Chapter 1374: Time to Make a Move

In that instant, all three understood.

Their hearts roared.

No wonder!

They had found it strange before. Where had all those other sects suddenly gotten their case leads from? In the past, every sect's supervisors had been much the same. Why had the others suddenly become so capable? With life and death on the line, the supervisors from their own sects had no reason not to be working hard as well.

After all that, this was where the problem lay.

Now they understood why Misty Pavilion personnel had been disappearing again and again at precisely this critical moment.

They truly understood.

Xi Haitang's words had been deliberately vague, but the three still understood him perfectly.

A complete awakening.

They also understood why Xi Haitang refused to say it plainly.

Was this something that could be said plainly?

For the moment, none of the three spoke. Their eyes flickered, each harboring thoughts of his own.

A Blood God Hall disciple suddenly flashed over and reported, "Master, His Majesty has sent word inviting the three Sect Leaders to meet with him."

"Ahem!" Qu Fan coughed dryly and cupped his hands toward Xi Haitang. "Brother Xi, His Majesty has summoned us. It must be something urgent, so we shouldn't delay. We'll take our leave here."

Xi Haitang smiled. "I won't see you off."

Guan Jitai cupped his hands. "We will remember Brother Xi's instruction."

Xi Haitang's expression immediately turned serious. "What do you mean by that? I said nothing."

Wu Chengyu said, "Exactly, exactly. We'll remember this favor."

Xi Haitang's face darkened slightly. "I don't understand what you're talking about."

The three exchanged glances, showing they understood his reaction. Together they cupped their hands. "We've disturbed you long enough. Farewell!"

Xi Haitang returned the salute. "I won't see you off."

The three departed.

A while later, several flying mounts rose into the sky and vanished into the distance.

Xi Haitang stood on the mountainside watching the guests leave.

The corner of his mouth gradually curled into a strange smile.

Judging others by himself, he knew perfectly well what the Sect Leaders of those great sects would do next. He also believed they absolutely would do it. Their heads were nearly on the chopping block. If a path to survival was placed before them, did anyone still need to worry that they would refuse to take it?

Thinking about what was about to happen, Xi Haitang lightly rubbed his palms and chuckled to himself. "Brilliant. Truly brilliant!"

What he called brilliant was the rumor.

The rumor Niu Youdao had released saying that the Nine Saints intended to make the sect leaders personally serve as supervisors.

At first, Xi Haitang had not thought much of it.

Now, however, the power hidden in that tiny rumor seemed capable of overturning Heaven and Earth.

Truly marvelous beyond words.

He could already imagine the consequences.

Once the great sects both within the seas and beyond them all started doing the same thing, things would become lively indeed. Misty Pavilion would probably be overwhelmed.

Most importantly, all the great sects would be dragged into the water.

Once that happened, their own group would truly no longer fear an investigation.

Niu Youdao had already sent word to settle everyone's hearts. If matters reached the point where the Nine Saints decided to investigate any particular sect, that sect was to flee immediately. At the same time, Niu Youdao's side would spread word that the Nine Saints intended to settle accounts over the abduction of Misty Pavilion personnel.

Once that rumor spread, every great sect that had done such "good deeds" would probably flee too.

That scale.

That commotion.

Anyone would have to weigh the consequences.

With so many people involved, how could the investigation continue?

There was a saying: the law does not punish the multitude.

So what if they were the Nine Saints?

When it came to investigating the various sects, they would no longer be able to push forward, nor would there be any practical way to continue.

And that was still getting ahead of matters.

First Misty Pavilion had to survive the present crisis.

Whether the Nine Saints could even straighten Misty Pavilion out remained an open question.

Previously, Xi Haitang and the others had worried that after fleeing they would face Misty Pavilion's sweeping pursuit.

Now, however, their side already controlled a considerable number of secrets. If circumstances truly deteriorated until they had to flee and go into hiding, they no longer needed to fear that no one inside Misty Pavilion would leak information to them.

