Qin Yao sat at the head of the table in the Holy Hall's Council Hall.
It wasn't long before Yue Guan and Gui Mei pushed open the door and entered.
Yue Guan was still dressed in an extravagant red-and-gold brocade robe.
He toyed with a brilliant golden chrysanthemum in his hand as he sashayed inside.
Gui Mei, meanwhile, was entirely wrapped in a black cloak. Only his hoarse voice emerged from within.
"Your Highness the Holy Son, what orders do you have for us?" Yue Guan asked, bowing slightly.
Qin Yao tapped the tabletop.
"Elders, over the next few days, I want you to activate every covert agent the Spirit Hall has in Heaven Dou City."
"Spread the news that we captured a Hundred-Thousand-Year Transformed Soul Beast in Sunset Forest."
The chrysanthemum in Yue Guan's hand stopped spinning.
He looked up in surprise.
"Your Highness, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is a priceless treasure."
"Once this news gets out, I'm afraid it'll bring plenty of trouble."
Qin Yao picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"Trouble is exactly what I want."
"Without trouble, how will we have an excuse to deal with those nuisances?"
Gui Mei's hoarse voice rang out from the shadows.
"Your subordinate understands."
"Your Highness wants to draw the snake from its hole and use this opportunity to weaken the other forces within the Heaven Dou Empire."
Qin Yao nodded in satisfaction.
"Go take care of it."
"Remember, make sure the news is half true and half false."
"Say the Soul Beast is currently being held at the Martial Soul Sacred Hall, and that we're waiting for the Worship Hall to send someone to collect it."
"Yes!" the two replied in unison before turning to leave.
Within two days, the shocking news had spread through every street