Nuclear-powered Sword Immortal-Chapter 98: Complicated and Confusing

"Think about it. If this despicable frame-up had not succeeded, by now, we would have conquered Baihe City and further captured Yuanhua City, fully linking Linfeng City, Yuanhua City, Lingxiao City, and Baihe City together. Centering on this, attacking the surrounding cities, it wouldn’t have taken long before all lands west of Star State would have fallen into our hands at Purgatory Sect. What a great scenario that would have been! But now?"

Qin Li spread his hands, "It’s true that Baihe City has been taken, but it stands alone. To defend it, who knows how much manpower and resources are needed. Originally, Lingxiao City, which should have served as a horn to Baihe City, has also turned against us, putting Elder Xue in a pincer. Moreover, Yuanhua City blocks our path to advancing into Star State... How much has this affected our plan to carve out Star State? Without spending a soldier or a warrior, the situation in western Star State is paralyzed! How vicious this conspiracy is!"

The Hall Masters looked at each other, seemingly pondering whether this was truly a conspiracy.

"If you all still can’t see the true nature of this matter, perhaps consider using common sense—the enemy of our enemy is our friend."

Qin Li said, "Elder Gu first executed the Heavenly Gang Sect’s Venerable Daoist Yan Xuejian, then killed Sect Leader Su Fangzheng and Venerable Daoist Su Bieli, and immediately afterwards, with undiminished momentum, exterminated Zhang Luu, obliterating the Meteor Star Guard and the three thousand troops of the Heavenly Gang Sect. Judging the deeds not the intent, do these actions not prove his stance?"

"Then how do you explain what happened with Yuanhua City?"

The Monitoring Hall Master, Chong Qianguang, said somberly.

"Lords and Sect Masters, let’s put ourselves in his shoes. You’ve just crushed the Heavenly Gang Sect and are hoping to take advantage of Yuanhua City’s weakness to capture it when you’re suddenly attacked. What would you think? What would you do?"

Qin Li struck the palm of his hand with the back of his other hand, "Without understanding the situation, he launched a counterattack, which is completely reasonable, my friends!"

"Without understanding the situation? That explanation is frankly insufficient. At that time..."

As Chong Qianguang was speaking, he paused, reluctant to repeatedly publicize the defeat of Elder Shi Chen, and instead said, "Couldn’t he recognize the Lin Family forces stationed at Yuanhua City?"

"In the midst of battle, with reality and deception intermixed, who could easily discern the truth, moreover..."

Qin Li’s voice paused slightly, "As I said, the affair of Elder Gu has always had people from within our Purgatory Sect interfering. We know who that person is, and Elder Gu surely knows as well!"

Looking at Chong Qianguang, he sneered, "If it were me, tirelessly shedding blood and braving death for the sect, facing repeated false accusations and enduring undeserved grievances, and suddenly the chief culprit appeared before me, I would risk my life to exterminate that villain to vent the frustrations in my heart. Therefore... any excessive behavior by Elder Gu at that time wouldn’t surprise me."

Deputy Sect Master Dongfang Xue glanced at Qin Li...

He spoke so logically, she couldn’t refute it.

Indeed.

If it weren’t for their faint guess about the Sect Leader’s thoughts.

However...

Then Lu Dengxian pondered aloud, "Perhaps, we really were misled by the Meteor Star Guard, wrongly accusing Elder Gu."

Following this, he took out a letter, saying, "This is a letter just sent by Elder Gu, please have a look at it, everyone."

The Hall Masters received the letter, one by one examining it, their expressions...

Very odd.

"So that’s how it is."

"Elder Gu first killed Yan Xuejian, then killed Su Tong, the daughter of the Star Patrol Department Director, and then encircled and annihilated Sect Leader Su Fangzheng of the Heavenly Gang Sect, Venerable Daoist Su Bieli, and Star Master Zhang Luu, along with three thousand elites... This indeed sufficiently proves his stance."

"Elder Gu, although now the lord of both Yuanhua and Lingxiao Cities, still most identifies as just an unremarkable elder from Purgatory Sect? And is willing to continue taking orders from Purgatory Sect, aiding Baihe City in its conquests and annexations?"

