Undying Life

Chapter 662: Chapter 662: The Second Step, A Lone Man

Zhong Shan and Yin Luo Yue were led to another dwelling by Yi Lan Que.

"Please stay here for the time being. I need to handle some matters, and I will find you again tomorrow!" Yi Lan Que said with a smile.

"Please, go ahead," Zhong Shan nodded.

As soon as Yi Lan Que left, Yin Luo Yue's brows furrowed deeply.

"Do you believe his nonsense?" Yin Luo Yue asked, puzzled.

"Why wouldn't I?" Zhong Shan replied with a faint smile.

"He said he came out of curiosity to see us and claimed he would fully support us, just to witness your strategy in person. Isn't that an obvious lie?" Yin Luo Yue said, looking skeptical.

"Does it matter?" Zhong Shan countered.

"It doesn't?" Yin Luo Yue asked, now confused by Zhong Shan's strange response.

"Heh, whether he is a friend or foe doesn't matter, at least not right now. The important thing is that he is not from the Tian family or Xing Taidou's faction. He is from a fourth party," Zhong Shan said seriously.

"Huh?"

"Regardless of his motives, it doesn't matter right now. I don't want to know, nor do I need to. As long as his influence here can be used to complete my plan, that's all that matters," Zhong Shan said.

"But he figured out that you're targeting Shen Xiu and even knew we had been to the Tian family!" Yin Luo Yue still seemed worried.

"Targeting Shen Xiu? Is that hard to guess? Xing Taidou, Ye Qingcheng, and Tian Xiao certainly know this is aimed at Shen Xiu. There's nothing surprising about that. And as for going to the Tian family? That's not hard to find out either. Do you know how many people have their eyes on the Tian family? Many people surely knew we visited," Zhong Shan shook his head.

"Alright, but aren't you curious about who he is?"

"Who he is? Are you afraid?"

"Why would I be afraid? Can he stop me?"

"If he can't stop us, then what is there to worry about? Actually, when I heard his name, I already had a good guess about his identity," Zhong Shan said confidently.

"Oh?"

"The last Heavenly Dynasty of the Underworld, the Yi family of the Great You Heavenly Dynasty!" Zhong Shan said.

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"Oh? How can you be so sure?"

"The Yi family has a peerless genius who was also the young master of the Yi family. He was in the spotlight three hundred years ago, but suddenly fell later. However, did he really fall? Because of this young master, the Yi family rose to become the leader of the four great families. After his death, the Yi family did not decline but became even stronger. Moreover, I have researched his cause of death, and it was very suspicious," Zhong Shan said with certainty.

"Huh? You've even researched the families of the Great You Heavenly Dynasty?" Yin Luo Yue asked incredulously.

"The world's major powers must be investigated. It's impossible to know every small force, but major powers must be thoroughly studied," Zhong Shan said firmly.

"As expected, none of the emperors are easy to deal with!" Yin Luo Yue looked at Zhong Shan with a strange expression.

The next day.

"Zhong Shan, as you predicted, Shen Xiu is now unwilling to leave and frequently incites Ye Qingcheng and Xing Taidou to fight the Tian family again!" Yi Lan Que said with a smile.

"Oh? Your people have infiltrated the Xingdou Imperial Palace?" Zhong Shan asked, slightly surprised.

"No, a palace eunuch leaked the information," Yi Lan Que said, twirling his fan.

Zhong Shan knew Yi Lan Que wouldn't admit it, so he just smiled and didn't pursue the matter.

"Are you really willing to follow me in disrupting the Tian family?" Zhong Shan asked, staring at Yi Lan Que.

"No, no, no, I dare not go to the Tian family. At most, I can cheer for you. My cultivation is too low, and my guild doesn't have any top experts. Going there would be a death sentence. However, if there are small matters beforehand, I can handle them. Of course, I am more interested in seeing how you make the Tian family take a big fall!" Yi Lan Que said with a smile.

"That's fine. Having your guild's help is already more than I could ask for," Zhong Shan replied.

"So, what is the next step in your 'Heaven-Overturning Plan'?" Yi Lan Que pressed on.

"Heaven-Overturning Plan?" Zhong Shan was slightly taken aback.

"Isn't making the Tian family turn upside down a Heaven-Overturning Plan?" Yi Lan Que said.

Zhong Shan: "......".

"If you need anything else, just let me know!" Yi Lan Que pledged.

"Very well, I'll take you up on that offer," Zhong Shan said with a strange smile.

"What is the second step?"

"The second step is to make them a lone wolf," Zhong Shan said after some thought.

"Oh?"—

At Tian Xiao's camp!

"Any news about Zhong Shan?" Tian Xiao asked his subordinates.

"None. He left that inn ten days ago and hasn't been seen since!" a subordinate reported.

"Any unusual news or changes outside?" Tian Xiao frowned.

"None!" the subordinate replied.

"Young master, I've noticed some strange phenomena!" Xiao Wang suddenly spoke up.

"Oh?" Tian Xiao frowned.

"The Heaven-Crushing Plan is now at a critical moment of the first phase, and I've discovered a large influx of financial resources into the market, helping us!" Xiao Wang said.

"Helping us?"

"Yes, exactly. It's helping us to cause more chaos in the Xingdou Imperial Dynasty, pushing it further into collapse!" Xiao Wang explained.

