39: Chapter 39 Ah Man is fine

Witch Clan Council Hall.

Miao Yunzhan sat in the high seat, fingers pressing against his brow, his face so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it.

As the Clan Chief of the Witch Clan, the alliance with Great Zhou was something he had forced through, bearing immense pressure from within the clan.

There was no other way; they had to form the alliance.

Nowadays, the strength of those monsters from the Demon Dynasty had expanded terrifyingly.

Even a millennium-old ancient nation with deep foundations like Great Zhou found it extremely strenuous to deal with them at the borders, let alone their own Witch Clan, which was tucked away in a corner.

Over these years, the territory where the Witch Clan survived had been nibbled away bit by bit by the Demon People, and most of their clansmen had become blood-food in the mouths of the Demon People.

They couldn't beat them; they simply couldn't win.

In the end, they could only retreat again and again, the entire clan huddled inside this Ten Thousand Poison Miasma.

It was only by relying on the Ten Thousand Poison Miasma left behind by the Old Ancestor that they had barely managed to block the claws of the Demon People.

But this was not a long-term solution.

Miao Yunzhan knew in his heart that if they continued to shrink within this Ten Thousand Poison Miasma, the Witch Clan would one day die like a frog in warm water.

The Demon People were cruel by nature, treating the Witch Clan as penned blood-food.

Although Great Zhou was usually arrogant, at the end of the day, everyone looked the same—they were all humans.

The enemy of an enemy is a friend; this principle was simple.

However...

Miao Yunzhan exerted a slight force with his palm on the armrest, causing the teacup to jump.

The Great Zhou delegation had only just arrived, and the Supervising Officer leading the team had actually turned into a pile of white bones in the Valley of Ten Thousand Snakes!

If they didn't get to the bottom of this matter and give Great Zhou a satisfactory explanation.

Let alone the alliance, if Great Zhou's army didn't take the opportunity to attack, it would be considered that the Emperor of Great Zhou was in a good mood today!

"Creak — "

The heavy door was pushed open.

The Divine Shaman walked in silently.

Miao Yunzhan immediately raised his head, leaning slightly forward, and asked in a deep voice: "How is it? Divine Shaman, were you able to find any clues from those remains?"

The Divine Shaman shook his head, his expression somewhat heavy, and said: "I used the Soul Summoning Technique, but that skeleton did not have a trace of the Supervising Officer's Aura."

"No Aura?"

Miao Yunzhan's pupils constricted sharply. His intuition from dealing with the Demon People for many years made him react immediately.

He blurted out: "You mean... the methods of an Evil Spirit?"

The Divine Shaman nodded, his eyes also filled with gravity: "I suspect that an extremely powerful Evil Spirit took advantage of the Great Zhou delegation entering the mountains to sneak in."

Hearing this.

Miao Yunzhan did not respond, but lowered his head, looking at his own palm, muttering to himself:

"The Ten Thousand Poison Miasma was formed by a precious treasure left behind by our Witch Clan's ancestors, specifically designed to counter all kinds of filthy Evil Spirits."

"Logically speaking, it is absolutely impossible for any Evil Spirit to not only deceive your and my perception but also pass through the poison miasma so silently."

"But this matter happened nonetheless." The Divine Shaman sighed.

Miao Yunzhan took a deep breath, his broad chest rising and falling violently.

He knew too well the terrifying implications hidden behind the Divine Shaman's words.

He and the Divine Shaman were both standing at the pinnacle of today's martial arts.

If there really was an Evil Spirit that could treat them both as blind and walk in swaggeringly.

Then that could only mean two possibilities.

One is that the Demon People have produced a peerless genius who has researched a method to allow Evil Spirits to perfectly avoid the detection of the Ten Thousand Poison Miasma.

But if that were the case...

Then what was outside the Witch Clan right now would absolutely not be some Great Zhou envoy, but the overwhelming army of the Demon People!

Since the Demon People's army did not come.

Then it is highly likely the second possibility.

"Guard against outsiders, but it is hard to guard against internal thieves."

Miao Yunzhan suddenly raised his head and locked eyes with the Divine Shaman; both of their eyes were filled with chilling Killing Intent.

There was a traitor within the Witch Clan.

And they held a high position, capable of bypassing the detection of the Ten Thousand Poison Miasma and ushering the Evil Spirit in.

"Divine Shaman."

Miao Yunzhan narrowed his eyes, his fingers subconsciously tapping on the table:

"Do you think this traitor who eats inside and out could be those Elders in the clan who have always been jumping up and down opposing the alliance?"

As a Clan Chief, playing with power and balance was his daily required course. The first thing that popped into his mind was this group of troublemakers.

"They certainly have the greatest suspicion and motive, but there is no evidence. It was done too cleanly."

"We cannot simply accuse them out of thin air, otherwise, it will only trigger internal strife."

The Council Hall fell into a deathly silence again.

Just as the two were at their wit's end.

Both of their ears moved at the same time, and their gazes looked uniformly toward the tightly closed door of the Council Hall.

Not long after.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A crisp, rhythmic knocking sound rang out.

