Time returned to half an hour ago.
The Black Armor General used the pretext of an urgent report to easily gain an audience with Han Yang. Afterward, he naturally reported the entire sequence of events regarding the appearance of Yun Ming, along with the message he was tasked to deliver, without omitting a single detail.
Upon hearing that such a powerhouse had sought him out to explicitly offer him a fortune, the naturally cautious Han Yang dared not believe it easily. However, he could not ignore Yun Ming, and he was also quite curious about what kind of fortune Yun Ming was talking about. Based on these various thoughts, he devised this insurance plan: his top subordinate would pose as him, while he hid among the personal guards to observe everything in secret.
Han Yang reasoned that if the other party were truly an extraordinary powerhouse intending him harm, judging by the fact that someone had been sent to deliver a message, he was likely not a maniac. Even if the personal guard captain with a higher cultivation level were killed, he, a mere Soul Grand Master, might be able to muddle through. He just hadn't expected to be exposed the moment they met.
Han Yang did not understand how he had been exposed. The captain of the personal guards was a powerhouse with a very similar appearance, specially arranged for him by his family, and he himself had never revealed his cultivation level to the outside world. How had Yun Ming seen through the deception at a single glance? Of course, he had no heart to think about such things now; his primary task was to survive in front of Yun Ming.
The face mask on Han Yang's face fell away, revealing a face that bore a seventy-percent resemblance to the Green-robed man, yet was pale and had dark circles under the eyes. Han Yang hurriedly spoke to beg for mercy.
"Han Yang of the Blood Nether Han Family pays his respects to the senior!"
"I beg for the senior's forgiveness. This junior is in poor health, and to avoid damaging the reputation of Cang Hai City, I usually let my subordinates appear on my behalf. I had absolutely no intention of deceiving the senior, and I ask that the senior see the truth!"
Yun Ming looked at this middle-aged, hollowed-out man below and ruthlessly exposed him.
"You aren't stupid enough to be hopeless; you know to use your family background as a threat and find excuses."
Han Yang was anxious and wanted to argue.
"Senior."
"Enough, I don't have time to listen to your fabrications. Since you were wrong, you must admit it. Kneel for one hour as punishment to help you remember this lesson. Do you have any objections?"
Hearing that he wouldn't lose his life, Han Yang felt a surge of relief, but kneeling for an hour was also an unbearable pain for him! Yet, he dared not refute; Yun Ming showed no sign of fearing his family, so he could only obey honestly.
"No, senior~"
Listening to Han Yang's listless reply, Yun Ming shook his head inwardly. Excessive indulgence had ruined his vitality to such a degree, yet he stayed among a group of tough men who trained daily. With such an obvious contrast, it would be hard for him to pretend he didn't see it. Forget it, one shouldn't expect too much from a banished second-generation heir; as long as he could be used, it was fine.
The information on Han Yang was something Yun Ming had learned from Guo Sheng, which was precisely why he had sought him out.
His figure turned into a phantom as Yun Ming returned to his seat, formally beginning the main topic of the day. He looked at the Han Yang below and spoke to confirm.
"You are a direct descendant of the Blood Nether Han Family?"
To have a Soul Emperor with such a similar appearance as a body double, Han Yang did not look like an ordinary member of a wealthy collateral branch.
"Yes."
Han Yang replied in a low voice. Yun Ming's question made him think of past events he did not wish to face, and his mood became complicated. Shortly after, he saw the slight frown on Yun Ming's face.
Am I going to be humiliated again? That's right, a direct descendant of the Blood Nether Hereditary Duke 'Han Family' has ended up as the lord of a border city, banished so far away—it's a disgrace.
However, what Yun Ming gave was a response he had not expected.
"Did you not eat? Answer me loudly."
Yun Ming knew nothing about Han Yang's affairs, nor was he interested; as long as he could be of use, that was enough.
Han Yang: "."
"Yes!"
Yun Ming continued.
"Very good. Now, we can talk about the fortune I can give you."
"Let's get straight to the point."
"I want to unify the Blood Spirit Continent, but I lack a lot of relevant intelligence and lackeys to handle chores, and your Han Family happens to be able to provide these things to me."
"So, the fortune I give you is this: I will assist you in ascending to the position of the Han Family head. In the future, when the world is unified, your Han Family will be more prosperous than it is now, and you will go down in history. The price is that your Han Family will be at my disposal."
Han Yang: "."
He was a bit stunned by the crazy talk coming from Yun Ming's mouth. The slight sadness brought on by his past memories vanished into thin air. Had this handsome man called him over just to brag and act insane? But he dared not talk back to Yun Ming, so he could only say this:
"If the senior wishes to sweep across the seven nations, establish immortal merits, and bring eternal peace to the world, having such an idea is naturally excellent. However, there are several preparations that must be made. I wonder how the senior has planned for them?"
Yun Ming said with interest.
"Oh? Then tell me, what needs to be prepared?"
Han Yang said.
"Yes, senior! Since the senior has spoken, this junior will share my views."
