Chapter 513: It's Begun!

Seeing Shao Pingbo suddenly become so anxious, Shao Sansheng did not dare delay. He hurried away, ran to the dungeon entrance, and repeatedly pleaded with the cultivators guarding outside.

The cultivator stationed inside the dungeon walked over to Shao Pingbo and warned him, “Eldest Young Master, it would be best not to try anything reckless.”

Reckless? Shao Pingbo obediently nodded. This was not the time to offend anyone, and he had no desire to explain himself to the man.

As far as he was concerned, there was nothing to explain to someone who regarded Dachan Mountain as Heaven itself, spent his entire life inside the circle Dachan Mountain had drawn for him, and could make no real decisions of his own.

The cultivator glanced at the untouched food set beneath the bars, then looked back at Shao Pingbo. Inwardly, he actually held the man in contempt. Shao Pingbo might normally appear impressive, but in the end he was merely one of Dachan Mountain’s dogs. If Dachan Mountain let him prosper, he prospered. If Dachan Mountain wanted him ruined, that too could happen in the blink of an eye.

Inside the cell, Shao Pingbo paced back and forth. His mind was in such turmoil that he had no appetite at all.

At first, he had not worried too much about Dachan Mountain. After receiving Tianyu Sect’s message, he had already prepared himself for the possibility that Dachan Mountain would learn Niu Youdao had approached the six great sects. When that happened, he could simply discuss countermeasures with Dachan Mountain.

Even if Niu Youdao deliberately leaked information to Dachan Mountain, Shao Pingbo had prepared for that too. He had dealt with Dachan Mountain for years and had his own ways of persuading them to remain suspicious of anything Niu Youdao revealed.

His earlier preparations for retreat had only been precautionary. He knew how dangerous Niu Youdao was and could see that the man was coming hard, so he had prepared against the worst.

What he had not expected was for Niu Youdao to grasp Beizhou’s situation with such exquisite precision, every calculation fitting into the next. Niu had actually managed to make use of Myriad Beasts Sect disciples, causing Dachan Mountain to firmly believe that Shao Pingbo himself had created this disaster and that his repeated refusal to heed warnings had placed Dachan Mountain in mortal danger. Had Shao Pingbo not retreated in order to advance at the critical moment, his confinement would probably not have been this simple. He might already have paid in blood.

Only now did Shao Pingbo truly realize that Niu Youdao had never abandoned his intention to destroy him. The man had put real effort into studying this side.

He also realized more clearly than ever how weak his intelligence reach into the cultivation world was. He had not even known Dachan Mountain had people in Myriad Forms City, allowing Niu Youdao to exploit Myriad Beasts Sect and slip through that gap to mislead Dachan Mountain.

Only after Dachan Mountain seized control of him did he understand that both he and Dachan Mountain had fallen into Niu Youdao’s scheme.

Earlier, he had failed to draw the reason from Zhong Yangxu. Only now did he finally learn how Niu Youdao had misled Dachan Mountain.

That alone showed just how far behind his intelligence from the cultivation world truly was, and how passive that left him against Niu Youdao.

He could feel profoundly now that this was an asymmetrical contest.

What he regretted most was failing, in earlier years, to stop Niu Youdao’s rise in Nanzhou at any cost. Niu Youdao now possessed far greater power to stir up storms. The man of years ago could never have wielded this much influence. Back then, he might not even have qualified to enter Myriad Beasts Sect’s gates.

The emergence of Chao Shenghuai only deepened Shao Pingbo’s anxiety.

After he moved against Niu Youdao, he had not expected Niu Youdao’s counterattack to come so swiftly. But Shao Pingbo was no pushover either. He had immediately devised three lines of response—attack, defense, and retreat. There was offense, there was protection, and there was an escape route. His countermeasures could hardly be called slow.

Attack was the best strategy. Hold matters steady here until Tianyu Sect’s killing move succeeded. Shao Pingbo did not believe Tianyu Sect’s strength could fail to threaten Niu Youdao. Whether they actually killed him was another matter. As long as open fighting erupted, Shao Pingbo would have ways to provoke chaos throughout Nanzhou. Even if Niu Youdao survived, years of his painstaking work could still be destroyed.

Defense was the middle strategy: stabilize Yan and Han’s six great sects and buy time for another counterattack.

Retreat was the worst strategy. The price would be too high, and Shao Pingbo would not use it unless absolutely forced.

