After Ye Zhongming returned from the Su Clan, the entire Star-Eye Clan was different.

Of course, nothing could be seen from the outside, but among the top leadership, it was truly jubilant.

A small clan that was on the verge of extinction suddenly gained the support of one of the three major factions, the Su Clan faction's main family. How could they not be happy? After the two Star-Eye leaders learned about it, they reportedly didn't sleep for three days straight.

For evolved beings of their level, not sleeping for three days naturally wouldn't have any effect, but it was enough to show how excited even experts like them were.

Ye Zhongming's status within the clan rose sharply once again. His importance now surpassed even that of the two clan leaders.

This wasn't self-proclaimed by Ye Zhongming; the two Star-Eye clan leaders themselves said it. They openly stated in a high-level meeting that the Star-Eye Clan could do without them, but not without Ye Zhongming. They directly raised Ye Zhongming's security level to the highest.

Regarding this, Ye Zhongming said it wasn't necessary, but he couldn't go against the entire Star-Eye Clan. Originally, the clan leader's guard responsible for protecting the two Star-Eye leaders, had already begun taking turns protecting him.

These people were much more powerful than the Gold Mask warriors. Ye Zhongming could only accept.

Thinking about it, it wasn't surprising. Although gaining the Su Clan's recognition and becoming partners were mainly due to Ye Zhongming's efforts, both in the past and in the future, the Star-Eye Clan's cooperation was also necessary. The Star-Eye Clan also needed to give back a lot to Ye Zhongming. So this time's gains, Ye Zhongming also shared quite a bit with the Star-Eye Clan.

For example, regarding the Moonspan Gold obtained, Ye Zhongming received 120 million from the Su Clan. The Su Clan was indeed a major clan. In a very short time, they gathered the first batch of cash for Ye Zhongming, totaling sixty million. Some days after Ye Zhongming returned, the second batch of thirty million Moonspan Gold arrived at the Star-Eye Clan along with some materials and array masters. The remaining thirty million Moonspan Gold would also be delivered to Ye Zhongming within thirty cosmic days.

This money, Ye Zhongming gave twenty million to the clan immediately upon returning.

Honestly, the Star-Eye Clan hadn't seen so much cash in a very, very long time.

This money could make the entire Star-Eye Clan operate at full capacity, not just maintain minimal operations as before. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Of course, this portion of money was needed to purchase array materials. Although the Su Clan agreed to set up arrays for the Star-Eye Clan and provide core materials, the remaining materials needed to be purchased by the Star-Eye Clan themselves.

Because they were arranging a top-tier great array, even auxiliary materials required nearly ten million, judging by the types and quantities listed.

Half was spent immediately, but half remained.

Ye Zhongming gave another twenty million to the Star-Eye Clan to purchase auxiliary materials for two other great arrays, to be stored in the Star-Eye Clan warehouse for now, when not needed.

Purchasing these materials took some time. After all, the quantity of materials was huge. Not to mention whether the market had that much stock at once, even if it did, directly buying so much would expose the Star-Eye Clan's intentions. Others would immediately know their relationship with the Su Clan, and attitudes towards them would change.

Currently, their relationship was still in a confidential stage.

So gathering these materials took some time, and that was only possible with considerable help from the Su Clan.

By the time the array masters sent by the Su Clan started work, over forty cosmic days had passed since Ye Zhongming returned from the Su Clan.

"Zhongming, because the Su Clan's architecture is already formed, and too much structure cannot be destroyed, the arrangements in many places are greatly restricted. After our calculations these past few days, we've reached a conclusion: once completed as is, the array can only exert at most seventy percent of its power. What do you think? Should we proceed like this, or do you have other decisions?"

The array master secretly sent by the Su Clan was called Qi Su, one of the most famous array arrangement masters from the clan leader and Jie Su's line.

Qi Su could also be considered a core member of the clan leader's line, so he naturally treated Ye Zhongming more cordially. After finding him, he explained the problem.

The Star-Eye Clan's underground fortress complex was long-established architecture. Trying to arrange a highest-level great array here had truly stumped Qi Su. He and his team worked day and night for several days, inspecting building by building, sometimes even going into every room in detail. After comprehensive calculations, they reached this conclusion.

He came to find Ye Zhongming instead of other Star-Eye Clan members because, in Qi Su's eyes, no one in the Star-Eye Clan was worth him taking the initiative to speak to.

Ye Zhongming also couldn't decide alone, so he went to find the two Star-Eye clan leaders. The two clan leaders waved their hands, saying, "You decide." So Ye Zhongming returned.

"If, I mean if, without considering money, even as long as it doesn't alert other races in the ground-level Sky City, you could do as you wish, not too concerned about the construction period either. In short, you'd have the best support in manpower and materials. Could the final completion degree still be increased?"

Ye Zhongming requested the most powerful array the Su Clan could master. Losing thirty percent of such an array's power was too much.

Qi Su thought for a moment, then discussed softly with the Su Clan members behind him for a while. Finally, he told Ye Zhongming, "If, as you said, we could increase the completion degree by eight to twelve percent at most. The specific amount would need to be seen during implementation. The budget is estimated to increase by twenty percent, and the construction period would also increase by about twenty cosmic days."

A twenty percent budget increase meant roughly two hundred thousand more Moonspan Gold for materials. Adding miscellaneous expenses, three hundred thousand Moonspan Gold at most. Ye Zhongming directly agreed.

Qi Su wouldn't waste words. He took his people and the tens of thousands of free laborers assigned by the Star-Eye Clan and started working.

Just as the Star-Eye Clan was undergoing major renovations, Yasinan, the Star-Eye Clan's logistics steward, came to find him.

During this phase, because of the Star-Eye Clan fortress complex renovations and purchasing various materials, Yasinan often came to find Ye Zhongming. At first, the Cloud Peak King didn't think much of it, assuming it was trivial matters. But who knew it was a troublesome issue.

What needed construction wasn't just the Star-Eye Clan's fortress complex but also that plot of land Ye Zhongming bought outside Darkstrip City. Once the design was complete and the Star-Eye Clan's work finished, construction would begin there.

According to the plan, the first phase of construction was basically on the land Ye Zhongming bought. There was only one place that couldn't be avoided and needed to be purchased, but the area wasn't large. At current market prices, it would cost at most 180,000 Moonspan Gold.

To secure it quickly, Ye Zhongming didn't mind paying a bit more.

But who would have thought that when Yashinan sent someone to purchase it, they found the land had changed owners? When they found the new owner, they proposed an unacceptable price.

"How much?" Ye Zhongming asked. He had too many things to do now: his research on Raini-grade equipment and other equipment crafting, his own training, the Assault Camp's training, and the entire Bronze Camp's training, etc. If the price wasn't too outrageous, he was prepared to accept the loss. Even if they asked for five hundred thousand Moonspan Gold, he was ready to pay.

But Yasinan angrily stated a number.

"They want two million Moonspan Gold."

Ye Zhongming's eyes narrowed upon hearing this.

"Who is the new owner of this land?" Ye Zhongming asked.