Chapter 98: Bottom-Line Plan

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“For the commandery governor to move personally on such a matter, even using the excuse of being dedicated and focused on the people is utterly far-fetched!”

“This only proves that Governor Li utilized the small banners to arrange this Inverse Longevity Array covering the entire commandery!”

“What!”

The four arrived at a secluded mountain forest, where Lu Yang took out a map of Yanjiang Commandery, marked with the nodes of the Inverse Longevity Array deduced last time: “The node positions of the Inverse Longevity Array should be the same as before. Before this, I want to confirm one thing first. Lan Ting, when you spoke of a blood sacrifice, did you mean killing people at the nodes, or using the essence blood of cultivators as offerings to activate the array?”

As these words were spoken, Mangu and Lan Ting grew pale with shock; only Meng Jingzhou had anticipated it, showing little reaction.

When they had first entered Yanjiang Commandery, he had remarked that collusion between the officialdom and the demonic path was by no means rare.

Seeing more and more people gathering on the Great Stone Bridge, Lu Yang suggested leaving the place first to find an uninhabited spot.

“Not to mention the impact on Governor Li's political performance by capturing three Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators; three Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators, if no sub-helm existed, would be all a small commandery possessed. This is equivalent to wiping out the leadership of the demonic cultivators in an entire commandery.”

“Once the Inverse Longevity Array is activated, nothing might seem amiss on the surface, but over time, clues will inevitably be discovered.”

“If One Zhang Hong hadn't preceded this, the authorities would have vigorously pursued the culprit, and by then, both the Yanjiang Helm and Governor Li would risk exposure.”

“Governor Li very cleverly arranged for One Zhang Hong.”

“With One Zhang Hong setting up the Inverse Longevity Array beforehand, even if Governor Li activates the array and reduces the longevity of mortals, the authorities will only fix their eyes upon One Zhang Hong.”

Mangu was astonished: “But One Zhang Hong didn't succeed in setting it up.”

Lu Yang sneered: “Failing to set it up is merely One Zhang Hong's side of the story. Perhaps the array really was activated, but due to One Zhang Hong's improper operation, it only reduced longevity without increasing his own cultivation. Such a thing is highly likely to happen. After all, it is an unfamiliar array, and any accident is possible.”

Mangu still could not understand: “But One Zhang Hong's two companions can also confirm that the arrangement wasn't successful.”

Lu Yang said: “Companions? Where would demonic cultivators get companions? They all merely use each other. It stands to reason that One Zhang Hong wouldn't speak the truth to those two.”

“With such a ready-made suspect, who else would they suspect but One Zhang Hong?”

“Furthermore, One Zhang Hong's crimes are numerous and certain to carry the death penalty. Perhaps by the time the authorities discover that the Inverse Longevity Array was activated, One Zhang Hong will have already been executed.”

“With One Zhang Hong as a target, who would ever suspect Governor Li?”

Meng Jingzhou and Lan Ting nodded repeatedly after hearing this, agreeing with Lu Yang's view.

Lu Yang asked again: “Also, are there seven nodes that require blood sacrifice?”

Lan Ting glanced at Lu Yang in surprise and nodded, not understanding how Lu Yang knew, since hadn't he said he knew nothing of arrays?

“Yesterday when I left, I encountered seven deacons who were temporarily summoned by Helm Master Chu. There should be some mission. I guess he arranged for them to take the essence blood and wait at the array nodes for the opportune moment.”

“In that case, tell us more about the knowledge of the Inverse Longevity Array.”

Lan Ting did not decline, circling seven points on the map of Yanjiang Commandery: “These seven places are the key nodes for activation, near the scenic spots of Yanjiang Commandery. The array eye is at... the mountainside of Mount Song!”

To break through using the Inverse Longevity Array, one would naturally choose a secluded place.

“Let's uproot some of the Inverse Longevity talismans first to prevent the array from activating. However, doing so will highly likely draw the attention of Helm Master Chu. Instead of having him come looking for us, it is better for us to lie in ambush first and catch him off guard,” Lu Yang said.

