Ling is a master of her generation. She is the youngest among the Sect Masters of the Seven Sects, yet holds the highest status, which is closely linked to her own cultivation and the strength of her sect behind her.

But she would never agree to cooperate with Ye Fan. Her goal is not to deal with the traitors of the Deyuan Sect, but to kill Ye Fan and hinder him from uniting the Seven Sects.

"Heh." Ling scoffed at Ye Fan's proposal.

Ye Fan said, "Sect Master Ling, you should reconsider. I know you want to kill me, destroy the alliance of the Seven Sects. However, those who betrayed you not only took your place as Sect Master but also defected to me. If I kill you now, it will be all over. Your purpose will not be achieved, and even the former Sect Masters of the Deyuan Sect won't forgive you, right?"

Ling remained silent.

"If you ended up in the Underworld, you would be ashamed to face them, and your death would be in vain," Ye Fan continued, "I'm not asking you to completely surrender, but to join me for three years. After three years, when Sect Master Ling has recovered, you can challenge me again, and I will not stand in your way!"

"Why should I join you for three years? Wouldn't killing me be more straightforward?" Ling sneered.

"Because I don't want to be criticized," Ye Fan replied, "The succession of the Deyuan Sect Master has its own rules. If I accept the proposals of those who betrayed you and consolidate the Deyuan Sect, people might temporarily obey me but not in the long run. I want genuine loyalty. If Sect Master Ling joins me, three years later, whether you want to kill me or fight to the death again, it will be up to you, starting today."

Ye Fan's proposal was somewhat persuasive.

Ling was also unwilling to die like this, especially under such betrayal, as the successor of the Deyuan Sect would accuse her of being a traitor, and she indeed felt she had let down the previous Sect Master. She couldn't face them in the Underworld.

But she considered Ye Fan her enemy. She wouldn't be willing to join her enemy.

Ye Fan continued, "I know Sect Master Ling wants to kill me, but there's an ancient saying: 'As long as the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn.' Sect Master Ling should also understand the value of enduring humiliation for a greater cause. A hero, if unable to bend and adapt, cannot be called a true hero. Am I right?"

"Three years? Earth's three years or the mystical realm's three years?" Ling hesitated, biting her lip and thinking. Actually, joining Ye Fan wasn't entirely bad. At least she could kill the traitors, take back control of the Deyuan Sect, and gather the hermits of the sect. In the future, she could kill Ye Fan to soothe her anger.

Ye Fan smiled, "The mystical realm's three years, how about it?"

"That's less than four months on Earth. Are you sure the tribulation will happen within these four months?" Ling scrutinized Ye Fan coldly.

Ye Fan shook his head slightly and said, "I can't be certain, but I am sure that if given those four months, Sect Master Ling can help gather people's loyalty, and I can command the Six Sects. Even if, after four months, Sect Master Ling establishes yourself independently, I can still eliminate the Deyuan Sect without letting it grow too large!"

"Since you plan to destroy the Deyuan Sect, you shouldn't give me the chance!" Ling retorted fiercely.

Ye Fan spread his hands and said, "This is my way of winning people's hearts, and besides, after Sect Master Ling surrenders, having a former master become my servant is quite a delightful feeling, isn't it?"

"You!" Ling glared at Ye Fan, "When you say surrender…"

Only then did she realize that Ye Fan's offer of surrender also included physical submission. Over the three years in the mystical realm, which equated to four months on Earth, she would merely be a maid beside Ye Fan, akin to Han Qing'er.

"Does Sect Master Ling think I would just give you the chance to rise again without any strings attached? Gains require sacrifices. If Sect Master Ling disagrees, I won't force you. But if you agree, in the future three years, all Sect Master Ling needs to do is maintain your position as Deyuan Sect Master and support me in significant matters, while privately… allowing me to enjoy the tenderness of Sect Master Ling!"

Ye Fan wore a slightly terrifying smile, at least it seemed so to Ling.

Deep down, Ling couldn't accept such a degrading role as someone's maid, but realizing that otherwise, only death awaited, and with Ye Fan as Alliance Hierarch, Deyuan Sect would be utterly destroyed, she felt unwilling.

"How can I trust you?" Ling finally compromised and asked.

"I trust Sect Master Ling so much, is there still doubt on your part?" Ye Fan said, "However, in cooperation, integrity is paramount. How about this, I will first help Sect Master Ling handle the traitors in the sect, and then you can surrender to me. How does that sound?"

Ling pondered over and over before finally gritting her teeth and agreeing, "Alright!"

Ye Fan smiled dominantly and said, "Then please accompany me to the Deyuan Sect's mountain gate. I'm quite looking forward to experiencing Sect Master Ling's tenderness."

Ling knew Ye Fan's words were meant to humiliate her, to show her what it meant to be a master and servant. Yet she insisted harshly, "I will not take you to the Deyuan Sect's mountain gate!"

"Sect Master Ling must think I would use your influence to break the Deyuan Sect's mountain gate's defenses and destroy it," Ye Fan said, "But you hold the Deyuan Sect's defenses in too high regard. Being cautious is always good. I'll request the Deyuan Sect traitors to come down the mountain. Then you can rightfully reclaim the position of Deyuan Sect Master!"

...

...

For Ling, there was no choice but to be forced to believe that Ye Fan was helping her.

Yet she was essentially selling herself to the devil. Fortunately, Ye Fan's control was only promised for three years. If she went back to Earth with Ye Fan, it would be less than four months, which was still within her limits.

Ye Fan took Ling away from Mituoyu. During the journey, Sang Yuan's face was not pleasant because she felt she might fall out of favor with Ye Fan.

The three of them arrived almost instantly at a pavilion not far from the Deyuan Sect's mountain gate. Ye Fan sat down and, under everyone's watchful eyes, held Sang Yuan in his arms. Sang Yuan was shocked at first, but she dared not push him away. Her believers quickly turned their faces to look elsewhere, while only Ling kept watching, because Sang Yuan's present was her future. She would be, like Sang Yuan, having no choice but to submit to Ye Fan, without the privilege of refusal.

Soon, Ye Fan used Spiritual Energy protection to isolate the two in a private space.

"What's the matter? Upset that I'm taking her in?" Ye Fan asked.

"Master has his own plans; I shouldn't question, but how can you ensure the Deyuan Sect Master will be loyal to you? She herself said it's only three years, and even then, her loyalty within those three years can't be guaranteed…" Sang Yuan was somewhat jealous because Ye Fan intended to have an old enemy by his side.

So in the future, she and Ling would no longer be enemies, but "sisters."

Ye Fan chuckled, "You've already achieved immortality, why compete with a mere cultivator? Like I said, it's just to fully control the Deyuan Sect for three months. Even if I can't make it serve me, I can't let it cause trouble behind my back. Do you think I would develop feelings for her?"

"So you're just aiming for possession?" Sang Yuan curiously asked.

"Everyone appreciates beauty, and I'm merely doing what any man would do," Ye Fan laughed.

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