Chapter 800: Yan Beihan's Predicament [Combined Chapter]

Chapter 800: Yan Beihan's Predicament [Combined Chapter]



Onemind Sect.

After Night Demon left, Seal God Palace and Marquis Jiang Fang of Unity Sect arrived at Mu Linyuan's grave once again in the evening.

"Old Mu... Have you seen it?"

"The child you've always been concerned about, he's here today."

They looked at the grave, meticulously cleaned by Fang Che, not a single weed in sight.

In front of the tombstone, the aroma of wine lingered in the air.

The three of them sighed softly.

Qian Sanjiang poured another bowl of wine and placed it in front of the grave, "Old Mu, if your spirit is in heaven, please bless Night Demon. He's a good kid."

He fell silent for a while, then said, "This time, I have a premonition that I might not be able to return. This premonition is very clear. It's like a dark cloud weighing on my heart."

"So before leaving, I said some strange things to the Headmaster... Sigh, now that I think about it, it was as if I was bidding farewell."

"But when Night Demon said he would send me back, this premonition gradually faded away. Perhaps, I've escaped a calamity."

"Old Mu."

Qian Sanjiang spoke softly, "Actually, having such a disciple... you and I should be content. Don't you think so?"

Seal God Palace lit an incense stick and said softly, "Old Mu, rest in peace. Don't worry, we'll look after the child you care about."

A glistening snowflake drifted down from the sky, landing on their faces, bringing a refreshing chill.

"It's snowing."

Qian Sanjiang felt a surge of excitement.

Seal God Palace looked up at the densely clouded sky and said, "There's no wind tonight, and the clouds are thick. It seems like this snow will continue and will be quite heavy by tomorrow."

"In that case, tomorrow night, we'll set up camp here and drink; Night Demon just visited, and Old Mu is probably delighted."

"Good!"

Seal God Palace also smiled, "Then tomorrow night, the three of us will come here and drink in the snow! To keep Old Mu company."

"Great!"

...

Southeast Headquarters.

Feng Yun meticulously devised a plan.

"Is it confirmed?"

"Confirmed. There is indeed unusual activity around Onemind Sect, but Divine Weasel Sect's hiding capabilities are too formidable. Moreover, according to the information from headquarters, they can even burrow underground at any time. To deal with this, we'll need to use the 'earth-shaking steel' technique. This is something our Southeast Headquarters can't handle yet."

Feng Yun nodded and said, "You don't need to worry about that. First, prepare according to the plan, and be ready to act at any time."

"Yes."

"Then, concentrate the forces of the Southeast, Southern, and Southwestern departments. Use Onemind Sect as bait to eliminate Haiwuliang's people! While dealing a blow to Divine Weasel Sect is important, cleaning up our own house in Only Righteous Sect is also a must!"

Feng Yun said calmly, "Haiwuliang's betrayal cannot be tolerated!"

"First Prince, I have a suggestion!"

"Call him Chancellor!"

"Yes, Chancellor."

"Go ahead."

Feng Yun said, "But there's one thing. Anyone can die, but Seal God Palace, the Headmaster of Onemind Sect, must not!"

Just as Feng Yi was about to leave, he turned back, looking troubled, "This... How do we use him as bait? Seal God Palace is the key figure in luring Haiwuliang out, and he's the most dangerous. The chances of him dying are ninety-five percent! If we want Seal God Palace to be safe, this plan to lure the snake out of its hole might not succeed."

"Besides, it's just a subordinate sect's junior headmaster. His death doesn't really matter," Feng Er added.

Feng Yun firmly stated, "Seal God Palace must not die, and there's a reason for it! You don't need to know why, just follow orders."

Feng Yun's Southeast, Southern, and Southwestern departments were mobilized simultaneously.

Although it was a secret operation, some information still leaked out.

Zhao Shanhe and An Ruoxing, who had dealt with these departments of Only Righteous Sect for many years, were well-experienced.

"Fang Che is busy with his cultivation during this period, so he probably won't be able to leave. But we can't neglect the battle and capture operations," Zhao Shanhe said.

"You take charge of this aspect for now, as you've been responsible for it all along. With Feng Yun making moves, we can't afford to be careless. Others might not be able to handle this responsibility," Zhao Shanhe added.

Indeed, that was the case.

Fang Che's jurisdiction over the three departments granted him too much power, and during this period, he had been neglecting his duties, rampaging through the southeast, and fostering arrogance among his subordinates.

