jdhmnovel Chapter 181 A Cunning Plan: Who is the Hidden Mantis?
Chapter 181 A Cunning Plan: Who is the Hidden Mantis?
The Azure Frost Sword Immortal remained calm, bowed slightly, and spoke unhurriedly.
“Fellow Daoist Tianyun, Fellow Daoist Chiyan and I were also extremely shocked upon hearing this news. Our Xuanjian Sect has always acted with integrity. The attack on your sect's spirit mine was a deliberate frame-up, intended to incite conflict between our three major sects. If we had truly committed such evil deeds, why would we have left behind so much so-called 'evidence' pointing at us? Don't you find this strange, Fellow Daoist?”
True Man Crimson Flame also said in a deep voice, "That's right! If it was truly done by someone from my Profound Fire Sect, I will personally suppress and kill them. What do you think?"
Daoist Tianyun frowned deeply. He naturally had his doubts, but his expression remained cold and hard. He said in a deep voice, "What you two say makes some sense, but how can you convince me with just a few empty words? My Xuantian Sect's spirit mine was attacked, and my disciples suffered heavy casualties. How can such a blood feud be easily forgotten?"
The Frost Sword Immortal nodded slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Tianyun, we understand your feelings. I propose that the three sects jointly investigate this matter thoroughly, which would also be a way to give your sect an explanation!"
"Oh? I wonder how Fellow Daoist Qing Shuang plans to conduct a thorough investigation?" Daoist Tianyun stared at Sword Immortal Qing Shuang with eyes like a hawk, his tone full of scrutiny.
"Hmph! It seems Fellow Daoist Tianyun still doesn't quite trust me!" The Azure Frost Sword Immortal sighed softly, a hint of aloofness flashing in her beautiful eyes, yet she maintained her composed demeanor.
After a brief pause, she continued, "Since someone wants to see a battle between our three sects, we shouldn't disappoint them!"
A faint, cold smile appeared on the lips of the Azure Frost Sword Immortal.
"What does Fellow Daoist Qing Shuang mean by this? Do you have someone you suspect?"
Daoist Tianyun narrowed his eyes slightly, staring intently at the Frost Sword Immortal, trying to glean a clue from her expression.
The Azure Frost Sword Immortal gently shook his head and said calmly, "There is still no clue. Our three major sects have stood side by side for many years. Although there have been frictions between us, there has never been such a fierce conflict. Now that the spirit mine has been attacked, the evidence points to our two sects. The strangeness of this is self-evident."
"You mean someone wants to use this opportunity to weaken the strength of our three major sects and try to rise to power? It seems that the cultivation world of our Great Yuan has been too peaceful for too long. All sorts of Tom, Dick, and Harry want to challenge our position!"
The aura around Daoist Tianyun surged slightly, clearly indicating that this possibility could not be ruled out.
No one can say for sure whether the Great Yuan Empire has any forces hiding Nascent Soul cultivators, so we must be wary.
If someone truly breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage in secret, then naturally they would want to become an existence like those in the three major sects.
In this way, it is necessary to step down one of the original giants in order to take their place. After all, back in the day, they also climbed to the altar of the three major factions step by step in this way.
Crimson Flame True Man's face was also full of anger, flames flickering around his body: "Hmph, if I find out who dared to plot behind this, I will grind them to dust! Fellow Daoist Azure Frost, since you have already thought of this, then tell me, how should we work together to thoroughly investigate?"
The Frost Sword Immortal nodded slightly and said, "Why don't we turn the tables on them?"
"Playing along with their plan? Fellow Daoist Qing Shuang, what exactly are you planning?" True Person Chi Yan asked anxiously.
"Didn't Fellow Daoist Tianyun want to demand an explanation from our two sects? In my opinion, why don't we have a match right now!" The Azure Frost Sword Immortal's beautiful eyes flashed, revealing a hint of cunning.
"Great idea! Once our three major sects start fighting, the person behind this will surely surface. Then we can catch them like a turtle in a jar and take them down in one fell swoop!" True Man Crimson Flame agreed.
……
Inside the Yuan Dynasty Imperial Palace.
"Master Zhuge is truly amazing! These three major factions have indeed fallen for our trap. It's like heaven is helping us! It seems our golden opportunity is just around the corner!"
Temujincheng said to Kongming with an excited expression.
No matter how hard the three major sects racked their brains, they never imagined that the one who instigated this matter was actually a mortal prince, an ant in their eyes.
However, Kongming ignored this and, after offering a few perfunctory words, got up and left...
……
"How did things go?"
Under the cover of night, Kongming had returned to his original appearance, gently waving his feather fan.
"Fellow Daoist Zhuge, rest assured, I have already sent someone to deliver the message. I believe that this person will take action soon!"
A refined middle-aged scholar bowed to Kongming and spoke.
Under the moonlight, one could vaguely make out the man's face; it was Wu Guanqing.
This person possesses superior thinking and strategic skills, and after being subdued by Kongming, he repeatedly brought Kongming surprises.
Since helping Kongming obtain warhorses last time, Kongming has given him enough wealth and resources to develop his power.
Now, with over a thousand people under its command, it has become a considerable force, engaged in intelligence espionage.
In order to train his subordinates, he would go around finding jobs, which not only improved their skills rapidly, but also earned them a considerable amount of commission.
"Very good!" Kongming nodded in satisfaction.
"I now have many capable people under my command, and I plan to establish a force. I would like to ask Fellow Daoist Zhuge to bestow a name upon me!"
Wu Guanqing shook his clothes and asked Kongming for instructions.
Kongming smiled slightly, thinking to himself that Wu Guanqing was quite interesting, being very cautious in his actions.
Asking Zhuge Liang to bestow a name upon him was nothing more than using someone else's talent to curry favor and express his loyalty.
Kongming didn't waste any time. He pondered for a moment, then gently waved his feather fan and said, "Since your organization focuses on intelligence and espionage, then let's call it 'Shadow Pavilion'."
The shadow symbolizes acting in the dark, following like a shadow, gathering intelligence unseen, and making one impossible to guard against.
Wu Guanqing's eyes lit up, and a look of delight appeared on his face. He quickly cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhuge, the name you bestowed is wonderful! 'Shadow Pavilion' is simply the most fitting name. With such a resounding name, my recruitment of talent and the execution of my missions will surely be much smoother in the future, Zhuge..."
"Alright, alright... Here are two hundred million gold notes, take them and use them to start a new sect!"
Kongming interrupted Wu Guanqing's flattery, his eyes filled with a hint of authority, and handed over a stack of gold notes.
Wu Guanqing quickly accepted the gold notes with both hands, his face full of gratitude: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhuge. I will definitely make good use of these gold notes to develop and strengthen the Shadow Pavilion and live up to your expectations."
After Wu Guanqing left, Kongming smiled and muttered to himself.
"An Lushan, you're like an unkillable cockroach! Let's see if you'll take the bait this time!"
Previously, Kongming had ordered the Blood Drop Pavilion to track down An Lushan's whereabouts, but they had been unable to reach him since.
Kongming also guessed that this man would not be able to bear the blow of seeing the three An states he had built destroyed, and would go into seclusion in the mountains from then on.
But unexpectedly, he went to the Ming Dynasty and stirred up trouble.
If it weren't for Wu Guanqing, Kongming would still not know where this person is now.
Since he's still in this world of power struggles, he should be treated with the highest respect due to this world...