398: Chapter 398 Infiltrating the Inside

"Oh?" Chu Xianfeng looked surprised. "How did you come to that conclusion, brother?"

Hua Zhengyang pondered for a moment and said, "Brother, why do you think the Blade Emperor was killed?"

Chu Xianfeng sighed. "Isn't it because he indulged Child Ghost too much? I saw it early on; that brat was nothing but a disaster!"

"The Blade Emperor wanted to cultivate a sharp blade to do his dirty work. That might have been fine in Nanling, but provoking the Prince of Zhenbei? Isn't that just suicide?"

Hua Zhengyang nodded. "Child Ghost was just a catalyst. But given the character of the Prince of Zhenbei, would he really tear down his relationship with the Blade Emperor over a mere brat?"

"Ultimately, the ambition of the Prince of Zhenbei is not limited to just the Northern Territory; he wants the entire Central Plains!"

"Therefore, before marching into the Capital Region, he naturally needs to take down Nanling!"

Chu Xianfeng realized. "Brother, you mean... the Prince of Zhenbei wants to use us, Blade Mountain, to crush the Nanling Army from within?"

"Exactly!"

Hua Zhengyang said, "The reason the Blade Emperor died is that he stood in the way of the Prince of Zhenbei's grand plan!"

"Otherwise, do you think that with the Prince of Zhenbei's wealth, he would go out of his way to come to our Du Province for the pittance that is Blade Mountain?"

"Wanting Blade Mountain's assets or to stabilize the situation in Blade Mountain—those are just excuses!"

"What the Prince of Zhenbei wants is a dagger plunged into Nanling, forcing the Nanling Army to engage with him."

"If the Prince of Nanling takes one step back, he will use Blade Mountain to force him a step forward!"

"Once the Prince of Nanling can no longer tolerate it and commits an act of aggression, the Zhenbei Army will inevitably march south!"

"Ask yourself, in this world today, who can stop the invincible Zhenbei Army?"

Chu Xianfeng gasped. "I was wondering... how did the Prince of Zhenbei randomly take an interest in the Tianwu Grand Tournament? So, it was a premeditated plan?"

"Heh... not necessarily. After all, the Blade Emperor went there on a whim."

Hua Zhengyang laughed. "In my opinion, the Prince of Zhenbei took advantage of the situation, used Child Ghost to provoke the Blade Emperor, and then took the opportunity to kill him."

"I suspect the Blade Emperor didn't expect that even at the Great Grandmaster Realm, he wouldn't even be able to escape."

Chu Xianfeng frowned. "Then, brother, what you said earlier about... contributing to the Moon Worship Cult is..."

"It's simple. Whatever the Prince of Zhenbei wants, we give it to him!"

Hua Zhengyang grinned. "Since the Zhenbei Army is unstoppable, why don't we just infiltrate the Zhenbei Army directly?"

Chu Xianfeng's eyes lit up. "That's right! If we are the first to show our loyalty, the Prince of Zhenbei will surely entrust us with important tasks!"

"Exactly. As long as we can gain the trust of the Prince of Zhenbei or his two wives, our status in the Moon Worship Cult will certainly rise to the next level!"

"The Cult Leader wants the radiance of the Divine Cult to shine across the entire Tianwu Continent. We can completely cultivate cult members from within the Zhenbei Army in secret..."

Chu Xianfeng nodded repeatedly, but suddenly he hesitated.

"Brother Hua, the Blade Emperor sent that bunch from the Ten Thousand Poison Cave to assassinate the Prince of Zhenbei, and they failed."

"Could it be... that the Blade Emperor's identity was exposed, and that's why he was killed?"

Hua Zhengyang waved his hand. "You're overthinking it. What is Great Elder? He has no idea that the Blade Emperor was a Right Protector."

"Besides, even if the Blade Emperor's identity was exposed, what does that have to do with us? We never even had contact with Great Elder."

"In my opinion, the Prince of Zhenbei might not even know of the Moon Worship Cult's existence, as the Cult's believers haven't really spread to the Northern Territory yet."

