Chapter 72: Do or Die

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Do or Die

Yang Tianrui and Ge Rui’s expressions turned solemn with respect.

Yang Tianrui’s eyes sparkled. "Little Junior Brother, I’m in with you. I’m not afraid to die either. This is our world’s business; we can’t let an outsider like you lead the Charge alone."

As expected, the passion of youth was easy to stir.

Li Ye looked at Yang Tianrui, shook his head, and said, "Sixth Senior Brother, don’t think me so noble. I have my own selfish reasons. In my world, the Wenda Alliance was only founded a mere thousand years ago, and it has already researched so many of the world’s ultimate principles.

But here, just by cultivating to the Nascent Soul realm, you can live for centuries. Reaching the Divinity Transformation Realm grants a two-thousand-year lifespan. This is an unparalleled advantage. Who knows, maybe in another thousand years, the Wenda Alliance will have truly figured out the path to Ascension!"

"Exactly! Fourth Senior Brother, stop hesitating and join us!" Yang Tianrui nodded in agreement. "Are you really content to cultivate to the very end, only to be trapped and die in this world?"

"I’m not content with that, but I just feel it’s too risky. Maybe we should ask Master," Ge Rui said hesitantly.

"Fourth Senior Brother, telling Master is the same as telling the entire Cyan Sun Sect," Li Ye said. "If it were just me, my death wouldn’t matter much. But if the Cyan Sun Sect’s vast foundation were to be caught up in this Involvement, I wouldn’t be able to rest in peace.

After all, when I came to this world, it was the Cyan Sun Sect that took me in and showed me warmth in a strange new land. I can repay the Cyan Sun Sect after the Wenda Alliance’s research succeeds, but I can’t drag the Sect down and bring it disaster during the most difficult times." ℯℯ𝑙.

"But..." Ge Rui wanted to say more, but he opened his mouth and found he had no words.

"Fourth Senior Brother, I know this is difficult for you. The initial stage of founding the Wenda Alliance will be incredibly hard, and it’s highly likely we’ll have to give our lives for it. It’s only human nature that you might be unwilling." Li Ye fell silent for a moment, then said, "I can’t force everyone to agree with me, to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. The Wenda Alliance, even in its thousand years of existence, has always been based on mutual consent.

Cultivation is not easy. Fourth Senior Brother, please don’t force yourself to do something you’re unwilling to do just to save face or for the sake of our brotherhood. That would put you in a tough spot and weigh on my conscience."

Li Ye looked at Ge Rui, clasped his fists, and said solemnly, "But I must ask you, Fourth Senior Brother—for the sake of all living beings, and for your Little Junior Brother—do not leak a word of what was said today."

With that one sentence, Ge Rui was thoroughly put on the spot.

"I..." Looking at his seemingly considerate Little Junior Brother, Ge Rui’s face flushed red as he scrambled to explain himself.

"Fourth Senior Brother, don’t say another word. Besides, having me and Sixth Senior Brother on Changding Peak is enough. We can’t all take this risk; we have to leave a way out for Changding Peak."

Li Ye cut him off, acting as if he was certain Ge Rui wouldn’t join. He smiled and said, "There’s no need to trouble yourself, Fourth Senior Brother. We’re martial brothers, after all. In the future, if the Wenda Alliance truly grows strong enough to command the world’s resources, when heavenly materials and earthly treasures are readily available, I will certainly lend you a hand in your cultivation..."

"I’ll join." Shen Weifeng’s voice suddenly sounded beside them.

"First Senior Brother." Li Ye stood up, surprised. "When... when did you get here?"

"When you were talking about survival of the fittest." Shen Weifeng’s gaze swept over the group, passed over Ge Rui, and settled on Li Ye. His expression was as fond as it had been when he looked at Yang Tianrui earlier. "Little Junior Brother, you’re all being too careless. Although Changding Peak is quiet and usually deserted, walls have ears. You should be more cautious when discussing something so important."

"First Senior Brother, did you just say you’ll join?" Li Ye asked.

"Yes, I’ll join." Shen Weifeng smiled. "You two have cultivation levels that are too low. As the First Senior Brother of Changding Peak, I can’t just stand by and watch my two little junior brothers go take such a risk. I have some renown among the Five Sects, so with me involved, things will be easier in the beginning. Little Junior Brother, you’re very impressive."

"Thank you, First Senior Brother!" Li Ye bowed to Shen Weifeng, his voice filled with excitement. "With you on board, First Senior Brother, our Wenda Alliance has a much greater chance of success."

"Me too," Ge Rui said, his face red and a bit annoyed. "Little Junior Brother, what kind of person do you take your Fourth Senior Brother for? I never said I wouldn’t join. I was just trying to find a safer path.

Since there isn’t one, I’m in too. I’m your Fourth Senior Brother. I should be the one to Charge ahead. How could I possibly hide in the back and wait for you to feed me..."

"Fourth Senior Brother, if all of us take on this risky venture, what will Master do if we’re discovered?" Li Ye asked with a frown.

