Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

The Intermediate Grade Spirit Vein was the very lifeline of the Seven Stars Sect. Without it, the concentration of Spiritual Energy within the Sect would be no different from the outside world, completely erasing their advantage.

A lack of Spiritual Energy would not only hinder the cultivation of disciples and elders but also severely impact practices like Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Array Formation. Furthermore, with the Seven Stars Sect already in a state of disarray, this deficiency would drastically slow down all progress. The weight of this responsibility was enormous.

Ye Chuanfeng had deliberately saved this topic for last, wanting to use it as leverage against Su Han and his master, Lei Ming. Nearly everyone in the Seven Stars Sect now followed his lead, with the exception of these two thorns in his side. Naturally, he intended to seize this opportunity to put them firmly in their place.

”This matter is indeed my fault. I’ll take full responsibility for my actions.”

The depletion of the Intermediate Grade Spirit Vein was an undeniable fact. With Liu Rumei and Lu Yunxian gone and Su Han still too young, Lei Ming naturally stepped forward to bear the burden.

”Junior Brother Lei, I don’t mean to belittle you,” Ye Chuanfeng began, his tone heavy. ”Although your strength is considerable, the Spirit Vein is the lifeline of our Sect. Now that it has vanished, the entire Sect is affected. I’m afraid you cannot bear such a responsibility.”

Ye Chuanfeng was deeply scheming. He employed a soft, cajoling approach with Su Han, but with Lei Ming, he was all thunderous condemnation, refusing to let the matter drop. The carrot and the stick. Ye Chuanfeng knew well that this was the way to manage subordinates.

”Indeed, Junior Brother Lei, the Spirit Vein is no small matter! We normally have to apply to the Sect Master for even the slightest use, to say nothing of you taking someone into the Spirit Marrow Pool without authorization.”

”If it were only the Spirit Marrow Pool, that would be one thing. At worst, we would wait a century for the Spirit Marrow to condense again. But you should never, ever have destroyed the entire Spirit Vein. That’s like digging our sect’s own grave!”

”You must give us an explanation for this, or I’ll be the first to object!”

The other five elders chimed in one by one, backing Ye Chuanfeng in his denunciation of Lei Ming, applying immense pressure to corner him.

Su Han stood to the side, taking it all in. He now saw Ye Chuanfeng’s hypocritical and greedy nature with perfect clarity. He knew that if he didn’t offer a significant sacrifice today, this matter would not be easily settled. Lei Ming had grown up in the Seven Stars Sect and considered it his home. He couldn’t betray it as Qin Wushuang had, nor could he bring himself to leave like Liu Rumei.

Besides, the depletion of the Spirit Vein had little to do with Lei Ming. Lu Yunxian had been the one to absorb it dry. As Lu Yunxian’s brother, Su Han felt it was his responsibility to resolve the issue.

”Elder Ye, esteemed elders, we were indeed at fault first,” Su Han said, stepping forward. ”Let’s do this. I obtained a large quantity of Supreme Grade Spirit Stones from the Demon Cult’s treasury. I will offer them to the Sect as compensation!”

With a flick of his wrist, Su Han produced a Storage Ring. Inside was the Spirit Stone Mountain he had acquired from the Demon Cult’s treasury, containing a full one hundred thousand Supreme Grade Spirit Stones of immeasurable value.

Although one hundred thousand Supreme Grade Spirit Stones couldn’t quite compare to an entire Intermediate Grade Spirit Vein, the gap wasn’t massive. Most importantly, while the Spirit Vein had supported the entire Sect, Ye Chuanfeng and the other elders could divide a huge portion of these Spirit Stones among themselves.

One hundred thousand Supreme Grade Spirit Stones. The five elders’ eyes went wide, their breathing growing ragged as they fought the urge to snatch the ring away. Even Ye Chuanfeng’s face was alight with unconcealed delight.