Realization dawned upon the Hall Masters after reading the letter.

Suddenly, these Hall Masters’ attitudes shifted.

"Perhaps Sect Master Qin is right, we fell victim to the enemy’s ruse and wronged Elder Gu."

"Not only is Elder Gu determined, having taken Yuanhua and Lingxiao Cities, but he is also unwaveringly assisting Elder Xue in our conquests. This merit... must be rewarded."

"Loyal to our Sect even from within enemy ranks, Elder Gu has it hard."

Lu Dengxian watched this scene unfold, his facial expression not changing significantly.

As for Chong Qianguang, although knowing the sect didn’t want to spend a great cost to deal with Gu Jinlai, he couldn’t help saying, "Elder Yang Kan and Yuanhua City are barely excusable, but what about Linfeng City? The Gu family pillaged our Purgatory Sect’s lands, are we not to punish them?"

"Master Chong is somewhat muddling the issue here," Qin Li said.

"The dispute between the Gu and Lin families is personal, do you understand personal? They are both forces under our Purgatory Sect’s jurisdiction. The occasional conflict due to some misunderstandings is normal, should we escalate every conflict within our affiliated forces to sect-level just because you say so?"

"Escalate? The Gu family is..."

Chong Qianguang was about to argue, but was interrupted by Lu Dengxian, "Enough, Linfeng City is unharmed, only the Lin Mansion suffered slight damage. Such a trivial matter need not be discussed in this meeting."

He shifted his gaze to everyone else, "Since all the Hall Masters also feel the affair of Elder Gu was a false accusation by our enemies, let the Supervision Department and the Punishment Hall clear Elder Gu’s name. Furthermore, for his achievements in capturing Yuanhua City, reward him with a scroll of secret techniques."

The value of a secret technique can be high or low.

Clearly, in this situation where everyone was privy to the underlying truth, it was the best option for a reward.

"This matter... Sect Master Lin might have..."

Chong Qianguang voiced out again.

"Sect Master Lin, due to managing the affairs in the west of Star State, has become sick from worry and stress, and due to a misunderstanding with Elder Gu, Lin Mansion... incurred slight damage. He’s had a rush of blood to the head. I suggest letting Sect Master Lin rest for a while," Qin Li immediately said.

Dongfang Xuan also nodded slightly, "Sect Master Lin is immensely talented. If not for being burdened by sect duties these years, his cultivation would have improved hugely. This break might just help him concentrate on his cultivation and perhaps he could grasp the mysteries of Divinity Transformation."

Lu Dengxian glanced at the two, considering the recent need for assistance in Baihe City, it indeed wasn’t wise to let Lin Xiao provoke Gu Jinlai. He declared, "Then let it be so. The matters under his charge can be handed over to you two first."

"Yes, I will not disappoint the Sect Master."

Qin Li’s face was full of joy.

...

They were discussing how to deal with Gu Jinlai’s matter, not only those from the Purgatory Sect but also the Meteor Star Guard.

At this moment, the Main Star Department Director Cheng Wanli, Star Patrol Department Director Su Wen, and Red Star Department Director Qi Yuanxing were gathered together.

The matters they discussed, besides Gu Jinlai, were also the recent event of Baihe City falling into enemy hands.

Unlike Lingxiao City and Yuanhua City, Baihe City is one of the six major cities within Star State.

The population of the city alone numbers a million.

The value of this city far surpasses that of Lingxiao City and Yuanhua City.

Moreover, occupying this city were the Red Robed Elder Xue Wuqing and the Golden Robed Elder Qin Kaitai.

Among them, not to mention Qin Kaitai, Xue Wuqing, apart from being a Red Robed Elder of the Purgatory Sect, held another identity.

One of the ten great experts of the Demon Path.

The strongest warrior of the Purgatory Sect.

The direct disciple of Primordial Spirit True Monarch Lu Zhanxian.

He was the direct lineage within the direct lineage of the Purgatory Sect.

If it were not for the fact that he was too old yet to break through to the Divinity Transformation Realm, theoretically, he could have been the person to succeed as the Purgatory Sect Master.