"There’s still your Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister, and Fifth Senior Sister," Shen Weifeng answered for Ge Rui. "We don’t know when your Second Senior Brother will come out of seclusion, but your Fifth Senior Sister should be back from her Sect mission soon. I’ll gradually hand over the Sect’s affairs to her."

"But..." Li Ye hesitated, then said, "The Wenda Alliance is extremely risky, after all. If something happens to us, will Master blame me?"

"Little Junior Brother, where did all that bravado from before go?" Shen Weifeng chuckled. "None of us are afraid, so what are you afraid of?"

"Exactly. We’re all doing this willingly," said Yang Tianrui.

"First Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother, Sixth Senior Brother, are you sure? Once we take this step, there’s no turning back," Li Ye said, taking a deep breath to compose himself and looking around at them.

"We’re sure," said Yang Tianrui.

"We’re sure," Shen Weifeng and Ge Rui said in unison, exchanging a glance.

"My three Senior Brothers, it’s my honor to know you. When I first thought of forming the Wenda Alliance, I was actually very anxious, afraid that you would misunderstand me. But now, I see I wasn’t wrong about you." Li Ye’s gaze burned as he looked at the three of them, and he laughed with heroic spirit. "Though a million people stand against me, I will go forward!"

"Though a million people stand against me, I will go forward!" Being young, Yang Tianrui’s emotions were easily stirred.

"Success or martyrdom." Li Ye looked at Shen Weifeng and Ge Rui, clenched his fist, and lowered his voice, adding a tone of firm, unyielding resolve.

"Success or martyrdom," the three of them said in unison, clenching their fists at the same time.

"Good." Li Ye looked around at the three of them and unclenched his fist. "Senior Brothers, I hereby declare that the Wenda Alliance is officially established! If the Wenda Alliance succeeds in the future, we will all be its founding elders!"

"Right, founding elders." Shen Weifeng smiled. "Little Junior Brother, tell us what to do."

"First Senior Brother, in that case, I won’t be modest. I’ll take the lead," Li Ye said humbly.

"Go ahead and take charge, Little Junior Brother," Shen Weifeng said with a smile. "You understand how the Wenda Alliance operates best. If it were up to us, we wouldn’t even know where to start."

"In my world, the Wenda Alliance is already fully developed. It has its own operational system and a vast power base to ensure the alliance’s security," Li Ye said. "But the situation in this world is different from mine. And since we’re just starting out, some things can be copied directly, but others can’t.

At the very least, we must be extremely cautious when selecting members in the early stages. We absolutely cannot have any traitors, or all our efforts will be for nothing."

"Mm," Shen Weifeng nodded. "Please continue, Little Junior Brother."

"Therefore, in the beginning, we must find people we can trust, preferably young ones. The younger they are, the more passionate they are, and the more easily they’ll identify with our cause." Li Ye looked at Shen Weifeng and Ge Rui. "I’m a newcomer here and have no advantages in this regard. It will all depend on the connections you two have."

"Alright. I’ll discuss it with Old Fourth and give you a list," Shen Weifeng said, glancing at Ge Rui.

"In the beginning, our recruitment can be a bit more casual. But later on, we must set a standard for members joining the alliance. They have to be at least a genius on the level of Sixth Senior Brother." Li Ye paused, then added, "After all, our goal is to research the mystery of Ascension. Recruiting mediocre talent will do nothing to help the alliance’s development."

"I understand..." Ge Rui nodded sheepishly. Among them, his aptitude was the worst.

"Senior Brothers, for the Wenda Alliance to grow, we must establish a strict system for entry, as well as a system for rewards and punishments," Li Ye said. "In my world, a new member needs a recommendation from two existing alliance members before they are permitted to join.

Here, we must be even stricter. A new member must be approved by at least three members within the alliance before they can join. What do you think?"

"That’s acceptable." Shen Weifeng and the others had no idea how the Wenda Alliance was run, so naturally, they agreed with whatever Li Ye said.

"Our goal is Ascension, so everyone who enters the alliance must have unwavering conviction. Therefore, joining will require taking an oath. I’ll draft one and present it to you three for discussion," Li Ye continued.

"Mm."

"We must establish a promotion system within the alliance. For this, I’ll just copy the one from my world directly. The lowest rank is Beginner Student, followed by Apprentice, Scholar, Fellow, Great Scholar, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Grandmaster, and Saint Master." Li Ye explained, "Members will be promoted through the ranks based on their contributions to the alliance. How does that sound?"

Shen Weifeng and the other two nodded again.

"To strengthen our unity, the alliance also needs a token to represent rank—something unique that only our own people will recognize." Li Ye thought quietly for a moment, then suddenly revealed his watch. The final motive was now clear. "Let’s just use my watch as the model! First Senior Brother, we can find a senior brother who specializes in Artifact Refining to forge a batch of these watches. Based on their rank, we’ll issue members watches made of different materials and with different symbols..."