267: Chapter 267 Condescending to Be Noble

Patriarch Li Xiuhe took a deep breath, suppressing the burning rage and resentment in his heart.

His usually arrogant and unyielding expression completely darkened, even carrying a few hints of condescending sincerity.

“Patriarch Ye, I know you harbor great dissatisfaction toward my Li Family. These thousand Spirit Stones are just the beginning of my sincerity, not the end.”

After a brief pause, Patriarch Li Xiuhe looked up to meet Ye Jing's gaze. He stopped hiding his intentions and simply laid out his cards on the table.

“My Li Family controls three spirit ore veins, all of which are black iron ore veins with the richest reserves. In the future, we can sell the output to your Ye Family at seventy percent of the original price. Furthermore, the three street-front artifact refining shops in the Chamber of Commerce territory will be placed under the Ye Family's jurisdiction; the Li Family will never interfere!”

As soon as these words were spoken, even the steady-as-an-old-dog Ye Jing had a flicker of emotion in his eyes. He knew very well the importance of black iron; a thirty percent discount was enough for the Ye Family to obtain Ore at an extremely low market price.

The Li Family’s street-front Artifact Refining halls were worth their weight in gold and were usually held tightly by them. To hand them over now showed Patriarch Li Xiuhe’s genuine sincerity at this moment.

However, Ye Jing’s face remained impassive. His fingertips tapped the tabletop lightly in a rhythmic pattern.

It seemed like he was considering, yet also like he was applying pressure: “Patriarch Li Xiuhe, you certainly are willing to pay a high price. But these are merely compensatory gifts to resolve old grudges; they don't count as chips for cooperation.”

“The Lingxiao Sect is watching like a tiger stalking its prey. If we feign a confrontation, how can we hide it from their eyes and ears?”

“If even a hint of news leaks out, both our families will die even faster.”

Hearing this, a cold sneer curled at the corner of Patriarch Li Xiuhe’s mouth, revealing his disdain for the Lingxiao Sect: “I have naturally planned for that.”

“The Lingxiao Sect has only sent two supervisors. Both are Inner Sect Disciples who are arrogant but incompetent. They only know how to put on airs and don't understand the inner workings of our Great Families at all.”

“In the future, during Chamber of Commerce meetings and territory inspections, you and I will put on a great show—cursing and slamming tables in public, even letting our Family disciples exchange blows symbolically. We'll stop before anyone gets hurt. This way, we won't damage our relationship and can fool those two idiots.”

He leaned forward, lowering his voice even further, carrying a hint of conspiratorial coldness: “Not only that, I can also provide you with information.”

“The Lingxiao Sect has recently been secretly mobilizing personnel, using the excuse of 'tempering' to station them on the outskirts of the Tiangong Market. Their intention is obvious.”

“My Li Family's spies can uncover seventy to eighty percent of their Cultivators' backgrounds. I will share all of this intelligence with the Ye Family.”

“We will coordinate our defenses. Even if the Lingxiao Sect truly turns hostile, we can fight to the death and go down together rather than being slaughtered like lambs.”

Ye Jing fell silent. The only things remaining in the secret chamber were the swirling steam from the spirit tea and the steady sound of the two men's breathing.

He was weighing the pros and cons. While the grudge with the Li Family was hard to erase, the Lingxiao Sect was the sword hanging over both their heads.

Although Patriarch Li Xiuhe was tyrannical, he wasn't a fool. This cooperation, though born of self-interest, was currently the only way to survive.

When the Sect is heartless, the Families must huddle together to survive. This is the most brutal Law of survival in the world of Cultivation.

After a long time, Ye Jing slowly dissipated the Aura around him. He picked up the cold spirit tea, took a sip, and spoke in a tone that remained indifferent but showed he had relented: “Intelligence sharing, thirty percent off the red iron ore veins, and the three artifact refining shops—I accept these.”

“But to wipe the slate clean of old grudges? That is absolutely impossible.”

Patriarch Li Xiuhe's expression changed. Just as he was about to bark a retort, Ye Jing raised a hand to interrupt him.

Ye Jing’s gaze was as sharp as a blade, and his words were forceful: “Ye Tianhui’s injuries and the murderous intent shown at the Chamber of Commerce—these accounts will be settled later.”

“If during our cooperation your Li Family dares to play tricks or secretly collude with the Lingxiao Sect to betray the Ye Family, even if I have to risk the total destruction of the Ye Family, I will drag the Li Family down to the grave with me first.”

“When that time comes, not only will you and I die and our Daos vanish, but not a single disciple from either Family will survive.”