Ordinary people couldn't control them! Even if Xiong Rushan were to discipline them, he could only manage his own department, not all three.

He couldn't command respect.

In the entire southeast region, only Zhao Shanhe and An Ruoxing could use their official authority to keep the three departments in check!

"Alright, leave it to me."

An Ruoxing agreed with a smile.

"Deploy our people to closely monitor Feng Yun's movements. If the First Prince of Only Righteous Sect makes any moves, it will likely be a significant event."

Zhao Shanhe reminded.

"No problem, I'll personally lead a team," An Ruoxing said with a smile. "Rest assured. Although Feng Yun has submitted a peace letter, they are still our enemies. Moreover, if Feng Yun is targeting Divine Weasel Sect, by following them closely, we might also gain some information. After all, Divine Weasel Sect is also a target of our close vigilance."

"That's true," Zhao Shanhe said.

"Based on the documents issued by headquarters recently, the Ninth Master's vigilance towards Divine Weasel Sect is no less than that of Only Righteous Sect."

"Yes."

"Then, you take full responsibility. Inform me immediately if there's any news. As for Only Righteous Sect, since they've submitted a peace letter, in certain areas, as long as they don't harm us, you know what to do."

"Of course, it's best to let them pass and let them fight Divine Weasel Sect to their mutual destruction."

An Ruoxing laughed.

The two of them finalized their plan.

Then, An Ruoxing hurried off.

Although Fang Che had mentioned that he was in seclusion at the Fang Royal Palace, Zhao Shanhe and An Ruoxing both knew that it was best to avoid disturbing him at such a critical time. One wrong move could lead to a disastrous outcome, so it was best to stay away.

An Ruoxing was capable of handling most matters, except for Fang Che's combat strength. Even when it came to executing sect law, An Ruoxing had the authority to do so.

Zhao Shanhe was relieved. With his hands behind his back, he watched An Ruoxing leave and muttered to himself, "After Fang Che's breakthrough, his combat strength... Wow, he's probably the best in the southeast region now."

After a moment's thought, he shook his head and said, "I mean, if the top experts don't show up."

The Financial Chancellor, standing nearby, rolled his eyes.

The Chancellor's words were as useless as a fart...

...

Fang Che rushed forward.

After traveling less than a thousand li, he left the snowy area.

He crossed the Tiger Ravine, passed by White Wolf Mountain, traversed the Red Snake Valley, crossed the Leopard River, went through Black Bear Ridge, climbed over Eagle Worry Peak, crossed the Great Python Plain, and flew over the Little Dragon River.

Entering the edge of the Ten Thousand Spirits Forest, he cut through it and then saw the mighty Canglan River.

Crossing the Canglan River, he followed a forest of black pines all the way west. In the continuous mountain range, he stood at a high point and looked into the distance, and indeed, in the faraway horizon, there were five peaks resembling five fingers.

This was the location of the Pagoda Sect.

Fang Che estimated the distance and transformed into the Night Demon's appearance, rushing two thousand li and standing on the highest peak. He let out a long howl to the sky.

His aura was powerful and majestic, causing the sky to tremble.

However, before half an hour had passed since his howl...

A white figure appeared.

Bing Tianxue descended from the heavens like an immortal, her sleeves fluttering gracefully.

"Oh, Night Demon, your voice is quite robust. You scared away the wolves with that shout."

"Your subordinate Night Demon pays respect to Senior Ice."

Bing Tianxue was casual, but Fang Che couldn't afford to be. He greeted her meticulously.

Fang Che was well aware of one thing: these old demons were even more troublesome than the old Guardians.

The elders of the Guardians were the type to say, "There's no need for formalities," if you showed them proper respect, but if you didn't, they would turn around and complain to your ancestors: "Your family's manners are lacking." That's how the Guardians were.

As for the elders of the Only Righteous Sect, they would act magnanimous and say, "There's no need for formalities," even if you showed them proper respect. But if you didn't, they would slap you so hard that you'd end up as flat as a pancake.

So, when these old folks say, "Don't stand on ceremony," regardless of time or place, don't listen to them. All the old-timers are hypocrites in this regard!

Indeed, Bing Tianxue said, "There's no need for formalities."

She then said, "Follow me."

Fang Che remained silent as he followed Bing Tianxue, not uttering a word.

Bing Tianxue, on the other hand, couldn't contain her impatience. "Why aren't you asking me why I called you here?"

