Chapter 125: Gathering the Crowds to Drive, the Dan Shen Dog

Those who claimed to know the inside story lectured a crowd of onlookers about the "secret".

Finally, he solemnly warned everyone, "Never let this get out."

His confident demeanor added some credibility to what he said.

Just that.

The phrase "Never let this get out" is just a flag; facing a crowd whose gossip-fueled souls burn fiercely and whose desire to share is completely overflowing, it is utterly useless.

To a certain extent, the "gossip" way can be called the supreme Great Dao of the publicity field; many methods are based on it.

A "secret", a secret unrelated to personal interests, once known by more than two people, is no longer a secret.

Thus.

Rumors, in the shortest time, spread at the fastest speed.

It's almost everywhere to see groups of beings sneaking around in dark corners, whispering, "Do you know......"

Among these, only that tiny bit is a idle pawn casually dropped by the behind-the-scenes manipulator.

The rest are all dry-ration-supplying netizens, being led by the nose, attacking the intermediary platform established and maintained by the Wu Clan.

This terrifying spreading speed even nearly matches the transmission rate previously set by Fengxi and Hougang through lure-based messaging!

Condemned by thousands, it ends without illness.

The power of rumors is terrifying.

Under the assimilation and infection of the big environment, far too many beings were bewitched, beginning to view everything related to the Wu Clan with suspicion.

Thus, the publicity results and positive image that took much effort to achieve were momentarily shrouded in a shadow.

"Spreading false rumors to slander... which scumbag who doesn't do human things did this?"

In the Wu Clan's embassy stationed in Kunlun, many Wu gathered; among them, Yuchen jumped about, eyes fierce, eager to devour people.

"My kickback decreased a little... no, it's that the Wu Clan's strategic progress has been greatly destroyed!"

Yuchen, whose financial route was cut off, gripped the Seven Star Treasure Sword tightly, very much wanting to drag out the behind-the-scenes manipulator and stab him a few times.

"Stay calm! Stay calm!" Qingxuan soothed, the whole Wu Clan composed, steady as an old dog, not panicking at all, "No need to get too angry."

"Our Wu Clan's planning of the sports meet operation, the Demon Race's counterattacks, back and forth, masters exchanging moves, normal! normal!"

"The Demon Race's methods are too despicable!" Yuchen fumed.

"......" Qingxuan remained silent, then after taking a deep breath said, "The problem is, we aren't much nobler either... the purpose behind the sports meet is to stir up internal ethnic strife within the Demon Race, intensify the bleeding... cough cough, we're all the same, so let's not point fingers at each other."

The confrontation between the two massive camps, using every means possible, is natural and proper; naturally, it cannot be spoken of as noble or despicable.

Only the final victor has the right to write and judge justice.

Yuchen got stuck and fell silent.

"We originally started from nothing; being able to influence the Demon Race even a little is a gain, so we don't need to be too discouraged." Boyang sat in a chair, fingertips tapping the desk, eyes deep, "However, the Demon Race's think tank reacts incredibly fast... Chief Feng was just taken back for investigation, and immediately they mobilized the netizens to spread rumors..."

"This came prepared... what a hassle!" Boyang looked at the main staff present, shook his head, "I'm a bit worried..."

"What are you worried about?" The painter glanced sideways.

"I'm worried this is just the start of a series of public opinion offensives and defenses; the Demon Race side has prepared a combo... this is very possible!" Boyang sighed, "Hougang, how are your emergency measures?"

"I've already done the rumor-refuting work." Hougang frowned tightly, very solemn, "But the effect... don't get your hopes up too high."

"Spreading rumors takes a mouth, refuting them wears out the legs." He said, "Because people's hearts are filled with distracting thoughts... they judge intentions rather than actions, the world is like a demonic abyss."

"Rumors gather people's negative thoughts together, impossible to eradicate, their vitality is too tenacious!"

"Hatred, hostility, panic... these are the soil where rumors grow."

"Want to eliminate them completely? Then we must illuminate every being's dark inner side, letting everyone thoroughly know their own heart and clearly distinguish good from evil..." Hougang said, rolling his eyes, "Who has this ability? I definitely can't."

"All right." The painter shook his head, "I just knew we couldn't have too high expectations of you."

