266: Chapter 267 Preparing for Liquidation

When Lin Muyang learned of the situation above the Eternal Garden from Feng Ling, even he felt a flicker of surprise.

The entire mythic grade Two-Headed Sky-Burning Bird flock had actually chosen to surrender directly without firing a single shot, simply because they felt the pressure of the pure Phoenix bloodline from Feng Ling?

"This is quite interesting..."

Lin Muyang rubbed his chin, a playful smile appearing on his face. He quickly organized his thoughts and sent a clear command to Feng Ling: "Since they've taken the initiative to show obedience, there's no need to be polite. It just so happens they can help with a small matter in a bit. However, the Eternal Garden currently has no place to raise such a large flock of firebirds; let them return to their original habitat and stand by. Once I finish dealing with the trivial matters at hand and drag out the person pulling the strings from behind the scenes, I'll summon them back."

Having received clear instructions from her master, Feng Ling understood.

Clearly, the American Empire's meticulously planned operation this time had completely enraged Lin Muyang. To strike at Lin Muyang and the Xia Kingdom, they hadn't hesitated to exploit and provoke three mythic grade demonic creature groups, leading them toward the Xia Kingdom's most densely populated and important cities. This behavior showed a total disregard for the potential massive civilian casualties and ecological disasters, fundamentally violating the baseline of cooperation all humanity should maintain when facing demonic threats. Furthermore, it pushed the Xia Kingdom to the forefront of a major crisis rarely seen since its founding.

Facing such a malicious scheme, Lin Muyang could never easily let those hidden masterminds off the hook.

Therefore, his plan was simple: return to the Eternal Garden later, and once the battlefields in Jingdu City and Tianhai City were cleared, the Xia Kingdom's official intelligence network would surely have sorted out the information on the culprits. At that time, there would be no need for him to act personally, nor would the Nation-Guarding Level Experts of the Xia Kingdom need to undertake a long-distance campaign.

He was going to make these mythic grade demonic creature groups, which the American Empire had used as weapons, turn their spears around.

Moreover, to ensure nothing went wrong and to give those planners in the American Empire their most profound lesson, Lin Muyang also intended to temporarily add his heaven-defying God-Tier Aura buff effects to these attacking mythic grade groups.

What kind of concept would that be?

Under the shroud of the God-Tier Aura, whether it was the Two-Headed Sky-Burning Birds or the Six-Eyed Witches, every individual within the group would see their base attributes, skill damage, defensive capabilities, and even special effects receive a terrifying boost of dozens or even hundreds of times! An already powerful mythic grade group, after such an exaggerated enhancement, would see its destructive power completely break through its upper limits, enough to become a nightmare for any country or faction.

It was foreseeable that when this super-strengthened mythic army descended upon the American Empire, those originators would face an apocalyptic scene of utter despair.

Of course, Lin Muyang had his own principles. His goal was clear and specific, targeting only the core figures and their direct henchmen who planned and executed this conspiracy. He had no intention of affecting, nor would he affect, the ordinary citizens and innocent Class Transferees of the American Empire. After all, in that country, many people held admiration for his achievements; not everyone was blinded by hatred and prejudice.

Regardless, Lin Muyang was determined to clean out those big shots hiding in the shadows who thought they could play with conspiracies without being punished. Perhaps he lacked the ability or the timing before, but now, for him, removing these tumors was no different from wiping chalk marks off a whiteboard—naturally, there was no longer any need for the slightest hesitation.

Three hours later.

Only three hours had passed since the outbreak of the invasion by the three mythic grade groups, but public opinion and the power structure on a global scale had already undergone earth-shattering tremors.

On the coast of Jingdu City, the corpses of Ice-Fire Heavenly Demon Turtles littered the field; on the beaches of Tianhai City, fragments of Decaying Wood Divine Crocodiles were everywhere; above the Eternal Garden, the Two-Headed Sky-Burning Birds bowed in submission... This series of images, like something out of myth and legend, spread rapidly through various channels, igniting the global internet.

The near-godlike absolute power displayed by Lin Muyang and the young ladies under his command threw countless people into a frenzy. In a short time, titles like "Savior," "God Among Men," and "Morning Star of the New Era" were bestowed upon Lin Muyang. His global fan base grew explosively, especially in those regions that had long suffered from demonic threats and craved powerful protection; his prestige was momentarily unparalleled.

In stark contrast to this nationwide celebration were the high-level officials and core experts of the American Empire who had planned this operation. At this moment, they had collectively fallen into a deathly silence and bone-chilling cold.

They never could have imagined that Lin Muyang's growth rate would be so terrifying. Those mythic grade groups they had pinned their hopes on, enough to overturn a nation, were easily torn apart like paper toys before Lin Muyang's summoned young ladies—and one group even surrendered without a fight!

What did this mean?

It meant that in today's world, there no longer existed any force capable of confronting or even threatening Lin Muyang head-on. Originally, Lin Muyang's personal combat power was already recognized as exceeding that of top Nation-Guarding Level Experts. But now it seemed that the Nation-Guarding Level wasn't even considered an opponent to him; the gap was so large it was despair-inducing. Being able to wipe out mythic grade demonic groups with a wave of his hand—this kind of method had completely surpassed the limits reachable by any expert or organization in the world.

While the world was boiling and the American Empire's conspiracy group was sitting on pins and needles, Lin Muyang had already returned safely to the Eternal Garden outside Zhongnan City.

He briefly listened to the reports from various parties and then received an encrypted message. The message showed that regarding the mastermind behind this incident, he didn't even need to investigate personally. The Xia Kingdom's massive intelligence machine and the hidden personnel planted inside the American Empire had already begun operating efficiently, uncovering every detail of the Sun-Extinguishing Council—an organization specifically established to deal with him.

