Chapter 365: Chapter 365: Profound Snake’s Plan
Even as the Great Xia Dragon Guard closely monitored the Martial Soul Hall, the Martial Soul Hall was, in turn, watching their every move.
An operation of this scale could never be hidden from the Martial Soul Hall. News reached the abandoned town almost instantly.
The higher-ups in the Great Xia Dragon Guard were, in fact, well aware of this.
But they didn’t care. They took no precautions to maintain secrecy. While the operation appeared to be a desperate, all-out assault, it was actually a ploy to use Prince Duan’s power to eradicate the Lianshan County Martial Soul Hall in one fell swoop!
This plan was top secret!
Within the Great Xia Dragon Guard, only the three Chief Stewards and the Six Great Army Commanders were privy to it, leaving no chance of a leak.
In a secret underground chamber beneath the abandoned town.
The seven Martial King Level experts from the Lianshan County Martial Soul Hall were gathered to discuss their strategy.
"The Great Xia Dragon Guard... They’ve got some nerve. We haven’t even attacked Lianshan County City, and they’re already coming to our doorstep."
"Led by three King Realm Chief Stewards, with every single Earth Spirit and Celestial Spirit Realm expert mobilized... They’re coming to fight to the death..."
"Hall Master, do we fight or do we hide?"
The other six at the Martial King Realm all looked toward Sub-Palace Master Profound Snake.
Profound Snake leaned back in his chair, one hand propping up his chin. His eyes glinted as he seemed to be deep in thought, completely ignoring the others’ discussion.
After another moment of thought, Profound Snake’s eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them. "The Great Xia Dragon Guard has mobilized all its Earth Spirit and Celestial Spirit Realm experts," he said in a grim voice, "but as I recall, don’t we still have a few Earth Spirit Realm members out in the field?"
A Human King Realm expert nodded. "There are five Earth Spirit Realm members out there. They were all secretly converted during a clandestine operation over a decade ago. The operation was later discovered by the Great Xia Dragon Guard and terminated. Since there haven’t been any major operations in all that time, the five of them have remained inactive, hidden among the human population."
Just then, another Human King Realm expert spoke up. "My Lord, you mean... to recall them for the battle? But there isn’t enough time."
"You imbecile!"
Profound Snake’s eyes flared as he cursed, "Just five Earth Spirit Realm members? So what if they came back? A single Celestial Spirit Realm expert could wipe them out with one slap!"
"Yes, yes, of course..." The man hastily lowered his head, terrified of angeting Profound Snake further.
’Ever since Mu’s death, Sub-Palace Master Profound Snake’s temper had grown increasingly volatile. He now killed several people a day simply for displeasing him—even a few at the Earth Spirit Realm!’
"Go make the arrangements. Have those five Earth Spirit Realm members gather all our Small Spirit Realm operatives in the field. After a few days, I want them to attack Lianshan County City!"
"The Great Xia Dragon Guard has poured out in full force, leaving not a single Earth Spirit Realm expert behind. We have five. Won’t breaching the city be child’s play?!"
"Hmph. The Great Xia Dragon Guard... Daring to attack my Martial Soul Hall, daring to shelter the brat who killed Mu... This time, I will bathe Lianshan County City in blood and show everyone our might! HAHAHAHA..."
As he finished, Profound Snake couldn’t help but break into a maniacal laugh.
Once his laughter subsided, a Tier Four Martial King spoke up cautiously, "Hall Master, Lianshan County City has a population of several million. It’s the largest city in Lianshan County. Are you really going to slaughter everyone there?"
Profound Snake whipped his head around, his gaze turning icy as he stared at the man. He spoke slowly, "Do you have a problem with that?"
The man opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing. He lowered his head. "N-No..."
’Profound Snake is practically unhinged now. Even the Martial Soul Hall’s valued Earth King Realm experts don’t dare to cross him.’
"Hmm... We’ll proceed with that plan... Right, just the Small Spirit Realm members out there might not be enough. We’ll need to send out more..."
Profound Snake paced around the secret chamber twice, then another problem occurred to him.
"My Lord," one of them reminded him, "sending out a large number of Small Spirit Realm members might arouse the Great Xia Dragon Guard’s suspicion. If they retreat out of caution, all our efforts will be for nothing."
Profound Snake nodded. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Then send out the Level-Nine Martial Artists. Send *all* of our remaining Level-Nine Martial Artists out. Have every one of them carry a dose from that newly arrived batch of elixirs. Once they are near the County City, they’ll consume the elixirs, break through to Tier One Martial Spirit, and immediately attack the city!"
"Great Xia Dragon Guard... Jingtai, come! Before you even breach our stronghold, your precious County City will be turned into a sea of blood!"
"HAHAHAHA..."
Profound Snake’s maniacal laughter once again echoed through the secret chamber.
After laughing for a moment, he abruptly stopped, his expression turning frigid. "Have those dozen or so Tier Three Martial Spirits we sent out returned? Did they capture Chu Qingyun’s family?"
"Th-There’s no word yet," a Human King Realm expert replied timidly.
"Hmph. Useless! All of them are useless trash! If they can’t capture them, they can all just die!" Profound Snake roared before storming out of the secret chamber.
The six remaining King Realm experts could only shake their heads helplessly. Mu’s death had truly changed Profound Snake’s entire personality.
However, despite their unease about Profound Snake’s plan to massacre the County City, they all still approved of his strategy.
’From their perspective, the confrontation here would only result in mutual destruction with the Great Xia Dragon Guard. After all, their forces were evenly matched at the moment; neither side could gain a decisive victory.’
’Once they fought to a standstill and both sides withdrew their forces... ’
’When the Great Xia Dragon Guard returned to find the County City they had painstakingly guarded for centuries transformed into a sea of blood—all their Martial Master Realm and Small Spirit Realm members slaughtered along with millions of civilians—the shock would be immense!’
’At that point, the Martial Soul Hall would be facing a group of Earth Spirit and Celestial Spirit Realm experts who had lost their foundation. They would be able to seize complete control of Lianshan County!’
Of course, they had no idea that Prince Duan, a Celestial King Realm expert, was at that very moment speeding toward them aboard a Flying Ship. Otherwise, they would have long since fled without a trace...
The Martial Soul Hall and the Great Xia Dragon Guard.
Both sides proceeded with their own plans, methodically and without interfering with one another.
Dozens of Tier Two and Tier Three Flying Demon Beasts carried the experts of the Great Xia Dragon Guard, flying at a steady pace toward the Martial Soul Hall’s stronghold.
Of course, the Tier Three Demon Beasts had slowed their pace to accommodate the slower Tier Two beasts.
Meanwhile, from the abandoned town, a steady stream of orders was being dispatched.
Across Lianshan County, the five Earth Spirit Realm experts who had been lurking among the human population, much like the former Zhao Family Ancestor, quickly gathered.
In the following days, Small Spirit Realm experts from the Martial Soul Hall continuously converged on their position from all over Lianshan County. A formidable power was slowly taking shape.
That very afternoon, more than thirty thousand Level-Nine Martial Artists swarmed out of the Martial Soul Hall’s stronghold like ants, scattering in every direction.
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