"Auntie, I have an idea, though I'm not sure if it's appropriate to bring up," Nie Li said. Though he had just been tormented by Long Shuyun, opportunities to speak with her were rare, and if he missed this one, he didn't know when he'd get another chance.
"Speak!" Long Shuyun glanced at Nie Li and let out a humph. She was still a bit upset about what had happened earlier; if not for Long Yuyin being present, her temper would have already flared.
"Auntie holds a lofty position within the Dragon Mark Family. With your support, Long Yuyin's chances of becoming the Family Head, while slightly lower than Long Tianming's, wouldn't be far behind," Nie Li probed carefully.
"Then you're wrong," Long Shuyun said lightly, sweeping a glance over Nie Li. "Our Dragon Mark Family's ancestors favor Long Tianming even more! So, Yin'er becoming Family Head is absolutely not going to be easy. Don't think I don't know what you're plotting—having each of the three great families back a candidate to lay the groundwork for you to become Sect Master? But the three you've chosen, getting them to become the heads of their respective families, none of it will be simple!"
"On that point, Auntie has misunderstood me. I didn't deliberately approach them to back them for my own benefit!" Nie Li shook his head.
"Oh? Then what is your real purpose? Did we perhaps misjudge you?" Long Shuyun looked at Nie Li with a faint, knowing smile, clearly not believing him.
Long Yuyin gazed at Nie Li, firmly believing he was not using her. After all, the circumstances of her relationship with Nie Li held too many coincidences; it didn't seem like he had intentionally approached her. If he had, he wouldn't have fought so fiercely against her at the Spirit Eye.
"I'm sure you've noticed, Auntie," Nie Li continued. "The Feather God Sect is riddled with factions, and internal strife is intensifying. Many within it want to change things but feel powerless. Even Heavenly Cloud Sovereign chose to retire and withdraw from sect affairs. I dare say, if this continues, the Feather God Sect will inevitably split within two hundred years!" he stated with absolute certainty.
Hearing Nie Li's words, Long Shuyun fell into a brief silence.
Long Yuyin's eyes widened, clearly startled by his analysis; she had never considered such a long-term perspective before.
"Continue..." Long Shuyun said quietly.
"People everywhere prioritize their own interests. Even knowing the Feather God Sect has various problems, for personal gain, they still scheme and fight against each other. If this goes on, the sect's decline is inevitable. A hundred years ago, the Feather God Sect was among the top three of the six great sects; now it's at the bottom. Even Sect Master Situ wants to change the situation, but the three great families each have their own agendas, leaving him powerless. After all, the power of the three families has, to some extent, surpassed the Feather God Sect itself!" Nie Li explained eloquently.
"Are you suggesting that with just your own strength, you can change that?" Long Shuyun said, a hint of disdain in her voice.
"Doing something is better than doing nothing. While I alone can't change much, I've met Gu Bei, Li Xingyun, and Long Yuyin. I believe their talents are not inferior, and they are trustworthy people—far better than Gu Heng, Long Tianming, and Li Yufeng. If Gu Heng, Long Tianming, and Li Yufeng took control of the three great families, the Feather God Sect's future would be bleak, inevitably heading toward division. But if Gu Bei, Li Xingyun, and Long Yuyin were to become the heads of the three great families, the outcome could be entirely different!"
Nie Li declared with fervor: "Though it's difficult with just my strength, I, Nie Li, am willing to do everything in my power to help Gu Bei, Li Xingyun, and Long Yuyin rise to power! Not for myself, but so that in a hundred years, the Feather God Sect can still be our sanctuary!"
Watching Nie Li's solemn, earnest expression, Long Shuyun momentarily found herself unable to discern if it was genuine. In this world, people did everything for the sake of 'profit'; who would engage in acts of self-sacrifice for others? Long Shuyin still didn't quite believe it.
Hearing Nie Li's words, however, Long Yuyin was deeply moved. So Nie Li harbored such grand ambitions and ideals. Looking at him, she felt insignificant in comparison; all she had ever considered was her own self-interest, while Nie Li thought about the greater situation of the entire Feather God Sect. His image in her mind grew immeasurably towering.
Long Shuyun curled her lips in disdain. "These words of yours might work on little girls, but to make me believe you? Heh, don't tell me you think I'm that naive."
Although Nie Li's motives extended beyond just the Feather God Sect, he could speak with a clear conscience. The greatest threat to the Dragon Ruins Realm wasn't major powers like the Demon God Sect, but that super existence—the Saint Emperor!
Countless predecessors in the Dragon Ruins Realm, in order to oppose the Saint Emperor and divine fate, had sacrificed themselves without fear, dying in the tens of millions!
To protect his own family and clansmen, every one of Nie Li's calculations was made with a clear conscience, perfectly forthright.
"Whether Auntie believes me or not, there's no harm in it for you, is there?" Nie Li looked at Long Shuyun and smiled.
"That's true. So, what do you plan to do next?" Long Shuyun was silent for a moment. No matter what Nie Li decided, the person he was backing included her daughter, and that was enough. As long as it didn't threaten her, what did she care what he did?
"What I plan to do next may be extremely difficult. I hope that no matter what, Auntie can stand on my side. Helping me is also helping Long Yuyin!" Nie Li looked at Long Shuyun, his tone sincere.
"That depends on my mood!" Long Shuyun crossed her arms and spoke lightly, "But if you ever need my help, you can have Yuyin pass the message to me. I'll consider it then!"
Seeing Long Shuyun's nonchalant expression, Nie Li knew that there was an eighty to ninety percent chance of success. Long Shuyun was very good to Long Yuyin after all. As long as he could get Long Yuyin on his side and have her cajole and pester her mother, he wasn't afraid Long Shuyun wouldn't agree.
Having the help of a powerhouse at the ninth level of the Dragon Dao Realm would make many things much easier.
"Nie Li, my boy, are you really not going to marry my daughter?" Long Shuyun looked at Nie Li, trying to guide him. "If you married my daughter, as your mother-in-law, how could I possibly not help you? When Yuyin comes to power later, we would also do everything we can to help you ascend to the position of Sect Master of the Divine Feather Sect. Otherwise, aren't you afraid of pushing Yuyin to the top but getting no benefits yourself?"
"Mother!" Long Yuyin stamped her foot in embarrassment.
Nie Li immediately declared righteously, "A fine young woman like Long Yuyin is rare for any man to remain unmoved, but tying matters of marriage to personal gain—I feel that is an insult to Miss Long Yuyin! How could I, Nie Li, be such a base person? Therefore, this matter should be considered at length!"
Long Yuyun stared blankly at Nie Li. She was a little perplexed by him now. Logically, if Nie Li was helping Long Yuyin seize power, marrying her first would absolutely yield greater benefits. Besides, setting aside everything else, Long Yuyin's appearance and family background were impeccable. Yet no matter how she tried to persuade him, Nie Li simply wouldn't agree. Could it be that there really existed people in this world who were entirely selfless and only worked for the benefit of others? (~^~)