Chapter 539: Rainy Night Conspiracy

By the time the banquet ended, it was already evening.

The drizzle was still falling, and the misty waves shrouded Misty Rain Lake, which had a unique artistic conception.

Lu Ran stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, and the cold wind blowing made him much more sober.

"Rustle~"

In the forest not far away, there was a sound of leaves rubbing against each other.

Lu Ran turned his head to look, and vaguely saw two graceful figures.

They were hiding behind the bushes, wearing yellow and green long dresses, both holding antique oil-paper umbrellas.

"Ah!" The yellow-dressed woman's gaze met Lu Ran's, and she couldn't help but let out a soft cry.

She hurriedly reached out her little hand to cover her mouth.

The torch at the entrance of the banquet hall illuminated Lu Ran's face, reflecting those pitch-black eyes.

"Run, run." The yellow-dressed woman's apricot eyes widened, and she hurriedly pulled her companion away.

Vaguely, Lu Ran could still hear their whispering.

"Did you see it? What does the first Heaven's Pride look like? Is he very handsome?"

"It's... it's just okay."

"You little flirt, your face is red! Just okay?"

"Aiya~~ You're the little flirt!"

"Hehehehe~" The silver-bell-like laughter gradually faded away, disappearing into the misty rain.

Lu Ran: "..."

Unexpectedly, you Support Flower disciples are like this!

What happened to the Support Flower faction being quiet and elegant?

"Shall we go, Lu Xuedi Brother?" He Yingcai raised her lotus leaf to shield the two of them from the drizzle.

"Let's go." Lu Ran nodded.

After saying goodbye to the island masters who saw them off, he boarded He Yingcai's verdant lotus leaf and sailed west.

Before the banquet ended, the two island masters of the Heaven Phoenix faction had warmly invited Lu Ran to live on Bright Moon Island.

However, Lu Ran still intended to go to He Yingcai's Qinghedao.

On one hand, Qinghedao was relatively close to the shore, and if enemy movements were truly discovered, Qinghedao could be considered the front line.

On the other hand, Lu Ran felt a bit annoyed.

He could understand the purpose of the Thousand Boat Alliance and understand everyone's practice of holding on to the islands to the death.

But understanding didn't mean he supported it!

Since war was inevitable, they should strike first!

Blindly defending, how passive is that?

The current Thousand Boat Alliance was no longer the time for the four major factions to huddle together.

You have Wu Jifeng's Great Da Da Feng Tang helping to hold the fort.

And you have allies like us in the Lu Ran Sect who have strong combat power and are extremely aggressive; why the hell don't you change your thinking and forge ahead?

Sigh...

Jingting Mountain just sees that your group of support factions have soft temperaments and are easy to bully, which is why they harass you so unscrupulously!

"Lu Xuedi Brother." On the green lotus leaf, He Yingcai spoke softly.

Lu Ran's mood could naturally affect the surrounding atmosphere.

Having drunk more fruit wine, he was also slightly amplified in emotion by the alcohol.

"Hmm?"

"Don't be angry." He Yingcai's voice was gentle, and there was a trace of apology in her eyes.

It was hard to imagine a Sea Realm island master speaking to a River Estuary Realm person with such an attitude.

However, He Yingcai was not an isolated case; earlier at the banquet, a group of Sea Realm island masters were all humble and polite to Lu Ran.

Jiang Ruyi's naturally cold jade hand pushed aside Lu Ran's wide sleeves, gently picking up his palm, comforting him silently.

"Hoo~" Lu Ran let out a slow sigh.

He Yingcai's tone became even softer: "When we return to the island in a while, I'll brew you some Misty Rain Tea to drive away the cold and sober you up."

Lu Ran's face turned bitter, changing from the majestic Sect Master of the Lu Ran Sect back to a 19-year-old youth: "Don't bother, you might as well just serve me some lake water to drink..."

At least it's sweeter~

He Yingcai: "..."

The group soon returned to Qinghedao, and Lu Ran returned to the small courtyard in the forest where he had lived before.

Closing the main door of the hall, everyone inside was his own people.

Only the Qinghedao Master, He Yingcai, was not a member of the Lu Ran Sect; she saw that the Lu Ran Sect was about to hold a meeting, and intended to leave, but was kept by Lu Ran.

A group of people sat around a large square table, and Lu Ran asked directly: "Everyone attended the banquet, what are your thoughts?"

Deng Yuxiang, sitting directly opposite, was quietly tasting tea, and the Phoenix and Swallow generals sitting on the right remained silent.

Jiang Ruyi sat beside Lu Ran, her gaze sweeping over the generals, and finally looked at Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng and He Yingcai sitting on the left.

To be honest, when Lu Ran took the initiative and arranged for He Yingcai to sit beside Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng, she felt a bit strange in her heart.

And when Jiang Ruyi, in the posture of the Sect Master's wife, swept her gaze over the generals, He Yingcai had an even greater illusion.

Did she seem to have been incorporated into the Lu Ran Sect?

As the Qinghedao Master, He Yingcai would be led by others in the Thousand Boat Alliance, but after all, they were allies, and essentially belonged to their respective sects.

But in this room, He Yingcai suddenly had the feeling of becoming a subordinate.

Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi truly had too much of a leader's demeanor...

"Cough." Receiving his wife's look, Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng coughed lightly, "Over the past ten days, Jingting Mountain has not launched a full-scale attack, but has only appeared around Misty Rain Lake.

They should be investigating the situation and have been monitoring the Thousand Boat Alliance."

Lu Ran sighed: "A full-scale invasion is possible at any time..."

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng, however, shook his head: "According to the information gathered from various islands, the frequency of Jingting Mountain teams appearing is not as high as imagined.

Perhaps, we have never recognized the enemy's true strategy."