Misty Pavilion leaked like a sieve from every side. And it still wanted to exterminate them?

How?

Unless the Nine Saints could calculate fate with their fingers.

There was another advantage.

If they eventually fled with their sects under the pretext of this affair, the secrets surrounding their own Wuliang Fruits could remain hidden. They would not have to worry about being unable to explain matters to their own sects.

With this single move, the entire board had come alive.

The Nine Saints' investigative momentum had been jammed at Misty Pavilion.

If they dared force their way downward regardless, everything would collapse with a crash.

Xi Haitang was now utterly convinced by Niu Youdao.

His own state of mind had become much calmer and more composed.

...

At the Song imperial palace, the Sect Leaders of the Three Great Sects arrived in response to the summons.

Emperor Wu Gongling personally received them.

The group entered a pavilion and took their seats.

Guan Jitai looked at Wu Gongling's complexion, visibly depleted by excessive indulgence in women, and could not help offering a warning. "Your Majesty, women may be delightful, but moderation is still necessary. Using medicines to replenish deficiency is not a lasting solution. It can easily damage your lifespan."

At those words, Qu Fan and Wu Chengyu could not resist taking a closer look at Wu Gongling's complexion as well.

They truly did not know what to say about this man.

How long had he even been Emperor?

He had already impregnated dozens of consorts, along with several attractive palace maids.

His ability to "sow seed" was formidable indeed.

Normally, the three had no desire to interfere in private affairs of the inner palace.

But Wu Gongling had gone so far that they worried it would interfere with serious matters.

"I'll remember Sect Leader Guan's words." Wu Gongling gave a dry laugh and nodded repeatedly.

The man simply loved this sort of thing.

The three doubted he would truly listen, but the subject was not worth wasting too many words on.

Wu Chengyu asked, "Why has Your Majesty summoned us?"

Wu Gongling waved to both sides and dismissed everyone else. Only then did he lower his voice. "I've heard some things concerning Misty Pavilion, as well as certain rumors about the Nine Saints. I wonder what plans the three Sect Leaders have?"

The three exchanged looks.

Qu Fan said, "Cultivation-world affairs are ours to handle. Your Majesty needn't trouble yourself over them."

How could Wu Gongling not be troubled?

Which emperor and which great sect in any state was not worried?

It was not only Taishu Xiong who was anxious. Wu Gongling's own heart was suspended in midair. If the Three Great Sects mishandled the situation, the entire State of Song would inevitably be affected.

"Three Sect Leaders, this matter is of enormous importance. Please keep the larger situation in mind and proceed with the utmost caution!"

...

At the Jin imperial palace, inside a heavily guarded Qiyun Sect compound, Taishu Feihua stood beside a waterside pavilion with his hands clasped behind his back, facing the pond. A disciple stood nearby.

After a long silence, Taishu Feihua suddenly asked, "Can it be confirmed?"

The disciple replied, "It was only a chance piece of hearsay from some obscure source. We can't confirm whether it's true or false. When we tried to investigate further and verify it, we could no longer find the person. This also isn't the sort of matter one can casually ask about everywhere. Still, this disciple believes it is probably true."

Taishu Feihua nodded silently. "I was wondering why everyone suddenly became an expert investigator. So they've grown bold and found themselves an unorthodox prescription. No wonder Misty Pavilion personnel now keep disappearing for no apparent reason."

The disciple said, "They were all forced into it. Perhaps this is precisely the result the Nine Saints wanted from rectifying Misty Pavilion. Master, we should prepare early."

Taishu Feihua asked, "You mean I may have to enter the Sacred Realm and take over from Elder Shanhai?"

The disciple said, "There's no harm in preparing for the worst. If we can find a way to provide Elder Shanhai with useful leads, that would both preserve Elder Shanhai and prevent Master from having to enter danger personally."

Taishu Feihua sighed. "The present situation on the battlefield is favorable to Qiyun Sect. If we rashly involve ourselves in this matter and it is exposed, the consequences are difficult to predict."

