Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire!

"Young Master Yan, you said that as long as you can save my father, our Nalan Clan will agree to a hundred conditions. My poor father, he really is too—"

Nalan Ruo looked at Xiao Yan in delight.

"Uh..." Nalan Ruo looked up and met the disdainful, helpless gazes of Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan. In the end, he decided to swallow the rest of his words and obediently listen to Xiao Yan state his conditions.

"First, I want the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva. As you can see, I'm an Alchemist. The Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva is a rare treasure that nourishes the soul, and I need it to nourish mine," Xiao Yan said.

"Fine. Our Nalan Clan has no use for the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva at the moment anyway. It would be wonderful if it could help Young Master Yan." Nalan Ruo agreed without a second thought.

"Second, you must keep this trip of mine confidential. I don't want others to know that I possess Heavenly Flames," Xiao Yan continued.

"Fine."

"As for the third..."

Xiao Yan paused slightly, then spoke under Nalan Ruo's expectant gaze.

"I want to break off the engagement."

"Fine. Uh, no, no! Didn't we agree not to mention this matter? Why bring up breaking off the engagement again?"

Nalan Ruo was nearly frightened into a nervous breakdown by Xiao Yan. He looked at him pitifully.

Seeing Xiao Yan secretly snickering, Xiao Zhan knew that this brat was messing around again.

"Yan'er, the marriage arrangement between you and Miss Nalan was personally agreed upon by your grandfather and Old Master Nalan while your grandfather was still alive. Don't fool around."

"Hmph, hmph. You have no sense of humor at all."

After hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Xiao Yan glanced at Nalan Ruo.

Nalan Ruo gave a bitter smile and stepped forward. "Then when will Young Master Yan return to the Imperial Capital with me? Father's condition is very poor."

"Uncle Nalan may return to the Imperial Capital first and bring this good news to Old Master Nalan. I'll set off in three days. I'll first go to Black Rock City, then take a flying magical beast to the Imperial Capital," Xiao Yan said after thinking it over.

"Fine. Seven days from now, I shall await Young Master Yan at the Nalan Clan in the Imperial Capital."

With that, Nalan Ruo immediately rose to take his leave and hurried back without stopping. It seemed that Nalan Jie's condition truly was not good.

"Father, Xu Yi is a fourth-tier Alchemist, a person of some standing after all. I never expected him to have the nerve to spread his own disgraceful deeds," Xiao Yan said speechlessly.

"Haha, if that coward had any pride or dignity, he wouldn't have come all the way from the Imperial Capital to our Wutan City to seize things by force," Xiao Zhan laughed heartily.

"Originally, I planned to keep Lord Shan's breakthrough secret for now. But it's fine to spread the news now. Once the Nalan Clan knows, the great families of the Imperial Capital will probably all know soon enough. Once they learn that the Xiao Clan has a Dou King standing guard, it should deter some petty scoundrels."

"Yan'er, have you already decided to go to the Imperial Capital?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"Yes, Father. The Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva is very important to me. I must obtain it." Xiao Yan nodded slightly.

"That's fine. Ever since your grandfather Xiao Lin passed away from illness, the Xiao Clan and the Nalan Clan have had far less contact. It would be good to visit them. Hehe, and you can take a look at Miss Nalan while you're there. The two of you haven't met even once since birth," Xiao Zhan teased.

"Hmph, what's there to see in a five-year-old little brat?"

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at Xiao Zhan and automatically filtered out that remark.

"Take Xiao Zhen with you. With his strength as a Seven-Star Dou Ling, he will be more than capable of serving as your guard. Remember not to diminish the prestige of our Xiao Clan."

"Yes, I will, Father."

"The Imperial Capital... I've looked forward to it for a long time. It's time to see it."

Xiao Yan spoke expectantly.

"However, before this trip to the Imperial Capital, you need to understand the many experts and factions there. That is where the Empire's strongest forces are gathered."

"The main forces in the Imperial Capital are the Jia Ma Imperial Family, the Mite'er, Mu, and Nalan Clans, the Alchemist Guild, and the Misty Cloud Sect. On the surface, the Jia Ma Imperial Family is the strongest faction, but in recent years, the Misty Cloud Sect has shown signs of catching up and surpassing it. The Mite'er, Mu, and Nalan Clans are subordinate to the Jia Ma Imperial Family, while the Alchemist Guild has always remained neutral and does not participate in any conflicts."

As Xiao Zhan spoke, he took a scroll from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Yan.

"Here, this contains information I specifically gathered on the Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire. More than half of the ten experts on the list are concentrated in the Imperial Capital. You must be careful on this trip."

Xiao Yan accepted the scroll and opened it.

Ten Great Experts of the Jia Ma Empire:

First: Yun Shan. Former Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, Peak Dou Emperor, wind-attributed Dou Qi. Has been in seclusion for many years and may have already broken through to Dou Zong!

Second: Jia Xingtian. Guardian of the Imperial Family, known as Elder Jia. Nine-Star Dou Emperor, earth-attributed Dou Qi.

Third: Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong. Former head of the Mittel Family, Seven-Star Dou Emperor, ice-attributed Dou Qi. Mysteriously disappeared two years ago.

Fourth: Yun Yun. Current Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, recently assumed office, One-Star Dou Emperor, wind-attributed Dou Qi.

Fifth: Pill King Gu He. Nine-Star Dou King, fire-attributed Dou Qi, low-grade sixth-tier Alchemist.

Sixth: Fama. President of the Alchemist Guild, Eight-Star Dou King, fire-attributed Dou Qi, high-grade fifth-tier Alchemist.

Seventh: Wind Walker Feng Li. Six-Star Dou King, wind-attributed Dou Qi.

Eighth: Lion King Yan Shi. Five-Star Dou King, metal-attributed Dou Qi.

Ninth: Lionheart Marshal Nalan Jie. Former head of the Nalan Clan, military marshal of the Jia Ma Empire, Five-Star Dou King, earth-attributed Dou Qi.

Tenth: Mittel Tengshan. Current head of the Mittel Family, Three-Star Dou King, ice-attributed Dou Qi.

"Hehe, Father, should we find an opportunity to kill one of them? Then Lord Shan can replace him on the list and become one of the Ten Great Experts of the Empire too," Xiao Yan said teasingly as he looked up.

"Hmph, nonsense. What use is fighting over such empty fame?"

Xiao Zhan looked at his somewhat unreliable son and felt a headache coming on.

Xiao Yan chuckled.

"Father, the information on the Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong, who is ranked third on this list, may be wrong. His current strength should be that of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, and he is in the Imperial Capital."

Xiao Yan continued with a somewhat mysterious smile.

"Wrong, huh? Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong, a Nine-Star Dou Emperor? Hehe, those old monsters really are more troublesome than the last," Xiao Zhan said with a curl of his lips.

"Then in three days, call Xiao Zhen and head to the Imperial Capital together. You must be extremely careful on this journey."

Xiao Zhan walked over and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder.

"Yes, Father."

"And you are not allowed to bring up breaking off the engagement. Otherwise, when you return, I'll break your legs." Xiao Zhan suddenly glared at Xiao Yan.

"..." Xiao Yan.

"Damn it, am I about to be forced into an arranged marriage by feudal parents?" Xiao Yan felt like crying without tears.

"How about putting on a show where the young master of a great clan runs away from his marriage?"

Xiao Yan suddenly rubbed his chin as he thought. When he reached the exciting part, he actually started laughing by himself.