Chapter 2263: Chapter 2267: Scheming
"Mr Jiang?"
Tong Hai gently called out upon noticing Jiang Chen’s unusual demeanor.
Jiang Chen took a deep breath, squelching the unease within his heart, solemnly looking at Tong Hai: "Senior Tong Hai, Zhang Yubo... is very dangerous, if possible, leave the Domain Lord’s Mansion soon."
"No way! We cannot leave our brother’s and benefactor’s death unavenged!"
Tong Hai categorically refused, showing a hint of dissatisfaction in his gaze towards Jiang Chen. What does he mean? Could it be that he doesn’t want to avenge our benefactor?
"Of course, we cannot let the murder of our teacher go unavenged!"
Jiang Chen spoke gravely: "However, as you’ve mentioned, the fact that Zhang Yubo is already preparing to break through to the Saint Realm suggests his prowess in the Integration Realm is at a peak level. Do you think our current strength can rival his?"
"This... If..."
Tong Hai slightly furrowed his brow, his eyes darting towards Sang Zhenye who was aiding Sun Peng’s healing, hesitating slightly.
"Senior Tong Hai, unless Zhang Yubo actively provokes the Academy, it cannot take action against him. Zhang Yubo, being a Domain Lord, could escalate the matter, possibly resulting in a conflict between Changling Main Court and Canglan City!"
Recognizing Tong Hai’s intent, Jiang Chen spoke solemnly.
Though there’s no fear, truly eliminating Zhang Yubo would make it impossible for the Changlin Academy to remain unaffected, as killing a Domain Lord is undoubtedly a blatant affront to the Canglan Great Emperor!
Tong Hai’s expression changed, falling silent. The four brothers had long wandered the continent, never developing much attachment to any power, even as they currently resided in the Domain Lord’s Mansion solely because Zhang Yubo was the brother of the Shadowless Sword Emperor.
Now confirmed that Zhang Yubo was indeed responsible for the Shadowless Sword Emperor’s demise, how could he still see himself as belonging to the Domain Lord’s Mansion? Therefore, he hadn’t thought much about it, only considering that joining forces with the seven strong contenders of the Changlin Academy along with his three brothers would grant them a chance to slay Zhang Yubo, avenging the Shadowless Sword Emperor and their eldest brother.
"Neither this nor that works, Mr Jiang, what do you suggest we do?"
Famed for his wisdom among the four brothers, Tong Hai was also at a loss!
"Senior Tong Hai, the safest course of action is for you to leave the Domain Lord’s Mansion now and return once your skills have significantly increased to seek revenge!"
Jiang Chen spoke softly.
"That’s impossible! We are just lone individuals, whereas Zhang Yubo is a Domain Lord. Compared to his cultivation speed, we stand no chance!"
Tong Hai shook his head, rejecting the idea without a second thought.
"If that’s the case, then there’s only a more perilous option left!"
Jiang Chen spoke quietly, a face full of grim determination, eyes showing a hint of internal struggle.
"What is the plan?"
Tong Hai’s eyes lit up, fixing his gaze on Jiang Chen.
Nearby, Sang Zhenye, still treating Sun Peng’s Primordial Spirit wounds, also looked over.
"Continue lurking within the Domain Lord’s Mansion, secretly investigating the connection between Zhang Yubo and... the Nether Kui Snake!"
Jiang Chen spoke with piercing eyes.
"Nether Kui Snake?"
"What is that?"
Not only Tong Hai but even Sang Zhenye exclaimed in surprise, staring at Jiang Chen in shock.
"Mr Jiang, what do you mean by this? Can we overthrow Zhang Yubo if he is indeed connected to this Nether Kui Snake?"
Tong Hai knitted his brows tightly, staring intently at Jiang Chen.
"Senior Tong Hai should know Zhang Yubo’s character better than us; do you think he would boost your abilities without any ulterior motives?"
Jiang Chen spoke gravely: "Wuyou Island’s obliteration occurred without a whisper; doesn’t that strike you as odd? Throughout Shenmu Prefecture, who could annihilate Wuyou Island in a single night?"
"This... Isn’t it the sudden emergence of a power?"
Tong Hai asked with furrowed brows.
Jiang Chen’s lips curled into a sneer: "A power suddenly emerged? A potent force of such magnitude suddenly appearing, yet the Prefecture Lord of Shenmu Prefecture wouldn’t detect it at all? Senior Tong Hai, if I’m not mistaken, the three of you have been investigating for over half a year, without uncovering anything, right?"
"We..."
Tong Hai’s face reddened slightly, nodding gently: "Those bastards are hiding too well, and we have no clues, so much so that even the Prefecture Lord of Shenmu, Fan Zhongming, couldn’t find any leads!"
"Perhaps it’s precisely because you are together with him that no clues have emerged! Senior Tong Hai, do you truly believe it’s a power suddenly emerging?" Jiang Chen countered.
Tong Hai froze, a bit of doubt arising.
"Think about it, Shenmu Prefecture is significantly spacious, its territory stretching nearly a hundred-mile radius, yet it also feels rather small; an Integration Realm Cultivator fully exerting themselves could traverse Shenmu Prefecture in a day!"
Jiang Chen’s lips curled into a sneer: "And in such a confined space for Integration Realm experts, surprisingly, this enigmatic force could emerge right under Fan Zhongming’s nose without any forewarning—do you believe that’s conceivable?"
Glancing at Sang Zhenye who had approached, Jiang Chen spoke in a deep voice: "Yesterday’s destruction of Lingtian Pavilion, Senior Tong Hai, you all should have gone there too, right? You found nothing as well? Moreover, if my assumption is correct, Fan Zhongming should have arrived there with the Domain Lord’s Mansion personnel before you did, right?"
"Indeed, that’s true, but at that time, we were indeed..."
Tong Hai nodded, softly explaining, suddenly pausing there, knitting his brows tightly.
Swoosh swoosh!
Seeing Sang Zhenye approach Jiang Chen and the others, Sun Peng continued self-regulating his condition, and Tong He and Tong Hu also landed beside them.
"Tong Hai, what have you realized?"
Sang Zhenye glanced at Tong He and Tong Hu, then looked at the frowning Tong Hai.
"I... feel something is amiss but can’t pinpoint it!"
Tong Hai furrowed his brows, showing a hint of contemplative thought.
"What’s Fan Zhongming’s strength?"
Jiang Chen spoke calmly.
"Early Integration Realm... Right! He’s merely in the early Integration Realm, and most of those from the Domain Lord’s Mansion are at the Void Refinement Realm. How did they arrive faster than us?!"
Tong Hai responded softly, then suddenly trembled: "Moreover, we three brothers were not far from Lingtian Pavilion at the time; we hurried over upon sensing the disturbances. If they managed to arrive before us, they should have encountered this mysterious force!"
"They didn’t meet them but rather arrived precisely after the mysterious force had left, right?"
Jiang Chen led the conversation: "Moreover, they didn’t have any wounds at that time either!"
"Indeed, they did have injuries, Fan Zhongming’s aura was quite chaotic. I asked him then, and he said he encountered the chief of the mysterious force on his way here and got pushed back!"
Tong He interjected.
"Pushed back? The three of you sensed the battle’s disturbance, indicating you weren’t far from Lingtian Pavilion. With your prowess, reaching Lingtian Pavilion wouldn’t have taken more than a quarter-hour, right?"
Jiang Chen chuckled coldly: "Did you sense Fan Zhongming engaging in battle? And if a quarter-hour’s effort could obliterate Lingtian Pavilion’s force, they couldn’t have failed to kill Fan Zhongming? Would they have spared him, a witness to the mysterious force?"
