Chapter 819

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Robbing the mineral veins of Jin Jue City is very simple; Shen Yao can just one-click sweep them clean, because no one here is her opponent.

However, before sweeping, Shen Yao still decided to collect a bit of interest first.

Lu Yan: ……

The two people appeared at the Sima Clan Residence; the last time they came was to investigate and incidentally retaliate a little against Sima Zhenzhen. Returning again now, they could only sigh that things remain but people have changed.

Aside from a few people left behind to guard the place, there was no one else here. Moreover, the Sima Clan had experienced a massacre; although the traces of the massacre had been washed clean, the bloody smell lingering in the air still existed.

Shen Yao and Lu Yan walked unconcernedly to the vicinity of the Sima Clan's storage rooms. Many important things were already missing from here — after all, Elder Sima wasn't truly unprepared; he just didn't expect that he himself was already a discarded pawn, and that he would die so cleanly and decisively.

Therefore, all the remaining stock in these storage rooms went into Shen Yao's pocket. Not only that, they also went to the Sima Clan's study — the place where Elder Sima conducted daily affairs.

"Wow, there's even a secret room?"

Shen Yao felt that Elder Sima truly lived up to his Great Clan origins; he deeply understood the essence of all kinds of survivalist tactics, able to leave a back door for everything, completely lacking any thought of desperate resistance.

"The things inside." Lu Yan frowned, not understanding how a secret room could be built here. Could it be that Great Clans still follow the trend that the most dangerous place is the safest place?

Compared to the Mountain Villa Secret Realm, the study was indeed one of the most important places of the Sima Clan. Normally, even Sima Clan members couldn't enter, and it was also a place enemies would pay special attention to when they came.

Right now, Shen Yao and Lu Yan were these enemies. The two of them rummaged through the study, and finally managed to discover something in the secret room. It was just that this something left both Lu Yan and Shen Yao speechless — it turned out the Sima Clan really was cooperating with evil demons, and truly for the sake of the Immortal Ascension Platform.

'Their guts are really big,' a few words were enough to expose their own purpose. The System felt the Sima Clan was simply using the Central State as bait; how did the Xuan Yuan Clan agree? The Central State is the Xuan Yuan Clan's backyard.

'Very simple. The Xuan Yuan Clan feels they can control the Sima Clan. Besides, who said what gets destroyed would be limited to the Central State? Isn't this only limited to the cities on the west side of the Central State, headed by Jin Jue City? Furthermore, if something happens in the Central State, isn't there still Chen Zhou?' Shen Yao spoke casually, making the System even more horrified.

What do you mean?

The Xuan Yuan Clan still has thoughts of swapping territories? This is the Central State they've managed for who knows how many years — they'd just abandon it? That really is cold-blooded and ruthless enough.

'However the facts stand, once we go to the Xuan Yuan Clan Residence we'll be able to lift the veil.

System, never hold any expectations for Great Clans. They can do anything; their bottom line is low enough to make one's hair stand on end.'

Shen Yao spoke earnestly on this side; the System listened with a face full of shock on the other.

Meanwhile, Lu Yan, after simply dealing with the items in the Sima Clan study, nodded at Shen Yao. "Let's go."

There was nothing left here worth their attachment. Next, there were other places waiting for their presence.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yao smiled and grabbed Lu Yan's wrist. The two flashed away, and in just a moment appeared at the Xuan Yuan Clan Residence, not far from the Sima Clan.

Compared to the desolation of the Sima Clan Residence, the Xuan Yuan Clan Residence was obviously more lively.

It should be that a portion of those people guarding outside the City Lord's Mansion had returned. After all, entering the Bronze Gate relies on tokens; the Xuan Yuan Clan had fewer tokens than the Sima Clan, so more of their people were left outside.

Because of the crowd, this was a bit troublesome for Shen Yao and Lu Yan who had infiltrated the Xuan Yuan Clan Residence, but the trouble wouldn't be too great.

Casually drawing a Concealment Array, Shen Yao and Lu Yan walked side by side through the Xuan Yuan Clan Residence. Xuan Yuan Clan people passed by them from time to time.

Because the Sima Clan had been damaged before, the Sima Clan's defensive arrays were no good — Shen Yao and Lu Yan could come and go freely without issue. But the Xuan Yuan Clan didn't have the Sima Clan's problem; on the contrary, when they left, the Xuan Yuan Clan had specially strengthened the residence's defensive capabilities.

If not for Elder Xuan Yuan's bad luck, dying prematurely together with Elder Sima, this person could be said to have perfectly executed all tasks the Xuan Yuan Clan assigned him, even exceeding expectations.

"Go to the study? Or the storage rooms first?" Shen Yao felt that compared to the Sima Clan Residence's high-profile flamboyance, the Xuan Yuan Clan Residence was more low-key and luxurious. Mhm, one look and you know this place is very rich.

