"You'd be better off asking Tengshan than me! At least his granddaughter must know something. Anyway, I'm just a errand boy who gets benefits."
Hai Bodong rolled his eyes. He genuinely didn't know how to answer Fa Ma's question. He had a vague understanding of Jia Xingtian and Yun Shan's situation, but Yan Qingshan had repeatedly warned him not to leak Jia Xingtian's specific information. He wasn't about to tempt that little monster's wrath.
"All of you here are powerhouses of our Jia Ma Empire. I'm sure you all understand that this Great Assembly of Powerhouses is of extraordinary significance to the Jia Ma Empire."
Yun Yun's speech was nearing its end. She looked around at the many powerhouses, her voice serious. "This time, my Misty Cloud Sect and the royal family have joined forces. We are determined to raise the prestige of our Jia Ma Empire, and I hope all of you will do your utmost."
As Yun Yun said her final words, a warning flashed in her eyes. She was one of the few who knew the inside story and was naturally aware of how many powerhouses their side had gathered for this assembly. If anyone had any ulterior motives, their outcome would be miserable.
After Yun Yun's speech, the Dou Ancestor Yun Shan appeared to give a discourse and guidance to the many powerhouses. The Dou Kings and Dou Emperors present all benefited immensely.
Yun Yun walked out of the main hall alone, her brow deeply furrowed with worry. She seemed to be concerned about the Great Assembly of Powerhouses in the coming days. At this moment, a middle-aged man with an extraordinary presence and holding a delicate jade box arrived behind her.
"Yun'er, I have already concocted the pill for Yanran using the purple crystal you brought back a few days ago."
This middle-aged man was the Misty Cloud Sect's honored Sixth-rank alchemist, Gu He. He called out softly to Yun Yun and handed her the jade box.
"Master Gu He, in the Misty Cloud Sect, please call me Sect Master!"
Yun Yun seemed a bit mentally unsettled when she saw Gu He, and her reaction was even a little strange. As Gu He was about to approach, Yun Yun took a half-step back.
"Sect Master Yun, what's wrong? Are you worried about the Great Assembly of Powerhouses or have you not been resting well? I have some calming pills here."
Gu He was a little surprised by Yun Yun's reaction, but he thought it was a deliberate reminder for her to show her authority as the Sect Master. He didn't think much of it and still showed his concern.
"No, there's no need. Thank you, Master Gu He."
Yun Yun shook her head and forced a smile before saying, "Gu He, I... I know you have feelings for me, but I don't think we are a good match. You don't really need to do so much for me..."
Yun Yun said after a moment of silence. She had known about Gu He's feelings for a long time, but she had been unwilling to hurt him. Moreover, the Misty Cloud Sect needed Gu He, this great master of alchemy, which was why she hadn't been so direct before.
However, Yan Qingshan's appearance forced her to confront her own feelings. Coupled with the uncertain fate of the Misty Cloud Sect, she no longer wanted to continue this tangled relationship and hurt Gu He.
"Yun'er, I know I haven't won your heart, but I won't give up. As long as you don't have a loved one, I won't give up. I will make myself more outstanding..."
Gu He handed the jade box to Yun Yun with a smile. His sincere words truly moved Yun Yun, but being moved was not the same as being in love. His efforts, in the end, were all in vain.
"Gu He, you..."
Yun Yun was about to speak, but Gu He smiled calmly, bowed, and turned to leave, saying he was going into seclusion to break through to Dou Emperor. Yun Yun remained standing there in a daze for a long time, speechless until his figure disappeared.
"Gu He is indeed not bad, but he's a little inferior to me. Since Sect Master Yun rejected him, how about considering me?"
A laughing voice suddenly came from beside Yun Yun. Yan Qingshan, holding a folding fan, spoke with a playful tone. The fluttering of his fan woke Yun Yun from her daze.
"Consider you? Dream on!"
Yun Yun was so angry at Yan Qingshan that she couldn't contain it. She pushed his head and began twisting his ear, complaining indignantly. "You scoundrel, first, you need to settle your romantic debts. I don't want to be hunted down by your Queen."
After venting her frustrations, Yun Yun fled, leaving him behind as if escaping. She truly didn't know how to face him with all her mixed emotions.
After that night on Misty Cloud Mountain, Yan Qingshan's true identity was revealed to Yun Yun, which was followed by this beauty's displeasure. She was not only unhappy with his deception but also with his womanizing nature.
Not to mention the few 'fostered' relationships he had at the Jia Nan Academy, Yan Qingshan had been constantly stirring up trouble with women after returning to the Jia Ma Empire.
He had Ya Fei of the Mitel Clan, not one but two lovers from the Snake-people, and he had even abducted the Queen Medusa of the Snake-people. As if that wasn't enough, he had also entangled himself with the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun.
Fortunately, this was a world with a fantasy setting. As long as you had the ability, having multiple partners was not an issue. And among these women, there was no conflict before Yun Yun's appearance.
Ya Fei was always meant to be a lover. Although her skills and abilities were not weak, her strength was average, and she hadn't shown any ambition.
Yue Mei and Hua She'er were both subordinates of the Queen and would never challenge the Queen's status. It was only after Yun Yun appeared that Queen Medusa became wary, and the two excellent women had a bit of a subtle rivalry.
