61: Luring the tiger away from the mountain

The Li Family, Xu Family, and Su Family were among the four great families of Purple Maple Immortal City. Besides their overall strength ranking in the top four, there was another important reason for this.

That was because behind all three families, there were Nascent Soul-level forces supporting them.

Behind the Li Family was the Ziyang Sect, which bordered Purple Maple Immortal City, while the Xu Family came from a Sect power called Myriad Beast Valley.

Since there were frequent frictions between Myriad Beast Valley and the Ziyang Sect, conflicts also existed between the Li Family and the Xu Family.

As for the Su Family, they came from a Nascent Soul Family and were a side branch that had split off from the main line, usually keeping a low profile.

It was precisely because of the Nascent Soul-level forces behind them that the Tang Family allowed them to grow and develop within Purple Maple Immortal City.

However, although the Li, Xu, and Su families originated from Nascent Soul-level forces, they actually did not want to involve the powers behind them.

This was because once their backers intervened, they wouldn't even get a few sips of soup, let alone a piece of the meat.

Furthermore, once their backers withdrew, they would have to endure the Tang Family's vengeful retaliation.

So, unless it was absolutely necessary, they were unwilling to let the forces behind them get involved.

"Heh! Since we can't come to an agreement, figure it out yourselves. In any case, I have already notified our Old Ancestor."

The Tang Family Elder suddenly set aside his angry expression and spoke with a smile.

The surrounding crowd was stunned upon hearing this, and they quickly realized something, their expressions changing instantly.

With the strength of the Old Ancestor of the Tang Family, it wouldn't take long for him to arrive here.

Even if they notified their own backers now, by the time those people arrived, the Tang Family would have already emptied this tomb.

"Fine! We agree to the plan you mentioned before!"

Elder Li and the Elders of the other two families looked at each other and could only grit their teeth and agree to the previous conditions.

"Too late. Our Tang Family now wants sixty percent!"

The Tang Family Elder looked at the crowd with disdain, smiled, and immediately changed his terms.

"Impossible!"

"Sixty percent! No way..."

After a round of heated arguments, the Tang Family eventually secured fifty-five percent, while the other three families each received ten percent. The remaining fifteen percent was left for the mid-tier families and powerful Loose Cultivators.

Watching these people argue incessantly over the remaining quota, a trace of disgust was hidden in the Tang Family Elder's eyes.

If it weren't to shut the mouths of the forces behind these people, how could the Tang Family possibly spit out the meat that was already in their mouths?

'I hope there are Nascent Soul Formation Treasures in this tomb of Heavenly Fire. If so, my Tang Family could produce another Nascent Soul Ancestor, and we would no longer need to care about the forces behind these people.'

The Tang Family Elder looked up at the small hill in the distance and prayed silently in his heart.

On a high mountain outside Purple Maple Immortal City,

"A fifth-tier Formation and a combined fourth-tier Formation require a Nascent Soul Ancestor and ten Golden Core True Persons to break together?"

Zhang Daobai listened to the information relayed by White Moon, his brow furrowed as he felt something was off.

But Zhang Daobai suddenly understood something and spoke in alarm, "That means the only Nascent Soul Ancestor in Purple Maple Immortal City has left, and he took ten Golden Core True Persons with him."

"Doesn't that mean Purple Maple Immortal City's current defenses have plummeted to rock bottom?"

More than half of the top-level strength within Purple Maple Immortal City was gone, yet a large number of Evil Cultivators were still hidden inside the city.

If the Evil Cultivators started a riot in Purple Maple Immortal City now, wouldn't it be all over?

At this moment, Zhang Daobai roughly understood the plan of those Evil Cultivators: first, use the tomb of Heavenly Fire to lure away the city's high-level combatants.

Then, while Purple Maple Immortal City's defenses were empty, they would raid the headquarters of the various families.

Using the tomb of a Nascent Soul True Monarch in exchange for the wealth and Blood Sacrifices of a prosperous immortal city—it certainly seemed like a fair trade.

Listening to Zhang Daobai's words, Lin Luoxue also quickly understood the Evil Cultivators' plan and couldn't help but look toward Purple Maple Immortal City in the distance.

"This isn't something the two of us can interfere in. Even if we went to warn them now, it would be too late."

Seeing Lin Luoxue's gaze, Zhang Daobai thought she wanted to warn the people in Purple Maple Immortal City, so he quickly spoke to advise her against it.

"I wasn't thinking of warning them. I was wondering if we could go in and fish in troubled waters if Purple Maple Immortal City falls into complete chaos."

Lin Luoxue spoke while keeping her eyes on the most prosperous Fenglin Market within Purple Maple Immortal City.

Hearing this, Zhang Daobai looked at Lin Luoxue in surprise. He hadn't expected that not only was she not thinking about saving people, but she was also thinking of looting during the fire!

However, Lin Luoxue's suggestion also made Zhang Daobai feel a bit tempted.

As the saying goes, a man does not get rich without windfall, and a horse does not grow fat without night grass. This chaos in Purple Maple Immortal City was indeed an excellent opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

However, Zhang Daobai was not blinded by this opportunity for sudden wealth; instead, he quickly calmed down and thought about it carefully.

Fishing in troubled waters was certainly good, but the risk was also extremely high.

Once they got involved, the enemies they would face wouldn't just be those Evil Cultivators, but also the members of the various families, shop owners, and Loose Cultivators who, like them, wanted to fish in troubled waters.

"Perhaps we can change our approach."

At that moment, Zhang Daobai suddenly thought of something and turned to speak to Lin Luoxue.

Under Lin Luoxue's puzzled gaze, Zhang Daobai explained, "Since it's all looting anyway, why can't we rob the Evil Cultivators?"

"Robbing others makes one a Robber Cultivator, but robbing Evil Cultivators is called Enforcing Justice for Heaven! It's avenging those innocent people!"

Hearing Zhang Daobai's words, Lin Luoxue's eyes lit up, and her heart felt much clearer.

Compared to fishing in troubled waters to rob those shops and families, the cost-effectiveness of robbing Evil Cultivators was indeed much higher.

Lin Luoxue possessed Sword Intent that countered Evil Cultivators. If she went to hunt them, she would definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Furthermore, those Evil Cultivators would have already spent a lot of energy within Purple Maple Immortal City before fleeing; their combat power would drop by at least thirty percent, making them easier to hunt.

"To the north of Purple Maple Immortal City is the Xuantian Mountain Range, to the south is the Ziyang Sect's sphere of influence, and to the east are forces like the Yu Family of Tianqing Mountain and Myriad Beast Valley."

"The west is basically made up of small families and small cities without any Nascent Soul-level forces. Therefore, the retreat direction of those Evil Cultivators is likely to be the north and the west."

"However, if the members of the various families get the news and rush back, they will definitely return from the north. So, those Evil Cultivators are more likely to flee toward the west."

Zhang Daobai pointed in various directions around Purple Maple Immortal City, speculating on the Evil Cultivators' retreat route.

"Then we should go and lie in wait to the west?" Lin Luoxue followed up thoughtfully.

"Close. I think we should lie in wait toward the northwest."

"That direction not only allows them to avoid the returning families but also lets them enter the Xuantian Mountain Range at any time, making it more suitable for their escape," Zhang Daobai said after thinking for a moment.

"Then when do we head over to set the ambush?" Lin Luoxue asked, looking in the direction Zhang Daobai pointed.