Chapter 1516: No More Heavenly Martial Alliance

"We wouldn't dare!" Liang Yong was startled and hastily lowered his head. "We swear to the heavens that from now on we will follow Sect Master Yang's lead in all things. Whatever you demand, we will go through fire and water without hesitation."

"Swearing oaths is pointless — if it weren't, Alliance Leader Qu and Elder Mo wouldn't have died miserably here. Did none of you swear oaths on the day you joined the Heavenly Martial Alliance?" Yang Kai scoffed.

Liang Yong's expression was awkward, but more than that, anxious. By now, he had no idea how to win Yang Kai's trust and convince him to show mercy.

If Qu Zheng and Mo Xiaosheng were still alive, the Heavenly Martial Alliance might still have had some fight left in them. But now they were absolutely fish on a chopping block — Yang Kai could knead them however he pleased, and Liang Yong and the rest had not the slightest power to resist.

"I'll give you one chance to convince me — make me think there's some use in keeping you alive. If you can't manage that, don't blame this Sect Master for being ruthless. Elder Liang is no stranger to merciless methods himself, so I imagine you understand." Yang Kai's impatient voice rang out, his gaze gradually turning frigid.

A chill ran down Liang Yong's spine as he realized Yang Kai wasn't merely posturing. In his desperation, his mind raced.

Everyone else stared at Liang Yong with bated breath, their hearts lodged in their throats.

Yang Kai didn't rush him. He simply stood in place, waiting quietly.

After a long while, Liang Yong's tense expression finally settled, seemingly replaced by a measure of confidence. He cleared his throat and cupped his fists. "Allow me to inform Sect Master Yang that we have absolutely no intention of opposing you. Our trip to Falling Emperor Mountain last time was merely carried out under orders. Now that Qu Zheng and Mo Xiaosheng are both dead, and the Alliance's experts have suffered devastating losses, our strength has been gravely depleted. Furthermore, with the Myriad Cold Spirit Sealing Formation destroyed, the Sacred Alliance's foundations have been shaken. And given the Sacred Alliance's past conduct, I fear that even if Sect Master Yang magnanimously spares our lives, none of us would have a place to stand. When a wall collapses, everyone pushes; when a drum is broken, ten thousand beat it — it has always been so."

"What do I care about that?" Yang Kai sneered at him.

"All I'm saying is, if we wish to survive, we must find a new path. And Sect Master Yang is the best choice!" Liang Yong said, his expression solemn as he looked at Yang Kai.

Yang Kai nodded slightly. He grinned and said, "Not bad. Continue."

Upon hearing this, Liang Yong's spirit soared. "Killing us would be nothing more than lifting a finger for Sect Master Yang. But whether we live or die is a trivial matter that brings you no benefit whatsoever. However, if you spare us, Liang Yong and the rest can certainly bring you considerable advantages."

"Such as?" Yang Kai asked, glancing at him sideways.

"Heh heh — now that Qu Zheng and Mo Xiaosheng are dead, and the Second Elder, Lu Feng, has also perished, I am the highest-ranking member remaining in the Sacred Alliance. I am unworthy, but I am willing to manage Heavenly Martial City on Sect Master Yang's behalf, and hand over all annual profits in full! As far as I know, Sect Master Yang's Lingxiao Sect, though safely situated in the Flowing Flame Sand Field and not under threat of attack, is lacking in various cultivation resources and has inconvenient access to trade with the outside world. If Heavenly Martial City were to provide for those needs, Sect Master Yang's disciples would never again have to worry about cultivation resources. Heavenly Martial City has been operating for thousands upon thousands of years, and the number of warriors living here and making a living reaches into the tens of millions. I say with some pride that the annual revenue of Heavenly Martial City is very considerable — I'm sure Sect Master Yang would find it worthy of his attention."

After finishing, Liang Yong fell silent, simply awaiting Yang Kai's response.

He was entirely confident he had convinced Yang Kai.

Sure enough, after a moment, Yang Kai nodded. "Elder Liang has quite the silver tongue. This Sect Master is indeed swayed by your words."

As his voice fell, the firebird shot back into Yang Kai's body, the jade-green giant dragon reverted to the Dragon Bone Sword which Yang Kai put away, and even the dozen-zhang-tall stone puppet returned to its original form.

The oppressive atmosphere vanished in an instant.

Liang Yong was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, Sect Master Yang, for the mercy of sparing our lives!"

The others also hastened to pledge their loyalty, terrified that Yang Kai might take a dislike to any one of them and strike them down.

"From this day forward, there is no more Heavenly Martial Alliance!" Yang Kai declared with an expression of indifference. "Heavenly Martial City is now the property of my Lingxiao Sect. Any who encroach upon it shall be enemies of the Lingxiao Sect! Liang Yong, your strength is decent — you will serve as City Master, governing this city on my behalf!"

"Yes! Your subordinate will not fail in his duty!" Liang Yong answered in a deep voice.

"Good! I hope you won't disappoint me. Pass down the order — tell your people to pull back. If they don't retreat soon, I'm afraid none of them will be left alive." Yang Kai chuckled, his face pleasant and amiable, as if all the unpleasantness before had never occurred. As he spoke, he produced a Message Compass and infused a wisp of divine sense into it, signaling Ye Xiyun and the others to cease their attacks as well.

A quarter of an hour later, the inner city of Heavenly Martial City settled into a calm that belied the carnage. The corpses strewn across the ground and the rivers of blood were the best testament to the fierce battle that had taken place.

In the secret chamber, the others had already gone to pacify the surviving Heavenly Martial Alliance disciples and relay Yang Kai's orders. Only Liang Yong and Yang Kai remained.

"Where is the Heavenly Martial Alliance's treasury? Take me to have a look," Yang Kai instructed Liang Yong.

"Sect Master, please follow me." Liang Yong naturally dared not refuse and hurried ahead to lead the way.

As a Sect that had stood in the Dark Star for thousands upon thousands of years, the wealth it had accumulated was naturally immense — almost beyond imagination.

Moreover, the Heavenly Martial Alliance possessed Heavenly Martial City. The wealth drawn from the city alone each year was already extraordinarily abundant.

But now, all of it had become Yang Kai's property.

It took a full two days for Yang Kai to sort through everything in the Heavenly Martial Alliance's treasury and sweep it all into his Space Ring.