Chapter 280: Before the Holy Master

Ye Tinglan froze in place.

Isn't your palace intrigue supposed to be a needle hidden in cotton? What's the strategy behind such a direct challenge?

But she truly couldn't accept this direct move.

The Holy Master had maintained her dignity for a lifetime; she truly couldn't lower herself to serve tea to Shen Tang, even if she had preset the scenario of serving tea to her husband and superior as family.

After all, their mindsets were different. Shen Tang could genuinely serve tea to her as Mr. or National Preceptor, but if she truly served tea to Shen Tang, the scent of a mistress serving the principal wife would be too overwhelming. What superior? Who doesn't know what you two are...

Fortunately, Lu Xingzhou was extremely alert; he quickly reached out, picked up a cup of tea from the table, and offered it to Shen Tang, smiling apologetically: "I offer this to the Sect Master."

Shen Tang gave him a resentful look; was he already protecting her?

Fine. Since Lu Xingzhou had stopped it, Shen Tang didn't pursue relentlessly; she accepted the tea and took a leisurely sip.

Her beautiful eyes glanced at Ye Tinglan; Ye Tinglan also lowered her head to drink the tea she had just served, daring not to cause any more trouble.

A'nuo touched her round chin. Seemingly a draw, but in reality, the old woman who needed a man's help had lost miserably; Sister Shen Tang was a bit more impressive.

Who knows what kind of nonsense this child is learning; she's never been this dedicated to learning alchemy.

"As for the Dongjiang Gang..." Shen Tang leisurely opened the topic: "We followed the strategy you left before departing: poaching people, applying pressure, and competing for business from various angles. The Dongjiang Gang is already falling apart and withering away. Plus, Shi Zhong died mysteriously on his return journey; Shi Tielong lost his morale, and having held on until now, he is preparing to pack up his assets and leave. Oh, by the way, A'nuo burned their Money Tree, which counts as the primary merit."

A'nuo puffed out her chest.

Lu Xingzhou was at a loss between laughter and tears.

Shen Tang added: "Actually, when Ji Wenchuan was a guest here before, I was even looking forward to Shi Tielong making a desperate final strike. At that time, we had a First Grade expert with a Super Grade Bone Dragon on the mountain... but Shi Tielong had no trace of a hegemon's spirit, wasting my expectations."

Ye Tinglan truly couldn't hold back her inner criticism; where did this sinister thought come from? Is this how the Empire's Princess is?

But listening to it was strangely satisfying... I'm finished; I've already been led astray by that evil demonic cultivator.

Lu Xingzhou touched his chin and said: "We cannot be careless; Shi Tielong still has the Prince of Jin behind him. However, since we have no flaws here, they have no chance to go all in. If we must draw the snake out of the hole, perhaps you could go out alone to give them some motivation, while Mr. lies in wait behind..."

Hiding the number one under heaven is far more formidable than hiding Old Ji, isn't it?

Ye Tinglan couldn't help but cough dryly twice.

Am I here to do this for you?

But recalling how Lu Xingzhou had thoughtfully preemptively served tea to save her face, she ultimately kept those words in her stomach and didn't speak them, simply drinking tea with her head down.

Shen Tang looked at Ye Tinglan's expression and couldn't help but smile: "Let's forget it. I've been in deep cultivation; if I suddenly go out and wander, as long as they aren't stupid, they'll know it's a trap. It's meaningless and would waste Mr.'s time for no reason. I don't want to rely on Mr. for everything; it's not good for Mr. to intervene too much in my affairs."

Ye Tinglan said with a stern face: "Really no need? Don't make it look like you're fighting alone here, facing malice from a higher dimension; someone cares."

Shen Tang smiled: "If I cannot walk out of such treachery on my own, what qualification do I have to stand at a higher place? Many people are watching me; perhaps the National Preceptor is watching too. I must submit my own answer sheet."

Ye Tinglan: "..."

That is true.

Previously, when she asked Miss Qingli to save this person, it wasn't just to support her; first, she felt she couldn't stand Gu Zhanting's actions, and second, it was for observation. She must have her own answer sheet; she can rely on the man beside her for strategy, but she cannot rely solely on men, and certainly not on a rival for love.

Is that appropriate?

However, the fact that Shen Tang herself could have such clear cognition and ambition improved the National Preceptor's impression of her significantly. Her heart was truly complex; for personal reasons, she almost wanted to beat her up, but for public reasons, so far, Shen Tang's impression on her was much better than that of the other Imperial Princes...

Lu Xingzhou also understood Shen Tang's thoughts and hesitated: "Will you stay in deep cultivation forever and never go out?"

Shen Tang said: "Now I am at the upper stage of the Third Grade, aiming for the Second Grade. Outsiders cannot imagine my improvement will be this fast. When I reach the Second Grade and go out, if they evaluate me based on my previous combat power, I can make them suffer a great loss again."

Lu Xingzhou nodded, feeling somewhat gratified.

Shen Tang was becoming more and more confident; the sense of brokenness from the early days had long since vanished. To ascend to the peak of Great Qian in the future, such a spirit is needed. Spirit is cultivated; now that Shen Tang rules Xiazhou, there is no rival within a thousand li. The prefects, the Demon Suppression Bureau, and the army basically all cooperate with her actions. Calling it an independent kingdom might be an exaggeration, but calling her a regional governor overlooking a thousand li is perfectly fine.

This cultivates spirit. At least, such spirit cannot be seen in those Imperial Princes who have been engaging in petty political struggles in Jingcheng. If it were a peaceful time, those Princes taking over might not be a problem, but from the various observations now, this world will not be peaceful for long.

"Just the Second Grade, this fast?" Ye Tinglan said: "I have seen your secret realm; the spiritual energy is indeed dense, not inferior to any of the strongest spiritual mountains and precious lands in the world. But ultimately, it still lacks experience; merely sitting in meditation is detrimental to cultivation."

Shen Tang smiled: "We haven't just been sitting in meditation; we often organize disciples for training, specifically in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains at the border with Tianshuang Kingdom to the west. It's just that these actions are usually group efforts, not my personal travel. If the situation becomes clearer in the future, I will also organize disciples to go to other places in Great Qian, or even the Demon Realm. The world is so vast; how can cultivators be trapped in one corner?"

Ye Tinglan finally said nothing more and nodded slightly: "Very good."

Lu Xingzhou felt he could barely hold back; this Mr.'s motherly vibe always overflowed at all times; with this identity, it's actually quite difficult not to leak it...