173: Plans and arrangements

"My Lord, how should we respond?" Iron Pincer asked in a heavy voice.

Purple Lightning flickered in Gao De's dragon eyes as he made a decision: "The plan needs targeted adjustments. Our core strategy remains unchanged—deep diving, preparing for war, and waiting for an opportunity. However, regarding the variable that is Lan Tao, we must add several points..."

The appearance of True Person Lan Tao did not make Gao De feel fear or anger, but it gave him a clearer and more specific prediction of the danger of the coming storm.

This fish that had once slipped through the net had now become a buoy for observing even greater waves. Qianjiao Cliff's response had to be more thorough and cautious.

"How reliable is the source of this news?" Gao De's voice was terrifyingly calm, but Turtle Three Thousand, who was familiar with him, could hear the surging undercurrent beneath that calm.

"Over ninety percent!" Turtle Three Thousand said decisively.

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The Purple Lightning in Gao De's dragon eyes flowed steadily, only brightening slightly, indicating that he was thinking at high speed.

"A Golden Core Cultivator who has lost his Foundation and is eager to find a new backer..." Gao De's voice was calm, as if he were analyzing something that had nothing to do with him.

"What he can offer to the Heavenly Dao Alliance is nothing more than familiarity with the geography and hydrology of the western Yunmeng Marsh, as well as those not-so-brilliant old records from the Green Wave Sect. These are indeed of some value to the Heavenly Dao Alliance, which has just arrived and is in urgent need of local intelligence."

He shifted his tone, his expression becoming even more solemn: "Even so, Lan Tao is familiar with the surrounding water veins and terrain. If he leads or guides the people of the Heavenly Dao Alliance to investigate, the hidden arrangements on the outskirts of our territory will face a more direct test than from a stranger. More importantly, his existence might influence the Heavenly Dao Alliance's overall judgment and strategic inclinations regarding the forces in western Yunmeng Marsh."

"If I'm not mistaken," Gao De nodded slightly. Lan Tao's personal threat was limited, but as a 'living map' and 'index of old news,' he could become a key for the Heavenly Dao Alliance to more quickly and accurately grasp the situation in the west, and even target potential unstable factors.

"Therefore, the core of our response is not to target Lan Tao himself, but to take precautions and countermeasures against the new situation of 'the Heavenly Dao Alliance obtaining a detailed local guide,'" Gao De concluded with incomparable clarity. "The plan is adjusted as follows."

His gaze swept over the core members in the hall:

"First, upgrading the territory's concealment and camouflage.

Turtle Three Thousand, you will personally supervise the addition of more than triple composite illusion Formations and interference Formations at all key water vein nodes within three hundred miles of the outskirts.

The Formations must not only stop investigation but also actively release designed, chaotic, and contradictory spiritual energy fluctuations and false life signatures. This will create an overall illusion that 'this place is affected by multiple natural harsh environments and residual ancient Restrictions, making it devoid of life and of low value.'

At the same time, activate those jade tablets found in the depths of the Yunhe Sect ruins that record incomplete ancient Restrictions. Select the parts with an ancient aura and perform limited 'activation' displays in specific outer areas to increase the hint that this place is 'dangerous and unpredictable.'"

"Second, strategic release of intelligence. Lin Xiaofan, you will cooperate with Turtle Three Thousand to compile several sets of false intelligence chains regarding 'Qianjiao Cliff.' The content should match some known facts, but the core must be distorted and weakened.

For example: 'The Lord of Qianjiao Cliff is suspected to have fled to the outer seas years ago to seek a chance to transform into a dragon and has not returned for a long time,' 'The Yao Race in the cliff have split due to internal strife after their leader's departure, and their strength is greatly diminished,' 'The original site of the Green Wave Sect is of low value as its Spiritual Qi is dwindling due to unknown reasons,' and so on.

Release these in batches, scattered and seemingly unintentionally, through secondary channels that are easily monitored by the Heavenly Dao Alliance or the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce but are isolated from our core intelligence network. The goal is not to make them believe it, but to interfere with their judgment and increase the cost of their intelligence screening."

"Third, strengthen passive monitoring of the Heavenly Sword Branch Alliance and Lan Tao.

Green Edge, select two absolutely reliable Human Cultivators with clean backgrounds for short-term concealment and intelligence gathering training. Then, deploy them to the outskirts of the Sanlong River Mouth as completely independent Loose Cultivators.

Their mission is only to observe and record: record the frequency and general direction of personnel entering and leaving the Heavenly Sword Branch Alliance; record whether any small teams led by Lan Tao or his Disciples go out for exploration; record any news circulating in the markets related to the exploration of western Yunmeng Marsh. Do not contact or track core figures, and do not take any active actions. Act purely as 'eyes' and 'ears' far from the scene. Intelligence will be sent back through dead drops or the most secure one-way channels."

"Fourth, accelerate the exploration and marking of 'non-mainstream' areas of the Yunmeng Great Marsh.

Iron Pincer, while ensuring the territory's defense, organize small-scale elite reconnaissance teams equipped with the latest refined defensive Magical Artifacts. You or Green Edge will personally lead a team to secretly head to the Sea Eye area again when the opportunity arises.

The goal this time is not to get close to the core, but to specifically explore those 'dead ends' or 'desolate lands' that are extremely harsh, seemingly worthless, and might not even be mentioned in the records of Lan Tao or the Green Wave Sect. Look for possible geological anomalies, hidden water vein branches, or tiny traces of ancient battles.

We need to master some special information about the Sea Eye that even 'local Cultivators' might not know. In the future, this could serve as a bargaining chip or a channel for emergency escape."

"Fifth, continuous internal reinforcement and potential tapping. Use this period of relative external relaxation and internal tension to further optimize battle Formation coordination and improve individual cultivation.

Lin Xiaofan, your Spirit Fish cultivation and water vein research must not stop; this is our Foundation. At the same time, keep an eye out for any other seedlings within the territory with special talents or potential, and appropriately increase training efforts. We need a more diverse reserve of talent."

Gao De finished explaining the adjusted plan in one breath and looked around at everyone: "Does everyone understand? Lan Tao is just a small trouble; the Heavenly Dao Alliance that borrows his momentum is the great enemy.

But we don't need to panic, let alone view him as a major threat. We just need to guide things according to the situation, beat them at their own game, strengthen our invisible barriers, disrupt the enemy's judgment, and continue to deepen our understanding and control of key areas. Respond to all changes by remaining unchanged, and wait for the opportunity through deep cultivation."

"Understood, My Lord!" everyone in the hall responded in unison. The slight tension originally brought by Lan Tao's appearance quickly dissipated under Gao De's clear and calm arrangement, replaced by a more steady determination.

The Lord saw through it all; Lan Tao was just a pawn, perhaps even a pawn that could be used to reverse-peek at the opponent's intentions. The true contest was still beneath the deeper layers of water.

Qianjiao Cliff's response strategy had been adjusted to be more refined and targeted due to Lan Tao's appearance, but the core policy—deep diving, accumulating strength, and waiting for an opportunity—had not changed in the slightest.

The storm was coming, and the ship of Qianjiao Cliff was quietly adjusting every sail and every piece of ballast, preparing to meet the towering waves in a more perfect posture.

And that fish that had once slipped through the net had perhaps unknowingly become a special buoy for Gao De to observe even greater waves and potential shipping lanes. This was certain!