"To the west of our Star State, there is the Purgatory Demon Sect and Netherworld Sect; to the north, the Yellow Sky Sect; to the east, Dragon Sparrow Manor; and to the south, the Cold Moon Demon Sect, bordering Red State, Yellow State, White State, Jiangzhou State, and Blue State—a total of five states. We originally thought that the major threats would be from the east’s Dragon Sparrow Manor and the south’s Cold Moon Demon Sect; unexpectedly, a careless move allowed the Purgatory Demon Sect to plant a stake in the west."

Su Wen’s brow was furrowed with worry.

"The east is somewhat better; although the issue with the Heavenly Grass Pavilion has caused Dragon Sparrow Manor to stir, with Lord Star Lord personally visiting them, they have calmed down. The key issues are the south’s Cold Moon Demon Sect and the newly added Purgatory Demon Sect."

Qi Yuanxing spoke with a slight pause, "Especially the Purgatory Demon Sect. Baihe City was the only major city we lost, and it was lost under everyone’s watch. If we don’t reclaim it soon, the people within Star State will surely be in a state of panic."

"Xue Wuqing is a Peak Refining God, surrounded by numerous experts. Unless the three of us take action, it will be... difficult," Cheng Wanli said.

"Even if the three of us take action, we have to consider one factor, and that’s Gu Jinlai from Lingxiao City," Qi Yuanxing declared, his voice grave, "Don’t forget, both Chong Qianguang and Elder Shi Chen were defeated by him. Among the three of us who faced Shi Chen, who can confidently say they are sure to win?"

In the end, he glanced at Su Wen, "If so, Minister Su probably wouldn’t remain indifferent."

"Gu Jinlai is ultimately from the Star Lord Department; it’s inappropriate for me to directly intervene. Otherwise... Gu Jinlai might not have been able to remain at large until today."

"Minister Su, when you meddle in our Star Lord Department’s affairs, you don’t treat Gu Jinlai as if he’s one of us," Cheng Wanli scoffed coldly, "Gu Jinlai and the Purgatory Sect elders have been openly hostile, severely defeating Deputy Sect Master Lin Xiao. Such actions do not resemble the unclear collusion with the Purgatory Sect as you all claim."

"It’s pointless to say more at this point; let’s think about how to solve the problem instead," Qi Yuanxing, worried that the two might start arguing, quickly shifted the topic.

"Problem? The problem now is that we are unable to solve this problem," Cheng Wanli did not insist.

Qi Yuanxing and Su Wen both fell silent.

Star State is a battleground on all sides, with each huge monster eagerly watching. The Meteor Star Guard is too stretched to be effective.

After a moment, Cheng Wanli suddenly said, "I do have a strategy, which could temporarily restrain Baihe City. After Lord Star Lord returns from Dragon Sparrow Manor, we can then discuss the next steps."

"What strategy?"

"Zhang Luu is dead, and someone needs to fill his spot. From Gu Jinlai’s actions, he is not aligned with the Purgatory Sect. Why not let Gu Jinlai succeed Zhang Luu’s position as the new Star Master, overseeing Baihe, Lingxiao, and Yuanhua cities?" Cheng Wanli said with a smile, "This Gu Jinlai is also an ambitious man, with a record of defeating Shi Chen. We’ll dangle such a big piece of bait in front of him, and I don’t believe he can ignore it. When the time comes, let them fight like dogs. We’ll just sit back and watch the drama unfold."

"That won’t do!" freewebnøvel.com

Without hesitation, Su Wen responded, "Zhang Luu was killed by him, and then to appoint him as Star Master... Aren’t you afraid that this would backfire, making the tail too big to handle?"

"With the situation having deteriorated to this point, Minister Su, do you have a better solution?" Cheng Wanli countered.

Su Wen opened his mouth but was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing this, Qi Yuanxing sighed.

Even though Cheng Wanli’s suggestion carried significant risks, the current situation in Star State was essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Therefore...

"Minister Cheng, please elaborate on your idea," Qi Yuanxing said.