"Can this be blamed on me?" Hougang glared angrily at him, "With the opponent's bottom line so low, what else can I do?"

"To employ unscrupulous means to the extreme makes someone like me, a principled strategist, unable to bear it!" Hougang flung a handful of things onto the desk—all crude, shoddy image jade slips—"Take a look yourselves!"

"Just how heinous and crazy is the behind-the-scenes mastermind?"

"I've done my best to refute rumors, but the opponent is just too unscrupulous!"

"After you've seen it, whoever can, step up!"

Hougang was furious, his tone filled with blame toward amateurs giving orders to experts, people who talk while standing without back pain.

Xiling, sitting not far away, curious, took one from those jade slips and gently activated it.

In an instant, light and shadow flowed, a video materialized in the void, and all the Wu present focused their gazes.

Then, each and every one showed a strange, inexplicable expression.

"Ahhh... no... no..."

"Hehe... huh..."

Panting sounds, "clapping" sounds...

Quite a segment of a video titled "Spring has arrived, all things revive, it's mating season again."

Still the infantry type.

At this moment, a group of Wu stared wide-eyed at each other, all silent.

The witchesses, led by Xiling, restrainedly raised both hands to cover their faces, as if unwilling to witness... Of course, occasionally there were a few tough characters whose finger gaps were wide open, eyes bright and sharp.

Old driver.

"Why are you showing us this?" Xiling felt obliged to criticize a bit, "Hair-mess vehicle? Believe it or not, I'll chop you up later."

"Shouting about beating and killing, what propriety is that!" Hougang said, "Look carefully... look at the background! Look at the characters!"

"That background is our platform's classroom! Those characters are the employees working there!"

"Impossible!" Yuchen immediately retorted, "The Great Lingbao Heavenly Venerable would never send such a scoundrel, or have them do this sort of thing there!"

"I of course know it wouldn't be!" Hougang spread his hands, "This is entirely the Demon Race's tactic, spreading rumors."

"What scene setup, cast members, can't be solved with transformation magic?" this Wise Man showed a helpless look, "Wanting 'pics or it didn't happen'—here it's never a problem."

"Sigh!"

Hougang sighed, "Setting aside camp allegiance, I truly admire the Demon Race Wise Man who planned this operation."

"First came naval rumors, then continued to fake 'solid proof'... the target chosen for this solid proof was really damn clever."

"Food, reproduction—any living being's basic survival needs are hard-to-get-around obstacles."

"That's why these two most easily sway hearts; the vast majority of conflicts stem from them."

"Just like our operation, built on hunting and hunted food, that Demon Race Wise Man tied rumors to reproduction."

"At this point, the rumor's vitality jumped up more than one level." Hougang helplessly said, "Even if we use forceful means to cut off its spread, unleashing an 8‑second strike—"

"But who knows, they might have compressed and hidden it in some obscure corner... after the wind dies down, invite a couple friends to sample."

"—Brother, I've got something good, let you check it out!"

"The little Wu present had nothing to say."

"Such a Wise Man who aims to enrich the Demon Race's spiritual culture, has no morals at all, openly launches schemes—what can they do?"

"None!"

"When one is utterly base, they become invincible."

"Here, it has already been verified."

"Should we learn the demon's techniques to control demons?" the painter rubbed his chin, "We should also launch schemes, muddy these waters?"

"The question is, who do you want to point the spear at?" Hougang asked calmly, "The Demon Race hasn't set up a target, so we can't launch schemes even if we want to!"

"Or perhaps you want to pick a few renowned masters and make videos of them?" Hougang with a dead‑pan look, "You want to do Fuxi's? Or Nüwa's?"

"You want to die, but whatever you do, don't drag me along—I haven't lived enough yet."

"Cough cough cough... how could that be?" the painter coughed dryly, "I hold Fuxi the Sage and Nüwa the Sage in high esteem... although in this era we must fight the Demon Race that has invested in those two, but it's impossible to smear such worthy opponents."

"The painter went with his gut, took off the black pot Hougang had (maybe) placed on him, and defended himself: 'My point is, even without a Demon Race target, it's not a big deal!'"

