239: Chapter 239 Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain

“Lord Zhenxing.”

“Lord Zhenxing is stationed in the west of the Central Domain?” Ling Xue was startled. “Isn't that the border defense line adjacent to the Western Domain? It’s even further from Tianhuo City than Taiyin Star Lord’s Hanyue City.”

“Precisely because it is far, it will be unexpected,” Ling Hao said. “The Heavenly Dao Palace thinks I will be eyeing the south since Lunar has been crippled and the south is empty. But they won’t expect me to forgo the near for the far and strike directly at the west.”

He paused and continued, “Furthermore, Lord Zhenxing’s cultivation is at the Late Stage of Void Refining, making him relatively weak among the nine Star Lords. His defense is strong, but his offense is lacking. Most importantly, he doesn’t have a restraining Magic Treasure like the void-piercing mirror. In a direct confrontation, I am confident I can take him down within a hundred breaths.”

“But what about Star Lord Jidu?” Ling Xue asked. “Won’t he go to protect Lord Zhenxing?”

“Star Lord Jidu will definitely go,” Ling Hao nodded. “But I can use a scheme to make him leave.”

“So, Brother, you want to lure Star Lord Jidu away first?”

“Yes.” The corners of Ling Hao’s mouth curled slightly. “Let him think that my target is someone else.”

He paused and said, “Send word to Xiao Yi to spread news among the Loose Cultivators that the Ling Family’s next target is Star Lord Taibai.”

Ling Xue was startled. “Star Lord Taibai is stationed in the north of the Central Domain, in the Northern Border Mining Area, overseeing the armory and resource extraction. It’s tens of thousands of miles away from Tianhuo City. Brother, are you planning a feint?”

“Mhm.” Ling Hao nodded. “Once Star Lord Jidu receives the news, he will surely have doubts. If he splits his forces to go to the Northern Domain, the defenses of the Zhenxing Palace will be empty; if he doesn’t, and I actually go to the Northern Domain, Star Lord Taibai will be in danger. No matter what he chooses, he will fall into a passive position.”

“Then where exactly are you going, Brother?”

“First to the Northern Domain, then back to the West.” A cold light flashed in Ling Hao’s eyes. “The Space-Time Rules allow one to travel a thousand miles in an instant. Star Lord Jidu’s void-piercing mirror can lock onto spatial fluctuations, but it cannot lock onto time. I have the source of time, which can briefly accelerate time to create the illusion in his perception that ‘I have already left.’”

Ling Xue suddenly understood.

“Brother, you’re playing a psychological game.”

“Psychological warfare is still warfare,” Ling Hao said indifferently. “The Star Lords of the Heavenly Dao Palace have lived for hundreds of years; each one is old and calculating. Rather than clashing head-on with them, it’s better to let them fall into chaos themselves.”

“But what if Star Lord Jidu sees through your plan, Brother...?”

“Then we fight head-on,” Ling Hao said calmly. “Whether he stays in the west or goes to the Northern Domain, I have the strength to fight. It’s just a matter of time.”

Ling Xue spoke no more.

She knew that once her brother made a decision, he would not change it.

“Order Ling Xiao to head north with me in three days.”

“Understood.”

---

Zhenxing Palace, Western Central Domain.

Zhenxing Palace is located at the western foot of the Cangmang Mountain Range, a magnificent building constructed with earth-element spiritual energy. The palace walls are earthy yellow, about twenty zhang high, with complex formation patterns carved on the surface. In the square in front of the palace stands a ten-zhang-tall earthy yellow statue, depicting the appearance of Lord Zhenxing, holding a giant axe and looking majestic.

Lord Zhenxing sat cross-legged in a secret room in the deepest part of the Zhenxing Palace, surrounded by a dense earthy yellow light. He cultivated the 'Zhenxing True Scripture,' which excelled in defense and was known as the 'Unbreakable Shield.' Although his offensive power was not strong, his survival ability ranked in the top three among the nine Star Lords.

But at this moment, he felt a faint sense of unease in his heart.

The news that Taiyin Star Lord had been crippled had already arrived; would he be next?

“Star Lord, Star Lord Jidu has arrived,” came an attendant's voice from outside the door.

Lord Zhenxing hurriedly rose to greet him in person.

When Star Lord Jidu stepped into the Zhenxing Palace, Lord Zhenxing was already waiting at the palace gate with his people.

Ink-black robes, a pale face, and eerie green eyes. Even though he stood in the sunlight, he gave off a cold, abyss-like feeling.

“Lord Jidu’s presence is a great honor. This Tu failed to welcome you from afar; please forgive me.”

“Lord Zhenxing, I have been ordered by the Temple Master to oversee the Zhenxing Palace. If Ling Hao dares to invade, I will personally take action,” Star Lord Jidu replied.

Lord Zhenxing was overjoyed. “With Lord Jidu overseeing things, I can rest easy.”

