Chapter 157: War Clouds

While the Central Plains were surging with undercurrents precisely because of the connections between Langya Pavilion and the Ling Clan, the Jia Ma Empire in the Northwest Continent, tens of thousands of miles away, was likewise not so tranquil.

In a spacious grand hall within the Jia Ma Imperial Palace, several figures with powerful auras were gathered together.

The identities of the attendees were indeed extraordinary.

The Mittel Clan Leader, the former Ice Emperor and current Dou Zong powerhouse—Hai Bodong; the guardian of the Gama Imperial Family—Jia Xingtian; the president of the Alchemist Guild—Fama; and the Yunlan Sect Master—Yun Yun.

"Old man Jia, are you certain the Chu Yun Empire is going to launch a war against us?" Hai Bodong asked indifferently, his brows furrowed at this moment.

His aura was deep and long-lasting; even without doing anything, the pressure he faintly exuded caused the temperature around him to drop significantly.

However, not one person in the hall cared about this issue. They merely stared fixedly at Jia Xingtian, who sat at the head, waiting for the latter's reply.

"That's right! I can absolutely guarantee this," Jia Xingtian said with certainty.

"Strange, haven't those fellows in the Chu Yun Empire learned their lesson from last time? To think they would still dare to stretch their claws toward the Jia Ma Empire." Hai Bodong asked his question directly in front of everyone.

Fama, Yun Yun, and the others also remained silent, secretly pondering.

If one were to push time back twenty years, it would have been completely normal for the Chu Yun Empire to harbor covetous intentions toward the Jia Ma Empire at all times.

Those old fellows were even more helpless, able only to treat it as if facing a formidable enemy.

Because at that time, the Jia Ma Empire did not even have a single Dou Zong, and its strength was the weakest among the surrounding nations. One picks the softest persimmon to squeeze; thus, it naturally became a target for other countries to bully.

However, that was the past.

Now, the Jia Ma Empire has three Dou Zong powerhouses on the surface: the Imperial Family, the Mittel Clan, and the Yunlan Sect, while the Xiao Clan also "hides" a Dou Zong powerhouse.

As early as five years ago, the Dou Zong powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire gave the restless Chu Yun Empire and Luo Yan Empire a profound lesson, instantly stamping out the other side's unwilling little sparks of ambition.

Yet, how much time has passed, and that group of Poison Masters from the Chu Yun Empire actually wants to challenge the Jia Ma Empire alone?

They must have water in their brains!

"This is the problem I wanted to tell you about." Jia Xingtian nodded; as an old fox, he was naturally very clear about such an abnormal situation.

If not for the King-level Imperial powerhouse he had sent out who had delivered the news while hanging on by half a life, he would not have known that the Chu Yun Empire had undergone such a great change.

"What is it, Old Jia? Is there some hidden story here?" A cold voice rang out in the hall; it was Yun Yun who had spoken.

Since it concerned a war between two countries, the Yunlan Sect naturally could not stay out of it.

Moreover, because Yun Shan had come out of seclusion relatively early, under his series of handling measures, the relationship between the Yunlan Sect and the Jia Ma Empire was not that hostile.

Because of this, Yun Yun, as the Yunlan Sect Master, received an invitation from Jia Xingtian.

"Sect Master Yun is unaware!" Hearing Yun Yun's inquiry, Jia Xingtian immediately revealed a look of a headache.

"The current Chu Yun Empire is no longer what it could be compared to in the past."

"Oh?"

The others in the hall were extremely curious; listening to Jia Xingtian's implication, the Chu Yun Empire had made quite a lot of progress!

"As of last year, the Chu Yun Empire has been completely controlled by a sect called the Wanxie Sect." As he spoke, Jia Xingtian also cast a calm glance at Yun Yun.

This was the reason he had been extremely wary of the Yunlan Sect in the past, even guarding against them strictly. Once the power of a sect becomes too great, it is easy to develop the ambition to control the empire; such a thing was absolutely not a good thing for the Gama Imperial Family.

Fortunately, neither of the two successive Sect Masters of the Yunlan Sect had similar thoughts. Yun Shan only hoped to rebuild the Yunlan Sect into a holy land for cultivation and had no interest in worldly power.

And Yun Yun had a cold temperament and would not get involved in imperial affairs.

Of course, this was just a fleeting thought of Jia Xingtian's; now, serious business was what mattered.

So he continued: "This war against the Jia Ma Empire was also pushed by this Wanxie Sect."

"Wanxie Sect?" Hai Bodong's expression turned cold, and the table beside him was directly frozen into dust.

"That's the sect of that old thing Xie Biyan, right? I didn't expect that old fellow to jump out now."

Hai Bodong had a deep impression of Xie Biyan and the Wanxie Sect; he had lost to that old thing once back then, and he had kept it in mind ever since.

"That's right. It is said that this Xie Biyan has also broken through to the Dou Zong level, though it is unknown exactly how far he has reached."

Jia Xingtian was also well aware of the grievances between Hai Bodong and Xie Biyan, so he reminded Hai Bodong not to capsize due to underestimating the enemy.

"The Wanxie Sect shouldn't have only one Dou Zong powerhouse, right?" At this moment, the aged voice of the elderly Fama rang out.

"That is natural." Jia Xingtian did not deny it; if the Wanxie Sect controlling the Chu Yun Empire only had this level of strength, why would he have brought such a large group of powerhouses here?

Subsequently, Jia Xingtian introduced: "Besides Xie Biyan, the other side has another Dou Zong powerhouse—Xie Shan, who is the current Sect Master of the Wanxie Sect and also a disciple of that Xie Biyan."

The people present breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, it was only two. Their Jia Ma Empire could still handle it.

Since that Xie Shan was a junior to Xie Biyan, his strength likely wouldn't be stronger than the other's, and old seniors like Jia Xingtian could certainly teach them a lesson.

However, Jia Xingtian's words soon made them realize they had been happy too early.

"These are not the most troublesome parts." Under the gazes of the crowd, Jia Xingtian said with a grim expression: "For some reason, a mysterious powerhouse has appeared in the Wanxie Sect—Du Xiezi."

"Du Xiezi?" Hai Bodong asked: "Is it a hidden powerhouse of the Wanxie Sect?"

"I don't know." Jia Xingtian shook his head, "We exhausted our efforts, but we only managed to find out this title of the other party; we know nothing else, such as their strength or appearance."

"Then that is likely very troublesome." The expressions of the crowd tightened. With such behavior, either the other party was bluffing, or this person called Du Xiezi was powerful and was a trump card figure.

And considering the intelligence of the Wanxie Sect, it was obvious that bluffing would be of no use, so it could only be the latter.

"Old Jia, rest assured, I will report this matter to my teacher." Yun Yun stated.

She was not someone who did not understand worldly affairs; she was very clear about the other party's intentions, so she took the matter upon herself.

"Then many thanks to Sect Master Yun." Jia Xingtian thanked her; he had revealed this Du Xiezi precisely in the hope that Yun Shan would take action personally.

According to his estimation, that Du Xiezi was at the very least a High-level Dou Zong, or even a Dou Zong Peak.

Only Yun Shan, who had stepped into the Zunzhe Realm, could deal with it; at the very least, he and Hai Bodong together would certainly not be enough.

"Old ghost, should we send this news to the Xiao Clan?"

Just as everyone thought the meeting was about to end, a single sentence from Hai Bodong made the atmosphere at the scene suddenly become awkward.

Even Yun Yun, who always had a colder temperament, had a somewhat unnatural expression.