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"Is this Heavenly Serpent Mansion far from us?" Xiao Ding asked. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Pretty far, actually," Hai Bodong replied with a smile. "The Heavenly Serpent Mansion is located at the heart of the Northwestern Region, inside the Sky Serpent Empire. Its status within the empire is extremely high—even more so than the Yun Lan Sect once held in the Jia Ma Empire."

"In fact, even the imperial family’s succession over there is secretly manipulated by them from the shadows."

"There are a few other forces within that kingdom," he added casually, "but all of them are subordinate to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. They pay heavy tribute every year."

Hai Bodong gave a faint chuckle and said, "Our Jia Ma Empire hasn’t been around for that long. And due to our position on the far western side of the continent, very few foreign experts actually come here. Aside from the empire’s main powers and the imperial family, ordinary people rarely get to know about forces on this level."

Hearing these previously unknown secrets, Xiao Yan’s expression turned to one of surprise. Beside him, Xiao Li and Xiao Ding were also listening intently, clicking their tongues in amazement.

Even Wei Yang showed a flicker of interest.

After all, they’d lived and fought in the Jia Ma Empire for years, but when it came to information about the broader continent—besides the Black-Corner Region—they knew next to nothing.

"Now that the Yun Lan Sect is gone, the Jia Ma Empire no longer has any truly powerful sect forces to stand on its own," Hai Bodong said with a sigh. "That’s why us old fellows are so anxious to take the lead and form a new alliance of powers."

"Otherwise, if there’s no powerful faction holding the line, the Jia Ma Empire will become nothing more than meat on the chopping block. Every neighboring empire will want a bite. Some might even try to carve us up entirely. And frankly, that’s a rule that everyone already accepts."

Wei Yang and the others silently nodded.

Survival of the fittest—that was the law of the world.

If an empire didn’t have the power to deter threats, being coveted, bullied, or even dismembered by others was nothing unusual.

Weakness was the original sin.

It’s not that they wanted to destroy you specifically—but doing so was their way of showing the utmost respect to both you and the rules of this world.

"Forming a new faction would actually benefit your Xiao Clan as well," Hai Bodong said as he glanced at the three Xiao brothers.

"Oh? And what do you mean by that, Elder Hai?" Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and asked softly.

"Heh, you silly boy. Your Xiao Clan is now being targeted by the Hall of Souls. You don’t really think you can have your entire clan go into hiding, living like hermits in the mountains and forests, do you?" Hai Bodong asked with a laugh.

Xiao Yan fell silent.

He had promised his father and his clan that he would revive the Xiao Clan. Naturally, hiding everyone away to live as woodsmen was out of the question.

"If hiding is not an option, then the only way to protect your clan is to have a powerful faction backing you."

"Relying on your own strength alone would be far too thin. And you can’t possibly stay here all your life, guarding them 24/7."

"That’s why you need a strong enough faction as your foundation."

Hai Bodong’s eyes gleamed as he continued with a smile, "Right now, we’re gathering all the major factions to form a new alliance. If it grows strong enough in the future to become one of the top factions in the Northwestern Region, then even the Hall of Souls will have to think twice before making a move against your Xiao Clan."

"At the very least, they won’t dare to act as recklessly as they did before—killing at will."

"And in the future, once the two of you truly rise, becoming rulers of the Northwestern Region in your own right, even the mighty Hall of Souls will have to tread carefully."

"Besides, if you want to rescue your father, you’ll need the support of a strong faction. Wandering aimlessly across the continent on your own, hoping to stumble upon him—how long do you think that would take?"

"Elder Hai makes a fair point," Xiao Yan said, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he nodded slightly and added, "But forming a faction strong enough to rank among the top of the Northwestern Region... that’s easier said than done."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan glanced at Wei Yang and said with a faint sigh, "Brother Wei and I are both used to our freedom. We’re not suited to founding sects or managing organizations. Getting caught up in that kind of thing would only be a distraction to our cultivation."

"Haha, there are some things you don’t have to do personally. There are more suitable people to handle those responsibilities. You two just need to focus on cultivation and play the role of hands-off figureheads."

