That was right. The reason Lu Cun welcomed Ye Kang so warmly was simple: he saw a chance to swallow up the other Five Sects.
Back in the day, Qiyun Sect had once been on the verge of joining the Five Gates Seven Sects and becoming one of the Central Continent's top sects. But it had suffered a brutal schism. A thousand years had passed, yet Lu Cun's desire to rebuild Qiyun Sect had never faded.
But his strength was limited, and after losing the sect's inheritance, he had no chance to advance any further. So if he wanted to achieve his goal, he could only seek outside help.
As it happened, Ye Kang's goal didn't conflict with his own, so he made no effort to hide his ambition and laid out his plan directly.
"I've reached out to Rogue Cultivators nearby before, but they were always holding out for a better offer, with not a shred of courage. They simply couldn't be relied on. Fellow Daoist, you're different. I can tell you're far cleverer than they are."
Lu Cun beamed and made no secret of his praise for Ye Kang.
Ye Kang merely smiled at that. "Since you think I'm clever, what makes you believe I'd want to get involved in something so troublesome? Wouldn't it be much simpler to join a Martial Dao Alliance sect directly? Why take the long way around?"
Lu Cun shook his head. "It's not that simple. Fellow Daoist, you may not understand the Central Continent. Here, clans are the foundation. Even someone born to a humble family stands a cut above warriors without any backing. As for an outsider and Rogue Cultivator like you, there's no need to mention it. Those sects would never let you join. Even if they made you a