236: Mo Chenggui's Calculation

Southern Border, high above the edge of the Miasma Rain Forest, the air seemed stained into a murky, variegated color by the toxic miasma rising from below.

The Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's "cloud shuttle" flying vessel hovered here. This hundred-zhang-long spiritual boat was forged entirely from Thousand-year Agarwood and Deep Sea Cold Iron. The cloud patterns carved on its hull shimmered under the light of spiritual lamps, like a giant beast lurking in the sky, sealing off the churning miasma below.

Mo Chenggui stood with his hands behind his back in front of a porthole, the hem of his black brocade robe swaying slightly with the minor spiritual energy fluctuations of the vessel.

The cloud patterns embroidered with dark gold thread on the robe were extremely exquisite; the curve of every wisp of cloud aligned with the Formations of heaven and earth. Under the soft glow of the cabin's spiritual lamps, the gold thread seemed to flow subtly, accentuating the restrained nature of its low-key luxury.

His posture was as upright as a pine tree, and not a single ripple could be seen on his refined Face. Only those deep eyes, currently reflecting the churning miasma outside, were as cold as a ten-thousand-year-old unmelting ice pond.

The miasma outside was by no means comparable to ordinary toxins.

Red, purple, and green toxic gases rolled wildly through the forest, sometimes condensing into poison clouds that blotted out the sun, and other times turning into a toxic mist that drenched the woods. Wherever the mist passed, even the surfaces of hard rocks were corroded into powder.

"Elder Mo."

Soft footsteps came from behind as an old man dressed in the Deacon attire of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce bowed. The embroidered Qingyun patterns on his robe were somewhat worn, and his white hair at the temples was stained with the dust of travel, yet he still maintained a meticulous respect.

He held a lustrous white Jade Slip in his hands, its surface flickering with spiritual light, clearly recording the urgent news that had just arrived.

"Confirmed news from East Lin City: Situ Jun is heading toward the Southern Border."

The old man's voice was steady and without ripples, yet it could not hide a hint of solemnity:

"Last night, the Mingya Inheritance Nether Crow Cave Mansion underwent a sudden change. Spiritual light soared over thirty li into the sky, and Cultivators within a hundred-li radius have all noticed. Given Situ Jun's style of doing things, if he covets the Legacy, he will arrive at the outskirts of the Immortal Cave by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

Mo Chenggui did not turn around; his fingertips landed lightly on the smooth glass windowsill.

A cold sensation spread from his fingertips. His knuckles tapped the windowsill slightly, the "thump, thump, thump" echoes resonating in the quiet cabin, as rhythmic as if he were calculating something.

A moment later, a very faint smile suddenly curled at the corner of his mouth—a smile that did not reach his eyes, yet carried a composure that suggested everything was under control.

"Heh, as expected."

He turned around, his black brocade robe tracing an elegant arc with the movement, the dark gold cloud patterns flashing with fragmented light under the spiritual lamps.

When his gaze swept over the bowing old man, that smile gained a few more degrees of coldness:

"Three days ago, I personally issued a VIP token, inviting him to hold an auction in East Lin. He, however, not only refused to my Face but also said 'East Lin City cannot have chaos'—this isn't just a slight to my Face, it's a complete disregard for the entire Qingyun Chamber of Commerce."

The tapping of his fingertips stopped. Mo Chenggui's voice remained calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority:

"If I don't cause him some trouble, it would make it seem as though my Qingyun Chamber of Commerce has too good a temper."

The old man looked up slightly, a hint of realization flashing in his eyes, though he remained respectful:

"Elder's meaning is..."

"Have someone pay a visit to the Destitute Tribes on the outskirts of the Southern Border."

Mo Chenggui paced to the jade table in the center of the cabin, picked up a jade plaque marked with the tribes' locations, and pressed his fingertip lightly on it:

"Say that a Cultivator in East Lin City has stockpiled a large amount of healing Medicinal Pills and food and is willing to help them, leading them to migrate toward East Lin City. Additionally, let those Loose Cultivators fighting for the Legacy outside the Immortal Cave 'happen' to learn that East Lin City hides the secret key to enter the mansion—draw the bloody chaos of the Legacy Immortal Cave over there as well."

He threw the jade plaque to the old man, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes:

"I want to see how much capability Situ Jun has to balance both sides, wanting to protect East Lin City while also wanting to seize the Legacy."

The old man caught the jade plaque and was about to respond when Mo Chenggui's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said:

"Also, keep a close eye on Daoist Ming Ya's Legacy. The Chamber's archives only say he was a Loose Cultivator from a hundred years ago, but they didn't mention he had once obtained a treasure. In the spiritual light of this Immortal Cave's mutation, the treasure's light blotted out the sky. This Legacy is definitely no small matter; the archive records must be flawed. We cannot be careless."

The old man hesitated for a moment and asked tentatively:

"Elder, Daoist Ming Ya's Legacy... should we take action in advance? Many Loose Cultivators have gathered outside the Immortal Cave, and people from various forces are watching. If we let them break in first, I'm afraid it will ruin our plans. Should we send people to drive them away to avoid trouble?"

" No need."

Mo Chenggui raised his hand to interrupt, his tone indifferent yet filled with absolute confidence:

"Daoist Ming Ya was both righteous and evil. When he died in the Immortal Cave back then, who knows if he set up a lethal grand Formation inside? A slight oversight would mean death without a burial place."

He walked to a massive sand table of the Southern Border, where points of light condensed from spiritual energy were moving slowly, marking the movements of various forces.

Mo Chenggui's fingertip tapped lightly on one light point, and the point instantly flickered twice, as if locked by some power.

"Since there are people to scout the path for us, there's no need to let our own people take risks. We only need to follow behind and watch the situation change. When they have fought until both sides are wounded in the Immortal Cave, we will add fuel to the fire at the right time to intensify the chaos and deplete the strength of all parties—in the end, the Legacy and treasures will only be things within my Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's grasp."

The old man bowed and replied, "This subordinate understands."

"One more thing."

Mo Chenggui's voice turned a few degrees colder, carrying a hint of icy calculation:

"Pass down the order for the Cangming to retreat ten li and station in the safe zone outside the Immortal Cave. Then release news saying that the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce has locked onto the core area of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion and will forcibly break the restriction to take the treasure in three days, joined by three Half-step Nascent Soul Consecrated Experts."

He paused, his fingertip tracing the direction of the Western Regions on the sand table, where there was an inconspicuous black light point—a pawn planted in the Sand Scorpion Cult.

"Additionally, activate the pawns in the Poison Scorpion Cult and the Ten Thousand Gu Sect to 'accidentally' reveal Situ Jun's whereabouts to them. They both have disciples who fell at Situ Jun's hands—they all have a grudge against Situ Jun. It's just right to let them fight with Situ Jun before the Legacy Immortal Cave opens. It would be even better to involve the Tianqi Dynasty's army—the more chaotic the Southern Border is, the more beneficial it is for us."

The old man A hint of amazement flashed in his eyes., He bowed quickly:

"Elder's brilliant plan! This subordinate will go and pass the order now."

Watching the old man's hurried departure, Mo Chenggui once again walked to the glass porthole.

The miasma outside was still rolling, but in his eyes, that peril-filled toxic mist had already become a cage to trap his prey.

He A deep, unfathomable smile curled at the corners of his lips., My fingertips gently caressed the windowsill., It's as if I can already see Situ Jun trapped in an encirclement.、 A look of utter distress.