Chapter 486: with translation of chapter title

In Shandong, at the border between Dongping Prefecture and Ji Prefecture, lies an abandoned ancient shrine hidden deep in the mountains and forests.

This place is the "B-Character Number Seven" base Chen Wen spoke of, even more concealed than the previous manor.

The ancient shrine had long lost its incense, lying in ruins, yet underground lay a hidden cavern secretly remodeled by Zhao Lao Nian and his men.

They not only excavated a spacious secret chamber, but also set up several basic interference devices constructed from residual Nether Energy Crystal Ore and specific Fortune Momentum materials.

They can effectively confuse and weaken Nether Energy detection and perception within a certain range.

Chen Wen and his party arrived here silently before dawn.

He immediately entered the deepest secret chamber, preparing to begin the crucial breakthrough.

Qian Gui, meanwhile, led the remaining personnel to tightly defend the perimeter and activated all interference devices.

The entire base lay like a hibernating beast, restraining all its aura, silently awaiting the core's transformation.

However, just as Chen Wen was about to enter seclusion and sink his mind into his internal system,

Without any warning, his mind's passive "cause-and-effect fragment" ability triggered, stronger and clearer than ever before!

Several images, like shattered lenses, carried a sharp chill and stabbed into his consciousness:

——a short-statured man with a distinctly Hu appearance, leading an extraordinarily divine steed, pure snow-white from head to toe without a single stray hair, showing it off in the market, his accent strange……

(Keywords: Duan Jingzhu? Horse theft?)

——hanging beside the white horse's saddle was an inconspicuous square object tightly wrapped in oilcloth……

(Keywords: shape……resembling a seal?)

——a group of splendidly dressed riders, clearly not of Song attire, galloped furiously along the road, faces filled with anger, as if chasing something……

(Keywords: Jin kingdom prince? Imperial horse?)

——finally, the image froze on a corner of the oilcloth being forcibly torn open, revealing a corner of a jade seal inside; the jade was warm and smooth, carved with some ferocious beast knob, and it exuded an indescribable, massive Fortune Momentum force representing the "Mandate of Heaven," accompanied by a thread of Nether Energy chains forcibly bound and twisted, which slammed into Chen Wen's perception!

(Keywords: Jade seal! Forged? Mandate?)

Eh!

Chen Wen let out a muffled grunt, flung his eyes open, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

The energy and impact of these information fragments far surpassed before, causing a sudden mental sting, yet thereby the information became exceptionally clear.

"Duan Jingzhu……horse theft……Jin kingdom prince……jade seal……"

He softly repeated these keywords, his eyes sharp as a blade.

Combining his prior knowledge of the Iron Crow Army's methods, and the obvious artificial endowment on this jade seal—used to simulate the "Mandate of Heaven" with Fortune Momentum and Nether Energy fluctuations—a clear conspiracy outline instantly formed in his mind.

"Iron Crow Army……they are beginning to build momentum for Song Jiang's 'Mandate of Heaven'!"

Chen Wen stood up, paced within the secret chamber, his thoughts racing.

"According to their script, Song Jiang needs some 'Heaven-ordained' symbol to consolidate his position and pave the way for later pacification and even farther schemes."

"This jade seal, whether forged elsewhere or made from an antique of a previous dynasty, is the key implement!"

"Through the incident of 'Duan Jingzhu stealing the Jin kingdom prince's imperial horse and the jade seal,' they would link this 'Heaven-ordained symbol' to Song Jiang; combined with later possible means such as the 'Stone Stele Astronomy,' they could gradually push Song Jiang onto the altar of the 'Mandate of Heaven,' utterly suppressing and even assimilating other voices within Liangshan, especially……the 'Northward Aspiration' ideology!"

This plot is utterly vicious!

Once the Iron Crow Army succeeds, Song Jiang's prestige on Liangshan will rise like the midday sun, unshakable.

