World of Cultivation Nine Hundred and Twelve – Youqin Lie’s Ten Years of Preparation
Previously on World of Cultivation...
Chapter Nine Hundred and Twelve – Youqin Lie’s Ten Years of Preparation
The highest echelons of the yao races were embroiled in a fierce battle.
Lin Qian’s retaliation had left the yao stunned. The prospect of hundreds of thousands of people flooding their lands made everyone feel utterly helpless.
Apart from resorting to similar tactics, no other solution presented itself.
During the climactic confrontation between Kun Lun and Mo Cloud Sea, the yao had placed their favor upon Kun Lun. Kun Lun's unified front proved highly effective in this scenario. The repercussions of Zuo Mo's decade-long disappearance, typically unnoticeable, were unavoidable at this critical juncture.
And the mo, once the natural confederates of the yao.
They were now exerting pressure upon the yao.
Intense debates echoed through the assembly hall. Ming Yue Ye occupied the head seat, her eyes shut as if in repose. Feng Xin Zi and Youqin Lie stood to her left and right, respectively.
The yao found themselves at a disadvantage. Compounding their woes, they lacked an expert of god-level might.
Mu Xi and Bing Lan were incapable of resolving this dire predicament. At this current stage, a god-level combatant was insurmountable.
Abruptly, a voice pierced the cacophony of arguments, unheard by anyone until that moment.
“Esteemed sirs, I implore you, let us cease this fruitless expenditure of time.”
The voice, though not loud, carried throughout the entire chamber, silencing all debate and conversation.
The speaker was an unknown male, adorned with a copper mask.
“Who are you? I do not recall seeing you before!” An elder’s countenance shifted subtly. He glared with fury and bellowed, “Identify yourself! How dare you infiltrate…”
The masked man entirely disregarded the elder’s tirade. He rose with an air of grace and offered a bow to the assembly. Softly, he announced, “Greetings, everyone. I am Nether King.”
A profound silence descended upon the hall. Every individual was taken aback by the declaration. Not a soul uttered a word.
“Ha, ah, that is incorrect,” the masked man chuckled lightly and amended, “I am the Mo King now.”
Zuo Mo’s unassailable presence enveloped the meeting room like a divine entity. An invisible force seemed to seize everyone, inducing a suffocating sensation that rendered their minds utterly blank.
Feng Xin Zi suddenly radiated intense light as shen power surged within his being. He had no idea how the Nether King had gained entry to their private gathering. However, the compound was heavily guarded by numerous experts. Any commotion would undoubtedly summon the guards stationed outside.
Yet, a frigid gaze sliced through his defenses as if an arrow. His shen power solidified!
“This is not good!”
Feng Xin Zi’s expression contorted in alarm.
Could this be the formidable power of a god-level being?
Feng Xin Zi stood as the preeminent expert under Ming Yue Ye’s command. As a pseudo god-level, he possessed few rivals. However, a mere glance from the newcomer had…
Overwhelming terror seized his mind. He had believed he grasped the magnitude of god-level strength, but the disparity proved far greater than he had ever anticipated.
This was an unbridgeable chasm!
Feng Xin Zi fell into a brief stupor, oblivious to a blurred figure materializing behind him.
A flash of purple light illuminated the scene.
Feng Xin Zi finally appeared to regain his senses. An intense premonition of danger ignited within him, transforming him into a rampaging beast.
At this moment, he felt the restraints around him tighten, rendering him incapable of any struggle.
Through his widening eyes, he witnessed the terrifying, masked figure reach out towards him.
“God-level…”
These were the final thoughts in his mind.
How could a pseudo god-level expert possibly stand a chance against both a god-level and another pseudo god-level combatant?
Slaughtered in a single strike!
Feng Xin Zi’s head detached, blood arcing onto the ceiling, staining it a vivid crimson.
Shrieks erupted within the meeting room. The faces of numerous elders turned ashen, petrified by the gruesome spectacle. However, the sounds within the chamber were effectively muffled from the outside due to the room's design, preventing any external hearing. Even Feng Xin Zi’s swift demise caused those who might have considered an attack to tremble.
“Even Feng Xin Zi Daren…”
Ming Yue Ye’s gaze shifted to Youqin Lie, her eyes hardening into ice. “Excellent! Most excellent! Youqin Lie! You dare conspire with the Nether King!”
Ming Yue Ye was not oblivious. Youqin Lie had been responsible for the security of the entire premises. Only Youqin Lie possessed the capability to facilitate such a seamless infiltration.
Youqin Lie inclined his head in respectful deference. “My actions are for the benefit of all.”
The attendees present bore faces as pale as ash.
They understood the considerable influence Youqin Lie wielded. The treachery of such a pivotal figure indicated that the adversary had meticulously laid plans to counter them.
Ming Yue Ye paid no heed to Youqin Lie. She turned and stated with chilling composure, “Nether King displays remarkable skill, such cunning.”
Zuo Mo offered a smile. Internally, he was completely won over by the meticulous planning of Pu Yao and Wei. Zuo Mo had not placed much stock in Pu Yao and Wei’s strategy years prior when they had foretold the blood summons and the seeds. Yet, what he had not anticipated was the monumental significance of all three seeds.
Without Youqin Lie’s guidance, Zuo Mo might never have found Ming Yue Ye even if he had come looking.
Zuo Mo found a seat, acting as if he were the master of the place.
“Alright everyone, I believe no harsh words are necessary. Let us now deliberate the future of the yao people.”
Zuo Mo’s voice carried easily to everyone present.
