Including the Jia Ma Imperial Family, they had no choice but to admit that a new overlord had risen in the empire. From now on, anyone hoping to survive in the empire would inevitably have to deal with the Xiao Clan.
At that moment, Yun Yun stepped out from the faction behind Xiao Ze and came to stand before him, her expression complicated.
"Xiao Ze, the Misty Cloud Sect is gone, and my master has already been punished for his crimes. But the Misty Cloud Sect's disciples are innocent. Could you spare them?"
"I'll do whatever you ask of me, as long as you stop hurting them." Yun Yun pleaded, her voice tinged with humility.
Things had come to this point, and she bore an inescapable share of the responsibility.
"Teacher!" Nalan Yanran's heart ached.
"Xiao Ze, this all started because of me. Do whatever you want to me, but please don't make things difficult for my teacher."
Looking at Nalan Yanran's pitiful expression, Xiao Ze sighed inwardly. He'd never intended to do anything to Yun Yun. Could they please stop imagining things?
He was still wondering how to coax her into feeling better, after all. He'd just killed her master...
His gaze swept across the Misty Cloud Sect disciples, and Xiao Ze said coolly, "The Misty Cloud Sect is already destroyed. I've achieved my goal. If more people die, how would I be any different from Yun Shan?"
His meaning was clear. His target had been Yun Shan; all he needed was to eliminate him. As for the disciples, he would let them be.
After all, without Yun Shan, a Dou Zong expert, the remnants of the Misty Cloud Sect couldn't stir up much trouble.
Even without his intervention, the other factions would be more than capable of devouring it whole.
"Thank you." Yun Yun was sincerely grateful.
Protecting the Misty Cloud Sect's disciples was the last thing she could do for the sect as its leader.
"However, to prevent the Misty Cloud Sect from rising again, you, its sect leader, will have to stay by my side." Xiao Ze abruptly changed tack.
Yun Yun was completely caught off guard.
She hadn't expected Xiao Ze to make such a demand.
Watching from the crowd, Ya Fei immediately felt a sense of crisis. A woman's intuition told her from their conversation alone that the two had a close relationship.
Besides, Yun Yun was quite beautiful, and she'd reached the Dou Emperor level at such a young age.
What man in the world wouldn't like her?
Meanwhile, Ya Fei was only a Dou Wang. It was obvious who had the advantage.
"No, when I get back, I'll have to come up with a few more outfits. Otherwise, someone's going to steal my place."
As Xiao Ze's woman, Ya Fei knew all about his little quirks. He loved outlandish clothes, especially the kind called "uniforms."
"Let's head back!" With the battle over, Xiao Ze waved his hand.
Today's operation had gone very smoothly. There had been a minor hiccup, but it hadn't stopped him from killing Yun Shan and Protector Wu.
What's more, Xiao Ze had gained a fresh understanding of his own strength. He'd come away with quite a lot.
Qing Lin and Xiao Zi followed close behind. It seemed they hadn't accomplished anything at all, and had merely become part of someone's stats panel.
There was nothing they could do. The battlefield had been too high-level. Aside from Queen Medusa, they couldn't get involved at all.
Their Dou Emperor cultivation was still too weak.
That was their first impression.
Yun Yun watched them depart, hesitating for a moment as she looked toward her disciple.
"Teacher..." Nalan Yanran had lost her former arrogance and become much more composed.
"Yanran, take good care of yourself while I'm gone. I'm leaving the Misty Cloud Sect in your hands." Yun Yun gave her final instructions.
"Teacher..." Nalan Yanran trailed off.
She didn't want the Misty Cloud Sect. She only wanted her teacher by her side.
Yun Yun sighed. "If you don't want to be the young sect leader, I can disband the Misty Cloud Sect."
She didn't know what might happen when she went with Xiao Ze. The Misty Cloud Sect had made too many enemies, and without her protection, Yanran alone wouldn't be able to keep them safe.
Better to make plans now than let the sect be carved up and torn apart.
Nalan Yanran hugged Yun Yun and wept tears of regret.
Yun Yun watched her, her own heart aching.
"I have to go now. Remember to take good care of yourself."
After wiping away Nalan Yanran's tears, Yun Yun followed Xiao Ze's departing figure, leaving her alone, bewildered in the wind.
Back in the imperial capital, the Mittel Family immediately held a celebration banquet.
As the clan's Great Elder, Mite'er Tengshan was grinning so broadly his mouth nearly reached his ears.
With the Misty Cloud Sect, that colossal presence, gone, the Xiao Clan would be the only power in the Jia Ma Empire stronger than the Mittel Family. From now on, wouldn't the Mittel Family have the final say?
This deal had been more than worth it!
"Grand Supreme Elder." Mite'er Tengshan was sincerely delighted to see Hai Bodong.
If not for the Grand Supreme Elder's foresight, how could the Mittel Family have attached itself to a giant like the Xiao Clan?
Coming before Xiao Ze, Mite'er Tengshan opened his usually squinted eyes for the first time, as if trying to see right through him.
"Ya Fei told me everything. We're deeply grateful for your care of her during this time."
Aside from the Grand Supreme Elder, Ya Fei was the Mittel Family's second greatest contributor.
"Ya Fei is my woman, after all. It was only right for me to do those things." Xiao Ze smiled.
"That's Ya Fei's good fortune." Mite'er Tengshan replied politely.
"I think the Mittel Family should make better use of Ya Fei's abilities," Xiao Ze continued.
"Of course. I'm planning to pass the position of clan leader to her." Standing beside such a powerful figure, Mite'er Tengshan felt immense pressure.
He was afraid that one wrong move might offend Xiao Ze.
"Good." Xiao Ze nodded with satisfaction.
He had come along on this trip to back Ya Fei.
As his woman, how could she remain a mere auctioneer? The vast Mittel Family was the arena where she should vie for power.
After all, he couldn't stay in the imperial capital forever. The Jia Ma Empire was simply too small.
Then Xiao Ze turned to Hai Bodong. "Elder Hai, Ya Fei is a woman, after all. I hope you'll look after her in the future."
"Rest assured. With me here, no one will be able to hurt her," Hai Bodong promised.
He liked Ya Fei, too.
If she became clan leader, she could surely take the Mittel Family to even greater heights.
Just as the celebration banquet was halfway through, Jia Xingtian, the Jia Ma Empire Imperial Family's representative, arrived at the Mittel Family's gate.
They didn't barge in recklessly. Instead, they waited outside.
Only the Mittel Family had enough standing for the head of the Imperial Family to go this far.
"Great-grandfather, do we really have to do this?"
Standing before the gate, the Jia Ma Empire's princess, Yaoye, blushed, looking somewhat reluctant.
"My great-granddaughter, we have no choice. If we don't act now, our Imperial Family will be reduced to puppets."
"We've already missed one opportunity. This time, we must seize it. Xiao Ze is young and talented, with a fine appearance. There isn't another man like him in the Jia Ma Empire."
"Becoming the woman by his side wouldn't be such a bad thing." Jia Xingtian said softly.
Ever since he'd returned from the Misty Cloud Sect, that battle had left an indelible impression on him.
One had to understand that in the Jia Ma Empire, you could count the Dou Huang experts on one hand.
Yet Xiao Ze's side had not only several Dou Huang experts, but also two Dou Zong experts.
That battle between Dou Zong experts had nearly scared him to death.
He'd agonized over it until he was beside himself, but fortunately, he'd found an opportunity.
Well, all men liked women. He only had to look at the people around Xiao Ze to see that.
He had to admit, his great-granddaughter was quite beautiful.
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