Support me at patreon for 200+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk
**
Being a witness to such an event didn't actually have any negative impact on Xiao Lin or the Jia Nan Academy.
Therefore, after the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire spoke, Xiao Lin naturally and smoothly accepted. In hindsight, representing the Jia Nan Academy on this trip to the Sky Serpent Empire didn't really leave him with much to be conflicted about.
Truth be told, Xuan She really deserved to die!
It was his series of chaotic maneuvers in the middle that had caused Xiao Lin to have a poor impression of the Imperial Family earlier on. Regrettably, Xuan She's death had turned everything into a mystery.
Xiao Lin never did figure out the true original purpose of the Imperial Family inviting a representative from the Jia Nan Academy in the first place!
However, to Xiao Lin, it didn't matter.
Regardless, he had gained more than enough benefits from this trip to the Sky Serpent Empire.
Not only had he witnessed the shift in power between the Imperial Family and the Sky Serpent Mansion, but he had also broken through to become a Nine-Star Dou Zong, and even obtained ten Earth Grade Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques.
This could absolutely be described as a massive windfall.
At this moment, as Xiao Lin's words "I shall witness it" fell, a smile finally appeared on the Emperor's face. Simultaneously, after the Emperor had finished delivering all his "last words," the Old Mansion Master of the Sky Serpent Mansion clenched his right hand.
The spatial storm that had been surrounding the Emperor instantly tore him into fragments.
Even his soul was completely annihilated within the spatial storm. With this, the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire, a formidable figure of his generation, had finally perished. His death signified that the centuries of planning by the Imperial Family had completely come to naught!
From this day forward, the Sky Serpent Empire would no longer have two voices. The Sky Serpent Mansion stood supreme above the Imperial Family, and the Imperial Family was reduced to a mere puppet of the Mansion.
The remaining three Dou Zong powerhouses of the Imperial Family—Di She, Huang She, and the undercover Tu She—all took the initiative to accept the Sky Serpent Mansion's control over them.
Even these three Dou Zong experts acted this way, so the remaining members of the Imperial Family naturally dared not resist. With this, even the Emperor's immunity fell into the hands of the Sky Serpent Mansion!
Perhaps out of the last shred of sentiment the Sky Serpent Mansion held for the Imperial Family, even though the family had become their puppets, they didn't immediately abolish the monarchy or attempt to become the new Imperial Family themselves.
Instead, they opted to control the development of the empire from the shadows.
Of course, the current Sky Serpent Empire finally overlapped with the version in Xiao Lin's memories. One could say that Xiao Lin had not only witnessed the transfer of power between the Imperial Family and the Mansion, but at this moment, he had become a witness to history itself!
On the other side, following the Emperor's death, the Dou Zong powerhouses from other factions saw that the two sides hadn't fought to the bitter end but had instead reached a swift reconciliation. They all wore expressions of disappointment.
To be honest, facing a hegemon like the Sky Serpent Empire that sat atop the various powers of the Northwestern Region, they had dearly hoped the empire would decline due to internal strife. Many had even been planning to swoop in and scavenge some benefits after the fighting ended.
Unfortunately, reality did not grant them their wish.
Moreover, although the death of the Emperor made the empire's strength seem a notch weaker for now, this was only temporary. Once this period passed, the Sky Serpent Empire's strength would only grow greater!
In the past, the Imperial Family and the Sky Serpent Mansion were unable to present a united front due to various overt and covert struggles. But from now on, with the Sky Serpent Mansion being the sole power, those concerns were gone.
When an empire goes from two voices to one, its strength can finally be directed toward a single goal. Furthermore, because of the presence of the Old Mansion Master—a Dou Zun powerhouse—none of these visiting Dou Zong experts dared to even entertain the thought of causing trouble!
Of course, while most were afraid to move, the Dou Zong experts of two specific factions were singled out as examples and killed on the spot. These two factions were the Dark Abyss Gate and the Azure Wolf Valley, who had colluded with the Imperial Family.
It could be said that the moment the Emperor was defeated, their fates were already sealed. With the Old Mansion Master personally taking action, the Dou Zong experts of the Dark Abyss Gate and Azure Wolf Valley naturally died very "peacefully," without any surprises.
