192: Chapter 191 My Subordinate Has a Plan

As the words fell, Manager Ma Yingjie took out a yellowed silk map from his Storage Pouch.

The layout of the Sword Imperial Pool was clearly marked on the map, with several points outlined in Cinnabar, making them exceptionally eye-catching.

"Look, Young Lord," Manager Ma Yingjie leaned over, his fingertip pointing at several Cinnabar marks on the map as he slowly reported, "These locations are where Earth-Grade swords appeared during previous Sword Villa grand gatherings. They are located on the western, southern, and northern sides of the Sword Imperial Pool, respectively."

Li Hu leaned over to stare at the map and gestured for Manager Ma Yingjie to continue.

Manager Ma Yingjie continued, "Young Lord, this time it will likely be in the east!"

"This subordinate has specifically looked into Master Refiner Chu Yanqiu's preferences; he favors the east the most!"

"Furthermore, the Master's room is also located in the east!"

He paused, then added with absolute certainty in his tone, "Combined with the patterns of Earth-Grade swords appearing in previous sessions, this Dragon Abyss Sword will most likely appear in the east."

Li Hu looked in the direction he pointed, his gaze falling on the eastern side of the map, and nodded slightly.

At this moment, Li Hu also agreed with Manager Ma Yingjie's viewpoint.

This Low Grade Earth-Grade Magical Artifact, the Dragon Abyss Sword, would definitely emerge from the east.

Li Hu waved his hand, and Manager Ma Yingjie cupped his hands and sat down.

Only then did Li Hu ask, "Do you all know when Hu Nan will leave the Heavenly Sword Sect?"

As the words fell, the atmosphere inside the stone room instantly froze.

Confidants like Manager Ma Yingjie and the Overseer lowered their heads one after another. The respect on their faces faded, replaced by gravity and hesitation. All fell into silence, and no one dared to answer easily.

They all knew very well that Li Hu's question was by no means out of simple curiosity about Hu Nan's movements.

Li Hu had just cultivated the Blood Demon Possession Technique to Perfection and urgently needed a powerful furnace with a compatible Divine Soul for Possession to Breakthrough his Realm and extend his Lifespan. Hu Nan possessed decent strength and an outstanding Spiritual Root, making him the most suitable target for Possession.

But how easy would it be to capture Hu Nan?

After a moment of hesitation, Manager Ma Yingjie still said, "Young Lord, Hu Nan has been diligently cultivating within the Heavenly Sword Sect lately. It will be very difficult for us to find an opportunity."

Li Hu's expression gradually darkened, a hint of unwillingness and gloom flashing in his eyes.

He was already determined to have Hu Nan as his Possession furnace, but Hu Nan remaining in the Heavenly Sword Sect and his significant strength had become the greatest obstacles.

At this moment, Qin Changsheng, far away in a secluded courtyard of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Outer Sect, heard everything within the Danxia Spirit Stone Mine's meeting room clearly through his Incarnation Wang Cheng.

Upon hearing Li Hu's intention to possess Hu Nan, an idea immediately formed in Qin Changsheng's mind.

Hu Nan was his External Incarnation; it was fundamentally impossible for Li Hu to succeed in possessing him.

Instead, he could even trick Li Hu out of his purple spirit grass.

Thinking of this, Qin Changsheng immediately issued an order to Wang Cheng.

Wang Cheng immediately stood up and said, "Young Lord, this subordinate has a plan that might be able to capture Hu Nan."

Li Hu snapped his eyes up, his gaze landing on Wang Cheng. "Oh? What plan do you have? Speak quickly!"

Wang Cheng spoke slowly with a calm tone, "This subordinate has learned through investigation that Hu Nan has recently been searching everywhere for Materials to refine his Lifebound Treasure. Although his movements are secretive, he is extremely thirsty for rare spiritual Materials."

"If we use purple spirit grass as bait, I am confident I can capture Hu Nan, allowing the Possession to be successfully completed."

Hearing Wang Cheng's words, Li Hu instantly fell silent.

That stalk of purple spirit grass was extremely precious, an important material for a Lifebound Treasure.

He had originally intended to keep it for himself to forge his own Lifebound Treasure.

Without the purple spirit grass, the power of his Lifebound Treasure would certainly drop by several levels.

Li Hu's gaze also fell upon Manager Ma Yingjie.

Manager Ma Yingjie's heart shivered as he met Li Hu's gaze and slowly raised his head.

He pondered for a moment before speaking, "If the Young Lord wishes to revive the Blood Demon Sect, why regret a single Spiritual Plant?"

These words were like a thunderclap, instantly waking Li Hu up.

He had endured for many years within the Heavenly Sword Sect precisely to revive the Blood Demon Sect.

And then lead the Blood Demon Sect to unify the entire Southern Region cultivation world.

