Chapter 289: Chapter 216: Scheming Against Shangguan Shengxian

Entering Blood Province, Li An carefully observed around the main hall of the Blood Essence Sect.

The Blood Essence Sect was on high alert, heavily guarded, yet there was no war around. Such tension… it must be because of what Li An left behind, which finally took effect.

He observed for a long time, and on this evening, a group of people left the main hall, led by a practitioner at the True Core level.

Li An quietly followed.

This group traveled to a valley thousands of miles away, which was a secret medicine field of the Blood Essence Sect, where many Spirit Medicines grew. They came to collect herbs.

Shortly after entering the valley, the group was ready to return under the cover of night.

Halfway through their journey–

Bang!

A powerful aura suddenly descended, and a cloaked figure launched a surprise attack, casting several Talismans and drawing closer swiftly.

In the Blood Essence Sect’s team, there were two at True Core, three at Fake Pill, and seven at Late-Stage Foundation Establishment. However, they couldn’t withstand the attack, and with a flick of the finger by the attacker, two Fake Pill practitioners in the front exploded directly. A drifting petal fell into the crowd and exploded with terrifying shockwaves, nearly exterminating those at Foundation Establishment Stage and Fake Pill Stage!

The two True Core practitioners were shocked, attempting to flee separately, but the cloaked man was utterly calm, only pursuing one of them. The one targeted was immensely terrified and despaired after just a few breaths.

The difference in their skills was night and day!

“I am Mo Zhonglin of the Blood Essence Sect. What is your intention in ambushing us? Do you wish to become mortal enemies with the Blood Essence Sect?”

The True Core practitioner gritted his teeth, choosing to stop.

The cloaked man calmly said, “You are collecting Spirit Medicine to save Fei Tianqi, aren’t you?”

Mo Zhonglin’s face changed dramatically, his pupils contracted, “You… who are you?”

The matter involving Fei Tianqi was a top-secret within the Blood Essence Sect, known only to core members at True Core or above.

“You don’t need to know who I am. Take this back to Fei Tianqi.”

With a flick, Li An shot a Pill and a letter toward the True Core practitioner, which Mo Zhonglin caught.

“I can save him, whether you believe it or not is up to you. Remember, this letter can only be opened once and will self-destruct a few breaths after opening, and it can only be shown to Fei Tianqi.”

With that, Li An turned to leave, smiling as he said, “Oh, by the way, I already killed your other companion.”

…

After Li An left, Mo Zhonglin was still filled with lingering fear and hurried back to the Blood Essence Sect.

Once there, he reported the incident.

In the secret chamber, the sect leader and elders of the Blood Essence Sect were all present, and after listening to the report, they all looked grave!

“Let me see!”

Sect Leader Zuo Liankong took the Pill and letter, carefully inspecting the Pill several times without opening the letter.

“This Pill… is extremely effective, with a wondrous aura. It seems capable of detoxification!”

He pondered.

“According to what Zhonglin said, this person’s cultivation might be at the Nascent Soul level…”

“Tianqi was fine, but suddenly got poisoned, and then this person appeared… clearly, he is the one who harmed Tianqi!”

“What does the other party really want?”

The group of elders was uncertain.

－－A few days ago, Fei Tianqi suddenly returned to the Blood Essence Sect and sought Sect Leader Zuo Liankong.

At the time, Zuo Liankong thought Fei Tianqi came to discuss his upcoming marriage, but learned that… Fei Tianqi had been poisoned!

The poison was extremely peculiar and complex, and despite the Blood Essence Sect’s full efforts, no cure was found.

In just a few days, Fei Tianqi’s condition worsened, his cultivation became unstable, and his Dantian was damaged.

This sent the Blood Essence Sect’s leadership into a panic.

Fei Tianqi was the Saint Child of the Immortal Talent Hall, and marrying the first princess of Great Li would bring immense power, ensuring a bright future for the Blood Essence Sect.

Therefore, the Blood Essence Sect had been searching for a cure with all its might, but to no avail.

“I will take these things to the Immortal Talent Hall.”

