After discussions with Hai Bodo, Xiao Yan remained largely indoors at the Xiao Family estate, quietly recuperating from his injuries. To establish a power base within the Jia Ma Empire that surpassed Yun Lan Sect, he needed to cultivate sufficient strength to command the attention and respect of the empire's various factions and elite figures—otherwise, his efforts would ultimately prove to be nothing but a farce. Meanwhile, as Xiao Yan focused on his recovery, Yun Lan Mountain itself gradually grew desolate. With the departure of numerous Yun Lan Sect disciples, those within the empire who had previously doubted the reports finally came to believe that the once-renowned, century-old sect—long considered a pillar of the Jia Ma Empire—was indeed on the verge of fading away. With the dismissal of Yunlan Sect's disciples, the domestic political landscape has become somewhat unusual. For years, Yunlan Sect had been the undisputed powerhouse of the Jiamac Empire. Now that the Sect has fallen, its former dominance naturally sparks envy and ambition among various powers. Indeed, though many are envious, no one has yet dared to formally step forward and claim the throne—because all recognize that within the current Jiamac Empire, only Xiao Jia, the third son of the Xiao family, who defeated Yunshan, possesses both the qualifications and the strength to succeed. Everyone is now patiently awaiting the next move from the young man who has chosen to remain quiet. "Yao Ye rubbed her forehead. Over these days, she had been closely observing every move of Yunlan Sect. Only when she saw Yun Yun truly carrying out the commitments she had made did she finally exhale in relief. For this massive institution located near the imperial capital, the royal family had harbored concerns and apprehensions for years. Now that they had the opportunity to bring it down, they certainly wouldn't grant it any chance to recover. "The night was silent, then a soft sigh, and with a wry smile, he said, 'This is truly beyond our control. With our current strength alone, we simply cannot overthrow Yunlan Sect. Everyone knows their ambitions. If they continue to grow, they will inevitably turn their attention to our imperial family. At that point, even Yunshan alone might be enough to wipe out the entire imperial lineage.' Jian Tian's expression grew serious as he slowly added, 'I've just received word that Xiao Yan may intend to establish his own power base within the empire. Then perhaps we'll have another 'Yunlan Sect' to contend with. What shall we do about this?" "Heard this, Tian Yao's expression also grew serious. After a long pause, she shook her head with a wry smile, saying, 'Xiao Yan's current influence is actually no weaker than Yunlan Sect. Besides himself—someone capable of standing against a Douzong-level master—there's also a genuine Douzong master by his side. That very queen, Medusa, who once caused severe losses to my Garma Empire, is now part of his circle. With such strength, if we show even the slightest hostility toward him, we might just invite trouble upon ourselves.' 'Then shall we simply watch Xiao Yan build his power from scratch?' asked Jia Xingtian, frowning. 'Xiao Yan isn't as ruthless as Yunshan, nor does he lack sentiment. For someone like him, a direct takeover would only lead to hardship. Therefore, we'll likely have to adopt a more indirect, conciliatory approach.' Tian Yao pondered for a while, then said slowly. 'A conciliatory approach?'" "Xiao Yan is someone who returns a foot of respect for every inch you give him. If you harbor ill will toward him, as soon as he discovers it, he will immediately turn against you and act without any mercy," Tian Ye mused. "Since our current strength cannot pose a significant obstacle to him, perhaps it would be better to go with the flow. In doing so, we may gain substantial benefits in the future regarding the continuation of our royal lineage." Frowning slightly, Jia Xingtian gently tapped the table with his finger, paused, then sighed and said, "Very well, let's try what you've suggested. I hope this young man won't turn out like Yunshan—ambitious enough to challenge my Jiamá imperial family. If that happens, even if we end up exhausted and battered, he won't get off easy." Seeing Jia Xingtian nod, Tianye smiled slightly, paused thoughtfully, and then suddenly added, "In truth, the decline of Yunlan Sect has not been without drawbacks for our Jiamá Empire. Without Yunlan Sect, our Empire will no longer have