203: Chapter 203 Chess Moves on the Bluestone

North of the city, Ling Hao's stronghold.

Ling Hao sat in the study, listening to Shadow Seven's report.

"Li Wannian agreed to the inspection in three days, but he demands that the Li Family send people to supervise the entire process," Shadow Seven said. "Additionally, he sent a message to the Heavenly Dao Palace to hasten their progress. The people from the Heavenly Dao Palace are expected to arrive within seven days."

"Seven days?" Ling Hao pondered. "That's enough."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"How is Xiao Yi's integration of the Loose Cultivators going?"

"He has already recruited over three thousand people, including many in the Soul Emergence and Nascent Soul stages. Xiao Yi has organized them into several small teams responsible for intelligence gathering and city patrols," Shadow Seven said. "These people hold many grievances against the Sun and Li families. Furthermore, Xiao Yi is indeed capable; everyone is willing to trust him and work for the Ling Family."

Ling Hao nodded.

Three thousand Loose Cultivators might lack high-end combat power, but they had strength in numbers. Moreover, being scattered throughout the city made them the best eyes and ears.

"Tell Xiao Yi that during the inspection in three days, have the Loose Cultivators spread rumors in the city. Say that the Li Family is feeling guilty and is deliberately stalling for time, waiting for the Heavenly Dao Palace to back them up."

"Yes."

"Furthermore," Ling Hao added, "tell the Jiang Family to be prepared. As soon as the inspection results are out, they must immediately demand compensation from the Li Family—Spirit Stones, shares in mineral veins, and storefronts. They want it all. If the Li Family refuses, apply pressure."

"Understood."

Shadow Seven withdrew.

Ling Hao sat back at his desk and picked up an intelligence report.

The report stated that the Heavenly Dao Palace had received the distress letters from the Sun and Li families and had dispatched two managers at the Spirit Severing Peak to investigate.

Two at the Spirit Severing Peak.

The corners of Ling Hao's mouth curled slightly.

If a Divine General or a Star Lord had come personally, he would have needed to exert some effort. But two managers were nothing to fear.

However, the fact that a Divine General was not coming personally showed that the Heavenly Dao Palace's level of importance for Tianhuo City was limited. Or rather, they had not yet realized that Ling Hao had arrived in Tianhuo City, and his true target was not just Tianhuo City, but the entire Central Region.

"Very well," Ling Hao whispered. "I'll take Tianhuo City first, then slowly encroach on the rest."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Hundreds of people gathered at Qingshi Mountain once again.

This time, there were not only members of the two families but also the inspection team from Wanbao Pavilion, representatives of various forces in the city, and a large number of spectating Loose Cultivators.

Manager Nangong He led the team personally, followed by six inspection Cultivators holding various Magical Artifacts.

Li Wannian also arrived in person, followed by a group of Li Family Elders. His expression was calm, but a hint of unease flickered in his eyes.

During those three days, he had made two-fold preparations.

First, he sent people to further camouflage the encroaching mine tunnels and even blew up several suspicious passages. Second, he stepped up his urging of the Heavenly Dao Palace, hoping to delay the inspection as much as possible until their people arrived.

But Manager Nangong He gave him no chance to delay.

"Patriarch Li, the time has come," Manager Nangong He said with a smile. "The inspection team is ready to enter the cave. The Li Family may send people to supervise the entire process."

Li Wannian was silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

"Fine."

The inspection team entered the cave, accompanied by three Elders sent by the Li Family.

Time passed minute by minute.

An hour later, the inspection team emerged from the mine.

Manager Nangong He held an inspection report in his hand, his expression serious.

"The inspection results are out." He looked around at everyone, his voice booming. "In the Li Family's mine, three tunnels have crossed the boundaries set by the two families and extended into the Jiang Family's territory. The lengths of the encroachments are 120 zhang, 90 zhang, and 70 zhang, respectively. The Spirit Stones mined from these encroachments amount to approximately three million Spirit Stones."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

Li Wannian's face turned ashen, and the Li Family Elders looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

Jiang Wanshan took a step forward and said in a heavy voice, "Li Wannian, the evidence is conclusive. What else do you have to say?"

Li Wannian took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"I need to carefully review the inspection report," he said slowly. "If it is indeed as the report says, the Li Family will naturally take responsibility."

"There's no need to review it," Manager Nangong He said. "Every inspection report from Wanbao Pavilion is recorded by a formation and cannot be tampered with. If Patriarch Li does not believe it, you may invite a third-party force to re-verify it."

Li Wannian fell silent.

Re-verify?

Who could he find to re-verify? In Tianhuo City, there was no neutral force more authoritative than Wanbao Pavilion. If he invited the Heavenly Dao Palace, their people hadn't arrived yet. If he invited forces from other cities, there wouldn't be enough time.

Jiang Wanshan was forcing him to state his position on the spot.

"Li Wannian," Jiang Wanshan spoke again, his voice cold, "I'll give you two choices. First, compensate the Jiang Family for their losses, retreat from the encroaching tunnels, and promise never to cross the boundary again. Second, our two families will tear off our masks and meet on the battlefield."

Li Wannian's pupils constricted slightly.

Meet on the battlefield?

Where did Jiang Wanshan get such confidence?

He looked toward the back of the crowd. There, a young man in green robes stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and his gaze indifferent. Moreover, his cultivation was indiscernible.

Who is that?

Li Wannian suddenly realized.

Does Jiang Wanshan's confidence come from this young man?

"I need time to consider," Li Wannian said in a heavy voice.

"One day," Jiang Wanshan said. "I want your answer by this time tomorrow."

Li Wannian said no more, turned around, and led his people away.

The inspection ended, and the crowd dispersed.

But everyone knew that the winds of change were blowing over Tianhuo City.

By the time Li Wannian returned to his manor, his expression had returned to calm.

But those who knew him well understood that this calm was more terrifying than anger. The calmer Li Wannian was, the heavier the killing intent in his heart.

"Patriarch, the Jiang Family is clearly intending to tear off their masks," Grand Elder Li Wanjun followed behind him, his face ashen. "That inspection report from Wanbao Pavilion was clearly biased toward the Jiang Family. Those three tunnels, we clearly already dealt with them—"

"Shut up," Li Wannian interrupted him without looking back.

Li Wanjun was stunned and quickly fell silent.

Li Wannian walked into the study and sat behind the desk. He picked up his teacup, found the tea was cold, and slammed it back down.

"Go invite Sun Zhongmou," he said in a heavy voice. "Tell him I have important matters to discuss."

"Yes."

Li Wanjun withdrew.

Li Wannian was left alone in the study. He closed his eyes and replayed today's events in his mind.

The inspection, the report, Jiang Wanshan's toughness, Wanbao Pavilion's stance, and that young man in green at the back of the crowd.

Every step was linked, and every step was perfectly timed.

This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a meticulously planned scheme.

"That person..." Li Wannian muttered, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

He opened his eyes, a cold light flashing within them.

If he only wanted to help the Jiang Family reclaim their assets, that would be manageable; compensating with some Spirit Stones and yielding some shares wouldn't cripple the Li Family. What he feared was that the goal wasn't these things, but the entire Tianhuo City.

If that were truly the case, the Li Family and Sun Family would have to join forces.