In the eastern Magic Beast Mountain Range, the Snake People, after their migration, were still extremely busy, constructing homes with the resources available. Despite their physical exhaustion, each of them wore joyful smiles, looking forward to a brighter future. The living conditions in the Magic Beast Mountain Range were infinitely better than those in the Tagor Desert. This place was truly suitable for the Snake People to reside.
Seeing that the Snake People were beginning to settle in, Gu Fei didn't stay there entirely, as the distance from here to the valley where Xiao Yi Xian and the others were was not far. With Gu Fei's speed, he could reach there in half an hour. Since there was nothing much to do here, he left behind a spatial jade slip and opened a space tunnel to return to the small valley to accompany Xiao Yi Xian and Xian Yue. The Lion King stayed behind with the Snake People to help deter the magical beasts in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. (TL/n: Went with Yue since most of you preferred it; also one of you pointed out that Xian Le was the name of a boy in another novel.)
Half a month later, a large group of uninvited guests arrived outside the borders of the Jia Ma Empire. Led by the Luo Yan Empire and Mulan Empire, along with the armies of more than a dozen other smaller nations, they gathered outside the border of the Jia Ma Empire.
At this moment, on the vast plains outside the border, thirteen military corps of various sizes were stationed. The sheer number of people was overwhelming, roughly estimated to exceed three hundred thousand. The leader was none other than Yan Luo Tian, the Sect Master of the Gold Geese Sect, a three-star Dou Ancestor expert.
Jia Xing Tian had already received information about the Luo Yan Empire's intentions a few days earlier. However, he believed that Yan Luo Tian alone couldn't cause much trouble, but he hadn't expected him to unite with over a dozen other nations so quickly to press against the Jia Ma Empire's borders.
The sheer size of the force forced Jia Xingtian to treat the situation seriously. He personally rushed to the border, where he saw Yan Luo Tian.
"Yan Luo Tian, didn't I say in my letter that the Snake People have promised not to harm the human empires anymore? Why have you brought an army to our Jia Ma border?" Jia Xing Tian appeared in the sky outside the fortress, his tone furious.
"Jia Xing Tian, I think you're growing more senile with age. Have you forgotten why we drove the Snake People into the desert in the first place?" Luo Yan Tian sneered. "The Snake People posed no threat in the barren desert, but now, in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, which is rich in resources and perfect for their growth, they could become a significant threat. The first to suffer would be your Jia Ma Empire! You should clear the path for us, or we won't hesitate to flatten your empire!"
"That's right! We've heard that the Queen Medusa of the Snake People has already broken through to Dou Ancestor. If they continue to grow, they'll eventually become a menace to our human empires!" Many experts from the surrounding empires joined in, criticizing Jia Xing Tian.
The overwhelming pressure from so many strong warriors, including the likes of the Three Mulan Elders, who were not inferior to Jia Xing Tian in strength, and Yan Luo Tian, who was a three-star Dou Ancestor, made Jia Xing Tian feel increasingly helpless. He looked back at the soldiers within the fortress. Their determined gazes showed they were ready to fight for the empire, but he knew the reality: "It's not a question of whether we fear them or not. With so many empires united, we stand no chance. If we resist, our soldiers will die in vain. Let's clear the path."
Jia Xing Tian clenched his fists in frustration, knowing he had no other choice. He reluctantly ordered the path to be cleared. Seeing this, Yan Luo Tian and his allies smirked triumphantly.
"Hold on!" A voice interrupted at that moment. Jia Xing Tian recognized it immediately and was about to turn around when a figure appeared before him- Yun Shan. Yun Shan had brought many elders from the Misty Cloud Sect to the border fortress.
"Jia Xing Tian, you are the head of the Jia Ma royal family, and yet you open the gates to invaders so easily? Where's your dignity?" Yun Shan's words left Jia Xingtian feeling humiliated.
Seeing that Jia Xing Tian remained silent, Yun Shan didn't press further. Instead, he turned to face Yan Luo Tian. "So, it's you, Yan Luo Tian."
Yan Luo Tian's gaze turned cold as he looked at Yun Shan. With a Dou Ancestor expert like Yun Shan and the elders of the Misty Cloud Sect, the power they represented could not be ignored. "Enough talk. Take your ridiculous coalition and leave the borders of the Jia Ma Empire!"
"Hmph! We didn't come here to fight the Jia Ma Empire but to deal with the Snake People. As long as you allow our forces to pass through to the Magic Beast Mountain Range, we won't trouble your empire," Yan Luo Tian responded, not wanting to engage with the Misty Cloud Sect.
Yun Shan scoffed at this, standing firm. "The Snake People were ordered by Young Master Gu Fei to migrate to the Magic Beast Mountain Range to thrive. Gu Fei is a great benefactor to my Misty Cloud Sect. Now that you want to attack the Snake People, I can't stand by and do nothing. If you want to pass through, you'll have to get through the Misty Cloud Sect first!"
Yun Shan's decision to stand up for Jia Xing Tian and Gu Fei was calculated. He knew that if the combined forces of these empires attacked, it would severely impact the Jia Ma Empire, and the Misty Cloud Sect would also suffer. The sect had already faced internal issues, with some elders and disciples growing disillusioned. Another major conflict could lead to its collapse. By aiding Jia Xing Tian and Gu Fei, Yun Shan hoped to solidify the Misty Cloud Sect's standing and win favor from powerful allies like Gu Fei. He also believed that Gu Fei wouldn't ignore the threat posed by the empires and would intervene.
"Yun Shan, I bet you've been frightened out of your wits by that brat, Gu Fei!" Yan Luo Tian sneered, unyielding in his stance.