Chapter 182: Elder Ya Fei and the Final Insurance
"If all goes as planned, Qing'er, once everything is resolved, you will ascend to the position of Xiao Clan leader. Don't let your Third Uncle down!"
Central Plains: Tianji Tower Headquarters
As Tian Luo spoke, Xiao Qing froze. Although he had long expected to succeed his Third Uncle as the Xiao Clan leader, hearing it directly still left him momentarily stunned.
He knew his Third Uncle, Xiao Tiance, wasn't someone who craved power, but having it confirmed made the prospect even more real. Of course, Xiao Qing didn't doubt Tian Luo's words. As a part of Xiao Tiance's split soul, Tian Luo could be considered another version of him. Despite having been split for over a thousand years, Tian Luo's thoughts were still closely aligned with Xiao Tiance's.
After a long pause, Xiao Qing raised his head and asked seriously, "Lord Tian Luo, if Third Uncle succeeds in ascending to the Dou Di realm, will he immediately leave for a higher plane? And will you leave with him as well?"
Tian Luo smiled and nodded. "That's the plan. But don't worry. Until you have fully assumed control of the Xiao Clan and are prepared to face all its enemies, your Third Uncle won't leave you to face things alone.
"Besides, with the Heavenly Demon Puppet at your disposal, your strength is sufficient to contend with even late stage Nine Star Dou Sheng experts. Coupled with the Xiao Clan's current number of Dou Sheng level powerhouses, the Xiao Clan will remain the strongest force on the Dou Qi Continent.
"And let me assure you, your Third Uncle will leave you with ample resources and contingencies to handle any unforeseen circumstances. His meticulous nature wouldn't allow him to do otherwise."
Xiao Qing nodded at Tian Luo's reassuring words but then hesitated. "Lord Tian Luo, I understand. However, I'm more interested in your intentions.
"Ever since Clan Leader Xiao Xuan fell, my Third Uncle has worked tirelessly to find a secure path to ascend to the Dou Di realm. With his intelligence, I have no doubt he will succeed.
"But if you don't plan to leave with him, I can request that my Third Uncle pass the position of Clan Leader to you. Even if I do take on the role, I'd be willing to follow your guidance completely. After all, in my eyes, you and my Third Uncle are no different."
Tian Luo was momentarily stunned by Xiao Qing's words. He hadn't anticipated that Xiao Qing would be willing to relinquish his position as Clan Leader, nor had he ever considered staying behind on the Dou Qi Continent.
After a long silence, Tian Luo shook his head firmly.
"Qing'er, I understand your intentions, and I appreciate them. However, as you said, there's little difference between your Third Uncle and me. His desires are mine. He wants to explore the Great Thousand World, and so do I.
"Your Third Uncle isn't attached to power, and neither am I. Truthfully, if he hadn't insisted that I take charge of Tianji Tower, I would've wandered the continent freely long ago."
"I understand," Xiao Qing said respectfully, bowing to Tian Luo.
A Visitor Arrives
Just as their conversation ended, a knock came at the door.
"Lord Xiao Qing, Lord Tian Luo, Elder Ya Fei requests an audience."
At Tian Luo's wave, the door opened automatically. Ya Fei entered gracefully, dressed in a dark red outfit that accentuated her elegant figure. She smiled warmly as she greeted them.
"Lord Xiao Qing, Lord Tian Luo," she said with a polite bow.
Ya Fei's recent rise had been impressive. After proving her exceptional management skills, she was promoted by Tian Luo to the position of Chief Elder of Tianji Tower. Her authority now rivaled that of the Tower Master, making her second only to Tian Luo. Even the three leaders of the Alchemy Tower treated her with respect.
As the overseer of both Tianji Tower's intelligence network and its enforcement arm, Ya Fei had exceeded expectations. Under her leadership, intelligence operations became faster and more efficient, cementing her reputation as an unparalleled administrator.
"Please, Ya Fei, have a seat," Tian Luo said with a smile.
Xiao Qing nodded in acknowledgment as Ya Fei took her seat. She then produced a scroll and placed it on the table.
"Lords, the false information we disseminated has successfully reached the Ancient Realm. Our spies report that the Gu Clan's actions have slowed.
