The Empire's Situation!

Even the Imperial Family of the Jia Ma Empire had to admit that a new hegemon of the empire had been born; from this day forward, if they wished to survive within the empire, dealing with the Xiao Clan would be unavoidable.

At this moment, Yun Yun stepped out from the ranks behind Xiao Ze and approached him, her expression complex.

"Xiao Ze, the Misty Cloud Sect is finished, and my master has already paid the price for his crimes. But the disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect are innocent—can you spare them?"

"I will do whatever you ask of me, as long as you stop hurting them." Yun Yun's plea carried a hint of humility.

She bore an inescapable responsibility for how things had reached this point.

"Master!" Nalan Yanran felt a pang of heartache.

"Xiao Ze, all of this was caused by me. Kill me or punish me as you wish, but please, do not make things difficult for my master."

Watching Nalan Yanran's pitiful expression, Xiao Ze sighed inwardly. He had never intended to do anything to Yun Yun in the first place—could they please stop overthinking things?

He was still trying to figure out how to coax her, especially since he had just silenced her master only moments ago...

Scanning the members of the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Ze said indifferently, "The Misty Cloud Sect is destroyed; my goal has been achieved. If I were to add more casualties now, how would I be any different from Yun Shan?"

Xiao Ze's meaning was clear: his target was Yun Shan, and as long as he was eliminated, he was content to let the disciples be.

After all, without Yun Shan, a Dou Zong powerhouse, the remaining dilapidated Misty Cloud Sect could no longer stir up any major trouble.

Before he even had to make a move, other factions would be more than capable of devouring them entirely.

"Thank you." Yun Yun expressed her heartfelt gratitude.

Being able to protect the disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect was the last thing she could do for the sect as its leader.

"However, to prevent the Misty Cloud Sect from ever rising again, you, as the Sect Master, must stay by my side." Xiao Ze shifted the topic.

The statement caught Yun Yun completely off guard.

She had never expected Xiao Ze to make such a demand.

Ya Fei, standing in the crowd, felt an immediate sense of crisis. With a woman's intuition, she could tell from their exchange that their relationship was far from shallow.

Moreover, Yun Yun was not only beautiful but also possessed the cultivation of a Dou Emperor at such a young age.

One had to ask, what man in this world wouldn't be attracted to her?

And she herself was only a Dou King; the disparity in their strength was clear for all to see.

No, I must study a few more outfits when I get back, or my position will be stolen.

As Xiao Ze's woman, Ya Fei was well aware of his little quirks; he had a particular fondness for exotic attire, especially those garments known as "uniforms."

"Return!" Having ended the battle, Xiao Ze waved his hand.

Today's operation had gone quite smoothly; although there were a few minor hiccups, they did not affect his killing of Yun Shan and Protector Wu.

Furthermore, Xiao Ze had gained a new understanding of his own strength, which could be considered a bountiful harvest.

Qing Lin and Xiao Zi followed closely behind; it seemed they hadn't really done anything, having essentially become spectators.

There was no helping it—the battlefield was too high-level, and aside from Queen Medusa, they simply couldn't get involved.

The Dou Emperor cultivation level was still too weak.

That was their primary takeaway.

Yun Yun watched their departing figures, hesitating slightly before turning her gaze toward her disciple.

"Master..." Nalan Yanran had lost her former arrogance, suddenly appearing much more composed.

"Yanran, take good care of yourself while I am away. I leave the Misty Cloud Sect to you." Yun Yun gave her final instructions.

"Master..." Nalan Yanran started to speak but stopped.

She didn't want this Misty Cloud Sect; she only wanted her master by her side.

Yun Yun sighed, "If you do not wish to be the Young Sect Master, I can dissolve the Misty Cloud Sect."

Following Xiao Ze now, she did not know what might happen, but the Misty Cloud Sect had made too many enemies. Without her protection, Nalan Yanran alone could never defend it.

Rather than being carved up and dismantled, it was better to make plans early.

