Chapter 13: Mastering Strategy Without Wasting a Single Soldier or Resource
Chapter 13: Only Skilled in Strategy, Not Willing to Waste a Single Soldier
Chen Ping’an had experienced many romances and had numerous beautiful girlfriends, yet only the Empress of the Mortal Realm dared to harbor murderous intent toward him. Ning Yao of the Qingyun Sect was no different.
“If Ning Yao is just a facade of the Empress of the Mortal Realm, what deeper purpose would she have by infiltrating the Qingyun Sect?” Chen Ping’an frowned.
Could it be that she had anticipated his return to Qingyun Sect and had laid out her plans twenty years in advance?
What meaning could there be in that?
“The Empress of the Mortal Realm is a sovereign of the imperial realm, the only great emperor in the Xuantiandao. Given her status, it’s unlikely she would bother to incarnate a minor identity just to get close to me. That wouldn’t make much sense...” After some thought, Chen Ping’an dismissed his earlier suspicion.
Though he temporarily ruled out the Empress, he didn't want to miss out on the system’s reward. His mind shifted swiftly, and a decision formed.
“System, I have confirmed that Ning Yao is the reincarnation of my former lover, the Empress of the Mortal Realm.”
System: “What evidence do you have?”
Chen Ping’an raised the piece of paper, tapping the line of writing with his finger.
“She is my ex-girlfriend, without a doubt. If not the Empress of the Mortal Realm, who else would want to kill me upon meeting? My exes all loved me madly—how could any of them want me dead?”
The system chuckled, “The words of the pen spirit are pure nonsense; it’s all you manipulating the brush.”
Chen Ping’an retorted, “System, I trust the pen spirit, yet you doubt it. How then do you prove Ning Yao is not the Empress’s reincarnation?”
“I...” The system was momentarily speechless.
It knew the answer, thus truly could not prove otherwise, for if it did, it would lose. It had dug a pit for itself, unaware that its host would seize the smallest flaw to climb out.
Several seconds later:
“Ding! Congratulations, host. Task completed. Ning Yao confirmed as the reincarnation of the Empress of the Mortal Realm. Reward: one sacred artifact, one Saint Realm experience card.”
Hearing the system’s voice, Chen Ping’an’s frown eased, a faint smile playing on his lips. He had known he bet right; from the system’s dumbfounded reaction, Ning Yao truly was the Empress’s reincarnated form!
The system’s revelation overturned all his prior speculations about the Empress of the Mortal Realm.
This mortal world was truly, maddeningly dull.
Chen Ping’an curled his lip, a sense of helplessness swelling within. He cursed his own weak cultivation. The Empress of the Mortal Realm had come knocking, yet he was powerless to respond.
Fortunately, Ning Yao had not yet awakened her memories, giving him a grace period to lay low and develop.
Memories of past moments flickered through his mind. Chen Ping’an paced with a stern face, hands clasped behind his back.
“Could it be that the Empress of the Mortal Realm, unable to forget past affections, feels hollow and lonely after attaining the Dao, and so arranged this alias to renew our romance?”
The thought arose and gradually took hold.
Chen Ping’an mulled it over and found the hypothesis quite logical.
Excited by the prospect, a sly grin curved his lips as he murmured, “Oh, Empress of the Mortal Realm, I shall play along with your little game...”
When the main account tires, the alt account is always up for some fun.
The wool from the alt account is mine for the taking.
***
“Ancestor, Du Rulong requests an audience.”
At that moment, a voice sounded from outside.
“Send him in.”
The Ancestor agreed, and together with Sect Master Du Rulong, they entered the room.
After exchanging greetings, Du Rulong spoke excitedly, “Ancestor, we have found a lead on the Seven Poison Insects.”
“Speak.”
“In the Youzhou region, the leader of the Five Poisons Cult is raising a ghost butterfly.”
The Five Poisons Cult?
Chen Ping’an thought for a moment but recalled no relevant memories. In his past life, he had been unable to cultivate and thus paid little attention to the affairs of the cultivation world, so no useful information surfaced.
“How does Qingyun Sect compare to the Five Poisons Cult in strength?”
