140: Strategizing

Another day passed. Only one day remained until the West Lake Festival and the time Situ Ming and the others had agreed to take action!

At the zi hour, Qin Feng once again received critical intelligence:

[Ding! The zi hour has arrived! Daily intelligence has been refreshed!]

[Today's Intelligence:]

[Green Intelligence: Situ Ming has obtained a rare poison called 'emperor extermination powder' through Yin Demon Sect channels. It is colorless and odorless, soluble in wine, and can cause even Martial Emperor experts to temporarily lose their cultivation and leave their limbs limp. He plans to invite City Lord to a banquet before tomorrow's festival under the guise of discussing festival security, and poison the wine.]

[White Intelligence: After receiving the urgent report, the Phoenix Soaring Pavilion and the Imperial Court have reacted. They have urgently mobilized six long-renowned Martial King experts who are traveling day and night. They are expected to arrive at West Lake City before noon tomorrow.]

[Yellow Intelligence: The leader of the 'Purple Robe Bandits' and the Yin Demon Sect Special Envoy are currently hiding in a secret underground room at the Cao Gang headquarters, confirming final action details and power allocation with the Cao Gang Sect Leader Li Kui.]

These three pieces of intelligence were each more critical than the last! Especially the first one, which revealed Situ Ming's most insidious killing move! If not for knowing in advance, City Lord would likely fall for it tomorrow. At that time, the city's only Mid-stage Martial Emperor combat power capable of directly confronting Situ Ming would instantly collapse, with unimaginable consequences!

Qin Feng did not dare to delay and immediately informed Su Yuetang of this latest intelligence. She then urgently contacted City Lord... That afternoon, inside the core secret room of the City Lord's Mansion.

The atmosphere was heavy and solemn. Around the oval long table sat the highest combat power West Lake City could assemble at this moment.

The main seat was naturally occupied by City Lord (Mid-stage Martial Emperor), and beside him sat the sage-like Celestial Master Zhang Daoling (Early Stage Martial Emperor).

On the left sat, in order:

Representatives of the reinforcements from the Imperial Court and Phoenix Soaring Pavilion: a middle-aged general (Late Stage Martial King) with a steady aura and eagle-like eyes, along with five other equally extraordinary Martial King experts. They were travel-worn but had sharp eyes, clearly battle-hardened elites.

Su Xiaoxiao of the Wonderful Sound Workshop (although she hadn't revealed her full cultivation, her aura was no weaker than any Martial King).

Su Yuetang, Branch Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and Leader of the Flower Sea Alliance (Mid-stage Martial King).

Zhao Mang, Deputy Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion (Early Stage Martial King, his injuries mostly healed).

Jin Wanguan, President of the Four Seas Merchant Guild (Peak Grand Martial Master, but standing behind him were two Guest Elders heavily recruited by the guild, both Early Stage Martial Kings).

On the right were:

Qin Feng (Early Stage Martial King) and Ji Ruxue (Peak Grand Martial Master) standing quietly in the shadows behind him.

In addition, there were two Martial King commanders from the City Lord's Mansion loyal to City Lord, two Martial King Disciples who came with Zhang Daoling from the Celestial Masters Mansion, and representatives from various factions loyal to the City Lord's Mansion.

Roughly calculated, this secret room now gathered two Martial Emperors and over twenty Martial Kings! This was almost all the top-tier power West Lake City could mobilize without alerting Situ Ming!

City Lord's gaze swept across the room, his majestic voice breaking the silence: "Everyone, the situation is urgent, so let's skip the pleasantries. The traitor Situ Ming has colluded with the Yin Demon Sect, the Wokou, and the Cao Gang, intending to strike from both inside and out to overthrow our West Lake City on the night of tomorrow's West Lake Festival! His crime deserves the execution of his entire clan!"

He paused and continued: "According to the latest intelligence provided by young friend Qin Feng, Situ Ming will invite me to a banquet tomorrow under the guise of discussion and put the rare 'emperor extermination powder' in the wine, intending to first incapacitate me."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone except the few who already knew was shocked, followed by looks of anger.

