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**
"Hai Bodong, stop resisting. Do you really think you alone can turn the tide? If you know what's good for you, hand over the remaining members of the Xiao Clan immediately!"
Just as Hai Bodong's majestic aura surged outward, two sharp shouts suddenly erupted from within the city.
Immediately afterward, two equally overwhelming auras comparable to Hai Bodong's appeared out of nowhere.
A gust of wind followed as two streaks of light flashed across the sky, appearing midair above the Mittel Clan estate in the blink of an eye.
The two newcomers were both elderly men dressed in white robes adorned with cloud patterns—clearly symbols of their sect. They were none other than Elders of the Yun Lan Sect, Yun Du and Yun Sha.
Their arrival instantly drew the attention of countless eyes throughout the city.
Especially after sensing the oppressive force subtly radiating from their bodies, many people's faces changed, showing varying degrees of shock and disbelief.
Two Dou Huang powerhouses!
When did the Yun Lan Sect gain two more Dou Huang-level experts?
Hai Bodong's gaze swept over the two and his heart sank. His voice was low and laced with disbelief as he said, "Yun Du, Yun Sha? How could you both possibly have broken through to Dou Huang?"
"Heh, what? Are you allowed to become a Dou Huang, and we're not?" Yun Sha sneered.
"Old Hai, weren't those two just Four-Star Dou Wang three years ago? How could they possibly reach the Dou Huang level in such a short time?" Mittel Tengshan flickered to Hai Bodong's side, staring incredulously at the two figures floating in the sky.
Hai Bodong's expression was grim. He narrowed his eyes, sweeping his gaze over Yun Du and Yun Sha carefully.
After a brief moment, he slowly shook his head. "Something's off. Although their aura appears to be at the Dou Huang level, it doesn't have the fullness and natural flow that true Dou Huang experts possess."
"I'd wager Yun Shan used some kind of strange secret technique to forcefully boost their strength."
"Then what now?" Mittel Tengshan asked anxiously.
The sudden appearance of two more Dou Huang-level opponents was definitely not good news.
"What else can we do? You want to surrender at a time like this?" Hai Bodong frowned and snapped coldly. Then he said in a low voice, "I'll try to take one of them down as fast as I can. Once I'm done, I'll come help you deal with the other. You just need to hold out for a bit."
Mittel Tengshan gave a bitter smile and could only nod.
...
"Hai Bodong, I'll ask you one last time—are you handing them over or not?" Yun Sha's voice was ice cold as he cast a sharp glance toward Hai Bodong and Mittel Tengshan hovering above the estate.
"Hmph. The Yun Lan Sect's behavior in recent years has thoroughly disgraced the former sect masters. That old bastard Yun Shan—does he not fear being condemned by his ancestors?" Hai Bodong sneered mockingly.
At those words, both Yun Du and Yun Sha's faces turned completely dark.
Under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers, the two slowly raised their hands, and a moment later, they suddenly swung them downward.
A bone-chilling voice rang out across the sky, brimming with murderous intent:
"Disciples of the Yun Lan Sect, heed our command—today, we will bathe the Mittel Clan in blood!"
Buzz!
As the command fell, a sharp and frigid sword aura suddenly erupted from the white-robed masses below, blanketing the entire city like a dark cloud.
Then, the Yun Lan Sect disciples who had already sealed off the Mittel Clan grounds surged forward like tigers descending a mountain. With sharp sword auras cutting through the air, they launched an overwhelming assault on the massive estate.
In an instant, the erupting sounds of slaughter caused many of the onlookers' faces to go pale.
All-out war had broken out.
Yun Du and Yun Sha also charged straight at Hai Bodong.
Mittel Tengshan was just about to intercept one of them when—
"Heh heh, Tengshan—your opponents are us."
Suddenly, two figures shot up from the Yun Lan Sect's main forces below. With Dou Qi wings spread wide, they intercepted Mittel Tengshan mid-air.
"Yun Fu, Yun Xu—you two!" Seeing the sudden arrival of these men, Mittel Tengshan's heart sank heavily.
These two were also elders of the Yun Lan Sect—and both Dou Wang-level experts.
It was clear the Yun Lan Sect had pulled out all the stops to crush the Mittel Clan today.
Boom!
A violent energy clash exploded into the air.
Thunderous blasts of energy rocked the skies over Jia Ma Sacred City.
