Chapter 246

Chapter 246: Kill!

When Ye Tianming arrived at Xianbao Pavilion, the people there had already been waiting for some time. There were only a little over twenty of them — not because the reception was modest, but because only these twenty-two people had the qualifications to welcome the Young Master.

The middle-aged man at the front was none other than Qin Feng, the current Chief Elder of Xianbao Pavilion’s Elder Council. He walked up to Ye Tianming, bowed respectfully, and said calmly, “Young Master.”

Ye Tianming smiled and said, “Uncle Qin, there’s no need for that.”

He had already learned everything about the Yang family’s affairs. The man before him had once addressed the former Guanxuan Sword Master as a brother — though that wasn’t the main point. The main point was that this man was exceptionally upright and had an outstanding reputation.

Hearing Ye Tianming’s form of address, Qin Feng was slightly taken aback, clearly a little surprised, but he didn’t say much. He simply smiled and said politely, “Young Master, please.”

Ye Tianming followed Qin Feng toward the great hall in the distance. Along the way, Qin Feng said, “Young Master, is there something you need from your visit today?”

Ye Tianming said, “First, I wanted to take a look at Xianbao Pavilion. Second, I wanted to see you, Uncle Qin.”

Qin Feng said directly, “What does the Young Master want me to do?”

Ye Tianming turned to look at Qin Feng. “Reform.”

Straight to the point.

Qin Feng thought for a moment, then said, “Is the Young Master serious?”

Ye Tianming nodded.

Qin Feng broke into a smile. “I’ve been waiting for this day for quite a while.”

Although he was now the top figure in Xianbao Pavilion, his authority wasn’t nearly as great as one might imagine. Within Xianbao Pavilion, the power dynamics were tangled and complex, far deeper than anyone could fathom.

If he, Qin Feng, were to propose reform on his own, he’d be dead in a ditch by the next morning.

That was no exaggeration whatsoever.

Reform — the interests at stake were enormous, staggering, beyond what ordinary people could even conceive.

It’s safe to say that without someone backing him, he wouldn’t dare even bring it up. And even with Yang Jia’s support, he still couldn’t feel at ease.

This was something that truly required the Guanxuan Sword Master and the Nalan Pavilion Master to back him up.

Ye Tianming said, “I’ve recalled the Expeditionary Army. I’ll have them take charge of your safety and your family’s safety.”

Qin Feng waved his hand.

The people nearby immediately stepped back.

Qin Feng shook his head directly. “That won’t work.”

Ye Tianming turned to look at Qin Feng. Qin Feng said in a low voice, “Young Master, you’re still underestimating them. The Expeditionary Army has already been infiltrated by the great clans and sects — the people inside cannot be trusted. Also, there is something I’d like to say, though I’m not sure if I should.”

Ye Tianming said, “Please speak, Uncle Qin.”

Qin Feng looked at Ye Tianming. “Although the Young Master slaughtered everyone in the Cabinet, the authority that established is still far from enough. Moreover, the Young Master has lost to Ye Tianming three times in a row. Your prestige… forgive me for saying so, but your prestige in their eyes has already fallen to its absolute lowest. This time, killing so many people and having ideas about reform — they don’t feel fear, only hatred.”

When your prestige is insufficient, killing only breeds hatred.

But when your prestige is great enough — like the Guanxuan Sword Master’s — killing inspires only fear.

Yang Jia’s current prestige was clearly not enough to make them afraid, especially after losing to Ye Tianming three times in a row.

Ye Tianming nodded. “I understand.”

Qin Feng was somewhat surprised. The reason he had dared to speak so frankly today was twofold — first, to test the waters, and second, to find a way out. He wanted to test whether Yang Jia was truly serious about reform, and as for finding a way out, he genuinely meant it.

Staying inside Xianbao Pavilion was truly exhausting.

All these years, he had appeared to hold power over the world, but in reality he had been carefully and painstakingly maintaining the balance between all the various factions.

There was absolutely no satisfaction in it.

Ye Tianming looked at Qin Feng. “Precisely because things have nearly rotted to the core, I need Uncle Qin’s help all the more. You are my father’s brother — if even you won’t help me, then in this Guanxuan Universe, is there anyone I can still trust?”

Hearing this, Qin Feng’s heart softened.

He had no particular fondness for Yang Jia, but when it came to the Guanxuan Sword Master… he had truly regarded that man as a brother.

And that man had regarded him the same way.

Now his good brother’s son was saying this to him… could he, as an uncle, really turn a blind eye?

Still, he was a little curious — hadn’t everyone said the Young Master was rather arrogant and difficult to approach?

But from today’s interaction, that was completely not the case.

Ye Tianming added, “Uncle Qin said the Expeditionary Army can’t be trusted — so who does Uncle Qin think we should trust right now, within Xianbao Pavilion and Guanxuan Academy?”

Uncle Qin looked Ye Tianming directly in the eye and asked again, “You want to carry out reform — are you truly serious?”

Ye Tianming nodded. “Yes.”

After a moment of silence, Qin Feng said, “In the Guanxuan Universe right now, there are almost no one who can be trusted, and those who can be trusted hold no real substantial power — people like Gu Chen, like Fang Yu, and so on. The main issue is still that the great clans and sects are far too powerful……”

He paused, then continued, “We need to cultivate new forces from scratch — new powers to stand against the great clans and sects, and then replace them, or at least keep them in check.”

