The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 1496: Intrigue Aboveboard

Chapter 1496: Intrigue Aboveboard

Intrigue Aboveboard

"The City of Chaos will be expecting the new order after the chaos. No matter how powerful the Hall of Returning Nature is, it has lost the initiative now. It was impossible for the Hall of Returning Nature to claim a territory that is as big as the House of Chaotic Storms."

"That is the reality, but the Hall of Returning Nature can't accept it, so they would definitely do something about it."

"When they do it, they fall into the trap that is set by the House of Chaotic Storms." Cha-Eun Xiao made a sigh.

Master Bai was even much cunning than before.

Cha-Eun Xiao did see through the plan of him, but he only stayed outside the battle to have a big range of view. If he truly had to face Master Bai in a battle like this, he wouldn't be sure that he could win!

"That is getting more and more ridiculous. I don't see all those inflections in it. Who has the bigger fist will control all. That's all." Bu Xiangfeng humphed.

"It is an iron rule in cultivators' world that the bigger fist has more power, but it doesn't fit the situation here. Think about it. The Hall of Returning Nature is the most powerful force in the Limitless Ocean indeed, but is it going to win a fight against the House of Chaotic Storms, the Xie League, and the Brotherhood Alliance together?" Cha-Eun Xiao asked.

"No. That's impossible. Even though the House of Chaotic Storms and the Xie League will fight together, what makes the Brotherhood Alliance join them? What you said is an absurd situation!" Bu Xiangfeng argued.

"That is just a metaphor. You said the Hall of Returning Nature is the most powerful, so it will get the biggest territory, and I just proved it wrong!" Cha-Eun Xiao said with a smile.

"Let's assume that you are right about this, but it doesn't mean everything you said is right. I don't think the House of Chaotic Storms made a good choice to stop there!" Bu Xiangfeng insisted.

"Hmm… Fine. Let's think this way. If you are the leader of the fourth most powerful force in the Limitless Ocean. Now, the House of Chaotic Storms has stopped expanding. Will you feel a bit better about them?" Cha-Eun Xiao said.

"Of course. They won't fight me for more of the land. I definitely will feel relaxed a bit." Bu Xiangfeng rolled up his eyes.

"That's good. Does it mean the House of Chaotic Storms has left you an opportunity? They left you an opportunity, so they have shown you respect, haven't they? They didn't say it out, but you know it, don't you?" Cha-Eun Xiao asked.

Bu Xiangfeng thought for a while and said, "I guess that is correct."

Cha-Eun Xiao said, "Good. That's enough for me. Now you have the opportunity to get a piece of land in the city, but you won't just wait for the land to come to you, will you? You surely will fight for it!"

"Absolutely! Only poisonous pies will fall from the sky. Only the pie I made for myself is safe!"

"Now, the Hall of Returning Nature comes to take a share. They are going to take some from the House of Chaotic Storms, even to kick the House of Chaotic Storms out of the city. Now, tell me, what would you think? Will you watch them? Will you just watch it?" Cha-Eun Xiao asked.

"Hm…" Bu Xiangfeng thought for a while, and said, "The House of Chaotic Storms has stopped expanding. They have obtained enough… Besides, there is still a lot to take out there, they don't need to get it from the House of Chaotic Storms… The Hall of Returning Nature could fight for their own land somewhere else… It is dishonorable to take things from the House of Chaotic Storms."

Bu Xiangfeng was an experienced cultivator. After Cha-Eun Xiao's questions, he had already guessed the result. Although he was stubborn, he wasn't a man without a conscience.

Cha-Eun Xiao nodded and said, "What else?"

Bu Xiangfeng thought for a while, trying to put himself into the position. He said, "If the Hall of Returning Nature is overbearing like that, I suppose they won't be satisfied even after they get the territory from the House of Chaotic Storms."

"What will happen if they are not satisfied? You are not an ally to the Hall of Returning Nature, so what is your thought?" Cha-Eun Xiao kept asking.

"Hmm… The Hall of Returning Nature is powerful. After it takes the territory from the House of Chaotic Storms, it becomes even more powerful. It is reasonable that it will keep taking more… I will have to worry about my safety." Bu Xiangfeng said.

"Will they attack you?" Cha-Eun Xiao asked.

"Yes, they will! I am sure! If the Hall of Returning Nature dares to fight the House of Chaotic Storms, they wouldn't care about us." Bu Xiangfeng started to sweat.

"Do you understand now? How is it? If the House of Chaotic Storms asks you for your support, will you go help them?" Cha-Eun Xiao asked.

"I will!" Bu Xiangfeng said, "We share the common fate. Helping the House of Chaotic Storms is helping myself. With the House of Chaotic Storms fighting in the front line, we will lose much less. It will weaken the Hall of Returning Nature for sure!"

"Isn't it simple?" Cha-Eun Xiao said, "If the Hall of Returning Nature attacks the House of Chaotic Storms, you will definitely make your move right away, won't you?"

"Absolutely!"

"What about the other forces? Do you think they have the same thought with you?"

"They do! We are not so different after all!"

Bu Xiangfeng was already soaked in sweats when he said the answer.

It was not easy to understand the truth without explanation. After the conversation with Cha-Eun Xiao, Bu Xiangfeng finally saw through everything. He was shocked!

"Now you are shocked, aren't you? But what comes next is even more shocking!" Cha-Eun Xiao smiled coldly.

"What? That is not all? What else?" Bu Xiangfeng looked awkward.

"Tell me. Now that the House of Chaotic Storms has set up the trap, will the Hall of Returning Nature fall into it?" Cha-Eun Xiao coldly asked.

"Well… If the Hall of Returning Nature has a wise man who sees the truth, they won't fall into it!" Bu Xiangfeng answered after thinking for a while.

"They won't? Is it possible that the Hall of Returning Nature escapes the trap?" Cha-Eun Xiao asked.

"No! They will fall into it!' Bu Xiangfeng was sweating heavily. He said, "They are the most powerful force in the Limitless Ocean, so they won't allow the House of Chaotic Storms to seize the highest point in the city! They know it won't be easy, but they will eventually fall into it."

"Okay. The Hall of Returning Nature will definitely fall into it, and the other forces will definitely help the House of Chaotic Storms. Isn't it a certain thing?" Cha-Eun Xiao asked. "Isn't it a trap to the Hall of Returning Nature?"

"Yes, it is!" Bu Xiangfeng got the sweat flowing down his face.

"If the Hall of Returning Nature attacks, will they get surrounded by the joint force of the other forces? Will they win the fight against all the other forces together?"

"No, they won't! But they have to fight! They have to show their people that they do not fear the House of Chaotic Storms."

Cha-Eun Xiao clapped and said, "That is what the House of Chaotic Storms wants. The west city is not the most important thing for the House of Chaotic Storms. What they want is to destroy their biggest enemy, the Hall of Returning Nature!"

Bu Xiangfeng was astonished.

'It seems to be such a simple move in territory competition… Are there really so many cunning plots in it?'

'What the hell are these people? Do they have to do it this way?'

'This young man here is definitely a monster! How does he see through the entire situation so clearly?'

"However… There are wise ones in the Hall of Returning Nature for sure. Perhaps, they can see the trap and keep away from it. The other forces are not a bunch of fools. They must know that it is a cunning plan of the House of Chaotic Storms. Perhaps, they wouldn't support it." Bu Xiangfeng thought for a while and still tried to argue."

"Well then, let's talk about the area taken by the House of Chaotic Storms."

Cha-Eun Xiao said, "The House of Chaotic Storms had taken the west city because they took the initiative. Nobody has a problem with it, except the Hall of Returning Nature. After all, the other forces have no reason to have a problem with the third most powerful force in the Limitless Ocean."

"These people will support the House of Chaotic Storms. If the House of Chaotic Storms didn't stop expanding, they couldn't have the chance to get themselves some land."

"They imperceptibly owe the House of Chaotic Storms a favor."

"The Hall of Returning Nature knows that it is a trap, but they still have to do it. They can't disgrace themselves. This is a fight that will surely happen."

"As long as the Hall of Returning Nature moves, the House of Chaotic Storms will ask for support. The other forces will move together to help. If the Hall of Returning Nature kicked out the House of Chaotic Storms, they might still keep expanding… They can easily swallow the entire city if the House of Chaotic Storms is out."

"The House of Chaotic Storms has shown everybody respect. If the other forces refuse to help, the House of Chaotic Storms will be provoked. Although the House of Chaotic Storms is not as powerful as the Hall of Returning Nature, it was much stronger than the regular forces."

"If they help the House of Chaotic Storms, they only have to deal with the Hall of Returning Nature. If they refuse to help the House of Chaotic Storms, they will have to face the expansion of the Hall of Returning Nature and the revenge of the House of Chaotic Storms at the same time. They know how to do the math."

"Therefore, they know the House of Chaotic Storms is using them, but they have to accept it!"

"There is no other way out! No matter how averse they are to it, they can't change the fact!"

"Only the Brotherhood Alliance can get over the trap! Nobody else can escape!"

Cha-Eun Xiao smiled and said, "That is what the House of Chaotic Storms is after!"

Bu Xiangfeng shed cold sweats and said, "Terrible! What a terrible intrigue!"

"Intrigue? I don't know!" Cha-Eun Xiao shook his head and said, "Everybody knows what this is about! It is clearly shown to everybody! That is why it is so good… You know it is a trap, but you have to jump into it! It is an intrigue, but only an intrigue aboveboard!"

"The key to the intrigue is the area that the House of Chaotic Storms takes… It is not a big area, but it is absolutely not small… It is the exact size that all the other forces can accept… If they took more, the other forces would attack the House of Chaotic Storms first. If they took less, the Hall of Returning Nature might not attack!"

"It is the perfect size! It is the core of the entire intrigue!"

Cha-Eun Xiao laughed.

Bu Xiangfeng tried to think of a reason to argue. "I don't think it is a sure thing. If the Hall of Returning Nature, maybe they will seize some places from the other four areas…"

"Absolutely not! They can't do it!" Cha-Eun Xiao confidently said, "If the Hall of Returning Nature can do that, why would the House of Chaotic Storms play all these?"

"Why?" Bu Xiangfeng didn't give up.

"Simple. The City of Chaos seems to be large, but not exactly. The House of Chaotic Storms has taken one-fifth now. Before that, the Brotherhood Alliance controlled most of the areas in the city. The prohibition is gone, and the House of Chaotic Storms is the first to move, so the Brotherhood Alliance will definitely be the second."

"The Brotherhood Alliance should have been the first, but the House of Chaotic Storms really did an incredible job…"

"However, the Brotherhood Alliance is still a local force, which is more powerful than the House of Chaotic Storms. It is not difficult for the Brotherhood Alliance to take at least one-fifth of the city."

"After that, no more than three-fifths of the areas are left. About five hundred other forces are fighting for the three-fifth, and the Governor's House might get an area as well."

"The Hall of Returning Nature did not make the first move, and they are not a local force in this city. No matter how powerful they are, they can't kill all the other forces, can they? Besides, the other seven of the ten most powerful forces and the Governor's House are also in the city! For example, the Xie League, which is an ally to the House of Chaotic Storms!"

"It will be a great success for the Hall of Returning Nature to take one-tenth of the city. That is only half of the territory of the House of Chaotic Storms!"

"The one-tenth may cost them a lot of money, people, and resources. Besides, the Xie League is out there watching them. The Hall of Returning Nature could end up having nothing in their hands."

"How could they not attack the House of Chaotic Storms before it is too late?"

"The House of Chaotic Storms planned all this. All in all, it is a battle nobody can escape!"

Cha-Eun Xiao turned around and looked at Bu Xiangfeng. "Do you understand now? When I said…"

"You said I knew no sh*t!" Bu Xiangfeng's face turned red. He raised up both hands and said, "I do know nothing. You are right…"

"It is not a humane job to be a leader of a big force. It is such a simple battle. They just fight for territories, and that should be all. However, the dirty plots play all the roles… I am done…" Bu Xiangfeng murmured.

"A simple battle… I don't think it is simple at all. At least…" Cha-Eun Xiao frowned said, "Over five hundred Divinity Origin Stage cultivators will die…"

"The divine weapons, dan beads, and other medical materials will be in great demand."

Cha-Eun Xiao took a deep breath and said, "Old Bu, it is dangerous. It is a danger, but it is also an opportunity. Perhaps, it is the biggest chance we have to accumulate wealth and to get an expansion…"

Bu Xiangfeng didn't answer. He was thinking.

Just as Cha-Eun Xiao said, it was an above board intrigue, but Bu Xiangfeng didn't see it, even though it was right before his eyes.

Cha-Eun Xiao was much better… He had just heard about the situation but then figured out everything behind the scenes.

It was not just about wisdom and schemes.

It was about vision, experience, and knowledge. He knew a lot about people's nature, different forces' territory division, relationships between every two different forces. He had such a smart brain.

It was all those advantages of him that gave him the capability of controlling all the information!

There was too much to learn.

Bu Xiangfeng seemed to be quite an experienced cultivator, but he missed a lot. Cha-Eun Xiao was young, but he knew everything…

He knew so much about the relationship between different forces, and he knew how those powerful forces would react when things happened… Bu Xiangfeng wondered how Cha-Eun Xiao figured all those out!

He was great about it!

Suddenly, Bu Xiangfeng had another question in his head. 'Did he… Did he thought about doing the same thing?'

In those days, Bu Xiangfeng had been sneering at Cha-Eun Xiao all the time, but in fact, he was more and more impressed by Cha-Eun Xiao. He saw how Cha-Eun Xiao cure Qiu Luo step by step, who then had recovered to the second level of the Divinity Origin Stage. After some days, he would be fully recovered, even stronger than before. Bu Xiangfeng also saw how Cha-Eun Xiao improved the Dark Evil Spirit and Bai Long as well…

Energy, martial arts, resources, and treasures…

Cha-Eun Xiao gave his people everything.

Bu Xiangfeng was jealous!

The other three men had become Cha-Eun Xiao's loyal and reliable followers!

They would never betray this young lord ever!

Bu Xiangfeng was sure about one thing. 'If I attack Cha-Eun Xiao right now, those three guys would definitely come and try to kill me, even though they know they will only end up three dead bodies in my hands… They know it is impossible to defeat me, but they will still do it for this young man!'

'They will give up their lives to save Cha-Eun Xiao!'

'Even though they can only buy one second for Cha-Eun Xiao with their death, they would still do it without hesitation!'

After staying with Cha-Eun Xiao for a longer time, Bu Xiangfeng clearly felt the vibe of a great leader on Cha-Eun Xiao. He was such a great man whom people would die for.

He was just a level three Faery Origin Stage cultivator, yet he dared to recruit a man in Saint Origin Stage!

That proved his courage and wisdom.

The four followers around Cha-Eun Xiao were all dozens, hundreds, even thousands of times stronger than him…

However, he was always calm and steady. How incredible!

His sharp eyes, incredible wisdom, meticulous mind, steady mentality, and a great leader's charm…

He got them all!

There was only one thing he didn't have now. It was power—a power that was strong enough to support his ambition! What was his ambition though? They didn't know.