Chapter 399: Chapter 308: Scheming from Behind (3)
The Li Huo Alliance’s territory was already vast, but its options for expansion were quite limited. Most of its borders were shared with its ally, the Lianshui Alliance. Another portion bordered the Loose Cultivator Land, and a third bordered the Pill Alliance. Only less than a fifth of its territory touched upon the loosely affiliated lands of the Far East Alliance.
As an ally whose strength was no less than its own, the Li Huo Alliance naturally didn’t dare to have any designs on the Lianshui Alliance. The Loose Cultivator Land, while appearing to be just a gathering place for Loose Cultivators, was actually governed by several Golden Core Clans, much like the Swen Family of old. It was a tough nut to crack.
The Pill Alliance was another matter entirely. Leaving aside its Golden Core Cultivators, the mere presence of a Nascent Soul Cultivator was enough to make the Li Huo Alliance think twice before making any move.
Compared to these powers, the minor Sect Clans of the Far East Alliance were not even in the same league. Their survival for nearly twenty years without being annexed was largely thanks to the deterrent presence of the Great Zhou Academy and the covert support of the Pill Alliance.
But now, the Li Huo Alliance, for some unknown reason, had begun to expand outward once more. And the Qingyuan Sect was clearly part of its scheme.
Fang Qingyuan concealed his aura and privately mulled over the calculations behind the scenes. ’I should assume the worst of the Li Huo Alliance, that they’re greedier than they appear. I can’t just numb myself to the situation, ignore the details before me, and tell myself I’m overthinking things.’
After considering all this, Fang Qingyuan’s motivation to continue searching for the Qi Cultivation Disciples waned considerably. ’If this is a setup, should I really just walk right into it?’
’In this Land Realm, it’s completely Bear Wind’s world. If he wants to see me, I can’t resist. A meeting between us is inevitable. And that’s probably exactly what the masterminds behind this want to see.’
’Thankfully, I put Jinbao in the Immortal Mansion beforehand. Otherwise, if Bear Wind caught Jinbao’s scent, he would have almost certainly appeared. That would have sealed my guilt completely.’
In this world, there were Magical Artifacts and other strange objects capable of recording images. As far as Fang Qingyuan knew, every Inspector Envoy from the Great Zhou Academy carried one, so they weren’t particularly rare.
If the Li Huo Alliance was truly behind this, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t believe they wouldn’t have made such preparations. Understanding this, he discreetly began to retreat.
Only after returning to the territory of the Cloud-Clawed Lizard, the domain of a Golden Core Demon Beast, did Fang Qingyuan feel a greater sense of security. He was tempted to just wash his hands of the whole affair and leave, but when he thought of the parents and relatives of those children back at the sect, he knew he had to do something.
With this in mind, Fang Qingyuan plucked a plump Nanli from his Immortal Mansion, where she had been eating her fill. Then, using the Voice of All Things, he gave her a set of instructions.
After emerging from the utter safety of the Immortal Mansion, Nanli looked at the unfamiliar Barbaric Wilderness and wished she could just bury her head in the ground. To her, this Barbaric Territory was far too dangerous.
But faced with Fang Qingyuan, the master who provided her with food and shelter, Nanli didn’t have the courage to disobey. So, with her head hung low, she cautiously and furtively scurried toward Bear Wind’s territory.
Fortunately, the area Fang Qingyuan had chosen was the closest to Bear Wind’s territory. Along the way, Nanli played dead at the slightest provocation, allowing her to pass through the lands of numerous Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts shaken but unharmed.
Arriving in the territory of a Golden Core Demon Beast, Nanli spat out a fragment of the golden light barrier that Fang Qingyuan had collected from Bear Wind Cave years ago. In no time at all, a spotlessly white, plump Great White Bear rushed over, drooling.
The Great White Bear’s presence was immensely oppressive. Nanli struggled to stay prone on the ground, feeling as if she couldn’t even keep her eyes open.
The Great White Bear paused when it saw Nanli. Though drool was practically pouring from its mouth, it didn’t dare to take a bite. On the fragment of the golden light barrier, it sensed the aura of its own master.
Only then did Nanli spit out a Sound Transmission Talisman. As the Talisman shattered, a simple, hearty voice echoed in the area:
"Please tell Uncle Feng that after that meal I had at your place three years ago, I had a breakthrough right after I got back. I’m just sending my greetings this time, and I wanted to ask if a few of our sect’s little rascals are in your territory. If they are, could you help send them out? I’ll come visit you again next time, Uncle."
When the voice finished, the Talisman dissipated into the air. The Great White Bear and Nanli stared at each other. Nanli was still apprehensive. Watching the unmoving Great White Bear, she tentatively used her claw to try and scrape the palm-sized golden fragment on the ground toward herself.
Seeing this, a fierce glint flashed in the Great White Bear’s eyes. It snatched Nanli by her long neck, scooped up the golden fragment from the ground, and flew rapidly toward Bear Wind’s cave.
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