"Select some groups with huge conflicts, transform their members to film premium violent works... when they start fighting among themselves, our Wu Clan can stay out of it."

"Even if we can't completely get out of the muddy water, having someone help share the firepower wouldn't be bad, would it?"

"The painter said while gesturing, 'Actually, I think there might be a way to muddle through this.'"

"Our Wu Clan is the strongest group under heaven and earth!"

"This is the ultimate violence!"

"As long as we set aside face and appearance, many things can be smoothed over."

"Because we are strong, whatever reasoning we speak, right or wrong, is truth!"

"Messing around is called openness, a personal freedom."

"Doing as one pleases is called beautiful scenery, a personal right."

"The painter chattered on, 'Later we'll talk reason, talk force, propagandize, coddle, cultivate a bunch of lackeys to help us propagandize... see, isn't that all set?'"

"He looked at the Wu present."

"This…" Yuchen's mouth twitched, "This plan… uh… how to put it… is it perhaps…"

"Yuchen racked his brains but couldn't come up with a suitable evaluation."

"He vaguely recalled that the last one to make him feel this way was called Fengxi."

"'They're all damn tough!'"

"Yuchen sighed from the bottom of his heart, 'Each one, are their hearts really this black?'"

"'I often feel out of place with this lot because I'm not twisted enough…'"

"The art styles are completely different!"

"After repeated consideration, Yuchen felt that, compared to them, his own moral conduct was pure and flawless."

"Although he cheats, he's still a good guy!"

"Although he takes kickbacks, he's still a good guy!"

"If there's a choice, better not use this method." Xiling said conflictedly, "Kill a thousand enemies, lose eight hundred yourself..."

"This female little Wu seemed to disagree."

"As for plans, I'm just saying it." the painter said openly, "Whether you adopt it or not is up to you."

"The painter didn't mind, 'Just telling everyone, if it really doesn't work, there's still this move.'"

"Is there really no better way?" Xiling sighed deeply, looking at Yuchen.

"Yuchen looked at Qingxuan."

"Qingxuan looked at Boyang."

"Boyang pondered, then turned toward Hougang."

"Hougang clenched a fist and pounded his brow, 'If we don't resolve this with that muddled, forceful method... I don't have a better idea either.'"

"Sigh, Fengxi isn't here, he's been recalled for investigation." Yuchen shook his head, "Without someone this ruthless... no, a powerful teammate, it's hard to deal with the Demon Race's surging black waters over there!"

"Often, with the entire vast Wu Clan behind us, we lack neither manpower nor detail‑oriented advisors; what we lack are planners who break moral bounds and have unconventional thinking."

"Yeah." Xiling also sighed, "To defeat evil, we can only be more evil than evil."

"I'll pull some strings to get Fengxi's side to produce a result quickly."

"If he hasn't been caught with evidence, that's best; even if he is caught, we should try to get him bailed out……"

"Then please do it quickly." Hougang's eyes flashed, he said, "I'll strive to stabilize the situation, not let it worsen... before the Demon Race side cooks up some new trick."

"Okay, I trust your ability." Xiling nodded.

"……"

"Sometimes, the more you fear something, the more it comes."

While the gathering on this side hasn't ended yet, over on the other side the Demon Race's spearhead has stabbed through again.

Spreading rumors and slander, they shook the positive image the Wu Clan had propagated, causing people to start doubting thereafter.

Immediately after, in the exposed gaps, bit by bit of infiltration and erosion wore down the endless dike.

"Noble and great Wu Clan!"

"The great lineage that inherits Pangu's ancestral god bloodline, the great lineage that guards the world, please save my people!"

A red-root dog wailed miserably, covered in blood, kneeling before the interview point set up by the Wu Clan for outsiders.

It let out a mournful wail, its voice filled with the most heart‑rending grief and sorrow: "The world is harsh, someone is abusing my red-root dog lineage!"

"Please, please..."

It cried fiercely.

In the end, it literally cried itself to death here.

A cultivator of profound prowess wandered nearby, and at a glance saw through it.

"This red-root dog... he has long been dead!"

"It is clinging to a trace of undying obsession, dragging its ruined body here to beg for help!"

"What on earth happened?"

A major story is brewing.

(End of chapter)