Night.

Luoyue Mountain.

Inside the grand assembly hall.

Su Ye stood high above, positioned on the White Jade Dao Platform at the head of the hall, looking down upon everyone below!

"Today!"

"Mr. Su slayed two of the Qi Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators, destroyed the Soul Gold, crushed the Qi Family’s offensive, and protected the ancestral enterprise of our Luo Clan..."

"His merits are outstanding, his battle record magnificent..."

"We implore Mr. Su to assume the position of Supreme Elder of the Luo Family!"

Down in the hall, several elders from the branch families shouted themselves hoarse, their expressions disgustingly sycophantic.

Watching this scene unfold, Su Ye wore a half-smile.

’Heh...’

’Imploring me to become the Supreme Elder?’

’I seem to recall these were the same people who refused to let me be promoted to elder, citing my youth and lack of experience, weren’t they?’

Su Ye rested his chin on his hand, a playful glint in his eyes.

According to the clan rules, a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator was qualified to serve as an elder. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But at the time, these branch elders had unanimously agreed to delay his promotion...

Their intention was simple: they didn’t want another elder from the direct lineage diluting their authority.

At the time, Su Ye had been busy with his marketplace strategy and shipbuilding plans, so he simply ignored these clowns.

But that was then, and this is now.

The same people who had vehemently opposed his promotion to elder were now fawning all over him, begging him to become the Supreme Elder?

The change in their attitude was so drastic that Su Ye couldn’t help but find it laughable.

"What a bunch of clever people..."

Su Ye swept his Divine Sense over them.

He clearly sensed the deep-seated fear hidden beneath the fanatical exteriors of those branch elders!

That’s right—fear!

Unlike the quiet and docile Luo Xiyin, Su Ye had personally slain countless rogue cultivators over the past four years. His killing intent was chilling!

And with Su Ye’s current power and prestige, on top of his monumental feat of turning the tide, he could easily use this as a pretext to start trouble and simply slaughter the branch elders if he held a grudge!

That was why these elders, who had offended Su Ye in the past, were acting so reverent...

"Heh..."

At this thought, a mocking expression appeared on Su Ye’s face as he spoke nonchalantly.

"Supreme Elder? My experience is shallow and I am still young. I’m afraid I’m not up to such a great responsibility..."

"You all had best find someone more qualified~"

Hearing this, the branch elders below trembled.

The most terrified of them all was the old woman who had openly contradicted Luo Qing’e during a past family meeting!

THUD!

Her legs gave way and she dropped to her knees, prostrating herself fully, her forehead striking the hard marble floor!

"This old woman implores Mr. Su to assume the position of Supreme Elder!"

THUMP! THUMP!

The sound of kowtowing was incessant!

She looked as if she would kowtow herself to death right there if Su Ye didn’t accept the position!

The other branch elders quickly understood and followed suit, prostrating themselves and kowtowing endlessly!

However... Su Ye’s gaze remained cold, and he was unmoved.

An unknown amount of time passed.

To them, it felt as though time had frozen. Even the pain in their foreheads began to go numb.

An uncontrollable terror, like an invisible hand, gripped their hearts!

They knew that if Su Ye decided to hold them accountable, today would be the day they, and all their descendants, were annihilated!

Gripped by such fear, cold sweat soaked their backs!

Just then, a light voice drifted down from the White Jade Dao Platform.

"Sigh. Since you are all so sincere, I suppose I’ll reluctantly accept and serve as this Supreme Elder..."

The branch elders trembled. Ignoring their bloody, mangled foreheads, they looked up with joy.

"We... congratulate the Supreme Elder!"

"Congratulations to the Supreme Elder!!!"

A wave of cheers and applause erupted!

From this day forward, Su Ye was the Supreme Elder of the Luo Family!

Legally, he now held the status and authority to control the entire Luo Family!

"Hooo..."

Su Ye’s eyes flickered as he looked down, his thoughts racing.

With a single thought, he could decide life and death, plunging his subordinates into terror and unease!

"Is this... the prestige of a high-level cultivator?"

Su Ye muttered to himself.

