Chapter 172: Bittersweet Trick

Chapter 172: The Self-Inflicted Wound Stratagem

The avatar belonged to "Surging Great River," an elder of the Water God Palace, who spoke blandly:

"Although it was but a brief exchange, I used seventy percent of my strength; as for the Demon Eye, at most forty percent. In a fight to the death, I stand no chance of victory.

"Preliminary estimates suggest two elders would be needed to fight him to a standstill. Of course, this discounts artifacts, discounts the Demon Eye going berserk, slaughtering commoners to fuel his power through battle. You should be well aware of the might and terror of an Ancient War God."

The Scarlet Fire Gang elder snorted:

"No matter how strong the Ancient War God, even if he goes berserk, slaughtering commoners indiscriminately to absorb their essence blood, that one man alone could never be a match for the six of us."

No matter the variables on the battlefield, no matter how strong the Ancient War God, he could not solo six Sovereigns.

The White Tiger Army elder, his tone resonant and firm:

"This has never been a question of whether we can win, but how to eliminate the Demon Eye at the smallest cost. These past few days, the Demon Eye has roamed Songhai openly, precisely because he knows we dare not strike there.

"Of course, neither does he dare fight us in the bustling city center."

Sovereign-level combat power equates to a human-shaped bomber; wherever they pass, all turns to scorched earth.

The more powerful a Spirit Realm Walker, the more restrained they are in reality—after all, no one wants to be wanted by the Spirit Realm, becoming a fugitive whose location is broadcast in real-time.

Moreover, the Spirit Realm's warrants target all Walkers, making no distinction between Order and Evil.

Once warranted by the Spirit Realm, even a Sovereign becomes a "public enemy of the martial world"; under heavy bounty, both righteous and wicked factions rise to attack.

That is why the Songhai branch elders are in such a quandary. Outnumbering him to solve the Demon Eye is easy; the difficulty lies in solving him "silently and without a trace."

"To suppress the commotion of battle, to avoid implicating innocents, we must lure the Demon Eye away from the city, or into a Secret Realm. Elder Dog, can your Zoo trap the Demon Eye?" The voice of the Palace Master of Cessation Killing rang out in the conference room.

Her voice was gentle and soft, tinged with a hint of nonchalance, as if she were lazily reclining on a couch, chatting idly.

Rather than a serious, high-level conference.

Operating on the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, the Songhai branch elders, upon learning the Demon Eye Heavenly King had arrived in Songhai, made contact with the Palace Master of Cessation Killing.

Though this woman was a rogue cultivator of the martial world, though she was a wanted fugitive, the branch elders possessed flexible professional principles; on the premise of dealing with the Demon Eye Heavenly King, they remained good friends.

Elder Dog spoke slowly:

"This rule-type artifact trapping the Demon Eye is no issue, but the artifact's main body must descend; a projection cannot hold him. And while its main body is mobile, it cannot forcibly pull people in.

"We need the Demon Eye to enter the Zoo willingly, but how to make an Ancient War God walk into a trap?"

Entering the Zoo meant entry without exit; the Demon Eye would never fall for it.

The Central Court elder suddenly asked:

"Palace Master, how fares the bait you released?"

The Palace Master of Cessation Killing spoke blandly:

"The bait has been spotted, but it hasn't bitten. The Demon Eye Heavenly King has excellent patience. This man is usually neurotic and erratic, yet on critical matters, he reveals not a single flaw."

The so-called bait was a puppet she had arranged to deliberately show its face in the underground black market.

It only showed its face once; the next day it was tailed, but the other party was patient, maintaining covert observation, refusing to strike immediately.

Elder Zhongting mused, "What about using bait to lure the Demon Eye into the Zoo?"

Palace Master Zhisha scoffed, "First, the bait lacks sufficient weight, unless I serve as the bait myself. Second, the Demon Eye Heavenly King's vertical eye can see through disguises; the Zoo possesses no ability to conceal auras."

The conference room fell into silence for a time.

A Lord-tier Evil Professional was simply that troublesome.

The Elder of the White Tiger Legion heaved a long sigh, "The Demon Eye has been parading about openly these past few days, deliberately disgusting us, confident we have no recourse against him, though he dares not push things to the point of mutual destruction either."

The officially sanctioned Arena Tournament was soon to commence; should the Demon Eye stir up any trouble in Songhai, Headquarters would certainly demand accountability.

The various branch divisions would also mock the Songhai Division for its incompetence.

Most critically, at this precise juncture, should Yuan Shi Tianzun meet with any mishap, it would be a resounding slap to the face of the Five Elements Alliance.

Furthermore, who knew if the Demon Eye lurked in Songhai with some ulterior motive? If all this was a facade, and his true purpose was to hunt the elders of the Songhai Division...

Then it concerned the safety of everyone present.

Thus, with the Demon Eye problem unresolved, the elders found it difficult to eat or sleep in peace.

