"Young Master, the people have been brought. I wonder what further arrangements you have?" Sang Yuan respectfully addressed Ye Fan.

Ye Fan scrutinized Sang Yuan and the female cultivator behind her. She seemed different from the one he met in the Eastern Sea dungeon before. Ye Fan asked, "Who is this?"

"In response to Young Master, she is a believer of Nunu. She is now also your devoted follower. Would you not greet the Young Master?" Sang Yuan replied.

"This servant greets Young Master." The woman stepped forward, half-kneeling on the ground, and saluted.

"Hmm." Ye Fan slightly shook his head and said, "She has nothing to do here, let her leave for now."

"Understood, Young Master has spoken. Did you hear? Leave the secret realm and return to Earth by yourself. I won't say more." Sang Yuan commanded, and the female cultivator left the small courtyard and Tiancheng.

Ye Fan observed the direction she left. He could sense that her cultivation was not inferior to his, likely at the early stage of Body Integration Realm. Sang Yuan said, "Nunu originally selected a believer at the Body Integration Realm, intending to use her as a refining cauldron for your cultivation. Since you were not satisfied, I arranged for her, but unexpectedly you are still not satisfied. It is Nunu's fault."

"You are not at fault, it's just that the cultivation of this sect does not require refining cauldrons. Solo cultivation would be more convenient." Ye Fan remarked.

"Yes." Sang Yuan lifted her head to look at Ye Fan, then cast her gaze towards Sect Master Ling, who sat with closed eyes.

Ye Fan said, "Sect Master Ling, the reason for inviting you this time is to have you, as the Sect Master of the Deyuan Sect of the Seven Great Sects, meet with the representatives from other sects."

Sect Master Ling opened her eyes, glaring coldly at Ye Fan, and said, "Still like last time, parading me as your trophy?"

"No one is treating you as a trophy. It is you who are lowering your perspective. The various sects are gathering around the Annan Domain to investigate the greatest mystery of the Middle Ages, the mysterious disappearance of major sects. Sect Master Ling, I believe you too hope to see peace return to the Pan Gu secret realm as you organize the Seven Great Sects?" Ye Fan asked with a smile.

Sect Master Ling remained silent, while Sang Yuan transmitted a message to Ye Fan, "Young Master, according to my previous investigation, the Deyuan Sect intends to destroy the Huangji Sect and eliminate other non-cooperating sects as well. Tianxuan Sect is even willing to be used by them. The Lihuo Sect was annihilated because they did not submit to the Deyuan Sect!"

Hearing about the Lihuo Sect, Ye Fan felt somewhat angry. He could not tolerate the existence of those who annihilated the Lihuo Sect.

Ye Fan said, "I know with Sect Master Ling's status and pride, you won't be subdued by just a few words from me. So, this time I am not seeking your opinion. This operation in the undersea cavity requires the full participation of the Seven Great Sects, so I ask Sect Master Ling to make a trip."

"You are still treating me as a trophy, flaunting your authority!" Sect Master Ling glared at Ye Fan.

"Say what you will, but my intentions are good." Ye Fan replied, "If Sect Master Ling agrees to cooperate, I will release your restrictions, but someone will accompany you. Perhaps Sect Master Ling will receive some convenient accommodations..."

Ye Fan intentionally made it sound as though he intended to give Sect Master Ling freedom, to lower her guard.

Sect Master Ling, being a person of high rank, her appearance did not show her age, but she should be between one hundred and one hundred fifty years old. Achieving the initial stage of Transcendance Tribulation Stage before the age of two hundred indicates a high aptitude, which means she could ascend to immortality before turning three hundred.

Ye Fan did not have accurate statistics on how many sect disciples had ascended in the past few generations, but even in large sects, each generation might not have more than two descendants who ascend, often after reaching five hundred to a thousand years of age.

A person at the Nascent Soul Stage only has a lifespan of eight hundred years, and those at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage live about eleven hundred years. Many cultivators only choose to ascend when their physical bodies are about to be destroyed, and even those who embark on the path of ascension have less than a third chance of success. Ascending is the biggest hurdle for any cultivator.

From the perspective of sect feud, Ye Fan should kill Sect Master Ling to avenge the destruction of the Lihuo Sect. However, due to the larger context of the Pan Gu secret realm, he had to spare her life. After all, Sect Master Ling was one of the top cultivators within the secret realm. Besides Sect Master Ling, only the mysterious elder who fought with Sect Master Ling in the Huangji Sect's main hall was at a similar Transcendance Tribulation Stage.

As for others, there were those with cultivation stages above Transcendance Tribulation Stage, like Lan Jing, Wuying Zi, Sang Yuan, Jiuyou Su Girl, etc., but they were not following the cultivation system within the secret realm.

"Will Sect Master Ling resist and be carried by my people, or comply and go with dignity?" Ye Fan finally asked with a smile.

"If I agree to you, how much dignity can you give me?" Sect Master Ling certainly did not want to appear like a caged beast, pointed at by others in front of the six great sects.

A sect master, akin to meat on a chopping block, trapped in a cage and ridiculed by others, was an immense humiliation for Sect Master Ling. She no longer had even the right to demand death. Ye Fan saw her usefulness and kept her alive because the Deyuan Sect had yet to fall under Ye Fan's banner.

Ye Fan replied, "The most dignity Sect Master Ling can receive now is the removal of all restrictions... Of course, Sect Master Ling might have the Transcendance Tribulation Stage cultivation, but due to serious injuries, you can only use part of it. As one of the seven sect masters, you should receive the same treatment as the other six, just not able to return to the Deyuan Sect at the moment!"

"Fine, I comply with you... I follow you, Young Master Ye!" Sect Master Ling, being sensible, had enough of being imprisoned and only sought the dignity a sect master deserved.

Sang Yuan sneered, "Is Young Master Ye what you should call him? You should address him as Master!"

Ye Fan waved his hand, smiling, "Forgive Sang Yuan's directness, but... what she says is what I want to say. In public, you may call me Young Master Ye, but privately, you are no longer the Sect Master of the Deyuan Sect, merely an assistant under my command."

"You!" Sect Master Ling glared angrily at Ye Fan, only to regain her calm and said, "I will never fully submit to you, not even if it costs my life. If you care so much about a title, so be it!"

"I do not care about titles, only that Sect Master Ling knows she is still my prisoner. Temporary freedom is granted solely for the purpose of uniting the Seven Great Sects." Ye Fan concluded and instructed Sang Yuan to open the space to bring Sect Master Ling to appear among the six sects and smaller factions.

This was a meeting made for the bigger picture, letting the sects know that Ye Fan and the Deyuan Sect Master had reached an understanding, with Sect Master Ling also under his command.

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