If he could successfully possess Hu Nan...

With Hu Nan's talent and Hu Nan's Ancient Divine Ability...

His cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds.

In not many years, he would reach the Golden Core, or even the Nascent Soul Realm.

A moment later, the hesitation in Li Hu's eyes completely vanished, replaced by decisiveness and ruthlessness.

"Fine! This purple spirit grass is yours!" As the words fell, Li Hu no longer hesitated. He waved his hand, a flash of spiritual light appeared, and a carved jade box manifested out of thin air in his palm.

Wang Cheng carefully took the jade box and said, "Rest assured, Young Lord. After the Sword Imperial Pool opens, I will bring Hu Nan before you!"

Li Hu took a deep breath and waved his hand. There was no longer any hesitation on his face, only a piercing sharpness. "Good!"

...

Heavenly Sword Sect, Qingyun Tower.

Qin Changsheng controlled Hu Nan and arrived in front of the Qingyun Tower.

Qin Changsheng had Hu Nan come to the Qingyun Tower first to scout for major events of the year, especially the latest news regarding the Sword Villa grand gathering;

Second, to search for clues about the heavenly dao fragment and other Materials needed to refine his Lifebound Treasure to make up for his shortcomings;

Third, to find Li Hu and exchange some rare resources with him to prepare for the subsequent trip to Sword Villa.

When Hu Nan arrived at the fourth-floor private room, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators were already seated there.

Li Hu, Jiang Lijuan, Lin Hao, and others had all arrived.

Many people were comforting Lin Hao, telling him to cheer up.

However, Lin Hao's mood was not very high.

After all, the Lin family had lost two Golden Core Yao Beast Inner Cores last year.

Furthermore, they had been threatened by someone using Spirit Tablets.

"Senior Brother Hu, you've arrived late!" Li Hu approached Hu Nan with a beaming smile.

"I was delayed by some matters on the way!" Hu Nan quickly returned the greeting.

Looking at Li Hu's smile, Qin Changsheng was also somewhat startled.

One must know that just a few days ago, Li Hu was preparing to possess Hu Nan.

Yet now, he was chatting and laughing with Hu Nan.

A quarter of an hour later, Jiang Lijuan stood up and said, "Everyone, today is our annual Foundation Establishment Gathering!"

"The custom remains unchanged. Today, we shall not speak of personal grudges or Sect matters. We will only discuss our cultivation insights and the major events that have occurred in the cultivation world this year."

As the words fell, the room instantly became lively. The Cultivators spoke up one after another, exchanging insights and major news of the cultivation world.

Some spoke of Loose Cultivators causing trouble at the Southern Region border, who were suppressed by a joint effort from various major Sects;

Some mentioned the appearance of a certain Secret Realm, which drew many Cultivators to explore it;

Some spoke of their insights into practicing Spells.

Others mentioned the rising Geniuses of various Sects who were showing their talent with startling strength.

But as the discussions converged, the topic everyone talked about most and focused on was ultimately Sword Villa.

After all, the Sword Villa's Sword Imperial Pool was set to open this year.

Within the Sword Imperial Pool, there was also a Low Grade Earth-Grade Magical Artifact.

"The biggest event is likely the opening of the Sword Villa's Sword Imperial Pool!"

"This Sword Imperial Pool only opens once every hundred years!"

"I wonder who will obtain the Dragon Abyss Sword this time!"

"The name Dragon Abyss Sword is truly excellent!"

The crowd discussed fervently, some with yearning, some with regret, some with gravity. Their words were full of longing for the Dragon Abyss Sword and anticipation for the opening of the Sword Imperial Pool.

For a time, Sword Villa's Sword Imperial Pool and the Dragon Abyss Sword became the core topics of the entire gathering, and no one mentioned other trivial matters anymore.

Listening to the crowd's discussion, a hint of joy flashed in Qin Changsheng's eyes.

He now knew that the Earth-Grade Low Grade longsword was the Dragon Abyss Sword.

He only needed to go to Sword Villa and open the Heavenly Dao Trait Intelligence to know the specific location of the Dragon Abyss Sword.

Then he could easily seize the Dragon Abyss Sword.

And then seize the heavenly dao fragment.

"Senior Brother Lin, I heard your Lin family lost many treasures last year?"

"Are there any clues regarding that thief?" Li Hu suddenly asked.

As soon as these words came out, the gaze of the entire room instantly converged on Lin Hao.

They were also very curious about what kind of powerhouse could actually steal treasures from the hands of a Golden Core Cultivator.

Lin Hao's expression was very poor.

Ever since losing the Inner Cores last year, he had been pursuing clues.

However, after investigating for so long, there were still no clues at all.

Those few thieves seemed to have vanished into thin air.