"Oh?" Lu Ran asked puzzled, "How so?"

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng pondered: "Some time ago, the great battle between the Thousand Boat Alliance and Jingting Mountain allowed both sides to test each other's bottom line.

Jingting Mountain indeed had the upper hand, but the Thousand Boat Alliance was by no means without the power to fight.

The result of the battle was very clear; Jingting Mountain also had Sea Realm experts fall."

Lu Ran nodded thoughtfully.

This bone of the Thousand Boat Alliance could be eaten, but it was indeed not easy to gnaw.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng turned to look at He Yingcai: "What is the main purpose of Jingting Mountain?"

He Yingcai pondered for a moment and replied: "Cannot allow the Thousand Boat Alliance to have Heaven Realm powerhouses appear?"

"Yes!" Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng nodded in agreement, "We have always had a misunderstanding, thinking that Jingting Mountain wants to completely swallow the Thousand Boat Alliance.

But in reality, the two forces have existed for more than ten years and have always been at peace.

What truly triggered the conflict was Alliance Master Yun's promotion, which shook the foundation of Jingting Mountain's existence!"

Everyone in the room nodded one after another.

The coexistence of Jingting Mountain and the Thousand Boat Alliance for a long time was an undeniable fact.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng said in a deep voice: "I think the main task of these Jingting Mountain small teams appearing near Misty Rain Lake is to investigate when Alliance Master Yun Qianzhou will promote!"

Jiang Ruyi, while pouring tea for Lu Ran, said: "Does Mr. Conglong mean that Jingting Mountain intends to wait until Yun Qianzhou promotes before taking action to destroy it?"

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng looked at the Sect Master's wife: "Jingting Mountain only has one goal, doesn't it?

Think from another angle; if they forcibly attack the Thousand Boat Alliance, the Jingting faction will inevitably suffer heavy losses, which might not be worth the gain."

He Yingcai looked at Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng, who was thinking seriously and constantly analyzing the situation, her beautiful eyes shining with brilliance.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng continued: "Once the Alliance Master starts the promotion mode, if the other side destroys it, it will be a once-and-for-all solution!"

"Ruthless enough." Lu Ran picked up his teacup, murmuring.

When a person is preparing to break through a bottleneck, if you disturb them, the other party might have a day to make a comeback.

But when a person has already started the promotion mode and attracted the mist between heaven and earth, if you disturb them again and forcibly cut off the other party's promotion process...

That is truly driving someone to death, kicking them hard into the abyss!

"Indeed ruthless enough." He Yingcai lowered her eyes, a touch of worry appearing between her brows.

Deng Yuxiang's voice was cold, and her words were very impolite: "Although the defense capability of the four factions is not bad, when the day of promotion truly arrives, I very much doubt whether the Thousand Boat Alliance has enough ability to protect Yun Qianzhou from being disturbed."

Destroying the Thousand Boat Alliance and disturbing Yun Alliance Master's promotion were two completely different things.

Dongting believers, as Second-Rank God disciples, had both River Estuary and Sea Realm ultimate moves.

The River Estuary Realm ultimate move could allow Dongting believers to summon large-scale thunder halberds, with astonishing destructive power!

This faction's Sea Realm ultimate move was even more extraordinary!

Dongting disciples could gather dark clouds, summon the wrath of thunder, and drop thunder punishments like heavenly tribulations!

The Support Flower faction's River Estuary Realm ultimate move, 'Heavenly Net Umbrella Cover,' indeed had extremely strong defense and a very wide coverage, but could it really withstand the other side's carpet bombing?

Deng Yuxiang expressed deep doubt.

He Yingcai looked at Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng again, her voice soft: "Does Mr. Conglong have a way to break the situation?"

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng unfolded his paper fan, his words shocking: "Since Jingting Mountain only investigates and does not intend to launch a full-scale invasion...

Then we will force them to invade!"

"Oh?"

"Force them?" Everyone looked at Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng confirmed: "Aren't there Jingting small teams investigating near Misty Rain Lake? We can go and eliminate them; one team comes, we destroy one team!

Just like how the Sect Master destroyed Lingfeng Hall."

Lu Ran pondered for a long time and couldn't help but sigh: "Mr. Conglong has a good strategy."

Doing this could constantly weaken the enemy's strength and prepare for the great decisive battle in the future.

It could even forcibly drag Jingting Mountain into the water, forcing them to enter a state of war.

You send a small team to investigate?

No return!

You don't want to be blind anymore and want to grasp the information at the first time, then you can only send a large army over.

Coming? Once they come, we start the war!

"Not bad." Deng Yuxiang's eyes showed approval; this proposal was clearly very much to her liking, "How can we let the enemy's wishes be fulfilled, letting them lurk in the dark."

"Heh." He Yingcai shook her head with a bitter smile.

Mr. Conglong's move was not only to force Jingting Mountain to invade in large numbers.

It was also forcing the Thousand Boat Alliance to take the initiative to fight...

However, Mr. Conglong's analysis was correct.

Jingting Mountain had a total of eighteen Sea Realm experts!

They only needed to rush here at the critical moment of the Alliance Master's promotion and constantly cast River Estuary and Sea Realm ultimate moves, and they should be able to achieve their goal.

If they were bound to be disturbed, it would be better to advance this war to before Yun Qianzhou's breakthrough!

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng lightly shook his paper fan, smiling at Lu Ran: "Hall Master He and her Great Da Da Feng Tang cannot take the initiative to invade other forces.

Then we will make the Great Da Da Feng Tang the one being invaded as soon as possible.

The Sect Master traveled thousands of miles to pick them up, not to let this group of monks eat bacon and drink fruit wine."

Lu Ran looked back at Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng, a smile also appearing on his face.

Sir,

You understand me!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 540 =====