txolops Chapter 193 The Human Gambling War! The Muran People's Conspiracy!
Chapter 193 The Human Gambling War! The Muran People's Conspiracy!
"That's enough!"
Just as the two sides were arguing and several monks were red in the face, some even questioning whether there was a trick behind the Mulan people's "betting war" and whether they should avoid confrontation and fight a protracted war.
The black-robed giant, the Old Demon of Joyful Union, frowned, and his icy voice struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer, instantly silencing all discussion.
"Whether to wage a protracted war is a decision we three have already reached, and there's no need to discuss it further. What we need to do now is figure out how to deal with the Muran army of mages, not listen to your infighting!"
The old demon Hehuan's copper bell-like eyes swept over the group that had just been arguing. The oppressive aura in his gaze made even those early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, who still harbored some resentment, instantly shut their mouths and lower their heads.
In the cultivation world, strength ultimately prevails, and they truly had no right to offer any opinions in front of these three great cultivators.
"Actually, the dispute between the three fellow Daoists is completely unnecessary."
Seeing that the situation was under control, Venerable Zhiyang took over the conversation, explaining solemnly, "We had already calculated that with the sheer force of the Mage army's all-out attack, waging a protracted war and stretching the battle lines was simply wishful thinking. They won't give us that opportunity. If we don't concentrate most of Tiannan's strength here and launch a swift and decisive attack, we won't be able to stop their offensive in the slightest. A single sect or nation would likely crumble upon contact. In that case, it would be us who would be gradually worn down and eroded. Therefore, this decisive battle must be fought, and we must inflict heavy losses on the Mulan people, cripple them, and break their backbone! We cannot afford to harbor any illusions!"
These words were spoken with absolute certainty, and completely extinguished any thoughts that some people might have had of preserving their strength or stalling for time.
The hall fell silent again, the atmosphere growing even heavier.
"Fellow Daoist Zhiyang is right. However, why did the Mulan people insist on proposing this 'bet'?"
Dongmen Tu of the Yuling Sect frowned and raised a new concern, "According to the challenge letter, this battle will be held openly in front of both sides, making it difficult to use underhanded tactics. Furthermore, all participating cultivators must bring the rare materials they are betting directly into the arena, with the winner taking them on the spot. It seems fair, so why is it emphasized that... these ten betting battles must be held simultaneously?"
The phrase "held simultaneously" is like a fine thorn, stuck in the hearts of many.
This rule seems to be just to make the scene more grand and the bets more concentrated, but upon closer inspection, it always seems a bit strange.
Everyone was suspicious, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't figure out what kind of scheme the other party could pull in front of so many people.
Only Lin Chuan had a clear understanding of the situation.
He knew, of course, that this was a crucial part of the Muran people's treacherous scheme.
The so-called gambling war is nothing but a smokescreen.
The people of Mulan actually wanted to send out ten assassins who had taken forbidden drugs such as "Returning Soul Pills" and temporarily possessed the aura of Nascent Souls!
The sole mission of these assassins was to self-destruct instantly after the gambling battle began, using secret techniques and pre-arranged methods to trap the ten Nascent Soul experts from Tiannan.
Even if it's just half a day!
Within half a day, a large portion of Tiannan's top combat power will be crippled, and Mulan's army will immediately launch a general offensive.
Half a day is enough time for the tide of battle to turn completely, deciding the outcome of this war that concerns the fate of both races!
Of course, Lin Chuan is a time traveler, and this information comes from the "prophet," so he can't just say it outright.
Moreover, the main hall is currently filled with all sorts of people; who can guarantee that the Mulan people haven't already planted even deeper spies?
The way to expose a conspiracy must be clever.
Next, it's time to arrange the players for the match.
To ensure victory in the gambling war and to deter the Mulan people, the main force dispatched was naturally composed of mid-Nascent Soul cultivators.
The infamous Nascent Soul stage demons Yunlu Old Demon of the Hehuan Sect, Shattered Soul True Man of the Ghost Spirit Sect, and Dongmen Tu of the Spirit Control Sect were all named.