He had long since realized that Myriad Beasts Sect had become a crucial node in the contest. Chao Shenghuai’s sudden emergence—especially given the man’s background—offered enormous room for maneuver. If Shao Pingbo himself were in Niu Youdao’s position, he could exploit it heavily. That discovery sharply reduced his hopes for the struggle at Myriad Beasts Sect and made him deeply afraid Tianyu Sect and Dachan Mountain would suffer beneath Niu Youdao’s hidden hand.

If the best strategy failed to break the situation, then the middle strategy would leave him far too passive, especially against an opponent like Niu Youdao.

He even suspected there was some deception behind Niu Youdao’s visits to the six Sect Leaders. Unfortunately, the information reaching him was too limited to judge. He could only hope that once Dachan Mountain’s people visited those six Sect Leaders, they would verify what was true and what was false.

Chao Shenghuai’s appearance made him feel that Niu Youdao would move with great efficiency inside Myriad Beasts Sect. Time might already no longer be on Shao Pingbo’s side.

Earlier, he could still force himself to remain calm and wait in the cell. Now he truly felt as though he were sitting on needles. He could no longer stay still.

Clatter...

The sound of an iron door opening came from the distance.

Shao Pingbo abruptly stopped pacing and looked toward the far end of the dungeon corridor.

Zhong Yangxu had arrived, followed by several others. The disciples guarding the dungeon saluted him.

At last the two men faced one another across the iron bars. Zhong Yangxu glanced at the untouched food beneath the cell. “What? The food isn’t to your taste?”

“No matter how poor the food tastes, I would hardly dare trouble Uncle over it.” Shao Pingbo answered politely, then went straight to the point. “There is danger hidden on the Myriad Beasts Sect side. Dachan Mountain’s people there must respond quickly, or they may fall into Niu Youdao’s trap.”

Zhong Yangxu frowned. “How do you know there is hidden danger at Myriad Beasts Sect? Are you admitting that you caused all this?”

Shao Pingbo’s gaze shifted slightly. He noticed Zhong Yangxu’s fingers tighten around his sword hilt and hurriedly explained, “Uncle misunderstands. I just remembered something. A year or two ago, I received information that Chao Shenghuai, grandson of Myriad Beasts Sect Elder Chao Jing, seemed to be colluding with Niu Youdao. If Niu Youdao is making moves inside Myriad Beasts Sect, he will certainly rely on this man.”

Zhong Yangxu asked, “And?”

Shao Pingbo grew anxious. “Myriad Beasts Sect must be warned immediately to watch him. We need to remove this hidden piece of Niu Youdao’s before Dachan Mountain suffers a loss!”

Zhong Yangxu frowned. “Do you know Chao Jing’s background?”

“Isn’t he an Elder of Myriad Beasts Sect?”

“Not only an Elder. He and Sect Leader Xi Haitang studied under the same master. Chao Jing is one of Xi Haitang’s right and left hands. Put plainly, they are on the same side. How many people have you seen deliberately turn on one of their own?”

Shao Pingbo froze. He truly had not known that.

Zhong Yangxu continued, “You want us to warn Myriad Beasts Sect to keep an eye on this Chao Shenghuai. How exactly are they supposed to do that? The moment the subject is raised, Chao Jing will learn about it. I guarantee that no matter who watches Chao Shenghuai after that, they will find nothing. And merely raising the issue would offend Chao Jing!”

“Even if we proved Niu Youdao was colluding with Chao Shenghuai, so what? Even if Chao Shenghuai were removed, what then? How would Dachan Mountain answer to Chao Jing? Do you think Dachan Mountain has nothing better to do than create a grudge with him?”

Shao Pingbo’s jaw tightened. “Uncle, this is no small matter. We cannot keep exhausting ourselves internally and fall into someone else’s treacherous scheme! Niu Youdao is cunning. Dachan Mountain’s people at Myriad Beasts Sect may suffer a loss. Please release me immediately and send people to escort me through the night to Myriad Beasts Sect. Let me confront Niu Youdao personally. None of the problems Uncle just raised are truly problems. Once I am there, I have ways to resolve this crisis as circumstances develop!”

He felt himself at too great a disadvantage sitting here. Niu Youdao was physically present at the center where the conflict was erupting and could adapt at any moment. Shao Pingbo, meanwhile, faced not only the delay in receiving information but the fact that everything reaching him was secondhand. He was far too passive.

