Free Web NovelChapter 293: Chapter 22: Taking Action
Zi Luan made it sound simple, but it would be anything but. Their opponents would surely have countermeasures to prevent a third party from capitalizing on the chaos, and a direct confrontation would be inevitable in the end.
At that point, the situation might spiral out of Wang Ping’s control.
However, Zi Luan was right. He had to make preparations in advance.
"In the name of the Daoist Scripture Hall, send letters to Daoist Wu Quan and Fellow Daoist Ganxing. Have them secretly gather their available disciples in Jinhuai Prefecture City."
Zi Luan continued, his tone suggestive, "This prize is too big for the two of us to swallow alone. I’ll call over Mingxin Dao You as well. You should also gather as many Third Realm Fellow Daoists as you can. This time, we’ll wipe them all out in one fell swoop!"
Wang Ping’s brow twitched as he mentally weighed the pros and cons.
This whole affair was instigated by the "First Day." If they really managed to kill Ren Kong, then Wang Ping, as the Pacification Envoy of Nanlin Road, would be justified in taking extreme measures. Zi Luan, Wu Quan, and the others could also act with full force under his command. Even if the world fell apart as a result, the responsibility wouldn’t fall on him.
With responsibility out of the way, all that remained was the potential profit. As the Pacification Envoy of Nanlin Road, he would certainly get the largest share. According to current intelligence, the enemy had at least two Third Realm Cultivators. He and Zi Luan alone couldn’t possibly pose a real threat to the Daoist Scripture Hall of Mozhou Road, and they still had to take down White Crane Mountain...
That meant they would need at least four Third Realm Cultivators!
If they actually pulled it off, Wang Ping and Zi Luan would just need to seize the right moment. They could become rich in one fell swoop.
But, as the saying goes, opportunity and crisis go hand in hand. With so many Great Realm Cultivators making a move, it was likely someone would fall in an instant!
Thinking of this, Wang Ping felt the urge to perform a divination.
"Two hundred years of peace... Fellow Daoist, are you trying to end this prosperous era here in Mozhou Road?" Wang Ping asked.
"It’s not what I want; the time is simply right!"
Zi Luan replied with conviction, "Look at this Zhongzhou World. The Shangjing Region may seem prosperous, but it’s overflowing with desire. All it needs is a single spark to set the Inspiration Realm ablaze, and countless people will be driven to madness."
He looked at Wang Ping. "And look at the Northwest Region—it’s been in chaos for a long time. The north seems calm, but the next imperial succession is bound to trigger massive turmoil. Perhaps they’re just waiting for chaos to erupt on our end."
Wang Ping met Zi Luan’s gaze. "You want to disrupt Xiu Yu’s promotion, don’t you?"
"You could say that. Once the conflict erupts, Xiu Yu won’t be able to hide anymore!" Zi Luan stressed the word "hide."
"So that’s your real goal, isn’t it?"
"Do you know how many spots there are for the Fourth Realm?" Zi Luan shot back.
"It shouldn’t be more than twenty!"
"Correct. Now, add in the True Spirits from the Inspiration Realm. How many spots do you think are left?"
"..."
Wang Ping felt Zi Luan’s determination and decisiveness, and with it, the cruelty of the path of cultivation.
...
In the end, Wang Ping agreed to Zi Luan’s proposal—or perhaps, it was what he had wanted deep down all along. He first wrote official, handwritten orders to Wu Quan and Ganxing, then followed up with two personal letters.
Next, he sent a message to his master, Yu Cheng Taoist, asking him to contact Tianshan Daoist. As for Wen Yang, he was a hidden piece on the board, one that couldn’t be moved lightly. Still, Wang Ping secretly shared the details with him. It would be for the best if Wen Yang could find a way to intervene in Mozhou Road through other channels without compromising the main plan.
Within a day, both Wu Quan and Ganxing arrived at the Daoist Scripture Hall. After exchanging just a few words with Zi Luan, they agreed to his plan.
