"You're overthinking it. I don't need a mount. You'll just stay here and be my seed bird."
"Oh~"
Jin Jialin lowered his head, feeling wronged. He genuinely wished to become Yang Hong's mount. Having witnessed Yang Hong's strength, even though Yang Hong appeared to be merely a fifth-tier cultivator now, he dared not treat him as such.
Doing so would lead to a most terrible demise.
"That's all for now, you may go. And while you're at it, please control the bird population on Zexia Peak."
"As you command."
Having finished his instructions, Yang Hong turned and left, as he still had many matters to attend to.
Upon returning to Qingfeng Mountain, Zhang Zhengyan was waiting for him at the foot of the mountain.
"Sect Master, a cultivator from Yurou Plains seeks an audience with you. Do you wish to see him?"
As he spoke, Zhang Zhengyan's eyes darted about nervously, avoiding direct eye contact with Yang Hong.
"Yurou Plains? He's here about your business, isn't he? Seeking to regain face, or perhaps... a fight?"
Yang Hong didn't need to guess; he knew they were here because of Zhang Zhengyan's former three sects, and it was certainly about restoring their pride.
"Sect Master, I fear there may be some misunderstanding. Please, try to calm your anger."
"Let's meet. I'll be waiting in the main hall ahead. Bring the person over."
Yang Hong cast a peculiar smile at Zhang Zhengyan. Qiu Kun and Ran Boren had already sold him out. Yang Hong had known for two years about Zhang Zhengyan's contact with the Shengyu Sect before he left Yurou Plains.
This was precisely why Ran Boren, who performed worse than him, had become an outer disciple, while Zhang Zhengyan remained a steward for the general laborers.
"Sect Master, please wait a moment. I'll go and bring him now."
Zhang Zhengyan took two steps back before daring to turn and leave. Once he was some distance away, he secretly wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.
He hadn't sweated since cultivating to the Golden Core realm. Yet, Yang Hong's mere few words had him breaking out in a cold sweat.
If he had come to Qingfeng Villa four years ago, he would have definitely found a way to cooperate with the Shengyu Sect from the inside, overthrow Qingfeng Villa, and then settle old scores.
However, after four years of living here, he discovered that being a steward of general laborers at Qingfeng Villa was better than being the sect master of Lingyuan Sect.
Putting aside other matters, Qingfeng Villa's cultivation environment and atmosphere were unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Moreover, Qingfeng Villa's introductory cultivation technique was remarkably potent. The 'Five Elements Merged Round Art' was a genuine Earth-grade technique. The speed at which it condensed spiritual energy and increased cultivation was far beyond that of his Lingyuan Sect's Profound-grade high-tier technique.
"Alas... it's too late to regret."
Zhang Zhengyan sighed and walked towards Qingfeng Villa's reception hall.
He was now somewhat worried that the Shengyu Sect might attack Qingfeng Villa. Although Yang Hong was powerful, even a single pair of fists couldn't fend off four hands.
As a seventh-rank sect, the Shengyu Sect had eight eighth-tier Tribulation Crossing realm cultivators and one ninth-tier Mahayana realm cultivator. This strength was certainly not something Qingfeng Villa could withstand.
Composing himself, Zhang Zhengyan put on a fawning smile and entered the reception hall.
"Emissary, my Sect Master requests your presence."
"Oh my, Yang Hong has become your Sect Master now? Sect Master Zhang, have you forgotten that you yourself are a Sect Master?"
Upon hearing Zhang Zhengyan's words, Ye Yudong immediately retorted sarcastically.
"Emissary, you jest. My Lingyuan Sect has already been disbanded. I am now a steward for the general laborers of Qingfeng Villa."
Zhang Zhengyan spoke obsequiously, not daring to overstep.
"Hahaha~ Sect Master Zhang, I recall you used to call me 'Little Ye'. Why are you so polite now? Has your backbone been broken?"
Ye Yudong continued his taunts, but his words were intended to provoke Zhang Zhengyan's resentment and dissatisfaction towards Qingfeng Villa.
