Chapter 1387: Turbulent Winds and Clouds

The Maolu Annex stood just outside the Commandery Prince's Residence, separated from it by only a passageway. A secret tunnel connected the two.

The two sides met in another underground chamber.

"Master Dao!" Shang Chaozong, Meng Shanming, and Lan Ruoting all cupped their hands in greeting when they saw Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao waved away the formalities and gestured for everyone to sit. Once they had taken their seats, he asked, "Why has Your Highness summoned me?"

Shang Chaozong's expression was grave. "Master Dao must have heard about the deaths of the two Saints."

"I have," Niu Youdao said. "But it wasn't as the Seven Saints announced to the world. They're gilding their own faces. The true cause of Mu Lianze's and Zhangsun Mi's deaths was the Holy Rakshasa in the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm. I was there when it happened. More precisely, I was the one who lured them into the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm."

Shang Chaozong and the other two exchanged startled looks.

Lan Ruoting ventured, "Could it be that the deaths of those two Saints were planned entirely by Master Dao?"

Niu Youdao smiled faintly. "No need to wonder. I did it. Is there a problem?"

Guan Fangyi shot him a sidelong glance. Such an enormous affair, the deaths of two Saints, and she had not been able to witness it with her own eyes. She was somewhat annoyed.

What she did not know was how perilous it had been when Niu Youdao and the others emerged from the Illusory Realm and ran straight into Luo Qiu and the others.

Of course, even merely learning that Niu Youdao had brought about the deaths of Mu Lianze and Zhangsun Mi had left her deeply shaken, and the aftershock had yet to fade.

She had followed him all the way from the Qi capital and personally watched how he had advanced step by step to where he stood today. When she first left the Qi capital with him, how could she ever have imagined that one day this man would reach the point of moving directly against the Nine Saints?

Looking back on the past and then at the present, she was filled with emotion.

Shang Chaozong and the other two were equally stunned by what they had heard. Shock was written across their faces, and their hearts were even more violently shaken.

Niu Youdao broke the silence. "Did Your Highness summon me only for this?"

"Uh..." Shang Chaozong collected himself, seemingly unsure what to say for a moment. After steadying his emotions, he replied, "With such a shocking upheaval, even the cultivators stationed here have grown uneasy. I don't know whether some greater change is coming, so I wanted to ask Master Dao how we should conduct ourselves." His tone and manner were exceptionally respectful.

Their dealings with one another had gradually become less relaxed than in the past. In truth, Niu Youdao himself had not changed much. It was Shang Chaozong's side that had unconsciously lowered its own posture more and more. At least in their eyes, Niu Youdao was no longer the green young man who had only just stepped into the world.

Niu Youdao said, "Do whatever you were already doing. Handle your own affairs well. You can't intervene in the rest anyway. My side will naturally deal with it. If anything changes, I'll notify Your Highness in advance, so you can rest easy."

Shang Chaozong nodded. "That's good."

"Right." Niu Youdao added, "Handling your own affairs is one thing. You should also prepare for something else."

Shang Chaozong said, "Master Dao, please instruct us."

Niu Youdao said, "Prepare to take over the entire State of Yan. Don't be caught unprepared when the time comes."

"..."

The three men looked at one another in speechless astonishment.

Take over the entire State of Yan?

Meng Shanming finally spoke. "Will the Three Great Sects agree?"

"I'll handle the Three Great Sects," Niu Youdao said. "You don't need to worry about the various regions of Yan either. Grand Minister of Works Gao Jiancheng is my man. The reason I removed Tong Mo back then was to raise Gao Jiancheng into his position. Ever since he took office, he has been making preparations in secret. After all this time, with his ability, he should have built up a fairly complete network of supporters throughout the country. When the moment comes, Your Highness need only raise your banner and issue the call. There is no need to worry about resistance from the various regions of Yan. Everything will proceed naturally. Gao Jiancheng's allegiance is an absolute secret. No hint of it may be revealed on Your Highness's side. Continue dealing with him exactly as before."

Gao Jiancheng, the man whose son had been killed in a feud with this very side, was actually Niu Youdao's man?

