Chapter 1871 - 960: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

Countless times, Chen Xingzhou sighed with sincerity and regret, "How come someone like you isn't a White Deer?"

To this, Ji Jue simply retorted countless times, "If I were a White Deer, would you really still be able to sleep right now?"

Instantly, Chen Xingzhou couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.

The topic ended there.

White Deer remains White Deer, and Ember remains Ember.

Han Hui received a reprieve, and the Southeast Commerce Alliance, even the Coast, gained crucial time for development, while Ji Jue, also finally pulled himself out temporarily from the myriad of tasks after less than a week of office work at the Federation's Old Lou.

Truly diverting his focus onto more important matters.

For example...

——Evil Cult!

Ever since the attack on the Coast, over half a month, the dispute between Hai Province and East City wasn't even the top priority for the Federation internally.

Throughout the Federation, all Security Bureau offices started a grand investigation under the guidance of the Sages, called the joyous document investigation!

Investigate the Evil Cult, capture the Evil Cult, eradicate the Evil Cult!

In a word, it's better to kill by mistake than to let one go!

In half a month's time, Security Bureau members inside and outside various Central Cities seemed to go mad, meticulously plowing through the entire Federation, from top to bottom, inside out, like a thorough cleaning, not sparing any dead corner, whether it's under the cabinets or on top of the fridge.

Otherwise, just ignore the irony. If the damn activities recurred, and brought about another Spring City chaos, who could withstand that?

To put it bluntly, for the Federation, the attack on the Hai Zhou Science and Technology Expo isn't the end of the world; even if all attendees were killed, it probably would only bring profound regret.

However, when one of the Filth Contaminations opened the Gate of Rift Realm before everyone's eyes, attempting to unleash the Seed of Calamity, the nature of the event changed entirely.

What, planning another Dark Fall amidst the Heavenly Governor's transition?

Courting death!

So, a grand investigation ensued, and upon investigation, a shocking realization was uncovered…almost everyone who saw the report couldn't hold back from taking a few breaths of chilled oxygen.

Even the Empire was shocked, urgently joining the stringent investigation.

The results showed that in less than half a year, the Evil Cult, once scattered everywhere and hardly a threat, had surprisingly reformed into an organization!

Thanks to numerous aliases and loose structures, the continuous external crackdowns and searches didn't totally collapse the Evil Cult, but instead made their hiding increasingly secretive.

Those remnants nearly eradicated in past joint sweeps of the worldly poles have regrouped and recruited numerous cannon fodder and believers.

More than a dozen different branches, and a plethora of illegal congregations that have sprung up all over due to this, have re-established their connections.

To reorganize the sect, the Golden Branch, Yongquan, and Benyuan three-line factions have started selecting representatives, and even rumors have spread of wanting to re-elect the Sacrificial Master Saint.

And within different branches and organizations, the ambitious figures eager for power have started inciting believers, ready to make a big move anytime!

Even if the move fails, wouldn't biting a lighter for the Federation be worth a bang?

Hence, they should have been swept away swiftly under the severe crackdown, yet such vile scum could not be fully eradicated, with leaders and Main Priests of each branch hiding more covertly, making it impossible to root out completely.

And what's truly terrifying is that if you think about it carefully, you'll realize…in this seemingly formidable Evil Cult now, there's surprisingly one crucial person missing!

The original Sacrificial Master Saint, the former Sect Hierarch of the Evil Cult, the top-notch ambitious person holding the Eternal Empire's Imperial Jade Seal, who repeatedly confronted the Federation and Empire, and still roams freely is the peerless black hand!

Lu Changsheng!

But where exactly has Lu Changsheng gone?

No one can figure it out, understand it, even with the Federation and Empire frantically pursuing and investigating; the Evil Cult is already in such a state, yet Lu Changsheng shows no sign of movement, and no trace was found!

Furthermore, all caught Evil Cult members, after extensive treatment under the Great Memory Recovery Technique, weep bitterly and confess everything about themselves, yet on matters concerning Lu Changsheng, they keep tight-lipped.

Either constantly claiming they know nothing, or blatantly telling lies, not a bit of useful information was acquired!

If it were just one or two people, that would be fine, but nearly all captured members of the Evil Cult expressed spine-chilling loyalty to Lu Changsheng, refusing to divulge any of his whereabouts and traces, preferring to die rather than betray him.

Even, to resist the Security Bureau's soul search and mind reading, they erased all memories related to Lu Changsheng before capture!

What else?

Certainly, such a big event, Lu Changsheng couldn't have stayed uninvolved, right?

Anyone with a brain probably wouldn't buy that!

So, here comes the question.

No matter if it's the Federation or Empire, all pursuers are racking their brains.

What exactly is he planning?

After calm analysis, careful consideration, thoughtful consideration, and careful inference, everyone reached a thrilling conclusion:

Those now scurrying around might all be scapegoats Lu Changsheng threw out to mislead attention, and the grand activities among countless branches in the sect's three-line factions are just a distraction to draw other's attention away!

The truly earth-shattering big move has yet to emerge!