Chapter 834

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

The busyness of Shen Yao and Lu Yan added a layer of protective shield to the already fuel-on-the-fire environment.

Even if an explosion occurs, it will be contained within a certain range, unlike Jin Jue City where the entire city was affected.

The conflict between the Sima Clan and the Xuan Yuan Clan is like a bow already drawn taut; everyone knows it will snap with a bang, but no one can predict when that snap will happen.

Shen Yao and Lu Yan are also monitoring the situation in the Floating City, only compared to their composure, the other families involved are somewhat anxious.

The current situation is truly too clear-cut; in other words, the Sima Clan and the Xuan Yuan Clan have reached a point of life and death — no matter which side dies, the aristocratic families dependent on them will be affected.

No one is willing to die, just like certain people who, knowing the outcome, still tremble with fear.

……

The system urged the Host, "Why aren't you anxious?"

Those people outside are fighting until their brains fly everywhere, yet the system's own Host is strolling around leisurely here — is the plan proceeding very smoothly, or not smoothly? It couldn't quite figure it out.

"Being anxious is useless; with my strength alone, how much can I change?"

Shen Yao spoke lightly, but the trouble within was not something that could be explained in a few words; the system fell silent, pondered for a long while, then stammered back that some things require the Host to take the initiative — always hiding on the side watching the spectacle doesn't match the Host's character setting either.

Shen Yao: ……

What character setting does she have? Being ever-changing is her trait — she does whatever she wants; aside from the mission objective, everything else has nothing to do with her.

"What about Lu Yan?"

"Still outside, hasn't returned."

"Mm, then let's go find him first; it just so happens we can join in the excitement."

The system said she wasn't proactive enough? Then this time she'll be a bit more proactive.

…………

"How did you come over?"

Lu Yan was surprised — don't misunderstand, this wasn't Lu Yan questioning Shen Yao, but he understands Shen Yao's personality; if it's not something important, Shen Yao wouldn't come disturb him.

"Came to see the situation. The Sima Clan and Xuan Yuan Clan are about to make a move; wanted to know how preparations are on your end?"

Shen Yao walked to Lu Yan's side and sat down; at this moment they were in a secluded small courtyard, no one around, but with a God's-eye view one would know this small courtyard hasn't been idle recently — people constantly coming and going, it has already become Lu Yan's base for meeting certain people.

"Not bad; ambition is something no one lacks." As long as it can be ensured that the Xuan Yuan Clan and Sima Clan exhaust most of their trump cards, these aristocratic families will immediately tear off the masks on their faces and turn into hungry wolves pouncing to divide the spoils.

What Lu Yan can do is brainwash these aristocratic families and provide opportunities — among them is the Lu Family, this two-faced traitor jumping up and down, attempting to advance further.

Only Lu Yan kept a nasty trick up his sleeve: matters of communicating with the Lu Family he handed to others, while he hid behind the scenes observing coldly.

After all, some words passing through many mouths become unrecognizable — might start out referring to a tiger, but by the end directly turn into a cat.

"If they remain excessively cowardly, the Lu Family naturally won't have any trouble." If they actually believe it and act on it, exterminating the Lu Family would just be a convenient side task.

Lu Yan looked at the clean tabletop, thinking to himself: truly, times change — the Lu Family was once a colossal giant in his eyes, but now, the Lu Family is merely a stone he casually steps over on the road.

Turns out a person's growth really does influence their view of certain things.

Will the Lu Family be cowardly?

This involves the Lu Family's current Family Head — what kind of person is Lu Jin?

"A clueless smart-aleck who's slow at everything by a step; the Lu Family definitely can't escape this time." Not only will they gain nothing, they won't even keep what they originally had.

The system's evaluation of the Lu Family is extremely low — after all, it stayed in the Lu Family for so many days; it knows the Lu Family's internal situation inside out — with such a Family Head and masters, it would be strange if the Lu Family were doing well.

"Right, so no need to pay attention to the Lu Family anymore — predestined cannon fodder to be exterminated."

Their energy is limited; it must be placed on places prone to trouble — the Lu Family? Still doesn't merit Lu Yan and Shen Yao's attention.

After staying in the small courtyard for a while, upon hearing footsteps behind her, Shen Yao instantly vanished.

Lu Yan didn't bother with where the suddenly disappeared Shen Yao ran off to — given Shen Yao's abilities, nothing would happen; right now he still needs to finalize his own plans, striving to play a key role in upcoming events.

"Host, where are we going?"

The ones who just came over seemed to be Luo Family people — tsk, the Luo Family lost quite a few in Jin Jue City, and were even labeled by the Xuan Yuan Clan and Sima Clan as evil demon lackeys — yet they still dare run to the Floating City to stir trouble? What about the Meng Family? This aristocratic family that suffered the least losses in Jin Jue City couldn't possibly be absent.