"Junior here dares not ask," Fang Che replied.

Bing Tianxue furrowed her brows, which were quite attractive when scowling. "Then ask."

"Dare I ask Senior Ice, what exactly happened this time?" Fang Che inquired cautiously.

"How would I know what happened?" Bing Tianxue slapped him on the back of his head and scolded, "I've never bothered with such trivial matters!"

Fang Che stumbled from the slap, his face contorting in pain.

You asked me to inquire, but it turned out to be a trap.

However, Bing Tianxue seemed to enjoy her little prank, as she laughed all the way.

Looking up at the sky, where snowflakes had just started to fall gently, she felt even better. "Not bad, not bad! You're a lucky star, bringing me snow."

Fang Che's face twitched, thinking to himself, What's so good about the snow? Ever since the snow disaster last summer, Fang Che had developed a strong dislike for snow and couldn't understand why Bing Tianxue enjoyed it so much.

But Bing Tianxue was clearly excited. She grabbed Fang Che's shoulder and rushed into the clouds, welcoming the falling snow.

She wanted to see how heavy the snowfall would be.

Soon after, she emerged from the crimson clouds, satisfied. "Not bad, not bad. A heavy snowfall."

Then, she grabbed Fang Che and rushed into the clouds ahead like a hurricane.

Fang Che felt like he was being tossed around like a rag doll.

Suddenly, the area lit up, and they had entered a valley.

From the outside, the valley was invisible, but Bing Tianxue had brought them in with a flutter.

In the large square, there were numerous houses and various flowers and plants, all arranged with exquisite taste.

Fang Che immediately spotted Yan Beihan. She wore a deep purple cloak that resembled the vast sky, with a white fox tail around her neck, and the collar down to the hem was lined with white fur.

As she moved, the cloak swayed, and a hint of a bamboo pattern flashed by.

Seeing Bing Tianxue bringing Fang Che, Yan Beihan's eyes lit up. She approached with a dignified and aloof yet friendly and respectful demeanor, nodding and smiling. "You follow me."

"Turning around, she walked away.

Fang Che nodded in agreement and followed her inside.

Bi Yunyan wore a snow-white cloak with a violet collar, looking charming and beautiful. She was about to enter when she was stopped by Yan Beihan.

"You stay outside and chat with Aunt Bing. I'll talk to Night Demon alone about the situation here."

Bi Yunyan was taken aback. "Okay."

In her heart, she wondered, "Why can't I go in? Why?" Then she heard Yan Beihan say, "Meier, you have a more comprehensive understanding of the situation. Come with me."

Zhou Meier nodded and followed him.

Bi Yunyan was even more confused. So it wasn't a private conversation, but if it wasn't meant to be private, why did he call Zhou Meier and not me?

And why didn't he call Feng Xue and Chen Xue?

Bi Yunyan looked perplexed.

Chen Xue and Feng Xue came out and stood beside Bi Yunyan, their exquisite faces also filled with confusion.

...

Entering the reception room, they took their respective seats. Zhou Meier sat on a small round stool next to Yan Beihan, her posture respectful and meticulous.

The attendant brought tea and served it. Yan Beihan smiled and said, "Night Demon, you've come a long way. Have some tea to warm yourself up."

"Thank you, Lord Yan."

Since they were here, the conversation could start at any moment, and Fang Che wouldn't be polite.

"This is my personal advisor, Miss Zhou."

Yan Beihan introduced her.

"Greetings, Miss Zhou."

Fang Che nodded.

Zhou Meier smiled politely and said, "I've had the honor of meeting Night Demon before at Universal Escort Agency."

A hint of appropriate bewilderment and recollection flashed in Fang Che's eyes, and then he seemed to realize something. "Oh, was it at Star Mang's Universal Escort Agency? So, you were there at that time."

"Yes," Zhou Meier replied. "I wonder... is Star Mang doing well now?"

Yan Beihan could tell that Zhou Meier's voice trembled slightly as she asked this question.

It seemed like she was trying hard to suppress the surging emotions in her heart.

"Star Mang follows the righteous path and conducts legitimate business. Naturally, he's doing very well. Universal Escort Agency is also thriving at the moment."

"That's good," Zhou Meier said.

She lowered her head, took out paper and pen, placed them on her knees, and took a deep breath. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Knowing that he was safe was enough.

