Chapter 874
Alliance Meeting, Making Empty Promises
"Welcome back, Alliance Leader!"
Outside the White Dragon Island Garrison, members of the East Sea Alliance Elders Council and important stewards gathered together, and in unison, saluted the sky.
Song Changsheng landed gracefully. Seeing the grand display they had made, he couldn't help but turn his gaze to Song Youfu, who was standing in the corner. Without a doubt, it must have been Song Youfu who leaked the information.
He hadn't intended to disturb anyone, as he had many important matters to attend to. The reason he returned to Bailong Island was to give Song Youfu some further instructions.
Now that everyone knows he has returned, it would be inappropriate for him to leave again. After all, he was the leader elected by everyone, and it would be quite inappropriate for him to remain silent.
"No need for formalities, everyone. You've all worked hard while I was away," Song Changsheng greeted everyone with a smile.
Since becoming the leader of the alliance, he has hardly been involved in the affairs of the alliance. He has been a hands-off leader for so long, and he really feels a little guilty about it.
However, others did not think so. An elder from the Liu family of Muyun City said with a moved expression, "We all know about the Alliance Leader's divine might in the Five Academies Grand Competition. We are truly in awe of him and regret that we could not witness it with our own eyes."
Having just returned, he has already ventured alone deep into the enemy's lair without a moment's rest. This truly puts us to shame. Having such a dedicated and responsible leader is a blessing we have accumulated over three lifetimes.
His words were extremely sincere, without the slightest hint of deliberate flattery, which made Song Changsheng doubt himself.
He glared at the grinning Song Youfu, then coughed lightly and said, "Since everyone is here, let's go inside and discuss matters together."
Upon entering the main hall, everyone took their seats according to their assigned positions.
In recent years, although the East China Sea Alliance has not introduced any new members, the management has added many new faces, and Song Changsheng has no impression of many of them.
At his signal, Song Youfu gave a brief summary report.
It turns out that the East Sea Alliance has expanded too rapidly. Not only is its territory increasing every year, but it has also attracted a large number of independent cultivators and small families to develop within the East Sea Alliance's territory through various policies. As a result, management costs have risen sharply. In addition, the threat of the Sea Yaksha clan is imminent, and the major forces have added a lot of manpower.
At this moment, the strength of established forces like Muyun City was perfectly demonstrated. The three major families worked together and sent nearly 30,000 people to the East Sea Alliance, more than the Song family, Luoxia City, and Wanlong Chamber of Commerce combined. Nearly half of their wealth was invested here.
In several major battles, the cultivators of Muyun City were always the main force.
They made the most sacrifices but received the least benefits, yet they didn't complain at all, at least not on the surface.
After hearing this, Song Changsheng's evaluation of the three major families of Muyun City rose even higher.
It can only be said that the leaders of the three major families are all smart people.
Although Muyun City has a profound foundation, it is the only force in the East Sea Alliance without a Golden Core cultivator in charge. Internally, it is still a three-way power struggle. Under such circumstances, if they continue to scheme against each other and keep secrets, they will definitely be marginalized.
Because the alliance will not stop here; more and stronger members will join in the future, and at that time, the last remaining advantage of Twilight City will be gone.
While the East China Sea Alliance is still in its early stages and not yet on the right track in all aspects, we should make more contributions now so that it can have enough weight in the future.
As a person, especially as the leader of a family, one must have a long-term vision and not just focus on immediate interests, otherwise one will never have a chance to rise to the top.
Actually, they were gambling, betting that Song Changsheng wouldn't turn his back on them after his death.
However, they made the right bet; Song Changsheng will reward them in ways they cannot imagine.
Of course, not now. The East China Sea Alliance has already divided up most of its current interests, and even the most skilled cook can't make a meal without ingredients.
Fortunately, there's an even bigger piece of cake waiting for him to personally distribute.
Although this matter is still in the planning stage, it doesn't stop him from making grand promises now.
He turned his gaze to the location of the elders of the three major families in Muyun City and said meaningfully, "During this period, everyone in Muyun City has contributed the most and made the greatest sacrifices."
However, due to the current development focus and strategy of the alliance, the distribution is somewhat unbalanced, which is really unfair to everyone. As the leader of the alliance, I feel ashamed.
Please believe that this is only temporary. Your contributions are all recorded and the alliance will never forget them. And that day is definitely not far away.
