Chapter 177: The Strongest Among the Younger Generation
"Immediately summon those five lords to my Eastern Sea military headquarters to discuss matters!"
After Ye Ling agreed to help the Eastern Sea King annihilate Sky Wolf Island, the Eastern Sea King didn't even stop for food, and instead directly addressed his commanders.
The commanders of the Eastern Sea military also immediately took the order and then dispersed.
The Eastern Sea King looked at Ye Ling, smiled, and said, "I am quite impatient, Northern Liao King, I hope you don't mind."
"Haha, not at all," Ye Ling said with a shake of his head and a smile.
The upcoming discussions were, after all, about important matters concerning the Eastern Sea, and Su Rou, being a woman, was not suitable to attend.
After sending Su Rou back to her villa, Ye Ling, accompanied by Ye Jiu and others, went to the council hall.
When they entered the council hall, all the major commanders and the Eastern Sea King were already seated inside.
Upon seeing Ye Ling's arrival, the commanders all stood up to greet him.
After all, they had witnessed Ye Ling's capabilities and naturally could not ignore the presence of Ye Ling, the Northern Liao King.
The Eastern Sea King got up and said with a smile, "Come, come, sit here."
Ye Ling nodded slightly and took the seat to the right of the Eastern Sea King.
Ye Jiu and the others stood behind Ye Ling, each with a stern face, like guardians of the door.
Once Ye Ling was seated, the Eastern Sea King and the commanders also took their seats.
Looking at Ye Jiu and the others behind Ye Ling, a hint of envy flashed in the Eastern Sea King's eyes.
Seven Great Grandmasters, among them three had already reached the peak of Great Grandmaster, just one step away from becoming half-step War Kings.
With such powerful figures under his command, how could the Eastern Sea King not be envious?
Then looking at the commanders of the Eastern Sea military, among the six, only one had stepped into the realm of Great Grandmaster, while the rest were all Grandmasters.
Such strength, compared with Ye Jiu and his companions, was far inferior.
"Squeak!"
Just then, the sound of brakes came from outside the council hall.
Hearing these sounds, the Eastern Sea King's eyebrows raised slightly, and he said with a light chuckle, "It should be the five lords arriving."
No sooner had his voice fallen than five figures had already walked into the council hall.
Among them, three were old men around their sixties or seventies, one was a middle-aged man of about forty, and the last was a young man in his thirties.
Ye Ling's gaze quickly swept over the five, and when he saw the young man, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Among these five lords of the Eastern Sea, the strongest turned out to be the youngest of the group.
This man's aura had already reached half-step War King and was just a step away from the War King realm!
With such strength, if no accidents occurred, he would be the next Eastern Sea King after the current king abdicated.
Behind this young man, there followed two old men with gloomy faces, whose aura had also reached the peak of Great Grandmaster.
Sensing Ye Ling's gaze, the Eastern Sea King immediately said, "Northern Liao King, that is Ma Xianhong, a lord from the coastal area!"
"He is the strongest among the younger generation of the Eastern Sea and the most powerful among the five lords."
"Those two old men behind him are likely from the Night Heaven Sect," he added.
Hearing this, Ye Ling raised his eyebrows and asked in confusion, "Night Heaven Sect?"
"This Night Heaven Sect is a sect that has risen along the coast in recent years, with formidable strength and numerous Great Grandmaster experts in its ranks."
The Eastern Sea King spoke with an indifferent expression.
Ye Ling, however, had a strange glint in his eyes.
It seemed that the Eastern Sea King had indeed lost the sharpness of his youth, with martial arts factions like the Eastern Alliance, followed by Sky Wolf Island, that didn't take the Eastern Sea forces into account.
Now, even along the coastal areas, there had emerged sects that were not weak in power.
The coastal areas are crucial passages connecting the Eastern Sea to other countries; the occupation of such areas by suddenly risen martial arts factions had significant impact on the Eastern Sea.
In Northern Liao, such a situation would be impossible. As soon as such a martial arts faction appeared, Ye Ling would snuff out this budding seed in its cradle without hesitation.
Yet in the Eastern Sea, with the Eastern Sea King growing old, he was utterly incapable of suppressing these martial arts factions with strong figures in charge.
The Eastern Sea King himself seemed to have accepted this reality, and even when bringing up Night Heaven Sect, he still had a smile on his face.
Such an attitude made Ye Ling somewhat disdainful.
"This is the Northern Liao King, Ye Ling!"
The Eastern Sea King, oblivious to Ye Ling's odd behavior, introduced Ye Ling to the five lords.
Four of the lords greeted Ye Ling, while Ma Xianhong, as if he hadn't heard the Eastern Sea King at all, directly took a seat on the closest chair to him.
Seeing his conduct, the Eastern Sea King only frowned slightly, showing a trace of displeasure on his face.
Ma Xianhong glanced at Ye Ling and said indifferently, "The Northern Liao King is not staying in Northern Liao; what brings him to our Eastern Sea?"
"Could it be that the Northern Liao King can no longer stay in Northern Liao and wants to develop in the Eastern Sea?"
Ma Xianhong's voice was flat, but the disdain in his words was more than clear.
Hearing his words, the most hot-tempered Chen Dao immediately stepped forward, glaring coldly at Ma Xianhong, and said in a cold voice, "If you want to die, just say it directly, and I will send you on your way!"
"Daring to speak ill of the lord, you should be executed for your crime!"
Ye Jiu also spoke in a cold voice.
Facing the overwhelming aura of Chen Dao and the others, Ma Xianhong appeared as if he didn't notice, still wearing a look of indifference.
However, the two elders behind him each revealed a hint of murderous intent, as if they wouldn't hesitate to attack Chen Dao and the others at Ma Xianhong's command.
"I have not yet abdicated! Everyone, behave!"
The Eastern Sea King's eyebrows were lightly furrowed as he spoke in a cold voice.
At his words, Ma Xianhong waved his hand and said with a smile, "Today, I'll give face to the Eastern Sea King and not bother with them."
Ye Ling also spoke lightly, "Stand down."
Chen Dao and the others each gave Ma Xianhong a cold look before they returned to stand behind Ye Ling, resuming their positions.
Ever since Ye Ling was clapped in irons three years ago, many rumors constantly emerged.
These rumors led many to look down on the once awe-inspiring Northern Liao King, Ye Ling.
People thought that since the once exalted Northern Liao King was imprisoned, they could mock him at will, but no one considered that it was not solely the title of the Northern Liao King that allowed Ye Ling to firmly hold Northern Liao in his grasp.
It was rather more about Ye Ling's formidable strength.
In vast Northern Liao, there were absolutely no small number of strong individuals, yet none could match Ye Ling!
There was none before, none now, and there will be none in the future.
Ye Ling looked at Ma Xianhong with a faint trace of disdain in his eyes.
With such a nature, even if one's strength is immense, they are destined not to achieve anything great.