The Bai family in Longcheng.
Inside the Bai family's ancestral hall, a middle-aged man was kneeling.
An elder stood before him, constantly roaring at him, causing the surrounding Bai family members' faces to darken.
The kneeling figure was none other than Bai Ying, who had accompanied Ye Cangtian on his mission. The one roaring at him was the Bai family patriarch, Bai Zhenshan.
Bai Zhenshan had learned about the entire mission, and it had angered him greatly. Gripping Bai Ying by the collar, he brought him before the ancestral spirits of the Bai family and their heroes' memorial tablets.
He could tolerate a failed mission. He could tolerate the loss of a master.
However, he could not tolerate the fact that during the mission to resolve the crisis in Tingfeng City, Bai Ying had achieved no merit, not even playing a basic role. This was something he could not endure!
It was akin to the Bai family and the Dongfang family jointly undertaking a mission, with the Bai family contributing nothing while the Dongfang family claimed all the credit.
In comparison, how incompetent would the Bai family appear?
How could the Bai family contend with the Dongfang family in the Hidden Organization in the future?
Who would still support the Bai family?
"Patriarch, it is I who am incompetent and have failed your trust. I am willing to accept any punishment!" Bai Ying said weakly, his head bowed.
He had thought of everything on the way back. Any explanation in this situation would seem incredibly weak, so it was better to accept punishment directly.
*Bang!*
Upon hearing this, Bai Zhenshan kicked Bai Ying away.
"Useless!"
"What's the point of punishing you? What I need now is a way to turn the situation around!" Bai Zhenshan roared in anger. The Bai family already had a considerable gap in strength and influence compared to the Dongfang family, and after this incident, the gap would undoubtedly become even more pronounced.
If they didn't think of a solution soon, the Bai family would be utterly defeated.
"I have a plan!" Bai Yuanhang suddenly said, and everyone's gaze instantly turned to him.
Bai Yuanhang continued, "Bribe Ye Cangtian!"
"Are you crazy!"
"The Bai family already has a grudge against Ye Cangtian, and we even nearly killed him. In this situation, do you think Ye Cangtian can be bribed by us?"
Hearing Bai Yuanhang's words, everyone's eyes immediately showed contempt and anger.
However, Bai Zhenshan's gaze locked onto Bai Yuanhang. After a long period of contemplation, he said, "Explain your specific method."
The personal enmity between the two sides was well-known, but Bai Yuanhang's suggestion to bribe Ye Cangtian indicated he had some confidence. Bai Zhenshan was willing to listen.
Moreover, there were no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
As long as Ye Cangtian could bring benefits to the Bai family, Bai Zhenshan was willing to let bygones be bygones.
Furthermore, Ye Cangtian was currently a favored subordinate of Dongfang Mingyue, practically his right-hand man. If they could win him over, it would undoubtedly yield unexpected results in the future.
"To bribe Ye Cangtian, we must offer a price that Dongfang Mingyue cannot afford, and one that Ye Cangtian cannot refuse!" Bai Yuanhang said with a slight, somewhat sinister smile.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't keep us in suspense!" Bai Zhenshan frowned.
Hearing this, Bai Yuanhang smiled and said, "I investigated Ye Cangtian. He was always investigating information about Tang Qingshan and his wife..."
At this point, Bai Yuanhang stopped speaking, his subsequent words unnecessary.
Everyone understood that information about Tang Qingshan and his wife was top-secret.
Even Dongfang Mingyue would not dare to disclose such information to Ye Cangtian.
"Are you asking me to steal these files and give them to Ye Cangtian?" Bai Zhenshan's expression turned grim. As a counselor elder, he knew the location where the Hidden Organization's top-secret files were archived, but the security there was quite stringent.
However, with his status, approaching it was not difficult.
But the problem was that such a matter could not be leaked. Otherwise, his position as a counselor elder would be over.
At that point, without a counselor elder in charge, the Bai family's reputation and influence would plummet.
This could be considered a risky move. If even slightly mishandled, the Bai family would not even have a chance to contend with the Dongfang family.
Was all this worth it for one Ye Cangtian?
"Yes!"
