249: Chapter 249 Concerns about Qingyun

Seeing this, the other Loose Cultivators were terrified, their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and they no longer had even half a mind to resist.

They all threw away the gold, silver, and valuables in their hands and fled in all directions, crying out for mercy.

But before Ye Yi, they were merely struggling in their death throes; at his current Qi Refining Level 9, dealing with these lackeys was easy.

With a flick of his wrist, his long saber danced into an airtight net of blades, spiritual power wrapping around the saber's glow to sweep in all directions; with every flash of cold light, an evil Cultivator screamed and fell to the ground.

One of the Loose Cultivators attempted to fly away by controlling his sword, but in the next second, a white shadow flashed; in an instant, the Loose Cultivator only saw a snow-white giant eagle take flight, its sharp beak piercing his skull.

For a moment, a spray of white and red fell from the sky, and he couldn't even let out a single scream.

In less than half an incense stick's time, the dozen or so Loose Cultivators in the dense forest were all slaughtered, with no survivors.

The bloody scent permeating the air grew thicker, mixed with the wails of the evil Cultivators before their deaths, gradually returning to a dead silence.

Ye Yi sheathed his blade, the spiritual power around him slowly calming down, though the frost on his face had not faded.

He turned to look at the shivering, raggedly dressed surviving women, his voice softening slightly.

Yet it still carried majesty: "Do not fear, the villains have been eliminated. Soldiers will arrive shortly to meet you and send you home or settle you in a safe place."

The women wept uncontrollably, kneeling one after another to kowtow in thanks, with cries of 'benefactor' rising and falling; Ye Yi merely waved his hand and turned to call back the Snow Feather Eagle circling in the sky.

His gaze was solemn; these past few days, following Ye Xuan to kill those evil Cultivators, the places they passed through were littered with corpses.

Previously, when such situations occurred, the Qingyun Sect would send Cultivators to assist, but now that so many Cultivators had appeared in the Yan State, the Qingyun Sect had shown no reaction at all.

Could it be because the Ye Family appeared, so the Qingyun Sect is no longer willing to interfere?

Before long, the Vanguard Imperial Guard received the signal and arrived.

They cleared the scene, settled the victims, and inventoried the loot scavenged by those Loose Cultivators—everything was in perfect order.

Ye Yi flipped onto his horse, tightened the reins, and gave a low-voiced command to the iron cavalry under his command:

"This matter is settled. Immediately set out for the next bandit den; whenever you encounter those who harm the people, kill them without mercy and never tolerate them!"

"Understood!"

The iron cavalry trampled the lingering mist in the forest, the sound of horse hooves clanking like thunder as they galloped toward the next place plagued by bandits.

Because the Emperor of the Yan State had announced to the world that anyone who reported Loose Cultivators causing trouble would be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold and given official protection.

At first, the commoners did not dare to report out of fear of the Cultivators, but as one Loose Cultivator after another was wiped out by the two Ye brothers, brave men emerged under the heavy rewards.

Throughout the country, any Loose Cultivators who caused trouble or slaughtered commoners were dragged out and killed one by one.

The chaos caused by Loose Cultivators within the borders of the Yan State quickly subsided.

Ye Xuan did not forget to post notices: any Loose Cultivators without a bad record, who followed the rules and possessed a kind nature, could report to their respective prefectures and counties.

After being personally screened by the Ye Family, they could enter the residence as a Guest Elder; anyone who performed meritorious service for the Ye Family would be allocated cultivation resources.

They would be granted Ye Family identity, and even receive Family protection and a place to settle down.

Once the notice was out, it immediately caused a huge sensation throughout the Yan State.

Those Loose Cultivators who were previously displaced and had taken risks out of necessity were already terrified by the Ye Family's thunderous methods; seeing that none of the evildoers were spared while those who behaved had a rare chance for a stable path.

Their minds immediately became active.

They were all people whose clans had been destroyed, who had inferior Aptitude, and belonged to no Sect.

Now that the Ye Family, a cultivation Family, had offered an olive branch, having both a way to survive and an Opportunity for cultivation, they were naturally unwilling to be outlaws anymore.

In just three to five days, several lone Cultivators arrived at various prefectures and counties, some even in small groups traveling together, and others bringing their families.

They were merely low-level Cultivators who wanted a piece of stability.

