Chapter 462: Chapter 233: Jiang Wansui Makes His Move! Chu Chaoran’s Announcement (Farewell to 2024) (2)

Yet both times it happened right in front of Zhang Fan. After the first and second time, to call it coincidence was impossible to believe. Maybe...

"That Human Xiao has already set his sights on you." Fang Changle said in a grave tone.

"The most troublesome thing now is that I’m afraid the higher-ups will pin this black pot on me." Zhang Fan replied in a low voice.

"No matter, their deaths had nothing to do with you in the first place." Fang Changle shook his head and said.

The only trouble lay in Zhang Fan’s true identity.

Once the secret of the Divine Demon Holy Embryo was exposed, even the deaths of Meng Qinghuan and Hua Yanqiu would seem minor by comparison.

"As long as they don’t bring you to Shangjing City, everything can still be negotiated." Fang Changle analyzed.

"They want to take me away?" Zhang Fan frowned.

If that was the case, he’d whip out his Nokia and make a call.

"This is Jiangnan Province. Even if they want to take you, they’d have to ask Maoshan first." Fang Changle sneered.

Jiangnan Province was, after all, Maoshan’s territory.

"However..."

"However what?" Zhang Fan pressed further.

"You saw it earlier. Huo Dharma King came to Yujing City and actually managed to fish out two big ones. Who knows what the outcome of this battle will be?"

Fang Changle said solemnly, "If Huo Dharma King falls in Yujing City, the entire Daoist Sect will certainly be shaken..."

"If the Daoist Alliance Headquarters unleashes its wrath then, and truly goes all out, that will be nothing less than a scorched-earth purge..."

If things really came to that, everyone in Jiangnan Province would be cleansed; even Maoshan couldn’t protect Zhang Fan.

"So, the next situation will depend on how this battle resolves?" Zhang Fan asked solemnly.

"Indeed."

Fang Changle nodded, "You should head back for now. Don’t appear for the next two days. I reckon the Divine Power Association’s investigation team won’t have time to look for you."

"As for the Daoist Alliance, leave it to me. If there’s any word, I’ll notify you at once."

"Alright!"

Zhang Fan nodded. When things are complicated, let them be. Respond to action with stillness. Sometimes, doing nothing is best.

In the days that followed in Yujing City, on the surface, all was calm, but beneath, the winds and clouds were surging unstoppably.

That very night, the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance Headquarters quietly locked down the city. All cultivators were allowed in but not out.

Lin Jianyue was just a step faster, narrowly escaping the investigation.

...

Two days later.

Shangjing City.

No. 273 Immortal Concealment Road, Daoist Alliance Headquarters.

It was late at night, but the office at the end of the corridor was still lit.

An amiable old man, wearing reading glasses, was playing chess with the tall, thin man before him.

"President, there’s news from Jiangnan Province."

At that moment, Yue Cang Peak hurriedly entered, his expression grave.

As one of Jiang Wansui’s most trusted aides, it had been a long time since he’d felt such pressure as he did today.

"Master Huo is now where?"

Fan Lingzhou shot to his feet, his mind no longer on the chessboard; only the amiable old man sat hunched, eyes unblinking, as if still roaming the board.

"Missing—life or death unknown. They haven’t even located his body." Yue Cang Peak’s face was unpleasant.

Primordial Spirit Battle was always perilous—let alone when even the body couldn’t be found.

Though the intel said life or death uncertain, missing without trace, from all indications, even if Huo Dharma King wasn’t dead, he likely wouldn’t last much longer.

"The Lord of the Profound Palace... and that bastard from Zhang Lingzong... I didn’t expect they were both hiding in Jiangnan Province..." Fan Lingzhou’s face was utterly cold.

"And those two?"

"The Lord of the Profound Palace vanished after leaving Yujing City. Wuwei Sect has always been good at hiding..." Yue Cang Peak said deeply.

Wuwei Sect and the Daoist Sect had fought for years—they knew each other inside and out. Back when Three Corpses Daoist rose, to prevent the Daoist Sect’s surveillance, they even compiled a manual on counter-tracking for all disciples to study and practice.

"That bastard from Zhang Lingzong?" Fan Lingzhou asked coldly, "Looks like the one from under Dragon Tiger Mountain ten years ago isn’t the same as this time..."

"This time, it’s probably the brat from twenty years ago at Beizhang’s God Sealing Statue. I said then, having already been sealed as a god, how could he have also cultivated the Divine Demon Holy Embryo?" Yue Cang Peak said coldly.