"Enter." Miao Yunzhan put away the Killing Intent on his face and said in a deep voice.

The door was pushed open.

A-Man was wearing an exquisite Miao-style short skirt, with silver ornaments hanging from her waist, jingling as she walked.

She poked her little head in and looked around. Seeing that the Divine Shaman was also there, she was stunned for a moment, and then a smile immediately bloomed on her fair face.

"Grandpa Divine Shaman is here too!"

She skipped in, her tone light: "That's perfect, A-Man has some words she wants to say to Father and Grandpa Divine Shaman all at once, saving me from running twice."

Looking at his precious daughter whom he had pampered since childhood, the gloom on Miao Yunzhan's face instantly melted.

He put on a gentle smile unique to an old father:

"What major matter does our A-Man have that requires both your father and Grandpa Divine Shaman to listen together?"

A-Man stood still, took a deep breath, and seemed to organize her thoughts in her mind.

Then, she dropped a bombshell with words that would shock anyone:

"Father, that Great Zhou Supervising Officer... is not dead at all!"

"What did you say?"

Miao Yunzhan stood up abruptly, his tall figure stirring up a gust of wind.

The Divine Shaman beside him was also shaken, his black robe moving without wind.

The two looked at each other, both seeing undisguised shock in the other's eyes.

Not dead?

Then what was that skeleton on the ground, sucked dry, supposed to be?

"A-Man."

Miao Yunzhan's expression instantly became serious, and his tone became a bit heavier:

"The situation in the clan is critical right now, it's urgent. I don't mind you being mischievous, but on this matter, you are not allowed to spout nonsense!"

"Father, I am not spouting nonsense!"

A-Man stamped her foot anxiously, then puffed out her chest.

She poured out the analysis that Chen Shanzhi had given her in the room, using her own tone, like bamboo beans spilling from a tube.

After saying it all in one breath.

A-Man clapped her hands, looking at Miao Yunzhan and the Divine Shaman with anticipation, waiting to be praised.

However, both Miao Yunzhan and the Divine Shaman were silent.

The two top experts, who had lived for nearly two hundred years combined, only felt a buzzing in their heads at this moment.

Wonderful.

This calculation strikes straight at the heart.

It is simply hitting the nail on the head, interlocking ring by ring!

"Good calculation, manipulating human hearts perfectly, walking one step while seeing ten." The Divine Shaman looked at Miao Yunzhan: "Clan Chief, this plan is superb."

Miao Yunzhan slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. He stared at A-Man with burning eyes:

"A-Man..."

"Tell the truth, who exactly taught you these words?"

No one knows a daughter better than her father.

Miao Yunzhan was as clear as a mirror in his heart.

Although his daughter was clever, those were only small tricks.

She had grown up pampered by him and the Divine Shaman, having never experienced the harsh beatings of the outside world; she was a total sweet, innocent girl.

This strategy, full of calculations and step-by-step planning, dissecting the human heart so thoroughly...

Let alone her, even he, as the Clan Chief, might not have been able to think so comprehensively in an instant.

Being exposed by her father in one go.

A-Man's pretty face flushed red, and the momentum she had pretended to have instantly collapsed.

She trotted two steps, huddled up to Miao Yunzhan, grabbed his thick arm, and shook it vigorously:

"Father, you are really no fun! How did you expose me all of a sudden?"

"I was still hoping you would praise me a few more times!"

Miao Yunzhan was shaken until he had no temper left, laughed out loud, and reached out to rub her head:

"Alright, alright, in Father's heart, my A-Man has always been the smartest daughter in the world!"

"No sincerity!"

A-Man curled her lips, then honestly confessed:

"Actually... it was that Commander Chen from Great Zhou who taught me."

"He told me to go to his room and explain these things to me."

"He said that as an outsider,

If he came directly to tell Father that there is a traitor in the clan,

It would be suspected of sowing discord and damaging our Witch Clan's internal relations.

If it goes wrong, it might even make you and the others resent him."

"So, after he explained it all to me, he asked me to bring these words to you exactly as they were."

Speaking of this, A-Man shrugged: "He also said, as for whether you believe it or not, whether it is correct or not,

He believes that with the wisdom of Father and Grandpa Divine Shaman, you will have your own judgment."

"Commander Chen..."

Miao Yunzhan whispered this name, a thick sense of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

"What a Commander Chen!"

"At such a young age, his mind is so meticulous!"

"He is worthy of being the person sent by Great Zhou to be in charge. Based on this strategy alone, he can be called first-class in the world."

Miao Yunzhan was truly amazed by this move from Chen Shanzhi.

This kid, his methods are slick enough, and his brain is fast enough.

Speaking of this, Miao Yunzhan suddenly changed the subject.

He turned his head and looked at A-Man, who was standing submissively beside him, his gaze sweeping over his daughter's slightly flushed cheeks.

His tone carried a bit of teasing and scrutiny unique to an old father:

"However..."

"Father is a bit curious, why did my A-Man suddenly become so familiar with this Commander Chen from Great Zhou?"

