Chapter 3304 — Forming a Robbery Team

Still, although Gu Mengyao had by now established her personal authority within the Dark Night Palace, when it came to the broader strategic vision of the Ancient Plane, she still fell somewhat short. So the Grand Elder decided to take some time alone to think things over and work out what the Xuandan Sect was really after.

Yet the Grand Elder was destined for disappointment. It would never have occurred to her that the Xuandan Sect had gone to such elaborate lengths not for the sake of the Dark Night Palace, but for Wei Zhao. But this conclusion was one the Grand Elder could never have reached.

After Kang Jingming and Xiao Yi left the Dark Night Palace, they headed straight back to the Five Luminaries Sect. The Dark Night Palace's refusal was, in fact, within their expectations. In the carriage, Kang Jingming placed a call to Ancestor Xuanchen.

"Father-in-law, we have left the Dark Night Palace. Just as expected, the Grand Elder does not know how to show proper appreciation and rejected my proposal," Kang Jingming said. "However, I went ahead and carried out Plan Two—I told her that things have been unsettled in the Ancient Plane lately."

"Very well, I understand. Leave the rest to me." Ancestor Xuanchen pondered for a moment, then nodded and hung up. Then he called toward the door, "Xiao Er, come in for a moment."

This Xiao Er was, naturally, Ancestor Xuanchen's second disciple and Xiao Yi's junior fellow disciple—an expert of the Heaven Rank late-stage peak who had reached the great consummation. Although he had not spent as long at the great consummation as Xiao Yi, he was nonetheless one of the very finest experts in the Five Luminaries Sect.

Within the Five Luminaries Sect there were five experts of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength at the great consummation. Setting aside Ancestor Xuantian, now injured, demoted, and rendered useless, there remained Ancestor Xuanzhen, Xiao Yi, and Xiao Er.

"Master!" Xiao Er stepped inside, cupping his fists respectfully.

"Here is what I want you to do: in a little while, notify Xiao San, Xiao Si, and Xiao Wu to come see me together. I have a task to assign them," Ancestor Xuanchen told Xiao Er.

"Yes, Master. I will go find them at once," Xiao Er replied, nodding hurriedly.

That so-called gang of marauders that had supposedly sprung up recently in the Ancient Plane, robbing and plundering as they pleased, did not actually exist at all. It was no wonder the Grand Elder had never heard of them—Ancestor Xuanchen had not even founded them yet.

Since the Dark Night Palace had rejected the marriage pact, Ancestor Xuanchen now had to move on to the next phase of his plan: finding someone to make trouble for the Dark Night Palace. That way, either the Grand Elder would force Gu Mengyao to marry into the Xuandan Sect in search of protection, and Gu Mengyao would turn to Wei Zhao for help in resisting, or Gu Mengyao would call on Wei Zhao for rescue. Either way, Wei Zhao could no longer hide; he would have to show himself. There would be no accidents this time.

So Ancestor Xuanchen sent his disciples out to form a team and make trouble for the Dark Night Palace. This time, he dispatched three experts of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength all at once, his aim being to make the Dark Night Palace bow and yield under pressure.

As for why he did not send Xiao Er, the great consummation expert of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength—that was because it would have been far too obviously staged. How many great consummation experts of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength were there in the Ancient Plane altogether? They could be counted on one's fingers. If he sent Xiao Er, although Xiao Er had never appeared publicly in the Ancient Plane and the Grand Elder certainly would not suspect the Five Luminaries Sect, Bai Lingtou certainly would.

Apart from the known great consummation experts of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength, such an expert could only have come from the Five Luminaries Sect! That was not the outcome Ancestor Xuanchen wanted. After all, in his plan, if Wei Zhao appeared and no other force came to make trouble for him, then the gang formed by his disciples would simply kill Wei Zhao outright. Either way, it would have nothing to do with him, and even if Bai Lingtou grew suspicious, he would find no evidence.

Great consummation experts of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength were few, but experts of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength were not so scarce. Nearly every Ancient Plane sect had one or two, and even among lone cultivators there were some. When the time came, who could say who had struck the blow?

Before long, Xiao San, Xiao Si, and Xiao Wu arrived before Ancestor Xuanchen. The three bowed respectfully and said, "We pay our respects to Master!"

"Good, excellent, you have come. I have a task for you—see that it is done well, do you hear me?" Ancestor Xuanchen's authoritative voice made the three of them sober at once.

"Rest assured, Master, we will do our utmost!" the three said hurriedly.

"Good. The matter is this: take a few junior fellow disciples with you—nothing too formidable, Heaven Rank will do—and put on a little show for me." With that, Ancestor Xuanchen laid out his plan for the three disciples.

In truth, the three experts of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength were only meant to intimidate the Dark Night Palace and put pressure on them, solely to draw Wei Zhao out. He did not really expect them to tear the Dark Night Palace down, so it hardly mattered that none of them was a great consummation expert of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength.

These people would suffice to intimidate them. After all, a single expert of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength like the Grand Elder could not possibly stand against three such experts.

"We understand, Master. We will certainly see this matter through," Xiao San and the others said after hearing him out. It did not seem difficult—intimidation, was it? When the time came, they would kill a few disciples, or join forces to injure the Grand Elder, and that would be enough. Nothing too hard about it.

Killing the Grand Elder outright with the three of them joining forces might not be easy. After all, if she fought desperately to the death, they might well suffer heavy losses themselves. But injuring and intimidating her—that they could do.

"Good. But there is one thing you must be careful about: be on guard against the three ancestors of the Blood Garment Yellow Springs Sect. If they come to help, withdraw. Even a great consummation expert of Heaven Rank late-stage peak strength would find it hard to kill you in an instant—you will certainly be able to escape," Ancestor Xuanchen warned.

The only uncertain factor now was the Blood Garment Yellow Springs Sect. He did not know whether those three ancestors of the sect still stood on Wei Zhao's side, or whether they would meddle in Gu Mengyao's affairs. Unlikely as it was, it was still worth guarding against.

"We understand. As for what strength the enemy has, with Xiao Wu's special trick, we will see it all at a glance. If there is a great consummation expert present, we will withdraw immediately!" Xiao San said at once.

In truth, Xiao Wu's ability was no special trick at all—it was simply that one of the martial techniques he cultivated was rather unusual! (To be continued)