The next day, Tianshan Daoist also secretly entered the Daoist Scripture Hall.
Wang Ping was receiving Tianshan Daoist when an old acquaintance arrived outside the Daoist Scripture Hall, requesting an audience. It was Feng Miao, who had returned early from Lishui Prefecture. She had made her way straight to Wang Ping after disembarking in Shang’an Prefecture.
After exchanging greetings with Wang Ping, Feng Miao explained her presence. "I was originally planning to return directly to the north. Princess Xia Yao promised me my own immortal’s cave, but halfway there, I received a message by carrier pigeon from her and diverted my path to come here."
Wang Ping was meeting Feng Miao in his administrative courtyard. "Does Princess Xia Yao have instructions for you?" he asked, dismissing everyone from the room, including Zuo Xuan.
Feng Miao waited quietly for everyone to leave before she spoke. "Princess Xia Yao sent me for two reasons. First, as allies, the Ninth Prince should have informed you about his bid for the Three Seats, but there wasn’t enough time. Second, Princess Xia Yao has received word that the south may descend into chaos. She asked me to tell you that regardless of what happens, both in the Daoist Scripture Hall and at the Imperial Court, she and the Ninth Prince will support you."
After she finished, Wang Ping was silent for more than ten breaths. "Is that all?" he finally asked.
"Yes!"
"Do you know the source of this impending turmoil?"
"It’s not clear yet!"
Wang Ping studied Feng Miao. Her expression didn’t seem fake, and he fell silent. After all, their friendship had been forged during their Qi Cultivation Stage. He didn’t have the heart to tell her.
"Is it related to White Crane Mountain?"
Seeing Wang Ping’s hesitation, Feng Miao immediately guessed the reason.
Wang Ping simply nodded but didn’t elaborate.
SWOOSH.
Seeing Wang Ping nod, Feng Miao’s entire mood shifted. She shot to her feet and took two quick steps forward. Wang Ping reached out as if to stop her, but couldn’t find the words.
Feng Miao stopped at the doorway.
"I have thirty years of life left. Princess Xia Yao has already helped me gather the materials I need for my promotion. She said that with help from the disciples of Lishui Prefecture, my chances of success will be very high."
Feng Miao let out a breath. "Even as I say this, the thought of running away flashes through my mind. But if I flee now, my future promotion is certain to be plagued by a Heart Demon."
"What can you possibly change by going back?" Wang Ping advised in a soft voice, though his words were harsh. "Think about why you left White Crane Mountain in the first place!"
Feng Miao gave a bitter smile. "My master has passed into immortality, and my senior brothers have likely already died in their meditation. What would I be going back for?"
After saying this, she walked straight out the door.
Watching her leave, Wang Ping guessed, ’Perhaps Princess Xia Yao orchestrated this. After all, Feng Miao is about to attempt her promotion. If she had learned of this right before, she would have certainly suffered a Qi deviation. It was better to let her face the choice herself now.’
"If you’re done with your old friend, come to the pavilion in the wing quarters. I’ve selected two puppets for you!"
Zi Luan’s voice suddenly echoed in Wang Ping’s ear.
Wang Ping immediately transformed into a streak of light, flashing across the sky above the Daoist Scripture Hall in an instant before landing in the pavilion where the puppets were stored.
"What do you think of these two puppets?"
Zi Luan pointed to two puppets beside him. Both were Golden Armor Soldiers wielding long spears, their faces carved with the images of ferocious demons, giving them an incredibly imposing aura.
He then produced two bamboo slips. "These detail their internal construction. Spend the next two days refining them. Once the battle begins, you can control them with a Heaven-Reaching Talisman. An ordinary Third Realm Cultivator won’t even be able to get close to you."
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist..."
"Don’t be so quick to thank me. These things are very expensive. You’ll have to give me back two identical ones later!"
"..."