If a Foundation Establishment cultivator already possessed such might, then...

Crystal Stage?

And... a Golden Core Adept?!

"I’m really... looking forward to it..."

A strange light shone in Su Ye’s eyes, filled with a craving for the higher realms of the path to immortality!

...

Su Ye had become the Supreme Elder of the Luo Family!

He was in high spirits, filled with satisfaction!

Meanwhile.

「Liuli Island.」

The Qi Family’s ancestral grounds.

"The Soul Gold has been destroyed, and two Foundation Establishment Ancestors have died in battle..."

"The main fleet is annihilated. Hundreds of elite cultivators are either dead or have surrendered..."

Clutching a Communication Talisman, the Qi Family Patriarch’s face was deathly pale.

His body swayed, and he collapsed into his chair. He sat there, stunned, for a long time, looking as if he had aged decades in an instant!

This expedition against Donglong Island had deployed nearly all of the Qi Family’s mobile forces.

Among them were the Soul Gold and great Foundation Establishment cultivators—assets powerful enough to anchor the family’s very destiny!

And the result...

"All lost in a single day..."

"A defeat more disastrous than any in centuries... How can I face our ancestors!"

The Qi Family Patriarch lamented, covering his face with his hands, nearly overcome with the urge to end his own life!

At that moment, a talisman shot into the room.

The talisman activated, transforming into a clear, half-body-height water mirror.

Spiritual light flashed within it, revealing the figure of the Qi Family’s Supreme Elder, Qi Chengjian.

"Ancestor! I’m sorry, I have disappointed you..."

The Qi Family Patriarch’s voice was incredibly hoarse.

The failure of the western campaign against the Luo Family hadn’t just resulted in staggering losses.

It also meant that Qi Chengjian’s plan to acquire a Spiritual Object and break through to the Crystal Stage was now in ruins!

"Sigh... I am already aware of this matter..."

Qi Chengjian sighed softly and offered some comfort.

"It is not your fault. The Luo Family was hiding its strength too well."

"They silently built a Tier-2 spirit ship and even nurtured a new Foundation Establishment cultivator..."

"With such forbearance on their part, our loss is not unjust." Qi Chengjian gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"For now, start negotiations as soon as possible. Try to ransom back some of our clan’s cultivators and spirit ships..."

"No matter how high a price the Luo Family demands, pay it. At the very least, we need to reassemble the framework of our main fleet."

"As for the Crystal Stage Spiritual Object... we’ll have to take it one step at a time..."

After a long pause, Qi Chengjian spoke again.

"Right... I recall that the Luo Family’s new Foundation Establishment cultivator is named Su Ye, and he has an outside surname?"

"That is correct. Ancestor, are you thinking..."

"In a little while, send over a well-behaved and sensible daughter from the direct lineage, one with outstanding beauty."

"Have her ask for the status of a concubine. Don’t expect too much from it. It’s enough if it can ease relations a little and keep a channel of communication open..."

Qi Chengjian’s tone was filled with weary resignation.

"Yes..."

The Qi Family Patriarch clenched his fists, his face a mask of humiliation.

Since when did Liuli’s Qi Clan have to resort to selling its daughters for favor?!

But... circumstances forced their hand!

...

「Cyan Profound Sect.」

「Jade Dew Island.」

Hongri held a jade slip, his eyes glinting as he spoke in a playful tone.

"Oh...? The Qi Family suffered a crushing defeat, two Foundation Establishment cultivators fell, and even that warship of theirs, the Soul Gold, was destroyed?"

"Interesting..."

"The Luo Family did a good job this time. They’ve given that old dog Qi Chengjian a good rap on the knuckles for me."

"They deserve a reward..." Hongri mused.

Suddenly, his expression changed. He coughed several times, and fresh blood stained his palm.

"Damn it..."

"Those ’dear’ junior brothers of mine... they’ve really gotten ambitious!"

Hongri’s face was as dark as water as he wiped away the blood.

"Cough, cough..."

"But with just this much skill, they think they can stop me from achieving the Golden Core Dao?"

"Impossible!"

...

...