Watching the Divine Shuttle Merchant Ship that Sikong Jing was on slowly fade into the distance, Ye Wushen and the others exchanged glances.

"Big brother, are we really going to let him have his way with us? Second brother just died at his hands." Ye Wuyu spoke with indignant reluctance, feeling deeply uncomfortable.

Liu Shizeng heavily added, "We’re practically at his mercy, ready to be wiped out at any moment."

However, Ye Wushen was still thinking about becoming a Holy Martial Stage...

Eventually, he profoundly stated, "Let’s first sort out the information, then send people outside the city to investigate. If Imperial Dragon Mountain is truly beyond our power, we’ll have to comply."

Ye Wushen also felt uneasy, fearing that being at Sikong Jing’s command would doom them.

But being pressured step by step to this point, if there were indeed numerous troops from Imperial Dragon Mountain outside, compliance was their only option, or they’d be destroyed outright.

Submitting to Sikong Jing, even if Overlord Commerce wanted to eliminate them later, that was a future concern.

The current situation left them with no choice but to endure.

Moreover, the likelihood of Sikong Jing wiping them out wasn’t high. Ye Wuzhi wouldn’t let Willow Leaf Saint Manor be destroyed; at most, it would become a vassal of Overlord Commerce. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"As long as I have a chance to become a Holy Martial Stage, it’s all worth it," Ye Wushen thought to himself again.

He knew well that reaching Holy Martial Stage was extremely difficult, but he had to try for any opportunity. Achieving it would allow him to reach the pinnacle of the Central Plains, become younger, and significantly extend his lifespan.

This was an irresistible allure for countless Central Plains powerhouses, something they couldn’t stop pursuing.

As he pondered, Ye Wushen muttered to himself, "I’ll find a time to probe Ye Wuzhi again..."

He wanted to confirm if Ye Wuzhi’s restoration and advancement were aided by Sikong Jing.

Thus, everyone from Willow Leaf Saint Manor returned to Willow Leaf Hall...

They released all the guards who had been immobilized by Sikong Jing.

At the same time, they summoned Xiong Tingting, who had also been deliberately immobilized by Sikong Jing, to the hall, where Ye Wushen questioned, "Boss Xiang, why do you have this Reflected Light Mirror, and who gave it to you?"

Ye Wushen’s tone was exceedingly severe, as if ready to kill.

Xiong Tingting calmly replied, "A mysterious strongman forced me, I had no choice but to comply."

This was discussed between Sikong Jing and Xiong Tingting beforehand, so she said it without changing her expression.

The specific scenario was...

A mysterious and terrifying figure handed her the Reflected Light Mirror and coerced her to make it public in Wenxiang Pavilion.

But Xiong Tingting knew nothing about who the person was...

Inadvertently or deliberately, Xiong Tingting led them toward the direction of a Holy Martial Stage powerhouse, and when facing such a person, she naturally had to obey.

Listening, Ye Wushen and the others exchanged looks, immediately recalling Sikong Jing’s words.

Then, following Sikong Jing’s instructions...

He began speaking quietly, "It seems highly plausible that Imperial Dragon Mountain’s forces are splitting, with one force already on the move. A Holy Martial Stage person’s delayed action must be due to waiting for Imperial Dragon Mountain’s troops."

"Damn it, by publicizing the death of the Soul Dominator’s Heir, they’re determined to make us completely break with Overlord Commerce."

"We can’t sit by and let this happen."

"We must negotiate with the Soul Dominator’s Heir’s disciples, inform them that Willow Leaf Saint Manor is preparing to teach the Hundred-man Soldier Killing Formation city-wide to defend against potential attacks from Imperial Dragon Mountain."

At this point, Ye Wushen suddenly looked at Xiong Tingting and exclaimed, "Boss Xiang, why are you still here? Leave immediately."

"Remember, forget what you just heard, or I’ll destroy your Wenxiang Pavilion."

He naturally said this intentionally for Xiong Tingting to hear, carrying out Sikong Jing’s instructions.

Internally, Xiong Tingting found it amusing; Ye Wushen and Willow Leaf Saint Manor were completely manipulated by Young Master Sikong, which was also part of her arrangement with Sikong Jing...

Thus, Xiong Tingting obediently followed their order and quickly exited.

An hour later, Xiong Tingting returned to Wenxiang Pavilion, swiftly sending out a message.

...

The original Shiyu Commerce, now Qianyuan Commerce.

Ma Feigong immediately received Xiong Tingting’s message, glanced at it, then passed it to a subordinate to take it out of the city.

It was naturally to be delivered to Pei Yupo.

Now, Pei Yupo had already left Willow Leaf City; he wouldn’t linger in the city lightly to avoid any potential danger.

In this way, the subordinate of Qianyuan Commerce used their channels to leave Willow Leaf City and directly delivered Xiong Tingting’s letter to Pei Yupo...

At that moment, Pei Yupo had just returned to the secretly dark Divine Shuttle Ship of Qianyuan Holy Demon Hall.

Upon reading the letter, a glint of cold light flashed in his eyes: "Willow Leaf Saint Manor dares to be so bold, openly teaching the Hundred-man Soldier Killing Formation."

At this, he immediately looked at Pei Chang beside him...

"Uncle, according to Xiong Tingting’s message, Willow Leaf Saint Manor suspects that Imperial Dragon Mountain’s forces are splitting, led by Holy Martial Stage powerhouses rallying their troops to attack Willow Leaf City. Therefore, they’ve decided to teach the city the Hundred-man Soldier Killing Formation for defense."

"It seems our arrangement has been somewhat exposed."

Their covert troop arrangement had surely been exposed; otherwise, Willow Leaf Saint Manor wouldn’t be so blatant.

Pei Chang nodded but didn’t seem too concerned.

"It’s natural for our arrangements to be discovered, given the number of people involved. Since Willow Leaf Saint Manor now suspects we’re from Imperial Dragon Mountain, let’s give them an intentional slip tomorrow morning."

"Haha, just let a few Demon Dragon mounts roar deliberately."

Listening to Pei Chang’s idea, Pei Yupo smiled and nodded.

Since the arrangements were exposed, they would ensure Willow Leaf Saint Manor and Overlord Commerce believed that a Holy Martial Stage from Imperial Dragon Mountain destroyed Willow Leaf Holy Tomb, reinforcing the idea of a second wave from Imperial Dragon Mountain.

They had enough Demon Dragon mounts to easily disguise as Imperial Dragon Mountain forces.

With this decision made, Pei Yupo sent another message to Ma Feigong’s subordinate, giving new orders.

The order was: have Xiong Tingting observe the Hundred-man Soldier Killing Formation situation in Willow Leaf City and use the Reflected Light Mirror to record its power, especially the formation’s power of Willow Leaf Saint Manor’s key figures.

...

In the blink of an eye, it was the next day...

Ye Wushen suddenly received urgent news that indeed there were numerous troops hidden around the Willow Leaf City region, and many Demon Dragons were spotted. This made Ye Wushen and people from Willow Leaf Saint Manor break out in goosebumps all over.

"What Sikong Jing said was true; troops from Imperial Dragon Mountain were indeed rallying in secret."

"Immediately follow his instructions, compile all the data, and I’ll personally deliver it to him."

That afternoon, more and more information about Demon Dragon troops assembling outside the city poured in.

Ye Wushen couldn’t sit still anymore, personally taking the information to the Batian Branch, immediately seeking out Sikong Jing.

And Sikong Jing finally obtained the information...

With this, he could truly control the entire situation in Willow Leaf City, thus genuinely preparing to confront Qianyuan Holy Demon Hall.