Chapter 824: Li Dai Tao Jiang

Half a day later, Wang Changsheng, his wife, and Wang Tianqi arrived at Yunhai Sect, where Ye Bing personally invited them inside.

Yunhai Hall.

"Ye Bing, you've done exceptionally well," Wang Changsheng said, looking at Ye Bing. "Speak your mind. Whatever you wish for, I can grant it."

He never expected to take control of Yunhai Sect without lifting a finger. Initially, Wang Changsheng had intended to destroy the sect, but since he had now taken control without bloodshed, he changed his mind. He planned to subtly replace the existing leadership by installing one of his own as the Sect Master, leveraging Yunhai Sect's power to strengthen the Wang family.

Yunhai Sect had three thousand disciples, a significant force. With the leading Core Formation cultivators dead, the Wang family could take their place, an approach he deemed the safest.

If Wang Changsheng were to destroy Yunhai Sect, Crocodile Island, which backed the sect, would certainly retaliate, and that was precisely what Wang Changsheng wanted to avoid.

Yunhai Sect had recently made its tribute payment, with the next one due fifty years later. This period would allow the Wang family to completely assert control over the sect.

Cultivation forces in the South Sea cultivation world often concealed their true strength, particularly the number of their high-level cultivators, which outsiders never truly knew. Wang Changsheng could exploit this to install his own people to manage Yunhai Sect, as Silver Snake Island's spiritual vein was only mid-grade third-tier, insufficient to support the cultivation of multiple Core Formation cultivators.

The spiritual vein of Yunhai Island, Yunhai Sect's main base, was high-grade third-tier. It had existed for a millennium and had a chance of advancing to fourth-tier in the future.

For a second-tier spiritual vein to advance to third-tier, one only needed to gather sufficient formation materials and spirit stones. However, for a third-tier spiritual vein to advance to fourth-tier, a prerequisite had to be met: the third-tier spiritual vein must have existed for at least a millennium.

Spiritual veins that existed for over a millennium would develop a trace of spiritual essence. Only spiritual veins that had developed this essence had the potential to advance to fourth-tier.

Beyond these considerations, Yunhai Sect had been established for many years and undoubtedly possessed numerous hidden forces and a vast transportation network. Destroying the sect would mean losing access to all of these assets.

"All I ask is to live out the rest of my life in peace," Ye Bing said, bowing carefully. "I humbly suggest, senior, that you not destroy Yunhai Sect. Instead, you could support a cultivator from your esteemed family to become the Sect Master. I am willing to cooperate fully with you."

Wang Changsheng was a bit surprised. To be frank, even if Ye Bing had asked for a Core Formation pill, Wang Changsheng would have agreed. Once he had full control of Yunhai Sect, Ye Bing would no longer be necessary. Someone who could betray Yunhai Sect today could just as easily betray the Wang family tomorrow.

"Rest assured," Wang Changsheng said with a warm, inviting tone, "you have rendered a great service. We will certainly not treat you unfairly. State any request you have; as long as it's not too outrageous, I can grant it."

Ye Bing showed hesitation and pondered for a moment. He then knelt down and said solemnly, "All I ask, senior, is that you spare my children. They carry the Wang family's bloodline. Then I can die without regret."

He knew very well that Wang Changsheng currently needed him and would naturally grant his requests. But once he lost his usefulness, the Wang family would surely eliminate him. If he were Wang Changsheng, he would do the same. He had even killed Chen Tiandong, who had personally promoted him, so it would be no surprise if he betrayed the Wang family in the future.

On the way here, Wang Tianqi had already briefed Wang Changsheng on Ye Bing's background.

Ye Bing was greedy and lecherous, and his reputation within Yunhai Sect was poor. However, in his earlier years, he had saved Sect Master Chen Tiandong's life, and Chen Tiandong had strongly defended him, which allowed Ye Bing to serve in the Deacon Hall.

Exploiting his weaknesses—greed and lechery—Wang Tianqi played to his desires. First, he arranged for people to befriend Ye Bing and ask for small favors. Then, he invited Ye Bing to lavish parties and even arranged for three beautiful Qi Condensation female cultivators to marry him as concubines. Ye Bing quickly pledged his allegiance to the Wang family.

The Intelligence Hall currently comprised over three hundred members. Most of these individuals had no direct relation to the Wang family; some were orphans, others from different surnames. Aside from the higher-ups, most lower-level cultivators were unaware that they originated from the Wang family of Silver Snake Island.

