Coveting Another's Fortuitous Opportunity, Kongxu Conceives a Scheme

Coveting Another's Fortuitous Opportunity, Kongxu Conceives a Scheme

"Damn it!"

"Damn it!"

"Jiang Sheng definitely wanted to kill me just now!"

Young Master Kongxu streaked through the air, his face terrifyingly grim!

He knew Jiang Sheng was formidable. He had originally intended to force Jiang Sheng down the mountain, saving himself some effort and trump cards.

But he had never expected Qingping Mountain to be a place where a spirit vein lay hidden!

He finally understood why Jiang Sheng was unwilling to leave Qingping Mountain. If he had such a treasure land, he certainly would not want to budge either!

He had only made a few teasing remarks, yet Jiang Sheng's gaze had seemed as though he would send him into reincarnation the very next moment, leaving him utterly afraid to linger any longer.

He feared that one wrong word would anger that fellow, who would simply cut him down with a single stroke of his sword!

Jiang Sheng was a ruthless man who had killed the Eight Wolves of Dongjun!

As thoughts raced through his mind, Young Master Kongxu's eyes suddenly lit up. "If I leak this news to Wenren Jie and Qiao Xuan, will they be able to restrain themselves once they learn Qingping Mountain is a treasure land?"

"And when the three of them are together, Jiang Sheng will have one more thing to worry about no matter what!"

"Yes, that's it! Tell them about this, and perhaps secretly leak it to other factions as well. There will certainly be people among those sects and noble families who set their sights on Qingping Mountain!"

As he pondered it, Young Master Kongxu's heart gradually burned with excitement. If others truly took an interest in Qingping Mountain, could he take the chance to get a share of the spoils?

After all, the resources in his hands could never support him all the way to the Purple Mansion Realm. Even reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage would be somewhat difficult.

He just did not know what grade Qingping Mountain's spirit vein was.

Even after returning to Qingshan County Seat, Young Master Kongxu was still thinking about these matters. Only after returning to the county yamen did he calm down again.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Young Master Kongxu put on a helpless expression. "My apologies, everyone. I was unable to invite Daoist Jiang here. Daoist Jiang said plainly that unless the agreed-upon day arrived, he would not come down the mountain."

Zhang Qingyun and Zhang Qing were visibly disappointed upon hearing this, while Xu Xiao also let out a helpless sigh.

Wenren Jie was somewhat annoyed. "Daoist Jiang possesses profound abilities and an extraordinary background. If he acted, whether it was the evil cultivators or those forces lurking in the shadows, they would surely have to fear us somewhat. Unlike now, when we are forced to tie our own hands and feet!"

Old Master Qiao Xuan puffed away at his dry tobacco, looking as though he had seen through the dust of the mortal world. "Each person has their own aspirations; they cannot be forced. It is already quite good that Daoist Jiang is willing to help us slay demons and eliminate evil. Perhaps these matters simply do not catch Daoist Jiang's eye."

Young Master Kongxu also casually remarked as if without meaning anything by it, "Indeed. I wonder what is so good about Qingping Mountain that Daoist Jiang is willing to live in seclusion there all this time. Someone unaware might think it was a blessed land!"

Xu Xiao had not thought much of it at first, but upon hearing this, she frowned slightly. She recalled that when she had gone to Qingping Mountain to retrieve talismans, she too seemed to have sensed something strange about the mountain's aura.

But at the time, she had not given it much thought, assuming only that Jiang Sheng had set up some formation to prevent evil cultivators from spying on his cultivation abode again.

Now that she thought about it, Jiang Sheng's stubborn refusal to leave the mountain did seem to conceal something.

But Xu Xiao quickly suppressed that thought.

Whatever Jiang Sheng was hiding was his own business and had nothing to do with anyone else. Besides, the River God Grand Sacrifice was about to begin, and they would not be able to do without a powerful fighter like Jiang Sheng when it came time to slay the demon in the river.

Thus, Xu Xiao directly interrupted everyone's train of thought. "All right. Daoist Jiang's secluded cultivation is also for the sake of slaying demons and eliminating evil. Among us, Daoist Jiang is the strongest. Perhaps he has been honing his blade all this time."

Wenren Jie nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. Before any great battle, one must always adjust one's state of mind. It is said Daoist Jiang's swordsmanship is unmatched. Perhaps he is cultivating sword intent in the mountains, merely waiting to leave the sheath."

Seeing Xu Xiao and Wenren Jie both say so, Young Master Kongxu did not continue steering the conversation toward Qingping Mountain. In any case, he had already planted a seed in everyone's hearts. With a great battle imminent, they would not think much about it now—but what about after the battle?

Once that seed took root and sprouted, would they still be the same as they were now?

Who could say they would not go to Qingping Mountain to take a look?

Young Master Kongxu therefore smiled as well. "That is true. Everyone, let us discuss what we should do next."

Zhang Qing immediately said, "Very well. Now that everyone is here, I will go over the plan once more."

"Every year, Qingshan County's River God Grand Sacrifice formally begins at the first quarter of the hour of noon on New Year's Eve. Our plan is to begin operations three days before New Year's Eve, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month."

"At that time, all cultivators will be summoned to East River Town to jointly attack the River God's Water Palace."

