Chapter 142: Preparations Before Executing the Plan

The Great Sage has recently been paying considerable attention to the matter of the Red King's divine envoy reappearing in the desert; besides that, he is also drafting new rules to strengthen desert control. The canned knowledge he uses to issue orders is locked in his office, which no one can enter, and I have no way to get in.

I originally persuaded some friends to come, but unfortunately they are unwilling to come to A Ru Cun to help.

This is the content written on the second note sent by Saitalei.

The handwriting is very messy.

It was probably written hastily by her.

It seems Saitalei also knows that in Xu Mi Cheng, her every move is under the Academy's surveillance; only upon reaching the desert border is she truly safe.

"The idea is good."

"What a pity."

"Your information has already been recorded in the Void."

Luo De gently shook his head and tore the note conveying the information into pieces.

Saitalei could never have imagined this.

Perhaps it was because her lobbying people to go to A Ru Cun drew the Academy's attention, or perhaps her recent excessive concern for the Great Sage made him notice something abnormal, or maybe Luo De's identity as the Red King's divine envoy has caused anyone who has had contact with him to fall into this trouble.

In short.

Before Saitalei came to A Ru Cun this time, all of her information had already been entered into the Void.

If what Cyno said earlier is correct,

then her every move now should be within the Void's speculation.

This matter was not told to Luo De by Nadixa.

but Luo De inferred it from the strange behavior of the so-called examiners who came with Saitalei.

These people's speech is too professional; they are clearly here for the sole purpose of digging up Luo De's background.

Thus Luo De can easily reach a conclusion.

These people are actually here to collect his own information.

In other words.

After they return this time, Luo De's information will also be formally recorded into the Void.

Moreover, not only Luo De, but Dixiya, Cyno, Tighnari, Juleshi, and Nafisi—those closely related to him—will almost certainly also be entered into the Void after this, to facilitate monitoring Luo De's every move.

But all of this is exactly within Luo De's plan.

What he wants is for the Academy, or rather to make the Great Sage notice him.

"This divine knowledge is truly enough to attract people."

The false information suggesting he possesses knowledge of two deities has already been recorded in the Void, and Luo De is in a good mood.

What he needs to do next is

to make the Academy more convinced that he became this way because he obtained divine knowledge, turning the suspicion into a confirmed fact.

This would create an excellent opportunity to meet the Great Sage.

As for Hafusaina's side,

Luo De is ninety percent certain that this person definitely colludes with the Great Sage and knows of Nadixa's existence.

That is to say.

He knows that the deity A De Ba Yi encountered when initially interacting with the World Tree was not the Great Merciful Tree King but the Minor Auspicious Grass King.

So when he sees A De Ba Yi assisting Luo De with his project,

he will naturally wonder whether Luo De also obtained something from A De Ba Yi.

The information he conveys from here to the Great Sage

will become that Luo De is linked with those who have contacted the Dendro Archon, without guaranteeing that he holds divine knowledge originating from the World Tree.

Such a two-pronged approach

will cause Luo De to attract unprecedented attention from the Great Sage.

"We're still missing a bit of information."

The messages we've released now have responses; next we should consider how to rescue Nadixa from the Academy's heavy encirclement.

"Aierhaisen's side is really slow."

Luo De muttered slightly dissatisfiedly to himself.

Cyno's side being slow is somewhat understandable.

For imprisoning the Dendro Archon, the Academy will surely wipe away all traces, leaving no obvious evidence.

Moreover, the Academy has already begun to notice Cyno because of Luo De.

Thus, even if he wanted to investigate, it's unlikely he'd achieve anything in a short time.

On the other hand, Aierhaisen's side,

He is a full-fledged clerk, yet a clerk unnoticed by the Academy, and yet for so long not a single message has come from him.

But now is not the time to worry about Aierhaisen.

Luo De needs to find a way to first send Laheman and the recently recruited mercenaries to Xu Mi Cheng, to prevent the Great Sage from being driven to desperation and sparing no expense to silence him.

Before contacting Duoli,

He first found Laheman, who had been idling around the village, and without saying a word, brought him to his home.

"What's the sudden reason for coming to see me?"

"Are you ready to take action?"

Laheman immediately saw Luo De's intention and instantly rolled up his sleeves, excited.

"I know you're anxious, but you first don't rush."

Luo De gave him a glance and then said, "With my current ability, I can't send all of you mercenaries to Xu Mi Cheng."

Oh, by the way, I still need to explain my plan to you in detail, so that you and your subordinates don't cause trouble later.

Next.

Luo De then gave Lahman a detailed explanation of the arrangements.

Speaking of which, it's not that hard.

It's simply to block the guards leaving the Academy and prevent them from returning to protect the Great Sage.

The biggest problem with this plan is how to get through the sand wall into Xu Mi Cheng, and how to keep my own people from causing trouble in Xu Mi Cheng.

"Old Master Shazaman will probably set off for Xu Mi Cheng in about four days."

"Dixiya will be his guard; I'll have your people and Kusela's people mix in. You can bring fifty people—make sure they're obedient and sensible, otherwise Dixiya might not be able to strike, and Kusela will strike instead. If someone dies, don't blame them."

