Chapter 141: Chu Fan’s Plan Step 1

Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Chu Fan’s Plan Step 1

It took the better part of a day for the eight of them to each give an account of their achievements over the past few years. Of course, even these were just rough summaries.

Unlike Jing’an’s Celestial Heart Hall, Lan Bing’s Earth Universe Pavilion recruited mostly orphans from the Eastern Domain, both boys and girls.

The Earth Universe Pavilion had over three thousand disciples, but less than half of them were truly talented or had good aptitude. The other half not only had ordinary talent but also included many disabled children.

However, the Earth Universe Pavilion’s overall strength was not to be underestimated.

In recent years, as Lan Bing’s cultivation had improved, the Earth Universe Pavilion had developed better and better. In addition, its great compassion in recruiting beggars and orphans also attracted many kind-hearted Independent Cultivators.

Even before Lan Bing’s cultivation reached the Divine Separation Realm, a Divine Separation Realm Independent Cultivator had joined the Earth Universe Pavilion. Lan Bing had spared no expense to give him the position of Vice Pavilion Master.

As for the Soul Emergence and Nascent Soul Realms, there were over thirty cultivators combined, a number the Celestial Heart Hall could not match.

Because of a new plan Chu Fan had established more than two years ago, the Celestial Heart Hall had shifted its focus to the Shuoyue Kingdom. Consequently, all subsequent disciple recruitment served that goal, which was why their Outer Sect Disciples outnumbered their Inner Sect Disciples several times over.

Compared to the Celestial Heart Hall and the Earth Universe Pavilion, the loyalty within Liu Yisheng and Qi Biao’s Mercenary Corps was much lower. After all, both of their corps were held together by mutual benefit.

Regardless, in just over three years, the eight of them had already exceeded the expectations Chu Fan had set for them.

Ji Bufan’s intelligence network already spanned the entire Eastern Domain and had even begun to radiate into other regions.

In Ji Bufan’s own words, if Chu Fan wanted to know what the Sect Leader of any Sect in the Eastern Domain ate last night, which woman he slept with, and how many times they did it, he could find out immediately.

After listening to their progress reports, Chu Fan asked about the current situation in the Eastern Domain.

In truth, the reason the Six Sects and Eight Gates were holding the Tengxing Grand Assembly this time was, at its root, closely related to the discord he and Yun Xi had sown before heading to Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.

Of the fourteen Sects that made up the Six Sects and Eight Gates, more than half now had a blood feud with the Red Blood Mansion.

Later, after the Spiritual Qi Revival, the various Sects began competing for resources and talent, making the conflicts between them even more irreconcilable.

Furthermore, many Minor Sects, feeling as though they were walking on thin ice, sought out powerful backers to align with.

"Sir, there is something concerning the Red Blood Mansion... I’m not sure if I should say it."

Ji Bufan asked hesitantly after giving a general analysis of the situation in the Eastern Domain.

"If it concerns the Red Blood Mansion, then you must speak. What is it?"

"It’s about Yan Ji. After you killed him back then, Sir, a person in a black cloak took him to Three Mountains Island and revived him. The resurrected Yan Ji seems to have awakened some latent talent; his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. Just over a month ago, that black-cloaked person appeared again. He took Yan Ji away, saying he was taking him to the Central Domain to become the Saint Heir of a place called the God Slaughter Hall. However, my subordinates investigated in the Central Domain but couldn’t find a single piece of information about this God Slaughter Hall."

"What is the identity of this person in the black cloak?"

"We couldn’t find out. According to our informants, he has only appeared on Three Mountains Island twice. His cultivation is said to be unfathomably profound, and Yan Qi is extremely respectful toward him."

Chu Fan fell silent upon hearing this, his heart reeling in shock.

’I killed Yan Ji with my own hands back then. He was as dead as dead could be, yet someone brought him back to life?’

’Isn’t this absurd?’

’Could it be that this mysterious person in the black cloak possesses an elixir similar to the Great Returning Pill from the third level of the Juntian Mirror?’

’An elixir that can bring back the dead and regrow flesh on bone?’

’God Slaughter Hall... just the name alone sounds incredibly arrogant. It’s definitely not some righteous Sect.’

