Qing Chen's expression was icy, his face frosty. He dumped all authority over troop deployments and all responsibility for communications and negotiations onto Xin Bairen, Xu Jiuling, and his other trusted subordinates.
He merely left them a cold command: "No matter how tortuous the process or how devastating the cost, I will neither ask nor concern myself with it. You have full authority to act as circumstances demand.
"All you need do is follow my instructions. Take my jade seal decree and swiftly contact the Three Corpse Demon Sect, the Azure Sun Sect, and the others.
"I want Cold Mountain Temple thrown into turmoil, like boiling oil poured over snow, without a moment's peace for even its chickens and dogs!"
With that, he swept his sleeve sharply, turned, and strode out of the secret chamber.
His retreating silhouette was like a blade.
Inside the secret chamber, Concentration Incense curled upward, its wisps of blue smoke dreamlike and illusory.
It should have been a tranquil place that calmed the mind and focused the spirit, yet it could not conceal the blazing fury in Qing Chen's chest. There was not a trace of clear, tranquil chill.
He had originally intended to give Cold Mountain Temple a few benefits, so they would send out more troops and lose more men, while also helping hold the Eight Serpent Sect in check.
Hmph, who could have expected these bald donkeys to seize the chance to open their mouths like lions? Do they really think my blade isn't sharp enough to sever their necks?
Or can they not discern the greater tide of the world, not tell who rules its rise and fall?
Have they forgotten which king outranks the other?
*The affairs of these archipelagos now rest with Xuanji True Lord and with me, Deputy