"The 'Pacification' faction will occupy absolute advantage, while Lin Chong, Shi Dun, and others of the 'Northward Aspiration' faction will have no foothold, possibly even facing mortal danger."

We must not let them succeed!

Chen Wen immediately suppressed the urge to dive straight into seclusion breakthrough.

This matter is of great importance and must be prioritized.

He summoned Qian Gui and detailed the cause-and-effect fragment information he had just sensed.

Qian Gui listened, his expression turning grave as well:

"Forging the jade seal, linking it to Song Jiang……the Iron Crow Army is trying to pull the rug from under us, fundamentally reversing Liangshan's fortune direction! My lord, how should we respond?"

Chen Wen's eyes icy, his thoughts clear:

"This is a crucial layout of the Iron Crow Army, undoubtedly backed by layers of safeguards; forcibly seizing the jade seal would be extremely difficult and likely expose us."

"Our goal is not to seize the jade seal, but to ruin this scheme!"

"Immediately mobilize all our covert contacts to do three things."

"First, spare no effort to trace Duan Jingzhu and the whereabouts of that Night-Jade Lion horse, clarifying their current itinerary and any possible handover plans with the Iron Crow Army."

"Second, spread the rumor—it need not be precise—only needs to circulate among the greenwood highways and border horse traders that a noble from the north is offering a heavy reward for a stolen white steed, features vague but bounty high, to draw attention from many forces and muddy the waters."

"Third, and the most crucial step……"

He lowered his voice:

"Find a way for our people, or other forces dissatisfied with Song Jiang, to have the jade seal 'coincidentally' obtained by Liangshan, and at the crucial moment when Song Jiang prepares to make a big deal of it, leak the news—'unintentionally'—that this jade seal is forged and has ties to the northern Jin kingdom, to those Liangshan leaders who already doubt pacification or remain loyal to Chao Gai's old aspirations, especially……to let Lin Chong, the Ruan brothers, and others obtain solid proof!"

Qian Gui's eyes flashed with sharp light:

"I understand, sir! This way, even if Song Jiang obtains the jade seal, it will not only fail to become a symbol of the 'Mandate of Heaven,' but could instead become evidence of his collusion with foreign powers and deceitful fame! It would stir up tremendous waves on Liangshan and heavily damage his prestige!"

"Exactly this intention."

Chen Wen nodded.

"You will oversee and arrange this, mobilizing all necessary resources, but be sure to guarantee the safety of our core personnel, especially Shi Dun, who is in the open, his situation delicate; transmitting information must be done with utmost care."

"I still need to break through to Level 4 here; this concerns the long term and cannot be delayed. During the breakthrough, unless it is a matter of life and death, do not disturb me. All actions are to be decided at your discretion."

"Yes! My lord, rest assured in your seclusion; Qian Gui will surely not betray your trust!"

Qian Gui solemnly accepted the order, his eyes gleaming with fighting spirit.

The struggle against the Iron Crow Army has already extended from ideological infiltration and martial assassinations to this more concealed yet even more crucial contest over the "Mandate of Heaven."

Qian Gui quickly departed and began making arrangements.

Inside the secret chamber, Chen Wen sat cross-legged again.

He deeply understood that his own breakthrough was the fundamental way to face greater future storms.

Only by reaching Lv. 4 and unlocking Ability Granting could he gain more means and effectively support the Northward Aspiration faction against the Iron Crow Army's endless schemes.

He closed his eyes, temporarily set aside the matter of the jade seal, focused all his mind inward, and began to guide the already fully saturated Growth power, launching a final assault on the bottleneck of Lv. 4.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, a covert struggle over a counterfeit jade seal had quietly begun.

Duan Jingzhu and his precious horse, the Prince of Jin, Youying, and Qian Gui's countless hidden threads were about to stage a tangled play of truth and falsehood, twists and turns, in this Shandong region.

The outcome of this play would deeply affect Liangshan's future direction and the survival of the Northward Aspiration's spark.