Fairy, help me cultivate.

All the elders held their breath and watched the two argue silently.

The elder's token spun and slid on the dark red lacquered long table until a hand touched it.

"Bai Lin, the Elder's Token isn't something you can just accept and discard as you please. Take it back!"

Jiang Mengtai flicked the elder's token back.

Jiang Bailin took it, her face flushed with displeasure, but she still obediently put it back on her chest.

She took a deep breath and said to Jiang Baisha and all the elders in the room, "Everyone, stop thinking about peace talks and just think about how our Jiang family can win this war! The Pang family is not that simple. The conditions they offered are likely just bait."

She paused, then looked at Chen Yao: "Everyone knows what Chen Yao means to the Jiang family. He's a benefactor who has helped the Jiang family a great deal on several occasions; he's one of our own. Everyone also knows what Chen Yao means to the righteous path of the South China Sea; he's a thorn in their side. If anything happens to him because of our peace talks, the Jiang family can't afford to lose face! We can't do anything to betray him!"

Another silence followed.

Chen Yao was deeply moved, and only then did she understand why Jiang Bailin was so emotional—it was because he was protecting her.

Jiang Baisha nodded: "Bai Lin, what you said is correct. However, I also did my investigation. The late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator who caused trouble at Chaoqing Peak three days ago was Qin Wuyang, the head elder of the Qingxu Sect. What does this mean?"

He glanced around at the elders, finally fixing his gaze on Jiang Bailin: "This shows that forces outside of Jiujiang have also become involved in this struggle. It's not just a struggle within Jiujiang, nor just a struggle between our Jiang family and the Pang family, but very likely an alliance against the entire righteous path of the South China Sea! We haven't yet completed our transition from the open to the covert, and those who have allied with the righteous path of the South China Sea don't want us to complete it. This is their true objective! Bailin, elders, consider this! Don't give more enemies a pretext to attack us!"

"Then what do you mean?" Jiang Bailin's lips turned white with anger, her slender finger pointing at Chen Yao. "Send Chen Yao away? What's the difference between that and offering your face to be slapped?"

Jiang Baisha fell silent: "Let's think about it again, there's always a better way..."

"Uh, have you ever considered that this might be a delaying tactic by the Ponzi scheme?"

Chen Yao, who had been playing the role of a nobody, suddenly spoke up. His voice was steady and powerful, not at all like that of a newcomer to the Elders' Council for the first time.

Everyone's attention was on him.

Chen Yao leaned back in his chair, glancing around at everyone: "In three days, the Pang family has been suffocated by our pressure. But what about those who colluded with them? Not a single one has shown up, right?"

Jiang Baisha's eyes flashed, and he lowered his head in deep thought.

"This suggests that those who colluded with them must have been held back by something, or, worse, this is all a setup. But now that they have proposed peace with rather favorable terms, the latter possibility may be less likely."

Only Chen Yao's firm and calm voice echoed throughout the entire venue.

"At this point in the struggle, who knows what other forces might emerge, such as the Ni Clan and the Qingxu Sect? If it were just for me alone, I doubt it would warrant such a massive mobilization, would it?"

Chen Yao looked at Jiang Mengtai and continued, "Perhaps they are coveting something from the Jiang family that they are determined to obtain. Otherwise, why would they go to such great lengths to deal with us? I think if it were just to comprehend some unorthodox techniques, they wouldn't be willing to invest so much."

Jiang Mengtai nodded: "Go on."

"Therefore, the Pang clan will not give up, much less negotiate. The longer we besiege them with the full strength of our clan, the more advantageous it will be for them. Our own clan is vulnerable, and once they discover the exact location of our stronghold, it will be too late. So, we cannot wait."

"Then let's keep fighting! Let's crush them in one fell swoop!" Jiang Bailin's spirits lifted.

"What if both sides suffer heavy losses? What if the Pang family is just a sacrifice they've thrown out to wear us down?"

Chen Yao stared intently at Jiang Bailin.

Jiang Bailin paused.

“Chen Yao is right,” Jiang Baisha agreed with Chen Yao’s statement.

"Then what do you suggest?" Jiang Bailin glared at him, her expression a mixture of admiration, resentment, and affection...

"Go with the flow. Let Ponso come out and talk to me, and I'll kill him on the spot."

Chen Yao spoke with firmness and authority, even displaying the aura and dignity of someone in power, but the entire audience in the small building burst into laughter.

Jiang Meng shook his head at him approvingly.

Jiang Mengtai rubbed away his tears, looking at him as if he were an adorable junior who didn't know the immensity of the world.

Only Jiang Bailin couldn't stand their sarcastic attitude. He glared at them and retorted, "What are you laughing at? Everyone can speak freely. What kind of attitude is this?"

Jiang Baisha smiled wryly and asked, like an older brother comforting his younger brother, "What if someone from the Qingxu Sect goes with us? What if there are ambushes around?"

Chen Yao sat quietly in the large chair, listening intently as they stopped laughing. He looked around at everyone with a serious and solemn expression, not allowing any jokes.

People looked somewhat guilty and solemn.

Chen Yao looked at Jiang Baisha: "It's simple, I'll kill him."

"What did you do? How did you kill him? Chen Yao, how can you be even more impulsive than Jiang Bailin? Just because Qin Wuyang offended you at Chaoqing Peak, you're going to fight him to the death? No, just like Bailin said, I can't let you take such a risk."

Jiang Baisha rejected Chen Yao's words.

Jiang Bailin was also unwilling for Chen Yao to take the risk.

