even if the user failed in their attempt to break through to Dou Zong, it would ensure that their strength remained at its pre-breakthrough level rather than falling. As everyone knew, a Dou Emperor's chance of advancing to Dou Zong was extremely low, and the process carried enormous risks. Should the attempt fail, a moment of carelessness could cause the Dou Qi within the body to fluctuate too violently, resulting in the most tragic outcome: a drop in cultivation level. This was what nearly every peak Dou Emperor feared most. At that stage, even the slightest drop in level would require vast amounts of time and effort to cultivate back, which was undoubtedly the most terrifying thing for them.

As a result, the effects of the Pill of Breaking Sect held fatal appeal for them. Though that ten percent chance of success seemed low, this tiny margin had already caused countless peak Dou Emperors to fall short.