Now that Chao Shenghuai had surfaced, Shao Pingbo was confident that if he could get to Myriad Beasts Sect in person, he could personally maneuver Niu Youdao to death. That was why he was so desperate to leave.

Zhong Yangxu said, “There is no need to trouble you with the journey. The Sect Leader has already gone personally to Myriad Beasts Sect.”

Shao Pingbo became even more anxious. “Uncle, Sect Leader Huang going there will not mean much. Only I truly understand Niu Youdao. If this is delayed any longer, it will be too late!”

Zhong Yangxu chuckled. “I understand now. So in your eyes, all of Beizhou is useless without you. Everyone else is an idiot. You should just eat your meal in peace.”

With that, he turned and walked away, no longer willing to listen.

“Uncle! Uncle...” Shao Pingbo gripped the bars and shouted repeatedly after him.

Outside the cell, Shao Sansheng lowered his head dejectedly.

Before leaving the dungeon, Zhong Yangxu gave one instruction. “Add another guard inside.”

The matter had not even been investigated clearly, yet the fellow was already trying to get out. Zhong Yangxu had no choice but to guard against him.

Dachan Mountain had suffered from this once before. During the Shao clan’s earlier internal bloodletting, they had merely allowed Shao Pingbo to take a bath, and that had been enough for him to overturn the entire situation.

Clang!

The dungeon door slammed shut in answer to Shao Pingbo’s desperate calls, plainly telling him that even if he shouted himself hoarse, it would accomplish nothing.

Shao Pingbo’s hands clenched the iron bars as he glared toward the doorway, his eyes almost spitting fire.

He had badly wanted to shout, If you people aren’t idiots, then what are you? Without the Beizhou situation I, Shao Pingbo, built with my own hands, how would Dachan Mountain be any better off than Tianyu Sect was in the past? Without me bringing Dachan Mountain into this partnership, where would Dachan Mountain have obtained such vast territory?

Crash!

Shao Pingbo kicked the food box on the floor flying. Furious, he bent down and coughed several times.

Inside the dungeon, yet another cultivator had begun watching his side...

At the eagle nest, inside one stone chamber, a Moon Butterfly glowed overhead. Chen Ping sat facing the wall, anxiety gnawing at him.

Ever since he handed those five Black Jade Eagle finger bells to Chao Shenghuai, his heart had been filled with terror. Waves of belated fear kept washing over him, following him like a shadow.

“Screech... screech...”

Faint eagle cries rising one after another failed even to pull him from his thoughts.

“Junior Brother Chen, stop meditating! Something’s happened!” someone shouted from the chamber doorway.

Chen Ping jolted awake and flashed outside.

As he passed one eagle-nest cave, the piercing cries struck his ears. The giant bird inside was extremely agitated, shifting endlessly while its sharp claws scraped across the stone floor with a chilling sound.

At last, the frantic giant bird leaped from the nest and plunged toward the cliff.

Chen Ping rushed over and stood at the mouth of the cave, looking down from the cliff edge. The huge bird had already spread its wings and risen into the air, soaring beneath the hazy moonlight.

Dark silhouettes of giant birds were everywhere in the sky, circling or streaking past, every one giving off sharp cries. Beneath the night sky, Myriad Beasts Sect had fallen into chaos and noise.

...

Inside the guest courtyard, Niu Youdao stood motionless with his sword planted before him, like a stone statue or a man who had fallen asleep on his feet.

Light footsteps approached, accompanied by the familiar fragrance of Guan Fangyi. She circled around in front of him and teased, “Master Dao, standing here motionless in the middle of the night like a ghost—what wicked scheme are you cooking up now?”

Just then Yuan Gang strode over quickly and said in a deep voice, “Master Dao, look!”

Niu Youdao’s eyes snapped open.

Guan Fangyi turned her head. In the distant mountains, large numbers of Moon Butterflies were dancing through the air while wave after wave of piercing cries drifted faintly across the night.

Niu Youdao reached out and rested a hand on Guan Fangyi’s shoulder.

Guan Fangyi turned her head and looked at the hand on her shoulder, unsure what he meant.

The next instant, Niu Youdao simply swept her aside because she was blocking his view. He stepped forward, planted his sword before him once more, and stared at the distant mountain where Moon Butterfly light churned in disorder.

Calmly, he said, “It’s begun!”

Guan Fangyi looked toward the mountains, then back at him, suspicion and uncertainty filling her heart.

What had begun?

[End of Chapter 513]