Chapter 2357: Warnings need not be said (3)

Aofu race.

Duoduo jumped to his feet, looking at his son with excitement. "Are you serious?"

Oliga nodded. "Yes, Father. Just twenty minutes ago, Boss Ye entered the city with his female guard. One of our people is in today's coalition gate detail—he sent me the message directly. Absolutely accurate."

Duoduo paced back and forth twice.

"What is Boss Ye trying to do?" Duoduo walked to the window, looking at the city that had long returned to calm, unable to guess the man's intentions.

Lately, Cloud Peak Manor had been too quiet—eerily quiet.

Those who didn't know might think this calmness was fear, or cowardice. But anyone who had fought alongside Ye Zhongming on the planet hunting ground knew he wasn't afraid. He was busy? Waiting? Or simply indifferent?

But once he moved, Duoduo felt a trace of fear from the bottom of his heart.

Yes, Ye Zhongming wasn't coming for him. In fact, during this period, Duoduo had been very friendly to Cloud Peak Manor—constantly sending intelligence, asking several times if they needed help.

But Duoduo also didn't want his current life destroyed.

This had been the Aofu race's fastest development period in a century.

They were still influenced and even exploited by the Star-Eye Clan, but far less than before.

Their base area had greatly increased, overall strength up thirty percent, all revenues positive and rising. Every clansman was full of hope for the future...

He didn't want this broken.

But Duoduo didn't know if Ye Zhongming would turn Dark Strip City into ruins—after all, in his view, that big shot had the power and temperament to do so.

"Find out where they went, then... we'll follow."

At this moment, other races in Dark Strip City—the Liaoling, Abaier, Kasmoka, Weinaxi, and nearly all others—had received the news and were watching closely. Every race's leader had gathered their best fighters and gone out, adjusting their direction based on incoming reports.

They wanted to see what Ye Zhongming would do.

If... he intended to destroy Dark Strip City, they wouldn't agree. If it was something else, they'd decide based on the situation.

At the same time, within the Star-Eye Clan.

"Why didn't you stop him?" Luoshe narrowed his eyes, anger in his tone.

This was directed at the two Star-Eye leaders.

Lord Eye said awkwardly, "The gate guards are mostly former small-race alliance warriors, all familiar with Ye Zhongming—some were even his subordinates. They couldn't stop him, and didn't dare."

"Yes, if they'd stopped him, it would've meant conflict. I know Ye Zhongming's character—he's not impulsive, but if you anger him enough, he will fight. And once he does..." Lady Star explained, trailing off. Everyone knew a direct conflict with Ye Zhongming wasn't desirable and didn't serve the Star-Eye Clan's interests.

"So what if he fights? Do you think our six great experts are afraid of him now?" Luoshe snorted, seemingly confident in the Star-Eye Clan's current strength.

Lady Star sighed slightly. "Master, White Robe and Cheng Liujin are on very good terms with Ye Zhongming... And at Cloud Peak Manor, White Dragon Horse and Leilei Bird are great-expert level. After transforming, Ye Zhongming can summon at least two great-expert-level combatants."

"You're saying we can't beat them?!" Luoshe glared at Lady Star.

Before she could respond, he slapped the armrest. "I know you have reservations about him, but what have we been doing these days? Where has our money gone? What for?"

"To be tougher against Ye Zhongming! Understand—the tougher we are, the less likely conflict with him becomes, because he's no fool. He won't fight when he knows he can't win. Why are you struggling now? Because you're not certain of beating him!"

"Bashilu, how is our 'Upright Plan' progressing?" Luoshe's gaze fell on his son.

As training chief and head of the guard, Bashilu's men were mostly selected from the Gold Battalion—few but strong. Some already had Furelai just below Cheng Liujin's, and now that Cheng Liujin was a great expert, these men weren't far from that line.

The so-called Upright Plan, proposed and driven by Luoshe, aimed to rapidly increase the Star-Eye Clan's great expert count.

Before, they lacked resources and methods. Now they had both. Luoshe didn't believe money couldn't produce results!

At the peak expert threshold, Moonspan Gold's effect diminished—but at the great expert threshold, with enough money, one could get infinitely close.

That was what Luoshe wanted. Then he'd use his experience to lead these people through the breakthrough.

"Father, three already have Furelai over ninety thousand. One is over ninety-five thousand—just a step from a hundred thousand."

"Mm." Luoshe nodded in satisfaction. He treated this as the primary plan for reviving the Star-Eye Clan—his signature achievement since returning.

"Keep increasing their supply. Ideally, get the closest one to the limit within thirty days. Also, starting tonight, I'll personally tutor these three on breakthrough knowledge."

Then Luoshe looked at the silent Star-Eye leaders. "Closely monitor where Ye Zhongming goes. If he dares cause trouble in the Star-Eye Clan, hmph..." “

………………

"Boss, confirmed—they're still there."

"Boss, ten kilometers out, no abnormalities."

"Boss, Dai Zhi has arrived."

"Boss, three kilometers out. Speed up? They've noticed."

Xiao Min's voice came continuously with reports.

"Then speed up." Ye Zhongming nodded.

The whole group accelerated.

In less than four minutes, they reached a building.

By now, many had followed the group here, watching from a distance. Messages flew out—before long, a crowd would gather.

"Who are you? Who are you people?"

A man walked out of the building surrounded by the Red Makeup Guard, hands behind his back, a spear about a meter taller than him on his back, its tip wreathed in red light.

"Baliluwa?" Ye Zhongming asked calmly.

"You know me?"

Earlier, he'd known these people meant trouble but hadn't cared much. This was Dark Strip City—as a great expert, even if not invincible, no one could threaten him. The intruders' energy fluctuations showed no great experts, and those women were so weak they might not even have ten thousand Furelai.

But hearing his name called out directly, Baliluwa's heart sank.

Since they knew who he was and still took this attacking posture, things were more complicated.

"Good, you are." Ye Zhongming smiled, then glanced at the building's third floor. "You and Gehuobasi can make a choice: fight me, or fight my subordinates? The result's the same, but it's your preference."

"Do you know who you're talking to?" The man Ye Zhongming called Gehuobasi smashed a window with a punch, leaped down beside Baliluwa, and glared at Ye Zhongming.

"I know—the future twin stars of the Yindi race of Qing'ao City. You came to buy an entire street for shops, dealing in grain, spices, daily necessities, and some mental beverages."

Ye Zhongming said calmly, "Unfortunately, that wish won't come true."

"Who do you think you are?" Gehuobasi was clearly hot-tempered, already holding two metal rods with sharp ring blades—ready to fight at any provocation.

"Blame yourselves for wading into this mess here. Also, I heard you're on good terms with the Ferosong people?" Ye Zhongming's eyes were cold.

"Xiao Min, Dai Zhi—since they won't choose, you choose."

Xiao Min looked at her companion, and together they pointed at Gehuobasi.

"Let's take this hotheaded one."