Shang Chaozong and the other two were struck speechless again, unsure what to say.

One secret after another had suddenly been thrown before them. For a time, the three could hardly digest it all. Their heads were spinning.

The corner of Guan Fangyi's mouth twitched. Times truly were different now. Secrets that Niu Youdao had once guarded with the utmost care could now be revealed casually. There was something almost effortless in the way he handled matters these days.

Niu Youdao stood. "I still have other things to deal with. If none of you has anything else, I'll take my leave."

"Master Dao, take care!" Shang Chaozong and the others hurriedly cupped their hands to see him off.

Niu Youdao smiled faintly and nodded, then turned and left, with Yun Ji and Guan Fangyi following on either side.

Once they were deep inside the secret tunnel, Yun Ji swept a sleeve. The earth churned and sealed off the connecting passage, preventing anyone from easily using the tunnel to force his way into the Maolu Annex.

The three men left behind gradually exchanged looks.

If they had heard correctly, an unimaginably great piece of good fortune seemed about to fall into their laps.

"The sun and moon at his lips, Heaven and Earth in his grasp!" Meng Shanming suddenly sighed, filled with endless emotion.

After returning to his own secret chamber, Niu Youdao suddenly stopped and turned to stare at Guan Fangyi.

His gaze made Guan Fangyi uncomfortable all over. Suspicious, she asked, "What? Now that you've got a new favorite, don't tell me you've suddenly taken a fancy to me again?" Her eyes flicked toward Yun Ji, clearly implying something.

Yun Ji glanced sideways at her and ignored the provocation. She had no interest in verbal sparring.

Niu Youdao said, "You need to hurry with your breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm."

Guan Fangyi replied, "When it's something that benefits me, I'm naturally more concerned than you are."

Niu Youdao stopped wasting words with her and turned to Yun Ji. "Contact the Sacred Realm. Have that side find a way to arrange another trip inside for me. Tell them I'm bringing someone with me."

...

In the quiet courtyard of the Chancellor's residence in the Song capital, Jia Wuqun finished reading the secret letter in his hand, sighed deeply, and shook his head before handing it to Yuan Cong.

Yuan Cong was visibly shocked after reading it.

Niu Youdao had actually brought about the deaths of Mu Lianze and Zhangsun Mi?

It was almost impossible to believe.

...

Inside his study, Shao Pingbo slowly lowered the secret letter in his hand and sat silently behind the desk.

Standing nearby, Shao Sansheng tested, "Was it really his doing?"

Shao Pingbo sighed. "The recent string of incidents has clearly had someone pushing from behind the scenes. That side has already begun moving directly against the Nine Saints. It would hardly be strange if he did it."

Shao Sansheng sighed with emotion. "Nine of them, and he took out two at once..."

"Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm..." Shao Pingbo said slowly. "It seems he has people inside Myriad Beasts Sect as well. That man's reach truly is vast."

Shao Sansheng said, "I hear Misty Pavilion has temporarily set everything else aside and is purging the people of Wuming Sacred Land and Tianmu Sacred Land."

"After something like this, that's only natural. Not worth mentioning." Shao Pingbo asked, "I hope it hasn't affected the war. What about what I told you to investigate? Has anything changed on the battlefield?"

"I already asked Blackwater Terrace," Shao Sansheng said. "At Gao Pin's request, Blackwater Terrace has begun a campaign to attack Qi's morale and loyalty from within. Large numbers of covert agents have been sent to contact officials in the Qi court, either to turn them or to frame them. Even Hao Yuntu's brother Hao Yunsheng and his son Hao Qi have been put to use. They say the results have been quite good. Even though the Qi Emperor, Hao Yuntu, knows it is a Jin plot, he can't help becoming suspicious. He has already dealt with several people. The Qi capital is now showing signs of unrest."