"Let's go wander around the Xuan Yuan Clan and Sima Clan, see what unfamiliar faces we don't know about yet." Shen Yao propped her chin and walked leisurely at ease — speaking of going to the Xuan Yuan Clan and Sima Clan as if returning home; those who don't know would think they're cooperative partners — who knows they have no relationship at all; getting to today relies entirely on Shen Yao's strength being strong enough.

The Xuan Yuan Clan's residence in the Floating City is open and transparent — basically the first thing people see upon entering the Floating City; after all, buildings that tall are rare, and only families with the confidence to be high-profile would be this ostentatious.

Shen Yao walked along the small path all the way forward, encountering quite a few patrol personnel along the way.

Only Shen Yao had a Concealment Array wrapped around her — these people simply couldn't see her.

Soon, a simple, massive gate appeared in Shen Yao's field of vision.

No need to jump over the ten-plus-meter-high city wall at all — Shen Yao swaggered in through the main gate; anyway, with her abilities she fears no detection methods — for the Xuan Yuan Clan to catch her, they'd probably need to cover the entire residential area with something akin to Five-Colored Stones.

"Wow, Host, the Xuan Yuan Clan is so rich!" Visible to the eye are spiritual plants and spiritual objects that would make people fight to snatch them — yet in the Xuan Yuan Clan they're merely ornamental items; even the Xuan Yuan Clan's servants have long taken this for granted, not feeling these things are precious at all.

The system just saw a servant casually hoe up a sickly Emerald Green Bamboo — that's the primary food source of the Emerald Green Snake, and also one of the materials that can enhance the aptitude potential of all snake types.

"Old established clan, after all — the Floating City's aristocratic families combined can't match the Xuan Yuan Clan's revenue these years."

"But no man has a hundred days of good fortune, no flower a hundred days of red — the Xuan Yuan Clan's time has come this round."

Whether it works isn't just spoken with the mouth — although the Xuan Yuan Clan still has many followers clustering around, everyone can see the Xuan Yuan Clan's weakness; otherwise, why would the Sima Clan be willing to leave their Chen Zhou base camp empty and single-mindedly want to crush the Xuan Yuan Clan?

"Let's go wander around the Xuan Yuan Clan's Council Hall — energy fluctuations are very obvious there."

With energy fluctuations, they're definitely plotting something; moreover, the Xuan Yuan Clan's residence is much larger than the places Shen Yao visited before — if she really wanted to tour the Xuan Yuan Clan properly, several days wouldn't be enough to get out.

Tsk

So this is the massive family foundation accumulated over years? Truly an eye-opener.

The system had long since run off a step ahead to watch the spectacle — only the Xuan Yuan Clan does have some tricks; the system was too cowardly to get too close, could only use methods to gaze from afar — only when the Host arrived did it become lively again.

"You, this place is dangerous, so go somewhere else first, especially the living quarters in the back courtyard." Although the external defenses were lacking, what they knew might not be few; after all, some things could be guessed from just a few words.

System:...

"Go on, I'm here, we can exchange intelligence later.

You don't want to have come all the way to the Xuan Yuan Clan, only to receive not much effective information."

"Go, Host, I'm going right now, you stay here and absolutely must not be discovered."

The System finished speaking and left in a flustered hurry.

Shen Yao:...

The Concealment Array on her body had several more Runes stacked on it that could affect people's minds.

Shen Yao arrived at the Council Hall without anyone knowing; this time she did not jump onto the roof, nor did she stay at the doorway, but went directly through the tightly shut door, arriving at a true dragon's pool and tiger's den.

The Xuan Yuan Patriarch, who had been speaking a moment ago:...

He abruptly looked at the Array that showed no reaction and the tightly shut door; he suddenly felt the surroundings were somewhat dangerous, as if something had secretly slipped right under his eyelids.

Because of the Xuan Yuan Patriarch's sudden silence, the other people in the Council Hall also looked at each other in blank dismay, not knowing what was wrong with the Patriarch.

Someone couldn't help but open their mouth to ask; the result was one led to two. After all, the Xuan Yuan Patriarch had just been speaking passionately to pour chicken soup for them, and now he suddenly fell silent — could something have happened outside? The Sima Clan taking the opportunity to act? So lacking in martial ethics?

"You all, forget it."

The Xuan Yuan Patriarch waved his hand, thinking to himself that his suspicion had also arisen suddenly; although he trusted his intuition greatly, recently his intuition had been a bit too frequent, and with so many people on his side, he didn't believe anyone would dare cause trouble in the Xuan Yuan Clan's Council Hall.

"Continue speaking about the arrangements just now; the Sima Clan won't give us a chance to catch our breath.

You said earlier to send people away; what if those people are caught red-handed by the Sima Clan, brought back to threaten us — the loss would outweigh the gain."

