69: Planning for the Wei family

"Exactly, we take the initiative." Shen Yuanmo nodded.

"If we wait for them to come knocking, we've already lost half the battle. Only by bringing the war to their doorstep can we disrupt their rhythm and seize the initiative."

"But the Wei Family has been entrenched in the Prefecture City for hundreds of years, with deep roots. Their stronghold's defenses must be incredibly strong. Won't our small force be committing suicide by attacking them?"

Shen Qiming voiced his concerns.

It wasn't that he was timid; as the Family Head, he had to prioritize stability.

The Shen Family had finally started to improve, and he didn't want any rash actions to ruin it all.

"Father's worries, I understand."

Shen Yuanmo nodded.

"So, when I say 'take the initiative,' I don't mean for our Shen Family to go head-to-head with the Wei Family."

He changed the subject.

"We are going to... deliver a grand gift."

"A grand gift?"

Shen Zongdao and Shen Qiming were even more confused.

"What does the Wei Family want most?" Shen Yuanmo asked in return.

"The map and treasures of the Nascent Soul Cave Mansion." Shen Qiming answered subconsciously.

"Right."

Shen Yuanmo snapped his fingers.

"Then we'll give it to them. No, more accurately, we'll help them spread the news that the Wei Family possesses the map to the Nascent Soul Cave Mansion throughout the entire Baiyue Prefecture!"

Shen Zongdao, having lived for over a hundred years, had a quick mind and instantly understood.

He slapped his thigh, his whole body filled with excitement.

"Good boy! I understand! You want to... divert the disaster!"

"Divert the disaster?" Shen Qiming still hadn't grasped it.

"Think about it," Shen Zongdao's voice rose a few octaves.

"How great is the temptation of a Nascent Soul Immortal Cave? Not to mention the Seventh-Rank Aristocratic Families similar to the Wei Family, even the Prefectural Governors Mansion, or even those Sixth-Rank and Fifth-Rank great Families, wouldn't they be envious upon hearing this news? Wouldn't they be moved?"

"By then, everyone will be staring at the Wei Family. Even if they had a hundred mouths, they wouldn't be able to explain it clearly. Just dealing with the probing and coercion from all sides will be enough to give them a headache. How could they still have time to bother with our Linjiang City?"

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

After listening, Shen Qiming also completely understood. He looked at his son, his face full of disbelief.

Killing is only a last resort.

Attacking the heart is the best strategy!

Without moving a single soldier, an entire Seventh-Rank Aristocratic Family could be thrown into chaos. This tactic was simply incredible!

"This is just the first step."

Shen Yuanmo's voice pulled the father and son back from their shock.

"Making the Wei Family preoccupied only buys us time. Our ultimate goal is to uproot them completely!"

"Yuan Mo, do you have another move?" Shen Zongdao pressed.

"Of course." Shen Yuanmo's tone grew cold.

"The Wei Family's Old Ancestor is a Golden Core Cultivator. As long as he's alive, the Wei Family won't fall. So, we must find a way to lure him out of the Wei Family's stronghold, and then... kill him!"

"Luring the snake out of its hole?"

"Yes."

"The bait will be me." Shen Yuanmo nodded.

"No!"

Shen Qiming and Shen Zongdao refused sharply at the same time, without a second thought.

"That's too dangerous! You are the future of our Shen Family; you absolutely cannot take such a risk!"

Shen Qiming was particularly agitated, leaning forward in his seat.

Shen Yuanmo raised a hand to calm them both.

"Father, Old Ancestor, rest assured, I'm not a hothead. If I dare to be the bait, I have the confidence to escape, and even to kill the opponent."

He briefly recounted his experiences in the Baiduan Mountain Range, the two glazed vajra he refined, and the extremely powerful glazed true yang divine thunder talisman.

His excuse was still the "relics of a Nascent Soul Senior."

When they heard that Shen Yuanmo possessed two Third-Rank Puppets comparable to Early Golden Core Stage combat power, and a Talisman capable of severely injuring a Golden Core True Person, the secret room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Shen Qiming and Shen Zongdao stopped breathing for a beat, staring intently at him.

They felt they had experienced more shock today than in the past few decades combined.

"Th-Third-Rank Puppets? And two of them..."

Shen Zongdao's voice trembled. He felt that his hundred years of experience were simply inadequate in front of Shen Yuanmo.

"With these trump cards, coupled with Yuan Mo's strength, even if he encounters a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator, it's not impossible to contend!"

A surge of unprecedented heroic spirit welled up in Shen Zongdao's chest.

"Good!"

He slammed the table, making his decision.

"Yuan Mo, we'll do as you say! This old man will accompany you to the Prefecture City today and go wild!"

"Father, Old Ancestor..." Shen Qiming still wanted to persuade them.

"Qiming!"

Shen Zongdao interrupted him, his tone becoming very serious.

"I know that as Family Head, you seek stability. But how can cultivation be stable? Being timid and hesitant will only lead to being completely devoured by others!"

"Yuan Mo's plan is risky, but it's also the only chance to uproot the Wei Family! If we miss this opportunity, there won won't be such a good chance next time!"

Shen Zongdao glanced at Shen Yuanmo, then smiled with relief.

"Besides, our Shen Family is no longer the soft persimmon that anyone can pinch. We have Yuan Mo, with his mind and strength! We must trust him!"

Shen Qiming looked at the spirited Old Ancestor, then at his calm son, a mix of emotions swirling in his heart.

He let out a long breath, finally nodding heavily.

"Alright! I understand! I... support you!"

"I will arrange everything for the Family, and I won't hold you back!"

"Thank you, Father."

A smile finally appeared on Shen Yuanmo's face.

The plan had finally received the full support of the Family's highest echelons.

The rest of the matters proceeded smoothly.

The three of them in the secret room repeatedly refined all the operational details.

How to "accidentally" leak the news, which forces to leak it to first, which ones later, and how to set up the trap to lure the Wei Family Old Ancestor to his death.

Every step was meticulously planned by Shen Yuanmo, making Shen Zongdao and Shen Qiming feel more and more at ease as they listened... Three days later.

Outside Linjiang City, a brand new azure flying boat slowly ascended, even more magnificent than the Wei Family's previous one by three points.

This was a trophy confiscated from Wei Changfeng's Storage Ring, a Third-Rank Low Grade flying Magic Treasure, incredibly fast.

On the deck of the flying boat, Shen Yuanmo and Shen Zongdao stood side by side.

Behind them, two glazed vajra stood silently, gleaming with a cold metallic luster.

Shen Qiming, along with all the Shen Family clansmen, looked up from the ground.

"Old Ancestor, Yuan Mo, be careful on your journey!"

"Don't worry!"

Shen Zongdao laughed heartily, his voice echoing far and wide.

"When we return, our Shen Family will be famous throughout Baiyue Prefecture!"

Shen Yuanmo said nothing, merely nodded gently to his Family below.

With a thought, the flying boat beneath his feet let out a soft hum, transforming into a streak of azure light, tearing through the clouds, and speeding towards the Prefecture City.

On the flying boat, strong winds buffeted them.

Shen Zongdao held onto the railing, feeling the Magic Treasure's rapid flight, a surge of heroic spirit welling in his chest.

He turned to look at his grandson beside him, laughing wryly.

"When I was young, I dreamed of a day like this, riding a flying boat into the Prefecture City to bring honor to the Shen Family."

He sighed deeply.

"I never thought you would fulfill this dream today."