During this time, you should all simply conserve your energy and await the opportune moment.
Upon hearing this, everyone present reacted with varying expressions, pondering the meaning behind Song Changsheng's words.
This is clearly an allusion to a major move by the alliance in the future, but different people have different interpretations of what that move will specifically affect.
But most people's answer actually points to the "Brocade Banner".
The feud between the Song family and the Brocade Banner is already common knowledge in the cultivation world of the Great Qian Dynasty. Song Tianyuan and Song Daoling were both severely injured by Song Changsheng and forced to acknowledge the legitimate status of the Wangyue Song family. Not only that, Song Changsheng also detained Song Yuqing, who was a guardian elder, as a hostage, which was an utter disgrace.
This is no longer something that can be easily overlooked; sooner or later, the two sides will have a major battle to settle everything.
The reason it hasn't happened yet is because the [Wangyue Song Clan] was previously too weak.
However, in this Five Academies Competition, Song Changsheng not only demonstrated his strength through his actions, but also befriended the Myriad Manifestations Palace. All signs indicate that the future of the [Brocade Banner] is in grave danger.
An opportunity.
He was simply waiting for the right opportunity to officially end the feud between the two races. If they could annex them, the benefits would be unimaginable. It would be a lie to say they weren't tempted.
Now, judging from Song Changsheng's words, he will use the power of the alliance. Doesn't that mean they can also get a share of the pie?
For a moment, everyone couldn't help but feel excited, especially the elders of Muyun City, who felt as if they were finally about to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Most of the major powers within the alliance already have fixed territories in the East China Sea, possessing at least one Tier 3 spirit island within their borders. As long as they develop step by step, they will be able to establish a firm foothold.
Only Muyun City occupies a number of spirit islands, but their locations are all very remote and scattered, making it inconvenient to do anything.
If we could manage to carve out a piece of land in the [Jinxiuqi] area, that would be ideal, as those are fertile, undeveloped areas that don't require much development.
Song Changsheng left it at that and didn't reveal too much. After all, the plan had only just begun, and he couldn't speak too soon, lest he be proven wrong later.
Song Youfu stepped forward at the opportune moment to change the subject, asking, "Clan leader, did you discover anything during your trip to the Sea Yaksha clan?"
These words immediately attracted everyone's attention. Compared to the pie in the sky that Song Changsheng had just painted, this was the issue they were most concerned about at the moment.
The unclaimed islands surrounding the Twin Islands have already come under the control of the East China Sea Alliance, but their ambitions don't stop there; they want more.
They were faced with only two choices: either fight the sea tribes for territory or fight the Great Qian cultivation world for territory. Anyone could tell which one to choose.
They set their sights on the giant island not too far from the Twin Islands.
That was the largest unclaimed spirit island they knew of, possessing a fourth-order spirit vein and immense development potential. In comparison, while the Twin Islands were rich in resources and had numerous spirit islands, their development potential was still somewhat limited, and placing the East Sea Alliance's headquarters there seemed rather insignificant. But it was a different story with that giant island possessing a fourth-order spirit vein.
This was something they had planned from the very beginning.
However, they currently face a very real problem: the giant island is located within the territory of the Sea Yaksha clan. If this hidden danger cannot be resolved, everything else is just empty talk.
Song Changsheng reached into his sleeve and took out three inner cores that exuded a powerful demonic aura. He looked at everyone and said, "The reason I went directly to the Sea Yaksha Clan upon my return this time is because I received some information that Yan Ye Shi Nu is currently in seclusion breaking through to the fifth rank."
You all should understand what this means.
I only intended to sabotage his plans, but I never expected them to be so easily defeated.
I killed Ye Fu Ke and Ye Mi Sha on the spot, Ye Mo Luo's inner core is also here, and Ye Shi Nu was also severely injured by me.
The entire Sea Yaksha realm has been wiped out by me!
His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like a thunderclap to everyone's ears. The Sea Yaksha clan, whom they considered their greatest enemy, had been wiped out just like that.
What alarmed them even more was that Song Changsheng was the only one who accomplished this feat.
If the three demon cores hadn't been placed right in front of them, they would never have believed it.
Not to mention them, even Song Youfu, who had extreme confidence in Song Changsheng, was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
Even with three demon cores right in front of him, it still felt unreal.
