At the entrance of Ye Village, a profound silence enveloped the scene.
Numerous onlookers gazed at the youth wielding a bloodied blade, rendered speechless, their eyes brimming with astonishment.
Ye Tian's blood-stained knife dripped ominously at his feet, beside the lifeless body of the first martial master of Baiyun Town, the one and only Wu Shi.
However, from this moment onward, this former champion, this unrivaled martial artist, had become a relic of the past.
Ye Tian had forged a legend for Baiyun Town; he had defeated Wang Xu and emerged as the strongest individual in the region.
"Excellent!" cheered Ye Feng, Ye Ba, Ye Meng, and the others, their faces alight with excitement.
Ye Shi was the first to regain his composure; observing the elated villagers of Ye Village and the stunned warriors of Wang Village, a glint of ferocity flashed in his eyes. He bellowed, "Kill! Wang Xu is dead; Wang Village is finished! Annihilate them all, and we, Ye Village, shall unify Baiyun Town!"
To unify Baiyun Town—an ambition Ye Shi had once dared not harbor—was a long-held aspiration of Wang Village, but today it had been reversed; Ye Village had accomplished it.
"Kill!" Ye Feng quickly responded, leading the charge against the warriors of Wang Village. Without Wang Xu and Wang Tian, the fighters from Wang Village stood no chance against a level ten warrior like him.
"Exterminate these wretches!"
"Kill!"
Ye Ba and Ye Meng roared in exuberance.
All the villagers of Ye surged forward, their spirits soaring as they advanced on the warriors of Wang Village.
With Wang Tian gone and Wang Xu slain on the spot, even Wang Hu would soon fall to Ye Feng's hand. The warriors of Wang Village, leaderless, were thrown into chaos, unable to muster even half their combat prowess, fleeing in all directions before the onslaught from Ye Village.
Ye Shi showed no mercy; he personally struck down countless warriors from Wang Village, leaving none to escape.
The entrance of Ye Village was drenched in blood, strewn with bodies piled high like a mountain.
Ye Tian cleaned his bloodied knife, standing aside without striking again.
In truth, the outcome of this battle had been settled; further intervention from him was unnecessary. Wang Village was utterly defeated; its elite warriors and leaders had been exterminated, leaving the survivors insignificant—indeed, even lesser than some small villages.
News of this battle quickly spread throughout Baiyun Town, igniting fervor in every corner, as if the entire town had experienced an earthquake.
Following this clash, Ye Village completely supplanted Wang Village, growing even stronger, establishing itself as the undisputed ruler of Baiyun Town.
Ye Tian rose to fame from this single battle, becoming the strongest in Baiyun Town and its premier talent, solidifying his status as an idol in the hearts of all.
Thus, Baiyun Town transitioned from the era of Wang Village, led by Wang Xu, into the age of Ye Village under Ye Tian.
...
In the stone house of the village chief, a long table was surrounded by the prominent figures of Ye Village, each face radiant with joy. Even the typically stoic Ye Feng displayed a smile.
Seated at the head, Ye Shi beamed as he surveyed the gathered leaders of Ye Village, his expression brightening further upon seeing Ye Tian beside him. Clearing his throat, he adopted a serious demeanor and addressed the assembly, his voice resonating powerfully.
"Everyone, not long ago, under the leadership of Ye Feng and Ye Ba, we launched an assault on Wang Village, annihilating all its inhabitants. Therefore, from this day forth, the entirety of Baiyun Town will be under the dominion of Ye Village."
At Ye Shi's proclamation, the leaders of Ye Village broke into beaming smiles. This was a historic moment for them; never had Ye Village experienced such prosperity. They had achieved what had long seemed impossible and would forever be etched in the annals of Ye Village's history, a supreme honor.
Ye Tian, however, maintained a calm expression, internally shaking his head. Although he had not participated in the attack on Wang Village, he knew well that every inhabitant of Wang Village had been ruthlessly slaughtered, including the elderly, women, and children.
Ye Village spared not a single soul from Wang Village, a complete massacre.
As a former special forces soldier, Ye Tian was not one to be overly sentimental, yet the thought of the defenseless elderly and children being killed left an unsettling taste in his heart.
Yet, he reflected, had Wang Village triumphed, Ye Village would have likely faced a similar fate.
In this harsh, lawless land, only strength could dictate everything.
"Regardless of right or wrong, my only duty is to protect my family, Ye Village," Ye Tian thought, gently closing his eyes. When he opened them again, determination shone through.
"Ye Tian!"
Suddenly, Ye Shi's voice called out.
"Hm? Village chief, what is it?" Ye Tian replied, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"What occupies your thoughts? Just now, I mentioned that we, Ye Village, will follow in the footsteps of the former Wang Village and prepare to construct a city. What are your suggestions?" Ye Shi inquired with a smile.
Others turned to Ye Tian as well. Despite being only sixteen, no one dared underestimate him; he was now the strongest in Baiyun Town, with potential achievements beyond measure.
