“How should we do it?”
Facing the questions from Zhang Danu and Han Li, Qi Ping looked down at this city famous for its black-market industries, a strong killing intent showing in his eyes.
After setting up a protective barrier to prevent prying eyes, Qi Ping slowly spoke:
“Don’t they just want us to fight to the death with those people behind Starfall City, so they can sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, then reap the benefits?”
“But how can we let them get what they want?”
“They want me to do this, so I’ll do it!”
“Only, small skirmishes are boring. To break their setup, there’s only one method available to us right now: muddy the waters! Poke a hole in the sky!”
Hearing Qi Ping’s words, both Han Li and Zhang Danu were greatly shaken.
Muddy the waters? Poke a hole in the sky?
Han Li seemed to grasp something, but because he did not know Qi Ping’s true strength, he could not be sure of the key point.
“Senior Brother, what should we do?” both asked at the same time.
“First, poking a hole in the sky is very simple. Two words: massacre the city!”
“According to the rules set by the Qingyuan Sect and our duties as Guardian Envoys, kill everyone involved in black-market industries who deserves death under the rules! And those who may or may not deserve death, kill them all too!”
“These people whose hands are soaked in innocent blood deserve to die anyway. There’s nothing more to say about that. The key point is that there are too few people left in the city now. We need to find a way to lure them back!”
“Only when enough people die, and when a few heavyweight figures among those in our sect involved in black-market industries also die, will it be enough!”
“Then deaths alone are not enough. We must find evidence that these slain heavyweight figures violated sect rules and controlled black-market industries. Then, along the way, add the people who manipulated us into this dead end to the list, and announce it together with the evidence to the entire Qingtian Domain! Under the name of eliminating parasites, drag them down with us!”
“We need to reach the point where, if the Qingyuan Sect does not kill them, the sect’s image will suffer greatly, countless low-level cultivators will want to leave the Qingtian Domain, and other low-level cultivators will not dare join the Qingtian Domain.”
Although low-level cultivators combined could not even harm a single Golden Core cultivator of the Qingyuan Sect, if the Qingtian Domain declined because of a massive decrease in low-level cultivators, and its economic income, rental income, and industrial income sharply decreased, then that would absolutely not be a small matter.
“Senior Brother, this move of yours is ruthless!” After hearing Qi Ping’s plan, Zhang Danu was completely shocked.
“Senior Brother Ya, this plan is a feasible way out, but I have a few questions.”
Compared to Zhang Danu, Han Li was much calmer, and he quickly identified ways to carry out some of the key points and the difficulties they faced.
“Things like determining the rough range of the people behind the scheme against us, and spreading the terror and cruelty of Starfall City’s black-market industries across the entire Qingtian Domain, are not difficult. As long as there is time to investigate and make arrangements in advance, it can be done. I can even specially compile some terrifying examples that make people want to run the moment they hear them.”
“It’s just that the heavyweight figures behind Starfall City are very strong. There may even be Golden Core elders.”
“Also, with Senior Brother Ya present, how do we lure those people back?”
“Another thing is that the existence behind Starfall City loses a huge amount every day this place is shut down. They may not give us that much time and might act very soon.”
At this point, Han Li stopped. Originally, he had also noticed another problem: this plan was too risky. If anything went slightly wrong, the few of them would die without even a burial place!
But at this point, there was no time to worry about so much. He had long been prepared to die. What he wanted to do now was to fight one bold, unrestrained battle!
After hearing Han Li’s words, Qi Ping was not too surprised. He had naturally already thought of countermeasures for these problems.
What he rather appreciated was Han Li’s meticulous and careful thinking. With such a meticulous Han Li helping him, plus some of Han Li’s connections, carrying out this plan would be much more convenient, and some matters could be left to Han Li to complete.
“Leave the first problem to me. I will kill the existence behind Starfall City. Even if a Golden Core comes, I have a certain degree of confidence in handling it! You don’t need to worry about this!”
But this lightly spoken sentence shook Han Li and Zhang Danu to the core. They exchanged a glance and both saw the shock in each other’s eyes.
But they knew that with Qi Ping’s personality, he would absolutely not boast.
Since Qi Ping said so, it meant he could definitely do it!
That was what shocked them the most. Senior Brother Lin Ya’s true strength was even more unfathomable than they had imagined!
However, Qi Ping did not give them much time to think, and continued:
“The second and third problems need to be done together. To solve them is actually very simple. First, spread rumors that I am under pressure and will not act against any black-market industries in Starfall City.”
“Then, Brother Han, I’ll have to trouble you to communicate with those people in Starfall City and the existence behind them. Say that I can refrain from interfering in Starfall City’s affairs, but I must receive a portion of the benefits, and they must contribute a certain number of people every year so that we can complete the duties a Guardian Envoy should complete, avoiding sect investigation and punishment. They also must not reveal any flaws during our term.”
“In return, we will not interfere in Starfall City’s black-market industries. We will even help them erase some traces of their black-market operations and act as their protective umbrella.”
After saying this, Qi Ping looked at Han Li and said:
“Brother Han, you should be very familiar with this kind of matter, right?”
“This… Senior Brother Ya, this is not difficult for me. I am fully confident I can handle this matter well. It’s just…” At this point, Han Li hesitated and glanced at Qi Ping, then said somewhat hesitantly:
“It’s just that if we do this, Senior Brother Ya, your reputation may be ruined.”
Because Qi Ping was someone evaluated by the Heart-Questioning Mirror as a pillar of support, and had repeatedly rejected the olive branches of the three major factions, they had not expected Qi Ping to be able to go this far.
But what surprised Han Li and Zhang Danu was that, facing this problem, Qi Ping only smiled calmly and said:
“I have never cared about reputation in the first place. Moreover, a cultivator should not be bound by reputation. From beginning to end, I have only been doing what I ought to do. As long as I can achieve the result, what does it matter if I bear some burden on my reputation?”
Qi Ping’s calm and unfazed plan immediately made Han Li and Zhang Danu feel deep respect.
As expected of Senior Brother Ya. His firmness of Dao Heart is admirable!
But after saying this, Qi Ping’s expression suddenly became solemn. Then he looked at the two and said:
“There is one last problem. This plan is too risky. If any step goes wrong, it could leave us dead without a burial place!”
“Senior Brother, I, Danu, am not afraid.”
But before Zhang Danu could finish, Qi Ping interrupted him.
“Listen to me. No matter what happens then, I have more than a seventy percent chance of escaping, and even leaving the Qingtian Domain. So you don’t need to worry too much about my safety. This time, for any matters that might bring risk, you must push all of them onto me! You must not get yourselves involved!”
“Then, during this period, before the final battle begins, I will find a safe way for you to get away!”
“Senior Brother, but—”
“No buts! On this matter, you must solemnly promise me! Do you understand?” Qi Ping said firmly.
Hearing Qi Ping’s incomparably resolute words, Han Li and Zhang Danu could only nod and agree.
“We will listen to Senior Brother Ya!”
At this moment, while Han Li and Zhang Danu felt warmth in their hearts, they also slowly developed a determination to follow Qi Ping to the death.
