Su Yu's Plans

Sending Wuyue and the others ahead to secure a spot, Su Yu and Wan Tiansheng once again stepped out from their hiding place. They were in the inner reaches of Mount Chaos. The chaotic aura here was even heavier. Su Yu opened his Heavenly Gate and observed the chaotic power, sensing clearly that this area resembled the era of world creation—vital energy was exceedingly scarce, replaced almost entirely by the chaotic aura. "Sever the Dao power!" Su Yu instructed. Both he and Wan Tiansheng severed their connection to the Great Dao. Knowing that the enemy could detect such traces, failing to sever it would easily expose them. Wan Tiansheng looked grave as he sent a voice transmission. "Are we truly going to strike? We came to the Upper Realm hoping the myriad races and Mount Chaos would tear into each other, not to act as the vanguard ourselves." "Governor... tell me, if you knew for certain there was a third party lurking, would you fight your enemy to the death?" Wan Tiansheng sighed inwardly. True enough. If they wanted the myriad races and Mount Chaos to clash to the death, both sides would first need to get a clear measure of Su Yu's strength. Narrowing his eyes, Su Yu transmitted, "Governor, I'm actually ready... to let Tiangu and the others ascend!" "Hm?" Su Yu explained, "Tiangu and the rest know us. Right now, we appear far too mysterious, which isn't necessarily a good thing. But Tiangu understands us... and knowing what he knows, how strong do you think he and his peers believe we are?" Wan Tiansheng's heart stirred. "You mean... appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak... to baffle the myriad races!" Su Yu nodded. "Not just the myriad races—we must also let Mount Chaos believe we aren't actually that formidable! That our strength is merely a facade!" He smiled faintly. "Because we are so mysterious right now, both Mount Chaos and the myriad races fear us. But we can conceal part of our strength—like Qi Rong, like you, Governor, or King Daqin and King Daxia..." Some people were difficult to hide, such as Lan Tian or King Dazhou. Fat Ball was another—Tiangu and the rest were well aware of its existence. Even so, certain figures could still be tucked away in the shadows. Wan Tiansheng grew pensive. "So you intend to attack the Lower Realm?" "No rush for now!" Su Yu smiled. "We have to wait! Wait until we have gathered at least fifty Council Tokens! Once we have fifty, we can mobilize a portion of the rules' power to briefly open the passage to the Lower Realm, lure and slaughter a batch of enemies, and then seal it right back up! But of course, not yet!" Su Yu had his own plans. Cultivating an air of mystery was advantageous, as enemies couldn't fathom your depth. Yet if you appeared too formidable, both sides would become wary. Under such wariness, no fool would fight to the death. Taking a deep breath, Su Yu transmitted, "Governor, stay on guard against everyone, even our own people! I'll find a way for you to fake your death and slip into the shadows! My faction is growing increasingly complex... I haven't reached that level of absolute dominance myself yet. As time drags on, hearts change, and complications easily arise!" Previously, he needed to feign strength. Now, Su Yu wanted to feign weakness, because too many of his trump cards had already been laid bare! That included Qi Rong; Su Yu needed to conceal her. At present, aside from Lan Tian, Marquis Juzhu, and a few others, no one knew Su Yu had another Heavenly King on his side. Su Yu already felt a faint unease. The more he exposed and the more moves he made, the sooner his presence in the Upper Realm would cease to be a secret. Everyone would know how dangerous he was. If they killed him, the human faction might very well collapse. "Then as for the Space and Iron Eater races... we still need to weigh them carefully." "I know!" Wan Tiansheng said no more on the topic. Glancing at Su Yu again, he suddenly asked, "You have other plans, don't you?" "Yes." Su Yu nodded, and Wan Tiansheng refrained from pressing. Su Yu, however, took the initiative to transmit, "I need to find time to return to the Lower Realm and find a way to resurrect a few people! The Southern King and the others are dead spirits right now. If they can be revived... they will be true Heavenly Kings! Once dead spirits are resurrected, I believe their strength will improve somewhat. After all, dead spirits suffer from suppression!" Wan Tiansheng inhaled sharply. Su Yu wanted to resurrect dead spirits? Was that even possible? "Resurrection comes down to a few core elements: the Dao of Life, suppressing Dao turbulence, and severing Daos... Qi Rong should be adept at stripping away Daos. If Liu Hong makes further progress, he might be able to halt the erosion of the Dead Spirit Dao. Then we pass through the junction of life and death, finding life in death!" "I will devote more study to the Dao of Living Beings from here on!" "Back then, when King Wen sought to resurrect Xingyue, he needed the four Daos of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Yet King Wen never mastered the Dao of Paper. I have already begun to grasp how the Dao of Paper is used—capturing the true spirit and, much like Lan Tian, crafting a living body for a dead