"What a vicious scheme!" the general from the Imperial Court reinforcements said in a deep voice.

City Lord raised his hand to suppress the discussion, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "We will beat him at his own game! I will attend tomorrow's banquet on time!"

"City Lord!" Su Yuetang couldn't help but speak out, her face showing worry.

City Lord nodded slightly to her, indicating it was fine, and continued to deploy: "Celestial Master Zhang will conceal his aura and go with me to provide secret support. If Situ Ming doesn't use the poison, so be it, but if he really dares to act, that will be the moment his guilt is proven! At that time, Celestial Master Zhang and I will immediately strike and take him down! To catch the bandits, first catch the leader!"

He looked at Su Xiaoxiao, Su Yuetang, Jin Wanguan, and the Imperial reinforcement general: "At the same time, after the six Martial King reinforcements from the Imperial Court arrive at noon tomorrow, they will immediately join forces with the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, the Wonderful Sound Workshop, the Four Seas Merchant Guild, and part of my City Lord's Mansion's power. Miss Su Xiaoxiao will coordinate them to besiege the Cao Gang headquarters with thunderous force! We must wipe out the Yin Demon Sect Special Envoy, the Purple Robe Bandits leader, and Li Kui inside! Eradicate the largest internal spies and hidden dangers in the city!"

"Yes!" Su Xiaoxiao, Su Yuetang, and the others responded in unison, their Battle Intent surging.

City Lord then looked at Qin Feng, Deputy Master Zhao Mang, and the two commanders of the City Lord's Mansion: "Young friend Qin Feng, Deputy Master Zhao Mang, Commander Wang, and Commander Li, the four of you will lead the remaining Martial Kings and Grand Martial Master elites to clear out other known rebel strongholds in the city and deal with the Wokou vanguard that might sneak in through the Water Gate! You must stabilize the situation in the city and not let them create widespread chaos!"

"Understood!" Qin Feng and the others cupped their hands and accepted the order.

Finally, City Lord looked into the distance, his tone chilling: "As for the main Wokou force outside the city... after we clear the inside and solidify our defenses, we will fight them to the death! We'll make sure they never return!"

The plan was clear, and the division of labor was explicit. Two Martial Emperors to deal with the enemy's Martial Emperor Situ Ming and his core subordinates; twenty Martial Kings divided into two groups, one to strike directly at the heart of the Cao Gang's nest, and the other to clear other threats in the city and defend against early infiltration; finally, concentrating power to deal with the main Wokou force outside the city.

"Everyone," City Lord stood up and raised his teacup, "this battle concerns the survival of West Lake City, the safety of hundreds of thousands of people, and even more, the dignity of the Imperial Court and the rise and fall of the Righteous Path! I hope everyone will work together to eliminate the national traitors!"

"Work together to eliminate the national traitors!" everyone shouted in low voices, drinking the tea as if it were wine!

The meeting ended, and everyone left to carry out final preparations.

Before leaving, Qin Feng specifically walked up to City Lord and reminded him in a low voice: "City Lord, tomorrow's banquet is extremely dangerous. That 'emperor extermination powder'..."

City Lord patted Qin Feng's shoulder, a look of pride and confidence on his face: "Don't worry, young friend. Since I already know his scheme, how could I not be prepared? The Celestial Masters Mansion's holy detoxification medicine, the 'Clear Spirit Pill,' is already prepared, and Celestial Master Zhang is also proficient in detoxification. Situ Ming thinking he can plot against me with mere poison is wishful thinking! This time, I will make him suffer the consequences of his own actions!"

Seeing City Lord's confident look, Qin Feng felt a bit more at ease and cupped his hands: "In that case, Junior wishes the City Lord a victorious start tomorrow!"

As night fell, the surface of West Lake City remained peaceful and busy before the festival, but beneath this peace, dark undercurrents were surging wildly, waiting for tomorrow to break out with earth-shattering force.