They knew the strength of the Sea Yaksha clan all too well. It could be said that any one of the three surviving demon kings was above Song Changsheng in cultivation level. How did he manage to do that?
"Night Slave escaped?"
Just as everyone was still reeling from the shock, Song Qingxing, who had been sitting below Song Changsheng and hadn't spoken until now, asked a very crucial question.
If we were to say who poses the greatest threat among the Sea Yaksha clan, it would naturally be Ye Shi Nu, who has reached the fourth-tier top-grade level and is only one step away from the fifth-tier demon lord.
If he gets away, things will get complicated.
Song Changsheng cannot be stationed in the Twin Islands at all times. If Ye Shinu retaliates by any means necessary afterward, they will be in a very passive position.
The East China Sea Alliance has a large territory, numerous spirit islands, and its personnel are scattered.
Apart from the core area, the other spirit islands are completely incapable of resisting the Demon King.
As long as the Night Slave doesn't stubbornly only attack the core area, but instead wanders around the perimeter, firing a shot and then moving to a different spot, they can wear the Night Slave down.
If Ye Shi Nu is at his peak and is determined to run, there are few who can catch up with him at the same level.
Thinking of this, a shadow fell over everyone's hearts.
Previously, the Night Slaves were bound by their clan and wouldn't do anything too outrageous, because they could retaliate at any time.
Now that his pack has been wiped out, he has become a lone wolf. Although he has no help, it is much easier for him to do things than before.
This is what it means to have nothing to lose and nothing to fear.
"Since Ye Shi Nu was seriously injured, how did he escape? Could it be that other sea creatures secretly helped him?" Xu Yunhe asked with a frown.
He knew Song Changsheng well; he would never leave any loose ends if there was even the slightest chance. And the severely injured Ye Shi Nu could never escape Song Changsheng's grasp. So the only explanation was that something else had happened.
Song Changsheng nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, someone rescued him, but it wasn't a member of the Sea Clan, but a person named You Lianyue from the Blood Soul Demon Sect."
then……"
He briefly recounted what had happened, and concluded: "Ye Shi Nu is a cold-blooded and ruthless person. He can give up anything without hesitation in order to break through to the fifth level."
Before his breakthrough, he would absolutely not take any risks, so you can rest assured that he will not attack before breaking through to the fifth rank.
However, we cannot ignore this hidden danger. Next, we need to organize manpower and do our best to explore the distant sea. We must find the Blood Soul Demon Sect's lair as soon as possible and not give Ye Shi Nu the opportunity to break through to the fifth rank.
We still have plenty of time. His injuries are severe, and it will take him at least several decades to recover his original power.
Even if he manages to break through to the fifth rank by sheer luck, there's no need to worry too much; someone will naturally deal with him.
Song Changsheng was naturally referring to the Myriad Manifestations Palace. With Ye Shi Nu breaking through to the fifth level, they were definitely the most nervous.
Hearing this, everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief and began to flatter Song Changsheng.
Although some loose ends were left, this battle eliminated the obstacle that was the Sea Yaksha, allowing the East Sea Alliance to continue its expansion plan.
As long as enough resources are harvested during this period, even if Nightshade returns and some territory is lost, it won't be too much of a loss.
"Everyone, go and prepare well. Don't waste this rare opportunity." Song Changsheng dismissed the meeting and gestured for the Song clan cultivators to stay.
After the others left, he looked at Song Qingxing, sighed, and asked, "Did you receive the notification?"
"Got it."
When do you plan to leave?
"Now that I've met you, it's time to set off."
Song Changsheng stared into his eyes and met his gaze for a while, but ultimately didn't say anything to make him give up. He knew his nephew too well.
He reached into his storage bag, swiped it, and took out a small jade bottle, handing it to him.
"What is this?" Song Qingxing reached out and took it, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
"This is the essence blood of the True Phoenix. Refining it in advance can save your life in critical moments."
Upon hearing this, a hint of envy appeared in the eyes of Song Youfu and the others. They knew all too well the weight of those words: "True Phoenix Essence Blood".
"Thank you, Uncle." Song Qingxing was moved. He knew that such a treasure was hard to come by.
Song Changsheng placed his hands on his shoulders and said earnestly, "Your return alive is the greatest comfort to me."
...(End of chapter)