Chapter 758: Casting the Net

Li Wan Hua suddenly sneered: "Even if you know, so what? The Great Business Association's men have already stormed in; you can't escape! You're just a Martial Cultivation Nascent Soul, could you possibly…"

Yan Buji shook his head: "Do you think I'd come to face you alone?"

Before the words finished, several figures appeared at the cave entrance—it was Wu Yuan and other Elders—looking at him with a mocking expression: "Li Wan Hua, surrender."

Li Wan Hua retreated in despair: "No… impossible…"

Main battlefield.

Yuan Zhen was locked in a fierce duel with Dong Shouzi. Suddenly, a golden light descended from the sky, enveloping the entire mining area.

"This is… the Seven‑turn Celestial Array?" Dong Shouzi exclaimed.

Yuan Zhen sneered: "That's right, this is our trump card."

As the great array activated, the Great Business Association's men were successively suppressed.

Seeing this, Dong Shouzi gritted his teeth and invoked a mysterious divine technique, instantly summoning an invisible wave that forced the surrounding array patterns apart; after taking Yuan Zhen's blow, he shouted to the others around, "Run!"

Yuan Zhen sat on the main seat, looking at the kneeling Li Wan Hua: "Li Wan Hua, do you understand your crime?"

Li Wan Hua's face turned ashen: "Elder Yuan… I…"

Yuan Zhen waved his hand: "Take him away and deal with him according to sect regulations."

After Li Wan Hua was taken away, Yuan Zhen looked at Yan Buji: "Hall Master Yan, this time we owe it to you."

Yan Buji clasped his hands: "Serving the sect is my duty."

Yuan Zhen nodded with satisfaction: "Very good. Hall Master Yan, you are neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat, and you helped the sect resolve a major trouble. The Sect Master has issued an order: effective immediately, Yan Buji is transferred to Wai Mao Tang, assumes the duties of Hall Master, and is rewarded three million Spiritual Stones."

Yan Buji was startled: "This…"

Yuan Zhen laughed: "What, you think it's too little?"

Yan Buji quickly knelt: "I dare not question, it's just… that's too much."

"There's no need for more words," Yuan Zhen rose, "Your ability is evident to everyone. This position belongs to no one but you. As for the reward… hehehe, those Precious Light Ores will henceforth belong entirely to the sect."

Yan Buji inhaled deeply: "I accept the command."

After leaving Yuan Zhen's seclusion chamber, Yan Buji felt a swirl of emotions. The three million Spiritual Stones had been deposited, yet the huge sum left him uneasy.

"Hall Master Yan," Wu Yuan came from behind, "Congratulations on the promotion."

Yan Buji turned, giving a wry smile: "Elder Wu, you say… is this really a good thing?"

Wu Yuan patted his shoulder: "Don't overthink it. Since the Sect Master and Elder Yuan trust you, just do your job. Moreover…" he lowered his voice, "You've always wanted to eliminate Li Wan Hua, right? Now's the perfect chance."

Yan Buji nodded, about to speak, when he suddenly saw a familiar figure in the distance.

"Is that… a Great Business Association member?" he squinted.

Ye Lin followed his gaze: "That's right, the Sect Master and Elder Yuan are now negotiating with the Great Business Association."

Yan Buji's brows twitched: "I see… does Elder Wu know what the Sect Master actually…"

"The Sect Master granted a special pardon," Ye Lin explained, "saying it's to atone for deeds. However…" he leaned close to Yan Buji's ear, "I heard she possesses the Great Business Association's core account books."

A spark of interest flashed in Yan Buji's eyes: "Interesting."

Elsewhere, Great Sinful Sect …

He Yun sat on the main seat, scanning the hall: "Everyone, I've gathered you today to discuss the attack on the Luohuang Zhou mining area, confirmed to be the work of the Great Business Association!"

The surrounding Elders sprang to their feet, eyes wide in disbelief: "How dare the Great Business Association?"

"Hmph." He Yun raised an eyebrow, "These profit‑driven merchants, in order to earn Spiritual Stones, what wouldn't they dare do?"

"But why would they attack our sect's mining area? Isn't it obvious they want to go to war with us?!"