the qualification to participate in the sect gatherings in the northwest region. That would surely invite ridicule from neighboring empires. By the way—have you heard that Yun Empire has undergone significant changes in recent years? Once home to numerous powerful factions, it has seen them one after another fade and vanish. Today, within the Yun Empire, only one major faction remains." "Yes, I've heard of it too. That power is known as the 'Toxic Sect'—not only enigmatic and unpredictable, but also exceptionally strong. According to the latest reports, their mysterious sect master possesses a formidable strength that rivals even a Douzong-level master. It's possible that at the next 'Sect Assembly,' they will rise to become a force on par with the 'Heaven Serpent Prefecture' and the 'Thunder Sect.' At that point, the Shūun Imperial Realm will surely have to boast with greater confidence...” As he spoke, Jia Xingtian's expression grew slightly serious. "The Shūun and Jiamu Empires have been at odds for years, with frequent conflicts along their shared borders—each side holds deep resentment toward the other. "Therefore, if our Jiamu Empire fails to present a strong, prominent force and outstanding masters, our standing in the northwest region will only continue to dwindle," Tianye sighed. Jia Xingtian nodded slightly, his gaze flickering for a moment before he said in a steady tone, "It seems we'll have to rely on Xiao Yan now. Well, then—I'll place my trust in this young man this time!" "Grand-Grandfather won't be disappointed," Tianye smiled. She had a keen eye for people, and Xiao Yan was someone who deeply valued loyalty—he would never betray a favor for a grudge. "You're so confident in him?" Seeing Tianye place such faith in Xiao Yan, Jia Xingtian's expression turned curious. He glanced at her face, then suddenly chuckled, "Tianye, are you perhaps falling in love with that young man yourself?" "What nonsense are you talking about!" Hearing this, Tianye's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and she scolded softly. "That young man has the most remarkable talent I've seen in all these years, and his appearance is quite good too. Though he's reserved and serious, he's deeply loyal—quite an excellent match. If you truly like him, Grand-Grandfather will gladly help you pursue him. Should the two families marry, then I can truly rest easy." "As if he hadn't noticed the rosy hue on Tian Ye's cheeks, Jia Xingtian spoke on his own. "Don't worry about it—there are even beauties like Medusa around that person. Even if you'd like to marry Tian Ye off, she might not even be willing to accept." Gazing at Jia Xingtian with a look of exasperation, Tian Ye shook her head helplessly. Though she deeply admired Xiao Yan, as a royal princess destined to become the Empress of the Jia Ma Empire, with her proud nature, she would certainly not be willing to share her husband with anyone, no matter how excellent the other woman might be. Upon hearing this, Jia Xingtian furrowed his brows and nodded reluctantly, seemingly realizing that the person in question had quite a few companions. Most importantly, he himself didn't harbor any special feelings toward Tian Ye—this fact left him particularly frustrated, and thus he finally set aside his own thoughts. "Well, once he's recovered, you'll go on behalf of the royal family to extend our greetings and convey the royal message to him. Indeed, the Garma Empire needs a powerful force and strong leaders—right now, it seems only he fits the bill." Waving his hand, Jia Xingtian stood up and slowly walked outward, speaking as he went. Watching Jia Xingtian's silhouette, Yao Ye gave a slight nod. "By the way, regarding the 'Toxic Sect' of the Utsu Empire, send out as many scouts as possible to gather intelligence. The more information we have, the better—for us, there's no downside." As he reached the door, Jia Xingtian suddenly paused, as though remembering something. "So keep a close eye on this matter. Something about the 'Toxic Sect' feels off. It's no ordinary feat to have eliminated all the major and minor powers within the Utsu Empire. Yet, within the Utsu Empire itself, it seems there aren't any such exceptional figures." Jia Xingtian looked deeply puzzled, and after a moment, sighed and shook his head. "Ah, it seems the Yun Cloud Empire has been rather chaotic these years. What exactly is this 'Toxic Sect'? Where did it come from?" With no further ideas, he merely sighed and stepped out of the hall.