"Everyone knows Ye Cangtian's capabilities, and he might even become a Heaven-ranked expert in the future. It is worth taking some risks to win over such a person." Bai Yuanhang nodded. He knew the danger of this matter and what Bai Zhenshan was thinking.
But those who achieve great things, who walk a path of no risk? Aren't they all accompanied by half risk?
Moreover, if this matter succeeded, Ye Cangtian would be tied to the Bai family's chariot and would be unable to betray them.
It was simple: possessing stolen top-secret information was something no one could withstand. Ye Cangtian couldn't possibly ruin his own future, could he?
"Wait, I have another question," Bai Ying said from the side. "It is widely known that the matter of Tang Qingshan and his wife is highly sensitive. Those who knew about it and pursued them all disappeared. What if Ye Cangtian is also like that? Wouldn't we be risking it all for nothing?"
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in understanding, their gazes once again falling on Bai Yuanhang.
"Then we can only accept our fate." Bai Yuanhang continued with a smile, "If that is the case, we can just consider it revenge on Ye Cangtian. Besides, he has some grievances with our Bai family. It's better if he dies."
In fact, this was Bai Yuanhang's true intention.
He wanted to use the information about Tang Qingshan and his wife to lure an invisible giant hand to strike and kill Ye Cangtian.
He knew that the death of his grandson was related to Ye Cangtian, and his daughter had been expelled from the Bai family because of Ye Cangtian and was currently imprisoned by the disciplinary team.
Furthermore, the Bai family's reputation had also plummeted because of Ye Cangtian.
All of this had already made him hate Ye Cangtian to the extreme, and he wished to eliminate him swiftly.
However, he could not state this openly. If he did, he would surely be opposed by the Bai family members. It was simple: the risk involved in eliminating Ye Cangtian was not worth it.
Therefore, he could only use the excuse of opposing the Dongfang family and gradually infiltrate and lure them from the perspective of the overall situation.
"What do you all think?" After hearing Bai Yuanhang's words, Bai Zhenshan pondered for a moment and scanned the many Bai family disciples.
"As long as we don't get discovered while stealing the files, I think this plan is feasible!"
"I second that. The Dongfang family is already very strong. If they gain Ye Cangtian, it would be like adding wings to a tiger, and the Bai family's chances of winning would be even lower. Either winning him over or having him eliminated would be beneficial to the Bai family."
"Agreed..."
As the Bai family disciples voiced their opinions one by one, Bai Zhenshan finally made up his mind and decided to give it a try.
...
Seeing that it was still early, Ye Cangtian, after leaving the Hidden Organization, headed straight for the great river.
As expected, he saw a familiar figure at the old spot by the river.
"You brat, you're finally back!"
"Alright, no more nonsense. Hurry up and get this old man a sturgeon..."
Before Ye Cangtian could walk closer, Elder Long's voice was already heard.
During these ten-odd days, Elder Long had eaten all the sturgeon meat he had stored. Upon seeing Ye Cangtian, he became impatient.
Ye Cangtian couldn't help but smile wryly. After communicating with Nami in secret, he walked towards the riverbank.
Before long, he caught a plump sturgeon and brought it to Elder Long.
Only after the sturgeon was put into the pot did Elder Long glance at Ye Cangtian and say, "Kid, I heard you went on a mission. How was it? Did you encounter any difficulties during the mission? Have you fallen behind on the cultivation methods I taught you?"
"No real difficulties." Ye Cangtian smiled slightly and then took out two pieces of paper from his Qiankun bag, placing them on his palm.
The next moment, as he channeled his spiritual energy, the two pieces of paper slowly floated in his hand.
Ye Cangtian had already mastered this before the mission, but the mission was urgent, so he hadn't notified the elder.
Seven centimeters!
Seeing the distance between the paper and his palm, Elder Long's eyes widened.
Every time he saw this young man, he was given a considerable surprise!
His original task for Ye Cangtian was to float five centimeters, as this was the best data he could estimate based on Ye Cangtian's condition.
However, Ye Cangtian had achieved seven centimeters. This could only indicate one thing: Ye Cangtian was not only at the peak of the Profound rank but had already taken one step into the Heaven rank.
After all, those at the early Heaven rank could only achieve a suspension of ten centimeters.