“We can’t afford to wait. We’re not without help!” Chen Yao’s voice was calm and composed. He casually placed a red jade slip on the long table and stared at Jiang Baisha. “I’m not acting rashly. This isn’t acting rashly at all. I’m just making a suggestion that’s most beneficial to everyone. The Jiang family needs to regain face and show its power, but it can’t afford to suffer too many losses. I need to unlock this jade slip.”

"Jade slips?"

Jiang Baisha glanced at the red jade slip, and after a while, he showed an excited expression.

"You mean!" Jiang Bailin also perked up.

Jiang Mengmeng and Jiang Mengtai were unaware of the situation.

Chen Yao picked up the jade slip and waved it at everyone: "What is sealed here is the former sect leader of the Mingyang Sect, the South Sea Ancestor, the Nine Fallen Immortal, who once led the righteous path to defeat the demonic sect."

Silence enveloped the venue; everyone stood there, frozen in place.

A drop of water falls to the ground, its sound crisp and pleasant.

Chapter 171 My Sister-in-Law is Soft...

"With the help of Master Jiu Luo, the Jiang family has nothing to worry about."

After the meeting, Jiang Mengmeng was more excited than anyone else, and he didn't seem like the ruthless leader of the Night Blade team at all.

Jiang Mengtai clasped his hands together, fingertips touching his chin, and frowned in thought: "The problem is, we don't know whether Master Jiuluo will help us."

He glanced at Chen Yao and the others: "Whether she's friend or foe, we don't know, do we?"

Chen Yao shook his head and said calmly, "There is no doubt that she was ambushed by the Demonic Sect and betrayed by her own people in the Mingyang Sect. I don't believe she would just swallow her anger. Based on my experiences with her, I can tell that she is not that kind of coward."

Jiang Mengtai gazed at Chen Yao quietly for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, it seems we don't have any other choice."

He picked up the jade slip: "I will go and summon the clan elders to decipher it."

He got up and walked out of the small building.

Jiang Meng suddenly stood up and patted Chen Yao on the shoulder: "Take a good rest. We still need you to persuade the Nine Fallen Ancestor. This is not an easy task."

He also left the small building.

Only Chen Yao, Jiang Bailin, and Jiang Baisha remained in the small building.

Are you really sure?

Jiang Bailin leaned closer to Chen Yao and asked in a low voice.

She didn't want Chen Yao to stand up for her at the meeting just to support her.

Chen Yao shook his head: "I'll do my best, but I don't think Jiu Luo would be happy to see the South China Sea in this state."

A few days ago, he read the official gazette, which reported that the righteous path in the South China Sea, led by the Mingyang Sect, had formed a massive alliance, declaring that they were irreconcilable enemies of the demonic sect and would slaughter all the demons.

Jiu Luo is an unparalleled righteous powerhouse in over a thousand years. Her wisdom, cultivation, combat skills, and charisma are unmatched in the world. However, she only suppressed the Demon Lord and his forces back then, and did not say anything about slaughtering all the demons.

There are two possibilities: one is that the demonic sect has its own reason for existence, and the other is that the demonic sect cannot be completely eradicated, whether due to the current limitations of the righteous path or something else.

Therefore, Zhengdao's current move can only make the South China Sea more turbulent.

Jiu Luo had no reason not to step down and stop it; if she wanted to stop it, she would need a force she could use, and the Jiang family was a very suitable choice.

Jiang Bailin was persuaded by him.

Jiang Baisha nodded in agreement: "It seems we don't have any other choice... If you're all done, I need to get some rest. I feel like I can't hold on any longer, after all, my foundation has been damaged..."

His face, covered in burn scars, was as red as if it had been steamed, and his steps were unsteady, clearly indicating that he could no longer support himself.

"I send you."

Chen Yao supported his arm, and he smiled at Chen Yaoxiao: "Thanks to you."

This statement not only refers to Chen Yao's support for him now, but also to the current major events. Without Chen Yao, the Jiang family would truly be in a difficult situation.

"The seal on Jiu Luo has not been broken yet, so my plan may not work."

Chen Yao didn't want them to be too optimistic, to the point of being too careless.

Jiang Baisha nodded, stepped out of the small building, shivered from the cool breeze, and sighed to the sky, "Let fate decide!"

When Jiang Baisha was taken to his room, he was already unable to utter a word and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

After busying herself with making arrangements, Su Ning sat down with Chen Yao in the front hall.

"I... I'm already sleeping in separate rooms from him."

Su Ning lowered her head and fiddled with her sash, speaking softly.

Chen Yao sipped his tea, his thoughts still preoccupied with how to persuade Jiu Luo.

Jiu Luoliu's message suggests a sense of disillusionment with the world.

Su Ning glanced up at him, thinking he didn't care, and felt a surge of anxiety.

"I...I'm still a virgin..."

"jingle!"

The teacup landed on the table, spun around for a while, and then poured out a ring of tea.

"what?"

Chen Yao stared wide-eyed at Su Ning, looking bewildered.

Su Ning gently placed her delicate, fair hand into Chen Yao's: "My husband and I are in name only..."

Chen Yao rubbed her delicate little hand with her thumb and asked, "Why are you telling me all this?"

Su Ning frowned, her face showing worry: "I want to live for myself for once. But I'm afraid it won't be good for you..."

She looked into Chen Yao's eyes with brimming eyes.

Chen Yao glanced at the door leading from the front hall to the back room, where it was quiet and Jiang Baisha was fast asleep.

He wrapped his arms around Su Ning's slender waist.

"Mmm~"