’Could the Red Blood Mansion be a Sub-Hall of this God Slaughter Hall?’

’Do they exist only to subvert this world?’

A flood of thoughts went through Chu Fan’s mind in that moment.

But no matter what, the Red Blood Mansion had to be destroyed.

After a long silence, Chu Fan spoke again, "Yan Qi won’t remain idle during the Tengxing Grand Assembly. Have you uncovered their plans?"

"Yan Qi is definitely making a move. Some time ago, he gathered several core figures of the Red Blood Mansion for a meeting. Our people couldn’t find out the specifics, but Ying Xiao’s side has dealt them a significant blow recently. I think they’re bound to take action soon."

Chu Fan pondered for a moment, then said, "Since we don’t know their plan, we’ll force their hand."

"Please give us your orders, Sir."

"Jing’an, how many battle-ready soldiers can the Shuoyue Kingdom muster right now?"

"Reporting to you, Sir, ever since the edict was issued, the entire Shuoyue Kingdom has been militarized. With a mobilization order, we can conscript a million soldiers, though most have never seen battle."

"Have the Queen issue a proclamation to the world. On the eighteenth of November, she will be coronated as Empress. Issue an edict to the other twelve kingdoms of the Eastern Domain, demanding their submission. Their Sovereigns must attend the Empress’s coronation ceremony on the eighteenth of November. Any who refuse to submit, or any Sovereign unwilling to come to the Shuoyue Kingdom to be enfeoffed, will be targeted for conquest by the Shuoyue Kingdom."

"Ah!" The eight of them exclaimed in shock.

They were stunned by Chu Fan’s plan. How could those twelve Sovereigns possibly submit? Wouldn’t they just be seen as a laughingstock?

Chu Fan smirked. "I want them to see it as a joke. When the time comes, Liu Yisheng and Qi Biao, you will lead your Mercenary Corps, don the uniforms of the Shuoyue Kingdom’s army, and under the banner of the Shuoyue Expeditionary Army, first destroy Xin Yue, then destroy Tianqi. I refuse to believe the Red Blood Mansion will do nothing."

’So that’s the Sir’s real objective?’

’But what if the Shuoyue Kingdom makes too big of a stir and forces the other kingdoms to unite against them?’

How could Chu Fan not have thought of this?

Chu Fan immediately said, "This is where the Dark Night Envoys come into play. There are twelve days until the eighteenth of November. Ying Xiao, I don’t care what methods you use—be it threats, or killing a Sovereign and propping up an obedient one in his place—but on the eighteenth, the three neighboring kingdoms of Upper Wu, Bei Chen, and Huaiyang must submit."

"Sir, those small kingdoms are all under the protection of the Six Sects and Eight Gates," Ji Bufan said.

"From the moment the Shuoyue Kingdom issues its edict, Che Dagui and Bufan, your businesses are to halt all grain shipments to these three kingdoms. Liu Yicai, starting now, you will suspend all auctions. On the twentieth of November, hold a large-scale auction in the Shuoyue National Capital. I will provide a few items for it. The requirement for participation will be to submit a formal petition congratulating Jin Chuhong on becoming the new empress."

Upon hearing this, the faces of the several men changed in unison. Wasn’t this move tantamount to openly telling everyone that Mr. Hong’s auction house and the Shuoyue royal family were inextricably linked?

In truth, Chu Fan had considered that the chances of success would be higher if he had Jin Chuhong issue the edict and ascend the throne after the Tengxing Grand Assembly. After all, he had already planned to cause a major disruption at the assembly, which would make it clear who was an enemy and who was a friend.

However, in order to deal with the Red Blood Mansion, he decided to take the risk and give it a try.

’If the auction is to attract those Major Sects, it all depends on what items I put up for sale.’

’I just got more than ten Ming Jue Jades from the Miracle Secret Realm. Putting up one or two should do it.’

’I still have more than ten Celestial Grade Top Class weapons from Dingfeng Slope in my Juntian Mirror’s space!’

’Not to mention the countless rare Spirit Medicines I brought back from Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain...’

It wasn’t that Chu Fan was being a spendthrift. These items were just bait. In the end, wasn’t he the one who would decide who they went home with?