"Nonsense, wasn’t Zhang Lingzong himself such an anomaly?"

"I don’t believe the whole family are anomalies." Yue Cangfeng retorted.

"Where did that little brat go?"

Just then, Jiang Wansui spoke up, his calm voice interrupting the pair’s argument.

"The brat is too slippery; he’s fled southwest. Very hard to track." Yue Cangfeng said in a low voice.

"Notify Beizhang. Let them try their luck in Dian Nan."

Jiang Wansui pushed a soldier on the board forward, launching a chariot check.

"President, you mean..." Yue Cangfeng’s eyes suddenly lit up.

"Exactly. The world is vast, but that brat can only run to Dian Nan..." Fan Lingzhou sneered.

"Zhang Lingzong is hiding in Ailao Mountain—clearly, he wants to reunite with his father."

"Tell Beizhang to lie in wait. If they catch the little brat, Zhang Lingzong won’t stay hidden. Then, father and son both die."

Hearing this, Fan Lingzhou and Yue Cangfeng exchanged a glance. A chill flashed in their eyes, but so did admiration for Jiang Wansui.

The President was a master indeed. With a casual move, he caught the crux of the matter and cut to the heart of the conflict.

"President, about Master Huo..." Fan Lingzhou hesitated to speak.

"Immortals were made from ordinary men, but mortals lack steadfast will... On the path of cultivation, where is there no tribulation? If after coming this far, one hasn’t seen through life and death, then it’s best not to cultivate Dao at all," Jiang Wansui said quietly.

"This is his tribulation, and his fate. If he can’t cross it, there’s nothing that can be done."

As he spoke, Jiang Wansui adjusted his spectacles, picked up the thermos cup from the desk, blew away the floating tea leaves, and took a small sip.

Fan Lingzhou and Yue Cangfeng exchanged glances, and could only remain silent.

"President, what about the little ghost hiding in Yujing City?"

Just then, Yue Cangfeng spoke again, icy light glinting in his eyes.

"That little ghost is also Zhang Lingzong’s progeny. Ten years ago, it was definitely him who injured Venus beneath Dragon Tiger Mountain. Not long ago, the incident in East Mountain Province was likely also him..."

"That little ghost has entered the Great Night. Now it seems he’s already passed the tribulation. He absolutely cannot be let be."

At this, a fierce killing intent flashed in Yue Cangfeng’s eyes.

"Xiaoyue, do you know why you always lose to Fan at chess?" Jiang Wansui stared at the board, his kindly gaze lingering across the river divide.

"Hmm!?" Yue Cangfeng froze slightly, then unconsciously shook his head.

"Chess isn’t about headstrong dueling—it can’t be all brute force and recklessness." Jiang Wansui said calmly.

"Otherwise, even a hero like King of Chu could only end in suicidal defeat at Wujiang."

"I... I don’t understand your meaning, President."

Yue Cangfeng scratched his head awkwardly, glancing at Fan Lingzhou, who only shrugged, having no more idea of Jiang Wansui’s meaning than he did.

"Chess is about turn and counterturn. Since we’ve made our move, we must also allow others theirs." Jiang Wansui stared at the general cornered by his pawn, voice heavy yet soft.

"Mm!?"

"Let others move?"

Yue Cangfeng and Fan Lingzhou exchanged a puzzled glance, not knowing whom this ’others’ Jiang Wansui referred to.

Beep... Beep... Beep...

At that moment, the fax machine by the desk beeped, spitting out a document.

Yue Cang Peak hurried over, snatched up the paper, and his expression froze upon reading.

"President, this is from Zhenwu Mountain."

Yue Cang Peak’s expression was one of disbelief as he reverently handed the document to Jiang Wansui.

Jiang Wansui glanced over it, his gaze sharpening for an instant—then turning gentle again.

"A masterful move, Daoist brother!!"

Jiang Wansui murmured, then placed the document to one side. With a wave, the pawn that trapped the general to a dead end instantly turned to dust.

That day, word came from Zhenwu Mountain, spreading swiftly throughout the Daoist world.

Next year, on the second day of the second month, Zhenwu Mountain will hold its recruitment ceremony.

Chu Chaoran will choose a closed-door disciple to inherit the Pure Yang Dharma Lineage, and invites all fellow Daoists to climb the mountain as witnesses!!!