Chapter 172: The Self-Inflicted Injury Stratagem

The Water God Palace elder with the display name "Surging River" spoke in a measured tone.

"Though our exchange was brief, I used seventy percent of my strength. The Demon Eye used at most forty percent. In a fight to the death, I wouldn't stand a chance. My preliminary assessment is that it would take at least two elders working together just to fight him to a draw, and that's without factoring in items, and without considering the possibility that the Demon Eye might go berserk and slaughter civilians to fuel himself in battle. You all know how powerful and terrifying an Ancient War God can be."

The Crimson Fire Gang elder snorted. "I don't care how strong an Ancient War God is. Even if he loses his mind and starts massacring civilians to absorb their blood essence, there's no way he can take all six of us alone."

No matter how many variables a battlefield held, no matter how fearsome an Ancient War God was, one couldn't solo six Sovereigns.

The White Tiger Legion elder spoke next, his voice ringing with conviction. "This was never about whether we can win. It's about how to eliminate Demon Eye with minimal collateral. He's been parading around Songhai these past few days precisely because he knows we don't dare make a move there. Of course he wouldn't dare fight us in a crowded city either."

A Sovereign-tier Walker was the equivalent of a human-shaped bomb. Whenever their combat power was unleashed, everything turned to scorched earth. The stronger a Spirit Realm Walker was, the more restrained they had to be in the real world. After all, nobody wanted to be flagged by the Spirit Realm and turned into a wanted criminal whose location was broadcast in real time.

Moreover, Spirit Realm bounties applied to all Walkers, Lawful and Evil alike. Once flagged, even a Sovereign would become a public enemy of the underworld. With hefty bounties on the line, practitioners of both alignments would swarm like wolves.

That was exactly why the Songhai Branch elders found themselves in such a bind. Overwhelming the Demon Eye with numbers wasn't the hard part. The hard part was doing it silently.

The Slaughter Cessation Palace Master was the next to speak. "If we want to contain the fallout and keep civilians out of harm's way, we need to either lure the Demon Eye far from the city or pull him into a pocket dimension. Elder Teddy, can your zoo trap hold him?"

Her tone was soft and languid, tinged with a casual indifference, as though she were lounging on a divan making idle conversation rather than attending a high-level strategy meeting.

Operating on the principle that the enemy of one's enemy was a friend, the Songhai Branch elders had reached out to the palace master the moment they learned the Demon Eye had arrived in the city. She was a freelance practitioner, and a fugitive with an active warrant, but the elders possessed flexible professional standards. Since they all shared the same objective of dealing with the Demon Eye Heavenly King, they were, for the moment, the best of friends.

"The rule-type item can contain the Demon Eye without issue, but only if the original body is deployed," Elder Teddy said slowly. "A projection won't hold him. And while the original can be moved, it can't pull someone inside by force. We need the Demon Eye to walk in of his own accord. But how do you trick an Ancient War God into walking into his own cage?"

Once inside the Zoo, there was no way out, but the Demon Eye would never fall for it.

"Palace Master, how's the bait you put out?" The Central Court elder suddenly asked.

The Slaughter Cessation Palace Master replied coolly, "They've spotted it, but nobody's bitten it yet. The Demon Eye Heavenly King has remarkable patience. The man acts unhinged most of the time, but when it matters, he doesn't leave a single opening."

The so-called bait was a puppet she had arranged to make a deliberate appearance at the underground black market. It had only shown its face once, and by the next day it was already being watched. But the other side was patient, content to observe from the shadows without making a move.

"What if we use the bait to lure Demon Eye into the Zoo?" The Central Court elder mused.

The Palace Master let out a dry laugh. "First, the bait isn't enticing enough. I have to go in person. Second, that vertical eye of his can see through disguises. The Zoo has no way to mask its presence."

The conference room fell silent. This was the sort of headache a Sovereign-tier Evil Walker presented.

The White Tiger Legion elder let out a long sigh. "The Demon Eye's been strutting around town on purpose, rubbing it in our faces, knowing full well we can't touch him. Not that he'd dare go all out against us either."

The officially-sponsored tournament was set to open soon. If the Demon Eye caused any kind of incident in Songhai, headquarters would come demanding answers, and every other branch would mock them for their incompetence. Most critically, if Yuanshi Tianzun ran into trouble at a time like this, it would be a resounding slap across the face of the Five Elements Alliance.

And who knew whether Demon Eye's lurking in Songhai served some deeper purpose? If it was all a smokescreen, and his real objective was hunting the Songhai Branch's elders, that would put everyone in this room at risk. As long as the Demon Eye problem remained unsolved, none of the elders could sleep easy.

The Crimson Fire Gang elder held himself back once, twice, and finally couldn't hold it any longer. His voice boomed like a drum in a barrel.

"Strutting around, doing as he pleases, deliberately making fools of us. Does he really think we're helpless? Since everyone's got something to lose, nobody has the upper hand. Fine. I'll challenge the Demon Eye to a duel. We can all go down together."