The disciple said, "Master, don't worry. I'll handle it secretly myself and won't implicate you. If anything happens, I'll take full responsibility alone!"

"Can you bear that responsibility? If it truly comes to light, do you think Misty Pavilion will believe there was no one directing you from behind?" Taishu Feihua looked up toward the sky and slowly sighed. "Forget it. Qiyun Sect exists today only because of the painstaking efforts of generations. I cannot destroy it with my own hands. If I truly must enter the Sacred Realm, and one life of mine can preserve the entire clan, then as Clan Head, I accept that fate."

"Master!" The disciple grew anxious.

His own future was tied to Taishu Feihua. If Taishu Feihua fell, he would be reduced to a collateral branch and pushed to the side.

"Enough." Taishu Feihua cut him off. "My decision is made. Do not mention this matter again."

...

At Tiandu Peak, inside Misty Pavilion, Yue Guangming strode into the hall.

The moment he saw Huo Kong's expression, he lightened his steps.

He placed a stack of case files on the desk and reminded him, "The supervisors have uncovered another eleven people involved in misconduct. They're requesting manpower to assist with arrest and investigation."

Whoosh!

Huo Kong, seated behind the desk, suddenly swept one broad hand across its surface. Documents and objects flew everywhere and scattered across the floor.

"Someone is obviously stirring up trouble!" Huo Kong surged to his feet and pointed at the papers littering the floor. "You tell me. Do I investigate or don't I?"

Yue Guangming looked miserable.

He knew Huo Kong's difficulty.

The Sacred Realm had ordered this side to verify and purge its internal ranks, cross-checking every person within Misty Pavilion. Yet internal traitors kept emerging one after another.

Were they supposed to let traitors investigate traitors?

Could the resulting verification even be trusted?

But if they first dealt with every problem uncovered by the sect supervisors, who knew what year or month they would finally finish investigating this endless stream of internal traitors?

The matter had become a dead loop.

Either choice was wrong.

Yue Guangming tested, "Why not submit a memorial to the Sacred Venerables and ask them to order the sect supervisors to suspend their investigations for the time being?"

"How am I supposed to say that?" Huo Kong shot back.

He paced for a while, then abruptly stopped. "Compile a complete copy of all the case files. Make a trip to the Sacred Realm personally. Present the cases and ask the Sacred Venerables to decide!"

...

Inside the secret chamber in Nanzhou, Yun Ji brought another stack of leads concerning internal traitors within Misty Pavilion and reported, "The information from inside and outside the Sacred Realm is all in place. Every point is ready."

Niu Youdao, slouched in his chair, picked up the stack and flipped casually through it before setting it aside again. "We've both grown tired of reading this rotten business. Hand it over to Hongniang from now on. We'll concentrate on the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm first. Follow the timing and sequence I've planned. Send instructions to each point one after another. Time to make a move."

Yun Ji asked, "What if Lü Wushuang doesn't react?"

Niu Youdao said, "Then there's nothing I can do. We still have to try. Otherwise, if all Nine Saints rush in together, the Holy Rakshasa may be in danger. Reduce their numbers as much as we can. This time, I suppose I'm the one who owes Yin'er, that little glutton. I hope she'll be all right."

Yun Ji said, "Whenever you've decided to make a move before, I've never seen you hesitate. You seem softhearted this time. You care about her quite a lot, don't you?"

Niu Youdao's face remained expressionless. "That's not how the accounting works. Understand one thing. If only some of the Nine Saints enter and none of them return alive, then so long as no one comes back to leak what happened, the remainder can be lured inside afterward in the natural course of events. If some of those who enter manage to come back alive, then our test has already failed. At that point, what difference does it make whether only some went in or all of them did? Sending all of them inside at once would only increase the Holy Rakshasa's chances of defeat and death. Do you understand what I mean now?"

Yun Ji nodded thoughtfully.

She understood.

When it came to playing this kind of game, this man was still far more skilled. He considered matters more carefully, more thoroughly, and with more contingencies.

[End of Chapter 1374]