Harem Developing Villain

Chapter 260 Wang Li Rallies All His Allies

Upon returning to the Holy Devil Dragon Sect's base, Wang Li's first priority was rallying support. The conflict with Lin Yun was no ordinary grudge; it held far-reaching consequences for every sect and family tied to the Holy Devil Dragon Sect, and he needed all of them behind him if they were to stand a chance.

He began by sending urgent summons to all allied sects and cultivation families. Over the years, the Holy Devil Dragon Sect had built a network of alliances spanning both the righteous and devil factions, a feat nearly unheard of in the cutthroat world of cultivation.

However, most were unaware that these alliances had been carefully cultivated not merely through politics and shared benefits, but through Wang Li's own intimate connections.

Many of the sect mistresses leading these powerful factions, as well as several wives of renowned patriarchs, held secret relationships with Wang Li that went beyond mere alliance.

To the outside world, they were respected leaders, but in private, they were women whom he had claimed and turned into his willing subordinates, each bound to him by a complex web of lust, power, and loyalty.

These women were his hidden allies, and he had no qualms about calling on them now.

Days later, the Holy Devil Dragon Sect's vast assembly hall began to fill. Figures from various sects and families appeared, representing both sides of the cultivation world. The crowd ranged from robed figures with solemn faces and restrained manners, representing the righteous sects, to those with a more menacing presence—members of the devil sects with expressions of disdain and barely concealed hostility.

Wang Li stood at the head of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the assembled figures. Many of the sect mistresses avoided his eyes, their cheeks faintly flushed as they kept their expressions neutral. They knew the power he wielded and were well aware of the secrets that bound them to him. The wives of powerful patriarchs were scattered among the crowd as well, standing beside their husbands with well-practiced expressions of dutiful silence, though their glances in his direction were filled with knowing recognition.

Finally, when the hall had settled, Wang Li raised his hand, signaling for silence. The murmur of conversation fell away, and the crowd turned their attention to him.

"Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice echoing through the hall. "I have called you here for a purpose that goes beyond sect allegiances, beyond factional disputes. Our true enemy is not each other—it is Lin Yun, who has returned with a vengeance and has brought with him a mysterious faction capable of destabilizing our entire cultivation world."

A low murmur swept through the crowd at the mention of Lin Yun's name. His reputation was notorious, and his presumed defeat by Wang Li had been a moment of relief for many. Now, the very idea that he was back stirred worry among both the righteous and devil factions alike.

"I know there is enmity among you," Wang Li continued. "I understand that our past grudges are hard to ignore. But if we continue to fight each other over these trivial matters, we will only weaken ourselves and make Lin Yun's task that much easier."

Wang Li's words seemed straightforward, but the undercurrents of the gathered sects and families made it anything but. No sooner had he finished speaking than a woman in flowing white robes from the Jade Harmony Sect, a well-known righteous sect, stepped forward, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Lord Wang Li," she began, her voice as crisp as her attire, "it's easy for you to say we must ignore past grievances. Just last month, a group of assassins infiltrated my sect, killing two of our most promising disciples. We found traces of devil qi, unmistakably from the Blood Shadows Sect." She turned to glare at the Blood Shadows Sect members, whose faces remained cold and indifferent.

The head of the Blood Shadows Sect scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, so now we're the culprits based on a trace of qi? Perhaps your disciples weren't as promising as you claim if they fell so easily."

The Jade Harmony Sect members stiffened, and several murmurs of outrage rippled through their ranks. Immediately, another sect representative, this time from the Iron Fist Temple—a small, righteous side group known for their staunch ethics—raised his voice. "It's not just the Jade Harmony Sect," he said. "The Iron Fist Temple recently lost one of our elders, assassinated in his own quarters. We have reason to believe it was the work of devil faction members!"

A devil faction representative rolled his eyes, crossing his arms as he replied with disdain, "The righteous side always assumes it's us, as if your own hands are clean. Tell me, do you deny that two of our Blood Shadows Sect members were found dead in their homes, burned by sacred fire? An attack like that doesn't come from the devil side."