After all, the Xuan Yuan Clan currently lives in the Floating City, while the Sima Clan lives outside the Floating City; no matter what means the Xuan Yuan Clan uses to send the clan's younger generation away from the Floating City, they cannot escape the Sima Clan's encirclement and suppression outside the city.

Once the Sima Clan attacks with full force, they won't be able to escape even if they flee to heaven or burrow into the earth.

Rather than that, better to twist into a single rope; if we win, everyone is happy; if we lose, each flees for their life.

"We cannot only consider winning; in our hearts we must also make two-handed preparations. The clan's people have all been instructed properly; at that time, what fortune they obtain will depend on themselves."

Without the Xuan Yuan Clan this colossus, even if the Xuan Yuan clansmen who escape smoothly won't live too well, as long as they accept the status quo, it won't be easy for the Sima Clan to eradicate them root and branch.

Raising his hand to rub his temples, the Xuan Yuan Patriarch signaled the people here to leave first; some words, no matter how many are said, are not as impactful as truly facing danger. The Xuan Yuan Patriarch had done what he could; next is the time for them and the Sima Clan to decide victory or defeat — who loses, who wins, all depends on Heaven's will.

Heaven's will?

"This Patriarch believes least in Heaven's will. The Sima Clan's achievements today rely entirely on the Ancestors not giving up, entirely on the clansmen persisting."

Compared to the Xuan Yuan Clan's talk of Heaven's will, the Sima Clan values their own effort more.

Besides, if there really were some Heaven's will, they would not have been able to rise again in Chen Zhou, bare-handedly carving out a foundation thicker than the Central State.

"Patriarch, we..."

"Of course it's to strike while he's ill and take his life. The manpower we brought is inferior to the Xuan Yuan Clan, but with so many hangers-on around the Xuan Yuan Clan, they might not be without other thoughts.

We can forgo all the interests of the Floating City and even the Central State, but the Xuan Yuan Clan cannot." Because the Floating City is the foundation the Xuan Yuan Clan relies on for survival; they have no retreat.

"These people following us, whatever schemes are in their hearts, I imagine everyone is familiar with.

However, this is a time to employ people; the Floating City, or the Central State, are merely bonuses after winning.

Everyone, understand why our Sima Clan is enemies with the Xuan Yuan Clan this time."

This is a point that needs to be noted. Previously there might still have been a possibility of shaking hands and making peace with the Xuan Yuan Clan, but as the contradictions between both sides continuously escalated, now both sides can only divide into a you-die-I-live outcome.

"I know, among you all there are quite a few who have ties with the Xuan Yuan Clan, but the urgency and importance need no emphasis from me." The Sima Clan Head's gaze swept coldly over everything before him. "Show no mercy, leave no hidden dangers."

This is no playing-house game; it concerns the life and death of the entire clan. If someone truly has an unclear head, the Sima Clan Head doesn't mind killing the chicken to warn the monkeys, tightening everyone's skin first.

As the Sima Clan Head's words fell, the surrounding space fell so silent a falling needle could be heard.

Shen Yao:...

Tsk.

As expected.

The Sima Clan and the Xuan Yuan Clan — both sides' attitudes toward this battle are different.

As a bystander, Shen Yao could clearly feel that the Sima Clan had more of a fearless spirit than the Xuan Yuan Clan.

And this spirit manifests in that when both sides act, the Sima Clan is more proactive than the Xuan Yuan Clan.

Don't underestimate this bit of proactivity. "Can do many things; the Xuan Yuan Clan can't hold out, and will be manipulated by the Sima Clan."

Raising her hand to make a small gesture, Shen Yao raised her hand and touched her cheek.

Mm.

Haven't been resting well recently, skin a bit dry. Fortunately days like this won't last long; once the Sima Clan and Xuan Yuan Clan decide victory or defeat, she'll be liberated too.

Amidst the cries of thousands, the war between the Sima Clan and the Xuan Yuan Clan finally opened its curtain on a sunny, pleasant morning.

The originally bustling and lively Floating City became silent and hollow due to the baptism of war.

At first, neither the Sima Clan nor the Xuan Yuan Clan's main forces took the field; rather, both sides' hangers-on became the vanguard, forced onto the stage.

Lu Yan and Shen Yao's plan still succeeded; the hangers-on used as cannon fodder wouldn't be happy. Although they looked insignificant, accumulation of little becomes much, and would still bring trouble to the Sima Clan and Xuan Yuan Clan.

"This old man said they weren't trustworthy. Look — just a bit of manpower lost and they're clamoring for compensation. They ate so many benefits from the Xuan Yuan Clan back then, truly not worth winning over."

"If they hadn't demonstrated sufficient value, why would the Sima Clan still invest? Truly absurd!"

"..."