90: Chapter 90 Revisiting Yunmengxu

Liu Mo and several Sword Cultivators bid farewell to Su Xuanheng; they had deliberated for a few days before ultimately choosing to leave.

Su Xuanheng did not press them, as paths that diverge should not be walked together.

He believed that the treatment and manner of dealing with people in the Su Family far surpassed that of most Families, yet these individuals still felt joining the Su Family was beneath them.

Since that was the case, he could only wish them eternal life on the Immortal Path; the Su Family would not serve ancestors.

Song Baiqing, Zhao Wanyi, and the remaining seven Sword Cultivators decided to stay and serve the Su Family.

The Su Family gained nine Sword Cultivator servants, which greatly pleased Su Yang; more people stayed than he had anticipated.

Especially Song Baiqing, who was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

His cultivation, combined with his combat strength as a Sword Cultivator, meant he could handle multiple Cultivators at Perfection without issue.

"Fellow Daoist Song's willingness to join the Su Family is somewhat unexpected," Su Yang said with a smile.

Song Baiqing cupped his hands in a salute: "Family Head, you may just call me by my name. The Su Family's foundation is profound, and its reputation is known to all. It is Song Baiqing's honor to join the Su Family."

Although Su Yang's surface cultivation was only the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, Song Baiqing dared not be careless.

He had learned from other Cultivators of the Su Family that the Family Head simultaneously mastered multiple skills such as Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Formations, Puppets, and spirit plant.

Could such a formidable person truly be at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining?

What a joke!

As someone from a Cultivation Family, Song Baiqing deeply understood that what one sees is not necessarily the truth. Perhaps the Su Family Head was actually at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, or even the Perfection Realm, but they simply could not see through it.

Su Yang greatly appreciated Song Baiqing's attitude, seeing a shadow of Luo Qian in him—equally pragmatic and discerning.

"Coincidentally, I need to make a trip to the Yunmeng Ruins today. You all come with me. If things go smoothly, we will eliminate two Families."

Su Yang's casual words made Song Baiqing and the others inwardly gasp, further solidifying their belief that the Su Family Head was not as simple as he appeared.

Originally, the group was only Su Yang, Su Xuanheng, Wei Yan, and An Ziyao. With their strength, eliminating the remaining Cultivators of the Fang and Zhong Families would not be a problem, though it would be tiring.

The biggest issue was actually the negotiation with the Yunshou Alliance; the four of them alone might not be enough to intimidate the Yunshou Alliance.

But the situation was different now. With Song Baiqing and the nine Sword Cultivators accompanying them, even the Alliance Master of the Yunshou Alliance would have to give them Face.

The group traveled onward.

The dilapidated Guangling Border Pass showed no sign of armies or Cultivators, but they did see a group of homeless refugees.

The county towns they passed through generally presented the same scene: the former prosperity was like a dream, now only ruins remained after burning, killing, and looting, along with corpses lying in the streets with no one to bury them.

"Neither the Great Qi nor the Great Wei cares about the lives of the common people,"

Wei Yan said with a heavy heart.

Su Xuanheng sighed: "The chaotic times have arrived. Who knows how long this kind of life will last."

The war between the two nations would not end quickly. They attacked each other's county towns, but the common people in the cities suffered the consequences.

Cultivators could flee to a Cultivation Market for refuge, but Mortals could only hide in remote deep mountains. Perhaps the Qingyuan Market would become the second choice for Mortals and Cultivators.

Afterward, Su Yang and his group arrived at the outskirts of the Yunmeng Ruins.

The once desolate small town had unexpectedly become lively, crowded with refugees fleeing the war.

Mortals knew the Great Qi would not attack the Cultivation Market, and since there was such a small town near the Yunmeng Ruins, nearby Mortals and Cultivators flocked there to gather for safety. Some Cultivators even set up stalls in the town.

Su Yang and the others did not linger but walked directly into the Yunmeng Ruins.

As soon as they entered the Market, the bustling and prosperous scene rushed towards them. The number of Cultivators inside the Market had increased several times compared to before, and the streets were packed shoulder to shoulder.

Su Yang and his party proceeded directly to the main hall of the Yunshou Alliance.

The Cultivator at the entrance saw Su Yang and the others approaching with imposing Auras and dared not stop him. He rushed into the hall first to notify the others.

