Jia Ma Sacred City, the Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire, located in the northern part of the empire, is the most magnificent large city in the entire empire.
Overlooking from the sky, a magnificent giant city sprawled on the ground like a mountain range, resembling a coiled dragon, faintly exuding a soaring spiritual aura.
Yan Qingshan and Hai Bodong descended outside the city, then followed the flow of people along the official road into Jia Ma Sacred City, heading all the way towards the Mittel Family's territory.
The Mittel Family occupies a vast area within Jia Ma Sacred City. As one of the empire's three major families, their properties in the Imperial Capital are second only to the Imperial Family.
"Hehe, the Mittel Family is one of the three major families of the Jia Ma Empire, with a long history and profound foundation…"
Yan Qingshan and Hai Bodong arrived at the headquarters of the Mittel Auction House. The colossal building made them marvel at the extent of their power in the Imperial Capital, while Hai Bodong chuckled, explaining with a sense of pride.
The old fellow's relationship with the Mittel Family was certainly not simple, something that couldn't be explained in a few words. This could be seen from his ability to influence the succession of the Mittel Family's future patriarch.
The Mittel Auction House headquarters, an ultra-large shopping complex with an area almost as vast as a small city. Inside the main hall, fully armed guards were visible everywhere. The guards wore the Mittel Family's emblem on their chests; these people were the direct forces of the Mittel Family.
The hall was filled with countless crystal counters. Beside the counters, people flowed endlessly. The crystal counters displayed countless rare items, priced at least thirty thousand gold coins or more. To be displayed here, an item had to be at least of the high-grade medicinal herb level.
"This is just the outer sales area… The Mittel Family headquarters, including the auction house, is strictly divided into four levels: Tian, Di, Xuan, and Huang, just like cultivation technique grades, with Tian-grade being the highest…"
Hai Bodong briefly explained. As the most successful commercial family in the entire empire, the daily cash flow and profits of the Mittel Auction House were a terrifying figure, perhaps not inferior to the Imperial Family's tax revenue, naturally attracting the covetous eyes of many.
Furthermore, besides the Imperial Family and the Misty Cloud Sect, they were also the most likely force in the empire to acquire resources useful to Dou King-level powerhouses. The Tian-grade auction of the Mittel Auction House had even auctioned off a Tier 6 magical beast, the Fire-Scaled Crocodile's egg, and Di-grade cultivation techniques and Dou Skills.
Suddenly, the originally calm hall stirred. It seemed a person of no small status had emerged from somewhere.
Yan Qingshan's expression was somewhat displeased. That familiar figure was heading straight for him, and the surrounding men all became excited, like rutting male wolves. She was his woman now, so of course he wouldn't be happy about his woman being fantasized about like this by others.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort, laden with warning, echoed through the hall. Many men, their faces flushed, instantly stiffened and turned pale.
And with a nimble leap, that captivating enchantress, a seductive little wildcat full of allure, just like that, jumped into a young man's embrace. Three surging auras awed the entire audience, also making some people who wanted to curse swallow their vulgar words back down.
"Master!"
The Yao brothers came before Yan Qingshan and bowed respectfully. They had already made a name for themselves in the Jia Ma Empire these past few days. Seeing someone who commanded such respect from three Dou Kings, some quick-witted individuals finally realized that the most delicate flower of the Mittel Family already had a master!
"Master!!!"
A gentle call sounded from within his embrace. Her jade arms circled his neck, her exquisite head slightly raised, a pair of peach blossom eyes, brewed from spring water, glistened with moisture, gazing intently at Yan Qingshan.
"Little vixen!"
Yan Qingshan lowered his head and pecked her delicate red lips. He embraced this peerless beauty in his arms and, under countless envious gazes, entered the internal passage of the Mittel Family, leaving behind a flurry of disturbances and discussions.
Inside a luxurious and quiet room within the Mittel Family's inner compound, Yan Qingshan held Ya Fei in his embrace. While chatting with the beauty, he enjoyed delicious food and the service of her slender jade fingers. Just as he was having a pleasant time, footsteps sounded from outside, one of which belonged to Hai Bodong.
"Kid, did I interrupt your good time?"
Hai Bodong chuckled, pushing the door open, his gaze full of playful mockery. Behind him followed an elderly man. When the old man saw Ya Fei, his gaze held a hint of awkwardness.
"This is my grandfather, the Great Elder of the Mittel Auction House, Mittel Tengshan."
Ya Fei quickly stood up from Yan Qingshan's lap and introduced him. Although she had always been bold in her conduct, the thought of flirting with her lover under her grandfather's watchful eye made her face flush.
"Great Elder Tengshan!"
Yan Qingshan did not rise to greet him, merely nodding faintly. With his current strength and status, he could completely look down upon this helmsman of the Mittel Auction House.
Of course, due to his relationship with Ya Fei, he could be a bit more polite, but at the moment, he wasn't in the mood. Having rushed to Jia Ma Sacred City, he greatly needed to ascertain the outcome of the matter he had previously asked Ya Fei to handle in the Sacred City.
Yan Qingshan rested one hand on the tea table, his eyes fixed on Mittel Tengshan. "Great Elder Tengshan, what is the news from the Imperial Family's side?"