Zuo Liankong spoke solemnly.

“Sect Leader, the mysterious person has obviously set a trap. Are you really going to find Tianqi? If so, aren’t we falling into his scheme?”

An elder couldn’t help but contemplate aloud.

Zuo Liankong said, “At this point… we can’t worry about that. Whatever scheme there is, we’ll deal with it step by step.”

After saying that, he left the Blood Essence Sect.

…

“Fei Tianqi colluding with the Demon Race to betray Great Li?!”

At Taiyi Sect.

Sect Leader Lingxuan listened to Elder Chu’s words with skepticism on his face.

This… was simply absurd.

“Sect Leader, I don’t believe it either, but I’ve recently heard that Fei Tianqi is acting strange. Though his wedding is near, he suddenly went into seclusion, refusing to see anyone, stating he’ll only emerge on the day of the wedding… Also, at the Blood Essence Sect, they’ve been on high alert recently, preparing for war, something doesn’t feel right.”

Elder Chu said, “Even if this news isn’t completely accurate, there’s probably something behind it.”

Lingxuan pondered for a long time and nodded, “You’re right.”

“Moreover, this is indeed an opportunity… Regardless of whether the news is true or false, let’s keep a close watch on Fei Tianqi.”

“If he does exhibit abnormal behavior, we’ll kill him, and there may be a chance to take his place as the Saint Child.”

Elder Chu nodded, “I will inform Luo Yue and the others immediately!”

…

The fourth step is complete.

Li An’s fourth step is to lure Fei Tianqi to the Celestial Killer Mountains!

He had previously painstakingly given the Evil Crystal to Fei Tianqi as a trap!

When Fei Tianqi used the Evil Crystal to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, he had already fallen into the trap. The Evil Crystal, infused and refined with a Life Seed and all his Poison Skills, is something nearly impossible for anyone but Li An to unravel.

In this situation, Fei Tianqi has only one choice—

Go to the Celestial Killer Mountains!

Even knowing it’s likely a scheme, he must go. If not, his cultivation will decline, and his Dantian will be damaged, especially at such a critical moment… Such a cost is too much to bear.

This is Li An’s open scheme.

Moreover, Li An calculated that Fei Tianqi mostly wouldn’t dare reveal his condition, because in the Immortal Talent Hall, many are eyeing his Saint Child position.

When Fei Tianqi sets out for the Celestial Killer Mountains, over at Lihua’s side, it should take effect as well. By then, most of the Immortal Talent Hall will know that Fei Tianqi has betrayed them. Pursuing and killing Fei Tianqi to seize the Saint Child position—who wouldn’t be tempted?

Of course, to lower Fei Tianqi’s suspicion, Li An mentioned in a letter to him that what the Demon Race wanted was the “Daoist Scripture” from the Immortal Talent Hall in Fei Tianqi’s possession.

This serves several purposes: Firstly, it obscures Li An’s presence, making Fei Tianqi or the Immortal Talent Hall think that all of this is the work of the Demon Race. Secondly, it obscures Li An’s true intentions, misleading the enemy into thinking the Demon Race wants the Daoist Scripture, when Li An’s real goal is… the lives of the many talents in the Immortal Talent Hall!

If everything goes smoothly, utilizing the heavenly net laid in the Celestial Killer Mountains, Shangguan Xiaoxiao’s first condition can be satisfied: to kill most of the talents in the Immortal Talent Hall.

And the second condition: Shangguan Shengxian must not go to the Celestial Killer Mountains.

Li An has made corresponding preparations for this.

He rushed from the Blood Province overnight, after altering his appearance and aura, he entered the northern part of Great Li and released four puppets from his storage ring!

These four puppets were recently crafted by him, each with cultivation around the Mid to Late-Stage True Core.

Moreover, among them, three have life auras identical to his.

“Stay around Celestial Yang City for a few days, wander a bit, then head directly to Moon Tempering Valley and circle around, then escape—if you can’t escape, then self-destruct.”

Li An spoke to one of the puppets, whose life aura was different from his.