spirit..." Su Yu spoke at length, and Wan Tiansheng listened in silence. He knew Su Yu was doing this to gain more leverage. Though young, this young man lacked nothing in methods. With more and more old-timers gathering under his banner, Su Yu was worried about things spiraling out of control. Su Yu spoke candidly, continuing via voice transmission: "I'm worried these old fellows harbor divided loyalties. The truly dependable ones are the humans from our current tide! They are almost entirely detached from the ancient humans! Therefore, I will look for time and opportunities to push King Dahan and the others into Dao Integration... Governor, one more thing... if danger strikes, let the old fellows take the brunt!" Wan Tiansheng's pupils contracted slightly. Su Yu didn't look at him, keeping his eyes on their surroundings, his expression unchanged as he transmitted, "These people owe me! Are they supposed to hide in their shells when war comes? When there's danger, let them go first! If they die, my heart won't bleed. But if you and our people die, Governor, it would break my heart!" Wan Tiansheng couldn't help a wry chuckle before replying, "Fine, understood!" "Just keep it in mind. If everything truly falls apart and they die, we'll start over. I'll find a way to carve out a sanctuary of the living in the dead spirit realm! If push comes to shove, we fall back to the dead spirit realm!" Wan Tiansheng was secretly startled. "Are you... in despair?" Su Yu remained completely calm. "Not despair—just lacking a bit of hope. I am certain the Chaos race possesses beings at the Ruler of Rules level. As for Marquis Jiantian's situation, those fellows might not be ignorant of it; they probably know. Once they find out and kill Marquis Jiantian... the myriad races could gain numerous Rulers of Rules! Not just the myriad races, but the Chaos race as well. There are likely plenty of Heavenly Kings among them, all with a shot at becoming Rulers of Rules!" "Do you expect us to erase a hundred thousand years of accumulation in just a few years?" Su Yu saw little hope because the Upper Realm was far stronger than he had anticipated. The minds of those ancient fossils were difficult to divine. Letting them become Rulers of Rules might not align with Su Yu's wishes. They had lived for countless ages; would a few threatening words truly make them bow their heads and submit? The only ones truly worthy of trust were those who had supported him from the beginning, not because of his overwhelming strength—people like Hongmeng, who had stood by him from the very start. For this operation, Su Yu had another objective: help all the guardians step into Dao Integration. Fight a battle, let the myriad races realize how powerful the Chaos race was, or simply let a few enemies escape on purpose. He had brought four Dao Integration experts to the Upper Realm this time: Marquis Tianlong, the Phoenix Emperor, the Ape Emperor, and the Kunpeng. Perhaps these four could be put to use. Thoughts flashed rapidly through Su Yu's mind. These few might be even more suitable than Tiangu and his peers. After all, they were members of the myriad races, and Marquis Tianlong had been in the Upper Realm all along. Perhaps he could be utilized, provided the Iron Eater and Space Ancient Beast races were willing to pull back alongside Su Yu. Otherwise, those races would be exposed. It would depend on their choice! Beside him, Wan Tiansheng wondered why Su Yu, who had been brimming with confidence earlier, had suddenly turned so somber. He couldn't help glancing at him several times, transmitting, "Why the sudden gloom?" Su Yu fell silent for a moment before replying, "Because of Baizhan!" "..." Wan Tiansheng was genuinely taken aback. "What do you mean?" "Baizhan... Governor, do you truly believe he was just a reckless brute, reckless to the point of madness?" Wan Tiansheng frowned. "Are you saying... there's something wrong with Baizhan?" *Surely not!* Su Yu transmitted, "Baizhan was the expert closest to the Human Sovereign across countless eras! A single Yueluo not only ruined him, but ruined all the old-timers of the human race as well... Yet back in the third tide, figures like Yue Gang and Qi Rong were hardly weak, were they? Even so, the old-timers played them like fools, even forcing Yue Gang to execute Qi Rong with his own hands! In the end, Yue Gang couldn't even avenge her!" "What is truly going on with the Archaic Giant race? Why did Baizhan leave offspring among them, and what are Lei Bao and his people really thinking? Marquis Yunshui and the others submitted to me with such ease... Don't you find these old fossils a little too obedient?" Wan Tiansheng transmitted, "Their obedience stems from our strength and our vast array of methods. Besides, Baizhan got an awful lot of people killed." "I know," Su Yu nodded. "Yet I can't shake this unease. I feel that Baizhan pursuing Yueluo and vanishing without a trace might not be what it seems! Governor, no matter how reckless a man is, he would still know one basic truth: Mount Chaos is enemy territory, extremely dangerous! If he failed to catch Yueluo, what would you or I do in his position right now?" "Slaughter other enemies indiscriminately, or seek out human experts to gather our forces..." As Wan