Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

"Yeah, rob us? What can we rob us with? The clan leader is a three-star Dou Wang, and even he fell. Wouldn't we just be throwing our lives away if we went?"

"But if we agree to that woman's conditions, the loss will not only be an auction house! That's the core business in the most prosperous area of ​​the capital, accounting for 30% of the family's annual profits! What's even more terrifying is that once this precedent is set, what will other forces think of us? If a traitor can successfully extort money, what will become of the Mittel family's reputation?"

"Face? Is this the time to think about face? The clan leader's life is hanging in the balance; every moment we delay increases the danger!"

"But if we give in too easily, the family's prestige will be completely destroyed. What will those chambers of commerce and allies who depend on us think? When the wall falls, everyone will kick it!"

"But without the clan leader in charge, how can we deter those covetous enemies? The Mu family of Blackrock City, the Oba family of Twilight City—aren't they all waiting for us to show our weaknesses?"

The high-ranking officials spoke one after another, their voices gradually rising, and their emotions becoming increasingly agitated.

Some advocated redeeming the clan chief at all costs, while others insisted on not bowing to a traitor, and still others secretly plotted what benefits they could gain from the power reshuffle if the clan chief did not return.

The discussion lasted for nearly an hour, but no feasible solution was reached. Instead, an atmosphere of despair and division filled the hall.

"enough!"

A deep yet penetrating shout rang out. The voice wasn't loud, but it brought all the arguing to an abrupt halt.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Second Elder, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly open them at the end of the long table. He was nearly seventy years old, with white hair and beard, a gaunt face, and a pair of deep blue eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

This elder usually lives a secluded life and rarely participates in the family's daily affairs, but he is the most senior and strongest person in the family—an eight-star Dou Ling, and also Mittel Tengshan's uncle. He controls the family's most elite "Ice Guards" and several secret trade lines. His real power and prestige are even above those of the nominal Grand Elder.

The Second Elder's gaze slowly swept over everyone present, his eyes as cold as ice, causing many to lower their heads in embarrassment.

"Give her the auction house." The Second Elder's voice was calm and composed, yet carried an undeniable determination: "Don't think about anything else."

"Second Elder!" Reina jumped to his feet, his face filled with disbelief. "That's the Imperial Capital Auction House! It's the flagship property of our Mittel family in the Gama Empire! How could this be..."

"A signboard?" The Second Elder interrupted him, a cold smile curving his lips. "Without a pillar to support it, no matter how high the signboard is hung, it's nothing more than a tattered rag in the wind."

“Teng Shan is the only Dou Wang in the family, and he is the foundation of our existence. If he is not around, or does not show up for a long time, how much time do you think those ‘old friends’ will give us? A month? Or ten days?”

He stood up, his aged body now exuding an oppressive aura like a mountain: "In the Dou Qi Continent, the strong are respected, and the weak are preyed upon by the strong. This is a truth etched into our bones."

"Without the strength of a Dou Wang to protect us, the Mittel family is a piece of fat meat. Our old enemies will pounce on us like hyenas that smell blood, and we'll be divided up until there's not even a bone left. At that time, let alone an auction house, we might not even be able to keep our heads, let alone this ancestral home."

His words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads, bringing them to their senses.

Reina opened his mouth, but ultimately sat back down in his chair, covering his face in anguish with his hands.

The other senior executives also fell silent. The arguments about face, prestige, and interests that had just taken place seemed so pale and laughable in the face of the harsh reality of survival.

“But even if we give it to her, will she really release the clan leader? That woman… Mittelshe, her hatred for the clan…” a female elder said worriedly.

A cold glint flashed in the Second Elder's eyes: "We have no choice. This is an open conspiracy. She's certain we won't dare gamble. Immediately prepare the land deeds and related transfer documents, and send an envoy to the Ya family. Remember, keep a humble attitude, meet all her demands, and make sure the clan leader returns safely."

He paused, his voice lowering even further: "At the same time, secretly launch 'Operation Frozen,' transferring the core members of the family and important assets in secret. Hopefully... we won't need it."

The last few words were so soft they were almost inaudible, yet they cast an even deeper shadow over everyone's hearts.

The atmosphere in the Ya family hall was completely different from the oppressive atmosphere of the Mittel family.

Mittel Xue—now known as Ya Xue—sat in the main seat, dressed in an elegant white dress. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, seemingly delicate, but her icy blue eyes held an unyielding chill and vicissitude.

Her slender fingers held the celadon teacup, and she slowly sipped the tea, her gaze calmly fixed on the uneasy envoys of the Mittel family standing below.

That was one of the family's external affairs stewards, whose forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

"Are the things ready?" Ya Xue asked, her voice clear and crisp like ice and jade striking each other, yet it carried a distant indifference.