"I wonder who is making such a grand entrance. It turns out to be the Su Family Head."

A steady voice sounded within the magnificent hall as Alliance Leader Situ Yu paced down the stairs.

He had not forgotten Su Yang, as the Secret Realm in the Ten Thousand Mountains had left a deep impression.

"Alliance Master Situ, please forgive me. I, Su, have matters to discuss."

Su Yang smiled and cupped his hands, his posture calm and unhurried.

Alliance Leader Situ Yu's gaze swept over the nine Sword Cultivators behind Su Yang, whose Auras were sharp, especially sensing Song Baiqing's Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation; a trace of imperceptible gravity flashed in his eyes.

He pondered for a moment, then turned and stepped onto the stairs, "Since that is the case, please follow me."

The group followed closely behind Alliance Leader Situ Yu, passing through the main hall of the Yunshou Alliance, ascending the steps, and arriving at a private room on the third floor.

After being seated, both sides exchanged a few polite pleasantries, and the air was filled with a tacit sense of probing.

When this layer of nearly non-existent, hypocritical pleasantries dissipated, Su Yang stopped beating around the bush and stated his intention directly.

"The Old Ancestor of the Fang Family and the Family Head of the Zhong Family came to Qingyuan not long ago to destroy my Su Family, but they were killed instead."

Su Yang grinned lightly: "Having some free time today, we have come specifically to destroy the Fang and Zhong Families."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Faces of the Cultivators standing behind Alliance Leader Situ Yu changed drastically, and terrifying Auras emanated from them.

The Fang Family was a member of the Yunshou Alliance. Su Yang not only intended to destroy the Fang Family but also came to the Yunshou Alliance to loudly proclaim it—what difference was that from defecating on their heads?

Alliance Leader Situ Yu's expression darkened slightly: "Su Family Head, you must have other things to say, right?"

Su Yang laughed heartily: "It is easy to communicate with a smart person like Alliance Master Situ. As far as I know, the Fang Family's relationship with Alliance Master Situ is rather poor, resulting in the Fang Family being dispensable within the Yunshou Alliance. Why not directly kick the Fang Family out of the Yunshou Alliance?"

"This is an internal matter of our Yunshou Alliance; it is not for outsiders like you to direct,"

Alliance Leader Situ Yu replied coldly.

He knew Su Yang had more to say, so he patiently continued to listen.

"If the Yunshou Alliance kicks out the Fang Family, my Su Clan Chamber of Commerce can join the Yunshou Alliance. What does Alliance Master Situ think?"

"The Su Clan Chamber of Commerce? Not your Su Family?"

"Our Su Family is not establishing a base in the Yunmeng Ruins. We are only here to develop commerce. I trust Alliance Master Situ can understand that the benefits the Chamber of Commerce can bring to the Yunshou Alliance are far greater than those of a Fang Family that has lost its Old Ancestor."

Su Yang's voice was unhurried, and the smile on his Face remained calm and composed from beginning to end.

Meeting Alliance Leader Situ Yu today was undoubtedly extremely fortunate.

Among the Alliance Master and Vice Alliance Leader of the Yunshou Alliance, Alliance Leader Situ Yu was the one who best weighed benefits.

Back in the Ten Thousand Mountains, he could decisively abandon seeking revenge for the Fang Family for the sake of the Yunshou Alliance's interests, and he would also demand Spirit Stones from Su Yang to report back for his own benefit.

Su Yang's words struck directly at the core of Alliance Leader Situ Yu's thinking.

Giving up on a Fang Family with whom he had a poor relationship in exchange for the Su Clan Chamber of Commerce, which had a stronger foundation and could bring more funds to the Yunshou Alliance, was definitely a case where the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

Alliance Leader Situ Yu agreed to the proposal almost without hesitation, but he did not reply immediately.

Instead, he considered how the other members of the Yunshou Alliance would react after such a move and whether it would cause negative repercussions for himself.

"I agree to this matter. I will contact the other Family forces and ask them not to interfere with your actions, but the Yunshou Alliance will not help you destroy the Fang and Zhong Families."

"If any survivors manage to escape, we will also not help you pursue them."

Alliance Leader Situ Yu paused slightly and added, "Furthermore, I require two-tenths of the land deeds belonging to the Fang and Zhong Families."