The Conspiracy Begins

The Huo Family's internal strife had been snuffed out just as it began. To outsiders, everything still appeared prosperous, and every member of the Huo Family remained as united as ever. Yet beneath the surface, storms were beginning to gather.

Everything in the shadows was concealed beneath the unusually flourishing facade. Every day, large numbers of lineages and Rogue Cultivators came to pay visits. The Huo Family's overall strength seemed to rise day by day, even if that rise was not particularly swift.

The Huo Family's former lack of foundations had been made up for by the vast number of gifts. One could imagine what kind of prospects awaited the Huo Family after this matter was over. The other lineages saw this as well, yet they were powerless to stop it. The Huo Family's growing strength was something none of the other top lineages wished to see.

Since they could no longer stop it openly, they could only act in secret. A group of figures met in an abandoned hut at the edge of Western Frontier City. The clothes these people wore did not look like the sort worn by people who should have been appearing here at all.

At some unknown time, another group entered the hut. "You're here. We've agreed to your plan, but Huo Hai must be eliminated. I don't want to see him leave alive," a voice rang out.

The speaker was Huo Yan. Behind him stood several Huo Family disciples, along with subordinates utterly loyal to them. Many of those subordinates were private soldiers, rather than people specially assigned to them by the Lineage.

"Hmph, we know Huo Hai's strength better than anyone. Do you really think people like us can kill him? Besides, you're the ones asking for cooperation now. If you lack sincerity, we won't agree." This time, the speaker was He Ya, the He Family's second young master. Speaking of which, He Ya's relationship with Huo Hai was not much better either.

Huo Yan nodded and said calmly, "I know you want that Concealed Weapon Technique as well. So do we. Don't worry. Once that brat hands over the Hidden Weapon Technique, each side will get a copy."

A faint smile appeared on He Ya's face. "Very good. Those who understand the times are outstanding men; I like people like you. Rest assured, when the time comes, only our two families will possess such a formidable technique. Our two families will become the two strongest lineages in the Western Frontier."

He Ya had come this time as the representative of the He Family head's faction. In truth, he could represent the entire He Family. At present, the head's faction held tremendous prestige within the He Family. Yet that could not last forever. If the head's faction wished to maintain control permanently, it needed even greater deterrence. This special Concealed Weapon Technique was precisely what they needed.

The Huo Family disciples shared the same thoughts. Huo Hai had entered the Spirit Blood Realm only recently, yet he could easily slaughter experts of the Spirit Bone Realm. That kind of strength made their eyes burn with envy, and at this point, they no longer cared whether he was a direct descendant of the Huo Family.

As long as one had strength, one was a direct descendant. There was no time to worry about such things. So what if they cooperated with the He Family? If they did not cooperate, they would be the ones to die. The elders behind them were no fools. Everyone could sense the family head's movements.

The family head was too strong now, so they could only delay things for the time being. Once they obtained the Hidden Weapon Technique, several elders could use it together. Even the family head would be unable to withstand such an attack. Huo Hai's abilities had already made that clear. If they did not resist now, they would die. For their own survival, let alone the family head, they would kill even the ruler of the nation without hesitation.

"Good. What we want is the Hidden Weapon Technique. I hope you won't deceive us when the time comes. Now we need to plan how to capture Huo Hai. That brat never steps outside his door these days. We can't exactly charge in and attack him directly."

The Huo Family was very powerful. Secretly pulling such petty tricks was one thing, but if they attacked directly and the Huo Family fought to the death, it would become a clash between two top lineages. Even if they won, they would be left severely weakened. Would the other lineages simply watch them recover?

After the previous incident, the Huo Family's defenses had grown stronger by the day. Outside Huo Hai's courtyard, a large number of Huo Family guards protected him layer upon layer. Huo Kai feared that someone would risk everything to cause Huo Hai trouble in order to obtain his Hidden Weapon Technique. Huo Hai's protection was now even tighter than that of Huo Kai himself, the family head.

Trying to get Huo Hai out from such airtight protection was simply a fool's dream. Even if an expert of the Spirit Practitioner Realm acted personally, success would still be impossible. Huo Hai himself was no easy target either; no one knew how things would end.

They did not have much time. After the testing ended, the academy would not make them depart immediately. Once they departed, however, they would be unable to return home for a long time unless they left the academy. That was the academy's rule.

This period was their final time with their families. No one knew how many years it would be until they met again, or whether they might never meet again at all. At most, Huo Hai and the others had one month before they would follow the main group to the academy. This was their final chance. Huo Kai was in the Spirit Practitioner Realm and not someone they could provoke lightly.