"Could it be someone seeing the opportunity and following us in the Su Mi Stone market?" a subordinate asked.

"It's not that simple. These financial resources are not just following the Su Mi Stone market but are also making the people of the Xingdou Imperial Dynasty more frantic, increasing their debts. When the first phase of the Heaven-Crushing Plan hits, it will bring endless disasters to the Xingdou Imperial Dynasty, with everyone turning into bandits, causing it to completely collapse," Xiao Wang said seriously.

"Oh? Helping us? Who can help so precisely? In a commercial war, anyone other than you, who is leading the charge, would be crushed. To survive and still help us? This person must understand the Heaven-Crushing Plan as well as you, if not better. Who could it be?" Tian Xiao laughed.

"It's Zhong Shan. It can only be him. But why would he help us? Isn't he targeting the Tian family? Why help us?" Xiao Wang frowned.

"We'll have to wait and see what kind of tricks Zhong Shan is playing!" Tian Xiao laughed.

On a floating island, Zhong Shan looked at the restless citizens below, his eyes filled with seriousness.

"Zhong Shan, you are intensifying the first phase of the Heaven-Crushing Plan. Isn't this too ruthless?" Yi Lan Que frowned.

"Xing Taidou is not Nalan Piaoxue. He is an emperor and acts with intelligence. The subsequent phases of the Heaven-Crushing Plan would be difficult to implement on him. So, I have to combine the second, third, and fourth phases into the first phase to ensure Xing Taidou's total defeat in this initial phase!" Zhong Shan said solemnly.

"Oh?" Yi Lan Que looked puzzled but saw a faint smile on Zhong Shan's lips.

"Moreover, considering the last grand birthday celebration for Ye Qingcheng at five thousand years, it's likely that the celebration for his five thousand four hundred and thirty-second birthday is coming soon," Zhong Shan recalled.

"True, but Ye Qingcheng never celebrates those irregular birthdays," Yi Lan Que noted.

"Then we shall throw him a grand celebration!" Zhong Shan smiled.

"Oh?"

"The second step, a lone wolf! The Lord of the Immortal Realm is key to this."

Half a month later, the Xingdou Imperial Dynasty was utterly in chaos. The Su Mi Stones had vanished as if they had evaporated into thin air. The cities were in disarray, with rampant looting, arson, and murder, far worse than the chaos of the Great Yu Imperial Dynasty in the mortal realm.

A treasure map sparked widespread slaughter, and multiple maps caused six out of ten houses in many cities to be emptied as city guards, soldiers, and even ministers left to search for treasures.

The vast capital city of Xingdou was desolate. Even the court meetings had seven or eight ministers absent.

The Xingdou Imperial Dynasty was finished. It had collapsed inexplicably and thoroughly.

Xing Taidou did not berate his ministers but instead patiently reassured them. After they left, he sat alone on his throne, looking dejected.

He sat there all day, until night fell.

"Tian Xiao? You are too ruthless, too ruthless!" Xing Taidou said with a tragic expression.

It was indeed ruthless. The Xingdou Imperial Dynasty was completely ruined. Xing Taidou had lost both in personal combat and in this grand strategy against this young upstart. Was Xing Taidou truly so vulnerable before the Tian family?

"Your Majesty!" an old eunuch beside him said worriedly.

"I'm fine. You've been by my side all these years, thank you for your hard work," Xing Taidou said, somewhat despondent.

"It's not hard, as long as I can be by Your Majesty's side. It's just a pity for those old comrades who were all killed by the Tian family," the old eunuch sighed deeply.

With heavy steps, Xing Taidou slowly walked out of the hall, standing at a high point overlooking the entire Xingdou City. More than half of the citizens had left; the city no longer looked like a city, the country no longer like a country. A sense of desolation surged in Xing Taidou's heart, like the setting sun of old age, filling him with melancholy.

In the past, Xing Taidou would never have such emotions. Only after a mental blow would such a scene of restlessness occur.

The old eunuch stood beside Xing Taidou, like a shadow, accompanying him.

"Whoosh~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

Suddenly, a sharp crack resounded in Xingdou City, and a firework shot up into the sky.

After decades of operation by the Darong Guild, fireworks were no longer a secret treasure. They were simple to make and quickly accepted in the underworld.

"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

The fireworks exploded in the sky, adding a magnificent spectacle to the desolate night.

"Whoosh~~~Whoosh~~~Whoosh~~~Whoosh~~~Whoosh~~~~~~~~~~"

Countless fireworks shot into the sky, imprinting flower patterns into the starry night. The remaining half of the city's citizens looked up, finding a bit of peace and comfort in the chaos brought by the dazzling display.

All around the vast city of Xingdou, fireworks lit up the sky, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Almost everyone came out of their homes to watch the sudden display.

Ye Qingcheng came out, Shen Xiu came out, and the people of the Immortal Realm came out, all curiously looking at the sky.

Xing Taidou also looked up, his originally desolate mood greatly soothed by the sudden fireworks.

On a mountain peak outside Xingdou City, Zhong Shan, Yi Lan Que, and Yin Luo Yue watched the countless fireworks in the distance, for Zhong Shan's second step was to wait for this final moment.