The Nalan family, in truth, had its share of hardships.
Due to the injury of their old patriarch, Nalan Jie, the family's prestige was steadily declining.
Fortunately, a gifted and gifted daughter emerged from the Nalan family, successfully enrolling under the Yunlan Sect, the most powerful sect in the Jiama Empire, becoming the sect leader's personal disciple...
This single status alone instantly halted the Nalan family's decline.
Seeing his daughter's potential for success, only for the Yunlan Sect to suddenly suffer such a catastrophe, practically annihilating the entire sect, Nalan Su felt a sudden urge to lay down.
Gazing at his daughter's stubborn face, Nalan Su gave a wry smile.
"Yanran, you should be well aware of the family's situation. Since your grandfather's passing, we haven't had any Dou Wang-level warriors in the Nalan family..."
At this point, Nalan Su couldn't help but reveal a look of disappointment.
Although he was now a Nine-Star Dou Ling, achieving a breakthrough wouldn't be easy in just a year or two.
The Nalan family's previous position as one of the three great families was primarily due to Nalan Jie's peak Dou Wang power and his influence within the empire. While
Nalan Su considered himself mediocre, having lived for over forty years without ever reaching Dou Wang, coupled with the need to manage the family, he saw no hope of achieving this anytime soon.
As for influence…
Nalan Jie had already made preparations after his injury.
However, during this period, as Nalan Jie's influence waned, the Mu family, also of military origin, rose to prominence, threatening to replace him.
Coupled with the imperial family's overt and covert biases, the Nalan family's influence within the military has been reduced to its lowest point.
While Nalan Su resented this, he could understand it.
From the moment Nalan Yanran joined Yun Yun's school, they were destined to lose the imperial family's trust.
But what could be done?
As a woman, if Nalan Yanran had truly chosen the military path like the Nalan family, she would have faced numerous difficulties. She would have been better off clinging directly to the Yunlan Sect...
But who could have imagined that this once-strongest support in the Gama Empire would be broken by her own clinging?
Seeing his daughter's still-furrowed brow, Nalan Su spoke again, "The Gama Empire is currently at a critical juncture. With the fall of the Yunlan Sect, the imperial family has become the sole dominant force. No one can be sure what the future holds for the empire..."
"The rise of the Mo Tang is unstoppable, but the Mo League is only a second-rate local power after all. It still lacks a lot of foundation to join the empire's top powers. Therefore, now is the perfect time for my Nalan family to join."
"With my Nalan family's century-long heritage and reputation in the empire, combined with the Mo Tang's strength, we can definitely regain our position at the pinnacle of the empire. This is the best of both worlds. I believe that with Mo Tang's talent, he won't refuse."
Nalan Su was very confident about this.
After all, the Mo League was ultimately just a local tyrant, incomparable to the true might of the empire. In terms of prestige alone, the gap was enormous.
Nalan Su chose to join the Mo League because he hoped to use Mo Tang's name to help the Nalan family through this difficult time...
When he could finally reach Dou Wang, or when Nalan Yanran truly matured, the Nalan family would still be one of the empire's most prominent families.
This plan wasn't complex or subtle, and anyone with a bit of common sense could easily see through it.
But it was an overt scheme, and even if Mo Tang could see through it, it would be difficult for him to refuse the Nalan family's membership.
Of course, as the head of the Nalan family, Nalan Su's plans extended far beyond this.
"This is the choice of the Nalan family and Nalan Su, and has nothing to do with you, Yanran..."
Nalan Su continued, explaining, "Although the Yunlan Sect was nearly destroyed, Yun Yun is still here..."
"As long as she's here, the Yunlan Sect won't be defeated. Those who once relied on the Yunlan Sect and the forces that once existed there may become your future supporters!
So, Yanran, the Nalan family can join the Mo Alliance, but you cannot!
From today on, you are no longer the heir to the Nalan family. I will select a new successor to the headship from within the family's direct lineage.
And you, from now on, will only have one identity: the Young Master of the Yunlan Sect—Nalan Yanran!
Do you understand?"
Ultimately, Nalan Su was hedging his bets.
Although he didn't know the inside story, nor the relationship between Mo Tang and Yun Yun, he could still discern Mo Tang's ambition.
Whether Mo Tang replaced the Yunlan Sect as the new overlord of the Jiama Empire, or Yun Yun awakened and led the Yunlan Sect to a new height, the Nalan family would profit.
Of course, the attitude of one party would also have a crucial impact on this process!
That was the Jia Ma Imperial Family…
Having been suppressed by the Yun Lan Sect for hundreds of years, the Jia Ma Imperial Family finally seized this opportunity. How could they easily let the other party rise again?
Moreover, facing the ambitious Mo Tang, would the Imperial Family just watch them step by step to the position above them?
There was no need to think too much about all this!
"Yan Ran, just be prepared for this matter in your heart, and never tell anyone!"
Nalan Su warned solemnly.
"Everything will have to wait until the Yancheng auction hosted by the Mo League is over!"
This auction is a grand display of strength for the Mo League, or rather, for Mo Tang, to showcase their power to the outside world...
Whether he can achieve his desired goal depends entirely on the strength he can demonstrate this time!
Nalan Su wasn't the only one with this thought.
Inside the Jia Ma Empire's imperial palace, in a quiet courtyard,
two figures sat quietly by the lake. No one dared to linger within a hundred meters of the courtyard.
One of the two figures was an elderly man in a linen robe, his face wrinkled with wrinkles. Now, a hint of hesitation crossed his usually calm, aged face.
This man was, of course, Jia Xingtian, the protector of the Jia Ma Empire and currently the empire's most powerful figure.
"Grandfather, are we really going to do nothing?"
Beside Jia Xingtian, a tall woman in a purple brocade robe, her pretty face tinged with a hint of majesty, asked softly.
The eldest princess, Yao Ye, had once met Mo Tang at the Alchemist Conference.
However, after nearly two years of growth, Yao Ye had already begun to show the aura of an empress...
Jia Xingtian shook his head slightly, looking at this junior whom he had trained, and said: "Yao Ye, there are many things that you must not act rashly just by looking at the present, especially after you ascend to the throne... At that time, one of your decisions may bring different consequences to the entire empire..."
Yao Ye nodded lightly.
Such a simple truth, she naturally understood.
However, no matter how you look at it, now is the best opportunity for the royal family, and Yao Ye doesn't want to give up so easily!
"Everything, let's talk about it after the auction is over..."
(End of this chapter)