Tiansheng spoke, he paused slightly, turning toward Su Yu. Su Yu nodded. "Did he do any of that? He did nothing! He didn't even bother to check if there were any humans left alive in the Upper Realm! He was reckless enough to charge headlong into the depths of Mount Chaos after Yueluo—so reckless that everyone concluded Baizhan was of no concern! Even after he broke his seal, the myriad races didn't pay him much mind, because the impression he gave them... was that of a brainless brute, a man blinded by lust!" Su Yu continued, "Seeing that, I can't help but grow suspicious!" "Suspicious of what?" Wan Tiansheng gave him a strange look. Su Yu licked his lips. "Suspicious of whether Baizhan knew about the Chaos lineage all along! He might have known just how powerful they were, that he had no hope of matching them. Even if he defeated the myriad races, he couldn't overcome the Chaos race! And so, at the very peak of his power, Baizhan chose to let go... chose to be sealed, chose to let a vast number of ancient human fossils perish in battle, and chose endurance!" A chill ran through Wan Tiansheng's heart! Shivering, he whispered, "Are you saying Baizhan... and Yueluo were putting on a show together? That Yueluo... might be his person?" At that moment, Wan Tiansheng felt cold all over. "What... made you think of this?" When had such a thought taken root in Su Yu's mind? Su Yu sighed and transmitted, "When I saw Qi Rong, thoughts began to form, because according to her, not a single one of the Upper Realm's ancient fossils was a fool! Baizhan doted on Yueluo and kept her by his side at all times—did none of the old-timers know? Yet not one of them stopped him!" "Furthermore, Marquis Zhennan was ready to detonate himself for Baizhan without a second thought. Could a mere reckless brute inspire such decisive loyalty?" "King Dazhou said Baizhan was deeply affectionate and gifted beyond imagination!" "Ancient fossils launched suicidal assaults against the myriad races to clear a path for him—did they sacrifice themselves just for a brainless brute? Were Yue Gang and his peers truly weak? Why did nobody pave the way for Yue Gang? The third tide was far more desperate for humanity, whereas the ninth tide was exceptionally strong. To launch suicidal attacks at the height of their power just to make way for Baizhan—what were they thinking? Had they all grown tired of living? Unless... that Human Master commanded supreme loyalty and devotion!" "Marquis Dingjun and the others still revere Baizhan six thousand years later..." Su Yu took a deep breath. "Until today, until just now, when Jianghai said he served under King Dou, a question crossed my mind..." "What question?" Su Yu smiled. "If I spoke ill of King Gong in front of Hetu, what would Hetu do?" "He'd be furious, enraged, and fight you with his life!" "And if I spoke ill of King Wu in front of Marquis Lanshan?" "Awkward, resentful, unhappy..." "And if I spoke ill of King Yue in front of Marquis Huoyun?" "You saw it earlier. When you held him back, he was ready to risk his life against you..." Wan Tiansheng's eyes flickered. "You mean... Jianghai's reaction was too calm?" Su Yu nodded. "Yes. When we spoke of Baizhan, even mocked and ridiculed him... as a marquis under King Dou, he didn't react in the slightest, as if we were discussing a total stranger! How do you think Hongmeng would react if we said King Gong's descendants were useless trash right to his face?" "He would be displeased!" Wan Tiansheng said grimly. "He would definitely be furious. Hongmeng would even abandon his alliance with you for Hetu's sake—we both knew that before this!" Su Yu nodded. "So that means either Jianghai is heartless and indifferent, or... that man, having slumbered for countless years, perhaps... knows about Baizhan!" Su Yu murmured in a chilling tone, "He might know who Baizhan is, and he might even know everything that happened, yet he feigned total ignorance!" His voice turned cold. "Yet he was asleep for so many years—how could he know about Baizhan? When Heavenly Venerable Yue told him Baizhan was defeated, he should have asked what kind of person Baizhan was, why he was defeated, or even defended Baizhan a little... Even King Dazhou spoke up in his defense, yet Jianghai didn't utter a single word. I even deliberately pointed out that he served under King Dou, yet he still said nothing." Wan Tiansheng hesitated. "Perhaps he slept for too long, and being unfamiliar with Baizhan—who is merely King Dou's descendant—he simply didn't care much..." "It's different! Governor, let me ask you: years from now, if I have descendants, and one day someone mocks my descendant without restraint right to your face, even if you've never met that child, wouldn't you say a few words in their defense, or even punish the ones badmouthing them?" Wan Tiansheng went silent for a moment before nodding. "I would. Blood comes before reason. Our own children are ours to discipline; if outsiders hit or scold them, it rubs me the wrong way!" Su Yu chuckled. "Governor, you've changed! You used to favor reason over kinship. You'd better not say that out loud, or those descendants of Eternities you killed back then died for nothing." Wan Tiansheng shook his head. "It's different. Transgressions can be punished; one