The battle between three Dou Huang and three Dou Wang level experts was earth-shattering—far more intense than the chaotic melee on the ground below.
At that moment, the entire imperial capital had all its attention fixed on this massive and earth-shaking battle.
As the Mittel Clan and the Yun Lan Sect engaged in a life-and-death struggle, the major factions of the imperial capital all fell into a solemn silence.
Atop a high tower in the royal palace at the center of the city—a vantage point from which one could overlook the entire capital—a few figures stood silently, their eyes locked on the distant battlefield where explosions of energy lit up the sky.
Standing at the very front was an elderly man in a coarse hemp robe.
His face was deeply wrinkled, and though it usually carried a calm and impassive expression, it now showed clear signs of hesitation and inner conflict.
"Great-grandfather, are we really not going to act?"
Behind the robed elder stood a tall, elegant woman dressed in a purple brocade robe, her refined features carrying an air of natural authority. She gazed anxiously at the raging battle in the distance and finally couldn't help but speak.
Atop her head sat a majestic purple-gold phoenix crown, a clear symbol of her status and power.
"Wait," the old man said slowly after a brief silence, exhaling deeply.
"Still wait? Great-grandfather, what exactly are you planning? The Yun Lan Sect's actions over the past few years clearly reveal their ambition. Our Imperial Family can't keep retreating any longer!"
"If we unite with the Alchemist Association and the Three Major Clans, we might still stand a chance against them. But if we stand by and watch them get picked off one by one by the Yun Lan Sect, then we'll become nothing more than fish on a chopping board—completely helpless!"
The woman speaking was none other than Yao Ye, the Empress of the Jia Ma Empire, who had already begun to take control of the nation's political power. Her brows furrowed as she spoke anxiously.
But in the face of her words, Jia Xingtian remained silent.
How could he not understand what Yao Ye was saying?
But he also knew something more—Yun Shan was almost certainly watching everything from the shadows right now.
If he chose to make a move, then he would undoubtedly become Yun Shan's first target.
And when it came to facing Yun Shan, Jia Xingtian had no confidence—no chance of victory.
This was the heavy burden that weighed on his heart.
If he were to die here today, the Imperial Family would lose its last pillar of defense, and their complete destruction would follow shortly after.
Thus, even in this crucial moment, he still couldn't bring himself to make a decisive choice.
"Great-grandfather…" Yao Ye's voice trembled with urgency.
"Let's wait a little longer… and see if something changes," Jia Xingtian sighed and raised a hand, cutting her off.
Seeing Jia Xingtian so indecisive even now, a trace of helplessness and disappointment flickered across Yao Ye's bright phoenix-like eyes. She could only sigh quietly.
...
Jia Xingtian's face shifted between light and shadow as he stared at the sky in the distance, where explosions of Dou Qi burst like fireworks.
At this moment, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic. His thoughts drifted back to the Alchemist Grand Meeting from years ago.
Back then, what confidence and grandeur they had.
Even someone like You Hun Zun Zhe, with all his terrifying power, had failed to escape the Jia Ma Empire, ending in complete annihilation.
And now, how things had changed.
A single Yun Shan—such a seemingly small figure—was now stirring up such chaos, pressuring all the powers of the capital into a corner.
It truly was the classic tale of "a monkey crowned king in a tiger-less mountain."
And all of this… had only happened because one person was missing.
Wei Yang.
At the thought of that name, Jia Xingtian couldn't help but sigh softly and mutter to himself, "Mister Wei… it's been more than three years since you left. I wonder when you'll finally remember to return."
"Mister Wei?" Yao Ye was momentarily stunned. Then, her beautiful eyes turned a little unfocused. Hidden beneath the wide sleeves of her robe, her hands involuntarily clenched into fists.
That handsome figure in a black robe embroidered with golden patterns slowly surfaced in her mind.
The man who had once been completely indifferent to all her efforts to please him—leaving her feeling humiliated and disappointed.
Even now, after she had become the exalted Empress of a nation, she still felt a sense of unworthiness whenever she thought of him. All she could do was pity herself in silence.
Because in his eyes, worldly power probably meant no more than dust.
With the personal power he possessed, he could easily topple an entire nation.
When individual strength surpassed all else… how could he possibly lower himself to look at someone like her—someone who was, in his eyes, nothing more than an ant?
No matter how hard she worked, no matter how capable she became… she was destined to only be able to look up to him.
A self-mocking smile appeared at the corner of Yao Ye's lips.
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