A Feast for the Eyes.GIF

Yun Congxin's declaration was so explosive that it easily pushed Jia Xingtian past the bottom line he had just set for himself.

Jia Xingtian understood that trying to sow discord between a fourth-tier Alchemist and the Misty Cloud Sect was merely petty scheming. Plotting to murder the Misty Cloud Sect's future successor, however, was another matter entirely!

That pretext carried enormous weight. It was more than enough for the Misty Cloud Sect to declare war on the Jia Ma Imperial Family!

In the space of those two brief sentences, Jia Xingtian's mind raced. He quickly played out how events within the Jia Ma Empire would unfold if the Misty Cloud Sect declared war on the Jia Ma Imperial Family.

Yun Shan had already reached Dou Zong. Even if Jia Xingtian and the Imperial Family's Guardian Divine Beast fought with everything they had, they would probably struggle to match him. In terms of strength, the Misty Cloud Sect held every advantage.

If the Misty Cloud Sect declared war because the Imperial Family had plotted to murder its future successor, righteousness would also be on its side. The clans in the Imperial Capital would probably watch from behind their walls, leaving the Jia Ma Imperial Family isolated and helpless.

The outcome was obvious: the Jia Ma Imperial Family would be wiped off the map. The Misty Cloud Sect would win an overwhelming victory and become the sole ruler of the Jia Ma Empire!

The only good news was that Yun Congxin had still come in person to the mountain behind the imperial grounds to meet him. This former sect leader, who had spent his entire life pursuing the Misty Cloud Sect's advancement, had actually chosen coexistence over the immense temptation of reigning supreme. He had given the Imperial Family a chance to "clear up the misunderstanding."

Jia Xingtian could not understand why Yun Congxin had made that choice. Had he been in Yun Congxin's place, the Misty Cloud Sect's armies would likely have already reached the Imperial Capital.

But he knew how to seize an opportunity. Since Yun Congxin had offered the Jia Ma Imperial Family a chance to "let bygones be bygones," he had to grab it!

And so Jia Xingtian offered very generous terms. He would personally apologize and open the imperial treasury for Yun Congxin to take whatever he wanted. He would also withdraw the army stationed at the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain and cede the trade of several highly valuable major cities to the Misty Cloud Sect.

It was fair to say he was bleeding heavily for this.

The float bobbed. Yun Congxin abruptly lifted his rod and hauled in a large fish.

He removed the large fish from the hook and held it as it thrashed. "There's no need for all that trouble. Agree to three conditions from the Misty Cloud Sect, and I'll let the past go."

"Just say the word, old brother. Never mind three conditions—even if it's thirty or three hundred, the Jia Ma Imperial Family will agree."

Yun Congxin smiled smugly. "First, the Misty Cloud Sect needs an enclave within the Imperial Capital. Let's call it... the Misty Cloud Sect Liaison Office."

"This land will be considered part of the Misty Cloud Sect's territory, with our disciples responsible for security. I'll also station a Misty Cloud Sect Elder there. It'll make it easier for everyone to exchange what they need."

Jia Xingtian froze for a moment, then hastily agreed, afraid Yun Congxin might change his mind.

He simply could not understand why Yun Congxin would turn down the wealth and resources of several major cities in favor of an inconsequential enclave within the Imperial Capital.

"Second, I hear there's a rather outstanding pair of sisters among your younger generation. One's a genius at alchemy, the other at cultivation. Both are quite gifted."

Hearing Yun Congxin praise Yao Ye and Yao Yue, Jia Xingtian's heart lurched.

"I hear they're quite lovely, too. Having grown up immersed in the Imperial Capital's culture, I imagine their manners must be fitting as well," Yun Congxin continued. "As it happens, I've only just come out of seclusion, and I'm still short of a few presentable maids. I think they'd do very nicely..."

"Well..." Jia Xingtian hesitated. It was not that he could not bear to part with his two granddaughters. Giving the Imperial Family's precious jewels to someone else as maids was simply trampling its dignity underfoot!

"Old brother, I recall you've always been a man of lofty principles, uninterested in women..." Jia Xingtian blinked, then quickly began flattering Yun Congxin.

Yun Shan wasn't interested in women. What did that have to do with me, Yun Congxin?

Yun Congxin chuckled, making it clear he was not buying it. "No need to flatter me, no need to flatter me. It won't help."

When flattery failed, Jia Xingtian immediately changed tactics. "But Little Yue'er and her sister are my own granddaughters, after all—the precious jewels of the Imperial Family... Isn't making them maids a little... demeaning...?"

"If you need maids to attend you, old brother, I'll personally select a few exceptionally beautiful, well-mannered girls. They'll certainly make you look good whenever you take them out."

"Do I look like a man short of beauties at his side?"

Seeing that Yun Congxin would yield to neither persuasion nor pressure, and was determined to take the Imperial Family's precious jewels to the Misty Cloud Sect as his personal maids, Jia Xingtian grew angry as well.

But he dared not lash out. He could only give a bitter smile and ask pointedly, "Why are you so set on those two girls from my family, old brother? Surely you haven't taken a fancy to those two little brats who still smell of milk?"

Why? What else could it be for? Surely it couldn't be to collect them like stamps?

Yun Congxin glanced at Jia Xingtian, who could not stop smiling bitterly, and handed him the fish he had just caught. "This little pond is rather nice. How long have you been fishing here?"

Jia Xingtian paused, unsure what Yun Congxin meant. "A few days, I suppose..."

"How much have you caught?"

"Very little..."

"Exactly. Very little. Because this pond is simply too small. Even if it is a fine pond, connected to flowing water, with anglers like you scattering bait to feed the fish..."

I'm fishing... Jia Xingtian muttered inwardly.

"But in the end, this pond is too small to raise many large fish. Stay confined to this tiny patch of land, and you'll never become a... great fish capable of leaping the Dragon Gate!"

"What do you mean, old brother...?"

"The Jia Ma Empire is just like this little pond. Even the most gifted genius cannot become truly powerful here." Yun Congxin paused before continuing. "What's more, the little fish now lie happily under the big fish's protection, eating their bait. If this continues, they'll only become pigs raised in a pen, not dragons soaring into the sky!"

"But what does that have to do with whether they become maids?"

"If we don't lower their status, what would be the point of the Imperial Family's heirs traveling alongside the Misty Cloud Sect's young sect leader?" Yun Congxin spoke with grand righteousness, keeping another reason buried in his heart.

This body wasn't mine, after all. For now, I could only look at something fragrant and alluring—a feast for the eyes.GIF

"Look at that boy from the Xiao Clan. Would you be happy if someone like him emerged from your younger generation?" Yun Congxin asked.

Jia Xingtian thought about it and could not help letting out a foolish chuckle.

"If you dote on talented youngsters and shelter them like precious treasures, afraid they'll break if you hold them in your hands or melt if you hold them in your mouth, can you raise truly powerful people? Must the Jia Ma Empire rely on old men like us to prop it up? Even taking a step back, how many more years can you hold it up?" Yun Congxin continued, "I've said everything I needed to say. I hope to see those two girls when I leave."

Besides, this little pond would not remain peaceful for much longer.

The fishermen were coming, and when they arrived, they would not be fishing with rods.

They would be electrofishing...