Although the matter he had instructed was personally handled by Ya Fei, the subsequent secret intelligence regarding the Imperial Family still required the Mittel Auction House's special channels to inquire, and these special channels were controlled by Mittel Tengshan.
"Young Master Yan, the Imperial Family has not yet released specific news, but recently, there have been frequent troop movements in the Imperial Capital. Even the two from the Mu Family and the Nalan Family have been secretly summoned by the Imperial Family.
Over the past few months, the defenses of the Imperial Family's secret ground have been outwardly relaxed but inwardly tight. Everything should be proceeding smoothly."
Mittel Tengshan first glanced at Hai Bodong, and after receiving confirmation from him, he revealed the intelligence he possessed.
Although Ya Fei was his granddaughter, he had dozens, if not more than ten, descendants in the third generation. While this granddaughter was excellent, the trouble she had caused previously was not small.
This time, Ya Fei returned to the Imperial Capital with three Dou Kings and, through his secret channels, contacted the Imperial Family. Since then, there had been no news of the Imperial Family's guardian for several months. He had guessed some things, but he only secretly monitored and did not reveal too much to Ya Fei.
On one hand, this was sensitive intelligence of the Mittel Family, and Ya Fei was acting on behalf of outsiders this time.
On the other hand, he was also trying to leverage the situation, wanting to obtain information about Hai Bodong from Ya Fei. In his heart, news about Hai Bodong was more important than Ya Fei's affairs.
After listening to Great Elder Tengshan's words, Yan Qingshan pondered before turning to Ya Fei. "Ya Fei, you can still contact the Imperial Family, right?"
Ya Fei smiled lightly, "Young Master, rest assured, Princess Yao Ye of the Imperial Family has come to find me many times, having long expressed her desire to meet you. It's just that I haven't had any news of you, so I couldn't agree to her."
Yan Qingshan nodded, "Is that so! Then arrange for her to meet me tomorrow. On certain matters, I also need to have a good talk with the Imperial Family."
…
Inside the Mittel Family's inner compound, in Ya Fei's pavilion, the beauty in his arms was soundly asleep, her forehead glistening with sweat. After their long-awaited reunion, she had been incredibly passionate but ultimately succumbed to Yan Qingshan.
"Chi Lian! Xiao Cai'er!"
Carefully setting down the sleeping Ya Fei and covering her with the blanket, Yan Qingshan softly called out. From his sleeves, two 'bracelets,' one colorful and one red, entwined like jade bracelets, suddenly stirred, responding to his call and arriving by the bed.
"Chi Lian, go outside and watch, don't let anyone disturb us."
Yan Qingshan first instructed Chi Lian. The Two-headed Flame Spirit Serpent obediently called out "Master" before swiftly slithering to the doorway, its two heads monitoring all directions, sensing for any potential problems.
The little colorful snake flew to Yan Qingshan's palm at his beckoning. Its warm body carried a hint of fragrance, and its small head hissed, licking his palm.
"Xiao Cai'er, can you ask that elder sister in your body to come out for a bit, okay?"
Yan Qingshan gently coaxed the little colorful snake. The little colorful snake's eyes showed some displeasure. Its master had called it only after a long time, and it was actually for another soul within its body. However, under Yan Qingshan's coaxing and pampering words, the little fellow still agreed.
Accompanying a shift in colorful light, Yan Qingshan's palm felt heavier. He circled his arms and embraced the suddenly appearing stunning beauty, "Queen Medusa, I've missed you so much."
"Heh, men!"
Queen Medusa glanced askance at Ya Fei on the bed, her gaze at Yan Qingshan filled with disdain, implying, "Is this how you miss me?!"
"Hehe! This, this, I am a man too…"
Yan Qingshan casually found an excuse, then hugged Queen Medusa, ready to get intimate. Last time, this beauty had escaped, leaving him frustrated. This time, he couldn't let her go.
"I'm warning you, if you keep this up, I'm going back. Say what you need to say."
Queen Medusa pushed Yan Qingshan's head away. After he kissed her cheek, the coldness on her face intensified. These past few days, she had seen many scenes of Yan Qingshan and other women having intimate moments from within the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's body.
The slight good impression she had been fooled into having that day had now all turned into an awkward annoyance. If Yan Qingshan hadn't said he wanted to discuss something, she wouldn't have been willing to come out and see this lecher.
"Queen Medusa, you promised back then that after your breakthrough, you'd owe me a favor and help me. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
A calm glint also flashed in Yan Qingshan's eyes. Although he was still holding Queen Medusa, he was indeed talking about serious business.
"You're in trouble? I know the people in the Jia Ma Empire; there aren't many Dou Emperors. There shouldn't be anyone who can threaten you yet, right?"
Queen Medusa frowned. It wasn't that she was unwilling to help Yan Qingshan, but her current state wasn't right either. If it weren't necessary, she wouldn't even want others to know of her existence.
Yan Qingshan shook his head, gazing distantly towards the Jia Ma Imperial Palace and calmly said, "Not trouble, but preparing to discuss a deal. And this deal requires a strong deterrent to secure my rightful benefits."