Chapter 197: Founding the Gang

Ye Liuyun gave Ge Chengyu a once‑over.

In his twenties, he was actually good‑looking. But his eyes carried a vicious edge. One look told you he was not to be trifled with!

It must be that Ge Chengyu, who can manage all the outer gate affairs of Clear River Pavilion, is also a ruthless person with certain methods.

So today he cannot let Ge Chengyu go, lest he face retaliation later.

Thinking that, Ge Chengyu was already a dead man in Ye Liuyun's mind!

"Hmm? Kid, you dare unleash murderous intent toward me?" Ge Chengyu frowned, clearly displeased with Ye Liuyun's expression.

He had already projected his own aura, but it could not fully intimidate Ye Liuyun.

"So what? Anyone who provokes me ends up dead! You are no exception!" Ye Liuyun said domineeringly.

His overbearing words stirred the North District disciples behind him.

Exactly! Yuan Meng, Guo Kai, Chang Hao, Xuemo Sect… anyone they know who has offended Ye Liuyun could not survive!

"Seems this kid is rather tricky, no wonder he could kill Zhou Yong! When I strike later, I want a one‑hit kill," Ge Chengyu thought to himself, pulling a treasured sword from his hand.

It turned out to be a holy artifact!

Ye Liuyun's eyes lit up at the sight! Ge Chengyu was really something—showing up on his own wasn't enough, he even brought a big gift!

Seeing Ye Liuyun's expression, Ge Chengyu sneered and suddenly attacked.

He hoped to catch Ye Liuyun off‑guard the moment he glanced at his weapon, striking before Ye Liuyun could react.

But Ye Liuyun hadn't moved at all. He glanced at him, and Ge Chengyu felt his Soul being devoured.

He reacted swiftly, hurriedly producing a Soul‑defense spirit talisman and crushing it. In an instant his Sea of Consciousness was shielded by the talisman's erupting power.

Ye Liuyun felt the talisman's power, but only gave a faint smile, instantly placing Ge Chengyu within his illusion domain. Meanwhile, the Soul‑defense spirit talisman proved ineffective, being shattered outright.

It was Ge Chengyu's first time witnessing such a sight; he was startled, never expecting his master's talisman to be so useless.

The space he occupied was filled with blood‑red lightning and scorching golden‑red flames; opposite him stood a hundred‑zhang tall golden‑armored giant, brandishing a blade that came down straight at him.

His Soul, under the might of that single slash, had no power nor thought to resist. It was cleaved by the golden‑armored giant, and the scattered fragments were immediately absorbed by Ye Liuyun's illusion domain.

Then Ye Liuyun, with a single move, reclaimed Ge Chengyu's holy sword and Storage Ring. Since Ge Chengyu could wield a holy‑level sword, he must be wealthy, so his ring should contain some valuable items.

As for the others, Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil scanned them, and they all fell dead. Then he had Han Feng collect those people's Storage Rings.

Only when he called Han Feng did everyone snap out of their stunned state!

"Killed them all outright! That's insanely fierce!"

"Dominant! That's the model for my martial cultivation!"

The disciples behind him began murmuring.

Ye Liuyun walked side by side with Tie Jun back. Tie Jun spoke up: "Brother Ye, I think your strength can command the masses; why not you become the leader of our gang?"

Ye Liuyun shook his head: "Let you take it then! I'm an inner‑gate disciple, I can't stay with you all the time. Besides, I have no skill in managing gang affairs and no time for it. But if you need me, just summon me, and I'll definitely act for the gang!"

Tie Jun thought it over and said: "Usually the leader is the strongest. So I suggest you remain the leader. I'll be vice‑leader, handling daily gang matters, while you just need to champion the gang. How about that?"

Ye Liuyun didn't hesitate and agreed outright.

With his agreement, everyone immediately demanded to join as well. Especially the North District members, none were left behind.

Someone said: "We should give our gang a resonant name, right?"

Hearing that, Tie Jun and the others turned to Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun laughed: "Why are you all looking at me? I'm just a hands‑off manager!"

"Then you think of one, we can use it as a reference, right?" Nan Xiner said.

"Alright then!" Ye Liuyun thought and said: "We youths, with lofty ambitions and forward courage. I propose Lingyun Pavilion. You decide yourselves!"

"Good! Lofty ambition, Lingyun. Lingyun Pavilion, nice name!" Tie Jun said.

Everyone unanimously agreed, and finally settled on the name Lingyun Pavilion.

Ye Liuyun became the leader, Tie Jun the vice‑leader, and each regional academy appointed a Steward. The North District Steward is Han Feng.

Later, Ye Liuyun had Han Feng take out all the Storage Rings seized today and hand them to Tie Jun for unified processing as the gang's activity funds.

A gang this large, with so many members, certainly needs activity funds. Conveniently, the Clear River Pavilion folks showed up offering theirs.

Immediately, Ye Liuyun took Ge Chengyu's and Xiao Mubai's identity Tokens to the Merit Hall to exchange for some Transmission Talismans and pills, kept a few Transmission Talismans for himself, and gave the rest to Tie Jun to distribute.

Then everyone wrote their contact info on the Transmission Talismans; Ye Liuyun bid them farewell, saying he was heading out to train.

When he went to the Merit Hall earlier, he saw the academy had posted a bounty: slay the external Corpse Demons and exchange their Crystal Cores for points.

Many inner‑gate disciples have already taken action. It's a good chance to earn points.

Since he was about to train, he set Corpse Demons as his target. His destination was the border between the Qitian Empire and the Great Zhou Empire, where Tianyun King and the Ye Clan reside.

That place isn't far from the barbarian lands, and Ye Liuyun was a bit worried the Corpse Demons might spread there, so he thought he'd return to check it out.

"I guess you'll be dispatched soon as well. While there's still time, boost your strength! Once you go out, stick together, so you don't run into danger."

Ye Liuyun gave the crowd a brief admonition, then returned to his residence, secured the Grand Hall, packed Bai Hu and other Monster Beasts into Storage Rings, left Lei Ming outside, and went to find Lin Xueying.

He had already promised the Martial Soul Saint and Lin Xueying, so he must bring her along; otherwise, how could they enter the Red Soul Cave later?

Unexpectedly, Lin Xueying had been ready long before; when he arrived, she rushed out before he could even ascend the mountain, cheerfully following Ye Liuyun out of the academy.

These past days Lin Xueying had been diligently cultivating, raising her realm to the fourth tier of Sea Transformation, and her Soul cultivation met the fourth‑level Soul Master standard, so she was brimming with confidence.

After leaving the academy, Ye Liuyun took out his Flying Boat and rushed straight to the Ye Clan's base.

On the way, Ye Liuyun kept cultivating, striving to raise his realm to the mid‑stage of the third tier of Sea Transformation.

He released several Monster Beasts onto the Flying Boat. They ate and drank aboard, and with someone accompanying Lin Xueying, she didn't find it too boring.