Chapter 628: Counter-attack

Chapter 628: Chapter 108: Counter-attack

Hearing Wang Ping’s question, Yu Lian tilted her head and said, “Mozhou Road is right in the middle of the Southern Cultivation Realm and adjacent to Nanlin Road. A place like that is a natural battleground, just like Pingzhou Road and Beiyuan Road in the north. They’ve been purged even more brutally over the years, with fighting almost every day. We’re actually considered lucky here.”

Just as she finished speaking, Xia Wen Yi landed before Wang Ping. He cupped his fist and reported, “Master, Internal Affairs has confirmed Senior Ke Yue’s intelligence. Most of the ‘First Day’ Cultivators are hidden among the Government Soldiers in Shujiang Prefecture. We’ve also discovered Cultivators from the Taiyin Sect, Vajra Temple, and Earth Cave Sect in some of the surrounding towns.”

“Isn’t it common to see Cultivators from those three sects? Is there anything different about them?” Yu Lian asked.

“They’re almost all gathered in groups of a dozen or so. Furthermore, they all migrated to Mozhou Road within the last six months and have joined the local Government Soldiers.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Ping exhaled sharply. “Daoist Wu Quan nearly sabotaged my grand plan!”

His original plan for the future counter-attack on Lishui Prefecture had depended on integrating the Government Soldiers of Mozhou Road. If he had actually followed that plan, even if he managed to fend off Lishui Prefecture’s current offensive, he would have been utterly crushed during his own counter-attack.

Xia Wen Yi said, “Senior Wu Quan probably wasn’t targeting you, Master. He’s plotting against Zhi Gong Daoist of Hai Zhou Road.”

He was reminding Wang Ping that there was no benefit in having a falling out with Wu Quan right now.

Wang Ping nodded, moving past the subject. “Proceed with your plan to handle this matter. Act with a free hand; you don’t need to worry about anything else.”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing this, Xia Wen Yi abandoned his plan to give a detailed report, turned into a streak of light, and returned to the front hall.

Watching Xia Wen Yi’s departing figure, Wang Ping mused aloud, “My conflict with Chengxi… When did it even start? And how did it escalate to this point?”

“He was the one who provoked you first, wasn’t he?”

“Yes. But I suspect that even if he hadn’t provoked me, conflict would have been inevitable once I truly reached the cusp of the Fourth Realm and gathered all the relevant information. Although there are two slots available, he and I can never trust each other. Have you forgotten what the Xiao Shan Lord once said?”

“What?”

“For a Taiyan Cultivator’s promotion to the Fourth Realm, one can use a Secret Technique to steal the achievements of another!”

“So that’s what you’ve been worried about?”

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“That is a real possibility. Just look at the Xiao Shan Lord—he could fuse with a True Monarch’s consciousness, so who knows what’s possible for the Fourth Realm. However, we’ve already paid the necessary price. We shouldn’t have to face a situation like that.” Yu Lian looked at Wang Ping and continued, “You shouldn’t overthink it. That’s just how this world is. To gain something, you must give something. The slots for the Fourth Realm are bait, luring all the Cultivators in the world to work themselves to death for them. Unless you escape from it all like Zi Luan, there’s no way out of this struggle.”

Wang Ping was silent for a long while. He walked to the edge of the garden, gazed out at the vast mountain range of Qianmu Temple, and murmured, “How much of the aid from the various sects is actually sincere?”

Yu Lian did not answer his question.

The Third Realm Cultivators from the various factions were all cunning individuals who had cultivated for a thousand years. Their networks of relationships were vast and complex; some were probably acquainted with Cultivators on the opposing side. He had already seen as much during his campaign against True Yang Mountain.

But this battle was different from the one at True Yang Mountain. His authority over these Third Realm Cultivators was weak, and each of them was a sophisticated egoist—just like Wang Ping himself. He feared that when the time came for a true life-or-death struggle, no one would be willing to lay down their life. Of course, the same could probably be said for the enemy.

