You Should've Said You Were Fighting Spirit Hall Sooner! My Speed Clan Would've Joined on the Spot!

Song Ye finished speaking, yet his expression remained calm as he sipped his tea.

He simply watched Bai He's face flush red and watched the surrounding Speed Clan members wear complicated expressions.

After taking a sip of tea, Song Ye let out a long breath.

"If only this tea could fill one's stomach and nourish the body as well."

"Don't you agree, Clan Chief Bai?"

Song Ye's sarcastic tone made Bai He's face turn grim.

Bai He clenched his fists and stared fixedly at Song Ye as he issued his final question.

"Mr. Song!"

"Must you drive a wedge between the Speed Clan and me, its clan chief?!"

"And let me make this clear: no matter how much you say, the Speed Clan has its own dignity. We will never submit to any faction!!"

"Not even if the Clear Sky Sect returns!"

As he spoke, Bai He continued panting, but his emotions had already spiraled out of control.

Song Ye nodded to himself upon hearing this.

Normally, if he wanted someone to listen to him, he first had to make them hear his voice, stir their emotions, and lead them along.

With Bai He acting like this, the pressure had probably been sufficient.

Only then did Song Ye ease his manner and speak gently.

"See? You're getting worked up again."

"Clan Chief Bai, does your anger make what I said any less true?"

"Besides, I think you've misunderstood. I invited all of you, but I never said the Speed Clan would become my servants, did I?"

"Then what do you mean?" Bai He demanded.

Song Ye explained, "Why can't it be cooperation?"

"The consolidation of factions does not necessarily require one side to stand above the other. It can be an alliance, cooperation, a transaction, or simply taking what each side needs."

"The faction I am building is not some decayed sect that forcibly controls its subordinates. It is a powerful future collective!"

"That means if the Speed Clan joins, you will not face the kind of restraints Clan Chief Bai imagines."

"At that time, Clan Chief Bai would not be some subordinate or hired thug of mine. You would be a council member with authority equal to mine."

"Such a faction is completely different from what Clan Chief Bai fears, isn't it?"

After saying this, Song Ye calmly looked at Bai He.

Indeed, once those words were spoken, much of the initial wariness and rejection immediately faded.

A collective and the direct subjugation of a sect were, at least in name, vastly different. More importantly, it gave the other side immense face.

No matter how it was presented, from then on the Speed Clan would be a partner, not a servant or slave.

Of course, Song Ye was only saying this to placate Bai He. In the future, he would completely control the Speed Clan.

Still, after hearing him out, Bai He's expression finally improved somewhat.

Just changing the wording made it far easier to accept.

However, Bai He still refused.

"Even so, the Speed Clan does not need to rely on the strength of outsiders!"

"Little Friend Song, you should leave now!"

Naturally, Song Ye had no intention of leaving. Bai He's tone already showed there was hope.

Song Ye continued, "Cooperation is about mutual benefit. What matters is whether both sides are suited to each other, not simply whether one side needs the other."

"I do not believe Clan Chief Bai has never wished for the Speed Clan to return to its peak—or even surpass it!"

"If the Speed Clan joins, not only will it retain its lofty status, but the weapons I produce will also be supplied without condition!"

"Clan Chief Bai understands the value of these weapons. Once the Speed Clan obtains them, surpassing even its most prosperous era would be effortless!"

"This..."

Upon hearing about the weapons, Bai He could not help but feel tempted again.

He looked at the Xuande Divine Crossbow on the table. He truly wanted it, and he understood better than anyone what these weapons could do for the Speed Clan.

Yet Bai He was still one step short. He remained somewhat hesitant.

Was he really going to give up the Speed Clan's freedom and dignity for the sake of some so-called future?

If they truly joined, would this child named Song Ye really treat the Speed Clan with respect?

Back then, the Clear Sky Sect had abandoned them in their moment of greatest need!

Bai He tapped his fingers against the table, the rhythmic drumming striking the hearts of every Speed Clan member.

Seeing this, Song Ye knew his words had worked.

First suppressing, then raising them up—he had steadily guided Bai He along the path he wanted.

And next, Song Ye needed to provoke him further.

"It seems Clan Chief Bai is still undecided."

"That is understandable. After all, the faction I am building has not even taken shape yet."

"Even if I can promise that my sect will one day dominate Douluo, abolish Spirit Hall, and unify the entire world!"

"At present, there is still no proof. It is reasonable that Clan Chief Bai would not dare join in."

As he spoke, Song Ye retreated to advance, putting on a somewhat disappointed expression.

Yet hidden within those words was one phrase: "abolish Spirit Hall."

The moment Bai He heard those words, his eyes lit up.

He hurriedly demanded, "Wait."

"What did Little Friend Song just say?"

"Abolish... Spirit Hall? Your faction intends to abolish Spirit Hall?"

"Are you planning to become enemies with Spirit Hall?!"

Bai He's final question carried obvious excitement.

Song Ye remained even calmer. "That's right!"

"What, Clan Chief Bai? Are you loyal to Spirit Hall, so you feel dissatisfied upon hearing that?"

"Bullshit! What do I have to be dissatisfied about?!"

The moment Bai He heard that, he could no longer suppress himself. In the end, he had been thoroughly outplayed by Song Ye.

He hurriedly explained, "Does Little Friend Song not know of the life-and-death enmity between the Speed Clan and Spirit Hall?!"

"If not for those beasts from Spirit Hall, how could our Single-Attribute Four Clans have fallen into such misery?!"

"You... you truly intend to deal with Spirit Hall?!"

Bai He continued asking, the urgency on his face growing ever more obvious.

Song Ye still nodded. "To dominate the continent, Spirit Hall must be abolished."

"Good, wonderful!!"

After confirming it, Bai He slapped the table and spoke excitedly.

"Little Friend Song, you should have said so earlier!"

"If you truly intend to deal with Spirit Hall, then I—I mean, the Speed Clan working with you is not impossible!"

"Oh?"

Song Ye smiled. "So Clan Chief Bai intends to change his position?"

"Hmph! While the Speed Clan indeed has no intention of submitting to anyone, Spirit Hall must be dealt with!"

Bai He gritted his teeth. "If you can truly deal with Spirit Hall, then the Speed Clan can lend you a hand. At worst, we'll give it a try with you!"

"If you had said so earlier, perhaps this old man would have changed his position long ago!"

Song Ye merely smiled at those words and did not take them seriously.

If I had said it earlier, would you have listened?

It was like going to a small company and asking them to join you in fighting Tencent. The moment you opened your mouth, they would treat you like an idiot and throw you out.

How could negotiating cooperation be so simple? Even if he had begun by saying he wanted to fight Spirit Hall, Bai He would have regarded him as a fool and refused to listen.

But since things were proceeding smoothly now, Song Ye could not be bothered to argue with Bai He.

Song Ye looked at Bai He's attitude and felt that it was about time.

He slowly rose to his feet, clasping his hands behind his back. An emperor's imposing aura surged toward the heavens.

Only then did Song Ye continue.

"Spirit Hall is something Heaven itself must destroy!"

"Forget about the Speed Clan joining me—even if all of you stood in my way, I would inevitably abolish and destroy Spirit Hall in the end!"

"Because I am destiny itself!"