"They've ceased communication with the Shi Clan and Ling Clan, and their contact with the Yan Clan has become less frequent. This suggests that our false intelligence has unsettled them. I predict they won't make any bold moves until they're certain of our intentions."
Xiao Qing smirked and remarked, "They're taking a defensive approach, adopting a 'wait and see' strategy. Classic Gu Yuan cautious and indecisive as always."
Tian Luo chuckled. "Indeed. The Gu Clan is caught between fear and caution, worried we'll shift our focus from the Hun Clan to them."
Ya Fei added with a sly grin, "Exactly. But this isn't enough. Our goal is to push the Gu Clan into action to make them attack the Shi and Ling Clans.
"Now that they're reacting, it's time to implement the second phase of the plan."
Xiao Qing and Tian Luo exchanged approving glances.
"Good. What's the next step?" Tian Luo asked.
Ya Fei replied confidently, "I've already set things in motion. Within three days, agents posing as the Shi and Ling Clans will provoke the Gu and Yan Clans. When the conflict escalates, some Dou Sheng experts will inevitably fall.
"When that happens, the Gu Clan won't be able to restrain themselves. To protect their reputation, they'll likely retaliate and perhaps even ally with us to deal with the Shi and Ling Clans."
Xiao Qing and Tian Luo both broke into smiles at Ya Fei's insight.
"Brilliant," Tian Luo said. "You're proving to be an invaluable asset. Let's wait for the results."
Xiao Qing nodded in agreement. "Ya Fei's abilities are remarkable. You've chosen well, Lord Tian Luo."
Blushing slightly at the praise, Ya Fei added, "By the way, our spies in the Gu Clan have also reported that they plan to dispatch the Black Smoke Army to retrieve Gu Xun'er from Jia Nan Academy.
"One of our operatives will be among the escort and can relay real time information."
Neither Tian Luo nor Xiao Qing seemed particularly surprised.
"It makes sense," Xiao Qing remarked. "If the Gu Clan truly intends to oppose us, they'd naturally want to bring their most talented descendant back to safety."
However, as he noticed the sly smile on Ya Fei's face, Xiao Qing's expression shifted.
"Ya Fei, are you planning to use the Gu Clan's princess as leverage?" he asked.
Hearing this, Tian Luo quickly grasped the situation and asked, "Who is leading the team to escort the Gu Clan's eldest daughter back?"
Seeing their reactions, Ya Fei smiled confidently and replied, "You're both sharp, Lords. My plan is to work on two fronts. Our main strategy proceeds as planned, while Gu Xun'er will act as a contingency.
"Based on the timeline, part of our plan will be complete in about three days. By then, the Gu Clan is bound to react this is the first goal.
"The second goal involves Gu Xun'er. As Gu Yuan's only child and a prodigy unmatched in her generation, the Gu Clan's elders have placed great expectations on her.
"If the 'Shi Clan' or 'Ling Clan' dare to target her, even making her disappear for a short time would suffice. This would enrage Gu Yuan, potentially pushing him to act against the Shi and Ling Clans.
"This way, our plan will succeed flawlessly. Once the Shi and Ling Clans are destroyed, we will also have grounds to demand accountability from the Gu and Yan Clans, ensuring that all aspects of the plan unfold as rehearsed."
Ya Fei's bold plan impressed Xiao Qing and Tian Luo. It wasn't just ambitious it was practical and meticulously designed. Merely killing a few Dou Sheng level elders wouldn't provoke the Gu and Yan Clans enough, but leveraging Gu Xun'er as a pressure point could force Gu Yuan to act impulsively.
Xiao Qing frowned slightly and voiced his concern.
"Gu Xun'er wasn't part of our original plan. We may need to consult my Third Uncle about this. Gu Xun'er happens to be close to Xiao Yan, and Third Uncle has high hopes for him. If this causes any complications, it could be troublesome."
Before Xiao Qing could finish his thought, the space around them suddenly rippled. Xiao Qing and Tian Luo instinctively prepared to defend themselves but quickly relaxed when they sensed a familiar presence.
A moment later, Xiao Tiance emerged from the spatial rift. Without waiting for formalities, he turned to Ya Fei with an approving smile.