Although Shen Yao doesn't lack these things, the Sima Clan and Xuan Yuan Clan left her such a rotten mess. Whatever Shen Yao says, she has to take some things to cushion the blow; otherwise, wouldn't she be doing free labor again? She doesn't have that good a temper.

"The study. Let's see what the Xuan Yuan Clan is hiding first." Already knowing the Sima Clan's plan, he was more curious what role the Xuan Yuan Clan played inside it.

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Then let's go. I'm also a bit curious."

An old Great Clan — so many years of backbone and pride, discarded the moment they say discard, colluding the moment they say collude. It's simply eye-opening.

…………

Facts prove that beneath the glorious exterior of a Great Clan, the ugliness — ugly enough to make one retch — can directly break a person's defenses.

Shen Yao: ……

"The Xuan Yuan Clan has gone mad?" This isn't abandoning the Central State; this is wanting to blow up the entire Jiuzhou Continent together.

Looking at the contents of the letters unearthed from the Xuan Yuan Clan study's secret room, Shen Yao had a head full of question marks. This is even more exaggerated than the Sima Clan.

If the Sima Clan cooperating with evil demons for the Immortal Ascension Platform can still be understood, then the Xuan Yuan Clan, clearly seeing both sides cooperating and even pushing for the demons' resurrection, actively ceding Jin Jue City and its surrounding cities — one can only say their brains have holes.

"Actually not. The Xuan Yuan Clan's ambitions are vast." Lu Yan patted Shen Yao's shoulder. He also felt the Xuan Yuan Clan's actions were nauseating, but thinking of what the Xuan Yuan Clan did in the Floating City, it seemed to also explain the Xuan Yuan Clan's behavior.

"They've never been able to stand others living well. Whether it's the many Great Clans of the Floating City or whatever, the Xuan Yuan Clan feels that if they can't stand at the top, they'll drag everyone down to die together."

Lu Yan sneered, saying that the Floating City hadn't produced any geniuses in so many years, and the Xuan Yuan Clan's role in that was indispensable. After all, not every Great Clan can be shameless enough to take the initiative, but the Xuan Yuan Clan had no such qualms. They would even privately warn Floating City Great Clans not to cross the line too far. Once there was someone who refused to submit; as a result, their entire clan was wiped out clean overnight, including married-out bloodlines.

Shen Yao: ……

"Tsk. Then they really deserve to die. Pity not many Xuan Yuan Clan members entered the Bronze Gate." Shen Yao shook her head.

"With these things, even if the Xuan Yuan Clan comes out of the Bronze Gate, they won't get any benefits." Lu Yan indicated that although the letter contents can't directly strike the Xuan Yuan Clan dead, they can still recover a bit of interest for the people who died in Jin Jue City and the surrounding cities.

"Just throw them out? I'm afraid the Xuan Yuan Clan won't admit it. They can completely push all these things onto the dead Elder Xuan Yuan." After all, Great Clans have the thickest skin. As long as they aren't caught red-handed with irrefutable evidence, they have plenty of ways to find excuses for themselves.

Lu Yan had long anticipated this possibility. Therefore, Lu Yan indicated the things wouldn't be thrown out, but given to the Sima Clan. Regardless of whether the Sima Clan loses or wins, both sides will have a dragon-and-tiger struggle.

These evidences wouldn't have such good effect given to others, but given to the Sima Clan they're very useful.

Besides that, there's also the Meng Family of Qing Zhou and the Luo Family of Huang Zhou who can be given them. These two families are also very afraid of being sought out by the Sima Clan and Xuan Yuan Clan to settle accounts. The moment they get the things, they'll take action immediately — they won't care whether the contents related to the higher-ups are true or false.

Shen Yao: ……

Cleanly and neatly giving a thumbs-up, Shen Yao admired Lu Yan's methods immensely. Worthy of being a Great Clan scion from the Lu Family — even his methods of handling things are this roundabout and non-stick.

System: ……

Why does it feel like my own Host is being sarcastic? It couldn't have misheard, right?

'Nonsense. I'm praising Lu Yan for having guts and knowing how to think, unlike other people who act recklessly.' Shen Yao said, then flipped through the Xuan Yuan Clan study again. The evidence preserved here was even more complete than the Sima Clan's. One could say the Xuan Yuan Clan was confident enough in their defensive arrays that they didn't destroy any of these in advance.

'Or perhaps there wasn't time?' Who knows they'd die this fast. Elder Xuan Yuan might still be a bit dazed. It was completely unexpected, after all.

"Wrong, this is the confidence and arrogance of a noble clan." They wouldn't think about the consequences of failure, because they've rarely failed in all these years, so naturally they wouldn't consider such things.

System:...

Alright, actually it's even worse than what it said, which further proves this kind of noble clan is truly hopeless.

Before leaving, Shen Yao didn't forget to sweep all the treasures from the Xuan Yuan clan's treasury into her own pocket, not caring in the slightest how the Xuan Yuan clan would collapse upon discovery.

