"Things are as precarious as a pile of eggs, and they've only gotten worse. This is no longer a dispute over benefits, but a clash driven by hatred and wounded pride!"
"This is exactly what a Calamity of Killing looks like!"
"Kunlun won't remain peaceful for long, and neither will the Three Pure Ones!"
"Our Wu Clan has no primordial spirit and no need for Cushions. We're willing to shelter the Three Pure Ones in return for a favor from three future Saints!"
"To keep the Three Pure Ones from doubting our sincerity, and to make sure they understand the current situation, I've long heard that fellow Daoist Queen Mother of the West lives apart from the world and has stayed out of the Cushion dispute. It would be perfect if you could tell the Three Pure Ones about fellow Daoist East Prince Gong's assassination, as well as our Wu Clan's offer! Please help bring us together!"
"We'll certainly repay you once this is done!"
Hearing Chu Xuan's words, Queen Mother of the West was startled.
But she also felt he made a great deal of sense.
Indeed, even someone like East Prince Gong, who had no Cushion, had been attacked. Even if it was because he'd gotten involved in the Cushion dispute, it still said a lot.
After all, how many Great Luo Golden Immortals in the world hadn't gotten involved in this matter?
Very few!
The Calamity of Killing had become inevitable.
The Wu Clan's offer to shelter the Three Pure Ones was certainly a good thing. Though they also wanted to take charge, just as the Demon Clan had, at least it would redirect some of the attention.
It was a small favor.
Queen Mother of the West was inclined to agree, but she hadn't forgotten what Chu Xuan had said earlier.
"It can also be for Her Majesty's sake!"
Queen Mother of the West asked what she wanted to know.
Chu Xuan simply smiled.
"Our Wu Clan doesn't understand the Heavenly Dao's designs, so naturally we should build good relations with many Great Divine Ability Users!"
"Now that we have an opportunity, it's the perfect chance to build a friendship with Her Majesty!"
"Settle today's Karma, and leave tomorrow's Karma for tomorrow!"
"And with the Calamity upon us, perhaps Her Majesty also needs a suitable ally!"
"Don't rush to refuse!"
"Your Majesty, you want to remain above worldly affairs. But when the Calamity burns like a fire, will anyone really believe you? If even one person doesn't, and you get caught up in it, all manner of Karma will follow!"
Queen Mother of the West had intended to refuse, but Chu Xuan's words made her see the situation at once.
That was right. What she thought didn't matter. What mattered was what the other powers thought.
Besides, the Wu Clan was powerful. There was no harm in gaining an ally for nothing.
As for the Wu Clan's Karma, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to repay. After all, the Wu Clan was so powerful.
Queen Mother of the West sighed. Her graceful eyes turned distant.
"I truly don't know how to refuse you, fellow Daoist."
Chu Xuan smiled.
He'd dragged another Great Divine Ability User into the Calamity.
There was no chance of staying out of it.
If she refused, that would be easy to handle, too.
He only had to get a few Ancestral Shamans to attack Queen Mother of the West in secret once or twice, and she'd be caught up in it.
It was a simple matter to take care of along the way.
The main purpose was to get in touch with the Three Pure Ones.
Though he'd thought of it on the spur of the moment, it was time to put this plan into motion.
The Wu Clan had sheltered Nuwa, but it couldn't put all its eggs in one basket.
There was no harm in investing in a few more.
Of course, given the Three Pure Ones' pride, he couldn't invest as much in them as he had in Nuwa.
But even so, it would be enough.
It would also save manpower. The Wu Clan couldn't protect all three of them right now—not without exposing its full strength and even bringing out the Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Sha Formation.
For now, he'd just get involved.
"Have the few Ancestral Shamans who struck earlier fight each other. No one else needs to go after that. We'll take credit for all of it as the Wu Clan. We're both the authorities and the bandits—how are the Three Pure Ones supposed to play that game?"
Chu Xuan smiled.
The most important reason he'd decided to invest in the Three Pure Ones first was this:
"The Three Pure Ones are certain to become Saints!"
This wasn't merely Hongjun's scheme. It was more likely tied to the Heavenly Dao.
Chu Xuan had suspected as much for a long time, which was why he'd repeatedly instructed the others not to target the Three Pure Ones first.
His earlier strikes had only been meant to set things off, so he'd made a few extra moves.
Once this matter was settled, it would be time to target Zhunti and Jieyin. Those two would be easier to deal with.
Besides, striking them would have the greatest impact on Hongjun.
That was the Karma of becoming a Saint!
And everyone knew that Karma had to be repaid!
Chu Xuan's gaze turned distant.
The Queen Mother of the West: My Cloud Bed! Xuanming Takes the Lead! Having agreed to Chu Xuan's proposal, Queen Mother of the West immediately rose to go to East Kunlun.
Chu Xuan and Xuanming stayed behind to await news.
With Queen Mother of the West gone, nothing could hold Xuanming back anymore. After keeping quiet for so long, Xuanming finally spoke with keen interest.
"You really aren't afraid at all!"
Chu Xuan knew what she meant. Sitting on the Cloud Bed and eating the spiritual fruit Queen Mother of the West had prepared, he smiled.
"Afraid of what?"
"Or rather, what does our Wu Clan have to fear?"
"Even if she finds a flaw, so what? She's a clever woman—at least cleverer than East Prince Gong. She won't turn against us."
"That's why I chose to win her over."
Xuanming was pleased to hear this. Looking at Chu Xuan, who seemed to have everything under control, she felt her heart stir. She slapped her thigh with a bold grin.
"Exactly! Our Wu Clan has nothing to fear!"
In truth, as a member of the Wu Clan, Xuanming wasn't afraid of any of this. She wouldn't fear anyone even if they acted openly and aboveboard.
She was an Ancestral Shaman, and an Ancestral Shaman was still a shaman. The Wu Clan didn't care about any of this—hatred or anything else.
They just had to fight!
But this time they'd acted in secret, then openly pinned the blame on someone else in front of them. It was a new experience, and that was what had made her so unusually tense. Or rather, instead of tense, she was amused.
Back when they'd ambushed people or stirred up trouble, they'd always hidden themselves.
"I think I'm starting to understand why you love using poisonous schemes so much, little brother!"
Xuanming's mood gradually relaxed, and she returned to her usual carefree self. With a broad smile, she watched Chu Xuan's profile.
But Chu Xuan frowned at her words.
"What do you mean, a poisonous scheme?"
"How can you call this a poisonous scheme?"
"Have I harmed anyone?"
"It's human nature. It's the Heavenly Dao's laws. It's all part of the myriad things in the world. That's the Dao!"
"We're putting a whole new principle into practice!"
Chu Xuan spoke with firm conviction, refusing to let himself be slandered.
Xuanming stared at him in a daze once more.
Then her eyes brightened as she looked at Chu Xuan. Suddenly, she burst into laughter, her cool, alluring composure falling to pieces.
She leaned close and whispered in his ear.
"Little brother, you really are something special. You're no ordinary shaman..."
Before you continue