None of the other elders in the conference room responded.

The Slaughter Cessation Palace Master clicked her tongue. "You're an elder. What's the point of throwing a tantrum?"

Luoshen let out a derisive laugh. "Oh, that's not a tantrum. He'd actually do it. Never overestimate a Fire Sage's wisdom or self control."

The palace master giggled. "Your people call me a lunatic, a deranged radical. I'm starting to think your elder is the real madman here."

It was then that Elder Teddy spoke, his voice calm and deliberate. "I have an idea."

The conference room went quiet again, and the other four official Sovereigns pricked up their ears.

"Fooling Demon Eye's perception and making him stumble into the Zoo isn't actually that difficult," Elder Teddy said. "All we need is a Nihilist to create an illusion. The Demon Eye would never detect the Zoo's existence."

A Nihilist was the title given to a Sovereign-tier Illusionist.

"Thanks for that brilliant insight," The Crimson Fire Gang elder shot back irritably. "As if a Nihilist would ever work with the likes of us—"

Something seemed to occur to him mid sentence, and he stopped abruptly.

The White Tiger Legion elder broke into a smile. "Good idea. If that one agrees to help, this is as good as done."

He paused, then added, "But we don't carry enough weight to convince him."

"Send Yuanshi Tianzun," Luoshen suggested.

The Central Court elder hesitated. "Even Yuanshi Tianzun might not be enough. That person would never intervene on behalf of a single Transcendent-tier Walker. If he actually did, we'd need to seriously reassess Yuanshi Tianzun's value."

The Slaughter Cessation Palace Master couldn't help but interject, a note of confusion coloring her words, along with a sentiment that was harder to place. "Excuse me, everyone, what are you all talking about? Since when does Yuanshi Tianzun have that kind of connection with a Nihilist? How come I don't know about this?"

The Crimson Fire Gang elder let out a cold harrumph. "And why should you? You may be close with Yuanshi Tianzun, but he's still one of ours. Do you think we owe you a report on everything?"

The moment he finished, he could have sworn he heard the Palace Master grinding her teeth.

"Then it's settled," announced Elder Teddy. "I'll inform Yuanshi Tianzun and have him make the request. Everyone, stand by for updates."

***

Zhang Yuanqing, who was at home, listened to Fu Qingyang over the phone in stunned disbelief. "The elders want me to ask Master Wuhen for help?"

The Centurion was characteristically blunt.

—Any problems?

Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brow. "You know as well as I do that Master Wuhen is constantly battling his inner demons. If things get heated and his killing intent surges, he could lose control."

Even a Sovereign tier powerhouse could get swept up in the moment. Resisting one's inner demons required calm, equilibrium, and keeping a distance from dust and conflict.

Fu Qingyang's tone was flat.

—He only needs to create an illusion. There's no combat required. Besides, the elders haven't built a foundation of trust with Wuhen. Even if he wanted to participate directly, they might not agree to it.

Zhang Yuanqing didn't dare make any promises. "I'll give it a try."

After hanging up, he immediately put on the Silencer mask and headed out. Ten minutes later, he was in a rideshare heading for Jinshan City.

In the car, he watched the scenery slide past the window and sank into thought. Based on the elders' plan, if Master Wuhen agreed to help, taking out the Demon Eye was practically a sure thing. But what if the master refused?

The Yuanshi Tianzun name doesn't exactly carry much weight with a Buddhist ascetic, he thought wryly.

Still, the Demon Eye Heavenly King had to be dealt with. Hiding was only a stalling tactic, not a long term solution. When your life was on the line, you couldn't afford to bury your head in the sand. By the time his enemy tracked him down, it would be too late for anything.

As the rideshare neared the Wuhen Inn, an idea crystallized in Zhang Yuanqing's mind.

"Driver, stop here!" he exclaimed.

The driver didn't slow down. "We're not there yet."

"I'll give you fifty in cash on top of the fare."

The driver hit the brakes and pulled over. "Have a good one!"

Zhang Yuanqing paid, climbed out of the car, and found a secluded spot. After making sure nobody was around, he removed the Silencer mask and vanished from sight. Then he turned toward the Wuhen Inn and broke into a dead sprint.

Thirty kilometers still separated him from the inn. Given his level of stamina, covering thirty kilometers at a full sprint wasn't a problem under normal circumstances. But doing it in the Night Wandering state was a different story entirely.

By the time Zhang Yuanqing arrived outside Wuhen Inn, he'd drained about eighty percent of his stamina. His face had gone pale, and sweat poured off him like a dam had burst.

"Hah... hah..."

He materialized on the deserted side of the building, back pressed against the wall, hands braced on his knees, gasping for air in ragged gulps.

I'm so tired. The last time he'd pushed himself this close to his limit was back in Yin Yang Town. He tried to swallow, only to discover his mouth had gone completely dry.