“Don’t even think about it!” Ming Yue Ye’s face was cold, her tone unwavering. “Even if we all perish here today, we will not accept your decisions. If you wish to conquer the yao, send your army!”
Ming Yue Ye’s declaration ignited the agreement of many, their gazes burning with fury towards Zuo Mo.
“That’s right! If you want to conquer the yao, send your army!”
“Hmph, you aim to use underhanded tactics unseen in the light to subdue the yao? How naive!”
Zuo Mo regarded Ming Yue Ye with surprise. It wasn't her resolve that shocked him, but the astuteness of the others. Faced with such dire circumstances, she had precisely discerned his intentions. Though she held no cards initially, she had managed to find some. They were few, but sufficient for negotiation.
She had correctly surmised that Zuo Mo desired a swift and peaceful subjugation of the yao. Otherwise, he could have simply eliminated the present leaders, paving the way for an army invasion – a far simpler approach.
The demise of these key figures would plunge the yao into disarray, shattering any hope of a unified defense against the mo army.
Zuo Mo had opted against such a brutal path, a fact Ming Yue Ye immediately grasped as the critical point.
A light chuckle escaped from behind his mask.
If he were easily pressured even in such a favorable position, then he wasn't the formidable Scalping Zombie!
With a snap of his fingers, Zuo Mo beckoned Youqin Lie.
Youqin Lie understood and stepped forward, his gaze steady as he looked at Mu Xi.
An ominous premonition suddenly struck Mu Xi.
“Respected Mu Xi, the flourishing development of the Palace Lake Wood Clan is indeed commendable. However, beneath such prosperity often lie fatal vulnerabilities. We have scrutinized all youths under thirty within the Palace Lake Wood Clan, and only twenty-five have attained the Silver Battle General rank. In contrast, the Dry Mark Yu Clan and the Mile Sea Xian Clan each possess more than four youths nearing the Gold Battle General level. Should Respected Mu Xi not be present… ”
Youqin Lie trailed off, but Mu Xi’s expression had already shifted dramatically.
She had never suspected Youqin Lie of secretly investigating the Palace Lake Wood Clan! The outward success of her clan masked a hidden weakness. The Dry Mark Yu Clan and the Mile Sea Xian Clan were the sworn enemies of the Palace Lake Wood Clan, and over the years, Mu Xi’s esteemed position had allowed her to suppress them, gradually weakening their influence.
What if she were no longer here…
She knew that with a mere flick of Youqin Lie’s finger, the two rival clans would eagerly pledge their allegiance. The fate of the Palace Lake Wood Clan would be dire.
“Esteemed Bing Lan!” Youqin Lie bowed respectfully to Bing Lan as was his custom.
Bing Lan offered a cold smile. “And? I wish to hear how you intend to deal with me!”
Bing Lan had been an orphan since childhood, unburdened by clan ties.
“Respected Bing Lan carries no clan obligations. This implies that, apart from your own value as a battle general, Bing Lan’s other contributions are of little consequence,” Youqin Lie stated plainly. “As for Bing Lan’s forces, you have twelve core commanders who share similar backgrounds. Of these twelve, nine are married, their husbands—the clan leaders of nine prominent families—are currently guests of the Shadow Guard. Fear not, Respected Bing Lan, we shall ensure their well-being.”
Bing Lan’s composure finally faltered.
If she were absent, what would become of her corps…
Youqin Lie’s gaze moved on from Bing Lan, turning then to an elder observing the scene with a calm demeanor.
“Elder Xu finds himself in the most advantageous position among all the families. Elder Xu has managed his clan exceptionally well; the clan is unified, with no surrounding threats. You command battalions, and they are of superior quality.”
“A pity,” Youqin Lie suddenly shook his head, a sigh escaping him. “In the past, Elder Xu plotted against the Ten Thousand Mile Gang, nearly annihilating them. The surviving members of the Ten Thousand Mile Gang have not forgotten Elder Xu’s… generosity.”
The mention of the Ten Thousand Mile Gang caused a collective shift in expression among the elders. They had heard of this notorious organization, known for its ruthless and covert operations, ruling through terror. Decades prior, the Ten Thousand Mile Gang had vanished without a trace. No one had suspected Elder Xu’s connection to this mysterious entity.
Elder Xu, who had maintained a measured composure, abruptly leaped to his feet as if ignited. "Impossible!" he declared in utter astonishment.
Youqin Lie offered him a placid smile. "Elder Xu, there is no need for haste. We can delve into the specifics at a more opportune moment."
With that, he dismissed Elder Xu. Youqin Lie then proceeded to reveal a cascade of secret after secret, circulating the chamber. He laid bare the information and hidden truths concerning nearly every individual present, as if recounting his own experiences.
A suffocating atmosphere of dread and despair permeated the entire assembly hall.
Ming Yue Ye's eyes widened, her complexion paling considerably as she gazed at Youqin Lie in sheer disbelief.
Such intricate details, such meticulous planning. She couldn't fathom the extent of this scheme's duration, a feat surely requiring years of covert investigation, of which she had remained utterly oblivious! She had previously suspected Youqin Lie of betraying her to the Nether King. Now, however, an even more preposterous notion began to insidiously form within her mind.
Could Youqin Lie himself be a clandestine operative of the Nether King?
Her heart continued its downward spiral.
Youqin Lie's maneuver was devastatingly ruthless. The powerful yao present were destined to crumble. These individuals, along with the formidable families backing them, represented the true heart and soul of the yao, constituting their actual ruling echelon.
Every single one of her strategic advantages had vanished.
Translator Ramblings: All of Pu Yao and Wei’s seeds are such big trees.