Chapter 174: Chapter 63: Everyone’s Choice

After stating the first part of his plan, Li Xingwen tactfully fell silent. As the one with the lowest cultivation level present, he didn’t want the gathering to disband, so he needed to demonstrate its benefits to everyone.

"An interesting idea. Why don’t you finish what you were saying?"

Jiang Xiaomei stared at Li Xingwen.

Li Xingwen smiled and nodded, summarizing his point in the most concise terms. "What we lack in dealing with the First Sect is a pretext. Those madmen from the First Heaven, however, hardly need a reason to go after the First Sect’s disciples. Once they start fighting, we’ll have our justification. We could even brand both sides as Evil Cultivators and annihilate them all."

"To pull this off, it would be best for it to happen on Nanlin Road. That way, Fellow Daoist Changqing can legitimately investigate the case in his capacity as the Patrol Envoy." Li Xingwen’s gaze landed on Wang Ping.

"And how do we get them to show up on Nanlin Road?" Jiang Xiaomei asked.

"Simple. Sell your Outer Realm Demon to Fellow Daoist Changqing. Or, we could all buy it, but for now, it should be placed in Fellow Daoist Changqing’s care," Li Xingwen replied with a smile.

All eyes turned to Wang Ping. He remained perfectly calm, and after a moment of thought, he said, "It’s a good plan, but the signs of a setup are too obvious. For the final report to be flawless, none of you can be involved."

"True... but if we don’t appear, how will you manage on your own?" Wen Yang asked.

"I can get Daoist Zi Luan to arrange the trap. The Nanlin Road Daoist Scripture Hall is currently in the process of severing ties with the First Heaven."

"How will you persuade Zi Luan?"

"Simple. I’ll tell him the truth. Zi Luan is extremely arrogant and has a twisted sense of humor. He’d probably love to do something like this."

"What do we need to contribute?" Jiang Xiaomei asked, indicating her approval of Wang Ping’s plan.

Wang Ping met Jiang Xiaomei’s eyes. "The question should be, what do *we* need to offer for *you* to part with your Outer Realm Demon?"

A perfect smile graced Jiang Xiaomei’s lips. She met Wang Ping’s gaze, then glanced at the others. "My husband and I are planning to move our Dao Field. We need a new one that’s relatively stable and safe. Also, the first of the Demon Soldiers produced by the Outer Realm Demon must go to our disciple."

Wang Ping was taken aback for a moment, but then he nodded in understanding. ’Everyone makes different choices in times of chaos. Some charge forward, seeking opportunities, while others retreat from the world, quietly waiting for the turmoil to end.’

The couple, Lv Wen and Jiang Xiaomei, had chosen the latter path. In its own way, that also required great fortitude.

"Are you two planning to retire?" Elder Wu asked.

"We’re simply tired of wasting our energy on schemes. Instead of plotting and calculating, we’d rather find an undisturbed place to live out this life in peace. And we don’t want a next life. We’ve experienced enough of this world’s beauty. As for the supreme Great Dao, it’s not something people like us can aspire to."

It was Lv Wen who had spoken, his tone philosophical. ’If he applied such a mentality to his cultivation, he might truly achieve something. But then, if he were truly focused on cultivation, his mentality would probably be completely different.’

"Do you have a place in mind?" Wenyang Taoist asked.

"I think your current location is quite good. Even if chaos breaks out, it’s unlikely to reach you, no?" Yuan Zheng looked at Lv Wen intently. "Did something happen at Yunque Mountain recently?"

Lv Wen shook his head, glanced at Jiang Xiaomei, and then met the gazes of the others. "Nothing in particular. We just suddenly want a change of scenery. If it helps, we are also willing to give up our position as the Fourth Seat of the Daoist Scripture Hall."

"I’ll handle it!" Wen Yang was very interested in Lv Wen’s sweetened deal. He spoke with extreme confidence, then turned to Wang Ping. "How about our two families jointly own this Outer Realm Demon?"

"Done!" Wang Ping understood Wen Yang’s intention.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoists." Lv Wen stood and cupped his fist, looking somewhat embarrassed. Running away, after all, was not a glorious act.

After Lv Wen sat down, Le Yuan said with a broad smile, "The Saint is merciful. I, too, have an item I need your help selling." As he spoke, he produced a red feather fan. "This is a treasure of the Yuqing Sect. Inside, a Second Realm Yuqing Cultivator is enslaved. You can control it as long as you refine the Magic Array Core within the artifact."

"Enslaving a Second Realm Cultivator is no ordinary feat," Wen Yang said as a word of caution to the group.

"Correct. It is the work of a True Monarch."

"What kind of Second Realm Cultivator would warrant a True Monarch making a move against them?" Yang Tian asked, his face full of curiosity.

"An unlucky soul. He went mad during a Yuqing Sect ritual and knocked over the memorial tablet of their Ancestral Master." After his explanation, Le Yuan changed the subject. "I can’t get used to the bitter cold of the Snowfield, so I’m looking to trade this item for a Dao Field."

"Not interested!"

Yuan Zheng gave Le Yuan a look of disdain. "I suggest you find any random Daoist Scripture Hall and turn the item in. You’ll have an easier time getting what you want than trying to trade it amongst us."

"Elder Yuan Zheng is right," Wang Ping formally stated. Among those present, he and Wen Yang were the only ones who could likely afford it, and he had absolutely no interest.

Hearing this, Le Yuan recited a Buddhist name, unlike his initial invocation of the ’Saint.’ ’This Monk certainly has a unique personality.’ Le Yuan then added, "This Magical Artifact is highly unusual. I must ask you patrons to keep this matter confidential."

Everyone naturally agreed.

A silence fell over the attic once more, seeming to mark the end of the trading. ’Should I offer up the Taiyin Sect’s Demon Seal?’ Wang Ping wondered. He wanted to trade it for a piece of Ten Thousand Year Spirit Wood to create a Golden Armored Puppet, but he wasn’t sure if it was a fair exchange.

"I heard the Emperor wants to move troops against the north?" Wen Yang said, implicitly ending the trading phase. Sharing intelligence was his primary reason for attending.

"Correct. Two emperors in a row have considered it, but public opinion has always suppressed the idea," Yu Cheng Taoist replied. He then glanced at Yang Tian. "The Emperor also wants to use this as an opportunity to purge the Wang Family’s connections from the Imperial Guard."

"The Imperial Guard is a hot potato. I, for one, think the sooner we hand it over, the sooner we can have peace of mind," Yang Tian offered a different perspective.

"But the Imperial Guard is crucial to the nation’s stability. Controlling such a force gives you more agency," Wen Yang, ever the proactive one, countered.

"For a small group like ours, what good would that agency do?" Yang Tian insisted, looking at Yu Cheng as he spoke. "That’s just my personal opinion."

Having said his piece, he obediently fell silent.

"Fellow Daoist Yu Cheng, how are your plans progressing?" Yuan Zheng Taoist asked.

Yu Cheng sighed. "No news yet. All I can confirm is that the person is hiding within the Imperial Palace. After all these years, I have no idea how much their power has grown."