After a minute or two of rest, Zhang Yuanqing staggered around to the front of the building, shoved open the glass doors of the Wuhen Inn, and called out in a hoarse voice, "Xiao Yuan, save me..."

Xiao Yuan had been idly scrolling through her phone behind the front desk, She jolted upright, and when she caught sight of Yuanshi Tianzun's wretched state, the color drained from her face. She tossed her phone aside and rushed over, brows drawn together like unsheathed blades, her elegant features sharpening with barely contained fury.

"Who did this to you?" she demanded.

Zhang Yuanqing "lamented" through heaving breaths, "It was that damned Demon Eye Heavenly King. He finally found me. A mighty Heavenly King, shameless enough to go after someone as insignificant as me. If the branch elders hadn't intervened, I'd already be dead."

Xiao Yuan's brow furrowed and she bit down on her lip. "That rabid dog!"

She helped the trembling Yuanshi Tianzun to a nearby chair, easing him down before asking, "What happened to you exactly?"

"Just some old injuries flaring up," Zhang Yuanqing said quickly, then steered the conversation elsewhere. "That Demon Eye Heavenly King has pushed me too far. Xiao Yuan, I honestly don't know what to do anymore."

Xiao Yuan's fair complexion darkened with concern. "He's really driven you to this point?"

Zhang Yuanqing pressed his advantage. "The branch elders have been working on a plan to deal with the Demon Eye, but one part of it has hit a snag. They need a powerful Illusionist to make it work. Xiao Yuan, I'd like to see Master Wuhen."

Xiao Yuan's brow creased and she hesitated. "You want Master Wuhen to intervene? You know he can't afford to get involved. And besides, this goes against the rules he's set for himself. Master Wuhen is a man who takes his principles very seriously."

"They only need him to create an illusion," Zhang Yuanqing said, then let out a heavy sigh. "That's what I told the elders, too. So I didn't dare stay in Songhai any longer. The only place I could think to run was here, to you."

Xiao Yuan studied him in silence.

The Yuanshi Tianzun she knew was radiant, confident, and full of spirit. She'd spoken with him just a few days ago, and yet here he sat, deflated and defeated, looking as though the fight had been wrung out of him entirely. The Demon Eye Heavenly King had clearly broken something in him.

A nameless anger stirred in Xiao Yuan's chest.

She drew a deep breath and considered her words carefully. "If it's only to create an illusion, then perhaps I can take you to see Master Wuhen. I'll put in a word for you."

Zhang Yuanqing seized her hand, his face lighting up with surprise. "Really?"

Xiao Yuan gently withdrew her hand and nodded.

The two of them headed deeper into the inn, took the elevator, and arrived outside Room 404.

Xiao Yuan rapped her knuckles against the door.

"Master Wuhen, Yuanshi Tianzun is here to request an audience," she announced.

With that, she tried the door handle. If it turned, it meant the master was willing to see him. If it didn't, the answer was no.

The handle turned easily. The moment it did, the surroundings warped and rippled. In the blink of an eye, the two of them were standing inside an ancient temple. Above them, a caisson ceiling was painted with gods and buddhas. Before them sat a great golden buddha, a flower pinched between its fingers, its eyelids half lowered, its expression hovering somewhere between compassion and wrath.

Zhang Yuanqing inhaled the heavy, incense laden air, pressed his palms together, and began to speak. "Master, I've been targeted by the Demon Eye Heavenly King. Yesterday, I nearly died at his hands. The elders of the Songhai Branch have devised a plan..."

He laid out the operation against Demon Eye in full.

Master Wuhen sat in perfect stillness, offering no response.

Zhang Yuanqing dropped to his knees and bowed. "Please, Master. Save me."

The master remained silent.

Xiao Yuan couldn't hold back any longer. "Master, if it's only creating an illusion, it won't interfere with your cultivation. Yuanshi is being persecuted by the Demon Eye. Lending him your aid wouldn't violate your principles."

A long silence stretched through the temple.

Then Master Wuhen's voice rang out, strained and threaded with barely suppressed pain. "Very well. When the time comes, crush this jade talisman."

A dim flicker of light drifted out from his sleeve and landed at Zhang Yuanqing's feet.

Zhang Yuanqing's heart surged with relief. "Thank you, Master."

The two of them wasted no time, bowing as they backed out of the temple.

Zhang Yuanqing stood in the hallway clutching the Dream Entry Jade Talisman, exhaling a breath he felt like he'd been holding for hours. He turned to Xiao Yuan beside him.

"Let me make a quick call to report back."

Xiao Yuan regarded him coolly. "Why not just leave?"

Because I'm exhausted and I want a glass of water and a minute to sit down, Zhang Yuanqing complained inwardly.

He put on a solemn expression. "It's not often I make it all the way out to Jinshan City. Of course I'd want to spend a little more time with you."

Xiao Yuan blinked, caught off-guard.

Zhang Yuanqing had already stepped aside, pulled out his phone, and dialed Fu Qingyang's number.