197: Chapter 197 Li Wuqing's Last Favor: Sharing the Chess Pieces!

"Dragon Commander, are you... preparing to trap the turtle in the jar and surround us with songs of ambush?!"

Fan Bian and Xie Wujiu were both experts at the Divine Bridge Realm; how could they be mediocre?

As they watched Lin Ran pointing out the landscape on a map, they instantly understood Lin Ran's meaning.

This move by Lin Ran was simply too ruthless!

"Indeed. We are currently in troubled times, and to make matters worse, there is a riot in the Demon Cave. I actually suspect this matter might be related to Heavenly God Mountain."

"Even if it has nothing to do with Heavenly God Mountain, making an extra preparation won't hurt."

Lin Ran nodded.

"Dragon Commander, the method of catching the turtle in the jar and surrounding it with songs of ambush is indeed good. But... who will catch the turtle, and how will the songs of ambush be set up?"

"If our entire Dragon Suppressing Army makes such a big commotion, if this group of 'turtles' is truly hiding in Dragon Body Mountain, they will definitely notice us, and by then, the songs of ambush won't be able to be played."

Xie Wujiu frowned and said.

"Rest assured, I have my own way of solving this problem."

As he spoke, Lin Ran brought out the Wind and Rain Marching Formation.

"This formation is called the Wind and Rain Marching Formation, and it is a Third-Turn Divine-Grade Formation."

"Once this formation is deployed, it can make the army transform into the most ordinary wind and rain in nature; even a Heavenly Palace Realm Expert won't be able to see through it!"

Xie Wujiu and Fan Bian looked at the Wind and Rain Marching Formation in Lin Ran's hand and realized that it was indeed a Third-Turn Divine-Grade Formation.

Instantly! Their pupils dilated, and their hearts were filled with shock.

Who exactly is Lin Ran? How could he just bring out a Third-Turn Divine-Grade Formation as if it were nothing?

And it's a Third-Turn Divine-Grade Formation that perfectly solves their pressing need, with excellent concealment capabilities?!

This is too coincidental, isn't it?!

"If your entire Dragon Suppressing Army simultaneously deploys the Dragon Controlling Heaven Movement Formation, can you contend with a Heavenly Palace Realm Expert?"

Lin Ran asked with a smile.

"Rest assured, Dragon Commander. Old Fan and I are both at the Ninth Level of the Divine Bridge Realm. If we deploy the Dragon Controlling Heaven Movement Formation together with the entire Dragon Suppressing Army, we will definitely be able to contend with a Heavenly Palace Realm Expert!"

Xie Wujiu said.

"That's right. Furthermore, our Dragon Suppressing Army also possesses a Second-Turn Divine-Grade Formation capable of sealing the Void Realm!"

"When the time comes, not only will we let those beasts from Heavenly God Mountain play a game of catching the turtle in the jar inside Dragon Body Mountain, but we will also play a game of catching the turtle in the jar with those beasts outside Dragon Body Mountain!"

Fan Bian said confidently.

"Very good! Then, I will leave the subsequent matters to you two Seniors. Additionally, after you catch the 'turtle', remember to go..."

Lin Ran whispered a few instructions into the ears of Xie Wujiu and Fan Bian.

"Rest assured, Dragon Commander. In this battle, we will certainly make you famous!"

Fan Bian and Xie Wujiu nodded heavily.

"Becoming famous is a small matter. What's important is that what we have done must at least be known by others."

Lin Ran waved his hand with a smile and then left.

Now, all the worries were mostly resolved, and a chess game laid out by his and Li Wuqing's hands was about to begin!

...

Imperial City, inside the Dragon Garden.

Li Wuqing looked at the flourishing flowers before him, casually plucked one, and played with it in his hand.

"Your Majesty, why must you have Old Ancestor Shi lead a group of Shi Family experts into the Demon Cave? And why did you insist that the more members of the Shi Family, the better? What is the reason for this?"