The Elder of the Scarlet Fire Gang endured and endured, until finally he could endure no longer, his voice deep and muffled: "Parading openly, acting with utter impunity, deliberately disgusting us. Hmph, does he truly believe that just because of this, we are left with no options? Since everyone harbors reservations, no one has more courage than the next; at worst, we all perish together. I shall challenge the Demon Eye to a duel, and we can all be finished together."

No one in the conference room responded. Palace Master Zhisha clicked her tongue, "As an elder, what is the point of saying such angry words?"

The Luo Shen Elder of the Water God Palace sneered, "What he speaks are not angry words; he is truly capable of doing it. Never overestimate the wisdom and rationality of a Fire Master."

Palace Master Zhisha giggled, "What did you officials call me again? A madwoman, an extremist? I see your elder is the true madman."

At this, Elder Gou spoke slowly, "I have an idea."

The conference room quieted once more; the four Lords pricked up their ears in anticipation.

"To deceive the Demon Eye's perception, to have him 'stumble' into the Zoo, is not impossible. All it takes is for a Void Walker to act, creating an illusory realm, and the Demon Eye would be unable to detect the Zoo's existence."

Void Walker was the title for a Lord-tier Illusionist.

The Elder of the Scarlet Fire Gang replied irritably, "Isn't that nonsense? How could a Void Walker possibly associate with us..."

He seemed to recall something, and his words abruptly caught in his throat.

The Elder of the White Tiger Legion smiled, "A good idea. If that person is willing to act, this matter is settled."

He paused, then added, "But our face isn't enough; we cannot possibly invite him to move."

The Luo Shen Elder proposed, "Let Yuan Shi Tianzun step forward."

Elder Zhongting hesitated, "Even if Yuan Shi Tianzun steps forward, it's uncertain. That person would never act for a mere Supernatural Walker. If he truly did act, we would have to reassess Yuan Shi Tianzun's value."

"Everyone..."

The Lord of the Cessation Palace could not help but speak, a trace of bewilderment in his voice, a trace of something else entirely:

"What are you talking about? Yuanshi Tianzun, when did you become so deeply entangled with the Void Walkers? How did I not know?"

The Elder of the Crimson Fire Gang let out a cold snort:

"Why should you know? You may walk close to Yuanshi Tianzun, but he is, after all, a man of my Five Elements Alliance. Must he report every matter to you?"

He had barely finished speaking when, perhaps mishearing, it sounded as though the Lord of the Cessation Palace was grinding his teeth.

Elder Dog spoke:

"Then it is settled. I shall notify Yuanshi Tianzun to make an appearance. Everyone, await further word."

...

"The elders want me to step forward and ask Master Wuxian for help?"

At home, Zhang Yuanqing listened to Fu Qingyang's voice on the phone, a wave of stunned disbelief washing over him.

Fu Qingyang was concise: "Is there a problem?"

Zhang Yuanqing knitted his brows tight:

"But you know as well as I do, Master Wuxian wages a constant war against his inner demons. Once true fire is kindled, murderous qi surges, and he is liable to lose control."

Even a Ruler-level big shot, presumably, could lose their head.

Contending with inner demons demands a tranquil heart, a withdrawal from dust and strife.

Fu Qingyang spoke lightly: "We only need him to act and forge an illusory realm; he need not join the battle. Besides, there is no foundation of trust between the elders and Wuxian. Even if he wished to involve himself, the elders might not agree."

"I'll try..."

Zhang Yuanqing dared not make a guarantee.

Hanging up, Zhang Yuanqing immediately donned the "Silencer" mask and left. Ten minutes later, he was in a rideshare headed for Jinshan City.

In the car, he gazed at the passing scenery, sinking into deep thought.

By the elders' plan, if Master Wuxian agreed to act, disposing of the Demon Eye was nine parts certainty. The problem was: what if Master Wuxian refused?

The face of Yuanshi Tianzun, it seemed, held little sway over a Buddhist big shot.

But the Demon Eye Heavenly King had to be dealt with. Hiding was a stopgap, not a lasting solution; it was a matter of life and death, no place for an ostrich.

The moment he truly knocked on the door, all would be lost.

As the rideshare neared the Wuxian Hotel, a plan formed in Zhang Yuanqing's mind.

"Driver, stop!"

Zhang Yuanqing called out.

The driver did not stop. "Not there yet."

"Fifty cash extra, won't short you the fare."

The driver slammed the brakes, pulling over to the curb: "Have a good one!"

Zhang Yuanqing paid the fare, scrambled out of the carriage, and made for a secluded spot. Seeing no one about, he peeled off the Silencer's mask and vanished from sight.

Then, he set off at a dead sprint toward the Wuchen Inn.

At this moment, the inn still lay thirty-odd kilometers distant.

With his current physical reserves, covering thirty kilometers at a flat-out pace was no great feat, but doing so in the state of a Nightwalker was another matter entirely.

By the time Zhang Yuanqing reached the outskirts of the Wuchen Inn, his stamina was all but spent, his face drained of color, sweat cascading like a breached dam.

"Hah... hah..."

He materialized in the deserted area beside the inn, back braced against the wall, hands on knees, gulping down great lungfuls of air.