As for talking with Night Demon, since he was here, there would be plenty of opportunities later. Now wasn't the time for reminiscing.

As Zhou Meier's lord, Yan Beihan was naturally aware of her past. He was also curious about the Universal Escort Agency and its leader, Star Mang.

However, it was just a passing curiosity.

Such minor characters didn't warrant a place in his heart.

After taking a few sips of tea, Yan Beihan waved his hand to close the door.

Fang Che understood that the conversation was about to begin.

"Speaking of which, I feel rather embarrassed."

Yan Beihan said, "When we discussed the next step of the plan, you suggested attacking Dream Illusion Sect first. I followed your advice and dealt with them in one fell swoop."

"Although there were some minor setbacks, it didn't affect the overall situation."

Yan Beihan continued, "After defeating Dream Illusion Sect, we made a mistake. When our people were discussing the next plan, they chose Pagoda Sect, which led to our current predicament."

Fang Che smiled faintly and remained silent.

As expected, Yan Beihan asked, "If you were here after I defeated Dream Illusion Sect, what would you have suggested as the next target?"

Fang Che furrowed his brows and thought for a moment. "The easiest target would be Freedom Gate, but it's similar to Dream Illusion Sect. Both are sects that can be defeated in one strike, so taking down Freedom Gate wouldn't be significant. If I had to choose, I'd pick Azure Heaven Palace."

"Azure Heaven Palace?"

Yan Beihan frowned. "Why Azure Heaven Palace? It's the fourth-ranked giant among the sects outside the secular world. It's filled with experts, and its combat strength is not to be underestimated. The difficulty would likely be immense, right?"

Fang Che said, "That's precisely where I have a different opinion."

"Tell me."

"The larger the sect, the more intricate its internal relationships become."

Fang Che paused. "According to my knowledge, although Heaven Palace, Netherworld, Nether Palace, and Azure Heaven Palace appear to be four super sects, in reality, they are, to some extent, of the same origin."

"According to records, both Nether Palace and Azure Heaven Palace split from Netherworld."

"However, Azure Heaven Palace didn't. Or rather, not entirely."

Fang Che said, "Lord Yan should be aware of Azure Heaven Palace's history."

Zhou Meier spoke up, "We have records of Azure Heaven Palace's origins in our Only Righteous Sect. It is said that the founder was the first saint of Netherworld, Gui Changge, who fell in love with the princess of Heaven Palace at the time, Jiang Shuyue."

"Both of them had reached a level where their cultivation and combat strength were exceptional within Netherworld. Among the elders and ancestors, only a few could rival them. The same was true for Jiang Shuyue in Heaven Palace."

"In other words, both of them had the status of... being too powerful for their own good or having the potential to usurp the throne. However, it wasn't yet time for the succession... After going through numerous separations and reunions, as well as intense internal power struggles within the sects."

"Moreover, both Heaven Palace and Netherworld opposed their union. Because, regardless of whether the man or the woman left their sect to marry, it would weaken one side and strengthen the other."

"Their existence alone could significantly shift the balance of power between the two forces."

"So, after a long period of conflict, they decided to leave their sects and marry."

"They established a third force, Azure Heaven Palace!"

"The meaning of the name Azure Heaven Palace is strange in itself."

"There's a saying that goes, 'Above is the Azure Heaven Palace, the vast expanse of the heavens.' Thus, the Azure Heaven Palace, or Qingming, is said to belong to the heavens, the Heavenly Palace."

"However, there's another belief that the Netherworld is also known as the Dark Heaven. So, saying it's related to the Netherworld is not entirely implausible. When the couple founded the Azure Heaven Palace, they likely had a deeper meaning behind the name, but due to the passage of time, their true intentions are now impossible to ascertain."

"After they established the Azure Heaven Palace, many of their original followers from the Heavenly Palace and the Netherworld left and joined the new sect. Suddenly, the Azure Heaven Palace became a colossal force."

"Then, over the next few thousand years, the Heavenly Palace, the Netherworld, and the Azure Heaven Palace became entangled in endless vengeful entanglements, eventually leading to the current situation. The Azure Heaven Palace gradually stabilized and became the fourth-ranked sect in the world."

Zhou Meier paused after speaking.

