Chapter 423.2: Ill Tell You a Way to Strike It Rich

Chapter 423.2: I'll Tell You a Way to Strike It Rich

Once they'd left the Divine Moon Palace's territory, a faint melancholy settled over Qi Yuan. Haa... Time to play the actor again. Holy hell, I think I've just discovered one of the world's ten great unsolved mysteries. This is bizarre. Who's the director here, who's the producer, and why hasn't anyone paid me my fee? Somebody out there owes me money!

Qi Yuan was at a loss for words. He'd just realized someone out there owed him money, and worse, he had no idea who. It was thoroughly annoying. But now wasn't the time to worry about that. He had a role to play.

A terrifying presence descended over the Absolute Moon Abyss. A massive eyeball snapped shut and shot straight into its cave lair. Every stationed Yin Spirit felt that dreadful, bone-chilling presence. Their faces all changed. Something enormous was happening!

Then, a vast voice rang out in every Yin Spirit's ears.

—Activate the array! Full defense! This lord is entering closed-door cultivation. Do not disturb!

Most of the Moluo Clan's Yin Spirits went pale. Murmurs and voice transmissions buzzed nonstop.

"What's going on with the Heavenly Venerable?"

"Mythic Fengkui and a few other elders seem to have vanished for several days now..."

"Something big is coming!"

Since Motong's raid on the Divine Moon Palace had been carried out in secret, no information had leaked. Yet news of the disappearances of several Mythics and elders had been spreading throughout the Absolute Moon Abyss.

A few days earlier, they'd sensed disturbances near the Divine Moon Palace, suggesting a Yang Spirit expert had been active there. Combined with Motong's sudden seclusion and the activated array, they all had some vague idea of what was going on. Everyone turned grim and anxious.

***

Qi Yuan lay low inside Motong’s cave abode. He made his aura unsteady to make it seem as though he had suffered some heavy injuries.

Ugh, this giant eyeball is hideous. No wonder actors these days hate playing ugly roles in bad makeup. If it weren't for the plan, why would I ever lower myself to playing a giant eyeball?

This time, Qi Yuan had drawn up a thorough plan. He'd named it "Send the Well Home." In terms of detail and rigour, it easily ranked among the top three plans he had ever put together.

Just the substitution trick alone, which involved luring in Buddha Ancestor Wutian, was every bit as clever as the old general Han Xin's trick of openly repairing the plank roads while secretly marching his army through the back way. If Han Xin[1] earned the title Immortal of War, Qi Yuan figured he deserved to be called the Immortal of Schemes. His plans were just that good.

The plan itself had three steps. First, use the Myriad Principle Gate to trick every Moluo Heavenly Venerable in the demon abyss into it and kill them there. Second, while no one was looking, slip quietly into the Fifth Heaven and pull the same trick again on the Moluo Heavenly Venerables there. Third, bring the well home.

His well had been drifting through the world all this time, alone and mistreated. It was about time it came home to enjoy the good life. He kept refining the plan in his head.

Some time later, a vast presence spread through the Absolute Moon Abyss.

Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, turning serious, "Heavenly Venerable Moheng, since you're here, come in."

The words had barely left his mouth when an overwhelming aura surged up.

Moheng’s illusory projection appeared, staring in astonishment. "Motong, what happened to you?"

Moheng was one of only three Principle Yang Spirits the Moluo Clan had in the demon abyss. He and Motong had always gotten along well.

Qi Yuan's voice came out hoarse, his eyes burning with resentment. "Ugh, I fell for Longyue's scheme! She actually sacrificed a deputy envoy and her authority over the Serene Radiant Waning Moon just to lure me in!"

Chains rattled violently and the surrounding space grew unstable.

Moheng seemed to piece together what had happened. "Motong, you got reckless this time!"

Motong had apparently fallen for one of Longyue's schemes and lost a number of subordinates in the process.

"Are your injuries serious? Does the Absolute Moon Abyss need reinforcements?"

Qi Yuans eyes abruptly shifted, his aura surging. "I am not harmed. The Absolute Moon Abyss needs no reinforcements whatsoever!"

Moheng's expression didn't shift at all. Motong had always been arrogant and domineering. He would rather die than lose face.

"Just don't go and lose the Absolute Moon Abyss."

With that, Moheng's figure vanished.

Qi Yuan sat upright on the throne, eyes narrowed. "My acting wasn't half bad, was it?"

***

Outside the Absolute Moon Abyss, Moheng's projection lingered unseen nearby, his gaze deep and thoughtful. Something about Motong seems different from before...

As a Principle Yang Spirit, Moheng's perceptiveness went far beyond an ordinary person's. I am too far from here to keep an eye on Motong at all times. That's a problem.

Moheng thought carefully. He had a nagging sense that something was off with Motong. Right, Mochi's nearby. I could go find him and have him keep watch on Motong.

With a plan forming in his mind, Moheng headed off toward the Severed Moon Abyss.

1. Han Xin is a brilliant general in Chinese history. He's best known for the strategy of openly repairing plank roads while secretly marching troops through Chencang. A decoy tactic that lured the enemy's attention away from his real advance. ☜