"In a week, a shipment will need to be sent to Master Sangge Mahabai at Kawanyi. You can bring some people to pose as newly hired guards of the village; this shipment is valuable and needs many guards, so you can bring all the remaining people."

Saying this,

Lahman immediately snorted disdainfully: "Hmph, my men aren't as undisciplined as other mercenary groups."

"Knowing the rules is best."

Luo De didn't mock his confidence, continuing: "The people you bring will, after reaching Kawanyi, receive a new escort mission to Xu Mi Cheng. Then you can meet up with Dixiya in Xu Mi Cheng. Remember, don't cause trouble; once inside the city, whether you lie low or stay wherever, as long as you don't cause trouble, the thirty-person unit won't forcibly expel you. Dixiya will tell you when to act."

"Alright, I understand."

"I'll gather people in these few days."

Lahman agreed readily.

His men had earlier been dismissed back to the desert by him; according to the plan, he only has three or four days, the schedule is tight and the task heavy, so he must hurry.

Having settled things with Lahman,

Luo De then went to find Dina Zede.

Four days later, Shazaman will bring the goods back to Xu Mi Cheng.

This wasn't arranged by Luo De; Shazaman himself had planned it long ago.

He has lived in A Ru Cun for too long.

Regardless,

he also needs to return to Xu Mi Cheng to oversee the family business.

As for Dina Zede,

she herself actually wants to keep staying in A Ru Cun.

On one hand, after the village intensified its greening construction, the air is much cleaner and fresher than before, which, though mismatched with the surrounding desert climate, is still quite suitable for recuperating the body.

On the other hand, regarding the leaf imbued with Nadixa's power, Dina Zede feels that if she leaves A Ru Cun, the Little Auspicious Grass King will immediately take back this leaf, just as it vanished without a trace the moment she finished speaking with it in her dream.

However, Luo De currently has some things he needs to ask her to do.

So this trip she must return together with Shazaman.

"You want me to find a few people who worship the Little Auspicious Grass King like I do?"

After hearing Luo De's words, Dina Zede blinked, somewhat unclear about what Luo De intended to do.

The worshippers of the Little Auspicious Grass King in Xu Mi Cheng form a very small circle.

Basically, they all gather at the Grand Bazaar.

They're easy to find.

People like Nilou, Zubayr, and Vigar are extremely loyal followers of the Little Auspicious Grass King; if you go to the Grand Bazaar and call out, they'll help.

The problem is, why is Luo De suddenly looking for these people?

The new Flower God's birthday festival still has a long way to go.

However, after seeing what Luo De produced, Dina Zede's eyes lit up suddenly, and she couldn't hear Luo De's following words.

They were several fresh green leaves.

Just like the leaf in Dina Zede's hand, they likewise contain the power of the Dendro Archon.

"These few leaves, after you find suitable people, just give them to them and directly tell them this is a manifestation of the Little Auspicious Grass King's divine trace."

"Remember, absolutely do not let them expose these leaves, or there will be trouble."

"These leaves are very useful; Ke Lai will accompany you, and she will tell you when to use them, how to use them, and what to do with them."

After saying all that,

Dina Zede immediately showed a look of confusion.

She still didn't know Luo De's plan, nor that Nadixa had been imprisoned; thus, after hearing this, her doubts outweighed the joy of receiving the Little Auspicious Grass King's grace.

Luo De does not intend to tell her the full plan.

It's not because Dina Zede is untrustworthy, but simply because her body cannot withstand such stimulation.

The Little Auspicious Grass King imprisoned by the Academy needs to be rescued.

If she learned of this, she would likely be so stimulated as to be bedridden again.

So he instead changed his approach.

"I am someone who has received the Little Auspicious Grass King's favor, you know that."

"These leaves are to prepare for the Little Auspicious Grass King's glory and faith to return to Xu Mi Cheng; you don't need to ask about anything else, just focus on this."

"Also, the Academy dislikes the Little Auspicious Grass King, you know that."

"So you must keep this strictly secret; otherwise, if the plan fails, the Little Auspicious Grass King's faith will be completely suppressed by the Academy."

Luo De reminded her repeatedly and cautiously.

Dina Zede's reaction was that her breathing grew heavier and heavier, until waves of golden light dizziness flashed before her eyes, nearly causing her to faint from such ecstasy.

This also made Luo De, while marveling at his own foresight, need to take some first-aid measures, which prevented Dina Zede from truly fainting.

After she finally came to her senses,

Dina Zeda happily looked at Luo De and said: "You mean? You intend to use the Little Auspicious Grass King's divine traces to promote her?"

Hmm, it's a very dangerous matter.

If we fail, the Academy's faith in the Little Auspicious Grass King will become even more strictly prohibited, and you might also be sent to prison.

Luo De reminded her again and also clearly explained the consequences of failure.

As expected.

Such danger, Dina Zeda wasn't afraid at all; instead, she relaxed her brows and said: "As long as I can let the Little Auspicious Grass King's glory spread throughout Sumeru, I'm willing to strive for that."

Good.

I will do my best to make this succeed.

Dina Zeda's attitude was resolute, and Luo De also nodded heavily in response, handing over all the newly condensed leaves that Nadixa had produced to her.

(End of chapter)