wouldn't turn a blind eye. But when protection is due, you protect them. You wouldn't condemn them outright without even asking—that's executing without instruction!" At that point, Wan Tiansheng took a deep breath. "Jianghai's reaction truly was off. I didn't pay it much mind before, but now that you mention it, ideas are forming! We both saw Marquis Huoyun weeping bitterly and writhing in agony when he saw King Yue's corpse... That wasn't an act! Later, look at Marquis Nanxi—have King Daming reveal his identity, and see how Nanxi behaves toward King Ming's descendant. That will tell you everything!" His mood grew heavy. He truly hadn't considered any of this. Yet based on Su Yu's conjectures and deductions, Baizhan's crushing defeat in the previous tide might indeed hold secrets. It might align with Su Yu's earlier line of thought. A devastating defeat, followed by withered strength! That way, once the Chaos lineage was exposed and there was no third party, the Chaos lineage and the myriad races would inevitably fight to the death. If Su Yu hadn't appeared, a massive war would likely have erupted between the two sides the moment the Lower Realm opened! And at that juncture, with no third party meddling, if Baizhan truly was in league with Yueluo... and perhaps even aligned with several ancient fossils, then in an instant, Baizhan could pull together a formidable force! Was that how it was? Wan Tiansheng couldn't be certain! Su Yu wasn't certain either. Because in their minds, the Hundred Battles King had always been a brute—an utter and absolute fool. At that moment, Wan Tiansheng suddenly thought of someone and said softly, "Say a lie often enough, and it becomes the truth! Su Yu, do you remember Zhu Tianfang?" Su Yu's eyes flickered, and he nodded. "When everyone said King Daming's eldest son had died long ago, constantly joking that Zhu Tiandao couldn't hold a candle to Zhu Tianfang, over time, everyone took it as fact. Who would question it? Before Zhu Tianfang appeared, everyone said he was dead. Yet... he lived on in everyone's words, and he never actually died!" "Public clamor can melt metal!" Wan Tiansheng murmured. "When everyone says Baizhan was a reckless brute blinded by lust, people like us naturally form the impression that Baizhan... was a piece of trash! The only one who truly defended Baizhan was King Dazhou! King Dazhou was the only one who repeatedly insisted Baizhan wasn't useless, that he was merely unlucky in the final battle. Defending him might not have come from malicious intent! Regardless, Baizhan was a Human Master of a generation!" And a Human Master chosen by the ancient fossils themselves! By this point, many pieces fell into place for Wan Tiansheng. "Repeatedly humiliating Baizhan is, in essence, humiliating the ancient fossils who chose to put him in power! Would they willingly humiliate themselves?" He let out a breath. "I didn't think about it before because I was swayed by everyone's talk. But looking back now... the ones mocking Baizhan seem to be those very same people, just as they were the ones who praised him back then! Does that not repudiate everything they did in the ninth tide?" Su Yu said nothing. Wan Tiansheng felt a bitter taste in his mouth. "It's often said the human race is the most cunning among the myriad races, and the saying holds true! Su Yu, we... might merely be pawns on someone else's board, pawns that leapt out unexpectedly!" Su Yu's expression remained steady as he nodded. "Perhaps! But I'm not certain yet. If we want to confirm all this... it's actually simple!" Licking his lips, Su Yu smiled coldly. "I'll have the Iron Eater race spread word across the entire Upper Realm, calling for Baizhan to return and aid the battle, urging him to join the attack on the Chaos lineage. We can even get Heavenly Venerable Yue and the others to issue promises. If Baizhan truly wants revenge... he will definitely show up! If he still doesn't appear and continues tangling with Yueluo... it proves Baizhan has no desire to wade into these murky waters! His struggle with Yueluo would be nothing more than a farce..." Su Yu let out a sinister chuckle. "He has tremendous guts and immense daring! If everything was calculated... he was certain the myriad races wouldn't kill him, or rather couldn't kill him—or perhaps that seal of his was entirely fake! Yueluo's seal might be something he can lift at any moment! Baizhan was confident he wouldn't die, and perhaps... he deliberately sealed the Physical Body Dao to prevent humans from advancing. On one hand, keeping humanity weak ensured they wouldn't draw attention; on the other hand, once he reappears and unseals the Dao, helping others break through to Dao Integration... Governor, tell me, will people thank him, or hate him?" Wan Tiansheng considered it. "A savior arrives to make everyone stronger. Even if things went awry in the previous tide, that belongs to the past and has nothing to do with this tide. We hold no deep affection for the ancient era anyway..." "Exactly!" Su Yu smiled. "Nothing is certain for now! A single Jianghai might not prove much, but it pays to be a little more watchful! Back then, even with over a hundred Dao Integration experts, Baizhan felt there was no hope of defeating the Chaos lineage and chose to take a desperate gamble... That means the Chaos lineage might be even more formidable than we imagined!" This was merely a deduction. If it proved true, Baizhan was a terrifying figure—a true warlord! Unwilling to fight the myriad races to the death only for the Chaos lineage to reap the spoils, he preferred to let the myriad races believe they had won, allowing them to expand and produce a massive crop of experts capable of contending with Mount Chaos... He wanted both sides to believe there was no third party, so they would fight to the bitter end, after which Baizhan would step in to clean up the mess! Su Yu's emergence, on the other hand, had disrupted some of his plans. Otherwise, even if Baizhan had defeated the myriad races back then, he would have suffered grievous losses, leaving him completely unable to match the Chaos lineage. And had he fought the myriad races to mutual destruction, it would have equally benefited the Chaos lineage. Instead, by getting himself sealed and letting the humans suffer a crushing defeat, the myriad races preserved enough power to deter the Chaos lineage from making any reckless moves. Thinking it over carefully, Su Yu realized that at the time, that might have been the best available option. Back then, even if Baizhan had spoken of this lineage, no one would have believed him, for they left no traces behind. The reason people readily believed in the Chaos lineage now was precisely because Yueluo had sealed Baizhan, making everyone realize this faction was formidable! Even Baizhan had fallen into her hands! Over the years, the myriad races had harbored suspicions of their own. After all, Yueluo had appeared out of nowhere, not without cause. Six thousand years ago, because of Yueluo, the myriad races had come to believe other powerhouses were lurking in the dark! ... Su Yu and Wan Tiansheng fell silent, saying no more. All of this stemmed from Jianghai's lack of concern; perhaps he had simply slept for too long and overlooked a few details. If Jianghai had reacted fiercely, Su Yu might not have thought this far ahead. Of course, it was also tied to Qi Rong's appearance. Only through her did Su Yu realize how absolute the ancient fossils' grip on humanity had been in the past—even the Human Master was merely a puppet, and Yue Gang had been forced to kill his own dao companion! Yet by the time Su Yu took charge, the ancient fossils' influence seemed to have evaporated entirely! They were killed or stripped of power at will! "Things are getting more and more interesting!" Walking forward, Su Yu suddenly chuckled. "Governor, I'm actually looking forward to it!" "Looking forward to what?" "Looking forward to Baizhan truly being as I suspect. Only then would he live up to the title of the Ninth Human Master, and only then would he fit the mold of a peerless genius! The most brilliant and powerful figure in a hundred thousand years! Otherwise, up until now, Baizhan was nothing more than a clown in my eyes!" Su Yu smiled. "Everyone says the ninth tide was the final contest! That the Human Master of the ninth tide was the strongest Human Master! That the ninth tide was the peak of both humanity and the myriad races! Yet that clash of peaks seemed rather lackluster!" Nine was the ultimate number! The ninth tide carried special significance, and an exceptional monster like Baizhan had been born in that very era! Yet the ending had been an anticlimax. Baizhan was defeated in haste, a loss so abrupt it left everyone baffled, only for them to discover he had fallen to a woman named Yueluo. Naturally, everyone thought Baizhan was utterly useless! Wan Tiansheng smiled. "It really wasn't very spectacular. Nine is the ultimate... Baizhan must possess extraordinary qualities! Looking back now, certain things become obvious. The Archaic Giant race chose to seal their realm even while knowing full well how strong we are. Su Yu, you're considered an exceptional hero—has any foreign race offered to betroth their female experts to you? Did the Archaic Giant race ever offer to marry their princess to you? Did Yuanyue of the Iron Eater race give you a second look?" Su Yu chuckled wryly. "Governor, I have no interest in marrying outside my race." "Whether you're willing is one thing; the point is, did anyone offer? Did anyone even bring it up?" Wan Tiansheng sighed with emotion. "Yet Baizhan left behind offspring! And the Archaic Giant race continued to protect his descendants six thousand years after his defeat, without sparing you, Su Yu, so much as a glance... What kind of figure could make a race possessing a Celestial Venerable remain so devoted to him?" He smiled. "Even the Iron Eater race hasn't reached that level of loyalty with you! Believe it or not, if you were defeated, the Iron Eater race would dust off their hands and walk away in no time. As for any children you might have with them, they would either hide them completely or hand them over willingly to avoid extermination!" Su Yu gave a helpless smile. "That's entirely possible!" "Exactly. So... some of your thoughts might be right on the mark. It's us who were blinded by victory, failing to think through all this." Wan Tiansheng sighed again. "A string of uninterrupted victories, paired with subtle hints from others, made us believe we were humanity's sole saviors. The reality might not be so simple!" The two exchanged a look, and after a long silence, both felt a chill of mutual apprehension. In the myriad realms, it was hard to say who was playing whom. You might think everything was under your control, but the truth... was not necessarily so! At this point, Wan Tiansheng agreed with Su Yu's approach and spoke up: "Let's scout ahead first. If the opportunity arises, let's suffer a crushing defeat... let a few experts perish to see how everyone reacts! No one can remain undefeated their entire life! Since you had King Dazhou fabricate illusions... let's turn the act into reality. Lan Tian and I... could both fall in battle!" Looking at Su Yu, he smiled faintly. "You can't guarantee you'll never lose a battle either. While it hasn't come down to a life-and-death struggle yet, let's lose once and see. A defeat will help everyone cool their heads and see things more clearly! When that time comes, we'll see who stands with us and who belongs to someone else!" Su Yu nodded and grinned. "Even if I lose, real or fake, I will fall at the very peak! Let's first see how many experts they have. Even if we lose... we'll drag down a few of theirs with us!" The two exchanged another look and laughed. Regardless of whether their suspicions were correct, testing it wouldn't cost them anything. As for those who chose to leave, flee, or give up after a defeat... they were wavering from the start, so there was no need to dwell on them. ... Before long, the two arrived near the mountain Wan Tiansheng had discovered earlier. A divine light flared in Su Yu's eyes, sweeping across the area before he quickly closed them. Su Yu's heart jolted, and he transmitted, "There are people! I didn't dare look too long—there's a Celestial Venerable present, and the pillar of Dao light is immense!" He hadn't dared linger, even though his strength was far greater than before. There were indeed people, and many of them. ... At the same moment. Deep within the distant mountain. Yue Hao frowned slightly. Suddenly, two pitch-black gates manifested in his eyes—not Heavenly Gates, but portals resembling the gates of hell. He peered outward, sweeping his gaze across the surroundings. ... At that moment, a chill gripped Su Yu's heart. *A detection technique!* He had truly met a formidable opponent this time. His Star Boundary Seal rippled faintly, suppressing every ripple of vital energy, luck, and Dao, reducing him and Wan Tiansheng to motionless stones as they lay dormant. He had merely swept a casual glance, yet the other party had sensed it. Such a being was terrifying! Definitely a Celestial Venerable! Moreover, likely stronger than Heavenly Venerable Yue and his peers. They lay hidden for a long time, remaining as still as a mountain even after that scanning force receded, continuing their dormant concealment. After a while, that scanning force swept across the surroundings once more. This time, it retreated quickly. Once the detection force vanished, Su Yu promptly led Wan Tiansheng away from the spot rather than lingering. Not long after, figures emerged from the mountain to inspect the peaks, grumbling among themselves. They wondered if Yue Hao was making a mountain out of a molehill. *He always feels unsafe!* *Could it be that leaving the Sacred Clan and the Ancestor left him lacking a sense of security?* ... Having retreated far into the distance, Su Yu stopped observing that area. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Su Yu transmitted, "That's a major stronghold with countless experts! Attacking it might not be wise... but if we want a crushing defeat, it's the perfect spot!" Su Yu pondered for a moment before adding, "There's definitely a Celestial Venerable, perhaps more than one... We've hit a tough nut!" Wan Tiansheng smiled. "Isn't that perfect? If they were too weak, how could it showcase our might? And if we were routed by weaklings, no one would believe it—nobody would buy that we fell so easily... wouldn't you agree?" Su Yu nodded. "True!" He grinned, then said, "The exact details are unclear, but there's at least one Celestial Venerable. As for Heavenly Kings, judging from their previous ambush on the Nether race, there are no fewer than four!" Pondering further, Su Yu said, "Deaths in the Upper Realm trigger no phenomena; a snapping Dao and turbulent rules are the only signs! That's actually easy to fake. I still carry several false Daos... Give me a little time, and I can whip up some commotion. My only fear... is someone actually dying!" Su Yu's tone grew grave. "The enemy is too strong. I'm afraid we might actually get wiped out!" Wan Tiansheng laughed, comforting him: "Just treat it as if we're back where we started. When did we ever face an enemy without taking risks? Death is inherently unpredictable! Since you still control several false Daos, even if we're gravely wounded and on the brink of death, there's hope of a swift recovery, isn't there?" "As long as a sliver of life remains... there is hope!" Wan Tiansheng said solemnly, "Since you have doubts, just go through with it! Even if you truly suffer defeat, we will still support you... As for the others, who cares? If Baizhan truly has the capability, humanity won't perish!" "Even if there are Baizhan's men among us, we'll surrender the Lower Realm to them, leave the Upper Realm to the myriad races and the Chaos lineage, and... seize the dead spirit realm for ourselves!" Wan Tiansheng added, "Let's give it a shot! Once we have a general grasp of the situation, secure our retreat so we can pull out at any moment. That way, even if we lose the battle, we preserve our vital strength!" Su Yu weighed the idea and gave a slight nod. "All right. But... we need a bit more certainty. At the very least, those fellows from the myriad races must be able to reinforce us at a crucial moment, or step in to deal with this lineage!" With that, Su Yu bared his teeth in a grin. "Since we're on the verge of exposure anyway, and that fellow keeps feeling someone watching him... why not just expose ourselves completely!" With that, his Heavenly Gate snapped wide open! In an instant, he gazed toward the distant mountain. With that single look, Su Yu drew a sharp breath. "Retreat!" Grabbing Wan Tiansheng, he tore through the void, fleeing and vanishing in the blink of an eye. A figure materialized instantly—Yue Hao. His long hair whipped in the wind as he frowned slightly, scanning the surroundings. Reaching out, he caught faint spatial ripples. With a cold expression, Yue Hao looked around and muttered, "The Heavenly Gate? Or something else?" Someone was spying on them! Not once, but three times—once before, once just now, and once even earlier. As for the scout claiming it was ancient beasts in heat, that was absolute nonsense. Beasts in heat wouldn't give him this distinct feeling of being watched. Yue Hao murmured, "The Torchbearer lineage?" They certainly had guts, penetrating this deep into Mount Chaos, and their methods were formidable. Yet they had fled! "Spying on us... do they actually intend to make a move against us?" Yue Hao chuckled. *Thinking too simply.* Even if the Torchbearer lineage possessed a Celestial Venerable, their heavy losses were an undeniable fact. Experts like Marquis Bingku were dead; it was impossible for them to keep so many powerhouses concealed indefinitely, unless they too had been hiding in Mount Chaos all along—which was out of the question. ... Meanwhile, Su Yu fled frantically, covering seven to eight thousand li in the blink of an eye before instantly going into hiding alongside Wan Tiansheng. Once things settled, Su Yu spoke with a tremor in his voice: "Two Celestial Venerables, six Heavenly Kings! A full eight supreme powerhouses! And that's merely a forward base, not their main lair—with over thirty Dao Integration experts!" Su Yu's heart pounded; he had seen it clearly. Wan Tiansheng inhaled sharply. "That many? And this is only a forward post! At most, they've deployed half or a third of their strength. Just how much power has this lineage accumulated?" Six Heavenly Kings! Over thirty Dao Integration experts! Su Yu calculated rapidly. For Celestial Venerables, Fat Ball might be able to handle one. As for the other... call March over? March might not agree to that! As for Heavenly Kings, between himself, Old Wan, Lan Tian, King Dazhou, Marquis Huoyun, General Xuelan, and Marquis Nanxi, they wouldn't necessarily be at a disadvantage. But if March refused to come, being short a Celestial Venerable would completely tip the scales of the battle. Su Yu licked his lips. "Governor, you and Lan Tian take on a Celestial Venerable... Being killed by a Celestial Venerable would look entirely natural!" Wan Tiansheng's eyes flickered, and he nodded. "Lan Tian won't be killed easily; he just needs to leave behind a single clone. As for me... I'll leave a strand of will within the Great Dao, similar to what I left in your heart back then. If I truly fail to return, you can traverse the River of Time—you know where my Dao lies. Once you return, find a way to fish me out from the Great Dao!" Before the battle had even begun, Wan Tiansheng was already preparing for the worst: he and Lan Tian were almost certainly no match for a Celestial Venerable! The likelihood of dying was very high! "Su Yu, the one you should worry about is yourself!" Wan Tiansheng said solemnly. "You're the one in greater danger!" Su Yu nodded and replied, "I know. But if push comes to shove, I'll detonate King Wen's Brush Dao!" He bared his teeth. "If the Brush Dao explodes, in everyone's eyes, I'll have lost everything! That happens to be the perfect timing, as I'm preparing to open my own Dao anyway. Taking advantage of this crisis, I might be able to open it! The Brush Dao was merely a smokescreen and a cover identity!" Wan Tiansheng chuckled. "You really are something..." Su Yu added, "I have plenty of methods—the Time Book can be used as well! As long as the civilization chronicle endures, I endure. The key lies in the civilization chronicle; every single page is an avatar of mine!" Su Yu smiled. "I won't fall easily! Don't worry! The other side probably knows we're watching them by now, so they'll be extremely cautious... A swift, decisive battle! We'll lead our people in and slaughter our fill! Didn't Tianmie complain about having to hide like a rat ever since ascending? This time we'll satisfy him—we hit them hard and get out!" Wan Tiansheng chuckled again. *Listen to him talk.* The two said no more, speeding back toward their hideout. ... A short while later, Su Yu returned. Wasting no words, he announced, "Get ready. The moment King Daming finishes crafting all the formation talismans, we strike!" Su Yu said heavily, "The enemy is formidable: one Celestial Venerable, six Heavenly Kings, and thirty Dao Integration experts!" He concealed the presence of the second Celestial Venerable, laying the groundwork for the impending defeat. Everyone gasped! King Dazhou said gravely, "With them being so strong, are we still attacking?" *This is madness!* Su Yu had agreed earlier that this operation was merely meant to expose the Chaos lineage. But with the enemy so overwhelming, it was best to avoid such an engagement. Su Yu had always fought battles he was certain to win, yet victory was far from guaranteed here! Su Yu said coldly, "We have no choice. The enemy is just that powerful, and they might have detected our scouting. We must strike swiftly to prevent them from sending reinforcements from their main lair! They likely won't anticipate so many of us reaching the inner perimeter, nor will they expect us to dare launch an assault!" "Catching them off guard should yield results. If we can slay a few Heavenly Kings, that would be ideal..." Su Yu smiled. "Like I said, if we truly can't beat them, we retreat! We aren't obligated to fight to the bitter end!" Everyone exchanged glances, still shaken. *They're that strong, and we're still attacking?* Su Yu had even mentioned they might have been discovered. This wasn't like the sealed mountain before, where false Dao experts could be countered. They couldn't suppress the Chaos lineage, and their foes possessed an immense variety of methods. Detection, sealing, teleportation—the enemy might command all of those Daos! They were by no means inferior to Su Yu's side. Nearby, General Xuelan and her companions, who had just finished conversing with Marquis Huoyun and the others, frowned slightly. Xuelan spoke up, "Human Master Su, with the enemy being so powerful, isn't a frontal assault too rash? Even if we reached an understanding with the myriad races, they clearly want us to test the waters against the Chaos race. Recklessly plunging into a full-scale battle... might do more harm than good!" Narrowing his eyes, Su Yu said, "No. If we succeed this time and slay that Celestial Venerable, or kill two Heavenly Kings and two top-tier Dao Integration experts, we can rescue Marquis Jufu!" "Right now, we need Celestial Venerable-level combat power!" "I believe you all know the situation by now. That whole Torchbearer lineage thing is a sham. We need a Celestial Venerable because we currently lack one!" Su Yu smiled. "Rest assured, our strength isn't inferior to theirs! Furthermore, if real danger arises, I'll find a way to lead everyone away. As long as you trust me, you will be fine. Do as I say, and I have full confidence we can escape... Of course, if you don't trust me, there's nothing I can do!" Without lingering on the topic, Su Yu turned to King Daming. "Speed up production. Try to have everything ready before tomorrow. If materials run short, I can go hunt ancient beasts. We must be fast—we cannot give them a chance to bring in reinforcements!" King Daming nodded, though he couldn't help feeling Su Yu was rushing things. The enemy was formidable! They were hardly weaklings! A hasty assault could easily lead to heavy casualties even if they won. Well, they could only trust that Su Yu had a plan. Having given his orders, Su Yu said nothing more, turning his gaze toward the depths of Mount Chaos. Hadn't Baizhan and Yueluo fought their way into the depths? Where were they? Were the two of them locked in a life-and-death struggle right now, or... were they nestled together in sweet affection, waiting to watch the show? Su Yu didn't know! All he knew was that Baizhan might not truly be so useless! That alone was enough. "Useless Baizhan..." Su Yu muttered under his breath. Those nearby who overheard were speechless. *He's still thinking about Baizhan?* *Cursing him whenever he has a free moment!* Xuelan and her companions frowned slightly but held their tongues, merely thinking this new Human Master was far too petty. They had already asked about Baizhan's defeat; there were circumstances beyond his control. Clinging to it relentlessly seemed rather small-minded! Su Yu let out a sigh. "I only hope Baizhan can kill Yueluo and return soon, even if just to serve as a thug. With him around, handling a Celestial Venerable would be effortless!" The crowd continued pretending they hadn't heard. Wanting the man to kill enemies for him while cursing him at the same time—Su Yu was dreaming a bit too sweetly. Su Yu soon turned to Marquis Tongtian. "Send me back again. Once everyone is ready, my return will be the signal to attack!" "Understood!" The crowd chorused in response, their excitement mounting. It was just a battle; they had fought many, emerging victorious every single time! This time would be no exception. Su Yu never fought unprepared battles. This time, they would win all the same! Su Yu said no more. If everyone obeyed his orders without compromise, nothing would go wrong. But if they chose not to listen... then they could reap whatever they sowed!