That wave of resolute killing intent rushed toward him. Patriarch Li Xiuhe’s entire body stiffened, unexpectedly deterred by this Aura of mutual destruction.

He knew Ye Jing’s character well. He seemed gentle, but was actually ruthless; if he said he would do something, he would do it.

“I, Patriarch Li Xiuhe, swear by the ancestors of the Li Family that I have no ulterior motives in this cooperation. If I violate this oath, may I be struck by lightning and may the entire Li Family meet a miserable end!”

Patriarch Li Xiuhe gritted his teeth and made the vow, his voice filled with the determination of one who had burnt his bridges.

“As long as we weather this crisis first and the threat of the Lingxiao Sect is removed, we can settle the old scores between our two families slowly in the future!”

Ye Jing looked at the sincerity and fear in his eyes and finally nodded slowly: “Fine. I will trust you this once.”

After the two patriarchs finished their long debate in the hall, Ye Jing deactivated the Restriction.

With a darkened face, Patriarch Li Xiuhe pretended to be extremely disdainful and annoyed, shouting: “Just you wait and see!”

Having said that, he flicked his sleeves and left, appearing utterly furious.

Seeing that the talk inside was over, the worried Ye Xuan hurriedly rushed in: “Father! Are you alright?”

Ye Jing kept a stern face at first, then sighed with emotion: “This Head of the Li Family is quite a bold man. I thought he would continue to oppose our Ye Family tooth and nail!”

Amidst Ye Xuan’s confusion, Ye Jing slowly recounted what had been said, which also surprised Ye Xuan.

“Father, does the Head of the Li Family mean that because he knows you can control beasts, he is very wary of our Ye Family and doesn't want to be used as cannon fodder by the Sect to fight us?”

Ye Jing nodded and then sighed: “But those Sect Masters aren't fools. We won't be able to fool them for long.”

Then he said: “However, we still need to play this part well. Xuaner, in the coming days, you must personally take a few trusted aides to monitor the movements of the Chamber of Commerce and the Ore veins.”

“On one hand, cooperate with Patriarch Li Xiuhe to act out this falling out during Chamber of Commerce meetings and territory inspections.”

“Argue when you should argue, and make trouble when you should make trouble. You must make those two supervisors from the Lingxiao Sect firmly believe that our two families are like fire and water.”

“On the other hand, secretly gather our forces and reinforce the Ye Family’s mountain-protecting array. You must verify every piece of intelligence Patriarch Li Xiuhe sends regarding the Lingxiao Sect; there must not be the slightest error.”

Ye Xuan’s heart jolted as he listened. Looking at his father’s steady and ruthless demeanor, he instantly understood the danger and calculation behind this alliance.

“Rest assured, Father. I will certainly handle this matter properly and will not leak a single word!”

“Xuaner, I am also going into seclusion. I will leave the Family affairs in your care for now. When I emerge, you and Yier should also be ready to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.”

Ye Xuan was stunned. Seeing the fatigue on his father’s face, he felt particularly pained. The current stability of the clan was all due to Ye Jing’s painstaking management.

He also began to prepare for seclusion. He was currently only at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment and needed to reach the next level.

Lately, he had been managing the Family business, establishing clan rules, and taking inventory of their trades. Ye Jing hadn't closed his eyes for half a year.

He was usually energetic, but if he didn't have his Foundation Establishment cultivation to support him, he would have collapsed long ago.

Acting with the Li Family now was not difficult, which was why Ye Jing felt at ease leaving the follow-up to Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan immediately cupped his fists and said: “Father! I have committed it to heart!”

Ye Jing nodded with satisfaction and began to ramble on about every detail of the Family affairs.

“First, treat the loyal and honest of the clan with kindness, but be wary of those with ulterior motives. Those from the branch families with different intentions and those dependents who waver must be pressured and intimidated. You must never show womanly compassion, lest disaster arises from within.”

“Second, as the eldest brother, you must both discipline and protect. The disciples of the Ye Family are connected like branches of the same tree. You must never allow internal estrangement, giving external enemies an opportunity to strike.”

“Third, a man cannot stand without trust, and a business cannot prosper without it. In our alliance with the Li Family, trust is the surface, but defense is the foundation. Do not break the agreement, but do not relax either. If the Li Family shows even half a hint of betrayal, immediately cut ties to survive; do not linger in the fight.”

“Fourth, while you preside over the clan, you must be as steady as Mount Tai. Think thrice before acting. Do not act rashly, do not speak rashly, and do not trust rashly. Be strict in disciplining the younger generation; do not crave female charms or indulge in pleasure. Prioritize tempering the heart, Cultivating, and your journey on the Path.”