So tired. The last time he had skirted the edge of his limits was back in Yin-Yang Town... Zhang Yuanqing swallowed, only to discover his mouth held not a drop of saliva to wet his throat.

After resting a minute or two, Zhang Yuanqing staggered around to the building's front, shoved open the glass doors of the Wuchen Inn, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Xiaoyuan, save me..."

Behind the counter, Xiaoyuan, head bowed over her phone, jumped in fright. She looked up, caught sight of Yuanshi Tianzun's wretched state, and her face blanched instantly.

She flung the phone aside and hurried over, willow brows bristling, her cold, exquisite features radiating killing intent:

"Who beat you like this?"

Zhang Yuanqing "sobbed" his complaint:

"It was that thousand-times-damned Demon Eye Heavenly King. He finally tracked me down. The majestic Heavenly King, utterly shameless, actually raised a hand against a nobody like me. If the branch elders hadn't intervened, I'd be dead already."

Xiaoyuan's brow furrowed, she gritted her teeth: "That mad dog."

She supported the Yuanshi Tianzun, whose legs had gone weak, onto a nearby lounge chair, and asked:

"You're..."

"This is an old injury flaring up." Zhang Yuanqing offered a quick explanation, then hastily steered the conversation: "That Demon Eye Heavenly King pushes things too far. Alas, Xiaoyuan, I truly don't know what to do."

"He's already backed you into a corner like this?" Auntie Xiaoyuan's pale face was etched with gravity.

Zhang Yuanqing seized the opening: "The branch elders have drawn up an aggressive plan to deal with Demon Eye, but a snag has arisen in one link. They need a powerful illusionist to take part. Xiaoyuan, I want to see Grandmaster Wuchen."

"You want Grandmaster Wuchen to act?" Xiaoyuan knit her brows, hesitating: "You know he cannot easily intervene. Moreover, it would violate the rules he set for himself. Grandmaster Wuchen is an elder who stands strictly by his principles."

"It's just creating an illusory realm... Alas, that's what I told the elders too. So I dare not stay in Songhai any longer; I could only come here to seek refuge with you." Zhang Yuanqing sighed and groaned, his face a mask of dejection.

Xiaoyuan gazed at him in silence.

The Yuanshi Tianzun she knew was radiant, confident, and open. In just a few days, he had become this drooping, dispirited figure. It seemed he had truly been shattered by the Demon Eye Heavenly King.

A nameless anger surged in Xiaoyuan's heart.

She drew a deep breath and mused: "If it's only crafting an illusory realm, I can take you to see Grandmaster Wuchen, put in a word for you."

Zhang Yuanqing hastily clasped her hand, delight coloring his voice:

"Really?"

Xiao Yuan gently withdrew her hand and nodded.

The two immediately headed deep into the hotel, took the elevator, and arrived at the door of Room 404.

*Knock, knock!*

Xiao Yuan curled her fingers and rapped on the door:

"Master Wuhen, Yuan Shi Tianzun requests an audience."

With that, she tried turning the doorknob; if it turned, it meant Master Wuhen was willing to see him.

Otherwise, he would not.

She turned the doorknob easily, and the surrounding scenery twisted along with it, rippling like water.

In the blink of an eye, the two appeared inside an ancient, elegant temple. Above them was a caisson ceiling painted with gods and Buddhas; ahead sat a great golden Buddha, twirling a flower with lowered gaze, eyes half-closed, seeming both compassionate and fierce.

Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath of the incense-thick air, pressed his palms together:

"Master, I have been targeted by the Demon-Eye Heavenly King. Yesterday I nearly died at his hand. The elders of the Songhai Branch have formulated a plan..."

He proceeded to recount the operation against Demon-Eye to Master Wuhen.

Master Wuhen sat in silent stillness, offering no response.

Zhang Yuanqing bowed his head to the floor: "Please, Master, save me."

Master Wuhen remained silent.

Xiao Yuan couldn't help but say: "Master, if it is only creating an illusory realm, it does not hinder your cultivation. Yuan Shi is being persecuted by Demon-Eye; your intervention would not count as breaking the rules."

After a long silence, Master Wuhen's voice rang out, suppressed with pain:

"Very well!

"When the time comes, crush this jade talisman."

As he spoke, a dim, flowing light flew from his sleeve and landed at Zhang Yuanqing's feet.

Zhang Yuanqing was overjoyed: "Many thanks, Master."

The two did not linger, bowing as they backed out of the ancient temple.

Clutching the Dream-Entry Jade Talisman, Zhang Yuanqing let out a long breath of relief, turned to Xiao Yuan beside him, and said:

"I'll make a call to report in first."

Xiao Yuan said indifferently: "Why not just leave directly?"

*Too tired, want to drink some water and rest a bit...* Zhang Yuanqing said with a straight face:

"Since I've made a rare trip to Jinshan City, naturally I want to spend a little more time with Aunt Xiao Yuan."

Xiao Yuan was stunned.

Zhang Yuanqing had already walked to the side, fished out his phone, and dialed Fu Qingyang's number.

……