”Ahem. Su Han, since you’ve shown such sincerity, we shall let this matter rest,” Ye Chuanfeng announced, thoroughly pleased with this result. Having achieved his goal, he saw no reason to press further. After all, he still needed to formally assume the role of Sect Master and command the loyalty of the entire Sect, so he couldn’t afford to be overly harsh.

”Elder Ye, if there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave!” Su Han said, offering a fist-and-palm salute before departing the Sect Master’s Hall with Lei Ming.

Ye Chuanfeng reached out and snatched the Storage Ring, his hand obscuring it from the five elders’ burning gazes. ”This batch of Supreme Grade Spirit Stones is to compensate for the loss of the Spirit Vein. I will decide on its allocation later. But rest assured, you are all veterans of the Seven Stars Sect. I will not treat any of you unfairly.”

If Ye Chuanfeng was eating meat, he naturally had to let his followers drink the soup. He was very familiar with this kind of patronage and handled it with ease.

”Sect Master, how could you say such a thing?” Elder Qian said with a fawning smile, having already decided to latch onto Ye Chuanfeng’s powerful coattails. ”These are the Sect’s treasures, so it is only right that you distribute them. We wouldn’t dare utter a word of complaint.”

In their view, Ye Chuanfeng was far more adaptable than Mu Qingyun, yet no less powerful. Coupled with his connection to the Tian Luo Saint, they knew that sticking close to him would bring them countless benefits in the future.

”Junior Brother Qian, you flatter me,” Ye Chuanfeng said. ”However, the Sect cannot go a single day without a leader. Now that Brother Mu has sacrificed himself for the Sect, the position of Sect Master is vacant. As the Great Elder, it is my duty to step forward and assume this responsibility, so…”

Before Ye Chuanfeng could finish, Elder Qian and the others understood perfectly.

”Sect Master, who in the entire Sect is more qualified for the position than you? We elders jointly implore you to take charge and lead our Seven Stars Sect to new heights of prosperity and strength!”

Ye Chuanfeng was extremely pleased with his sycophant, Elder Qian. He nodded with a smile, his wish fulfilled.

He had won over Su Han, acquired one hundred thousand Supreme Grade Spirit Stones, and secured everyone’s support to logically become the new Sect Master. Ye Chuanfeng was bursting with pride, seeing a boundless future stretching before him. All he had to do now was finish rebuilding the Seven Stars Sect and then present it, along with Su Han, to the Tian Luo Saint. In return, he would surely reap even greater rewards—perhaps even the chance to achieve Instant Sanctification!

At this thought, a fire ignited in his heart. After dismissing the five elders, he quickly contacted the Tian Luo Saint to report everything that had transpired.

On Yaoguang Peak, Su Han and Lei Ming had already returned.

”Su Han, you shouldn’t have given him those Spirit Stones,” Lei Ming said, his heart aching. ”He wouldn’t have killed me. At worst, he would have just punished me harshly.”

It was one hundred thousand Supreme Grade Spirit Stones! Lei Ming had never seen so many in his entire life, and to just hand them over to Ye Chuanfeng was excruciating.

”Master, Fairy Sister Yun Xian and I were the ones who absorbed the Spirit Vein’s energy. It had nothing to do with you in the first place,” Su Han said with a bright, reassuring smile. ”As for those Spirit Stones, consider them on loan. Don’t worry, I’ll get them back sooner or later.”

My Spirit Stones aren’t so easily taken. Anyone who takes what’s mine will have to spit it back out.

”Su Han, don’t be impulsive!” Lei Ming warned, afraid his disciple might do something foolish. ”Ye Chuanfeng is not to be trifled with. You saw it for yourself today—he’s nothing but a selfish hypocrite.”

”Rest assured, Master, I won’t be reckless,” Su Han replied, his eyes gleaming. ”He still has plans for me, and I can use that to my advantage.”

Ye Chuanfeng was a cunning old fox, but in the art of scheming, Su Han—who possessed the inherited memories of eight gods and devils—was in no way his inferior.

Trying to plot against me? Then I’ll be happy to play along!