It was precisely because Lu Yang worried about a battle with Helm Master Chu that he had not left the four's combat styles in the shadow-recording sphere.

All three felt put on the spot; when the time came, it would be a life-and-death struggle. Helm Master Chu was an existence at the late Golden Core stage, extremely difficult to deal with.

“Can we report it to the authorities, and tell Fang Qingyun about this?” Mangu asked.

Lu Yang shook his head: “Once Fang Qingyun learns of the array on the small banners, he will definitely suspect Governor Li. If Governor Li is captured, our identities as demonic sect members will also be exposed.”

Lan Ting hesitated: “Relying only on the four of us to face a late Golden Core stage, I fear it will be hard to eliminate the opponent.”

Lu Yang, however, was confident: “Do not fear. We shall make full preparations. If there is truly no way out when the time comes, I still have a fallback plan.”

“What is it?”

“Eldest Senior Sister Pictographic Fist!”

Upon hearing this, Meng Jingzhou and Mangu's expressions changed drastically. Noticing their transformation, Lan Ting asked, bewildered: “What is Eldest Senior Sister Pictographic Fist?”

“It is the ultimate move of the Lu family's pictographic fist!” Lu Yang said with a face full of confidence.

Lan Ting nodded, half-understanding.

(End of Chapter)

“Of course, they might be two different people, and these are just speculations. But no matter which case it is, the method to activate the Inverse Longevity Array will absolutely not be killing mortals!”

Mangu still had not figured it out, so Meng Jingzhou explained: “Governor Li wants a promotion. With a malicious murder incident occurring during the Gathering Spring Festival, does he still want his promotion? Even if he has cleared relations with those above, the higher-ups cannot blatantly promote him.”

“Moreover, with the governor's status, what difficulty is there in obtaining the essence blood of cultivators? Just find a few cultivators at random in the prison.”

Lu Yang shook his head: “Not an undercover agent, nor a partner. I suspect Helm Master Chu and Governor Li are the exact same person!”

“There is no direct evidence, only two points of suspicion.”

“First is the time Helm Master Chu summons us, which is always at night. I have inquired with the other deacons about this matter, and they said other sub-helms are not like this.”

“Second is that both Helm Master Chu and Governor Li are due for a promotion, and the timing is almost identical.”

Mangu sucked in a breath of cold air. This world was even darker than he had imagined; if Helm Master Chu and Governor Li were the same person, wouldn't that mean he was playing both the righteous and demonic paths?

Mangu suddenly realized, feeling that the world was truly dark: “In other words, the undercover agent planted by the sub-helm in Yanjiang Commandery is Governor Li. Given Governor Li's cultivation and status, it would be more appropriate to use a cooperative relationship?”

“Last night I heard people from the government saying that when arranging the small banners, Governor Li personally went out to supervise, demanding that the positions of the banners must not be wrong.”

Lan Ting still had some doubts: “Did Governor Li and One Zhang Hong both arrange the Inverse Longevity Array by coincidence, or is there a connection?”

“I believe there is a great connection.” After figuring out the relationship between Helm Master Chu and Governor Li, Lu Yang had new views on many matters.

The three were puzzled. The person arranging the array was definitely a demonic cultivator, and for demonic cultivators, killing people was naturally far more convenient than using essence blood.

“Who do you think has such a grand hand to hide the Inverse Longevity Array within the small banners, and specifically arrange it all within a single night, using the darkness as a cover so that no one would suspect anything even if they grew drowsy?”

Lan Ting did not understand Lu Yang's meaning: “Either way is possible, but usually the former is used. Killing people only requires killing mortals, whereas using too much essence blood of cultivators will affect one's cultivation and is detrimental to future practice.”

Lu Yang was thoughtful: “Then the person who arranged the array should be using the second method.”

Meng Jingzhou reacted instantly: “Someone from the government, and someone of high authority!”

Lu Yang nodded: “Yes. To be precise, the commandery governor!”

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