Nalan Yanran hugged Yun Yun, shedding tears of regret.

Yun Yun saw it in her eyes and felt the pain in her heart.

"I must go. Remember to take care of yourself."

Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Yun Yun followed the retreating back of Xiao Ze, leaving Nalan Yanran alone in the wind.

Back in the Imperial Capital, the Mite'er Family immediately held a victory banquet.

As the Great Elder of the clan, Mite'er Tengshan's mouth was practically stretched from ear to ear with his grin.

With the massive behemoth that was the Misty Cloud Sect gone, in this Jia Ma Empire, aside from the Xiao Clan, wouldn't his Mite'er Family be the ones calling the shots in the future?

This deal had been worth it for him!

"Supreme Elder." Mite'er Tengshan was genuinely happy to see Hai Bodong.

If not for the foresight of the Supreme Elder, how could their Mite'er Family have latched onto such a massive powerhouse as the Xiao Clan?

Arriving before Xiao Ze, Mite'er Tengshan opened his narrowed eyes for the first time, as if he intended to see right through the person before him.

"Ya Fei has already told me everything. Thanks to your care during this time, my Mite'er Family is deeply grateful."

Aside from the Supreme Elder, Ya Fei was the second greatest contributor to their Mite'er Family.

"Ya Fei is my woman, after all; this is only what I should do," Xiao Ze said with a smile.

"It is Ya Fei's good fortune," Mite'er Tengshan replied courteously.

"I believe that given Ya Fei's capabilities, the Mite'er Family should place more importance on her," Xiao Ze continued.

"That goes without saying. I am currently preparing to pass the position of Patriarch of the Mite'er Family to her." Standing beside such a big shot, Mite'er Tengshan felt immense pressure.

He was terrified that one wrong move might provoke the dragon's wrath.

"That is good." Xiao Ze nodded in satisfaction.

He had come on this trip specifically to back Ya Fei up.

As his woman, how could she remain a mere auctioneer? This vast Mite'er Family was the battlefield where she should be competing.

After all, he could not stay in the Imperial Capital forever; the Jia Ma Empire was simply too small.

Subsequently, Xiao Ze turned his gaze toward Hai Bodong. "Old Hai, Ya Fei is but a woman; I hope you will look after her more in the future."

"Rest assured, with this old man here, no one will be able to harm her," Hai Bodong guaranteed.

He was quite fond of the child, Ya Fei.

If she could become the Patriarch, she would surely be able to take the Mite'er Family to the next level.

Just as the victory banquet was halfway through, the representative of the Jia Ma Empire Imperial Family, Jia Xingtian, was the first to arrive at the gates of the Mite'er Family.

They did not rashly barge in, but instead stood outside and waited.

Only the Mite'er Family possessed the prestige to make the helmsman of the Imperial Family go to such lengths.

"Great-grandfather, must we really do this?"

Standing before the gate, Princess Yaoye of the Jia Ma Empire had a slightly flushed face, appearing somewhat reluctant.

"Great-granddaughter, this is a helpless move. If we do not take action now, our Imperial Family will be hollowed out by others."

"We have already missed one opportunity; this time, no matter what, we must seize it. Xiao Ze is young and exceptionally talented; you won't find a second person like him in this entire Jia Ma Empire."

"If you could become his bedfellow, it would not be a bad thing," Jia Xingtian said faintly.

Ever since returning from the Misty Cloud Sect, that previous battle had left an indelible memory in his mind.

One had to realize that in this Jia Ma Empire, the number of Dou Emperor powerhouses could be counted on one hand.

Yet, the other party not only had several Dou Emperors but also two Dou Zong powerhouses.

That battle of the Dou Zongs had nearly scared him to death.

He had pondered and fretted over it until he was nearly driven mad, but fortunately, he had found an opportunity.

Men, after all, were fond of women; one could tell as much just by looking at the people around him.

He asked himself, and his great-granddaughter was certainly not lacking in beauty.