Shao Pingbo nodded slightly. "Gao Pin has seized control of the battlefield and given Jin the overwhelming advantage. With the situation unfavorable to Qi, it is perfectly normal for Qi officials to begin having thoughts of their own. Even Hao Yuntu himself probably doesn't believe all those men will die loyally for him. This is precisely the best time to attack people's hearts, so naturally it should produce results. Once people's hearts are unsettled, internal chaos in Qi is only a matter of time. When that happens, even Huyan Wuhen and Luo Zhao will probably be powerless to reverse the situation. It seems Qi is not far from collapse. Perhaps it will happen all at once."

Shao Sansheng sighed. "Looks like the Seven States are about to become Five. The face of all beneath Heaven is changing violently."

Shao Pingbo walked over to the map of the states and studied it, his eyes flickering.

...

The shockwaves in the cultivation world had yet to settle.

The Seven Saints launched surprise attacks on Wuming Sacred Land and Tianmu Sacred Land. The people in both places had no time to react, and with the Seven Saints personally taking part, the two Sacred Lands were almost completely wiped out in a single sweep.

After eliminating both strongholds, Misty Pavilion immediately began arresting personnel belonging to the two factions throughout its own ranks.

For this reason, all matters such as cultivation verification were temporarily set aside. The immediate priority was controlling the situation within Misty Pavilion.

They did not arrest every person connected to the two factions. Only the direct-line personnel of Wuming Sacred Land and Tianmu Sacred Land were targeted. The rest, intimidated by the purge, surrendered one after another, and the Seven Saints accepted their submission.

A small number of people remained at large and were being hunted. Every sect beneath Heaven received decrees ordering them to assist in the pursuit.

Under such drastic change, the winds and clouds were turbulent indeed. Unease among the people was inevitable. After all, virtually every major force in the cultivation world had more or less dealt with people from those two factions and feared being implicated.

In reality, however, the overall situation was not greatly affected. The Seven Saints maintained firm control and did not allow events to expand without limit into chaos beneath Heaven.

...

In Nanzhou, inside a swaying carriage, Fire Phoenix Nie Yunshang repeatedly glanced at Guan Fangyi seated beside her. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she asked again, "Hongniang, where exactly are we going?"

Guan Fangyi took one of her hands and patted it. "Don't worry. You'll know when we arrive."

After leaving the city, the carriage reached an isolated farmhouse in a secluded area.

The two women got down and pushed open the gate. Yun Ji was already waiting in the courtyard.

They nodded to one another in greeting. Yun Ji raised a hand and gestured toward the house.

Guan Fangyi stopped as well and motioned for Fire Phoenix to enter the main room.

Fire Phoenix looked thoroughly puzzled. She took several steps, turning her head again and again, before finally reaching the main door and pushing it open. A man stood inside with his back to her, hands clasped behind him.

Seeing no one else in the room, Fire Phoenix hesitated to enter alone with an unfamiliar man and looked back.

Guan Fangyi smiled and waved, telling her to go inside.

When Fire Phoenix turned back, the man had already faced her. He raised a hand and slowly tore the false face from his features, revealing his true appearance.

The instant she recognized him, Fire Phoenix cried out, "Master Dao!"

Niu Youdao smiled. "Come in. Close the door."

Fire Phoenix was already too emotional to hold herself back. She crossed the threshold first, then hurriedly turned and shut the door. Only then did she walk up to Niu Youdao and look him over again and again in disbelief. "Master Dao, you... weren't you already..."

"Don't worry. I'm not dead, and Kunlin Shu is alive and well too," Niu Youdao said. "I didn't tell you the truth before because too many circumstances were beyond my control. I heard you often cried yourself to sleep, believing our reassurances were only empty words meant to comfort you. Making you grieve for so long was my fault."

Fire Phoenix shook her head repeatedly. She had no mind for anything else now. She almost wanted to seize him with both hands as she asked, "Master Dao, where is my senior brother now?"

"He's still inside the Sacred Realm. I showed myself to you this time because I want to bring you into the Sacred Realm and reunite you with Kunlin Shu. Are you willing to go?"

How could Fire Phoenix possibly refuse? She nodded immediately. "Yes!"

Then a thought occurred to her, and she hesitated. "How will we get in?"

"You don't need to worry about that," Niu Youdao said. "I've already made arrangements."

[End of Chapter 1387]