Who knew how powerful this Hidden Weapon Technique would be in the hands of an expert of the Spirit Practitioner Realm? Among those they knew of, the only one who possessed this technique was the Huo Family's absolute direct descendant—Huo Hai himself.

They did not consider Huo Yuner at all. A girl would eventually marry out, so how could they teach something so important to her?

Huo Yan sneered. "The defenses at Huo Hai's courtyard gate are strong, and we cannot deal with them. But Huo Yuner is different. She is Huo Kai's greatest weakness. Given the relationship between those two, as long as we capture Huo Yuner, he will definitely submit."

Huo Yan's words pleased He Ya greatly. "Very good, but we still need to make some preparations. If Huo Hai escapes, none of us will have an easy time afterward. Tell me, what do you plan to do? I imagine you already have a way to capture Huo Yuner." At the thought of Huo Yuner, a blaze stirred in He Ya's heart. What a pity. Such a lovely little girl was about to die.

At that moment, Huo Yan's expression changed completely, becoming vicious. "It's simple. That little girl Huo Yuner goes shopping in the streets every day. That is our best opportunity. Huo Yuner herself has no real strength. When the time comes, I'll draw the others away."

After a pause, Huo Yan's voice became even colder. "Then we only need to keep Huo Yuner here and lure Huo Hai over. We'll arrange Explosive Spirit Stones around the area. Once we get what we want, we'll detonate them immediately. No matter how strong Huo Hai is, he won't be able to leave alive. I assume a second young master of the He Family can find at least one death warrior."

Explosive Spirit Stones were Spirit Stones treated by a special method, causing the spiritual power within them to erupt all at once. When that spiritual power erupted, it would form a massive explosion. Unfortunately, only a small number of people knew this method of treatment.

Even the He Family had only purchased some Explosive Spirit Stones from elsewhere for emergencies. The reason they needed death warriors was that once Explosive Spirit Stones were detonated, the stones would explode within a very short time.

If someone ran outside at that moment, Huo Hai, once he realized something was wrong, could easily evade the blast by fleeing. Yet those below a certain level of cultivation, unable to control their own spiritual power from afar, could only detonate Explosive Spirit Stones at close range.

As a result, Explosive Spirit Stones were nothing more than chicken ribs to the vast majority of people. Even for ambushes, they were of little use; at most, they could be used to blast rocks apart. But death warriors were different. Once a death warrior detonated a Self-Detonating Spirit Stone, he would die as well. Huo Hai, caught off guard, naturally would not survive such an explosion.

"How vicious. If someone like you became family head, even we would not be able to rest easy." He Ya narrowed his eyes and spoke blandly. This man was truly too vicious, capable of dealing such a hand even to members of his own Lineage.

"Likewise. We are merely taking what we each need. I assume that after gaining such a huge advantage for nothing, you won't expect me to provide the Explosive Spirit Stones as well?" Huo Yan spoke naturally, without the slightest sense that he was plotting against others.

He Ya nodded in agreement. With Huo Yan's capabilities, it was impossible for him to obtain something like Explosive Spirit Stones. One had to know that Explosive Spirit Stones were merely a stockpile for those below the Spirit Practitioner Realm. But for Spirit Practitioners, they could already serve as a means of ambush. Spirit Practitioners could release their spiritual power over long distances and even control it freely.

The two exchanged smiles. This transaction truly gave each of them what they needed. Once it was complete, both sides would gain enormous benefits. If everything went smoothly, they really could become the two greatest lineages in Western Frontier City.

"Very well. A pleasant cooperation. Noon tomorrow will be the time for us to act. By then, I hope you will have this place properly arranged. I do not want any problems at that time." After saying this, Huo Yan left with his people.

Once Huo Yan departed, He Ya's expression darkened completely. "Second Young Master, are we really going to cooperate with that Huo Yan? That brat is simply a sinister petty man. I truly dislike him." Beside He Ya, an old man frowned as he spoke. This matter was of great importance, so the He Family had naturally sent an expert to protect He Ya.

He Ya shook his head, his face full of disdain. "Cooperate with him? Hmph, it would be more accurate to say we are using him. Such a good thing should naturally be kept in our own hands. When the time comes, we can simply make that brat disappear."

He Ya was exceedingly pleased. If this succeeded, it would not be long before even the Huo Family disappeared. What an enormous contribution that would be. If he handled this matter well, the position of next family head would basically be his.

Moreover, Huo Yan was a despicable man who could be so vicious even toward his own people; he would be even worse toward outsiders. How could He Ya allow someone like that to live and continue developing? Before this trip to Imperial City Academy, it would be enough to kill him along the way. No matter what he might become in the future, the current Huo Yan was merely an ordinary expert of the Spirit Bone Realm.