The purpose of this so-called Sun-Extinguishing Council went without saying. Now, a detailed list containing twenty-nine core high-level members was already sitting on the desks of the Xia Kingdom officials. However, the officials did not take any action on their own; instead, through special channels, they handed this list directly to Xu Ruohan, who had the closest contact with Lin Muyang.

"Lin Muyang, here is the list, twenty-nine people in total." Xu Ruohan came before Lin Muyang and presented an electronic file. Her bright eyes, like water, quietly lingered on Lin Muyang's calm face for a moment as she asked softly, "How should we proceed next?"

"Oh? The officials don't have any thoughts?" Lin Muyang took the file, scanned it casually, and looked up at Xu Ruohan with a faint, indiscernible smile on his lips.

Xu Ruohan pursed her red lips and gave a gentle yet firm smile: "The instructions from above are very clear. The full disposal of this incident is left to your discretion. This includes all domestic Nation-Guarding Level and below combat forces, all of which are at your disposal."

Hearing this, Lin Muyang's brows twitched slightly, and he understood.

This was undoubtedly the clearest and most thorough stance the Xia Kingdom officials had taken toward him after this incident. They had clearly and soberly realized that the power Lin Muyang wielded had long since surpassed the scope that conventional national power could constrain or even understand. Fortunately, the Xia Kingdom officials had chosen the correct path from the beginning: sincere cooperation and full support, rather than foolish control and exploitation.

Now, this "everything is up to you" authorization, though not explicitly stated, was equivalent to acknowledging that Lin Muyang held a transcendent status within the country. Those proud Nation-Guarding Level Experts, after witnessing today's battle achievements, were likely already thoroughly convinced by him.

"There's no need to trouble them this time." Lin Muyang shook his head and stated his plan, "Let the newly subdued Six God Clan and the Two-Headed Sky-Burning Bird flock handle it."

He pointed to the list: "The Two-Headed Sky-Burning Bird side will be responsible for clearing fifteen of the targets, under Feng Ling's direct command."

"For the Six God Clan, they will handle the remaining fourteen. Senior Xu, I'll have to trouble you to temporarily command and coordinate them."

His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable decisiveness: "No matter where these twenty-nine people are hiding in the world, find them and eliminate them. You might as well make a bit of a scene, so that anyone with similar ideas in the future will give them up as soon as possible."

Lin Muyang's words took Xu Ruohan slightly by surprise, but more than that, she felt a heavy sense of being trusted with a great responsibility. She keenly sensed that her role seemed to be undergoing a subtle shift—from the initial liaison between the Xia Kingdom officials and Lin Muyang, toward becoming one of 'his people' closer to Lin Muyang's core circle.

This realization caused a strange ripple in her heart. She couldn't help but quietly look up again, stealing a quick glance at Lin Muyang's young face, which already contained an overwhelming majesty, before quickly gathering her thoughts and nodding solemnly: "I understand, I'll go arrange it now." With that, she turned and left, her steps carrying an unprecedented gravity.

Meanwhile, in the American Empire.

The Sun-Extinguishing Council, which had once been arrogant in the shadows, had already announced its dissolution in a panic two hours ago upon learning the news that the three mythic groups were almost instantaneously wiped out. All council members were now using every means at their disposal to desperately cover their tracks and seek a way out; some even began trying to send messages to the Xia Kingdom officials through various channels, expressing remorse and surrender.

That detailed list that eventually fell into Xu Ruohan's hands was, in part, derived from the 'certificates of loyalty' provided by those attempting to abandon the darkness for the light.

Unfortunately, the Xia Kingdom officials did not give any promises of immunity when receiving this intelligence. Because the final decision-making power had already been handed over to Lin Muyang.

And the Xia Kingdom's massive intelligence network was still operating efficiently, continuously summarizing the real-time movements and possible hiding places of those twenty-nine core targets, and synchronizing them through Xu Ruohan to Feng Ling and the Six God Clan, who were about to execute the mission.

This was the benefit of having reliable subordinates and efficient intelligence support. Lin Muyang didn't even need to do everything himself; he only needed to set the direction, and naturally, someone would arrange everything properly.

While the world was shaking because of him and undercurrents were surging because of him, Lin Muyang himself seemed to be standing apart from it all, currently having dinner with the young ladies in the elegant flower hall of the Eternal Garden. The atmosphere was relaxed, forming a sharp contrast with the outside world.

During the meal, Lin Muyang turned his gaze toward Marianne, who was sitting a bit further away, her expression still carrying a hint of complex emotion.

"Marianne," he spoke calmly, "you paid a significant price to strip the skills this time. I won't let you suffer a loss for nothing."

Hearing this, Marianne immediately straightened her posture and listened respectfully.

Lin Muyang continued: "Once this wave of clearing is over, the American Empire's existing high-level structure will basically be dismantled. At that time, you and Hansa Bami should prepare to return to the American Empire to help stabilize the situation and gradually take over key positions."

These words were like a clap of thunder exploding in Marianne's heart, causing her beautiful face to instantly be covered in an undisguisable shock.

So... her master's planning went this deep!

He didn't just want revenge; he wanted to use this opportunity to fundamentally reset the American Empire's power core! That so-called Sun-Extinguishing Council's self-righteous conspiracy not only failed to hurt Lin Muyang in the slightest but instead gave him the most legitimate reason to eradicate the vast majority of the existing powerful figures in the American Empire who held hostility toward him!

After this thunderous liquidation, a massive power vacuum would appear in the American Empire. And she and Hansa Bami—two former high-level figures who had long since pledged loyalty to Lin Muyang and knew the internal situation of the American Empire like the back of their hands—would naturally return. With her master's support, they would reorganize a brand-new power system that, at the very least, would no longer be enemies with Lin Muyang and the Xia Kingdom.