Chapter 54: Conspiracy

A single lamp burned dimly, casting flickering candlelight in Xu Haoran’s room. Xu Haobo sat within the shadows of the lamplight, his deep voice gradually rising:

“Eldest Brother, Zhongdu City’s once-every-five-years Grand Competition is half a year away. Do you think they might use this Grand Competition to take action against our clan?”

Xu Haoran tightly furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, and nodded, saying: “Very possible! The Grand Competition year tests three tiers of strength – Elder level, Inner Hall level, and Outer Hall level! The Outer Hall has Xu Gan, Xu Wen, and Xu Tianxiao; we might not be at a disadvantage. The Inner Hall has Ninth Uncle’s son, Tianlang. I think in half a year he should be able to break through to the Third Layer of Qi Refining Stage. And now Liner has given us a pleasant surprise. With Liner and Tianlang, I don’t think anyone among Zhongdu City’s younger generation poses a threat to those two. Besides, although Qier isn’t as good as Tianlang and Liner, he has also reached the Second Layer of Qi Refining Stage.

As for our Elder level, Ninth Uncle’s cultivation level should also be able to handle those three families. Those three families don’t have masters at the Foundation Building Stage among their Elders. I can’t see what tricks those three families could still pull?”

※※※

City Lord’s Manor.

Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng sat around a table.

“This Beast Tide has affected our plans. Our three families’ disciples suffered much heavier losses than the Xu Clan!” Wu Meng said somewhat dejectedly.

“Indeed, we should replan!” Xiao Rugui turned his gaze towards Li Wanpeng.

Li Wanpeng curled his fingers and lightly tapped the table, pondering as he said: “What if we set the date for half a year from now, on the day of the Grand Competition?”

“What do you mean?” Xiao Rugui and Wu Meng both widened their eyes abruptly.

“The once-every-five-years Grand Competition for our four families is held in Trial Valley. The entire valley is a Grand Array set up by our four families together. Once activated, the inside and outside are cut off. Only after seven days pass can the people inside the valley come out.”

Having said this, Li Wanpeng chuckled darkly and said: “The Xu Clan doesn’t know that four years ago we jointly discovered an Ancient Cave Mansion. Although the gains weren’t great, some elixirs inside allowed our three families’ strength to increase greatly.

The Xu Family Ancestor has been in Secluded Death Cultivation trying to break through to the 7th Layer of Foundation Building Stage. He hasn’t emerged all these years, presumably because he hasn’t broken through yet. Although the ancestors of our three families also haven’t broken through to the late stage of Foundation Building Stage Sixth Layer these years, thanks to the power of the elixirs obtained from the Ancient Cave Mansion, they reached the peak of the mid stage of Foundation Building Stage Sixth Layer. So, if three at the peak of the mid stage of Foundation Building Stage Sixth Layer join forces, they should be able to kill the Xu Family Ancestor at the peak of the late stage of Foundation Building Stage Sixth Layer.

When Xu Haoran’s father entered Closed-Door Cultivation, he was at the initial stage of Foundation Building Stage Fifth Layer. When Xu Haoliang’s father entered Closed-Door Cultivation, he was at the peak of the late stage of Foundation Building Stage Fourth Layer. And our three fathers, thanks to the power of those elixirs, have now all reached the peak of the late stage of Foundation Building Stage Fourth Layer, the same Realm as Xu Haoliang’s father. And I am now at the peak of the late stage of Foundation Building Stage Third Layer.

Therefore, if my father and I join forces to deal with Xu Haoliang’s father, who is only at the peak of Foundation Building Stage Fourth Layer, we can completely kill him. And if you two and your fathers join forces to deal with Xu Haoran’s father at Foundation Building Stage Fifth Layer, even if we can’t kill him, we can hold him off. Once my father and I kill Xu Haoliang’s father, the six of us joining forces will definitely be able to kill Xu Haoran’s father.

Now, Brother Xiao and Brother Wu, you two have also reached the peak of the late stage of Foundation Building Stage Second Layer. Our three younger brothers also benefited from the help of the Ancient elixirs, breaking through to the peak of the mid stage of Foundation Building Stage Second Layer respectively. Although our best disciples mostly died in this Beast Tide, as long as we still have those Ancient elixirs, in half a year, those disciples in the families with good cultivation will surely make breakthroughs, completely suppressing the Xu Clan’s disciples. Their Xu Clan’s most outstanding disciple is just that Xu Tianlang; killing him would be as easy as turning over a hand.

On the day of the Grand Competition, the ancestors and fathers of our three families will first ambush around the Xu Clan, waiting for our signal. The three of us are to go with Xu Haoran to lead the clan’s Elders and Disciples to Trial Valley. Once the participants enter Trial Valley, the three of us will join forces to kill Xu Haoran. Then I will immediately return to the Xu Clan, and we will join forces to slaughter the Xu Clan, seizing the Xu Clan’s property.

As for inside Trial Valley, our three families’ Outer Hall and Inner Hall Disciples will completely suppress the Xu Clan’s disciples at that time. And our three younger brothers joining forces will be fully capable of killing Xu Haoliang, who is at the peak of the late stage of Foundation Building Stage Second Layer. Thus, we will surely completely wipe out all the Xu Clan participants in the trial.”

Having said this, Li Wanpeng’s face, which had grown more and more smug as he spoke, suddenly turned grim, and he said gravely:

“Right now, the most important thing is to not let the Xu Clan know our true strength. Fortunately, two years ago we spent a great deal of money at the Marketplace to purchase a large number of Breath-Concealing Talismans, hiding our Cultivation Level. But we must be careful not to make the Xu Clan wary!”

※※※

Xu Ziyan and her parents returned to their courtyard. They chatted late into the night, but Xu Ziyan still decided to return to her own residence in the Outer Hall. On one hand, she was used to living there and found it convenient for cultivation. On the other hand, she had too many secrets she didn’t want her parents to know.

Xu Ziyan’s mother was very reluctant, but her father very seriously agreed to Xu Ziyan’s request and urged her to cultivate diligently, striving to serve the clan sooner. Xu Ziyan did not tell her parents or the Clan Leader her true Cultivation Level. With her experience, she deeply knew that keeping some assets in reserve was very necessary.

Returning to her own residence, Xu Ziyan did some Meditative Rest for a while, then went to bed. She was exhausted these days, both physically and mentally. Now that she relaxed, she slept until the sun was high in the sky.

Xu Ziyan got up from bed under the midday sun. After carefully washing up, she strolled out the door. Seeing that the surroundings were quiet, she thought to herself that everyone was probably very tired, so she didn’t go disturb others. After thinking for a moment, she walked out of the clan’s main gate and wandered the streets, wanting to relax a bit.

She bought some snacks, eating them while appreciating the surrounding scenery. Xu Ziyan felt in her heart that she was gradually integrating into this world. Just as her mood was good, she suddenly heard the sound of a fierce quarrel not far ahead. Following the sound, she saw two groups of people clearly confronting each other in front of a tavern.

Xu Ziyan walked over quietly and saw that those on her side were all Xu Clan Disciples, numbering about a few dozen. Xu Tianlang and Xu Lin stood at the very front. Opposite them stood several dozen people as well, and at this moment, more people were continuously joining both sides. It looked like the numbers on both sides would soon exceed a hundred!