Arguments erupted from every corner of the hall as representatives from both factions began hurling accusations back and forth. Some mentioned incidents of mysterious deaths and missing members, all attributed to opposing factions with little evidence. Patriarchs, sect mistresses, and elders clashed verbally, their voices growing louder as the chaos intensified.

Wang Li's allies, the female sect mistresses and wives of the patriarchs, exchanged wary glances as they stood beside their respective sect members, trying to stay out of the fray while maintaining appearances. Their alliance with Wang Li had been beneficial, but it had not erased their factions' longstanding rivalries. Meanwhile, the male patriarchs and sect leaders, oblivious to the deeper connections Wang Li held with their spouses, raged on, demanding retribution for every slight.

The chaos grew, filling the hall with the sounds of shouting and barely restrained anger. It seemed as though the very hall might shatter under the weight of the discord.

Finally, Wang Li decided enough was enough.

He released a surge of qi, a powerful aura exploding from his body and filling the hall with a force that silenced everyone instantly. The air grew thick, and a feeling of crushing pressure descended on each person present, making it difficult for them to breathe, let alone argue. All eyes turned to him, their expressions wary and respectful as they felt the overwhelming strength he possessed.

"Enough!" Wang Li's voice rang out, hard and unyielding. "Do you think Lin Yun will wait while we bicker like children? Every moment we waste here fighting each other, he grows stronger. I called you all here not to settle grudges but to unite us against a common enemy."

He let his words hang in the silence, his gaze sweeping over each of them with an intensity that left no room for argument.

"The recent assassinations, attacks, and disappearances—yes, I understand that these acts have sown suspicion and mistrust. But don't you see? This is Lin Yun's strategy. He wants us at each other's throats. By inciting these small skirmishes, he's weakening us, slowly tearing down the alliances and bonds we have built."

The righteous sect representatives and devil faction members exchanged tense glances, the truth of his words sinking in despite their anger. Wang Li's reasoning was sound, and as much as they loathed one another, they couldn't ignore the logic behind his argument.

"Put aside your grievances," Wang Li continued, his tone softer but still commanding. "We'll have our chance to address these issues after Lin Yun is dealt with. But right now, we cannot afford to be divided. Our survival depends on our ability to work together."

There was a pause as everyone absorbed his words. Some looked uncertain, while others nodded reluctantly, acknowledging the necessity of his plan even if they weren't happy about it.

A sect mistress from the Golden Lotus Sect, her expression calm yet resolute, spoke up. "Lord Wang Li is right. We may not agree on everything, but Lin Yun poses a threat to all of us. If we don't stop him, our sects and families won't survive long enough to settle our scores."

Slowly, the hall began to calm. The devil faction representatives and righteous sect leaders muttered amongst themselves, coming to a begrudging understanding. The distrust between them still simmered, but Wang Li's show of force and his reasoning had quelled their anger for the time being.

Wang Li, seeing the crowd settle, nodded in satisfaction. He had not gained full unity, but this temporary truce was a step in the right direction. Lin Yun's resurgence was not something they could face alone, and he needed everyone on board, even if it meant suppressing old enmities.

Once the murmurs quieted, Wang Li addressed them again, this time with a sense of urgency. "Return to your sects, prepare your defenses, and be ready to act. Lin Yun's faction is hidden, but they are everywhere. Remain vigilant, and remember—until we face him together, our alliances remain. Do not mistake each other for the enemy."

With that, he dismissed the assembly, watching as the sect leaders and representatives filed out, their expressions wary but resolute. The female sect mistresses and the wives of the patriarchs cast him lingering looks as they passed, each understanding the gravity of the situation but also feeling the pull of their own connection to him.

As the last of them left, Wang Li took a deep breath, his expression thoughtful. Lin Yun's return had stirred the cultivation world in ways no one had anticipated, and the path forward was fraught with challenges. But with the alliances he had built, both on the surface and in secret, Wang Li was confident he could stand against whatever came next. The road would be perilous, but he had one thing Lin Yun didn't—a web of loyalty bound to him by far more than just political alliances.