"He is an outsider, and A-Man at that. He asked you to go to his room, and you just went obediently?"

Being stared at by her father like this.

In A-Man's mind, the scene from just moments ago in the room flashed instantly.

The image of her bumping into Chen Shanzhi's arms, him holding her waist, and breathing into her ear.

She was like an electric shock, let go of Miao Yunzhan's arm, took a step back, and stuttered to refute:

"Father! You... don't think blindly!"

"We... we were just discussing serious matters! Commander Chen didn't want to cause misunderstandings, that's why he asked me to pass the message on his behalf!"

"Really, nothing else!"

"Hahaha, alright, alright, Father isn't thinking blindly, Father believes you."

Miao Yunzhan waved his hand and took the opportunity to give her a way out:

"However, these words you just brought, they are simply sending charcoal in the snow; they have indeed given Father great inspiration."

"If you have nothing else, you should go down first."

"Go tell that Commander Chen."

Miao Yunzhan restrained his smile, his tone solemn: "Just say that I, Miao Yunzhan, have recorded every word of his today."

"Thank him for the good strategy."

A-Man knew that this was Miao Yunzhan wanting to discuss core secrets with the Divine Shaman.

She nodded obediently: "Okay Father, I will go tell him now!"

After finishing, her fingers unconsciously twisted her skirt, and she ran out of the Council Hall as if escaping.

"Bang."

The door closed, and the hall returned to the previous quietness.

The moment the door closed.

The loving father smile on Miao Yunzhan's face instantly receded, replaced by the coldness and gravity of an overlord.

He suddenly spoke, his voice very low:

"Divine Shaman, have you detected any abnormalities during this time while you were in close contact with A-Man?"

The Divine Shaman shook his head: "Yesterday, when I was using the Soul Summoning Technique, I took the opportunity to perform a Divine Soul detection on the Saintess through the skull as a medium."

"The Saintess's Divine Soul is stable, and there is not a trace of it having been invaded."

"Just now, after receiving your voice transmission, when the Saintess was in contact with your body."

"The joint Divine Soul investigation performed with you also did not find any abnormalities in the Saintess's Divine Soul."

"I can be certain that the Saintess has not been subjected to Possession or possessed by an Evil Spirit."

Hearing the Divine Shaman's words, Miao Yunzhan breathed a sigh of relief.

Recently, A-Man had been behaving very strangely.

As someone standing at the pinnacle of martial arts, he was the most sensitive to changes in Aura.

He was afraid that something had happened to A-Man.

But the Cultivation Technique he cultivated focused on slaughter, and when it came to Divine Soul detection, he was far inferior to the Divine Shaman.

So, as soon as he first discovered that A-Man was not right, he privately found the Divine Shaman and told him about it.

Just now, he even took the opportunity when A-Man was hugging his arm to transmit his voice to the Divine Shaman, assisting him in performing the Witch Clan's highest Divine Ability of investigation.

Fortunately, it seems that A-Man has no problems at all.

"Since there is no problem with the Divine Soul..."

Miao Yunzhan rubbed his temples, a helpless wry smile hooking the corner of his mouth:

"It seems that this girl has simply grown up and has secrets to hide from me, her father."

Recalling A-Man's expression when she mentioned that Commander Chen just now, Miao Yunzhan was thoughtful.

"Looking at A-Man's attitude toward that Great Zhou Commander..."

"It doesn't seem as simple as just having just met."

"It looks like they have met before, and their relationship is not shallow?"

Miao Yunzhan calculated secretly in his heart.

Previously, he had always thought that his daughter had a crush on the next Successor of the Divine Oracle, Sang Ji.

After all, they had grown up together since they were little, and they knew each other's roots.

Although Sang Ji was a bit reckless, his talent was excellent, and he would inevitably be the pillar of the Witch Clan in the future.

He had thought that the two would naturally become childhood sweethearts, and later become partners to protect the Witch Clan together.

But now it seems...

The situation seems a bit wrong.

And his own little cabbage, not only does she not care much for that guy Sang Ji, but she actually seems to have taken a fancy to this outsider who she just met?

"Sigh..."

Miao Yunzhan sighed deeply in his heart.

A daughter who has grown up is not to be kept. Once she has a sweetheart, her heart immediately starts to turn outward.

She was even willing to run over and be a messenger for someone.

However, setting aside the identity of being from Great Zhou, if this Commander Chen really has such strategy and means, he would not be an unworthy match.

At least he is better than that reckless brute Sang Ji who only has muscles and no brains!

"Forget it, children and grandchildren have their own blessings, this is not the time to worry about this."

Miao Yunzhan shook his head, throwing these trivial family matters out of his mind.

His eyes became sharp as a knife again.

He stood up, walked to the huge sand table in the center of the Council Hall, and supported his hands on the edge.

"Divine Shaman, since Commander Chen has even woven the net for us."

"Then let us calculate."

Miao Yunzhan's mouth hooked into a bloodthirsty sneer:

"How should we play this play at tomorrow's clan meeting?"

"So that those rats hiding in the dark will obediently jump out and take the bait!"