Fang Che said, "Indeed, that's how it is. Now, we don't know if Gui Changge and Jiang Shuyue are still alive. Legends say they've already ascended to immortality. My suggestion is to confirm if the founding patriarchs are still around. As long as this couple is no longer present, using the ancient grudges between the Heavenly Palace and the Netherworld to divide the Azure Heaven Palace will be as easy as turning over one's hand. Because between them, there's an inherent conflict that cannot be resolved. Since the sect's establishment, the disciples have naturally formed two opposing factions."

"And for a sect, there can only be one leader and one path. Only the Azure Heaven Palace is different; over the years, they've been going their separate ways."

Fang Che continued, "Moreover, splitting the Azure Heaven Palace has another significant advantage: besides us taking those we need, the others may not necessarily submit to the Guardians. Instead, some may join the Guardians, some may return to the Netherworld, some may return to the Heavenly Palace, and some may wander in the Martial World."

"As for their formidable strength, we don't need to worry. The stronger the power, the greater the ambition, and the more conflicts and rivalries will arise. Their mutual hostility will only intensify."

Yan Beihan's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Then, endless disappointment suddenly rose within him.

Listening to Night Demon's suggestion, it seemed like an excellent opportunity, but... unfortunately, he was currently trapped in the Pagoda Sect and couldn't get out.

If he were to abandon his current plan and target the Azure Heaven Palace now, it would be a joke if he gave up halfway.

Zhou Meier coughed and said, "Night Demon, there's something we must realize: although Gui Changge and Jiang Shuyue haven't appeared for thousands of years, there's no record of their deaths. Moreover, such powerful cultivators have long lifespans and wouldn't die so easily."

"Not being dead is just a temporary obstacle, but our plan will still work."

Fang Che said, "After so many years, the Azure Heaven Palace has become a complex and intricate behemoth. The internal power struggles and conflicts of interest are far beyond what the small Azure Heaven Palace was initially."

"And we can take advantage of the conflicts between the various factions within."

Fang Che said, "Miss Meier, with your focus on intelligence gathering, you should be able to see this."

Zhou Meier could only nod. "Yes."

Just as Night Demon had said, Zhou Meier also realized that even if Gui Changge and Jiang Shuyue were still capable of suppressing the entire sect, once the internal conflicts escalated beyond control, a significant portion of the disciples would inevitably leave.

Because once the conflict reached an irreconcilable level, it would be a matter of life or death, with no other options.

Even if Gui Changge and Jiang Shuyue intervened as the sect's ancestors and forcibly suppressed the situation, it would be of no use.

Because the fighting below had already reached this stage.

If that were the case, even if the two founding ancestors were still alive, they might not be able to completely split the Azure Heaven Palace, but achieving that level of division would still count as a successful split.

In other words, it would provide a valid explanation to the sect's members.

The rest would be to wait until the other sects were dealt with, then turn back to focus on the Azure Heaven Palace... By then, many Azure Heaven Palace disciples would have already transformed into members of the Only Righteous Sect, ready to be utilized...

"Night Demon's words make sense."

Zhou Meier said, "If that's the case, it would be a brilliant move. Looking a few steps ahead, after dealing with the other sects, we can turn back with the momentum of splitting the Azure Heaven Palace and reclaim the Freedom Gate in one fell swoop. This will greatly enhance our reputation, making it much smoother to deal with the others."

"Yes. By then, turning to eliminate a palace like the Purple Robe Palace or the Snowflake Palace will be like a devastating trend. At that point, the grand trend of the Martial World will be in our favor, and no matter how stubborn the Pagoda Sect is, they won't be able to resist."

Fang Che said, "With the grand trend pushing us... it will be very smooth."

He looked at Zhou Meier with some surprise.

This girl is capable.

I only provided the initial idea, but her subsequent plans are exactly the same as mine.

Even the sequence is perfectly in order.

I didn't realize she had such meticulous reasoning and precise understanding of the grand trend when we were at the Universal Escort Agency.

Yan Beihan sighed, "Here, Meier once suggested that we shouldn't target the Pagoda Sect first, although she didn't explicitly say to start with the Azure Heaven Palace. Unfortunately, I didn't heed her advice."

After speaking, he had a wistful expression on his face.

If I had known the outcome, I wouldn't have agreed to split the Pagoda Sect no matter what. But now, it's too late for regrets.

Fang Che asked in confusion, "What happened with the Pagoda Sect? Logically, a sect with such a long heritage should have a solid foundation, but with so many people, there should be inevitable power struggles and loopholes. In this world, there's no such thing as an unbreakable force, so how did they reach this point?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end