Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 1166 - 1162: Hatching a Plan

Chu Zhiyuan returned to the Heavenly Sword Branch satisfied.

Thirty-three statues were exchanged for thirty-three merits.

Each merit shone like a small sun, rich and substantial.

This bounty, when combined, was equivalent to all the gains since joining the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Unexpectedly, a flash of insight yielded such a vast harvest.

As soon as he returned to the branch, he immediately found Gu Junqi and talked about the previous events.

Gu Junqi exhaled in relief, speaking slowly, "The Court finally decided to take action!"

He felt that if they didn’t act soon, the people’s grievances would turn into anger, leading to major issues.

Chu Zhiyuan apologized, "Uncle Master, I overstepped and acted on my own. I didn’t have the authority to represent our Heavenly Sword Sect."

Gu Junqi smiled, "You made a decisive decision and handled it extremely well. We absolutely cannot be absent from this matter!"

"The other Three Sects..." Chu Zhiyuan said, "I’m worried they might find us meddlesome."

Gu Junqi said, "If they don’t appreciate us involving them, then they’re being ungrateful. Xiao Chu, you did brilliantly this time!"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and shook his head.

"Sect Leader still needs to be consulted, and the other Three Sects also need coordination from the Sect Leader... Xiao Chu, you should take a trip."

"Yes." Chu Zhiyuan agreed cheerfully.

...

Sect Leader’s Hall

Chu Zhiyuan watched Lu Wanshan, who was pacing with his hands behind his back.

Lu Wanshan walked back and forth, his expression solemn, brow furrowed.

Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled.

This didn’t seem like a difficult decision; he had already agreed to it, just needed to dispatch experts.

Lu Wanshan behaved like this, could there be some hidden matter?

Lu Wanshan suddenly stopped and in a deep voice asked, "How many experts do you think we should send?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "About the same as last time?"

Lu Wanshan shook his head and replied, "This is different from the demon eradication."

Chu Zhiyuan was curious, "What’s different?"

"We have grievances with both the Demon Hunting Bureau and Evil Extermination Department." Lu Wanshan said deeply, "The relationships are quite complex."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then participating in this eradication, will it cause conflict with those departments?"

"It will definitely lead to conflict." Lu Wanshan snorted coldly, "Those two departments have a habit of stealing credit."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, "Steal our merit?"

"Given the chance, they won’t pass up on it." Lu Wanshan said, "It’s happened more than once or twice, but every mission, this happens!"

"Stealing merit..." Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

He hadn’t thought that the Evil Extermination Department and Demon Hunting Bureau would do this.

He said deeply, "How do we respond?"

Lu Wanshan snorted, "Naturally, we defend as soldiers do, flood with earth in response to water, we can’t let them forcefully snatch, forcefully bully us to death!"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

The Four Great Sects aren’t pushovers; although not part of the Court, their position is extraordinary.

Lu Wanshan said, "Therefore, every time, if we can avoid acting with them, we should try not to; otherwise, the grudges deepen."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I spoke with Prince Zhuang, we’ll cover the southern route, and they’re responsible for the other three routes, not interfering with each other."

"Excellent." Lu Wanshan smiled, "Not joining them is best, you should’ve said so earlier! ... I need not worried then!"

He felt he’d worried for nothing.

Still contemplating how to coexist with the two departments, how to handle the grievances within.

These are grievances accumulated over generations, nearly impossible to resolve, only to continuously entangle.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Under these circumstances, will they still steal credit?"

"Hard to say they won’t." Lu Wanshan said, "Their ’eating habits’ are still unsightly, but better than getting entangled with them!"

"...Then can we actively steal theirs?" Chu Zhiyuan stated.

He hadn’t mentioned why not consult higher-ups, probably knowing it would be futile.

It’s standard practice to protect your own, especially in such institutions.

But since they steal our merit, why can’t we steal theirs?

"This..." Lu Wanshan frowned, "Steal theirs actively?... Never had this thought."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "How about we actively steal theirs this time?"

"Too risky." Lu Wanshan stated.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Probe the Court’s limits, we have to try, right?"

Lu Wanshan frowned in contemplation, pacing again.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Must we always be oppressed without fighting back? Can’t we take initiative?"

"They are, after all, Court affiliates; actively stealing their merit disrespects the Court’s authority."

"Do we really need to care so much? We’re merely a Martial Arts Sect, with simpler motives; if they steal from us, we steal from them, who fears who!"

"...The risk is too great." Lu Wanshan said.

He still felt it was too risky, would offend many.

Not only offending the two departments, but even many Important Ministers would perceive the Four Sects as threats.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Not taking action makes them perpetually underestimate and unafraid of us."

"...They dare act, we dare defend, but if we act first..." Lu Wanshan pondered, hesitating.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Even if we act first, we can claim they acted first... this time, we’re definitely in an advantageous position."

In terms of strength, naturally, those departments have an edge.

But in terms of top-notch expert numbers, the departments may not be stronger.

This time, only experts within a thousand-mile radius of the departments are dispatched, number likely limited.

Within just a thousand-mile radius, the departments’ experts aren’t necessarily stronger than the Four Great Sects’ experts.

"..."

Lu Wanshan hesitated, pacing with hands behind his back, circle after circle.

This concerns major relations, no room for error, once this step is taken, there’s no turning back.

Chu Zhiyuan saw him like this, then said, "Sect Leader, how about we set a trap and give them a harsh lesson?"

"We have mutual understanding, can’t strike too heavily."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned in contemplation, "Should we use some sly tactics? Make them take a silent loss."

"How?"

"Spread the word we possess a treasure, Evil Venerable’s treasure." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Won’t have to worry those evil demons won’t be fooled."

"Using that trick again?" Lu Wanshan laughed.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Just claim it’s from the Feixue Cave Mansion."

The Feixue Cave Mansion affair hasn’t fully settled yet.

Experts from the Four Great Sects have left following the destruction of the Myriad Blood Sect, the legend still reverberating, and spread from Tongyuan City.

It’s likely reaching the Imperial City now.

Claiming it’s a treasure from Feixue Cave Mansion increases its credibility, further enticing evil demons.

"...You aim to lure evil demons to snatch their merit?"

"Doesn’t count as blatant theft, right?"

"Certainly not; they came themselves, not us seeking them... that’s quite sly, brilliant!"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Consider it a lesson for them."

"Hmm, let’s do it!" Lu Wanshan snorted, "You rascal, full of crafty ideas."

"I’m just upset, forced into a corner, hence came up with this plan." Chu Zhiyuan chuckled good-naturedly.

From Huang Zhengyang’s demeanor, no trace of discomfort between Evil Extermination Department and the Four Great Sects can be seen.

Must say his deep understanding and high acting skills.

"The Jade Heaven Sword?"

"Here."

Chu Zhiyuan handed over the Jade Heaven Sword.

Lu Wanshan took the Jade Heaven Sword, went outside the hall, and threw it towards the sky.

The Jade Heaven Sword transformed into a stream of light shooting towards the sky, disappearing in an instant.

Chu Zhiyuan continually followed it with Super Sense, noticing as it ascended, an abnormal power descended on it, causing it to halt instantly, suspended in mid-air, flashing strange light. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

After flashing a dozen times, it fell straight down.

Finally, it gently landed back into Chu Zhiyuan’s hand.

Now the Jade Heaven Sword had fully recovered and could again be activated three times.