309: Chapter 309 So-called Fairness

Silence filled the hall.

Ye Jing paused, his gaze landing on the anxious Family heads below, and his tone suddenly turned cold.

"Three days ago, led by the Zhao Family and joined by families like the Liu Family, they came to provoke us, attempting to covet the lands of the Lingxiao Sect and challenging the dignity of my Ye Family. You all know how that ended, don't you?"

As his voice fell, a deathly silence gripped the hall. Several people trembled and lowered their heads in fear.

Ye Jing's eyes were like a hawk's, scanning everyone as he spoke word by word, "From this day forth, all noble families under the jurisdiction of the Lingxiao Sect must be governed by my Ye Family. Tributes are to be paid as usual; no one shall harbor ulterior motives or engage in internal strife. If anyone violates this, the Zhao Family shall serve as a warning! What do you all think?"

"Patriarch Ye, this is inappropriate!" A voice, aged yet full of vigor, suddenly rang out. It was a Family head surnamed Wang.

He was also at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment and held considerable prestige among the noble families. At this moment, however, his face was full of defiance as he spoke stubbornly, "We noble families have been entrenched here for many years, each with our own foundations. Now that the Lingxiao Sect's Sect Master has passed away, on what basis should your Ye Family govern us and demand tributes? You aren't the Sect Master!"

Hearing this, anger surfaced in Ye Tianyao's eyes.

Ye Jing gave a faint smile, cutting off Ye Tianyao before he could lash out.

He asked warmly, "Then what would this Family head prefer?"

Hearing Ye Jing's question, the head of the Wang Family was instantly delighted. He was clearly relying on his Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation and felt that the other Family heads present were dissatisfied. He believed that as long as he took the lead, he could shift the situation.

He immediately declared loudly, "Patriarch Ye, the Lingxiao Sect is currently leaderless, and you were only sent down by the Qingyun Sect to look after it. Why don't we all take a step back?"

"You don't need to take the lion's share while trying to control us. Let the noble families rule together, and tributes can be distributed according to each Family's strength. Although your Ye Family is strong, you cannot swallow all the benefits alone!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a low commotion rippled through the hall.

A few Family heads who were close to the Wang Family quietly looked up, a hint of agreement flashing in their eyes.

Other neutral Family heads showed hesitation. They neither agreed with the Wang Family head nor dared to rashly contradict Ye Jing, choosing instead to wait and see how things developed.

Sitting among them, Patriarch Li Xiuhe felt only mockery. Was this Wang Family head a stupid pig?

Not long ago, Ye Jing had killed Zheng Hu, who was at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. Now, this man actually dared to jump out and even try to use this to stand as an equal against Ye Jing. It was simply seeking death.

"Rule together as noble families?" Ye Jing slowly repeated those words. His voice remained calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure.

"Head of the Wang Family, the Zheng Family was like this before, wanting to bargain with me and seize the Lingxiao Sect from my hands. Do you know what their ultimate end was?"

The Wang Family head's face stiffened and his heart sank, but he still forced himself to maintain his confidence. He stiffened his neck and said, "Patriarch Ye, times change! The Zhao Family was the one who initiated the provocation, but today, I am speaking for the justice of all noble families! If you insist on acting arbitrarily, aren't you afraid that all our families will join forces to resist your Ye Family?"

As he spoke, he scanned the surrounding Family heads, trying to win them over. However, those people either avoided his gaze or lowered their heads. Not a single person dared to respond, making the scene suddenly quite awkward.

Ye Jing slowly stood up, exuding an aura of looking down upon the world. "Join forces to resist? Fine. If anyone is dissatisfied with my Ye Family, step forward!"

These words plunged the surroundings into a deathly silence.

The Wang Family head immediately shouted, "Step forward and deal with the Ye Family with me!"

None of those families dared to make a move. Just the fact that the Golden Core Cultivator Yun Ling stood behind the Ye Family was enough to overwhelm them.

How could they dare to stand up and say 'no'?

The Wang Family head's shouts echoed in the empty hall, eventually leaving only a buzzing resonance that sounded particularly grating.

The color drained from his face bit by bit. The veins on his clenched fists bulged, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

He had clearly calculated the dissatisfaction in everyone's hearts, but he hadn't expected these people to be so cowardly that they wouldn't even dare to utter a single word of agreement.

"Well?" Ye Jing coldly questioned the Wang Family head. "Head of the Wang Family, you were just speaking so passionately. Why is it that no one dares to respond now? It seems your 'justice' isn't recognized by many people."

The Wang Family head's breath hitched, and his throat tightened as he gritted his teeth. "Ye Jing, don't you dare bully others with your power! My Wang Family is no pushover either. At worst, we'll go down together!"

He instantly circulated the Spiritual Qi in his body. Mid-stage Foundation Establishment spiritual power gathered in his palm, and a spiritual light suddenly flared up as he lunged toward Ye Jing.

He knew he was no match for Ye Jing, but he didn't want to be captured without a fight. He just wanted to take a gamble, perhaps to fight for a slim chance of survival. Even if he couldn't win, he could show the other families his determination, so he might have a place to stand in the future.

Killing intent surged in Ye Tianyao's eyes, and he was about to step forward to stop him, but Ye Jing raised his hand to signal him to stay back.

Then, Ye Jing said coldly, "Hei Feng, go!"

As the words fell, a massive Black Dog leaped out. A silver horn stood on its head, and it immediately roared at the Wang Family head.

The current Hei Feng was already a Second-order Middle Stage Yao Beast, stronger than all the Foundation Establishment Family heads present.

Before the Wang Family head could react, the Black Dog, as large as a bull, charged forward like a gale amidst the screams of the surrounding Family heads.

A Yao Beast's unique ferocity rushed straight at the Wang Family head's face. His pupils shrank, and a wave of unprecedented fear surged in his heart.

He hastily threw out a defensive Magical Artifact, attempting to block the Black Dog's pounce. However, the power of a Second-Order Demonic Beast was definitely not something he could contend with. The spiritual power barrier that had just risen was instantly bitten to pieces like it was made of paper.

Boom!

With a dull, heavy thud, the shockwave from the collision of spiritual powers swept out. The tables and chairs in the hall were knocked over, and the surrounding Family heads retreated in terror, their faces as pale as paper.

The Wang Family head was already drenched in a cold sweat. Those sharp canine teeth were clamped onto his head, and the fear of death made him scream out on the spot.

"Patriarch Ye! Patriarch Ye! Have mercy!"

Ye Jing walked forward slowly, looking down at the Wang Family head pinned to the ground by Hei Feng. His tone was cold, without a trace of warmth. "Head of the Wang Family, you just said you wanted to go down together?"

The Wang Family head shuddered. His head was still inside the beast's foul-smelling mouth, so he could only shriek while trembling uncontrollably, "Patriarch Ye, have mercy! Patriarch Ye, have mercy!"

"I was foolish, I was arrogant! I shouldn't have provoked the Ye Family's dignity or proposed the idea of shared rule. I beg your magnanimity to spare my life. My Wang Family is willing to be governed by the Ye Family and pay tributes on time. We will never dare to have second thoughts again!"

The surrounding Family heads watched with trepidation. Even the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Wang Family head had been easily subdued by Ye Jing's Yao Beast. They didn't even dare to entertain the thought of resisting anymore, each lowering their heads and not even daring to breathe loudly.

Sitting in his seat, Patriarch Li Xiuhe's mocking smile deepened. It was exactly as he had expected; the Wang Family head was just seeking his own death. The Ye Family was a dormant monster, and all provocations were merely futile.

The killing intent in Ye Tianyao's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a bit more admiration in his gaze toward Ye Jing.

Grandfather's methods were indeed ruthless and decisive. Now, all the noble families should be completely submissive.