Chapter 485: Jia Ma Empire's Situation

"How did it go? Any significant discoveries?" Su Qian and Elder Huo approached, their curiosity evident in their expressions.

"We made some discoveries, but they don't have any significant impact on the Jia Nan Academy," Xiao Ming said in response.

The revelations about the Tou She Ancient God Mansion were merely additional worries for the First Elder and the others. Since the lizard people and Zhu Kun were unable to come out, Xiao Ming decided not to reveal this information.

"Very well then."

After some more discussion, they left the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.

"Do you really want to leave so soon?" Su Qian inquired, recalling what Xiao Ming had said in the meeting hall. He didn't even bother to ask Zi Yan. He knew she would follow Xiao Ming wherever he went.

"Yes, I must return to my clan tomorrow. There are urgent matters that can't be put off any longer," Xiao Ming nodded and explained.

"Won't you stay a little longer?" Elder Huo inquired with a slightly furrowed brow.

He had hoped to spend some time with his good disciple who had returned after such a long absence. But he hadn't expected his disciple to be in such a hurry to leave.

'Staying an extra day is just for that girl Hu Jia, isn't it?' Knowing his disciple, who wouldn't stay in one place longer than necessary, he believed that to be the case.

Xiao Ming shook his head. "I truly have pressing matters in my clan that cannot be delayed. But how about this, Master? Why don't you come with me this time? Come and visit my clan. If you want to come back later, I'll accompany you myself. The distance between Jia Nan Academy and the Jia Ma Empire is insignificant for a Dou Saint." 

Upon hearing this, both Su Qian and Elder Huo were perplexed, not quite understanding why Xiao Ming wanted Elder Huo to accompany him.

But when Elder Huo thought about it, he realized that as Xiao Ming's Master, he hadn't visited his clan yet. He then nodded in agreement.

With Su Qian here, Elder Huo didn't need to inform anyone else. Although the Alchemy Department needed his supervision, his brief absence wouldn't have any significant impact.

Since Xiao Ming was returning to the Xiao Clan, he naturally didn't forget about the members of his clan.

He arranged for someone to inform Xiao Yu, instructing her to summon the Xiao Clan members and gather them at a specific meeting point the next morning.

The rest of the day was used by Xiao Ming and Zi Yan to strengthen the spatial barrier around the Inner Academy. From now on, it would be impossible to breach this barrier without the strength of a high-star Dou Venerate or higher.

This was to ensure that no dog or cat could infiltrate the Inner Academy and boast of their abilities.

Once this was done, Xiao Ming went to visit Hu Jia as he had promised. The other members of the Academy didn't hear from them again until the next morning...

...

The next morning, Xiao Yu arrived at the designated location with six students in the academy's uniforms, waiting as instructed.

Soon, Xiao Ming appeared, accompanied by Zi Yan and his Master, Elder Huo.

"Cousin, these are our Xiao Clan members in the Academy," Xiao Yu said with a slight smile. She seemed more mature and composed than before, without the bratty aura of the past.

As she introduced them, the Xiao Clan members behind her stared at Xiao Ming with wide eyes. They had seen Xiao Ming before as Xiao Clan members, but it had been many years since they had last met, so they were naturally curious.

"Well done, cousin."

Xiao Ming looked at the clan members with a gentle smile on his face. In the past, the Xiao Clan did not have many members who could join the Jia Nan Academy. It seemed that the clan had grown considerably over the years.

His smile made the cheeks of several young girls among the clan members blush. With his extraordinary appearance, Xiao Ming had a particularly charming smile that was irresistible to young girls.

Not to mention the young girls in the clan, even among the mature female cultivators in the Central Plains, he had quite a fan base.

Xiao Yu, who was closest to Xiao Ming, looked at his much more mature face and her cheeks also turned slightly red.

'How could Xiao Ming become even more attractive?' Xiao Yu felt that her current inability to find a suitable partner was because Xiao Ming had raised her standards too high!

"Hmph." Zi Yan suddenly snorted, causing these young female clan members to wake up from their reverie with cold sweat running down their faces.

Xiao Ming was not fully aware of their thoughts, but he was aware of the considerable attraction his appearance held for the opposite sex.

After hearing his jealous partner snort, he cleared his throat and gave a nod to the younger members of the clan before he said, "It's time to go."

Immediately, a spatial rift engulfed them all.

...

The Jia Ma Empire had prospered greatly over the years.

When Xiao Ming left the Jia Ma Empire, he inadvertently eliminated the strongest individuals from the neighboring nations: the Chu Yun Empire, the Luo Yan Empire, and the Mulan Empire.

Since the Jia Ma Empire still had Yun Shan alive, they had an advantage in terms of high-level strength. However, due to Yun Shan's injuries at that time, the Jia Ma Empire refrained from making any significant moves.

Two years later, the Jia Ma Empire's Guardian, Jia Xing Tian, broke through to the Dou Ancestor realm, further consolidating the empire's strength. He then forged an alliance with Yun Shan, whose injuries had mostly healed, with the aim of conquering the nearby Chu Yun Empire and Luo Yan Empire in one fell swoop to expand the Jia Ma Empire's territory.

At first, the war went relatively smoothly, forcing the enemy to retreat step by step. However, Medusa, the long-disappeared Queen of the Snake-People Tribe, suddenly returned to her tribe as a Dou Venerate. She brought with her more than a dozen terrifying puppets.

The Tagore Desert, where the Snake-People lived, was close to the battlefields of the three nations. Seeing the intense battles between the three empires, Medusa directly led the Snake-People to take control of an area suitable for their tribe's survival.

When the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire saw their newly acquired territory being taken away and part of their northeastern province being seized, they didn't dare utter a single harsh word. They had no choice, Medusa's strength was too terrifying.

But to everyone's surprise, Medusa underwent a drastic change in her attitude towards humans. She abandoned her previous disdain and began to encourage her kin to coexist peacefully with the humans under her dominion.

At the same time, she made contact with the rulers of the northeastern province of the Jia Ma Empire, the Xiao family. She eventually began to represent the Xiao family in her capacity as Xiao Ming's wife, much to the astonishment of other forces in the Jia Ma Empire.

Meanwhile, the Jia Ma Empire resumed its expansion.

Finally, just over a year ago, with its expanded influence and Medusa's presence, the Jia Ma Empire officially joined the Northwestern Branch of the Heavenly Court.

...

Outside Wu Tan City, within the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

A tribe of Snake-People had settled in this region. Though they often clashed with various magical beasts, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing for some fight-loving Snake-People.

The tribe was nestled against the mountain range, its form blending seamlessly with the mountainous terrain. Inside the tribe, the Snake-People bustled about, and a few snake warriors stood armed at elevated points, their sharp eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

Deeper within the tribe was a complex of large palaces. At the center of the palace complex was an exceptionally magnificent hall.

Inside the grand hall at this very moment...

A graceful figure dressed in a red gown leaned lazily against the back of a chair at the very end of the grand hall. In those bewitching, alluring eyes, filled with a unique charm, there was an air of majesty and pride that time couldn't seem to erase.

Yet, at that moment, the proud figure wore a hint of helplessness on her cold yet enchanting face.

All because a baby was lying on top of her, struggling to leave her embrace.

"Yue'er, be quiet, don't fly around recklessly, or you might get hurt later."