The next day, news that Xu Ran had visited the Mittel Family spread like wildfire.
The entire Mittel Family was abuzz with excitement.
The Mittel Family had long known of Xu Ran's assistance to the Yunlan Sect and were envious. Now that Xu Ran had come to the Mittel Family, how could they not be thrilled?
As long as Xu Ran left even a little something for the Mittel Family, it would be enough for them to rise to power.
This was now a consensus among all the forces within the Jia Ma Empire.
He who gains Xu Ran's favor gains the world.
"Family Head Teng Shan of the Mittel Family pays his respects to Lord Xu Ran!"
In the great hall, Xu Ran held Ya Fei in his arms, eating grapes that Ya Fei peeled for him. Xu Ran was picky, he didn't eat the grape skins, nor the seeds inside. Ya Fei was gentle and considerate, peeling the skins and removing the seeds before feeding them to Xu Ran's mouth.
With days like this, no wonder kings hesitate to hold early morning courts.
I fear tyrants live even more comfortably, doing whatever they please.
"Grandfather." Upon seeing Teng Shan, Ya Fei appeared somewhat restrained, and her face was flushed with heat. However, with Xu Ran continuing to embrace her, there wasn't much she could do.
"Ahem." Teng Shan felt a bit awkward upon seeing Ya Fei, but more than that, he felt reassured.
Initially, he had wanted Ya Fei to be with Mu Zhan out of sheer necessity.
In a large family, such was the way things were, seldom within one's control.
Now that Ya Fei was with Xu Ran, it wasn't just personal happiness she obtained, but also a backing for the family.
"Family Head Teng Shan, there's no need for such formality. I'm here this time just to see Ya Fei. You are Ya Fei's kin, there's no need to be so courteous," Xu Ran said.
Seeing how easygoing Xu Ran was, Teng Shan breathed a sigh of relief.
At that moment, Haibo Dong also came over.
His power had now been fully restored to its peak.
"Supreme Elder." Seeing Haibo Dong, Teng Shan respectfully bowed.
However, Haibo Dong did not even glance at Teng Shan, instead, he looked gratefully at Xu Ran.
"My lord, it has been a long time. If it weren't for you, I would probably still be in that place, with no hope of ever seeing the light of day again in my life," Haibo Dong said wistfully.
"Supreme Elder, what is this?" Both Ya Fei and Teng Shan were somewhat puzzled.
They hadn't anticipated such deep ties between Xu Ran and their legendary figure, Haibo Dong of the Mittel Family. The Ice Emperor Haibo Dong's renowned name had greatly boosted the rise of the Mittel Family in the Jia Ma Empire.
Although the Ice Emperor Haibo Dong had not been seen in recent years, his prestige was something no one dared to ignore.
"In the past, I went to the Snake-People Tribe and was injured by Queen Medusa, who sealed my power, leaving me with only a Dou Spirit 'Cultivation Level.' That's why I stayed there, looking for a way to break the seal on me—that search lasted more than a decade."
"If I hadn't fortuitously met Lord Xu Ran, I'm afraid I would've continued to stay there indefinitely," Haibo Dong confessed, his eyes brimming with tears as he recalled the bitter days he had endured.
That feeling of losing one's 'Cultivation Level,' the sensation of plummeting from the clouds, was more agonizing than death itself.
He was once a powerful Douhuang (Battle Emperor) Strong One, but his power had been forcefully sealed away.
If he hadn't found a way to break the seal, he would have been doomed to a lifetime as a weak and pitiable Dou Spirit—his proud heart couldn't stand that.
Therefore, when Xu Ran helped him break the seal without asking for any form of repayment, he was incredibly moved to tears.
In his heart, Xu Ran had become his reborn parent, the one who bestowed upon him a new lease on life.
"So that's how it is."
Teng Shan and He Yafei both looked surprised, finally understanding why Hai Bodong had not returned for so many years.
"I am deeply grateful to Lord Xu Ran for all that he has done for the Mittel Family. From now on, the Mittel Family will certainly look to Lord Xu Ran as our leader and follow his commands without question," Teng Shan said respectfully.
"Rest assured, I will not neglect the Mittel Family. At the very least, I will help Ya Fei grow. In the future, the Mittel Family will not be limited to the Jia Ma Empire, but will move on to more distant lands."
"Thank you, My Lord, for your graciousness."
...
Xu Ran's arrival at the Mittel Family caused another huge commotion in the Jia Ma Empire, even the royal household sought an audience with Xu Ran, but they were all turned away.
Xu Ran now only wanted to enjoy his private world with Ya Fei.
Had it not been for the fact that the Mittel Family was Ya Fei's family, Xu Ran wouldn't have wanted to see those people at all. Xu Ran was someone who really disliked complications.
On the lawn, Xu Ran lay with his head on Ya Fei's thighs, and Ya Fei kept peeling fruits for Xu Ran to eat, tender and considerate.
"I've neglected you these past days."
Xu Ran said, eating the fruits Ya Fei had peeled for him and stroking her legs.
Ya Fei was so gentle and virtuous that he felt somewhat embarrassed. Looking at it now, he felt he had really been too unfaithful.
"Not at all. I don't expect you to always be by my side; as long as I am in your heart, that's enough. Just knowing you would come to see me makes me very happy," Ya Fei said with a beaming smile, having long accepted those facts.
If it hadn't been for Xu Ran, she would still hold the same status in the family, surely having to marry someone she disliked.
Now, with this elevated status, what more could she be unsatisfied with?
"When are you planning to leave?"
"In a couple of days. I haven't enjoyed myself enough yet. I was thinking about leaving earlier, but after seeing my dear Ya Fei, I couldn't bear to go. Ya Fei, you're so kind, so gentle, so caring, who would want to leave? I wish I could stay with you forever."
"Also, my dear Ya Fei, your strength is still not strong enough. I need to help you improve before I can leave with peace of mind. The future of the Jia Ma Empire, I fear, won't be too tranquil."
Xu Ran knew that he had been targeted by the people of the Soul Hall.
There were members of the Soul Hall even in the Yunlan Sect.
Even Yun Shan's soul had been tampered with by the people of the Soul Hall, though Xu Ran had previously helped Yun Shan recover. However, the Soul Hall now had many spies within the Jia Ma Empire.
Within the Yunlan Sect, the Soul Hall had even infiltrated with a protector.
Over the years, the Soul Hall had continuously searched for people with strong Soul Power, wanting to help the Void-swallowing Flame to break through to an Emperor Realm Soul. They didn't hesitate to act against their own powerful members of the Hun Clan, and they would be even less scrupulous with other powerful individuals.
In the original work, after Yao Lao was discovered, he was taken away by the people of the Soul Hall.
Xu Ran wasn't afraid of the strong ones of the Hun Clan at all; he was only worried about Ya Fei and the others.
"Don't we have you? Who would dare to cause trouble?" Ya Fei wasn't worried at all. In her heart, Xu Ran was the strongest; no matter the gravity of the situation, Xu Ran could always handle it.
"Mm. Don't worry. If they truly seek death, I'll annihilate them."
Xu Ran pulled Ya Fei into his arms and kissed her earnestly.
The next day, Ya Fei had a breakthrough to Douzong, causing a sensation throughout the entire Mittel Family, and the Jia Ma Empire was thrown into madness again.
From someone with little talent in Cultivation, Ya Fei had slowly become a Douzong, and all of this was thanks to Xu Ran.