The envoy bowed quickly and presented a sandalwood box with both hands: "It's ready. Miss Ya, this is the land deed of our Ya family's original property, as well as the land deed and complete transfer documents of the Imperial Capital Mittel Auction House, all of which have been stamped with the family seal and signed by the elders."

He specifically emphasized the words "refined family" in an attempt to curry favor.

Ya Xue slightly raised her eyes, and the old butler standing to the side stepped forward to take the wooden box and carefully examined it. The hall fell silent, with only the rustling sound of turning the pages.

Chapter 141 The Demise of the Mittel Family; Yunshan Takes the Blame Again

The envoy nervously swallowed, his eyes constantly glancing at Ya Xue.

After a long while, the old butler nodded slightly to Yaxue.

Ya Xue's lips curved into a very faint smile, but it was devoid of any warmth.

“That’s right. Your clan leader is at the liaison point outside the west side of the city.”

The envoy's heart tightened, and he pressed on, "The liaison point in the west of the city? Miss Ya, we have seven or eight secret liaison points in the west of the city. Which one is it?" An ominous premonition rose in his heart.

Ya Xue put down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, and stared at the envoy with an intense gaze. The coldness and hatred in her eyes made the envoy feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"Which contact point?" she repeated softly, as if savoring something. "Of course, it's the contact point that betrayed my whereabouts back then."

The envoy's face turned deathly pale. That was one of the family's top secrets!

Just days ago, using the intelligence transmitted through that extremely secret contact point, they cooperated with those assassins to lure the then-Mitel Snow into a desperate situation, exposing her whereabouts and nearly causing her death. Very few people knew about this incident, and all related records were secretly destroyed afterward.

"That contact point was really well hidden."

Ya Xue's voice remained calm, yet every word pierced the heart: "It took me a lot of effort to find it. That place holds... a very special meaning for me."

Her gaze swept over the messenger, as if piercing through time and space, and she saw her own desperate and helpless self from back then.

The envoy trembled violently, almost losing his balance. He dared not look again at the chilling killing intent in Ya Xue's eyes, and hurriedly bowed, "Thank you so much for informing me, Miss Ya! I will return to report immediately!"

After saying that, he almost staggered away from the Ya family hall, as if a demon was chasing him.

When the Mittel family finally found the secret contact point disguised as an abandoned warehouse in the west of the city, following Ya Xue's clues, the scene that greeted them was like a thunderbolt.

In the dark and damp basement, a strong stench of blood filled the air. The once-powerful patriarch of the Mittel family, the three-star Dou Wang Mittel Tengshan, lay in a pool of blood in a contorted position.

Both arms were severed at the shoulders. Even more chilling was that his head was missing, and the neck was cut cleanly at the break.

The news reached the Mittel family as quickly as possible.

Enraged! An unprecedented rage swept through the entire family! Elder Reina coughed up blood on the spot, and the Second Elder suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes, unleashing a powerful burst of icy battle aura that froze half of the hall.

"Gather all our strength! Fight the Ya family to the death!" A grief-stricken roar rang out.

However, reality is far crueler than emotions. Before the Mittel family could even gather their forces, news of the attack on the family's core businesses by an unknown force and the confirmed death of the patriarch, Mittel Tengshan, spread like wildfire throughout the capital and then rapidly across the entire Gama Empire, through unknown channels.

Those forces with long-standing grudges against the Mittel family, those hungry wolves coveting its vast assets, and those small and medium-sized families that had been suppressed by it, almost simultaneously took action after confirming the news.

The Mu family took the initiative, using the pretext of a "commercial dispute" to forcibly take over the Mittel family's mining and medicinal herb channels in the northwestern provinces.

The Obama family, in conjunction with several chambers of commerce, launched a run on and attack on the Mittel family's financial assets, freezing a large amount of their liquid funds.

Former allies who once called each other brothers have all severed ties, and some have even turned against their former allies, dividing up their peripheral interests.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down; when a drum breaks, everyone beats it. Without a powerful Dou Wang (Battle King) expert to protect them, the Mittel family is like a giant beast without armor and teeth, appearing incredibly vulnerable under the siege of a pack of wolves.

The family was thrown into chaos by the tragic death of the patriarch and the presence of powerful enemies. Different factions fought each other for the remaining resources and the chance to escape.

Even with his exceptional strength and shrewd tactics, the Second Elder could not salvage the thousand-mile dike that had crumbled due to a small leak.

The "Frozen Plan" only managed to relocate a very small number of core members and treasures. Within just a few days, the family's centuries-old foundation was divided, swallowed up, and dismantled by the swarming enemies.

In just two or three days, the Mittel family, one of the three most prestigious families in the former capital of the Gama Empire, was utterly wiped out amidst shouts of killing, wailing, and flames. Only a few collateral descendants remained, living in hiding and scattered in all directions, while the main line of the family was almost completely extinguished.