Chu Xianfeng thought about it and agreed. With so many people in Blade Mountain, even if the Prince of Zhenbei were suspicious, he wouldn't suspect them.

"Brother, you must remember, when the Prince of Zhenbei arrives, we cannot appear too eager, nor can we be too rigid."

"Haha, don't worry, brother. I understand. We just need to make everything look natural!"

The two of them smiled at each other, knowing what the other was thinking, and clinked their teacups together.

It was as if a bright future was already beckoning to them.

The Yinsha River flows south from Gan Province and leads directly to Du Province.

On a rather exquisite passenger boat, a young man was lying on a long couch, embracing two stunning beauties while taking a nap.

The breeze was gentle, the spring sun was bright, and it was incredibly pleasant.

Just then, a beauty in a water-blue dress, like a fairy walking on waves, stepped onto the boat from the distant shore, walking across the water.

Her long hair flew in the wind, and her skin glowed like ivory in the sunlight, as if she were an immortal.

"Husband, if you're going to sleep, at least close your robe."

Xiao Qingxuan walked over, bent down to cover the man's collar, and pouted coquettishly. "If people on passing boats see this, it won't be good for the reputation of the Prince of Zhenbei."

Lin Xiao opened his eyes and laughed. "We're already in Nanling. Who would recognize me? As long as Wanying and Caiwei don't let anyone see them, it's fine. It doesn't matter for a man like me."

Xiao Qingxuan looked at the two sisters who were still pretending to be asleep and unwilling to get off the man, feeling somewhat helpless.

"You two just spoil him. At least go inside the boat."

Zhao Caiwei was still reminiscing; she lifted her eyelids but didn't move.

Mu Wanying opened one eye and smiled playfully. "Our Empress, are you perhaps wanting to try the feeling on the boat yourself?"

Xiao Qingxuan's face flushed red. She "hmphed," then handed a piece of intelligence she had just received to Lin Xiao.

"This is the intelligence that just arrived. Husband, take a look."

Lin Xiao got up lazily, took the letter, and smiled. "I've wronged you, my wife. With Yaner not here, I have to make you run around as a messenger."

"This is what I should do. Being able to run errands for my husband makes me feel like my martial arts training hasn't gone to waste."

Lin Xiao pulled the woman over and sat her on his lap. Her dark hair emitted a faint fragrance, making him feel refreshed and relaxed.

Opening the letter and reading it, a hint of a smile appeared in Lin Xiao's eyes.

"So this Princess Li Xinglan is really openly defying the imperial decree?"

"Yes. After Princess Li Xinglan returned, she sent back all the gifts the Crown Prince had sent. Furthermore, she publicly stated that Emperor Hong did not abide by the decree of bestowing favors, attempted to seize the three provinces of fiefdom by marriage, went back on his word, and is unworthy of his position."

Xiao Qingxuan said with satisfaction, "This Princess Li Xinglan is doing even better than I anticipated. She is a talent worth cultivating."

"Her brain is fine, but her strength is lacking."

Lin Xiao said, "Send a few experts to protect her in secret. As long as she is alive, she can annoy Li Sihong. Don't let her be killed easily."

"Please forgive me, husband. I was worried about the time, so I sent a message ahead to have the master of Yanyu Pavilion take people to protect Princess Li Xinglan." Xiao Qingxuan said uneasily. "Husband, please don't blame me..."

Lin Xiao laughed. "You did well, my wife. Why would I blame you? I almost forgot that Shu Yelan was still free. It really is time to put her to some use."

"By the way, how is your 'Purple Mansion Thunder Curse' coming along?"

It had been five days since the Tianwu Grand Tournament ended.

After Xiao Qingxuan learned for two days, the Old Celestial Master basically had nothing left to teach her; the rest relied entirely on her own comprehension.

Since Emperor Hong already knew Xiao Qingxuan's identity, Lin Xiao had to pay special attention to her combat effectiveness.

It would be best if she could enter the Great Grandmaster Realm and master the Purple Mansion Thunder Curse.

In that case, with two profound immortal grade techniques and Heaven Grade talent, combined with his spiritual pills and medicines, she would be able to put up a fight even if she encountered an Earth Immortal!