"This junior feels that if the senior wants to accomplish such a great cause, at least three preparations are needed."
"The first is naturally money and grain. Unification cannot be achieved by words alone; it relies on fighting. And fighting, in the final analysis, is a battle of money and grain. Horses, personnel, equipment, drills, and logistical supplies—every single item costs money. With the senior's ambition, I estimate that no amount of money would be enough. Some money can be earned while fighting later, but there must be some initial preparation. I wonder how much the senior has on hand now?"
On this point, Han Yang estimated that this was the area Yun Ming was most prepared for. Given Yun Ming's cultivation and the simple yet high-quality material of his clothing, he likely wasn't a person short on money. However, Yun Ming answered like this:
"Not a single gold coin, and I don't need any. There are plenty of corrupt officials and wealthy gentry in this Cang Hai City, right? Just give me a list and take them all down."
Han Yang: ".Very good."
Starting with violence right away? Han Yang glanced at his subordinates lying on the ground and felt that it didn't seem impossible. This answer could be considered feasible.
Regarding Yun Ming's unconventional first answer, Han Yang was convinced and continued.
"Having money is still not enough. Secondly, we need talent. We can recruit ordinary soldiers and subordinates with money, and some talents can also be hired with money. But those generals who lead armies into battle, administrative officials who govern regions, and most importantly, powerful Heaven's Chosen powerhouses—they have achieved success and fame, and they have money and status in their own countries. Most of these capable people, for the sake of their own interests, will not give up everything they possess to join you. So, do you have anyone you can use right now?"
The overall level of education on the Dou Ling Continent was currently very low. Those special talents capable of leading campaigns and governing regions were indeed ninety percent controlled by the upper echelons. Even for Soul Masters, because the Spirit Awakening was not widespread, they were basically affiliated with the nobility. Therefore, the problem Han Yang raised did indeed exist.
To this, Yun Ming gave an answer using the same line of reasoning.
"Not a single person, and it's not necessary. Let's use an analogy: you must have competitors in Cang Hai City. If I help your competitors kill you, give them the political power of this city, and promise to help them block any potential retaliation from your Han Family, do you think they would be willing to work for me?"
Hearing that it was another case of brute-force resolution, Han Yang was silent for a moment before saying with difficulty.
"They would."
Yun Ming continued.
"So, you see! For those who need money, take them down with money. For those who cannot be moved by money, take them down with power. There is always something they crave."
Yun Ming's words were logically sound, but this made Han Yang, who wanted to dissuade him, feel very uncomfortable. Under Yun Ming's absolute violence, both wealth and power were incredibly fragile. But how does one break violence? Right, with even greater violence.
After Han Yang thought this through, he asked tactfully.
"What if some people are already at the pinnacle of wealth and power and have no need for your favors? Like the guardian families of the Saint Spirit Kingdom, whose status rivals that of the royal family—you surely can't offer them a throne!"
Yun Ming did not answer directly but instead countered with a question.
"What is the strength of the strongest Heaven's Chosen Master in the Saint Spirit Family? Or rather, who is the current strongest person on this Blood Spirit Continent?"
Han Yang understood; Yun Ming wanted to use the brute-force method again, but this time he felt Yun Ming's plan was bound to fail.
"Saint Spirit Old Man is rumored to be a Nine Rings Fourth-Tier powerhouse and is the third strongest on the continent. As for the continent's number one, the Blood Spirit Emperor of the Blood Spirit Kingdom was already a Nine Rings Sixth-Tier when he last appeared. No one knows what his cultivation level is now."
Upon hearing this, Yun Ming fell silent, just as Han Yang had predicted. This strength was quite a bit inferior to the Douluo Continent! For such a vast continent, this was the extent of their power? But then again, it made sense; it would be strange if a continent that had never produced a single god could keep up with the power levels of the Douluo side.
Seeing Yun Ming's reaction, Han Yang thought he had discouraged him and spoke up to console him.
"Senior! These two are veteran powerhouses. It is normal that you cannot compare to them right now. You are still young; you will surely surpass them in the future and reach the summit of the continent!"
Yun Ming was interrupted by Han Yang's consolation, his tone remaining indifferent.
"I am indeed surprised by their strength, but you guessed my thoughts wrong. On the contrary, I did not expect these so-called top three powerhouses of the continent to be so weak. If this is the case, I can sweep across the continent and complete the unification of the world in just half a year!"
As he spoke, Yun Ming raised his hand and summoned the Atlas Divine Spear. Nine rings—orange-gold, black, black, platinum, orange-gold, black-gold, orange-gold, orange-gold, and red-gold—an incomprehensible array of Spirit Rings appeared one by one.
When Han Yang first heard Yun Ming's arrogant words, he assumed he was having another episode, but now that Yun Ming's nine Spirit Rings were released, even though Yun Ming had restrained his aura, he was still blown away by the shockwave, his chin hitting the ground so hard he nearly blacked out.