The South Sea cultivation world was quite chaotic; murders, treasure-hunting, and clan exterminations were common occurrences, leading to a large number of orphans. The Wang family adopted orphans with spiritual roots. Those with average aptitude were granted the Wang surname, while a portion of those with poor aptitude were sent to the Intelligence Hall to gather information. Among them, particularly attractive Qi Condensation female cultivators, who had no blood relation to the Wang family, were typically used to seduce Foundation Establishment cultivators like Ye Bing.

The three Wang family female cultivators Ye Bing married merely shared the surname Wang and had no blood relation to the family whatsoever. This was simply Wang Tianqi's tactic to win over Ye Bing by having these three cultivators adopt the Wang surname.

Ye Bing had two sons and one daughter, all of whom were being raised by the Wang family. This was one of the reasons he dared not betray the Wang family.

"Great-grandfather," Wang Tianqi suggested, "Fellow Daoist Ye has two sons and one daughter, all being raised on our Silver Snake Island. He has rendered a great service this time, and he doesn't have a main wife yet. Let's arrange for a family member to marry him as his main wife."

"I ask for nothing else," Ye Bing said, kneeling on the ground, his voice choked with emotion. "As long as Yu'er and the others can grow up safely. Senior Wang, I truly ask for nothing else. I only hope you can show mercy and spare them. They are still young and understand nothing. They will grow up embracing your family's principles and will not betray the Wang family."

"Get up!" Wang Changsheng said meaningfully. "If you cooperate honestly with us in taking over Yunhai Sect's forces, I can arrange for a female family member to marry you as your main wife. Your children can also grow up safely. Once they cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Condensation, I can provide them with Foundation Establishment Pills. As for Core Formation, that will depend on their own destiny." Since Ye Bing was so sensible, Wang Changsheng didn't want to go too far. Once the Wang family had fully absorbed Yunhai Sect's power, they could find a place on Silver Snake Island for Ye Bing to live out the rest of his life. Furthermore, as Chen Tiandong's confidant, Ye Bing surely knew some of Yunhai Sect's hidden secrets. If Wang Changsheng were to torture him for information, Ye Bing might not reveal it.

As long as Ye Bing did not pose a threat to the Wang family's rule, allowing him to live out his remaining years in peace was not an issue.

Ye Bing quickly kowtowed three times to Wang Changsheng, expressing his gratitude: "Thank you, Senior Wang, thank you, Senior Wang."

Wang Ruyan smiled faintly and said, "Alright, get up quickly! First, help us take over Yunhai Sect. It's not advisable to carry out a full purge, but a few people still need to be eliminated, otherwise, others won't be kept in line."

"Yes, senior, you are truly insightful," Ye Bing replied. "Senior Brother Liu and the others who manage the treasury cannot be spared; they are extremely loyal to Yunhai Sect. I will now lure them here in the Sect Master's name and eliminate them. Publicly, we will announce that they attempted to usurp power and perished along with the Sect Master. Then we will install one of your people as the Sect Master."

Wang Changsheng waved his hand and said, "For now, you will temporarily take the position of Sect Master. You are experienced and can keep the others in line. We will assign people to guard the treasury and gradually place our own people. We must not cause too much commotion. Do you understand?"

"I understand, senior," Ye Bing replied. "I will contact Senior Brother Liu and the others and invite them over right away."

With Ye Bing's cooperation, everything proceeded smoothly.

Ye Bing first lured and killed three Foundation Establishment cultivators who held the keys to the sect's treasury. He then publicly announced that these three elders had conspired to usurp power and that the Sect Master had been severely wounded. Ye Bing then temporarily assumed the role of Sect Master. He eliminated a number of opponents, promoted a group of previously marginalized cultivators, and simultaneously increased all disciples' stipends by twenty percent. All opposition quickly vanished.

All disciples of Yunhai Sect's Core Formation cultivators were killed, the reason given being collusion with traitors.

"If only Ye Bing were a member of our Wang family, how wonderful that would be," Wang Changsheng sighed. "What a pity." Ye Bing had even killed Chen Tiandong, who had personally promoted him. Wang Changsheng dared not heavily rely on such a person.

"No one is perfect," Wang Ruyan analyzed calmly. "This person is greedy and lecherous, but decisive in his actions. He cannot be fully utilized by us, nor can he be allowed to be used by others. Once we have taken over Yunhai Sect's forces, he must be imprisoned on Silver Snake Island to live out his days there."

Wang Changsheng nodded, indicating his agreement.