"You've done well, girl. It seems bringing you from the Jia Ma Empire to the Tianji Tower Headquarters was the right decision," he said, his voice full of praise.
"Third Uncle! Clan Leader! Lord Tower Master!" the three greeted him respectfully.
Xiao Tiance waved dismissively and took his seat at the head of the room. He then turned to Ya Fei.
"This addition to the plan is excellent. You've earned my commendation."
"Thank you, Lord Tower Master!" Ya Fei responded, bowing deeply.
"No need for excessive courtesy. Take a seat," Xiao Tiance said, motioning her to sit.
He then turned to Xiao Qing with a smirk.
"If this were the past, I might have considered Xiao Yan's feelings. But now, that's no longer necessary.
"Whether Xiao Yan rises to greatness or not is entirely up to me. If not for the fact that he carries the purest bloodline among Xiao Xuan's descendants, he'd already have died in the Black Corner Region."
Xiao Tiance's control over the seal on the Ancient Emperor Cave's entrance meant he held Xiao Yan's fate in his hands. If Xiao Yan proved worthy, he would be allowed to inherit the legacy. If not, his life would be left to chance.
Tian Luo nodded in understanding. "Since that's the case, I support Ya Fei's proposal to use Gu Xun'er as a contingency."
He then added, "By the way, Ya Fei, you haven't mentioned who is leading the team to retrieve Gu Xun'er."
At this, both Xiao Tiance and Xiao Qing turned their attention to Ya Fei.
Ya Fei stood respectfully and answered, "The team is led by Gu Bai, a peak Three Star Dou Sheng from the Gu Clan. The rest of the escort comprises members of the Gu Clan's Black Smoke Army, including two Dou Zun experts and a few Dou Huang and Dou Zong level fighters not worth mentioning."
Xiao Tiance chuckled. "I would have thought Gu Lie might go himself, but it seems I scared him too much last time. He's been cowering in the Ancient Realm ever since. How disappointing."
Tian Luo laughed as well. "Given the two close calls he's had with you, Clan Leader, it's no surprise. After all, he barely escaped with his life both times. Staying put seems like the sensible choice."
Xiao Tiance smiled faintly and said, "Let's proceed with the plan. Ya Fei, you oversee the main operation. Xiao Qing will assign someone to handle the Gu Xun'er contingency."
Xiao Tiance raised a hand to interrupt. "No need. I'll handle the matter with Gu Xun'er personally. It's about time I had a proper meeting with Xiao Yan."
"Understood!"
Though unsure of Xiao Tiance's exact intentions, the others trusted his judgment.
At Jia Nan Academy
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan's recent acquisition of the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame list, had significantly boosted his strength. He easily overpowered even seasoned Inner Academy students with his improved abilities.
This time, unlike the original timeline, Bai Shan who once plotted against Xiao Yan quietly stayed in Xiao Yan's group, riding his coattails to victory.
The Academy Elders, recognizing Xiao Yan's enhanced power, arranged for him to face even stronger opponents than before. Yet these efforts proved futile, as Xiao Yan, with Gu Xun'er's help, led the freshman team to an overwhelming victory over the seniors.
Gu Xun'er's Growing Strength
Notably, Gu Xun'er's abilities had also advanced far beyond the original timeline. Now a Seven Star Dou Ling, her strength and talent ensured that the competition posed no challenge. With her and Xiao Yan working together, their team dominated the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, seizing all the fire energy from the senior teams.
After the competition, Xiao Yan gently held Gu Xun'er's hand, his gaze full of warmth.
"We won, Xiao Yan. I can't believe it's been only two years, and you've grown so much. My judgment of you was right after all," Gu Xun'er said, her eyes filled with admiration.
Xiao Yan, basking in her affection, replied softly, "You've improved just as much, Xun'er. My strength comes from enduring countless life and death battles, but you've reached this level through steady cultivation."
Giggling, Gu Xun'er said, "I worked hard to stay by your side, Xiao Yan."
Their sweet exchange earned envious looks from their companions.
Shortly after, the Academy Elders announced the competition results and distributed rewards to the participants.
(Chapter Ends)
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