Arasaka Changyi kowtowed several times, not daring to hide anything from Ye Ling anymore. "I was blinded by the desire for power, wanting to completely control the Arasaka clan and make Yang Country my plaything... That's why I hired the bushi, to help me eliminate the stumbling blocks in my path."
Speaking of which, Arasaka Changyi feared Ye Ling would misunderstand and immediately explained, "I swear with my life to Lord Dijun, I only hired the bushi to deal with people from the Arasaka clan, I had no intention of targeting the Dragon Division!"
"Regarding the assassination of Qi Tan by Jue Ci, I was completely unaware beforehand!"
Arasaka Changyi was not lying about this. After all, the Dragon Division was an official organization of Hua Country, and their branch in Yang Country was merely an embassy representing the Hua Country's extraordinary circles.
The Dragon Division branch was primarily responsible for protecting overseas Chinese in Yang Country, and their interests did not conflict with Arasaka Changyi's.
Moreover, Arasaka Changyi was already planning to seize power within the Arasaka clan, an act that would inevitably cause domestic turmoil. In such times, stabilizing the foreign environment was paramount.
To provoke the Dragon Division at such a time would be suicidal for Arasaka Changyi!
As for his closeness with Nie Yi, it was merely an attempt to gain political capital after seeing Qi Tan dead.
After all, with Qi Tan dead, Nie Yi would likely inherit the position of head of the Dragon Division's Yang Country branch, and being on good terms with Nie Yi would benefit Arasaka Changyi.
But who would have thought that Qi Tan's death would attract a Hongchen Immortal!
If Arasaka Changyi had known Ye Ling would interfere in this matter, he would not have appeared in Dongdu at all during this period!
Ye Ling did not doubt Arasaka Changyi's words at all and asked with a smile, "Have all the stumbling blocks been removed now?"
Although Arasaka Changyi didn't know why Ye Ling was asking this, he didn't dare to think too much and honestly replied, "Almost all of them have been dealt with. The bushi are very efficient. The remaining high-ranking officials in the Arasaka clan are either neutral and uninterested in the position of minister, or they are my proteges, belonging to my faction. The remaining few hard bones just need time to be dealt with."
Ye Ling asked again, "In other words, the entire Arasaka clan is now under your control?"
Arasaka Changyi forced a wry smile and said to Ye Ling, "Y-yes..."
"Very good!" Hearing Arasaka Changyi's answer, Ye Ling's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected such a great gain this time!
In Ye Ling's view, Arasaka Changyi was merely a high-ranking official of the Arasaka clan. Even if he controlled Arasaka Changyi, there would still be considerable resistance in making the Arasaka clan completely serve him.
However, from the current situation, Arasaka Changyi had basically become the spokesperson for the Arasaka clan.
This meant that as long as Ye Ling controlled Arasaka Changyi, he would control the entire Arasaka clan!
All the resources of Yang Country would be at his disposal!
With this, Ye Ling only needed to find the top-tier power hidden in Yang Country, and with a little operation from the Arasaka clan, the reputation of the Demonic Palace would quickly rise.
As for whether Arasaka Changyi's power struggle would cripple the Arasaka clan, that was a matter of internal affairs of another country. If they themselves didn't care, Ye Ling certainly wouldn't worry unnecessarily.
At this moment, Arasaka Changyi still didn't know what Ye Ling intended to do. Seeing Ye Ling's smile, he felt as if he were looking at the smile of a demon, and his heart trembled.
Uncertain of what fate awaited him, Arasaka Changyi was tormented to the extreme, filled with fear.
Ye Ling did not let Arasaka Changyi agonize for long. He asked Arasaka Changyi, "Do you want to live and stand at the pinnacle of Yang Country?"
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Arasaka Changyi was stunned for a moment, unable to react.
Of course, he wanted to live, and even more, he wanted to stand at the pinnacle of Yang Country!
For Arasaka Changyi, his cultivation had basically reached its limit, and the Arasaka Group under him was already vast and could not develop further. His dream for the rest of his life, besides advancing politically, was nonexistent.
To this end, he had been constantly striving. Hiring bushi to assassinate his rivals was just one part of his many plans.
However, Arasaka Changyi did not understand why Ye Ling was asking him this.
He was now just a prisoner in Ye Ling's hands, and even his life was in question, let alone his dreams.
Ye Ling said, "I can spare your life. I can even lend you my power to help you sweep away all obstacles within Yang Country, assist you in ascending to the peak of Yang Country, and leave your name in history."
"L-Lord Dijun?"
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Arasaka Changyi was completely bewildered. He stared blankly at Ye Ling, unable to stop swallowing.
Arasaka Changyi had truly witnessed the extent of Ye Ling's strength.
With Ye Ling's help, let alone the obstacles within the Arasaka clan, even if all the extraordinary organizations within Yang Country opposed him, he could sweep them all away!
With Ye Ling as his backing, Arasaka Changyi was confident that he could overcome everything and forge ahead!
However, Arasaka Changyi did not lose his reason. He looked at Ye Ling and said, "Lord Dijun, I know there is an ancient saying in Hua Country: 'There is no free lunch in the world.' If Lord Dijun is willing to spare my life and help me ascend to the peak of Yang Country, you must require me to pay a price."
"I want to know, what do you want me to do, sir?"
The conditions offered by Ye Ling were too tempting, but the greater the temptation, the greater the price to be paid!
Ye Ling smiled and said, "You ask me for conditions, do you think you still have a choice?"
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Arasaka Changyi trembled first, then instantly sobered up!
That's right...
He was kneeling before Ye Ling now, his very life in the hands of another. He was like a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of whoever wanted to carve him. Where was there any room for choice?
If he refused Ye Ling's conditions, he would only have one path: death!
Perhaps, something more terrifying than death!
Wang Liren, seeing the fear in Arasaka Changyi's eyes, couldn't help but sigh inwardly, filled with awe for Ye Ling's terrifying power.
Even a prominent figure like Arasaka Changyi was being toyed with in Ye Ling's palm. Wang Liren couldn't imagine who in this world could rival Ye Ling.
Arasaka Changyi realized the reality, understanding that he could not negotiate with Ye Ling. He trembled and kowtowed to Ye Ling again, his voice quivering, "Whatever Lord Dijun requires, I am willing to agree."
Looking at Arasaka Changyi's humble demeanor, Ye Ling chuckled lightly, "It seems you understand my requirements."
Arasaka Changyi swallowed hard, his voice filled with pain, "Yes... your subordinate understands."
"From this day forward, your subordinate will unconditionally obey Lord Dijun's commands forever. Your soul will forever belong to Lord Dijun!"
For the conditions Ye Ling proposed, Arasaka Changyi couldn't imagine what other price he could pay besides selling his soul!
"Very good!"
Ye Ling's lips curved slightly. He opened his palm, and a black rune materialized out of thin air, flying to Arasaka Changyi. "Accept my rune, and from this day forward, you will receive the power I bestow."
"Of course, you will forever be my slave."
Arasaka Changyi looked at the rune suspended before him, trembled, closed his eyes, and once again solemnly kowtowed to Ye Ling, saying, "Yes..."