Goulangtu thought that Zhuxincheng’s seeking aid from Zuixin Valley had been inevitable. He knew the two had ties, and that Zuixin Valley had been clashing with Jiyuege of late. As long as Zhuxincheng wasn’t foolish, she would surely do as much.
Once he realized this, Goulangtu immediately found Third Elder Yinyu of Jiyuege and laid out the possibility. He suggested, “If you wish to gain merit for the Divine Alliance, you could station your forces in ambush at the proper spot. If they indeed come this way toward the Divine Stone Mine, you can strike unawares and secure significant achievement. But you must not tell anyone—this is merely old Gou’s conjecture, and if I’m wrong, I alone bear the blame.”
Elder Yinyu heeded Goulangtu’s advice and did exactly that, setting an ambush along the only route to the mine. Shortly after, he sent word to Goulangtu: “Over half of Zuixin Valley’s divine beings who came have already fallen, and the rest are moments from death. You may safely take over the Divine Stone Mine. When it’s done, I’ll bring Zhuxincheng’s head to you.”
Upon hearing this, the gods of Lieyang Sect exploded into debate. Elder Duyu and Chen Guangju of Jiyuege looked far from pleased. Chen Guangju mocked, “Inviting you into Jiyuege may be Yinyu’s best decision in a hundred thousand years. You truly know how to honor your master—your eagerness for glory is clear.”
In fact, Zhuxincheng’s analysis the day before had been flawed. The plan to seize the mine wasn’t Chen Guangju’s alone, but the consensus of several Jiyuege elders. Taking over the mine was a foregone conclusion under Jiyuege’s shadow; Lieyang Sect had no standing to refuse. Any merit gained would be trivial, whereas Yinyu’s devastation of Zuixin Valley would be the true glory. How infuriating—it should have been his chance!
Yet Ye Yu’s fury was far deeper. The Communication Stone had failed, alerting him that something was amiss. Goulangtu’s assessment chilled him to the bone: Zhuxincheng’s scheme exposed so quickly was unthinkable. Still, he had to admit the old fox’s talent for intelligence analysis was formidable.
Now was no time for admiration—escape was the only priority. But a direct flight would invite Jiyuege’s relentless pursuit; the speed of Celestial God Realm alone couldn’t outrun so many divine foes. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) They needed to bluff before fleeing, or face certain death.
Ye Yu stepped forward to speak when Goulangtu raised a hand to silence him and said, “Fellow Daoist Ye, I have studied you for some time. Everyone in Infinite Hall deems you the strongest. I’ve examined memories from various divine souls and seen the terrifying phenomena you unleashed. You are truly formidable—calling you Divine Lord Realm wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Yet, as far as I know, you have never struck first—not once! That makes me wonder: are you merely an impressive façade?”
Every word struck Ye Yu’s heart. He realized he wasn’t the only clever one in the Divine Realm; this old fox was equally sharp. One who studied his opponents so thoroughly was truly dangerous. The gods of Lieyang Sect looked on, astonished. Could he really be nothing but a façade? Xie Buyu stared in disbelief. “He’s lying,” she whispered, gripping Ye Yu’s sleeve. Ye Yu knew the truth: Goulangtu wasn’t lying, but if he admitted it outright, many would die—including them. He must not show weakness.
Ye Yu patted Xie Buyu’s hand and faced Goulangtu. “You’re sure I’m merely a façade?”
Goulangtu shook his head. “I’m about ninety percent sure. Oh, I forgot—you did wound the Crimson Spider Queen gravely. Yet, according to her recollections, you led her to deduce your origins. Thus, I believe you may indeed be destined for great fortune, unpredictable. But your true strength isn’t as great as it appears—at best, you are Celestial God Realm, yes?”
A thousand curses ran through Ye Yu’s mind. How could this dog demon’s intelligence be so accurate? He felt sick. Xie Buyu looked stricken; perhaps Goulangtu was right. Eighth Elder Duyu cracked his neck and said with a smirk, “Enough chatter. What cosmic phenomenon are you talking about? Show us if you can! And old dog, stand closer—if you’re wrong, I’m confident I can slay him, even if he truly is Divine Lord Realm.”
Goulangtu silently smiled, standing behind Duyu and Chen Guangju. His survival owed to caution: even ninety percent confident, he kept his distance. Ye Yu racked his brains for a solution—none came. Duyu’s aura bound him completely; no chance to flee. Was he to die here?
At that moment, a streak of light cut across the sky, returned, and hovered before Ye Yu—grabbing the Devil Horn atop his head.
“Ye Yu, how do you intend to explain yourself now?”
