When Hee Yangchen mentioned Guh Niqiang, his tone became somewhat respectful. He had been observing quietly from the side, watching the entire process. Guh Niqiangâs invincible fighting style secretly shocked him, thinking that if they were to face each other directly, he would suffer a great loss.
Lu Qian sat quietly nearby, quickly calculating the information in Hee Yangchenâs words.
Since the situation with the Shuangye Alliance barely passed, Hee Yangchen said a few more words. It turned out that on his way out of Baojing Square, he accidentally discovered the ambush prepared by the cultivators from the Shahe Gang and the Spirit Talisman Sect.
Not knowing what these two were planning with such a setup, the Fourth Elder from the Xuanguang Sect hid himself and watched from a distance. He ended up witnessing the entire battle, gaining some understanding of the Yunshan Sectâs combat strength.
After Guh Niqiang led Lu Qian to escape, he gradually followed them.
"Iâm looking for you because thereâs an important matter," Hee Yangchen said in a deep voice. "Yunshan Sect and Shuangye Alliance, ally with me from now on, and work under my command. How about it?"
His words seemed to ask, but his tone was decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.
These words stirred up a storm within Lu Qianâs heart. He replied cautiously, "Our Yunshan Sect was established in Chongming County with the intention of being registered as a subordinate sect of the Xuanguang Sect. You are the Fourth Elder of the Xuanguang Sect, so our Yunshan Sect naturally follows your orders..."
Whereupon Hee Yangchen sneered, "Donât play games with me, you know what I mean. On ordinary days, you remain a loyal subordinate sect, and I wonât interfere. But at critical times, you must follow my commands!"
"Working for me, youâll surely gain benefits. For instance, during these fifty years, Iâve been in charge of the registration at Huanjian Peak. I can arrange it so that the Yunshan Sect smoothly becomes a subordinate sect of Xuanguang Sect, and even a second-class one."
A thought flickered in Lu Qianâs mind. Time was already tight, and they had just faced the Shahe Gang and the Spirit Talisman Sect. If they had to reconnect with the Northwest Two Sects and something unexpected happened, they would exceed the one-month deadline. The Yunshan Sect couldnât bear the wrath of a Golden Core Master.
Even if they barely made it, given Yunshan Sectâs capability, they would inevitably be a third-class subordinate, which would require spending heavily on bribes.
Yet, to be an undercover agent is no simple task.
But given Guh Niqiangâs and his current circumstances and the combined strength of the Yunshan Sect and Shuangye Alliance, could they refuse the demands of the overseer Fourth Elder of Chongming Countyâs Golden Core Major Xuanguang Sect? Did they have the capital to refuse?
Hee Yangchen repeatedly insisted on not disclosing his information. Now that his identity was known, if they still refused, the Yunshan Sect might face ruin.
Lu Qian forced a bitter smile, "Elder Hee esteems our Yunshan Sect; I am truly honored. In the future, please just give your orders. However, Iâm unsure what exactly constitutes these critical times..."
Seeing Lu Qian agree, Hee Yangchenâs expression eased, "You are sensible. Rest assured, following me only brings benefits. Moreover, I usually donât have tasks for you."
He then lowered his voice, "Our sectâs Golden Core, Master Fengfeng, is the Supreme Elder of our sect. He is the cornerstone of our sect and holds significant power, but the trifles within the sect are managed by the Sect Leader. Our current Sect Leader recently failed to advance to Golden Core and now has limited lifespan..."
In an instant, Lu Qian felt as if a bolt of lightning flashed across his mind.
Was Hee Yangchen recruiting him as a secret piece to seize the position of Sect Leader? If so, Yunshan Sect would be drawn into a massive vortex, where a slight misstep could lead to their destruction!
Seeing Lu Qianâs pale face, Hee Yangchen sneered contemptuously, "Youâre overthinking it. Although I aim to run for Sect Leader, subordinate sects have no say in our Sect Leaderâs election. You should know that Xuanguang Sect has nine Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars and thousands of elite disciples. What do you Foundation Establishment Minor Sects count for?"
Lu Qian nodded repeatedly, promptly displaying an expression of shock and disbelief. As long as they didnât directly participate, Yunshan Sect didnât mind doing hard labor. He then uttered numerous flattering remarks filled with admiration.
Hee Yangchen seemed satisfied with Lu Qianâs attitude and continued, "The decision of our Sect Leaderâs position naturally lies with the Supreme Elder. He operates swiftly and purely based on competitorsâ cultivation and merits. In terms of cultivation, as Huanjian Peakâs Peak Master, Iâm not inferior to the other four branches. However, Iâm slightly behind in merits, so I approached the Yunshan Sect for this matter."
Finally hearing the crux, Lu Qian hurriedly perked up his ears.
"In approximately ten years, our Xuanguang Sect will embark on an expansion campaign. At that time, each branch will employ their methods, and whoever excels in the battle will be the strong contender for the next Sect Leader. I need your Shuangye Allianceâs assistance at that time to lend me a helping hand."
"Of course, in these ten years, there will be some minor tasks unsuitable for me to undertake personally, which will be assigned to you. Did you understand?"
Lu Qian nodded repeatedly. Whatever the case, he planned to deal with the situation for now. It seemed that providing covert support was within an acceptable range. What he dreaded most was dirty work, being a scapegoat, and dying without knowing how.
After saying a few more words, Hee Yangchen prepared to leave. He also instructed that he would handle the registration of the Yunshan Sect. In a few days, he would send an envoy to take a casual visit, and it would be deemed as an on-site inspection, ultimately categorizing it as a second-class subordinate sect. Lu Qian just needed to visit the Xuanguang Sect and pay respects to Master Fengfeng upon recovering from his injury.
Lu Qian cautiously asked, "If we directly become a second-class sect, wouldnât it raise suspicions about our connection with you?"
Hee Yangchen nodded satisfactorily, "You are indeed prudent. Donât worry, labor for a third-class subordinate is heavy. In Chongming County, any sect with some savings will pay respect to duty Elders to become a second-class sect? Thatâs become the rule. Others seeing you become a second-class will just assume you spent spirit stones and wonât overthink it."
Lu Qian was amused and helpless at the statement, realizing that the Zhou Family must have truly been impoverished before, unable to even afford the spirit stones to pay respects, thus ending up as a third-class sect.
After this encounter, Elder Hee, despite his arrogance, was straightforward and blunt, which, with careful flattery, made him easier to deal with than those with shadowy demeanors.
Judging from his tone, helping him might be worthwhile, as it would not be without reward, and it was worth seeing if they could garner more benefits in the future.
Lu Qian and Jiang Qingfeng escorted Hee Yangchen to the mountain gate. Hee Yangchen coldly reminded, "Do not disclose a word of what was discussed today, or else exterminating your Yunshan Sect is as easy as flipping a palm."
Lu Qian quickly agreed, and Hee Yangchen gave a slight nod before suddenly vanishing.
Lu Qianâs heart skipped a beat; this personâs invisible power was terrifying. For instance, had he really left, or was he still hidden somewhere nearby?