The Imperial Art of Xianling's Destruction

"Why do you need me?"

Xianling Nan found the conversation increasingly unsettling, feeling as if she had been used.

"The chieftain is the king of a race; he can dictate the race's direction. If he deeply resents the Yanhuang people and constantly shouts slogans about wiping them out, yet never takes action, other leaders would see him as hypocritical."

Xianling Qi crossed his arms and said calmly.

Xu Mu and Chen Xuan exchanged a glance, finding this reasoning quite sound.

"Exactly. He could order his people to attack us at any time, but by only talking and never acting, it would only backfire."

Chen Xuan nodded.

Xu Mu turned to Xianling Nan. "So, this is where the Holy Maiden becomes useful."

"Yes."

Xianling Qi also looked at Xianling Nan. "Her parents were killed while carrying out a mission in the outside world, so she harbors hostility toward all races living there. The chieftain noticed her mindset."

"By having a Holy Maiden constantly clamoring to attack the outside world, while the chieftain greatly values her—yet the Holy Maiden has no authority to mobilize the clan for an attack—this creates a balance."

Xu Mu had already grasped the reason and smiled. "It makes everyone believe the chieftain is deeply hostile to the outside world, surely planning something in secret, that he will eventually act. This way, his position is secured."

"Correct, but this time, the chieftain overplayed his hand."

Xianling Qi sighed helplessly and gave a rough account of the whole situation.

Xianling Cui was at the sixth level of Realm-Breaking, dominating all the leaders in the clan.

The various leaders of the Baishi clan were mostly at the third or fourth level.

However, a few powerful leaders were at the fifth level.

For example, the current chieftain, the Laojie leader.

Also the leader of the Canlang tribe.

Of course, the most important was the leader of the Hunu tribe.

These three tribes had fifth-level experts, but Xianling Cui wasn't afraid, because he also had the Great Elder from the Elders' Council, Xianling Bu.

That was Xianling Qi's father, also a fifth-level expert.

A sixth-level Realm-Breaker plus a fifth-level Realm-Breaker was certainly stronger than three fifth-level Realm-Breakers.

But just recently, this balance was broken.

The Hunu tribe leader had gained an opportunity and greatly increased his power. Xianling Cui learned that the man was secretly breaking through to the sixth level.

Faced with this, Xianling Cui couldn't just sit idly by.

If the Hunu tribe leader really reached the sixth level, then the opposing side would have one sixth-level and two fifth-level experts.

If these three joined forces, Xianling's rule would collapse.

So, after discussions, Xianling Cui decided to send the Hunu tribe to attack the Jiao clan.

If the Hunu tribe refused, it would be rebellion, and Xianling Cui could unite the other tribes to execute them.

If they went, they would still die, because the Jiao clan was far stronger than their Baishi clan.

In the end, the Hunu tribe chose to go, and the result was clear.

The Hunu tribe's experts were all wiped out.

Xianling Cui thought he could now rest easy, but he hadn't expected the Laojie and Canlang tribes to react so strongly.

They quickly allied with other leaders and a few experts from other races, and took advantage of Xianling Cui's drunkenness to strike him down.

"Their reaction makes perfect sense. If Xianling Cui dared to use this tactic once, he could use it again. As fifth-level experts, they'd be fools not to panic."

Xu Mu said indifferently.

Xianling Nan had kept her head lowered, paying no attention to what Xianling Qi said afterward.

Her mind was still stuck on the earlier revelation. Had Xianling Cui's kindness toward her all been an act?

Was everything just for his rule, and she merely a pawn to be used?

Xianling Nan shook her head violently. "Impossible! You're talking nonsense! You're talking nonsense!"

She covered her ears with both hands and ran off into the distance, refusing to believe it was true.

Orphaned since childhood when her parents died in the outside world, with no murderer found, she had been alone in the Xianling clan.

Later, Xianling Cui chose her as the Holy Maiden, and from then on, he treated her like a daughter.

Could all those supposed feelings have been fake?

She didn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it.

Xu Mu watched Xianling Nan from afar and shrugged with a smile. "In this world, only the truth can truly achieve victory without shedding blood."

"You said earlier they found other people too?"

Chen Xuan suddenly asked. "Was Chi Ting's Nine Li tribe among them?"

"No, the Nine Li tribe wasn't there. Our Baishi clan is also hostile to the Nine Li tribe, so why would we invite them to the ceremony?"

Xianling Qi shook his head, then said, "Among them were the Tian Gou tribe and the Tian Yao tribe."

"Tian Yao tribe?"

Xu Mu rubbed his chin in thought. Currently, the strongest in the Tian Yao tribe was Fu Jinyu, who hadn't even reached the Realm-Breaking level.

Could there be other hidden experts in the Tian Yao tribe?

Or perhaps the Tian Yao tribe's experts were unearthed by Chi Ting, who controlled them through You Yi insects.

"Exactly. We all know the Tian Yao tribe. After their original king died, they've fallen to a low-tier level. Plus, those few people didn't say a word the whole time, so I suspect they, like these two corpses, were being controlled."

Xianling Qi pointed at the fallen bodies nearby.

Xu Mu's eyes gradually turned cold. "If that's the case, then Laojie tribe actually allied with Chi Ting? That pisses me off."

"Xu Mu, it seems you have a grudge against Chi Ting. That works out. Let's cooperate and take down the Laojie tribe together."

Xianling Qi recognized Xu Mu's ability. With his help, they might really be able to eliminate the Laojie tribe.

Of course, that depended on whether the Canlang tribe would refuse to work with Laojie.

That was why he had kept Canlang Wei alive.

"I'll think it over for a few days."

Xu Mu looked around and asked, "Are you planning to camp here for now?"

"Yes. Where the inner realm meets the outer realm, our territory has two such spots. This one is farther from the royal city. Our original plan was to occupy this place and then seek allies from other races in the outside world."

Xianling Qi looked at Xu Mu. "But now, I think you're a better fit."

Xu Mu waved his hand. "Don't flatter me. I'm not getting involved in a battle of fifth-level Realm-Breakers. But if we cooperate, as long as you meet my conditions, I can help."

"What conditions?"

"First of all, you can't attack the outside world or threaten ordinary people. As for the rest, I'll need to discuss it with my people."

Xu Mu definitely had to talk this over with the seniors at the Sanitation Department.

After all, this mission had been issued by them.

"Alright. I'll wait for you."

Xianling Qi nodded in agreement. His current goal was to overthrow the Laojie tribe and put Xianling back on the throne.

Everything else was negotiable.

"By the way, do you have a complete map of this inner realm?"

Xu Mu suddenly asked.

"Yes, but this map was drawn two years ago. The inner realm is different from the outside world; wars happen here almost every day, and the territories of small factions change rapidly."

Xianling Qi took out a map drawn on animal hide and handed it to Xu Mu.

"Thanks."

Xu Mu was speaking, but suddenly turned his head to look into the distance. "Sure enough, it's Chi Ting. Old Chen, let's take the bodies and leave, now!"

"Alright."

Chen Xuan immediately nodded and ran toward the corpses over there.

"Remember, if Chi Ting asks about the bodies, you never saw them. You don't want others to keep controlling your father, do you?"

Xu Mu warned Xian Lingqi.

"I know."

Xian Lingqi nodded.

Xu Mu and Chen Xuan each grabbed a corpse and once again entered the ruins.

No sooner had the two left than Xian Lingqi noticed a figure in a black robe slowly descending to the ground in the distance.