He struggled to lift his head, staring at Yun Ming's Spirit Rings, his mind going numb! How could there be two ten-thousand-year-level Spirit Rings among the first four? And what was going on with the other six that bore golden patterns? And could a Spirit Ring even be orange?!
And nine rings! The big shot in front of him was actually a Nine Rings powerhouse!! What right did he, Han Yang, have to be chatting with a Nine Rings powerhouse! What an honor for his family!!
Watching Han Yang, whose eyes looked like they were about to pop out, Yun Ming retracted his Martial Soul and Spirit Rings, then spoke again.
"Two questions solved, what about the third?"
Hearing Yun Ming's words, Han Yang snapped back to reality from his shock. He subconsciously thought about his third question. He had been considering lineage or reputation, but once he thought about Yun Ming's overwhelming strength and applied the logic of the previous two solutions, he wisely kept his mouth shut.
Yun Ming's answer was obvious; there was no need to ask.
"There is no third question. Senior's strength is formidable; for you, this is not a problem at all."
Seeing that Han Yang was finished, Yun Ming asked his own question.
"So, are you coming to help me? You know now that I have no one under my command. If you miss this opportunity, it will never come again."
"I will only give you one chance to answer me. Think carefully before you reply."
The ball was now in Han Yang's court. After understanding Yun Ming's strength and his way of thinking, his previous hesitation wavered. He didn't know if Yun Ming could complete the grand cause of unification that countless heroes of the Blood Spirit Continent had dreamed of, but he was certain that with Yun Ming's strength, destroying a kingdom and taking its place was well within reach. And now, Yun Ming wanted to take him as his first subordinate. This opportunity, like a pie falling from the sky, was laid out before him. He felt a mix of trepidation and confusion. He didn't know why he, a cast-off son whom even his own family had abandoned, could catch the eye of such a figure.
"Senior, may I ask one last question?" Han Yang said in a deep voice.
Yun Ming: "Speak."
Han Yang: "There are many people you could choose, so why pick me?"
Yun Ming glanced at him. Why? Of course, because Han Yang was the closest to him! To put it bluntly, with Yun Ming's strength, he just needed a guide. Han Yang had a sufficient background and knew a lot about the continent's information, which could fill the gaps in Yun Ming's knowledge. That was enough.
However, through this brief exchange, Yun Ming successfully discovered another benefit of Han Yang: he was quite desperate for validation. If someone like this were given affirmation, he would surely serve as a guide even more diligently. So, Yun Ming answered him thus.
"Because I believe you are an uncut jade. I do not wish to see an uncut jade treated as a common stone and wasted for a lifetime!"
He, Yun, was an experienced leader; he knew how to praise his subordinates.
These flowery words were quite ordinary, but coming from Yun Ming, they carried a different weight. Hearing this, Han Yang's eyes welled up with tears of emotion. He, Han, had spent half his life drifting, never finding a worthy master, and in his helplessness, he could only linger among flowers, living a life of... ahem, squandering his time. He never expected that in his middle age, he would encounter such a noble person. Was this what they called a rebound after hitting rock bottom?
Han Yang had no more reservations; he bowed deeply.
"This subordinate pays his respects to the Lord!"
"From now on, as long as the Lord gives the order, even if it is a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, Han Yang will go!"
Looking at Han Yang, who seemed a bit hot-headed, Yun Ming nodded and said.
"Good. With your help, our great cause will surely be achieved!"
Yun Ming gave him another side-handed affirmation, which moved Han Yang to tears once again.
Han Yang excitedly requested orders.
"Lord, how shall we proceed? Please give your instructions!"
He was rarely this fired up and only wanted to get to work.
Seeing that he seemed a bit too heated, Yun Ming cooled him down.
"Finish your kowtow first, then we can talk about the rest."
Han Yang: "...Yes."
An hour later, Han Yang rose with the help of his subordinates and respectfully asked Yun Ming, who was sitting in the main seat with his eyes closed to regulate his breathing.
"Lord!"
Yun Ming opened his eyes and issued a direct order to Han Yang.
"Arrange the affairs of Cang Hai City; it is time for us to leave. Just the two of us."
Han Ying, the captain of the personal guards who looked very much like Han Yang, was dumbfounded to hear that Han Yang had actually pledged allegiance to Yun Ming. He had only been unconscious for a while, so how did his boss become someone else's subordinate after he woke up? However, Han Yang clearly had no intention of explaining it to him. Upon receiving Yun Ming's order, he commanded Han Ying.
"Han Ying, from now on, you will take charge of the overall situation in Cang Hai City on my behalf."
Han Ying did not know what was going on, but he could not disobey Han Yang's order, so he had no choice but to agree.
"Yes, City Lord."
Afterward, Han Ying left with his subordinates, leaving only Yun Ming and Han Yang behind. Han Yang inquired.
"Lord, may I ask what our destination is?"
Yun Ming's face remained as calm as a still well, and his tone was tranquil.
"The Royal Capital, Blood Nether City."
"I want to eat dinner in the Royal Palace today."
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader