127: Chapter 127 Xiong Sheng's life is all about acting!

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At the summit of Zixiao Peak.

Shi Jian lay by the Thunder Pool, listening to Elder Rat's vivid report.

"Old Ancestor, you should have seen it. Sun Mao and Zhao Yanshan were in the Spirit Medicine Hall, trading barbs and hidden jabs."

"Sun Mao's line about 'Hidden Edge' was truly firm!" Elder Rat said, beaming with excitement.

Shi Jian tossed a Spirit Fruit into his mouth, chewing it with a loud crunch.

"Sun Mao has improved."

Shi Jian spat out the seed: "He knows not to compete for temporary dominance with the Zhao Clan and instead focuses on collecting exotic beasts and Rare Treasures. This is the right path."

"That's because of your excellent guidance, Old Ancestor!" Elder Rat hurriedly flattered him.

"Enough, stop the flattery."

Shi Jian yawned, shaking the lightning arcs on his body: "I've left the Sun Clan hanging for long enough; it's time to give them a sweet reward."

"Go, call Sun Mao here."

"Understood."

Elder Rat responded and left to carry out the order.

Before long, Sun Mao hurried to the summit of Zixiao Peak to see the Old Ancestor.

As he entered the Immortal Cave, he respectfully performed a grand salute, then took out several Spirit Beast Bags and jade boxes from his waist.

"Old Ancestor, these are some small items the clan has gathered recently to honor you."

Sun Mao offered them respectfully with both hands.

Shi Jian swept his Divine Sense over them.

Inside several Spirit Beast Bags were three pure white Icefield Bear cubs emitting a cold aura, along with two Thunderfeather Eagles with thin Bloodlines.

The Icefield Bear was a very rare Yao Beast.

Only in special snowy plains and mountains would rare bear species mutate; these Icefield Bears would perfectly supplement the Frost-Snow Lineage.

In the jade boxes were several aged Blood Ginsengs and Lightning-Struck Wood Hearts.

The items weren't top-tier, but there was a wide variety, clearly gathered with great effort from various remote regions.

"You've been thoughtful."

Shi Jian raised a paw, placing the items beside him as he accepted the gift.

Sun Mao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, half the weight on his heart lifting.

"The Zhao Clan has been very prominent lately. Xiao Mao, what are your thoughts?" Shi Jian lay back on the stone platform, his tone casual.

But hearing this, Sun Mao felt differently; his heart tightened instantly, and he immediately lowered his head: "Peak Master Zhao is exceptionally capable and handled the Mushou Mountain matter for the Old Ancestor. He deserves to be rewarded."

"The Sun Clan is happy for the Old Ancestor. Beyond that, I dare not have any idle thoughts."

"Is that really what you think?"

Shi Jian's purple-gold thunder pupils stared at him. Sun Mao gritted his teeth and looked up directly at Shi Jian: "This Junior dares not deceive the Old Ancestor."

"In my heart, there is naturally resentment and anxiety."

"But I understand even better that the Old Ancestor needs people who can get things done. The Sun Clan currently cannot help with this matter, so we can only retreat to avoid disrupting the Old Ancestor's plans."

"Good."

"You've grown up and become more mature."

Shi Jian let out a low laugh: "To have this restraint shows you are a useful talent. I, the Old Ancestor, did not misjudge you."

Hearing this, Sun Mao was overjoyed but dared not show it.

"The Zhao Clan are external managers, doing the work of hosting guests and handling interests."

"But some dirty work and dark work must be done by our own people. The Sun Clan, after all, has a fated connection with me. I have never forgotten the various sentiments of the past."

"I still remember Bo'an, how he bustled about for me with household matters and finally met an unfortunate end. It was truly my misfortune..."

"I also remember your childhood, the time I carefully taught you, and the days you performed Alchemy for me..."

"At that time, the Sun Clan was very good."

"Everything was so peaceful..."

"I didn't expect that in just a short time, decades would pass. You've grown into a man; time waits for no one..."

"And Wanqing, Ke Zheng, and the others..."

"Old friends have all departed. The seasons turn, and I know not where the moonlight of those years is, nor what year it is tonight..."

Shi Jian spoke, revealing the events of all these years bit by bit, his tone full of emotion and reminiscence...

Speaking with such deep feeling, even Sun Mao's eyes couldn't help but redden:

"Please give your orders, Old Ancestor! The Sun Clan will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Shi Jian stated his position, and Sun Mao responded; everything was perfect.

This heart-to-heart session calmed Sun Mao's wavering heart once again. For the Sun Clan, as long as they knew the Old Ancestor's heart was still with them...

...then nothing else mattered!

Inside the Zixiao Peak Immortal Cave, lightning flickered, illuminating Sun Mao's resolute face.

Shi Jian opened his large mouth and spat out a blood-red Jade Slip. The Jade Slip spun in mid-air, emitting a faint aura of blood fiend.

"This is..." Sun Mao felt a shock in his heart upon sensing that aura.

"This is an item from the Demonic Path's Blood Fiend Sect."

"Inside this Jade Slip are recorded the remnants of the Blood Fiend Sect."

Shi Jian said calmly: "When the Blood Fiend Sect was destroyed, the Illusion Demon Sect took over their territory, but in this world, a hundred-legged centipede dies but never falls down."

"The Blood Fiend Sect had planted several hidden lines in the heart of the Wei State years ago."

Sun Mao took the Jade Slip with both hands and sent his Divine Sense inside; his expression changed slightly.

The Jade Slip recorded three secret contact points, seven code names, and a set of extremely complex secret signals.

If used properly, this force was definitely a blade that could kill without drawing blood.

"What is the Old Ancestor's intention?"

"Go and contact them."

"But do not reveal your true identity, and certainly do not reveal me."

"Use the identity of a Loose Cultivator or simply fabricate a title as a remnant of the Demonic Path to contact and negotiate with them..."

Sun Mao quickly calmed down, his mind racing with calculations.

"What does the Old Ancestor need them to do?"

"Two things."

"First, collect resources."

"Have them search extensively at the border of the Wei State and Jin State for various Yao Beast flesh and exotic living specimens, focusing on the bear, rat, and dog genus."

Shi Jian glanced at Elder Rat hiding in the corner: "The necessary Spirit Stones and resources will come from me; you will be responsible for the transfer."

"Or deduct it directly from the monthly stipend the temple provides me."

Sun Mao nodded and took note.

"The second thing: go to Fenghe County."

"Old Monster Mu of the Fenghe Sect has gone to the North Sea Frontline. Now Fenghe County is empty, with only a half-crippled Yan Qiu presiding."

Shi Jian gave a cold laugh: "I want them to pay back several times over for how they treated White Cloud Temple back then."

"Let those hidden lines infiltrate Fenghe County."

"Intercept and kill Loose Cultivators, ambush Fenghe Sect Disciples out for training, burn their Spirit Medicine Gardens, and destroy their marketplaces."

"I want Fenghe County to have no peace!"

"Due to the Upper Sect's rules, we cannot touch that old dog Yan Qiu, but that doesn't stop us from striking from the shadows to prune his branches and limbs."

Shi Jian's voice echoed in the Immortal Cave like muffled thunder.

Sun Mao took a deep breath, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. When the Sun Clan was nearly exterminated in Hongtian City, the Fenghe Sect was behind it.

He had always kept this blood debt in his heart; how could he not want revenge!

"Mao accepts the order!"

"I will handle this personally and ensure not a single word leaks out."

After showing his loyalty, Shi Jian waved a paw, signaling Sun Mao to withdraw.

As soon as Sun Mao left, Elder Rat approached.

"Old Ancestor, by giving the Blood Fiend Sect's hidden lines to the Sun Clan, aren't you afraid they'll become too powerful to control?"

"If a blade isn't sharpened, how will you know if it's sharp?"

"Sun Mao is a smart man. He knows this force is lent to him by me. To him, I still have ties with the Sun Clan."

"On this point, he has no reason to turn against me."

"As for the entire Sun Clan, they wouldn't dare harbor any disloyalty."

"Furthermore, these hidden lines cannot see the light; they can only act in the shadows. This perfectly complements the Zhao Clan's prominence in the light."

"One in the light, one in the dark, balancing each other—this serves our interests."

"Let these two families slowly compete and struggle."

"The days ahead are long; there's plenty of time to find a balance."

As Shi Jian finished speaking, silence returned to the Immortal Cave, with only the occasional rumble of thunder becoming deeper and more profound...

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