Chen Ping’an asked.
If the cult was weak, he could skip etiquette and demand the ghost butterfly’s blood outright; if strong, force wouldn’t work.
Strategy was his style.
Du Rulong glanced at the Ancestor, hesitated, then said, “They are evenly matched...”
“Be honest.”
“They’re a bit stronger.”
“How much stronger?”
“Reportedly, they have two half-step Void Spirit realm experts,” Du Rulong said with some hesitation.
Chen Ping’an looked at the Ancestor. The strongest among the Qingyun Sect was Xiao Xuanzi, also at the peak of the Divine Void realm’s tenth layer.
This realm was just half a step away from the Void Spirit realm, hence called a half-step Void Spirit expert.
Chen Ping’an waved his hand and headed for the door.
“This is a personal matter. I won’t trouble the sect.”
The Ancestor was startled and hurried forward, “Ancestor, let me accompany you to the Five Poisons Cult.”
The Ancestor was only at the Golden Body realm; going to the Five Poisons Cult alone would be risky.
Chen Ping’an glared, “You are the stabilizing pillar of Qingyun Sect. You must not leave the sect even a step!”
“Ancestor...”
The Ancestor hesitated. Qingyun Sect had many enemies, and as its strongest member, he really shouldn’t leave lightly.
“Ancestor, I’ll go with you!” Du Rulong stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
Chen Ping’an shook his head, refusing, “You’re the sect master—you absolutely cannot go. If you disgrace yourself, it would disgrace the entire Qingyun Sect.”
Du Rulong flushed red, speechless, stepping back two paces, unwilling to argue further.
The Ancestor was not convinced and suddenly suggested, “Ancestor, how about letting Jian go?”
“She’s too weak; she won’t be of help,” Chen Ping’an declined again.
He would go to the Five Poisons Cult in his personal capacity. No one would recognize him, so if anything happened, it wouldn’t affect Qingyun Sect.
As the Ancestor of Qingyun Sect, he had always treated the sect like his own child and did not want it to be affected.
Seeing the Ancestor refuse everyone, the Ancestor grew anxious, blocking the door with a mournful face, stubbornly saying, “Ancestor, you can’t do this. Is there truly no one in Qingyun Sect who meets your standards?”
Chen Ping’an’s mind flashed to a cold little face.
“Fine. Find a Qingyun Sect disciple to guide me and keep me company on the road,” he said.
Seeing the Ancestor’s shock, he smiled, “Think harder, Xiao Xuanzi. I only know how to outsmart the Five Poisons Cult—I don’t waste a single soldier.”
Ancestor: “...”
This ancient elder, a peak Divine Void realm cultivator who had lived centuries, was scolded until his face flushed.
“How about Ning Yao?”
The Ancestor probed.
After all, she had been close to the Ancestor before, a case of proximity yielding advantage.
“She’s in seclusion, breaking through to the Divine Treasure realm,” Chen Ping’an shook his head, smiling, “Pick someone else.”
The Ancestor scratched his head and looked at Du Rulong, “Sect Master, you know the younger generation better. Recommend someone.”
Du Rulong’s head immediately ached. So many young disciples—who to pick?
Those as outstanding as Ning Yao were the other three great beauties of Qingyun Sect.
Thinking of this, Du Rulong calmed down and respectfully said, “Xia Xiaoliang. Ancestor, she is also a top disciple of the younger generation. Her strength surpasses Ning Yao’s; she is already at the second level of the Divine Treasure realm.”
“Good, she it is.”
Before the Ancestor could speak, Chen Ping’an interrupted.
At that moment, several hundred miles outside Qingyun Sect, two figures flew swiftly, one following the other.
“Brother Xuan, save me...”
A desperate cry for help swept through from afar, instantly engulfing Qingyun Sect.
Everyone within the sect heard it.
The Ancestor’s body trembled, his gaze dazedly fixed on the figures flying from the southeast.
“Who is it, Xiao Xuanzi?”
Chen Ping’an asked with curiosity.
The Ancestor hesitated, summoned great courage, and finally said, “My ex-girlfriend.”
(End of Chapter)