This is the first piece he’s laying out, intentionally for Shangguan Shengxian to see. Once she notices this piece, she’ll know—Li An has come to Great Li.

“The three of you, wait at the Cloud Illusion Mountain Range, Celestial Yang River, and Celestial Yang City. When Gu Hong’s carriage passes by, activate the array I left behind, attack the carriage, and capture Gu Hong—”

—Li An had thoroughly investigated and found that this time when Gu Hong marries, she is using Moon Tempering Valley in the northern part of Great Li as her “parents’ home.” For years, Gu Hong has been living in Moon Tempering Valley.

A Moon Tempering Palace has long since been established there.

Departing from Moon Tempering Palace to Celestial Yang City, she was to be wed to Fei Tianqi.

Li An is very familiar with the route from Moon Tempering Valley to Celestial Yang City. Moon Tempering Valley was once the cultivation ground for Gu Hong and her master, Gusongxi. Later, Li An also lived there for a period, and Celestial Yang City, which was rebuilt even more gloriously and magnificently after being destroyed by Shangguan Shengxian long ago.

These three locations are where Li An has chosen to lay his ambush—not choosing the optimal ambush spots; instead, these three were selected at random.

Because he is afraid!

Gu Hong’s marriage is obviously a setup by Shangguan Shengxian.

To force Li An to appear.

So, the northern part of Great Li is now akin to a heavenly net.

If he wants to rescue Gu Hong, he will certainly ambush on the way. Shangguan Shengxian must have thought of this too; the best ambush location might already be a trap. Going there, Li An would be falling into it!

By choosing randomly without any considerations, the chance of being calculated by Shangguan Shengxian is lower!

Moreover, Li An is very cautious. After randomly selecting three locations, he doesn’t go in person but lets the three puppets go.

After all, this plan carries great risk, and Li An must first ensure his own safety.

If even his own safety isn’t guaranteed, then the success of the plan is meaningless.

Li An also made detailed arrangements for these three puppets, such as allowing only one puppet to act and set up the array, while the other two must remain hidden to avoid detection. If something seems wrong, they are to self-destruct immediately, and more…

…

After completing all this, Li An once more rehearsed everything in his mind.

To fulfill the condition of keeping Shangguan Shengxian from going to the Celestial Killer Mountains… there are also two steps in his plan.

Letting the demon army attack the Yue Kingdom and spreading the news is the first step.

Intentionally drawing the attention of Great Li and even Shangguan Shengxian!

Placing puppets with life auras identical to his in Great Li is the second step.

Once Shangguan Shengxian learns that the Demon Race is launching a frenzied attack on Xiling Origin Continent, what will she think?

Li An thinks she will suspect.

Suspect the motives of the Demon Race, because it seems illogical.

And at this time, when Li An’s puppet appears in Great Li, what will she think?

Will she think this is a diversion?

The fiercer the Demon Race’s attack, the more she will suspect, and the more convinced she becomes that Li An is in Great Li, intending to rescue Gu Hong. So, she will stay in Great Li’s capital, waiting patiently—

Li An is betting with these two steps that Shangguan Shengxian will stay in Great Li’s capital and not go to the Celestial Killer Mountains—

Can he win this bet?

Li An doesn’t know.

Sometimes, no matter how perfect a plan is, it can’t eliminate all risks—

“A plan that’s near-perfect, your understanding of my sister seems even deeper than mine…”

Shangguan Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but feel emotional, “If I were my sister, I would certainly think you’re orchestrating a diversion, would stay in the Great Li’s capital, and over at the Celestial Killer Mountains, we’d succeed with the Immortal Talent Hall on our side.”

“Now, we can return to the Celestial Killer Mountains and prepare to welcome those talents from the Immortal Talent Hall—”

But Li An shook his head, “No, it’s still not enough—you’re not your sister, this strategy is enough to deal with you, but probably not her.”

Shangguan Xiaoxiao was momentarily stunned by the words, then somewhat frustrated, said: “Li Gou, who do you look down on?!”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep