354: A delicate balance

The angry rebuke from the Third Family Head plunged the entire conference hall into a state of intense tension.

Ember Dust stood up, the Spiritual Qi within his Qi Sea surging, ready to erupt.

Su Rao looked at Shen Jinhuan.

She knew that even though Shen Jinhuan claimed to represent the Yaoguang Immortal Palace with full authority, the cultivation world ultimately recognized strength.

If one's strength was insufficient, even if others knew her status was the most revered, they would only selectively give her Face.

Take the Third Family Head, for example.

If the Great Palace Master of the Immortal Palace, or any other Palace Mistress, had come today, the Third Family Head definitely wouldn't have been so arrogant.

Huanhuan... it was still too difficult for her.

Shen Jinhuan's Face was solemn.

She had initially envisioned many outcomes, but she hadn't expected the current situation.

This Great Family Head looked amicable and always spoke of "harmony bringing wealth," but in reality, he was deceitful and hard to convince.

Although this Third Family Head was less calculating than the Great Family Head, he was too headstrong; clearly, he was the type who wouldn't agree no matter what you said.

Comparing these two, Shen Jinhuan actually felt that... the Grand Elder was exceptionally cute.

At least the Grand Elder was still open to communication.

That left only the Second Family Head.

Shen Jinhuan asked, "Senior Xie, what is your opinion?"

As Shen Jinhuan asked this.

The Great Family Head and the Third Family Head also looked over.

Everyone was waiting for the reply of the Second Family Head, Xie Jingran.

Xie Jingran gave a wry smile.

With the Great Family Head and the Third Family Head grouping together, he, the lone Second Family Head, usually appeared "weak and isolated" within the Yingtong Merchant Guild, and now both the Great Family Head and the Third Family Head were watching him.

If he went "contrary" to the decisions of these two, it was imaginable that his future steps within the Family would be "extremely difficult."

Xie Yuheng glanced at the composed Shen Jinhuan.

He sent a voice transmission, saying, "Father, agree to it. The Great Family Head and the Third Family Head have always ganged up and caused us trouble with our businesses. Now, the two of them are sticking even closer together.

If we don't seize this opportunity and choose the Yingtong Merchant Guild instead.

Then in the future, I'm afraid our friendship with the Yaoguang Immortal Palace and the Linghuang Pavilion will also be severed.

We'll end up in a situation where the Great Family Head and the Third Family Head dislike us, and we have no friends outside.

We would then only be at the mercy of those two.

We might as well burn our boats now. At worst, we can split off and stop associating with those two!"

Xie Yuheng was not acting on impulse.

He had seen the actions of the Yingtong Merchant Guild's Great Family Head and Third Family Head over the years.

Now that a major disagreement had arisen, wasn't this an opportunity to break away?

Xie Jingran was troubled in his heart.

The reason the Yingtong Merchant Guild was able to conduct business throughout the entire Xuanhuang Domain, and even expand its business to several surrounding domains, was entirely because the three Family Heads of the Yingtong Merchant Guild, along with their retainers, stood united.

This unity could deter those with malicious intentions.

It also ensured that any faction would give the Yingtong Merchant Guild Face.

If he were to split off, relying on him, a Nascent Soul Mid-stage Cultivator, and the Family's Nascent Soul retainers, while still a considerable force, it would fall far short of a "Top-Tier Power."

One must know that whether it was the Tiance Military Prefecture or the Yaoguang Immortal Palace, both had Late Nascent Soul Stage experts holding down the fort!

Only by possessing Late Nascent Soul Stage experts, and also having subordinates at the Nascent Soul Mid-stage, could a force be considered Top-Tier!

For a merchant guild, the difference in resources between "Top-Tier" and "High-Grade" was immense.

Furthermore.

If he split off, would it push the other two Family Heads outward, pushing them toward the Tiance Military Prefecture?

If that happened, the entire Jieyi City would disintegrate internally.

It would shatter the fragile "balance" that was currently being maintained.

The Alliance would have no chance of victory.

Xie Jingran rubbed his brow, filled with worry.

What should he do?

His mind was a mess.

After thinking it over, Xie Jingran looked toward Xie Yuheng, and then spoke to Shen Jinhuan and Ember Dust:

"Yaoguang Saintess, Fellow Daoist Ember Dust, we of the Yingtong Merchant Guild are one Family, but my son has a good relationship with you. How about this: the three of us Family Heads will still advance and retreat together.

But whether my son is willing to go with you is entirely up to his own choice.

Is that acceptable?"

Xie Yuheng was a little anxious.

But Shen Jinhuan nodded. "Thank you, Second Family Head."

Having said that.

She stood up.

Staying any longer held no meaning.

Failing to secure any of the three Family Heads meant that most of the forces following the Yingtong Merchant Guild would also not join their unified front.

As they walked out.

Ember Dust sent a voice transmission, saying, "Huanhuan, these merchants are truly cunning. They have always chased profit. But don't worry, if the Grand Marshal doesn't come out.

With our forces, our chances of winning are still very high.

The Second Family Head's son is likely to join us.

Xie Jingran is also quite the sly dog.

He won't come himself, afraid that he won't be able to gain a foothold in the Yingtong Merchant Guild later, so he sends his most favored son over, keeping options open on both sides.

If we win, he can use his son to share some of the spoils of war.

If we lose, he can still maintain his position within the Yingtong Merchant Guild."

Just then, Xie Yuheng chased after them from behind.

His steps were hurried. After first bowing to Ember Dust.

He then said to Shen Jinhuan, "Junior Sister, Father has his difficulties. He asked me to convey that if you fall into danger, he will definitely bring people to participate in the battle.

He is not participating, firstly because of the complexity within the Yingtong Merchant Guild, and secondly, he is afraid that in the end, it would push the Great Family Head and the Third Family Head toward the Tiance Military Prefecture, thereby affecting the overall situation.

Father just told me that the Nascent Soul Senior from our faction will temporarily serve as my bodyguard.

Additionally, sixty percent of our Family's personal guards will be allocated to follow me.

Furthermore, he will give me as many Spiritual Qi Cannons, killing formations, and minor shift jade tokens as possible, to be used as my life-saving Spiritual Artifacts."

Ember Dust smiled. "Now that's more like it."

Although he claimed these were for Xie Yuheng's protection, it was merely a justification for the Family.

If Xie Yuheng brought these items over, wouldn't that count as support?

Shen Jinhuan nodded. "Please thank Senior Xie for me."

"It's nothing."

Xie Yuheng waved his hand. "I won't talk much more with Junior Sister. I need to go inventory the resources. I'll come find you at the Yaoguang Immortal Palace then!"

"Mhm."

Shen Jinhuan replied.

After Xie Yuheng left, Su Rao said, "The Second Family Head's considerations are comprehensive. However, is it really possible for the Great Family Head and the Third Family Head to turn out like the Second Family Head said?

To side with the Tiance Military Prefecture?"

Shen Jinhuan thought for a moment. "It's possible. Before I came to the Yingtong Merchant Guild, I didn't have a deep understanding of the phrase 'merchants chase profit.' After arriving, I realized that this Great Family Head and the Third Family Head truly might do such a thing for profit.

I even suspect that because the Grand Marshal is in seclusion attempting a Breakthrough to Nascent Soul Perfection, they have already developed the intention of defecting to the Tiance Military Prefecture."

"Ah?" Su Rao widened her eyes. "Surely not?"

"It's highly possible."

Shen Jinhuan said, "They are waiting. If the Grand Marshal does not achieve a Breakthrough to Nascent Soul Perfection, they will continue to stay in the Alliance, as they would be subject to too many restrictions if they joined the Tiance Military Prefecture.

But if the Grand Marshal achieves a Breakthrough to Nascent Soul Perfection, they will immediately dismantle Jieyi City from the inside and use it as a pledge of allegiance to defect to the Tiance Military Prefecture!"