In fact, within Ye Village, the highest authority had shifted from Village Chief Ye Shi to the mightiest warrior, Ye Tian.
If Ye Tian truly wished to enact something, none would dare oppose him.
In the realm of the strong, supremacy was the law of survival on the Shenzhou continent.
"Hm? Village Chief, constructing a city is a splendid idea, but we should not monopolize it as Wang Village did. Instead, we ought to invite other villages to participate," Ye Tian suggested after a moment of contemplation.
This had been his plan all along; after dismantling Wang Village, Ye Village posed little threat, and he intended to set affairs in order before venturing into Xueyu City.
"Invite other villages to participate?" Ye Ba furrowed his brow. Had anyone other than Ye Tian made that statement, he would have swiftly rebuffed it.
Yet Ye Shi and Ye Feng listened with keen interest, eager for Ye Tian's further thoughts.
Ye Tian surveyed the room before speaking earnestly, "Constructing a city is one thing, but fostering its growth requires more than just the power of Ye Village; it necessitates the collective effort of all the villages in Baiyun Town."
"Baiyun Town is already impoverished and backward; without unity, it is impossible to establish a worthy city."
His words plunged the room into silence, many deep in contemplation.
Indeed!
Baiyun Town is impoverished, and with the limited population of Ye Family Village, constructing a city isn't particularly challenging; after all, time is on our side, and eventually, it will come to fruition. However, while the city may rise, the question of development looms large.
Clearly, relying solely on Ye Family Village will not suffice; we lack the manpower, resources, and energy required for such an endeavor.
Casting a glance at those around him, Ye Tian continued, "I believe it is time for our Ye Family Village to establish a clan. Once the city is complete, we shall stand as the foremost family in this new settlement, while the inhabitants from other villages will form smaller clans, serving as residents."
A clan!
Many perked up at this notion—this was a term associated with city dwellers, a concept far beyond the reach of those from destitute areas.
Excitement rippled through the crowd.
Ye Shi's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he slammed his hand on the table and proclaimed, "Excellent! From this day forward, Ye Family Village shall be a thing of the past; we will henceforth be known as the—Ye Clan!"
"Ye Clan!"
"Ye Clan!"
The fervent shouts echoed, their faces alight with elation, filled with a sense of purpose.
"This is a splendid idea; however, city clans are divided into direct and collateral branches. How shall we delineate our divisions?" Elder Bai Wuge inquired, furrowing his brow.
Others shared his concern, as they had all been from the same village, like brothers. Dividing into direct and collateral lines would undoubtedly fracture their bonds.
Ye Shi and Ye Feng shared the same apprehension, their brows knitted in worry over this dilemma.
"Those are the conventions of city clans. We, the Ye Clan, need not enforce such divisions. The positions of clan leader and elders will be determined solely by merit and capability," Ye Tian asserted boldly.
The assembly found this reasoning compelling.
"In that case, the inaugural clan leader shall be none other than you, Ye Tian. I shall shamelessly accept a position as elder," Ye Shi nodded, subsequently grinning.
"Uh, Village Chief, you've misunderstood my intentions!" Ye Tian exclaimed, rising hastily to wave his hands; he had no ambition to assume the role of clan leader.
"Ha! I never implied any such thing. In truth, I am aging and intended to retire. With your strength and renown, no one is more suited to be the first clan leader than you," Ye Shi said, patting Ye Tian on the shoulder, his smile genuine and forthright.
"But..." Ye Tian felt a mix of exasperation and dismay; after all this discussion, he found himself ensnared.
"Ye Tian, you mustn't decline. The position of first clan leader is undeniably yours; no one else is worthy of it," Ye Feng added, standing as well, his gaze intense.
"But I'm only sixteen! I know nothing but cultivation. How can I manage the Ye Clan?" Ye Tian replied with a rueful grin; he understood the implications, yet he preferred to devote his time to cultivation rather than familial management.
"Fear not; the clan leader's role is merely to intimidate outsiders. You won't need to handle the day-to-day affairs—Ye Feng, Ye Ba, and the others will manage those. Your sole focus should be on your training to grow ever stronger, ensuring the prosperity of our Ye Clan," Ye Shi reassured him.
"Indeed, Ye Tian, with us at your side, you needn't worry about trivial matters. We'll handle everything just as we always have," Ye Ba declared, thumping his chest in confidence.
Ye Tian glanced at Ye Meng, who bore an expression of firm conviction, leaving him with no choice but to sigh in resignation. He nodded, conceding, "Very well, I will take this position, but the internal affairs of the clan will remain under your purview."
"Excellent!" Ye Shi exclaimed, slamming the table with fervor.
They proceeded to select the elders for the newly established Ye Clan.
Apart from the clan leader at the apex, there would be four primary elders: the Inheritance Elder, the Law Elder, the Guardian Elder, and the Supreme Elder, along with ten ordinary elders beneath them.