"Marry early, have many children... Ye Xuan, your boldness is immense! I never had such courage back in my day. The more people born, the more the family needs sufficient funds and resources. I, Ye Zeyun, am inferior to you."
Ye Zeyun sighed, then smiled with gratification, because Ye Xuan’s policy was right.
Marrying early and having many children was a phase every family had to go through if they wanted to develop and thrive. The more people born, the relatively higher the probability of producing a genius. Once a genius was born, the family could rise to prominence. Rumor had it that those great families had populations of millions; a single family was a city unto itself. Of course, for a family with millions of clansmen, the further out the side branches went, the thinner the blood ties became. Within those side branches, people of all kinds of surnames could be found. They merely shared the same ancestor.
"Alright, that’s all I have to say. As for the specific implementation, Dad, you and Grandpa can discuss it." Ye Xuan looked at Ye Zeyun.
His meaning was obvious; even if the policy were to be implemented, he would just be a hands-off boss. He was only responsible for gathering resources and money; the rest would be allocated by those below him. As for where the money would come from, it would naturally be the Niu family. That meant he still needed to find time to visit them.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, a servant guarding the door suddenly came in to report. "Lord of the Family, Patriarch Niu of the Niu family, Niu Tong, is outside requesting an audience."
"Niu Tong?" Ye Xuan smiled. He had just been thinking about the man, and he had delivered himself to the door. "Let him in."
As he spoke, Ye Xuan looked at the Ye family. "Everyone must be tired from wandering outside. Dismissed. Go back and rest."
After the crowd dispersed, Niu Tong walked in. Seeing Ye Xuan, he immediately bowed. "Niu Tong pays his respects to you, My Lord."
Ye Xuan asked curiously, "How did you know I had returned from the Ning family’s main town?"
Niu Tong explained, "To be honest with you, My Lord, I received a letter yesterday evening from the Ning family... no, from Wuzong Main Town."
"Wuzong Main Town?"
"Lord Ye Xuan, since you’ve been to the Ning family’s main town, you should know that the Ning family was wiped out by the Zhang family, right? After annihilating the Ning family, the Zhang family changed the town’s name to Wuzong Main Town."
As Niu Tong said this, he sighed inwardly. He wondered why Ye Xuan’s luck was so ridiculously good. When he learned that Ye Xuan was going to attack the Ning family, Niu Tong had actually felt a bit of joy, because he knew that if Ye Xuan dared to charge in, it would absolutely be a dead end. But to his surprise, the Ning family was annihilated overnight by the Zhang family.
Over eighty thousand people within the family had all perished, leaving not a single survivor. The corpse of the Ning family’s Patriarch, Ning Junze, was even hung outside the city gates to be devoured by vultures and eagles. Since the Zhang family had destroyed the Ning family, Ye Xuan’s crisis naturally ceased to exist.
"I see. But how did you know I had returned?" Ye Xuan asked.
"I didn’t know, but I had to come to Hongtu Town in person. If you weren’t here, I would have waited for your return."
"Oh? For what matter?"
"Lord Ye Xuan, see for yourself." Niu Tong handed him a letter.
On the envelope was a dark seal of a Flaming Lion. This was indeed a letter from the Zhang family.
Ye Xuan didn’t open the envelope immediately, instead staring at the Flaming Lion for a moment. He suddenly felt that the Ye family’s clan banner should be changed. A clan banner embroidered with merely the character "Ye" lacked any imposing aura. He wondered if he should replace it. Shaking his head, he realized now wasn’t the time to think about this and opened the envelope.
"To the Town Mayor of Niu Family Town, Niu Tong. When you see this letter, the Ning family has already been annihilated, and the Ning family’s main town has been renamed Wuzong Main Town. From today onwards, your Niu family falls under the jurisdiction of my Zhang family.
"Do not be nervous; this letter is not to demand tribute. I heard that in a few days, it will be the quadrennial opening of the Secret Realm. Although the Ning family is destroyed, this date will not change. The quota the Ning family gave you remains valid. In seven days, select your candidates and come to the Town Mayor’s Mansion in Wuzong Town. If you are late, you will lose your eligibility."
After reading the letter, Ye Xuan’s eyes lit up. "The Secret Realm is about to open?"
"It seems My Lord knows about the Secret Realm. I came here precisely to have you personally decide the quota for the Ye family to enter the Secret Realm," Niu Tong said, his tone somewhat helpless. Although on the surface his Niu family was the regional overlord second only to the Zhang family, in reality, Hongtu Town held that title. He was already shedding tears of gratitude that Ye Xuan hadn’t wiped out his family.
"Seven days from now? I understand. How about this, just give me one spot."
"What? O-one spot?" Niu Tong was greatly startled. He had thought Ye Xuan would definitely send a large portion of the Ye family to the Secret Realm to train and seek opportunities. Never did he expect that Ye Xuan would only send a single person.
"Yes, one person."
"Who? Is it you?"
"That’s right." Ye Xuan nodded. He knew better than anyone that although the Secret Realm was a good place to hunt for resources, the more resources there were, the greater the danger. The beasts in the Secret Realm were absolutely ten, if not dozens of times more numerous than in a place like the Asura Forest.
The Profound Cloud Sect possessed Secret Realms, and more than just one. The members of the Ye family had cultivations that were far too weak; going in would be throwing their lives away. The reason families like the Niu family wanted to enter the Secret Realm was that it was the easiest place to obtain beast pills and spirit medicine. Although there were many beasts inside, making it highly dangerous, a higher number of beasts meant a greater chance of obtaining beast pills after killing them. If one beast didn’t have a beast pill, surely there would be one among ten, right?
"My Lord, are you sure it will really just be you?" Niu Tong asked again.
"What, do my words go in one ear and out the other?"
"No, it’s just..."
"There are no ’justs.’ I know exactly what level of strength my Ye family has. Besides, if I only take one spot, your Niu family can send more people and obtain more resources. Isn’t that better for you?"
Niu Tong smiled awkwardly. "I will submit the list right away. Then, seven days from now..."
"Seven days from now, we’ll meet at the entrance of the Town Mayor’s Mansion in Wuzong Main Town."
"Understood, My Lord. I will take my leave."
"Wait a moment..."
"My Lord, is there something else?" Niu Tong frowned tightly. For some reason, lingering even a moment longer in front of this god of slaughter made him panic. He was terrified of accidentally enraging Ye Xuan and losing his life.
Ye Xuan said flatly, "Transport half of your Niu family’s spirit medicine inventory and gold, silver, and treasures to me."
Niu Tong was instantly shocked. "H-half!"
Ye Xuan’s eyes instantly turned cold. "What? Do you have an objection? Actually, I’m quite satisfied with the geographical environment of your Niu family. It’s particularly suitable for a small family to recuperate and thrive. Do you understand what I’m getting at?"
"I understand, I understand. No objections at all!" Cold sweat immediately beaded on Niu Tong’s forehead. Wasn’t Ye Xuan implying that he actually intended to wipe out the Niu family and seize Niu Family Town?
"Glad you understand. But do you know why I didn’t make a move against your Niu family? You led ten thousand people to destroy me, yet I let you continue to live. Why?"
Niu Tong froze, asking back with a face full of sweat, "W-why?"
"It’s simple. I’m too lazy to have my family move around. Hongtu Town is too small and unsuitable for my Ye family. But your Niu family’s town is the same."
Ye Xuan’s words made Niu Tong realize the truth. He said in astonishment, "Are you planning to... Wu... Wuzong..."
At this point, Niu Tong snapped his mouth shut. However, monstrous waves crashed within his heart.