Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 402 God's Residence

Upon hearing this, the ancestor Zhang Shengyuan who was sorting the fishing line on the side suddenly stopped. He raised his head slightly and looked into the distance, his eyes revealing a trace of solemnity and helplessness. He sighed softly and said, "The Demon Cult is indeed tricky. The war on the front line is tense now. The soldiers are fighting desperately to resist the foreign enemies. They are already short of manpower, and this Demon Cult is acting recklessly and stirring up trouble in the empire. We are too busy to deal with them. We simply don't have enough manpower and resources to deal with them." His face was full of fatigue and distress, and the deep wrinkles seemed to become more crisscrossed at this moment, as if he was suffocated by this huge problem, and could only relieve the heavy pressure in his heart through sighs.

Zhang Hanting's face was calm, but his eyes revealed a hint of intelligence and cunning. He slowly turned to Zhang Shengyuan, and said respectfully but with some certainty: "Father, the Demon Cult is now coming in full force, and its influence is spreading like weeds, which is extremely difficult to contain. But I think we can use the power of the five major sects to check and balance it. You see, on the front line where the war is raging, you rarely see people from the five major sects. They are powerful but have not devoted their all to serving the country. Can't we use them to fight against the Demon Cult together now?" He stared at Zhang Shengyuan intently, as if waiting for his approval and response. His hands unconsciously clenched slightly, showing his inner anticipation for this plan.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shengli's brow furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with confusion and curiosity. He eagerly leaned forward, his fishing rod swaying slightly, causing the float on the line to tap lightly on the water's surface. He raised his voice and asked, "Ancestor Hanting, this idea is certainly clever, but the five major sects have always been self-sufficient and free from the mundane world. How could they easily be driven into such a tug-of-war?" His eyes were fixed on Zhang Hanting, full of inquiry and confusion, and his forehead wrinkled slightly with thought, as if trying to find the answer in his expression.

Zhang Yuqian sat nearby, a faint smile plastered on his face, one that shone with a hint of mystery and confidence. He gently lowered his fishing rod, making a soft "click" sound. Then, raising his head, his gaze slowly swept across the crowd, finally landing on Zhang Shengli. He spoke slowly, "How difficult is this? With a simple trick, we can get the five major sects to join us. All we need to do is quietly spread the news that the weapon topping the rankings, the one everyone covets, is now hidden in the Dead Bell Desert northwest of Lingyuan City. And deep within that desert lies a mansion that once belonged to a god." His voice was deep and magnetic, each word carrying a magical power that resonated with the crowd. When he mentioned "the god's mansion," he emphasized the phrase, a subtle glint in his eyes.

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a boulder dropped into a tranquil lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. Zhang Shengli's eyes widened instantly, filled with shock and disbelief. His mouth opened slightly, forming an "O" shape, and for a long moment, he couldn't close it. Not only him, but the other elders present were also moved. Their faces, once as calm as water, were now as if swept by a violent wind, stirring up a turbulent sea. They had spent their entire lives striving for the pinnacle of martial arts, longing to break free from the shackles and enter the realm of the gods. However, the years passed, and they continued to grope in darkness, making no progress. Now, the four words "God's Palace" were like the brightest star in the night sky, plummeting straight into the corner of their hearts that they most desired, completely shattering their inner peace and shocking their souls.

Zhang Shengyuan was the first to recover from his shock. There was still a trace of shock in his eyes. His lips trembled slightly as he asked, "Ancestor, if that was really a god's residence, why would we make such precious news that could shock the entire world public? Isn't this asking for trouble?" His brows were tightly knitted together, his eyes full of worry and confusion, and he stared at Zhang Yuqian, as if trying to find a reasonable explanation from his face.

Zhang Yuqian, however, remained calm and composed, as if he had anticipated everything. He flicked his sleeves gently, as if to dispel everyone's doubts, and then said calmly, "Don't be deceived by appearances. Within that mansion lies nothing but numerous dangers." His eyes were deep and calm, like a bottomless lake, making it difficult to discern his true thoughts. He raised his head slightly and gazed into the distance, as if he had already witnessed the tragic fate of those who had fled to the desert after hearing the news.

Zhang Qianyu nodded slightly, a fierce look flashed in his eyes, and then he said: "If the five major sects and the people of the Demon Sect all hear the news and gather in the Dead Bell Desert, it will definitely trigger a thrilling battle. When both sides are defeated, we can take the opportunity to cleverly put the blame on the Demon Sect. In this way, we can reap the benefits, weaken the strength of the Demon Sect and the five major sects, and protect ourselves." His expression was grim, and his eyes were calculating and cold, as if in his eyes, those who were about to go to the desert were nothing more than chess pieces in his hands, at his mercy.

Zhang Yuqian shook his head slightly, sighed softly, and a hint of helplessness crossed his face. "While this plan may inflict some damage on both sides, it alone isn't enough to completely resolve the problem. However, let's take this crucial step first, and then proceed slowly." His eyes revealed a hint of fatigue and resignation, as if he, too, found the complex situation quite daunting. He picked up his fishing rod again and slowly lowered the line into the lake, his movements slow and steady, as if trying to calm himself.

Zhang Shengli understood, a barely perceptible sneer curling across his lips. "I see. First, use this alluring message to lure the various factions into that dangerous place. Once they've slaughtered each other, we'll seize the opportunity and strike. This is truly a brilliant move!" His eyes gleamed sinisterly, and his hands subconsciously tightened their grip on the fishing rod, as if he had grasped the key to this conspiracy. He secretly calculated that if this plan succeeded, his position in the family would surely rise even higher.