One person: I, Daoist Master, am a cultivator of immortality!

"I still need to think about taking your son as my apprentice. I need to see what kind of person he is first. However, I can help you solve your son's congenital deficiency, so I won't break my promise to you."

Sun Yao patted Half-Li on the shoulder, and Half-Li tactfully clasped his hands in a fist salute to Sun Yao.

"Thank you for your mercy, Daoist Master. It is already a great fortune that you were able to resolve my son's congenital deficiency. Whether he can become your disciple depends entirely on his own destiny. I will not force him."

After finishing his speech, Half-Li pushed his wheelchair to Zhang Qishan, Er Yuehong, and the others, signifying his true allegiance to Sun Yao. This meant that Huo Sanniang was now the only outsider present.

"Third Sister, I am a person who follows the rules. Shui Huang came to provoke me, so one of the Nine Gates is missing. You have come with me today, but since you are a woman, I will take extra care of you so that you will pay a lower price."

"Please, Daoist Master, be magnanimous!"

“Your Huo family owns a mine, and there is a large tomb in this mine. If you take this tomb, I will spare your Huo family this time.”

"Master Dao, this matter is of great importance. Even though I am the current head of the Huo family, I still need to discuss it with the elders." Huo San Niang looked troubled after hearing Sun Yao's words. She was indeed the current head of the Huo family, but she was still not the patriarch and could not treat the Huo family as her own private domain like the other families.

"Third Sister, you need to think this through. If you agree today, the Huo family might lose a large tomb. If your Huo family rejects my decision, the Nine Gates will likely lose one more gate."

As Sun Yao spoke, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. Sun Yao was not joking; gender was never a get-out-of-jail-free card to him, and anyone who stood in his way was to be killed without hesitation.

"It's just a mine tomb. If you're interested, Daoist, feel free to take it. My Huo family will not say a word!" From Sun Yao's icy tone, Huo Sanniang could tell that he was absolutely not joking.

Although Huo San Niang was not the head of the Huo family for long, she spent a considerable amount of time with the previous generation of the Huo family head. She was even more adept than her predecessor at reading people and observing their expressions, which is the most basic survival skill in the Huo family.

If this Taoist priest could get Fourth Master Shui Huang removed from the Nine Gates, he could certainly get the Huo family removed as well. After all, in terms of sheer power, Fourth Master's forces were no less formidable than the Huo family's, and even surpassed them in terms of tomb raiding.

Agreeing now is only a temporary measure. If this Taoist priest really destroys the Fourth Master's family, she won't need to persuade the Huo family elders; the entire Huo family will respect her decision.

If this Taoist priest's claim of annihilating Fourth Master's family is just empty talk, then it means he's not truly ruthless. If the clan goes back on its word and sends someone to interfere, she can simply push out a disobedient subordinate to take the blame, thus killing two birds with one stone.

“Very good, it’s good that you think this way. It saves me from committing more killings and slaughtering another family.”

As Sun Yao spoke, he took out the Yin Soul Banner from his treasure pouch. The Yin Soul Banner swelled in his hand as it faced the wind, and in the blink of an eye, it became a banner that was one and a half times the height of a person.

"Master Daoist, what's wrong?"

"This is the Emperor's Banner, which I obtained from an old friend. This friend offended my master, so he used this Emperor's Banner as an apology. Within this Emperor's Banner are all the heroic spirits who followed me; wherever I point, it is the direction they will go."

As Sun Yao spoke, he waved the Yin Soul Banner in his hand, and all the Yin soldiers and ghost generals, led by Shuten-dōji, rushed out from the Yin Soul Banner.

"Old Dao, lead these heroic spirits of mine to search for Fourth Master's residence. Since I said this fourth gate shouldn't exist, I'm a man of my word. If others think I'm not keeping my promise, that would be troublesome."

Sun Yao spoke in the most calm tone, yet delivered the most chilling words. Without a doubt, Sun Yao meant to wipe out the entire Fourth Master's family.

Old Dao Ba Zi chuckled, "Everyone, please follow me. This old man will show you the gate of this Fourth Master." After saying that, Old Dao Ba Zi led the way, and a group of ghost soldiers and generals, with Shuten-dōji at the head, headed towards the Water Locust's mansion.

Over the course of three years, Sun Yao had already subdued Shuten-dōji. Moreover, he could be said to have trained him to be completely obedient. Now, Shuten-dōji can be considered a general under Sun Yao, and can be regarded as the main soul of this Yin Soul Banner.

"If there's nothing else to do today, everyone can leave. Today is my housewarming day, and I should have held a housewarming banquet. However, business is more important now, so we can hold the banquet later. Chief, please keep an eye on the mine and tomb matter. I need to see the main force of the Unloading Ridge team fully prepared by the day after tomorrow."

"Don't worry about that. I will gather the most elite forces of the Unloading Ridge within two days for you to use." Chen Yulou, who was suddenly called upon, immediately clasped his hands in a fist and made a guarantee to Sun Yao.

"Alright, that's enough for today. Everyone, go home. As for your son, Half-Leaf, bring him to me when we return from the mine."

After Sun Yao finished speaking, he turned around and walked into his mansion, leaving a group of people looking at each other in bewilderment.

"If you all wish to stay, then you may remain here. The Daoist Master has given instructions, so we, the Unloading Ridge Clan, will depart now."

Chen Yulou glanced at these so-called Nine Gates Masters, then strode away from Sun Yao's gate with his head held high. The commanders of the Unloading Ridge faction also left with Chen Yulou, leaving only a few Nine Gates Masters standing there staring at each other.

Seeing this, Zhang Qishan coldly spoke up. "Third Sister, you've come at just the right time. You'd better give me an explanation when you get back, otherwise this matter won't go so easily with me." Zhang Qishan flicked his military overcoat cloak and left, with Er Yuehong quickly following after him.

Seeing that things were not going well, Qi Tiezui also left. However, before leaving, he pushed the half-eaten Li away, leaving Huo Sanniang to watch the gate of the Sun residence and the departing crowd.

Time flies, and two days passed in the blink of an eye. In these two days, Yue Qiluo had rearranged the mansion according to her preferences.

However, in these two days, not only Sun Yao's residence changed, but the Sand City outside also seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

The infamous Fourth Master Shui of Shacheng, known for his ruthlessness, had his entire family slaughtered overnight. Neither the Shacheng garrison commander, Zhang Dafoye, nor the Shacheng military government intervened. The other members of the Nine Gates remained silent on the matter, revealing not a single word.