The man in the black suit, appearing very young, around thirty, was the Dragon family's strategist.
Long Yi asked, "Godfather, I've always been obedient. Why did you send people to kill me?"
The strategist replied calmly, "Bai Long, if I truly wanted to kill you, would you still be alive?"
Long Yi retorted, "Of course you wouldn't kill me, because you still need to use me for a while, so that your people can successfully inherit the family business I've built over half my life, right?"
The strategist chuckled, "You people, thriving everywhere, do you think this is due to your own abilities? Without the Dragon family and my support, would you have achieved this today? With a little ability, you think your wings are strong enough to defy me?"
He then scanned his surroundings and asked, "Is the master of this place, the leader of the Heavenly Alliance, present?"
Ye Tian emerged from the house, smiling, "Strategist, I've heard much about you."
As he appeared, Ren Ping, Zhuge Shenji, Lu Wu, Tang Feng, the Plain-clothed Monk, the Four Great Vajras, and others followed him out. Ye Tian had issued orders earlier for them to gather at Jiuhua Mountain Villa for discussions, and they had all arrived an hour prior.
The strategist's expression was cold. "Leader Ye, I admit you have some capabilities, not only subduing the Tang Sect and the King of the Southwest, but also becoming the sect master of the Spirit Gu Gate. Unfortunately, I am not them. Provoke me, and your Heavenly Alliance will perish with you!"
Ye Tian glanced at his watch and said, "It's time."
Within seconds, five luxury cars, each worth tens of millions, arrived outside. The doors opened, and a group of people helped an old man walk out.
This old man was the Dragon family patriarch. He had been in poor health and unable to get out of bed. However, Ye Tian had sent him two pills, and the patriarch had actually managed to stand up. He then led the Dragon family members to Jiuhua Mountain Villa.
"Elder Long!"
Upon seeing the Dragon patriarch, even someone of the strategist's stature showed surprise.
Elder Long said calmly, "Strategist, I have been in a deep sleep. Thank you for your hard work over the years. Without you, the Dragon family would not have reached its current scale."
Ye Tian stepped forward a few paces and said, "Welcome, Elder Long."
Elder Long looked at Ye Tian and smiled, "Leader Ye, thank you for your pills. I thought I was going to die, but after taking just one pill, I feel as if I've returned to more than a decade ago."
Ye Tian replied, "You are too kind."
Elder Long then looked at Hei Long and others and smiled, "You were all nurtured by the strategist, and now each of you is a powerful figure in your own right. This old man is very pleased."
After speaking, he fell silent. The Dragon family had not come to challenge the strategist, but to witness the outcome. If the strategist lost, they would cooperate with Ye Tian. If Ye Tian lost, they would continue to let the strategist manage the Dragon family, as the family was no longer in a position to change anything.
The strategist sneered, "Leader Ye, you seem very confident."
Ye Tian replied, "Reasonably so."
The strategist continued, "But by summoning the Dragon family members, you are only endangering them."
As he spoke, a dense fog suddenly rose around them, continuously gathering towards everyone.
Ye Tian observed, "Divine sense controlling mist, quite a skill. Is the Poison Immortal attacking?"
A sharp voice echoed from within the mist, "Leader Ye, if you inhale a breath of my poisonous fog, you'll be dead instantly!"
Ye Tian waved his hand, and Ren Ping and the others behind him immediately ignited four piles of medicinal herbs. These were prepared by Ye Tian beforehand. When lit, they produced dense smoke that could counteract the poisonous gas.
Ren Ping had provided some information earlier, stating that the Poison Immortal was adept at manipulating poisonous fog and was always successful. Ye Tian had examined photos of casualties at the scene and deduced the main components of the fog, thus formulating this antidote.
Four columns of thick smoke rose into the air. Ye Tian waved his right hand, and the four smoke columns spread out in different directions, forming a massive dome of smoke in the sky that enveloped the entire courtyard.
The poisonous smoke from outside lost its efficacy the moment it touched the smoke barrier, unable to advance further.
Undoubtedly, Ye Tian's method was far superior to the Poison Immortal's outside. Controlling the smoke with divine sense to form a barrier was something the Poison Immortal could not do; he could only push the poisonous fog in one direction.