Now they are all honestly waiting for the officials of each state to report them, no longer daring to cause trouble; they knew better than anyone that the two Ye brothers were decisive in their killing.

Just a few days ago in a city-state, they had cut off the heads of a group of Cultivators who killed people to perform Alchemy and hung them on the city walls; with such a bloody precedent before them, no one dared to court disaster.

Ye Xuan presided over the main base in the capital, while Ye Yi was in charge of the border and the various state branches; the two brothers strictly followed Ye Jing's instructions, personally overseeing every round of screening.

Anyone with the blood of innocent commoners on their hands, a violent and untamable temperament, or thoughts of cunning and opportunism was expelled on the spot; if they were of the most heinous sort, Ye Yi would personally strike them down without mercy.

The strict screening actually made those Loose Cultivators with pure Heart-Natures even more convinced.

Ye Xuan treated people gently and was clear about rewards and punishments; he not only registered the selected candidates and issued specially made Ye Family Guest Elder Wooden Plaques but also paid out salaries and assigned temporary residences on the spot.

Ye Yi was responsible for establishing rules and discipline, announcing prohibitions against betrayal, hoarding secrets, and oppressing mortals one by one; his tone was cold and unquestionable, completely suppressing the rebellious hearts of a few.

Under the combination of kindness and authority, in just three months, the Ye Family had gathered nearly fifty qualified Loose Cultivators, with those at Qi Refining Level 5 or above making up the majority.

There were even three Qi Refining Eighth Layer Cultivators with decent Aptitude, all of whom were miserable people who had been driven to a dead end but had never harmed anyone.

On this day, Ye Xuan and Ye Yi returned to the Ye Family Main Residence together to report; in the hall, Ye Jing was closing his eyes to regulate his breath, the spiritual power of the Foundation Establishment Stage around him steady and restrained.

Hearing their footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over their slightly tired but high-spirited faces, and he nodded slightly.

"Is everything going smoothly?"

Ye Jing spoke, his voice deep and powerful.

Ye Xuan bowed and presented the registration ledger: "Father, everything was done according to plan; a total of fifty qualified Guest Elder Cultivators were selected.

Not a single one has a record of indiscriminate killing; the Family rules are deeply ingrained in their hearts, and no one dares to disobey. It's just..."

He paused, doubt rising between his brows: "We've made too much noise during this time, not only gathering Loose Cultivators and clearing out bandits but also borrowing the momentum of the Imperial Court.

I have scouted that news has already reached the Qingyun Sect, and many Outer Sect Disciples are lingering at the borders of the Yan State, seemingly spying on our movements."

Ye Jing said after hearing this: "It seems our actions over these three months have been a bit too much. Previously, I declined the Qingyun Sect's recruitment, and now our development might have given them some concerns."

After all, in the current cultivation world, families must depend on Sects to survive; previously, Ye Jing could use the excuse that his Family's strength was insufficient and their status was merely that of a rural Family to refuse.

But now it won't work; the Ye Family already has a Foundation Establishment Patriarch and a Foundation Establishment descendant, and is now widely recruiting guests—this is clearly moving toward becoming a cultivation Family.

To say they would declare themselves kings is impossible.

"Father, Tian Hao and Tianyao are Disciples of the Qingyun Sect! Could it be that they really want to take us in just like those guests?" Ye Yi was somewhat anxious.

Furthermore, what benefits are there to becoming a Family under a Sect? Not only would they have to pay spiritual rice as taxes every year, but they would also have to risk their lives running errands for the Sect for free; a slight mistake could lead to the destruction of the entire Family.

They were all well aware of the fate of those families who had submitted to the Qingyun Sect.

Ye Jing tapped the table, the dull sound echoing clearly in the silent hall: "What are you panicking for? The cultivation world is a place where the strong prey on the weak; if the Qingyun Sect really wants to force the Ye Family to bow..."

"Relying solely on the little sentiment from Tian Hao and Tianyao is not worth mentioning at all. Depending on a Sect is the norm for a Family's survival; if they really come, then we shall accept it!"

The Sect Master of the Sect is a Golden Core; no matter how powerful a Foundation Establishment Family is, they cannot surpass the heavens.

Ye Jing was very unhappy, but to him, depending on the Qingyun Sect was not necessarily a bad thing—don't forget that the troublemaker from the Xuanyou Sect has not been dealt with yet!