Chapter 2327: Reminder

"Can this be considered our hard-earned money?"

Looking at the warehouse filled with all kinds of supplies and Moonspan Gold, Cheng Liujin said to Bashilu.

The Star-Eye Clan had returned to Dark Strip City. Their first move was to remain still alongside the small-race alliance, waiting for news from the She Ke Star people.

After all, it was the Su Clan and the She Ke Star people together who had held off the Huo'er Star people's pressure for them. They needed to see which way the wind blew before acting.

Once Ye Zhongming and the others received a certain level of promise and support from the She Ke Star side, the Star-Eye Clan, which had been itching to move, finally acted.

They united with the small races to launch a final assault on the Eight Heads, which had lost their elite forces.

No surrender was accepted—it was simply an extermination campaign.

In a single day, Dark Strip City changed hands.

This was even before White Robe and Ye Zhongming had returned—otherwise, the remaining Eight Heads would have been even more defenseless.

As the new rulers of Dark Strip City, the Star-Eye Clan, per the previous agreement, took only the 'holdings' of one of the Eight Heads, distributing the rest among the small races. But even just that one family's wealth was enough to open the eyes of Cheng Liujin and Bashilu, who had seen quite a bit.

Faced with combined assets worth at least a hundred million Moonspan Gold, they couldn't help but marvel.

This didn't even include various properties and real estate.

For once, the Star-Eye Clan had finally turned their fortunes around. Many issues that had long plagued the clan were now resolved.

In truth, "extermination" wasn't quite accurate—the mid- and high-ranking members and warriors of the Eight Heads were dealt with, but the large civilian population was left behind. Those with weaker wills would be kept in Dark Strip City for labor, while the rest would be imprisoned temporarily and later sent to the Star-Eye Clan's mining planet.

Yes, for now the Star-Eye Clan only had that one distant, nearly depleted mining planet, but they believed more would follow. Even if they didn't, these people could be sold as slaves to races in need.

The myriad races of the universe formed a great alliance, but there was still plenty of cruelty among them.

"I truly admire Ye Zhongming now. Did he foresee that our Star-Eye Clan would one day control Dark Strip City? Otherwise, why did he plan that area outside the city so far in advance? Now it's clear that all that land is his, with no one to stop him and the land itself free—what a bargain."

Bashilu knew exactly what Cheng Liujin was talking about. By now, everyone knew that the first group of people Ye Zhongming had brought from his homeworld had already moved into the completed first phase of Cloud Peak Manor.

"Perhaps what we see now is just what we think we see." Cheng Liujin suddenly said.

Bashilu turned his head, not quite understanding his old friend's words.

"The force Zhongming controls on his homeworld is called Cloud Peak Villa—here it's Cloud Peak Manor. Seems normal enough, right?"

Bashilu nodded; he indeed hadn't noticed anything unusual in the names.

Cheng Liujin took a document handed to him by a clan member, signed his holographic signature on the light screen, and said, "But what manor is this large? After Zhongming got that piece of land, he's expanded twice so far. The first expansion—the second phase, which just broke ground—multiplied the area over tenfold. By the third phase, after the second expansion, the total area will rival a third of Dark Strip City. Can you still call that a manor?"

Bashilu was one of the few Star-Eye Clan high-level members who hadn't had much contact with Ye Zhongming. Hearing this, he was slow to react.

"Think about the main directions of his two land grabs..."

Cheng Liujin said with a smile.

"You mean... he's going to expand again? A third time? Wouldn't the area then match or even exceed Dark Strip City?"

At this, Bashilu opened his mouth in surprise. "Is he... planning to build a city?"

Cheng Liujin shrugged. "Why not?"

"He's a member of our Star-Eye Clan..."

Before Bashilu could finish, Cheng Liujin cut him off: "He is only if he acknowledges it—if he doesn't, then he isn't."

Hearing this, Bashilu wanted to say more, but sensing the implication, he fell silent.

He clearly understood Cheng Liujin's meaning.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Our Star-Eye Clan is too small to contain him. If we try to force it, the outcome won't be good."

"Both clan leaders realized this long ago, didn't they?" Bashilu said with a wry smile, thinking back to various signs.

"Of course. Do you think the idea of marrying Aslan to Ye Zhongming was my decision? It was the clan leaders' choice—an attempt, an effort, and a test. Unfortunately, Zhongming refused. From that moment, we should have known that his heart isn't here—at least, not entirely."

"The clan has received a detailed report on White Robe becoming a great expert. You should also know Zhongming's role in that, and what he's done for the Star-Eye Clan before. Even if his heart isn't fully with us, it's enough. He has no intention of stepping down as Bronze Battalion Order Leader—that's what matters."

Cheng Liujin glanced at his old friend and continued, "We should understand that the Star-Eye Clan is being led by him. When he was alone, it was like this; in the future, when his direct followers all come to the myriad races, it will be even more so."

Bashilu looked deeply at his old friend, nodded, and said no more.

Cheng Liujin also fell silent, directing people to transport the day's spoils back to the clan.

He had brought this up with Bashilu because there was a troubling trend in the clan lately. Many people, blinded by the Star-Eye Clan's recent good fortune, had begun to swell with pride, wanting to diminish Ye Zhongming's influence within the clan. Some even harbored the dangerous thought that the Star-Eye Clan's resurgence was mainly due to their own efforts, not outside help.

Among those with such thoughts, Bashilu held the highest position. As his strength grew rapidly, he had even made certain remarks in some private gatherings.

Word had reached both clan leaders, and they immediately sent Cheng Liujin to communicate with Bashilu.

This mindset needed to be nipped in the bud before it could cast a shadow over the future relationship between the Star-Eye Clan and Ye Zhongming.

These people believed their own efforts and accumulated strength were the root of today's changes, overlooking other factors and forgetting the clan's state before the transformation.

It was the sudden influx of gains that had created these false illusions.

The clear-headed leaders—both clan chiefs and people like Cheng Liujin—knew that this was only the beginning. If the Star-Eye Clan didn't continue to follow Ye Zhongming's lead, they would regress to their former state.

This awareness had even turned into a sense of urgency after Ye Zhongming brought hundreds of people from his homeworld.

Just as the Star-Eye Clan was preparing against future problems, Ye Zhongming and White Robe returned to Dark Strip City.