Therefore, the final outcome would still come down to the showdown between him and Chengxi. Everyone else was just there to wave flags and cheer from the sidelines.

“I think you’re being too hesitant,” Yu Lian said. “Why not just agree to Chongyuan Mansion’s terms? Let them tie down the Seventh Prince while we launch a pre-emptive counter-attack on Lishui Prefecture with the special ‘Power Pills,’ coordinating it with our operation in Mozhou Road. Let’s just see how the other side reacts!”

Wang Ping considered this for a few moments, and then his expression brightened with understanding. He laughed, “You’re actually pretty smart!”

Yu Lian craned her neck proudly. “I’ve always been smart. It’s natural!”

And so, Xia Wen Yi was summoned to the Mountain Peak Dojo once again.

When Wang Ping produced over three thousand specially made ‘Power Pills’ and ordered the counter-attack on Lishui Prefecture, Xia Wen Yi was visibly surprised. In his mind, his master was an extremely cautious and careful person who would never choose such an aggressive strategy.

“Go on, then.”

“Yes!”

Shortly after Xia Wen Yi’s departure, Wang Ping summoned Ke Yue to the Mountain Peak Dojo.

When Wang Ping informed Ke Yue that he would accept Chongyuan Mansion’s terms while also presenting his own conditions, Ke Yue didn’t seem particularly surprised. It wasn’t a difficult decision to make, after all.

Ke Yue accepted on the spot, a clear sign that Chongyuan Mansion had granted her significant authority.

After Ke Yue left, Wang Ping picked up his Communication Token and sent a message to Wu Quan to discuss the matter of the ‘First Day’ infiltrators in Mozhou Road.

Just as Wang Ping expected, Wu Quan immediately expressed his full support for Wang Ping’s operation in Mozhou Road.

「Six hours later.」

Just as the Imperial Envoy was heading to Shujiang Prefecture, credentials in hand, Wang Ping received a message from Li Hui, Wenhai’s puppet: Chengxi was demanding the records of all Cultivators in Nanlin Road who had reached the Path-Entry Stage or higher.

「Fangchuan County, Ning’an Prefecture.」

It was an obscure, little-known county in Nanlin Road. Years of constant turmoil had left the county seat in ruins. The current population of the entire county, including all its subordinate villages and towns, was less than one hundred thousand—a mere tenth of what it had been during the golden age two hundred years prior.

The only reason it could even support a population of one hundred thousand was thanks to the protection of a nameless Daoist Temple located near the county seat.

This Daoist Temple was where Wenhai now cultivated under a hidden identity. He had several dozen disciples, but only Li Hui had reached the Path-Entry Stage; the most advanced among the rest were merely at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

At this moment, deep within the nameless Daoist Temple, two Cultivators wearing deep Blue Daoist Robes held up a handwritten document. With faintly arrogant expressions, they addressed everyone present, “This is a direct order from Changqing Zhenren himself. All Daoist Palace Cultivators who have reached the Path-Entry Stage or higher are to assemble at the designated location at the appointed time.”

After speaking, the Daoist Palace Cultivator produced two Tokens and handed them to Wenhai. “Take good care of these Tokens,” he commanded. “They will allow you to fly within the Southern Cultivation Realm for the time being, but you must follow the Daoist Palace’s directives. If you overstep your bounds, watch out, or you might find both your body and soul annihilated!”

Wenhai respectfully accepted the Tokens and the document. Without so much as a word of farewell, the two Cultivators transformed into streaks of light and sped away, appearing to be in a great hurry.

“Master~”

A disciple standing nearby started to speak, but he swallowed his words when Wenhai shot him a look. Wenhai then scanned the crowd and announced, “All of you will remain here and guard the Daoist Temple. Wait for me and your Eldest Martial Brother to return!”

As he spoke, he tossed the other Token to Li Hui. He then unrolled the document. The order within, issued in the name of the Daoist Palace, commanded them to proceed immediately to the nearest Daoist Palace garrison upon receipt of the directive.