Free Web NovelChapter 331: Chapter 330: The Other Side of the Ocean Makes Its Move
"Taoist Yi Hong!"
"He belongs to the Dragon Gate Sect of Quanzhen Dao and cultivates at the Yandu White Cloud Temple. In the world of Daoism across the ocean, he holds a very high and respected status. To make an analogy, if he’s not quite on the level of the Pope, he’s at least a Red Cardinal."
"Last year, Taoist Yi Hong clashed with the Yin-Yang Master Tsuchimikado Kazuya of Sakura Paste over the Port City business tycoon Wang Runheng. In the end, Tsuchimikado Kazuya’s fate was identical to that of Bansha and Mongkha from Siam."
Once they had a direction, the intelligence network across the ocean proved its worth.
They found hotel surveillance footage of Bansha and Mongkha being severely injured by the backlash from a Celestial Spirit Talisman. After receiving this intelligence, they also located and questioned Tsuchimikado Kazuya.
"According to Tsuchimikado Kazuya, Taoist Yi Hong also sealed his Magical Power. After returning to Sakura Paste, he tried everything but was powerless to reverse it. He was only unsealed after he personally visited to apologize."
The presenter explained, "The ability to injure someone from a distance and seal their Magical Power means this Taoist Yi Hong’s strength surpasses that of a Cultivator in the traditional sense.
"He went into seclusion shortly after the Port City incident last year. His whereabouts have been unpredictable, and he only appears at the White Cloud Temple occasionally. That’s why he was on our list of suspects, but we never had any proof until now."
The presenter looked at the files in his hand, then raised his head. "Taoist Ming Yu of the Celestial Master’s Mansion and Taoist Yi Hong of the White Cloud Temple. These are the only two confirmed Extraordinary Cultivators we have at present."
The Celestial Master’s Mansion was straightforward. The Berkeley incident happened because Eric Calvin provoked Changyi, a successor from the Celestial Master’s Mansion. By following that lead, they discovered the reclusive Taoist Ming Yu.
Taoist Yi Hong was the second.
However, once Taoist Yi Hong was confirmed, a strange silence fell over the conference room.
"So what now?" Lawrence asked. "Through our tireless efforts, we’ve finally identified the target. How do we deal with him?"
Frank slammed the table. "We kill him, of course!"
Lawrence shot him a sidelong glance. "He can turn a group of people in Celestial Xia into invulnerable monsters. How exactly are you going to kill him?"
"If bullets can’t hurt him, then we’ll use artillery! Bombs! Landmines!"
"And you think he’ll just stand there and let you blow him up?"
"Don’t forget about Xiao Ya!" Frank’s lips twisted into a vicious sneer. "This Taoist Yi Hong is all alone. He probably sees this Xiao Ya as his own granddaughter. We can use her to set a trap..."
"That’s enough, Frank!" Lawrence couldn’t hold back any longer. "You can be stupid on your own time. You can go get yourself killed if you want. But don’t you dare drag the rest of us down with you!
"Leaving aside the fact that Xiao Ya is likely protected, even if you managed to capture her, how can you be sure Taoist Yi Hong would fall into the trap instead of coming to kill us first? Or let’s say he does fall into the trap—how do you know the bombs or landmines would even kill him?
"Fine, I’ll concede a point. Let’s say your scheme succeeds and Taoist Yi Hong is somehow killed. Do you really think he’s the only powerful Extraordinary Being in Celestial Xia? You don’t think the others would seek revenge?"
"Think about Calvin Mansion in Berkeley! Think about Eric Calvin’s parents!" Lawrence stared at the others in the room. "Are you prepared to face the retaliation of those god-like Extraordinary Beings?"
Frank swallowed hard and forced himself to say, "With my status, even if I killed one of their people, how would they dare..."
Meeting everyone’s ’you’re an idiot’ stares, Frank’s voice grew quieter and quieter until he finally swallowed the rest of his words.
"Don’t apply past experiences to the Extraordinary World," Lawrence said with contempt. "If they truly feared us, the Berkeley incident would never have happened."
"We can ignore international laws and brazenly assassinate the leaders of weaker powers, or the generals and scientists of mid-tier nations, because we know they have absolutely no way to retaliate."
The old man in the lead tapped the table and looked coldly at Frank. "Even if Huaqi Country’s Superman were real, and his morals were as noble as they are in the comics, would you dare risk killing his parents?"
Frank’s face was expressionless. He remained silent.
"So, no more of this foolish talk. Until we acquire equivalent Extraordinary Power, we cannot take any hostile action against them," the old man said gravely.
"Then what can we do?" Frank asked, disgruntled.
"Observe the Celestial Master’s Mansion and the White Cloud Temple, of course. Investigate the source of their Extraordinary Power," Lawrence said. "As long as we discover the secret to the Extraordinary, with Huaqi Country’s national power, we will surely surpass them in no time!"
"Alternatively, we could covertly approach Taoist Yi Hong," someone suggested. "According to our files, the Quanzhen Dao and Zhengyi Dao sects of Daoism have a long and complicated history of conflict.
"Taoist Yi Hong is from Quanzhen Dao, while the Celestial Master’s Mansion represents Zhengyi Dao. So perhaps there’s internal strife. The relationship between Taoist Yi Hong and Taoist Ming Yu could be very poor."
Someone’s eyes lit up. "Maybe we can persuade Taoist Yi Hong to come to Huaqi Country? The Celestial Master’s Mansion is now our enemy for sure, but we can befriend Taoist Yi Hong!"
Another person suggested, "For example, we could invite Xiao Ya to study at the Berklee College of Music. We can have world-famous masters teach her, hype her up in the international media, and build her up as the foremost musician representing Celestial Xia!"
"That’s worth a try!" The attendees looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
The old man in the lead also nodded with satisfaction. ’Although this organization has been stuffed with some incompetent cronies and ignorant fools due to power and self-interest, there are still some smart people here.’
"In that case, let’s move forward with the following steps simultaneously," the old man said. "First, continue to have our people investigate the areas around the Celestial Master’s Mansion and the White Cloud Temple, searching for any potential secrets.
"Second, send people to track down Taoist Yi Hong. Once he’s found, contact him covertly. Sow discord between him and the Celestial Master’s Mansion and invite him to Huaqi Country. We can help him promote Daoism, perhaps even make him the Pope of Daoism in Huaqi Country.
"Third, have someone contact Xiao Ya and invite her to study abroad in Huaqi Country. Whether it’s the Berklee College of Music, the Juilliard School of Music, or others like Curtis or Manhattan—as long as she’s willing to come, she can take her pick of any of these schools."
"Yes, sir!" The presenter recorded each point.
The old man pushed back from the table and stood up. "Meeting adjourned!"
A moment later, the people in the conference room dispersed. Frank left, muttering curses under his breath. Lawrence watched him go, then turned and got into his own armored Cadillac.
"Call my cousin, Erin. I need to schedule a meeting with her. Tell her to go to Yangcheng and make a friend," Lawrence said to his aide in the front seat.