"You clearly know that for entering the Demon Cave, Old Ancestor Shi alone would actually be enough."

Behind him, Attendant Hua asked in confusion.

Old Ancestor Shi is a Heavenly Palace Realm Expert and the strongest of the Shi Family; it would be enough for him to enter the Demon Cave alone to investigate.

Why make such a big commotion and have almost all the Shi Family experts enter the Demon Cave together?

If there is some crisis in the Demon Cave that even Old Ancestor Shi cannot resolve, it would be futile for the rest of the Shi Family to enter; they would only be walking to their deaths.

"If too few people go, I fear those in the shadows will not deign to come out. Using the rise and fall of the Shi Family to secure a clear path for the Dragon Commander is a good deal."

"Furthermore, the Shi Family's sacrifice for the Imperial Dynasty this time is for the greater good of the world. I believe that after this incident, for the sake of Face, no one will dare to move against the Shi Family again. Moreover, I will do my utmost to look after the Shi Family to compensate them."

Li Wuqing looked at the flower in his hand that was quickly withering and said calmly.

Old Ancestor Shi's time is almost up; he doesn't have many years left to live.

When Old Ancestor Shi was young, he was outspoken in the imperial court and acted aggressively, offending many Noble Families.

Now, even though Old Ancestor Shi has not yet fallen, the other Noble Families are already settling scores with the Shi Family.

Not to mention that once Old Ancestor Shi falls, the Shi Family will surely Face a devastating blow!

But now, he has had Old Ancestor Shi lead almost all the Shi Family's experts into the Demon Cave.

Even if this group of people all die, they will have died for a worthy cause, for the sake of the common people of the world.

Who would dare to take action against the Shi Family, who sacrificed themselves for the sake of the common people?

That would be an act that leaves a bad name for ten thousand years, something that would cause people to point at their spines for a lifetime!

But if this matter had not happened, and Old Ancestor Shi were to fall, the other Noble Families would settle scores with the Shi Family both openly and secretly.

By then, he, as the Emperor, would not know how many people would remain in the Shi Family.

Clearly, Old Ancestor Shi also understood this point, which is why he agreed readily and led almost all the prominent experts of the Shi Family to the Demon Cave without a single complaint.

"The Shi Family is now weak, yet they hold many resources. If Old Ancestor Shi falls, it will be hard for the Shi Family not to be destroyed..."

Li Wuqing knew this well, but he did not want to see the Shi Family, who had silently contributed to the Jue Jian Imperial Dynasty for so many years, perish just like that, which is why he resorted to this desperate measure.

Although he is the ruler of an Imperial Dynasty, he cannot decide everything in the world with a single word.

His cultivation is not very high; he has not reached the level of peerless superiority.

He also harbors a measure of fear toward those Noble Families with long-standing Legacies.

Therefore, looking after the Shi Family is not a simple matter.

But if he uses this matter as a reason, he can look after the Shi Family without any scruples, and he believes that those Noble Families and the entire world will not say anything.

This can also be considered the final favor he, as the Emperor, bestows upon the Shi Family.

Furthermore, by using the people of the Shi Family as bait to make those in the shadows reveal themselves, he is pointing out a clear path for Lin Ran.

Then, everything from now on will depend on Lin Ran!

He and Lin Ran are jointly holding the chess pieces; whether they can complete this chess game depends on neither side making even the slightest mistake!

"This feeling is really quite good, just like a long-time friend fighting alongside me."

Li Wuqing smiled silently in his heart.

...

Outside the Imperial City.

Old Ancestor Shi led a group of Shi Family experts and had been waiting for a long time.

And the people they were waiting for were none other than Li Junze, the Princes and Princesses, and the Dragon Commander Lin Ran!

"Greetings, Crown Prince. Greetings, Dragon Commander."

Old Ancestor Shi, Shi Gandang, bowed slightly with cupped hands toward Li Junze and Lin Ran.

Among this group of juniors, only the status and position of Li Junze and Lin Ran were worthy of him bowing slightly.