Xia Wuyang watched quietly, a look of satisfaction on his face. He thought, ’General Yue, your spirit can rest in peace. Xia Wuchen is now living a life worse than death. Once he has been tortured enough, I will bring his head to you.’
After a long while, Yue Yulong and Yue Yufeng rose, wiped away their tears, and a new determination shone in their eyes.
Yue Yufeng looked at Hong Zhenhai, then at the many Cao Bang leaders in the hall. She suddenly cupped her fist and declared, "Everyone, Zhao Tianxiong has been brought to justice, which was his just deserts. But my brother and I did not come here today solely for personal revenge!"
Everyone looked at her, surprised. They didn’t understand why she was suddenly saying this. Did she have other intentions?
’Just a couple of brats who are still wet behind the ears, yet they’re full of schemes.’
"The Cao Bang controls the empire’s waterways and should serve the nation and its people, ensuring grain shipments are unimpeded and aiding commerce." Yue Yufeng’s clear and resonant voice echoed through the silent hall. "But in recent years, certain members of the gang have formed cliques for personal gain, sold illegal salt, oppressed boatmen, and even framed loyal officials, becoming lackeys for the Nobility. They have committed every evil imaginable. If this continues, the Cao Bang will surely lose the hearts of the people. The entire organization will crumble, and its end will be near."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone. "Today, my brother and I are here. We wish to discuss reform with Gang Leader Hong and all the Elders—to purge deep-seated corruption, reform the gang’s code, and return the Cao Bang to the righteous path. Let us become a true asset to the Imperial Court and a bastion for the common folk, and secure a brighter future."
Her words sounded noble and grand, but everyone understood the meaning between the lines: the Yue Family Siblings wanted to become the masters of the Cao Bang.
This was the crucial point. Everything else she had said was merely a pretext to make their takeover seem righteous.
But even with an expert like Xia Wuyang present to keep them in check, some people couldn’t hold back.
’They’re just two Fourth Grade Perfection Martial Masters, barely in their twenties and still wet behind the ears. What right do they have to control the vast Cao Bang? It’s utterly ridiculous.’
’So what if they have a Celestial Human Perfection expert backing them? It’s not like the Cao Bang doesn’t have Celestial Humans. We have more than one, and we can call on even more.’
’If a group of Celestial Humans ganged up on him, couldn’t they take him down?’
Wu Wenyuan was the first to voice his discontent. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Yue Yulong and Yue Yufeng. "Miss Yue, your ambition is commendable, but the affairs of the Cao Bang are complex and cannot be mastered overnight. Although you are General Yue’s children and have helped our Cao Bang eliminate a great menace, you are, after all, young. You will likely find it difficult to command respect, so I suggest you reconsider."
His implication was clear: Yue Yulong and Yue Yufeng were unworthy and unqualified to lead the Cao Bang.
This was expected. Xia Wuyang had been waiting for him.
A smile touched his lips as he walked up to Wu Wenyuan and patted the Elder and strategist on the shoulder. Wu Wenyuan was a mighty First Grade Perfect Grandmaster, with one foot already in the Super Grade Realm.
But before Xia Wuyang, he was utterly powerless to fight back. He didn’t even have the courage to dodge, let alone resist.
A look of horror spread across his face. Then, he heard Xia Wuyang’s apathetic voice, "Elder Wu is quite right. That’s why they’ll need someone to guide them."
Wu Wenyuan was about to say something when he suddenly felt a bizarre Power bore into his Sea of Consciousness. The world before him began to twist and spin. He tried to struggle, but it was as if he were sinking into the depths of the ocean, powerless to do anything as his consciousness began to fade.
It wasn’t just him. The same thing was happening to the other Elders and Hall Masters. They too were ensnared by the Soul Enchantment Technique, the light in their eyes slowly fading until they became vacant.
A group of Grandmasters and even Celestial Humans were, before his Soul Enchantment Technique, utterly powerless to resist. He effortlessly mesmerized and controlled them.
"So, what do you think now?" Xia Wuyang asked with a slight smile. "Are Yue Yulong and Yue Yufeng qualified to be the leaders of the Cao Bang?"
The surrounding Cao Bang leaders shuddered, then prostrated themselves before Yue Yulong and Yue Yufeng.
"We subordinates pledge to serve Young Master Yue and Miss Yue as our leaders! We will go through fire and water and never shrink from death!"
"Young Master Yue is wise and mighty, and Miss Yue is unparalleled in wisdom! They must be the Gang Leaders of the Cao Bang!"
"The reform of the Cao Bang begins today! We await the commands of Young Master Yue and Miss Yue!"
The Cao Bang leaders roared their assent, their voices in perfect unison as if rehearsed.
Standing nearby, Hong Zhenhai watched, his scalp tingling and cold sweat soaking his back. Such a supernatural and unfathomable manipulation technique was simply unheard of.
He had no doubt that if he showed the slightest hint of defiance, he would instantly become just like the others.
Xia Wuyang then turned to him. "Gang Leader Hong, do you think the Yue Family Siblings are qualified to shoulder this great responsibility?"
"They are! Absolutely!" Hong Zhenhai took a deep breath, then bowed and declared loudly, "General Yue’s loyalty and righteousness are a family legacy. The Yue Family Siblings are highly skilled in martial arts and harbor great ambitions. They are the perfect candidates to reform the Cao Bang. I am willing to step down and yield my position, and I will serve the Yue Family Siblings as the new Gang Leaders."
Seeing that Hong Zhenhai was so perceptive, Xia Wuyang nodded in satisfaction.
If not for the fact that he had no Spiritual Shackles slots left, he would have been tempted to use one on Hong Zhenhai.
Unfortunately, the man’s Power was limited, as was the authority he commanded. He wasn’t worth a Spiritual Shackles slot.
Although he could have controlled him with the Soul Enchantment Technique, as he had with Wu Wenyuan and the others, that method ultimately had its flaws. Problems could easily arise, and the spell would need to be reinforced from time to time.
If something went wrong, it would undoubtedly endanger the Yue Family Siblings.
So after some consideration, and after using the Soul Enchantment Technique to probe Hong Zhenhai’s surface thoughts, Xia Wuyang decided against mesmerizing him. Instead, he would use absolute power to force his submission, making him work obediently and ensure the Yue Family Siblings took charge of the Cao Bang.
However, Xia Wuyang still left a contingency in place. A Nether Enchanting Heart Needle descended, embedding itself within Hong Zhenhai’s body. At the same time, Xia Wuyang casually mentioned a few of the man’s Hidden secrets.
Hong Zhenhai lost all thought of resistance. He bowed low, respectfully and obediently, resolving to devote himself completely to assisting the siblings, Yue Yulong and Yue Yufeng.
Xia Wuyang had also secretly implanted a Nether Enchanting Heart Needle inside Wu Wenyuan and the others. If they dared to disobey, the Yue Family Siblings could activate the needles and punish them.
Xia Wuyang even made sure to teach the activation method to the two siblings, allowing them to better control the Cao Bang.
Watching everything unfold, the siblings Yue Yulong and Yue Yufeng were utterly flabbergasted. Their admiration for Xia Wuyang had reached its absolute peak.
’We thought a bitter struggle would follow. We were even prepared to shed blood here today.’ They never expected it to be so simple.
Their great enemy Zhao Tianxiong, who had been completely beyond their reach, was effortlessly dealt with. He died in utter disgrace, and they had even been the ones to personally deliver the final blow.
And now, the vast Cao Bang, faced with Xia Wuyang’s overwhelming power, had swiftly submitted. In a short time, he had controlled them all, leaving behind hidden measures to make them the siblings’ loyal subordinates.

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