Medusa and Yun Yun were both noble beauties, at the peak of their mature charm. Yun Yun was dignified and graceful, while Medusa was cold, alluring, and possessed a natural charm.
In terms of temperament, Yun Yun had a better presence; she was the kind of woman one would want to marry and bring home. But in terms of her appeal to men, Medusa was a step above. She had a very teasing charm that made men want to pin her down.
In terms of strength, Yun Yun was a Dou Emperor, while Medusa was a Dou Ancestor. It seemed that Medusa was a step ahead, but Yun Yun also had a Dou Ancestor master. Also, she was a little younger, which was a significant advantage for a woman.
Queen Medusa had been famous for a long time. Hai Bodong had fallen at her hands in the past, so her age was not exactly young. Yun Yun was a genuine rising star, the youngest and most promising genius among this generation's top ten powerhouses. Gu He was a full generation older than her.
However, Medusa had undergone a bloodline transformation, a complete rebirth, and was about to enter a period of rapid strength growth. The comparison between the two was, on the whole, about even.
These two outstanding women not only had beauty and strength but also powerful forces behind them. The Misty Cloud Sect of the Jia Ma Empire was needless to say, its strength was above that of the imperial royal family. And the overall strength of the Snake-people was even greater than the entire Jia Ma Empire.
Putting it all together, the conditions of these two noble beauties were actually quite similar. When they were both close to Yan Qingshan, a natural conflict was bound to arise.
Fortunately, Yan Qingshan's methods were decent, and the atmosphere of this era was quite... ahem, favorable to men. So, a chaotic love triangle situation had not yet occurred.
Yun Yun was only throwing a small tantrum at him now. Yan Qingshan was confident he could win her back later, so he just continued to fan himself and didn't chase after her.
…
The Black Mountain Fortress, located on the northeastern border of the Jia Ma Empire, was the most magnificent fortress for a thousand miles. Since its construction, it had stood for over a hundred years. It had gone through several major battles, yet it had left few marks on this enormous fortress, which showed how terrifyingly sturdy it was.
Today, the Black Mountain Fortress was extremely lively. People from all walks of life were constantly coming and going. There were not only warriors from various parts of the Jia Ma Empire but also Poison Masters from Chu Yun, the courageous from Luo Yan, and the beastmen from Mulan.
The news that the Misty Cloud Sect had proactively called for a Great Assembly of Powerhouses had spread throughout the region. Not only was the Jia Ma Empire in an uproar, but the three neighboring countries and a dozen or so adjacent empires were also paying close attention to this great battle.
The Misty Cloud Sect having another Dou Ancestor was no small matter, especially in this corner of the Northwest Continent, which could be considered remote. In this area, a Dou Ancestor held a significant amount of weight.
The four main participants of this Great Assembly of Powerhouses were: the Luo Yan Empire, led by the Sect Master of the Golden Geese Sect, Yan Luotian; the Mulan Empire, led by the three elders of the Mulan Valley; and the Poison Masters of the Chu YunEmpire, commanded by the old Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Scorpion gate, Xie Biyan.
Among these three forces, the Golden Geese Sect of the Luo Yan Empire and the Mulan Valley of the Mulan Empire were a bit unfamiliar to the powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire. They had never had many conflicts with the Jia Ma Empire, and the last large-scale battle was nearly a hundred years ago.
However, the Chu Yun Empire had a deep-seated grudge with the Jia Ma Empire. The Chu Yun Empire was famous for its Poison Masters. Poison dou qi, a special kind of dou qi, was largely looked down upon on the continent, but it was the mainstream in the Chu Yun Empire.
The Great Assembly of Powerhouses decades ago was when Xie Biyan, who was already a Half-step Dou Ancestor, led his forces to invade the Jia Ma Empire. That great battle caused severe losses to the Jia Ma Empire, which had not recovered much of its vitality in decades. Even now, the entire empire had fewer than ten Dou Emperor powerhouses.
In that great battle, the Jia Ma Empire suffered huge losses, but the Chu Yun Empire also had a considerable number of casualties. After both sides called a truce and recuperated for many years, there were no major battles, only some minor skirmishes.
Now, with the Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Master, Yun Shan, breaking through to Dou Ancestor, the empire was using this opportunity to reclaim its interests. This great battle today was about the Jia Ma Empire's prestige and the empire's fate for the next hundred years.
"This time, the Misty Cloud Sect has been a bit too ambitious, directly inviting three countries. I wonder what the old Sect Master Yun Shan is thinking."
"Right! These three great empires are not to be trifled with. Just talking about the Chu Yun's Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate, it is said that after that great battle, the old Sect Master Xie Biyan secretly broke through to Dou Ancestor and is no longer a low-level Dou Ancestor."
"The Chu Yun Empire is a tough nut to crack, and the Luo Yan and Mulan empires are not to be provoked either. Although Yan Luotian of the Luo Yan Empire just broke through, it is said that this sect's movement speed is incredibly astonishing and their tracks are impossible to catch."
"Although the Mulan Empire doesn't have a Dou Ancestor, its overall strength is the strongest among these few empires. And the three elders of Mulan were hailed as the strongest people in this region before these Dou Ancestors appeared."
Inside the Black Mountain Fortress, all kinds of whispers and discussions were taking place.
As some information about the three great empires was exposed, many people were not optimistic about the Misty Cloud Sect's actions, thinking they were too rash. However, what the actual outcome would be, would only be revealed after the battle.