"If the demon has not awakened, we will strike directly and kill it. If it has awakened, we will use those Qi Refinement cultivators to hold it off, then launch a surprise assault after nightfall!"

"It is said that before the River God Grand Sacrifice, the demon will enter an extremely brief period of weakness. Though we do not know why it weakens during that time, this information is at least fifty percent credible."

"As long as we seize that opportunity, the demon will surely die!"

The others all nodded. If the demon truly had a period of weakness before the River God Grand Sacrifice, their chances of success would increase greatly.

Moreover, they had those rogue Qi Refinement cultivators to serve as cannon fodder. No matter how one looked at it, this plan was exceedingly sound.

After agreeing on the plan, the group dispersed once more, searching throughout the county seat for traces of evil cultivators while also sealing off every part of the city, lest the local gentry, wealthy merchants, and common people cause trouble again.

Zhang Qingyun had also been driven to desperation by the gentry. Taking Zhang Qing's advice, he directly had cultivators seal off different districts, dividing the entire Qingshan County Seat into separate blocks.

The common people and gentry in each area could not join together, temporarily stabilizing the situation.

Once they had slain the demon in the river, the common people and gentry would naturally understand Zhang Qingyun's painstaking intentions.

There were now eight Foundation Establishment cultivators in the city. Xu Xiao remained stationed at the county yamen, while Wenren Jie, Young Master Kongxu, and Qiao Xuan guarded the most important northern and southern districts. The eastern and western districts were handed to the remaining four, while the rogue Qi Refinement cultivators were assigned under their command, each responsible for a smaller area.

Young Master Kongxu had been born with handsome features. He was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator of no small ability, quite renowned throughout Qing Province. Coupled with the refined and courteous manner he deliberately displayed, people took him for nothing less than a brilliant top scholar.

Thus, the gentry and wealthy merchants of the city were all willing to befriend Young Master Kongxu.

Young Master Kongxu spent most of his time in the city as a guest in the homes of various gentry. Whenever he drank wine and composed poetry, great numbers of scholars and literati would echo his verses, while daughters of wealthy households cast covert glances his way, leaving him thoroughly pleased.

Of course, Young Master Kongxu knew that they flattered him only because he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but so what?

After leaving the county yamen, Young Master Kongxu naturally went to the home of one of the local gentry.

This gentry family was surnamed Huang, one of Qingshan County's most prominent households, possessing vast farmland and numerous shops, with incomparably abundant wealth.

Master Huang had also been among the first gentry to invite Young Master Kongxu. Whenever Young Master Kongxu visited the Huang Family, Master Huang entertained him according to the highest standards, even allowing him to choose freely among the maidservants and concubines in the residence.

This time, Master Huang invited Young Master Kongxu again, and naturally, Young Master Kongxu agreed without hesitation.

Upon arriving at the Huang Family, he was once more greeted by graceful songs and dances, fine wine and delicacies, and beautiful women at his side, leaving Young Master Kongxu exceedingly satisfied.

As the drinking reached its height, Master Huang suddenly leaned close to Young Master Kongxu and said something. Young Master Kongxu's eyes immediately lit up, and he followed Master Huang away from the banquet into a study in the Huang Family's rear courtyard.

"Master Huang, what treasure do you have that you insisted on bringing me here to see?" Young Master Kongxu looked drunk, but his eyes were exceptionally clear. He was no fool fresh out of the gate; how could he so easily let down his guard?

Master Huang solemnly brought out a chest. "Young Master Kongxu may not know this, but the Huang Family owes its present prosperity to the treasure inside this chest!"

Young Master Kongxu narrowed his eyes slightly. After sensing that no hidden weapons lay concealed within the chest, he smiled. "Then I must trouble Master Huang to open it and let me have a look."

Master Huang nodded, placed the chest atop the desk, and opened it. A piece of red silk lay inside, covering what appeared to be a statue.

As Master Huang lifted the red silk, Young Master Kongxu instantly drew his sword, his expression turning incomparably grave. The statue was unmistakably in the likeness of Qingshan County's River God!

"Master Huang, what do you mean by this?" Young Master Kongxu's voice was icy, and the Azure Water Ritual Sword in his hand was already pressed against Master Huang's throat.

Master Huang carefully raised both hands to show that he meant no harm. In a soft voice, he said, "Young Master Kongxu, Lord River God says he can help you attain the Purple Mansion Realm."

Young Master Kongxu's expression did not change, but a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "You expect me to trust a demon?"

Master Huang continued, "Lord River God sincerely wishes to help you, Young Master. Lord River God is willing to pay you a Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pill in advance!"

The Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pill was the finest pill for a Foundation Establishment cultivator breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm, able to increase the chance of entering the Purple Mansion Realm by thirty percent!

Young Master Kongxu was finally moved, but the sword in his hand remained steadily pressed against Master Huang's throat. "A Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pill? There are only a few families in all of Dongjun that possess such a precious pill. What virtue or ability do I possess to merit Lord River God's high regard?"

Master Huang chuckled and carefully used his finger to push aside the blade of the Azure Water Ritual Sword. "Young Master need only reveal a little information."

"If Young Master can continue cooperating with Lord River God, then Purple Yang Jade and Purple Heart Jade Marrow may not be impossible either."