Chapter 265: A Strategy to Defeat the Enemy

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance did not mention in its announcement how many of the nine Dao Integration cultivators from the Five Old Men Association ultimately died.

However, heavy losses were certain.

Otherwise, the Five Old Men Association, which had been so arrogant just moments before, would not have suddenly become like a tiger without its teeth, shrinking its forces and shifting from offense to defense.

The only Dao Integration cultivator known to have fallen in this incident actually belonged to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.

However, he was not killed in battle but executed.

Because he was a spy.

A spy from the Five Old Men Association who had been deeply hidden within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance for nearly a thousand years, undetected by anyone.

His status was noble, and before his identity was revealed, no one would have suspected him.

Zi Qiong, Immortal Venerable of Tian Yu State.

He was stationed at the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance Yanwu Hall Headquarters, of immeasurable prestige.

It was precisely because Immortal Venerable Zi Qiong secretly transmitted messages that the Five Old Men Association, after a series of probes and verifications, became convinced of the news that “a Dao Integration cultivator was about to ascend to Chang Sheng Tian Zun.”

Thus, they made the highly risky strategic move of “dispatching nine Dao Integration cultivators deep into enemy territory.”

Because this was not the first time.

In previous operations, the Five Old Men Association had reaped significant benefits.

The last time they did this was to raid the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven.

Indeed, at that time, it was also this Immortal Venerable Zi Qiong who leaked the news of the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven.

His subordinates received a distress call from an exploration team, hoping that the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance Headquarters could send people to assist in relocating the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven.

Immortal Venerable Zi Qiong was far more aware of the value of this Cave Heaven than most people in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.

So, he secretly relayed the information to the Five Old Men Association.

That's why the Five Old Men Association was able to react so quickly, even arriving before the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's reinforcements.

Even when the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, enraged, later dispatched a pursuit team of eight Dao Integration cultivators.

With Immortal Venerable Zi Qiong, who held a high position, leaking information, the Five Old Men Association was well aware of their personnel configuration.

If it hadn't been for an unexpected turn of events.

A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator in the team, who had been overlooked, suddenly erupted with combat power comparable to a Dao Integration cultivator, turning the tide at a critical moment.

It's likely that all eight Dao Integration cultivators responsible for the pursuit would have been lost on the battlefield.

However, even so, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance suffered greatly in this incident.

Although the Five Old Men Association also suffered some losses, they were completely acceptable in comparison.

The only pity was that due to the suddenness of the event, they did not have enough manpower to mobilize in a hurry.

The mission to steal the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven was considered a failure.

Regardless, as the deepest nail the Five Old Men Association had driven into the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, the information he provided should have been absolutely trustworthy.

Therefore, even though “dispatching nine Dao Integration cultivators deep into enemy territory” was theoretically a highly risky action.

The Five Old Men Association still did it.

And so, they fell into the trap meticulously woven for them by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.

Regarding the mysterious leak of information about the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven last time, some within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance had always held a grudge.

The announcement did not state the name of this Cultivator.

He was only referred to as [Gu Ying].

One of Gu Ying's good friends was among the eight Dao Integration cultivators who participated in the pursuit.

With his friend's tragic death, coupled with his duty.

Gu Ying vowed to find the spy deeply hidden within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance Headquarters.

After the great battle in Tianling State ended, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance initiated an investigation procedure.

Gu Ying was responsible for this matter.

Unfortunately, Immortal Venerable Zi Qiong's status was too high, and he was too well hidden.

Even with some suspicions, without substantial evidence, nothing could be done to him.

The final result could only be left unresolved.

However, Gu Ying did not give up easily.

A bold plan was born in his mind.

To put it simply, it was merely the four words: “lure the snake out of its hole.”

But this plan involved too much, and a slight oversight could lead to complete failure.

Gu Ying was initially a bit hesitant.

But he ultimately withstood the pressure and slowly completed the layout.

Gradually, news spread quietly among the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's upper echelons that a Dao Integration cultivator within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance was about to attain Chang Sheng Tian Zun.

Furthermore, many Dao Integration cultivators received invitations for assistance and disappeared without a trace.

Immortal Venerable Zi Qiong naturally also learned of this news.

However, Zi Qiong had no way to guarantee the accuracy of the information.

Coupled with having just been investigated not long ago and not yet fully cleared of suspicion.

Zi Qiong also did not intend to personally risk verifying the authenticity of this news.

However, this matter was too significant.

If a new Chang Sheng Tian Zun were to be born in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance…

After much hesitation, Zi Qiong still relayed this news to the Five Old Men Association.

He only asked the Five Old Men Association to verify it themselves.

The Five Old Men Association, upon receiving the news, attached great importance to it.

Coincidentally, a Sect ruin suddenly appeared in Nine Mountains State, which bordered both sides, attracting the attention of countless Cultivators.

The Five Old Men Association then used this opportunity to send a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator to provocatively test them with great fanfare.

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's reaction was very strange.

They spoke tougher words than anyone, issuing solemn warnings like, “Dare to come, and you will die.”

Yet, they only dispatched a few Nascent Soul Stage cultivators to hold the line.

Since when could Nascent Soul Stage cultivators hold the line?

Where were all those Dao Integration cultivators of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance at this moment?

One must know that if there were no Dao Integration cultivators in charge.

Even without using other forces, just letting this Nascent Soul Stage cultivator named Luoxi go alone.

In Nine Mountains State, with only Nascent Soul Stage cultivators present, what could the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance do to him?

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance would not be unaware of this point.

Could it be that they just endured such a resounding slap in the Face?

What happened?

The so-called solemn warning.

In the eyes of the Five Old Men Association, it clearly had a hint of bravado masking inner weakness.

Rather than being for the Five Old Men Association, it was more for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's own people.

Just to appease the public.

It seems that the news conveyed by Immortal Venerable Zi Qiong is very likely true!

Within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, there truly is a Dao Integration cultivator who intends to perform the act of [Heaven-Defying the principles of heaven and earth].

Even multiple divinations and deductions verified that this matter was true!

The Five Old Men Association suddenly became anxious.

No wonder the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance would swallow their Qi and endure; compared to a newly ascended Chang Sheng Tian Zun.

Forget a little Face, even losing several states would be acceptable.

Once the ascension is successful, everything lost will instantly return.

No, it must be stopped!

And so, the Five Old Men Association suddenly declared war.

At the same time, a team of nine Dao Integration cultivators, based on the information provided by Zi Qiong, went to Tian Yu State to carry out the mission of disrupting the ascension.

But they never expected that everything was a trap.

…

Li Fan's expression was unreadable as he repeatedly read the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's arrogant announcement several times.

He finally let out a long breath.

“Without standing at that height, one cannot understand the full scope of events.”

“Perhaps only after the matter is concluded, and looking back, will one be able to learn a thing or two about what truly happened.”