Han Li, although only in the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, had already made a name for himself by instantly killing the black-robed demonic cultivator of the Yinluo Sect with the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder during the battle of Huanglong Mountain. He was recognized as a powerful weapon against demonic and ghostly cultivators, so he was also named to participate in the battle in case the Mulan people sent out similar strange opponents.
Of course, those selected to participate in the battle, whether voluntarily or forced by circumstances, were promised extremely generous rewards—either extremely rare refining materials, elixirs that could enhance cultivation, or a promise of future power from their sect.
Without substantial profits, who would be willing to risk their life in such a bizarre gambling game?
Once the ten candidates were initially selected, the remaining Nascent Soul cultivators who were not chosen gradually left, making the main hall much emptier.
"Fellow Daoist Lin, Fellow Daoist Long, Fellow Daoist Feng, please wait a moment, we have important matters to discuss." Wei Wuyai spoke, keeping Lin Chuan, Long Han, and the Feng couple behind.
At this moment, only six people remained in the hall: the three late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators Wei Wuyai, Supreme Yang, and the Old Demon of Hehuan, as well as Lin Chuan, who was recognized as having late-stage Nascent Soul combat power, and the couple Long Han and Feng Bing, who were comparable to great cultivators.
These six individuals can be said to represent the core of Tiannan's most powerful fighting force at present.
"Fellow Daoist Lin, you've deliberately kept us here. Do you have other insights into this gambling match?"
Wei Wuyai looked at Lin Chuan with a questioning gaze.
He noticed that Lin Chuan had been silent during the discussion, but there was not much doubt in his eyes. Instead, it seemed as if he had figured something out.
Lin Chuan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Are you all aware that the Mulan people's aggressive arrival is actually backed by the Yinluo Sect of the Great Jin Dynasty?"
The Old Demon of Hehuan snorted coldly:
"The Yinluo Sect's reach is quite extensive! We've already noticed this; those black-robed cultivators and the strange behemoths are most likely connected to them. Fellow Daoist Lin, are you suggesting that this betting battle might also be part of the Yinluo Sect's conspiracy?"
"good."
Lin Chuan nodded, guiding the conversation, "Why don't you all think about this from a different perspective? We've been speculating about the specific conspiracy behind the Mulan people's gambling match, how they cheated to win. But what if their goal wasn't 'winning' at all?"
"Not a win?" Long Han frowned slightly.
"What if their goal is merely to temporarily trap the ten experts we sent, preventing them from participating in the subsequent battle?" Lin Chuan's gaze swept over everyone, posing the most crucial question.
"Trapped ten experts?" Feng Bingqing's cold voice rang out, tinged with a hint of confusion. "The betting battle is taking place simultaneously, and they will also send ten people. How can they be trapped? Unless…"
"Unless they sent people who weren't even meant for 'war'!"
A glint flashed in Venerable Zhiyang's eyes. He abruptly raised his head, his face showing a mixture of realization and shock. "Fellow Daoist Lin means... a suicide squad? Taking forbidden drugs to disguise their aura, and then using some kind of secret technique to trap the enemy in a suicidal manner?"
"The Returning Soul Pill!" the Old Demon of Hehuan said in a deep voice, his face turning extremely ugly. "Our demonic path also has similar pills that can cause a Core Formation cultivator's aura to surge to the Nascent Soul level in a short period of time, but once the effects wear off, death is inevitable! If they send out ten such suicide soldiers to simultaneously self-destruct at the moment the duel begins, and supplemented by some kind of spatial confinement or array treasure that the Yinluo Sect might provide... it is indeed possible to temporarily trap our ten people in one place, even if only for half a day!"
Wei Wuyai gasped:
"Half a day! If ten of us high-level combatants suddenly disappear, the army will be leaderless, and morale will inevitably collapse. If the Mulan people seize the opportunity to launch a general offensive, the consequences will be unimaginable! Fellow Daoist Lin, is your statement truly just speculation, or...?"
"It's just a reasonable speculation based on existing intelligence."
Lin Chuan remained expressionless. "With the Yinluo Sect involved, the gambling battle must be held simultaneously. Combining these two factors, the possibility of this plan is extremely high. Moreover, for the Mulan people, exchanging ten Core Formation warriors for ten of our mid-Nascent Soul warriors to temporarily withdraw is the best deal imaginable."