"These bastards, Sect Master, I mean, if we don't strike the Heavenly Spirit Realm, give those Great Business Association guys a lasting lesson!"

He Yun waved his hand, pulling a scroll of account books from his chest: "This is the account book I had collected from the Great Business Association. It details their transactions with the Starry Sky Sect. If we can use this information…"

The surrounding Elders were shocked, thinking: When did the Sect Master become so resourceful?

They hurriedly took the account books, skimmed them quickly, and a flash of astonishment crossed their eyes: "These transactions… actually involve the Youming Jie unification war?!"

He Yun nodded: "Exactly. If we can make this information public, the Great Business Association's involvement in the Youming Jie unification war cannot be ignored by the three sects."

He Yun's meaning was simple: doing business with Youming Jie cultivators is permissible, but He Yun recalled the ancestors' words—that any of the three sects' seniors warned that anyone who dares to meddle in the Youming Jie unification war will be killed, and they shouldn't be blamed for not warning beforehand.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Sect Master, if the Great Business Association is gone, can't we devise a way to replace them?!"

The surrounding Elders' eyes lit up instantly; if they could eliminate the Great Business Association, the Great Sinful Sect could go to the Heavenly Spirit Realm and take over its assets—wouldn't that be a free profit?!

He Yun thought for a moment, then smiled: "No, we don't need to make it public."

The crowd was stunned: "You mean, Sect Master…"

He Yun rose, wisdom gleaming in his eyes: "We will use this information… to negotiate with the Great Business Association."

A few days later.

Dong Shouzi stared at the negotiation document in his hand, his face grim: "He Yun… well done, He Yun! *cough cough cough*"

Earlier, Dong Shouzi had taken a loss in Luohuang Zhou, falling victim to Yuan Zhen's killing move.

Although he escaped by luck, his wounds could not heal quickly.

Zhang Wang, standing nearby, asked cautiously: "Steward Dong, we…"

"Agree to him," Dong Shouzi gritted his teeth, "but…" a harsh glint flashed in his eyes, "Tell He Yun I want to see him in person."

Zhang Wang clasped his hands: "Yes!"

Zhang Wang had been rather despondent these days; had he not received the task to deal with Yan Buji, infiltrating another part of the Great Sinful Sect's mining area, he would have been wiped out by them!

Fortunately, Zhang Wang saw the situation was wrong and fled with his men, otherwise…

Alas.

A single misstep leads to failure.

One day later.

He Yun alone arrived at the manor of the Great Merchant Guild in the Heavenly Spirit Realm. Several Void Refining cultivators came out and respectfully invited He Yun to appear before the various stewards of the Great Merchant Guild.

"It's been a while, everyone." He Yun said calmly. "Long Yin, how have you been lately?"

The steward Long Yin stroked his beard and smiled: "Thanks for your concern, Sect Master He Yun; I've been doing alright these years."

Dong Shouzi looked over, eyes like knives: "Sect Master He Yun, since you're here, let's get straight to the point."

He Yun gave a slight smile: "Exactly what I had in mind."

Dong Shouzi snorted coldly: "Speak, what do you want?"

He Yun took out a list: "It's simple. First, the Great Merchant Guild must completely withdraw from the Youming Jie market and not support any agents; second, compensate my sect for its losses; third..." He paused, "I want information on the Starry Sky Sect."

Dong Shouzi's pupils contracted: "You..."

He Yun stared into his eyes: "Dong Shouzi, Long Yin, and all of you should understand that these terms are already quite favorable. If I make the ledger public..."

The surrounding stewards knew there was no room for negotiation; after a long silence, they finally sighed: "Fine, I agree to your terms. However..."

"Please speak."

"Regarding the Youming Jie matter, the Great Sinful Sect is also involved, right?" Long Yin smiled slightly.

He Yun froze, then laughed: "Long Yin, that's no laughing matter."

Steward Long Yin said solemnly: "I'm not joking. Although I don't know what your ancestors are thinking, today you can threaten us, but someday you may not fare well either."

He Yun's eyes flashed with a strange hue, but he quickly regained composure: "I appreciate your goodwill, but..." He stood up, "I'm not one to be intimidated by threats."