Chapter 239: 232 Planning

Upon hearing this request from Tang Zhao, Zhang Rong pondered and said, "This is difficult. Our calculations of the celestial timing are essentially based on the changes in the celestial phenomena of our own world, not some calculation out of thin air. After the space from the opposite side descends, what is inside it does not affect the changes in our celestial timing here, so it is difficult to calculate."

Tang Zhao nodded and sighed.

Zhang Rong said, "Does my young friend have some difficulty? You might as well speak it out, and I can help you brainstorm."

Tang Zhao said, "I have studied the document you gave me; although it is complex, it is essentially a means of Sword Casting. One treats space as a kind of 'empty' material, then uses 'wind' to collect it. Only then comes the most crucial folding technique. I believe this is the correct path, and it is stronger than the method I had originally prepared. Therefore, I intend to make this method my primary focus, and the urgent priority now is to find a large amount of wind-natured material."

He briefly explained the significance of wind and emptiness in the field of Sword Casting, saying, "I usually hoard materials, but I don't have such a large reserve of any single one. Especially since I only need earth-natured materials for sword bodies when casting, I have neglected to collect other materials. So, I still want to use a kind of wind-natured material."

In fact, he currently has a wind-natured material in his possession that can be mass-produced, which is Dragon Might; that is a typical wind-natured material. It is just that both Dragon Might and Dragon Roar are too overbearing, and Tang Zhao is worried about inciting a riot among the Heavenly Demons in the Demon Cave, so he wants to collect some that are more peaceful.

Zhang Rong pondered and said, "Can you not use wind directly?"

Tang Zhao said, "Wind without properties is not very easy to use. You know, just as a mountain without a slope is hard to climb. Because that space is not pure space either; it contains mountains, rivers, and living beings, so it is also 'empty' with impurities. It is best to find wind that is compatible with both sides. If that cannot be found, having one that is half-compatible is also fine. It is best to find a few different types of wind-natured materials to keep in reserve."

Wind with properties is hard to find; if it were just natural wind, he could just let Jiang Shenyi flap his wings hard.

Zhang Rong said, "How about using Internal Energy? I still have some Internal Energy."

Tang Zhao hesitated and said, "Forgive this student for being meddlesome, but I would rather not use wind that has been tainted by human aura."

Because the space that is finally folded must be stored in a jar, and a jar cannot store things related to living beings. Internal Energy counts as a part of a person and is hard to store. Of course, one could use traditional methods to seal it, but Tang Zhao is used to being lazy and is accustomed to using a jar to pack it—clean and hygienic.

Zhang Rong thought and said, "I do happen to think of a good place. Since I have nothing to do today, I will go with you."

——

"Dongjun descends, opening a grand Dharma assembly!"

"Dongjun has come, the Calamity Moon will be of no concern, Dongjun has come, everyone will be safe!"

"If Dongjun does not appear, what will become of the common people?"

The news spread through every street and alley. The common people, who had been ordered to stay indoors, were initially skeptical, but immediately afterward, government runners went door-to-door to notify everyone to gather at the Dongjun Temple to listen devoutly. Those who went would be provided with two days of tea and rice, with oil and salt, and the final night's dinner would even include meat.

Hearing that Dongjun had descended to protect them, the devout went actively. The rest of the ordinary folk, hearing that meals were provided, were also willing to go. As for the lazy homebodies, seeing the government runners arrive at their doors with swords to mobilize them, they had no choice but to go.

By the afternoon, most of the common people in the South City had gone to the Dongjun Temple in batches. Several districts among them were personally watched by Mai Shiyu, and they were emptied out completely.

In the end, Mai Shiyu ordered that all empty houses where no one lived must have their doors broken down for inspection. Perhaps a Demon Sect monster was hiding inside.

And indeed, sporadic battles actually occurred in some areas. Several wolf-like humanoid Fierce Beasts rushed out of a few houses. Before the Land Inspection Division could even make a move, Jiang Shenyi, who had been holding his breath in the air, swooped down and struck with a bolt of lightning.