Star Lord Jidu did not respond; he simply walked into the Zhenxing Palace and sat in the main seat of the hall.

“Ling Hao is a man of treacherous actions, skilled in using surprise tactics,” he said slowly. “If he comes, he will never launch a direct frontal assault. Lord Zhenxing, have you discovered any anomalies recently?”

Lord Zhenxing thought for a moment and said, “Three days ago, several unfamiliar Divine Senses were detected on the outskirts of the Zhenxing Palace, but they vanished in an instant. I sent people to investigate, but they found nothing.”

“Those were Ling Hao’s spies.” A cold light flashed in Star Lord Jidu’s eyes. “He is already setting the stage.”

“Then should I strengthen the guard?”

“No need,” Star Lord Jidu shook his head. “Strengthening the guard will only alert him. Let everything proceed as usual and wait for him to come.”

“Understood.”

Star Lord Jidu closed his eyes, and his Divine Sense spread out like a tide, covering a hundred-mile radius.

He was waiting.

Waiting for Ling Hao to walk right into the trap.

Meanwhile, in Tianhuo City.

Ling Xiao was selecting personnel on the drill grounds.

A thousand Loose Cultivators, all with cultivations at or above the Nascent Soul stage, each with a determined expression and Battle Intent burning in their eyes.

Xiao Yi stood to the side, fiddling with a jade pendant, a playful smile on his face.

“Young Master Ling’s move of feinting to the east while attacking the west is quite ruthless,” he laughed. “Star Lord Jidu must be torn right now between guarding the west and heading to the Northern Domain.”

“Being torn is exactly what we want,” Ling Xiao said indifferently. “Indecision leads to mistakes, and mistakes give us opportunities.”

“Are we really going to the Northern Domain?”

“Yes,” Ling Xiao nodded. “But not to attack Star Lord Taibai; we’re going to ‘pass through.’”

“Pass through?”

“Yes,” Ling Xiao said. “We will set out from Tianhuo City and head north with great fanfare, making the Heavenly Dao Palace believe we are truly going to the Northern Domain. Midway, Hao will suddenly turn back using the Space-Time Rules to return to the west and strike the Zhenxing Palace. We, on the other hand, will continue north to draw the Heavenly Dao Palace’s attention.”

Xiao Yi gave a thumbs up. “Brilliant.”

“It’s not brilliant; it’s a gamble,” Ling Xiao shook his head. “A gamble that Star Lord Jidu’s judgment will be wrong.”

“And what if the gamble is lost?”

Ling Xiao was silent for a moment before saying slowly, “Then we fight head-on.”

The north gate of Tianhuo City swung open, and Ling Xiao led a thousand Loose Cultivators, marching grandly toward the north.

The news quickly spread throughout the Central Domain.

“The Ling Family is really going to attack Star Lord Taibai!”

“Can a thousand Loose Cultivators defeat the Jinyao Palace?”

“I heard Ling Hao is leading them personally. Can the Jinyao Palace stop a Body Integration Stage powerhouse?”

Discussions were rife, and opinions were divided.

Inside the Zhenxing Palace, Star Lord Jidu received the news.

“Ling Xiao has already led the army north; a thousand Loose Cultivators, making quite a scene,” a black-robed man reported. “Ling Hao’s whereabouts are unknown; he may have already gone ahead.”

Star Lord Jidu closed his eyes, and his Divine Sense spread out like a tide, covering a thousand-mile radius.

He could not sense Ling Hao’s aura.

“Did he really go to the Northern Domain?” Star Lord Jidu murmured.

“Star Lord, should we split our forces to provide reinforcements?”

Star Lord Jidu did not answer immediately.

He was weighing his options.

If Ling Hao really went to the Northern Domain, Jinyao would certainly be in danger. The Northern Border Mining Area was the lifeblood of the Heavenly Dao Palace. If something happened to Jinyao, the supply of armaments for the entire northern border would be cut off, with unimaginable consequences.

But if this was Ling Hao’s plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain, and he left the Zhenxing Palace for the Northern Domain while Ling Hao doubled back to the west to strike Lord Zhenxing, then the western defense line would be finished.

“Order Star Lord Taibai to strengthen his guard,” Star Lord Jidu said slowly. “I will remain at the Zhenxing Palace. Additionally, notify Star Lord Luohou to increase surveillance of the north. If Ling Hao’s tracks are discovered, report immediately.”

“Understood.”

The black-robed man withdrew.

Lord Zhenxing asked cautiously, “Lord Jidu, aren’t you going to the Northern Domain to provide reinforcements?”

“No,” Star Lord Jidu said indifferently. “Ling Hao’s target is the west.”

“But what if he really went to the Northern Domain...?”

“There are no what-ifs,” Star Lord Jidu interrupted him. “This is a plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain. Ling Hao is gambling that I will leave the Zhenxing Palace. I simply won’t let him have his way.”