"Where to next?"

"The Luo Family."

The Luo Family was even worse off than the first two; the place had long been emptied of people.

That figures.

The Luo Family Head became a double agent for the demons, and was ultimately silenced by the arriving Xuan Yuan and Sima clans; the rest of the Luo Family naturally couldn't escape either.

Right now the Luo Family is completely empty; even a thief sneaking in would have to leave clutching their purse.

Shen Yao and Lu Yan walked a full circle around the Luo Family without hope, and the result was naturally that they found nothing. The Luo Family Head seemed to know he wouldn't return; the study left behind nothing at all, and the treasury had only a few crates for show.

Shen Yao:...

Lu Yan sighed, "It seems we need to send word to the Huang Zhou Luo Family as soon as possible." This was a clear escape tactic; the Luo Family Head was still quite clever.

"Let's go check the Meng Family again."

If the Meng Family is the same as the Luo Family, then it would only prove all four noble clans are unclean.

"Hasn't the Meng Family already set off? Host, why don't we chase after them?"

Although the Meng Family wasn't as clean as the Luo Family, the study still didn't leave much useful information. The most useful item was a token, inscribed with the two characters 'Ascension to Immortality', a token that can enter the Bronze Gate.

"This is getting more and more interesting. The Meng Family has a token but would rather discard it than enter. Could it be they know even more than the Xuan Yuan and Sima clans who specialize in researching the Immortal Ascension Platform?"

"Uh, it's also possible they're just scared witless and don't dare enter to court death."

The system weakly supplemented two sentences, even though it didn't believe those words itself when spoken.

"The Meng Family must know something." Lu Yan took the token and compared it with Shen Yao's, discovering the two tokens were identical.

"The Meng Family has already returned to Qing Zhou; by now they should have left the Jin Jue City area." If they wanted to chase, they'd make it in time, but it would affect their subsequent actions, including saving Fan Sheng this unlucky fellow — if too much time passes, even wanting to save him won't bring him back.

"No need to chase. Since they left like this, they're definitely still afraid." Lu Yan put away the token, and then the two left the Meng Family for the City Lord's Mansion.

"City Lord's Mansion?"

"Mm, there's an entrance there, we need to go over." Didn't we agree to save people? We definitely have to enter through the entrance to rescue them.

System:...

"You really want to enter the Bronze Gate?" Didn't you say entering means certain death? The Host hasn't completed the mission yet; we absolutely cannot fail.

Shen Yao:...

"Who said we're entering the Bronze Gate?" Shen Yao thought to herself the system was still stupid enough; they only said go to the City Lord's Mansion, what does that have to do with the Bronze Gate?

No connection?

The system didn't understand. As a result, when the two arrived beneath the City Lord's Mansion's array, Lu Yan directly took out the token and used it on the already dead-as-can-be parasite mother body, discovering the parasite mother body suddenly split open a gap, turning into a passage that could accommodate two people.

System:... Huh?

There's even this kind of operation?

"Of course. Lu Yan's memories have recovered; he has a way to save Fan Sheng." Otherwise they wouldn't take such a risk.

The system was greatly shocked, watching in astonishment as the two walked into the passage as if no one else existed.

Mm.

Because the defenders were all outside the City Lord's Mansion, there was no one inside, and the parasite mother body was extremely massive — from the front you couldn't see anything at all. Therefore these people completely didn't know someone was secretly causing trouble inside.

A expanse of white light flashed before their eyes, followed by the white light disappearing and a sky-spinning, earth-turning sky appearing.

Shen Yao blinked her eyes, then abruptly scrambled up from the ground where she lay flat.

Blue sky, white clouds; not far away there were cultivated farmlands and homesteads with cooking smoke rising.

The clothes on Shen Yao hadn't changed; it was just that Lu Yan was nowhere to be seen.

What's going on?

Before she could figure out what exactly was happening, Shen Yao heard someone calling her.

"Madam, Madam."

A pale-faced little maid ran over, hurriedly grabbing Shen Yao's arm. "Madam, the Young Master is looking for you; we should go back."

While speaking, the little maid chattered on about today's events, including why Shen Yao appeared on the small hillside outside the village.

Shen Yao:...

One person viewing scenery? That's really something. But what is this before my eyes? An illusion realm?

Inadvertently patting the little maid's arm, "How are the Young Master's lesson reviews coming along? The Master hasn't returned today; oh my heart."

Shen Yao touched her chest again, and deliberately shook her head sadly, eyes constantly looking back at the small path behind her, full of hope that the Master she spoke of would appear.

The little maid empathized deeply. After all, this village was merely the Lu Family's farmstead; the Master and Madam had only brought the Young Master here for one month. Usually they lived in the far more prosperous Capital City.

"Madam rest assured. The Master said he'd return today, so he'll definitely be able to return."

"Is that so?"

The little maid supported Shen Yao as they walked through the village, finally stopping before a tall mansion.