In the end, all the empty houses were searched, and a total of five or six Demon Sect members were ferreted out.

"I always feel that there are still big fish that haven't been caught." Jiang Shenyi landed beside Mai Shiyu and frowned.

Mai Shiyu smiled slightly and said, "Of course there are big fish. Although they haven't been fished out of the water, they are already in the water. Let's go, the time for the general offensive has arrived."

She reached out, and pink peach blossoms in her hand danced with the wind, heading in another direction.

"Where does the sharp sword point? Peach blossoms follow the flowing water."

—-

In a flower garden in the suburbs, there was a pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, a refined and gentle-looking young man sat by a stone table sipping tea. He took a sip of tea and sighed lightly, as if lamenting the passing of spring and autumn.

Beside him, a middle-aged man stood respectfully.

"So, your Holy Moon Sect has been defeated."

The middle-aged man shuddered and said, "No, it cannot be said that we have been defeated. The decisive battle is still ongoing; there is always a glimmer of hope."

"Hope? Where is it?"

Sweat dripped from the middle-aged man's forehead. He had originally intended to ask this young man with vast Supernatural Power where the hope for their Holy Moon Sect lay, but he was countered immediately upon starting. He stammered, "The hope is in... the Land Inspection Division going to the branch, they might not necessarily gain any advantage. If we can counter-attack—"

The lid of the teacup in the young man's hand made a crisp sound, like a laugh, and he said, "You, counter-attack Feng Zhilie?"

The middle-aged man argued, "Although that Town Guardian is a veteran of the Land Inspection Division, his strength is only average, his character is inferior, and his ability to command troops is a mess..."

The young man used the teacup lid to stir the tea leaves and said, "Fine, even if you could counter-attack the Town Guardian, so what? Does the Land Inspection Division not have stronger people? Nowadays, the strength of Yunzhou is growing stronger and stronger; there are no fewer than ten Inspectors in a single province, and a single county can even be allocated two. As long as one is nearby, can your Holy Moon Sect contend with them?"

"The era of the Sword Guest is like this; Sword Guests are not only powerful, but they come and go like the wind, and reinforcements are swift. Your Fierce Beast transformation power has already fallen completely behind."

"A so-called decisive battle requires the right time and the right place to have a chance of victory. For you, there is only one correct time for a decisive battle, and that is the moment the Heavenly Demon descends, because only then will the Land Inspection Division be attacked from both front and rear, giving you a chance to win. Once you fight a decisive battle before the descent, you have already lost, not to mention that someone has already found your lair."

The young man said, "It is not your fault for losing. A game with a one-to-nine chance of winning—it is only luck if you win. A place like Yunzhou is not something people like you can grasp."

The middle-aged man was not comforted; instead, his expression turned ugly. He suddenly knelt down and said, "Please, sir, point out the way!"

The young man remained unmoved and said, "Point out the way? What is it that you want? Do you want your life? Or do you truly want to welcome the Moon God?"

"I..." The middle-aged man's expression was one of struggle.

"Wanting your life is simple. Go southwest from here, and you will immediately enter the Lingzhou border. You naturally know about the Chaos in Lingzhou; where can you not hide and save your life? If you are truly devout and still want to serve the Moon God, then be a lone, brave hero for once. I will give you something. When the Demon Cave descends, you lie in ambush underground, watch for the opportunity to rush up and activate it. At that time, the power of the Space Storm will suddenly increase, and the Land Inspection Division members who are in the way will surely die. By then, the path for the Moon God to walk out of the Demon Cave will naturally be smooth."

"Of course, the price is that you will go directly to the Paradise to return to the Moon God's embrace. Are you willing?"

The middle-aged man's expression shifted, and the corners of his mouth twitched incessantly. Several times he seemed about to agree, but in the end, he still could not make up his mind.

Suddenly, a gust of fragrant wind blew by, and a slender, jade-like hand rested on his shoulder.

The middle-aged man turned his head and saw a face more radiant than snow leaning behind him, a pair of soul-stirring eyes meeting his own.