Ye Tianming thought for a moment, then said, “I already have solutions to these problems. What I’m most concerned about right now is the people who work for me — they may not dare to touch me, but that doesn’t mean they won’t dare to touch you. So I need a group of powerful guards to protect your safety.”

Qin Feng shook his head with a helpless smile.

Ye Tianming then bowed deeply. “Uncle Qin, I know I was once a disappointment and let everyone down, but I hope you can help your nephew, for my father’s sake.”

He, Ye Tianming, was no fool. Managing the Guanxuan Universe through killing alone would never work — there was simply no end to the killing. He also needed core talent to help him.

But for him, this was actually quite simple.

The Guanxuan Sword Master was no useless waste — hadn’t he cultivated a great number of outstanding talents during his era?

He had. In great numbers.

As long as he himself showed a good attitude, kept a humble posture, stayed modest and polite, he believed these people would be willing to help him.

He needed to win over more outstanding talent.

But the prerequisite was that he couldn’t act high and mighty. If you acted all high and mighty, who the hell would want to work for you?

Why had so many people helped the Guanxuan Sword Master back in the day? Wasn’t it precisely because he had no airs about him and got along easily with people?

Seeing Ye Tianming like this, Qin Feng was silent for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh. “You, child — setting everything else aside, how could I not help you, for your father’s sake?”

With that, he waved his hand.

A shadow suddenly appeared silently beside the two of them, bowing respectfully.

Qin Feng said, “He is also from the shadow guards — however, he was secretly trained by me personally and answers only to me. He has a group of people under him as well, all of absolute loyalty. These years, whatever I’ve managed to accomplish within Xianbao Pavilion has been entirely thanks to them. Beyond that…….”

He paused, then continued, “They also have an intelligence network, independent of both Guanxuan Academy and Xianbao Pavilion, answering only to me. And in all the major clans, sects, and civilizations, I have informants.”

Hearing this, Ye Tianming fell silent.

Damn.

To have risen to Chief Elder of Xianbao Pavilion — truly no simple feat. But more than anything, this was a pleasant surprise, because it meant he now had eyes and ears everywhere.

During this period, trying to find out anything had been incredibly difficult.

But now, with these informants, he would be able to learn about the movements and affairs among the sects and clans in a timely manner and respond accordingly.

This was critically important.

Ye Tianming said, “Double the salary for all of them, deducted from Xianbao Pavilion’s funds.”

Hearing Ye Tianming’s words, the shadow figure behind Qin Feng was visibly moved, but said nothing, instead looking toward Qin Feng.

Ye Tianming wasn’t the least bit bothered by this. To him, it was completely natural, and besides, what he needed was Qin Feng — as long as Qin Feng was willing to help him, that was enough.

Qin Feng smiled. “I’ll thank the Young Master on their behalf.”

Ye Tianming said, “I’d like to proceed on both fronts — Xianbao Pavilion and the Academy — simultaneously.”

Qin Feng was a little surprised. “Simultaneously?”

Ye Tianming nodded. “Deep-rooted problems call for severe measures.”

Qin Feng said with some concern, “Won’t that cause things to spiral out of control?”

Ye Tianming’s gaze sharpened. “If it does, we kill.”

Qin Feng said, “But killing alone can’t solve the problem.”

Ye Tianming replied, “To solve the problem, we have to kill.”

Qin Feng fell silent.

Indeed, given the current state of the Academy and Xianbao Pavilion, the problem couldn’t be solved without killing.

Qin Feng was still somewhat worried. “If things get too chaotic and can’t be brought under control, then…….”

Ye Tianming smiled. “Is the core of Guanxuan Academy and Xianbao Pavilion the great clans and sects? It isn’t. The core of Guanxuan Academy and Xianbao Pavilion is my Yang family. As long as the Yang family stands, Guanxuan Academy and Xianbao Pavilion stand. And as long as the Academy and Xianbao Pavilion stand, we can cultivate countless new clans and sects.”

Qin Feng stared at Ye Tianming, inwardly stunned beyond words.

Damn.

Who was it that called this Young Master a useless fool?

If this Young Master was a fool, then was there anyone smart left in the world?

He had seen straight through to the very essence of the matter.

In that moment, he felt confident.

With money, power, strength, and a sharp mind — why couldn’t this be done?

This Young Master was a true talent.

Qin Feng looked at Ye Tianming, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he felt.

Ye Tianming suddenly said, “Uncle Qin, let’s go take a look at Xianbao Pavilion’s premium treasury.”

Qin Feng nodded. “Sure……. why do you want to visit the premium treasury?”

Ye Tianming said, “To pick out a few divine artifacts for protection.”

Qin Feng was briefly taken aback, then said, “Sure, take whatever you like — it’s all your family’s anyway.”

With that, he led Ye Tianming off into the distance.

Ye Tianming added, “Uncle Qin, I’d also like to take some money……”

Qin Feng said, “1,000,000,000 True Spirit Crystals — is that enough? If not, I can pull more from elsewhere…….”

Ye Tianming fell silent.

A moment later, he said quietly in his heart, “Little Soul, I think I’m starting to like being the Backing King. What do I do?”

Little Soul hurriedly said, “Young Master, don’t sink so low!”

Ye Tianming laughed out loud, then said softly, “Having parents really is something……”