If possible, the best outcome would be to directly subvert Zhang Zhengyan.
The territory occupied by Qingfeng Villa was truly excellent. According to their Shengyu Sect's reconnaissance, this region contained 27 large and small peaks, all with good mineral deposits underground. Furthermore, Qingfeng Mountain, after being managed by Qingfeng Villa's disciples, had already taken initial shape, making it an ideal location to establish a branch sect.
The Shengyu Sect had reached a bottleneck in its development in Yurou Plains. To continue growing stronger, breaking out of Yurou Plains was imperative.
This was the reason for Ye Yudong's visit to Qingfeng Mountain today.
Qingfeng Mountain, the Shengyu Sect was determined to have it!
Amidst Ye Yudong's constant taunts, Zhang Zhengyan kept offering vague responses. Soon, the two arrived at the council hall.
"Audacious Yang Hong, do you know your crime?"
Upon seeing Yang Hong, Ye Yudong immediately took the initiative and bellowed.
"Hmph~ You idiot, do you wish to die?"
Yang Hong, who had been about to exchange pleasantries, was first stunned by the shout and then enraged. His aura immediately erupted, engulfing the idiot.
"Hmph~ You plundered our Shengyu Sect's affiliated sects, causing abnormal climate regulation in Yurou Plains, leading to torrential rain, and resulting in the deaths of millions by drowning. You have committed such a heinous crime, and you do not know your guilt?"
Although suppressed by Yang Hong's aura, Ye Yudong stiffened his neck and continued his accusations.
"Preposterous. You great sects only care about snatching spiritual energy, leading to imbalances in Yurou Plains' water distribution. You want to shift the blame to me? Are you truly foolish, or do you take me for a fool?"
Yang Hong wasn't about to take the blame!
When he had abducted the disciples of Lingyuan Sect and the other two sects, he had learned that each sect's mountain gate had functions and responsibilities for climate regulation.
However, Yang Hong had left them a large number of cultivators. With these cultivators operating the regulation formations, there should be no problem.
"Hmph~ You know nothing. Because you abducted the high-ranking officials of Lingyuan Sect and two other fifth-rank sects, causing turmoil in those three sects and affecting over a hundred third and fourth-rank sects, the climate regulation formations were directly thrown into disarray. Therefore, you must be held responsible for the ensuing devastation."
Ye Yudong was resolute. Even under the pressure of Yang Hong's eighth-tier cultivation aura, he could still speak fluently, indicating considerable mental fortitude and spiritual sense cultivation.
This made Yang Hong look at him with new interest. He directly used his 'Penetrating Vision' to get a preliminary look at Ye Yudong's fortune.
It was blue, a deep blue.
This made things even more interesting.
Yang Hong chuckled with amusement, "Oh~ How do you want me to take responsibility?"
"It's simple. You have two options: First, disband Qingfeng Villa and return all the people and items taken from Yurou Plains. Second, join our Shengyu Sect and become a branch sect, completely obeying our sect's commands."
Seeing Yang Hong willing to talk, Ye Yudong immediately presented the conditions he had long considered, and which he believed Yang Hong was most likely to accept.
Yang Hong looked speechlessly at Ye Yudong. Weren't these two conditions the same? Both aimed at swallowing Qingfeng Villa.
It seemed the Shengyu Sect believed they had Qingfeng Villa cornered, and viewed Yang Hong, the sect master, as a pushover.
Yang Hong was too lazy to argue further with Ye Yudong. He turned to Zhang Zhengyan and said, "Zhang Zhengyan, if I kill this idiot, do you have a way to notify the sect behind this idiot?"
"No! Absolutely not. Sect Master, please calm your anger! Killing an envoy signifies full-scale war! Our Qingfeng Villa is not yet capable of fighting such a war!"
Hearing that Yang Hong intended to kill again, Zhang Zhengyan immediately pleaded with tears in his voice, obstructing Yang Hong's dangerous thought. Killing a messenger was a minor matter, but facing the entire Shengyu Sect, Qingfeng Villa was in grave danger!