The power structure of the capital city underwent a dramatic reshuffling. And in this storm, the Ya family, seemingly the catalyst for the conflict, remained unscathed, even gaining a more detached and privileged position.

Those forces that participated in dividing up the Mittel family, after having a hearty meal, unanimously turned their attention to the Ya family.

They were filled with apprehension. To capture and kill a five-star Dou Wang silently and execute him so ruthlessly was no ordinary feat. Behind the Ya family, there must be one, or even several, terrifyingly powerful figures.

Thus, a comical scene unfolded. The various factions that had previously taken advantage of the Ya family's weakness to secretly seize their assets all sent people to their door, behaving with utmost respect. They not only returned the seized assets intact but also offered generous "apologies."

His words implied a desire to "live in harmony" with the Ya family, or even "form an alliance."

Ya Xue remained indifferent to all of this, neither commenting nor denying. She lived a secluded life, and the Ya family also kept a low profile, but no one dared to underestimate this seemingly small family anymore.

Deep within the palace.

Jia Xingtian, the guardian of the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire and a peak Dou Huang expert, once secretly went to the Ya family to investigate. He did not alert anyone, but relied solely on his supreme cultivation to capture any remaining aura and traces.

After a long while, he stood high in the clouds outside the Ya family mansion, his brows furrowed and his aged face filled with solemnity.

"The aura of a Dou Huang level... Although it is deliberately concealed, its sharpness and elegance are still evident..." Jia Xingtian muttered to himself, repeatedly sensing a wisp of Dou Qi residue at his fingertips.

"It's definitely the Yunlan Sect's techniques and battle qi characteristics. But this cold hatred and determination seem different... The clues point to Yunshan? That old guy, has his hand already reached into the power struggles among the imperial families? Or... is there another hidden story?"

Ultimately, Jia Xingtian did not reveal the information he had gathered. The Yunlan Sect was powerful, and its leader, Yunshan, was even more mysterious and unpredictable. Without solid evidence and complete preparation, the royal family should not directly confront them.

But a seed of vigilance had already been sown. After Jia Xingtian returned to the palace, a series of covert movements and arrangements quietly unfolded.

The royal family began to contact forces that had grudges against the Yunlan Sect more frequently and cautiously, secretly gathering information about the Yunlan Sect, especially about the former sect leader Yunshan who had been in seclusion for many years.

Beneath the dust of the Mittel family's demise, the undercurrents of the empire began to surge deeper. A storm that could sweep across the entire Gama Empire might be quietly brewing in some unnoticed corner.

Inside the Ya family hall, Ya Xue stood alone by the window, gazing at the bustling night view of the capital, her hand caressing a blood-stained family ring belonging to Mittel Tengshan.

Her gaze was distant and cold. The pleasure of revenge did not last long. A deeper plan and a more distant goal had already emerged in her mind.

"All the commerce of the Gama Empire..." she murmured softly, her voice blending into the boundless night.

Chapter 142 The Unpredictability of Fate

On the last day of the seven days, as the sun rose, Ya Xue was already standing in the center of the Ya family's council hall.

The ledger spread out in front of her still bore fresh ink marks—30% of the Mittel family's assets had been transferred to the Ya family.

This commercial empire, which had dominated the Gama Empire for hundreds of years, was devoured without a trace in Ya Xue's meticulously woven web.

Yalan gently pushed open the door and entered, placing a cup of tea on the table. She said in a low voice, "Sister-in-law, last night seventeen more members of the Mittel family who used to work there returned, including three head stewards and five accountants."

Ya Xue raised her eyes, and those eyes, which had been dimmed by the pain of losing her husband, now shone with a sharp light.

She closed the ledger, her fingertips gently tracing the gold foil pattern on the cover: "Understood. Yalan, go to the storeroom and select some top-quality medicinal herbs, those that are old and of good quality. I'm taking Fei'er out in a little while."

"Yes." Yalan turned and left without any hesitation, her skirt drawing an elegant arc in the morning light.

Watching her retreating figure, Ya Xue's lips curved into a gentle smile.

Yalan—her best friend since childhood, Yatian's younger sister.

When she married Yatian, Yalan insisted on staying in the Mittel family, saying she wanted to "secure a way out" for her brother and sister-in-law. Who could have imagined that her seemingly naive decision would become the fatal blow that tore the Mittel family apart?

After the truth about Yatian being murdered by the Mittel family came to light, Yalan became the sharpest inside agent.

Two days ago, when Ya Xue spread the news of the Mittel family's misdeeds throughout the Gama Empire, Ya Lan was the first person she trusted. With the help of both inside and outside forces, the Mittel family's business network collapsed in just two days, while the Ya family rose from the ashes like a phoenix.

"Mother! Are we going to see our benefactor?"

A crisp sound interrupted Ya Xue's thoughts. Ya Fei flew into the council hall like a light butterfly, rushed to her mother's side, and hugged her arm with both hands.