Hai Bodong chuckled, then looked over at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li and said, "The stronger your group becomes, the more it will help the alliance as a whole. With the reputation you already hold within the Jia Ma Empire, one rallying cry from you would be enough to gather countless strong followers."

"Besides, with the strength you two possess now, and the backing of us old-timers, this new alliance—while maybe not quite on par with the Heavenly Serpent Mansion—shouldn’t fall far behind either," Hai Bodong added truthfully.

He wasn’t exaggerating. Just having Wei Yang in the alliance was enough to drastically elevate its standing among the great powers.

Xiao Yan thought for a moment and realized it was indeed true.

The stronger he and Wei Yang became, the more powerful the alliance would be.

Strength—that was the ultimate deciding factor in everything.

With that realization, Xiao Yan slowly clenched his fists, a wave of hot-blooded ambition rising in his chest.

This Jia Ma Empire—no, the entire Northwestern Region—it was time for a change.

He turned to look at Wei Yang, his eyes showing a flicker of probing thought.

He knew that Wei Yang wasn’t the type to care much for things like this. He rarely showed interest, and even now, he’d only agreed to join the alliance in name—more out of obligation and the difficulty of refusing a favor, perhaps more for Xiao Yan’s sake... and for the Xiao Clan.

But still, Xiao Yan needed Wei Yang’s support—at the very least, he hoped Wei Yang would take the alliance a bit more seriously.

Meeting Xiao Yan’s look, Wei Yang could only shake his head in mild exasperation. He let out a sigh and said, "Kid, you already owe me a lot."

"I know, I’ll pay it back... little by little." Xiao Yan grinned.

At a certain point, once you owed someone enough, it stopped feeling like a burden.

"You will pay it back," Wei Yang replied, his tone carrying a hint of meaning.

Xiao Yan, however, didn’t catch the undertone and simply kept looking at him.

Waving his hand, Wei Yang relented. "Alright, alright. You be the alliance leader. I’ll take the vice role in name only. Deal?"

"No way, you be the alliance leader, I’ll be your deputy!" Xiao Yan shook his head immediately.

"I don’t want to be a damn leader," Wei Yang said flatly. "If someone’s going to do it, it should be you. Anyway, I’m leaving."

He stood up as he spoke.

Startled, Xiao Yan quickly jumped up and pressed a hand on Wei Yang’s shoulder. "Come on, don’t be like that. Let’s talk this through."

He was dead serious. If Wei Yang really walked away, the alliance’s cohesion and deterrent power would instantly take a massive hit—cut in half would be an understatement.

Hai Bodong was also alarmed. He quickly jumped in, "How about this: both of you take the title of alliance leader. Xiao Yan will be the public face, while Wei Yang is an honorary co-leader. Sound good?"

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li chimed in from the side in quick agreement.

"Works for me," Xiao Yan agreed without hesitation.

Wei Yang paused in thought before reluctantly nodding, "Fine, but unless it’s something critical to the alliance’s survival, don’t come to me."

"Haha, deal!" Hai Bodong thumped his chest in promise, swearing to it with a big grin.

What he was really thinking, though, remained unknown.

Because let’s be honest—talking sweet at the start was just to get you into the game.

Once you officially became the alliance leader, you thought you could just sit back and relax?

Sure, sure—except that as a genuine Tier 6 Alchemist, how could you not contribute something?

At the very least, hand over three to five bottles of Mighty Huang Pills, right?

Hands tucked into his sleeves, Hai Bodong rubbed them together quietly, already planning how many rare ingredients he had in his vault—and figuring out the right opportunity to bring it up.

"No more business. I’m heading back to sleep," Wei Yang said with a yawn as he got up, casually waving goodbye and walking out of the hall.

"Take care," Xiao Yan and the others stood to see him off.

Hai Bodong watched his leaving figure with a big smile on his face.

Then he turned to look at Xiao Yan.

He firmly believed that these two young men wouldn’t stop at something as small as the Jia Ma Empire... or even the Northwestern Region.

The vast Dou Qi Continent—that would be their real stage.

And as long as he stuck close to them, this old man might just... break into Dou Zong one day?

When it came to investment foresight, Hai Bodong had some confidence in himself.

All-in—that was also a form of great wisdom.

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