The newcomer laughed coquettishly, "With such a good opportunity, what are you still hesitating about? To sacrifice yourself for the Moon God in this way is both glorious and decent; it is a blessing of three lifetimes, isn't it?"

The middle-aged man stared blankly and nodded involuntarily. The woman took him in her arms, moved her lotus steps lightly, and led him down from the pavilion.

The young man sat in the pavilion, drinking tea alone. Although he was drinking tea, his brows were deeply furrowed, as if he were borrowing wine to drown his sorrows.

After a while, the moving woman returned and said, "He took the Profound Water Token. Should he be kept here?"

The young man said, "Keep him. This idiot is now a stray dog, and he is stupid. If he is let out, he might just bump into the Land Inspection Division and ruin our treasure instead. Find him a place first, and wait until the day after tomorrow to let him out; at least he still has a final bit of use."

He sighed deeply and said, "I didn't expect the Demon Sect to have fallen to this point. Not only do they lack talent, but they have also gathered so many fools. They can't even serve as a good blade. If this continues, let alone three years, it will be difficult to gain a foothold in Yunzhou even in thirty years. It is of no use to our grand cause."

The woman smiled sweetly, but it carried a chilling coldness: "It would be better if the Demon Sect people all died. They were never worthy of being blades in the first place; at most, they are stepping stones. Do you know that their branch was raided by Feng Zhilie last night, and all the members, big and small, were wiped out in one fell swoop?"

The young man shook his head and said, "As expected. Although Feng Zhilie is old, he is still an old tiger. What is a mere Demon Sect? One can never count on this bunch of people. However, Feng Zhilie shouldn't think he can be smug either. It was easy for him to go, but it will be difficult for him to return."

The woman smiled slightly and said, "Because the oriole is behind. He would never have imagined that we are still plotting against him on his way back. This toothless old tiger will not be able to escape."

The young man said, "By the way. Please ask His Highness to go with you. His strength is not bad; having him help deal with the Land Inspection Division will increase the chances of success, and it will also save him from having nothing to do."

The woman frowned in displeasure, and after a while, she said, "Fine, as you wish. You regret it too, don't you? He was originally passing through and intended to continue north, but you insisted on keeping him here to watch the battle. As a result, he has a noble lineage, is naturally above you, and refuses to watch quietly from the sidelines, even pointing fingers. Now, listening to him is not right, and not listening to him is not right either..."

The young man waved his hand, signaling her not to speak too excessively. He said, "The Crown Prince has just experienced a failure at Kungang and is currently in a state of dejection. I see him as having lost his heart and soul; if we do not have him stay to witness a great victory, I fear he will lose the courage to accomplish great things. That would be bad. If he, as a member of the imperial clan, wavers, how are we to settle the hearts of those below? After heading north, it will be difficult to accomplish great tasks, and it will only lead to further errors. It is better to simply have him stay, witness us achieve this great merit, and rebuild his confidence before he leaves."

The woman sneered, "Even if he rebuilds his confidence, does that mean he won't fail again once he leaves? After years of secret plotting at Kungang with a complete plan, and having the Pillar of State and the Black Armor Army at his beck and call, he still failed. This time, venturing deep into Yunzhou under the very nose of the Gaoyuan Marquis, what chance of success does he have? One can only say it is fortunate he is not the Crown Prince."

How could the young man respond to her words? He waved his hand and told her to go.

After a moment, the woman returned and said, "High Minister, two scholars are coming this way."

The young man said indifferently, "Are they poor scholars coming to enjoy the spring outing and flowers? No need to pay them any mind."

The woman said, "No, the older one is just an ordinary scholar, but the younger one has the scent of a Talisman on him; he is a Talisman Sword Master. They are here to collect the fragrance of the flower garden."

The young man said, "Go and watch them. If they are only collecting the fragrance in the flower garden, then there is no need to pay them any mind. If they approach the Qingming Bell, kill them."

"Understood."

With this reply, the woman did not retreat, but instead dissipated on the spot.