At this point, the battle for the internal power shift of the Sky Serpent Empire had completely drawn to a close. Overall, most parties left with smiles on their faces. After all, the Scarlet Flame Celestial Fluid provided by the Imperial Family was the real deal.
Every Dou Zong expert had seen their strength improve to some degree. Only the Dark Abyss Gate and Azure Wolf Valley ended up as the unlucky victims. But who could they blame for picking the wrong side?
The Old Mansion Master might show mercy to the survivors of the Imperial Family, but that didn't mean he would go easy on these two factions that dared to interfere in the empire's internal war!
It was practically a foregone conclusion that the Dark Abyss Gate and Azure Wolf Valley would be wiped off the map of the Northwestern Region. Once the matters of the Sky Serpent Empire were settled, Xiao Lin naturally took his leave of the Sky Serpent Mansion.
"Elder Lin, as a reward for the Jia Nan Academy acting as a witness for my Sky Serpent Mansion, we will no longer obstruct your academy from recruiting students within our empire's borders in the future."
Before his departure, the Old Mansion Master gave Xiao Lin a promise.
This was understandable.
In the past, the Imperial Family and the Mansion competed for the talents within their borders and naturally didn't want those talents entering the Jia Nan Academy.
But things were different now.
The Sky Serpent Mansion was now the undisputed ruler; they no longer needed to compete with other factions. Even if people within the borders entered the Jia Nan Academy, wouldn't they still return to the empire to serve the Sky Serpent Mansion in the future?
Thus, the Mansion naturally relaxed its stance.
"Then I thank Old Mansion Master. I shall inform the Grand Elder of this matter upon my return."
Xiao Lin could naturally see through the logic of the situation, so he simply cupped his hands and offered a polite word of thanks.
Even though he knew what the Old Mansion Master was thinking, this was indeed a good thing for the Jia Nan Academy, so he wouldn't be so foolish as to refuse it. Rather, this was exactly what Grand Elder Su Qian desired most!
Afterward, Xiao Lin exchanged a few more casual words with the Old Mansion Master before taking flight and leaving the borders of the Sky Serpent Empire. Watching Xiao Lin's departing figure for a moment, the smile on the Old Mansion Master's face gradually faded.
At that time, the current Mansion Master, Jin She, approached the old ancestor.
"How is it? Still no sign of Xuan She?" the Old Mansion Master asked.
"My apologies, Ancestor."
"Xuan She and the Earth Grade and higher Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques collected by the Imperial Family have all vanished. My preliminary guess is that Xuan She saw the Imperial Family's defeat coming and stole them before fleeing the empire," Jin She spoke with some guilt.
Regarding Jin She's answer, the Old Mansion Master gave a noncommittal expression. Normally, that would indeed be the most logical guess. However, for some reason, the Old Mansion Master felt there was more to the story.
But he couldn't point out what it was.
Therefore, he could only accept Jin She's assumption by default.
"Sigh, forget it. There's no need to obsess over this. If Xuan She and the Earth Grade techniques are gone, then so be it."
"Our Sky Serpent Mansion doesn't lack such things anyway. Next, I need to begin secluded meditation to heal my injuries. You will have full authority over the affairs of the Mansion and the Empire."
Sighing, the Old Mansion Master decided to stop dwelling on Xuan She.
The injuries he sustained in the fight with the Emperor hadn't been treated yet; he didn't have time to worry about other matters!
His injuries would take at least ten years to fully recover, so he had to enter seclusion.
"Yes, please rest assured, Ancestor!" Jin She replied with extreme solemnity.
With that said, the Old Mansion Master turned and returned to the Heavenly Water Cold Pond for his seclusion, while Jin She took charge of managing the affairs of the Sky Serpent Empire.
After all, with the Old Mansion Master no longer handling worldly matters, Jin She was now the highest authority in the land. As someone newly managing such a massive empire, there were many things that required his attention!
On the other side, after bidding farewell to the Old Mansion Master, Xiao Lin made no stops and flew straight toward the direction of the Jia Nan Academy.
"It's been nearly six years. After returning to the academy this time, it's about time I found an opportunity to go home," Xiao Lin thought silently on his journey.
**
Support me at patreon for 200+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk