"It is not yet time to show our hands. We will follow the First Grand Elder's orders for now. I thought by escalating the conflict, I can use the other sects to destroy the Heavenly Demon Sect when the time comes. But, it looks like I need to personally take care of some things," the Sect Master spoke in a cold tone.
"True, by starting a massacre we could have created enmity with everyone. But, who knew that this old coot would interfere? Now, we can only create some animosity. Tch, what a missed opportunity," Liang Tianye said sarcastically.
"Are you mocking me, Junior Brother?" the Sect Master asked in a soft tone.
"Bah, I don't dare. Senior Brother, you are Yun Shinjie. From the famed Yun family. The family that's known to create geniuses who can create schemes and bring down even dynasties that had been established for several centuries. And you are the best of this generation. That is why this task was assigned to you," Liang Tianye said looking at his Senior Brother.
There was a trace of vigilance in Liang Tianye's eyes a bit at this moment. Even though he and his Senior Brother had the same mission, it would be foolish to completely trust any member of the Yun family.
People in this world might not know about the Yun family much. But, he knew the background of his Senior Brother well. Causing the descent of the Aghori Path was a very important matter. Not any cultivator could be in charge of it.
His Senior Brother was dispatched to this world to ensure that the work went well. His Senior Brother had descended as a kid and joined the sect as an outer disciple. He had slowly climbed his way from the bottom to become the Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
For such an important matter to be handed over to a little kid, one can imagine how cunning the kid must be. Almost no one from the Heavenly Demon Sect had knowledge about the descent of the Aghori Path. This was a plan that spanned several centuries as per his knowledge. And he might even be wrong about how long this has been in the works.
Liang Tianye was personally recruited into the sect by his Senior Brother. At that time, he had just been an inner disciple of the Heavenly Demon Sect. He hadn't known the terror of his Senior Brother then.
But, as he came into contact with the plan and the sect, he gradually realized how transcendal his Senior Brother's status was in the sect. The Yun family is not something that can be easily provoked. Their mere name brought fear into countless factions in the Upper Realm.
His Senior Brother was the most outstanding genius of the Yun family in this generation. In the last century, he has seen his Senior Brother's means with his own eyes.
That was the reason he was wary of his Senior Brother. He knew that his Senior Brother cherished his talent and was grooming him to be his subordinate when they return to the sect.
But, he also knew that his Senior Brother wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice him if needed. His Senior Brother was a ruthless individual. He might look imposing and scare these Heavenly Demon Sect members. But, none of them knew the true terror of his Senior Brother.
If any of these people knew his true face or even had an inkling of what his Senior Brother's name meant, then they would be quaking in boots. But, as someone who knew his Senior Brother well, he knew not to provoke his Senior Brother. So, he had always been a little careful while dealing with his Senior Brother.
He might act as if he didn't care, but every interaction with his Senior Brother caused him to be highly vigilant. Until he returns back to the sect, he knew that he was under his Senior Brother's mercy. So, provoking him was the last thing he wanted to do.
"Hah, I am sure you already have several backup plans for that. That is the reason you were in charge of this operation. Who doesn't know that Senior Brother Yun Shinjie is the best at concocting schemes in our sect? Just let me know what to do. I will act according to your will," Liang Tianye chuckled.
"I do have a task for you. Didn't your latest disciple die?"
"I do not care about that brat much. If he had survived and can be used in our plans then fine. But, why should I care about trash who got killed?"
"Oh, Junior Brother, you do care. At least, that is what you will show others. And no one will fault you for going berserk after learning about the death of your latest disciple. Just make sure that your actions stir a lot of chaos," Yun Shinjie said smirking.
Liang Tianye widened his eyes in surprise for a moment before laughing loudly.
"Senior Brother, you can even come up with a quick countermeasure at such short notice. You really are a genius," Liang Tianye praised Yun Shinjie.
Yun Shinjie merely smiled in reply.
*****
"My lord, we have investigated the matter you entrusted to us thoroughly. Here is the report," a beautiful buxom maid presented a jade slip to the young man who was sitting on a futon and sipping tea calmly.
The young man was wearing white attire with a small star-shaped emblem embroidered near the heart. He had a mild temperament and looked calm and collected as he sipped his tea.
The young man reached out and started reading the information on the jade slip. As he read, his eyebrows couldn't help but rise higher. Some of the information presented confused him a lot.
"Are you sure that the information in this is right?" the young man asked lowering the jade slip and looking at the maid.
The maid flushed scarlet having the young man's eyes upon her. But, she had gotten used to feeling like this whenever the young man glanced at her. So, she composed herself soon and replied.
"Yes, my lord. I personally double-checked all the information. We sent our best spies to root out the information. Some of the information available are top secrets that we had to pay a lot to get," the maid replied in a hurry.
"Interesting… who would have imagined that it was Liang Tianye, the Vice-Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, to be the one to leak the news about the Nine Colored Soul Lotus," the young man mumbled.
"And my brother got played for a fool. Heh, I always knew he was useless, unlike my Second Brother. No wonder he is only eligible to control an empire. Are you sure about the strife between the upper echelons of the Heavenly Demon Sect?"
"Yes, my lord. One of our spies is well-placed to learn about such information. However, he merely knows that the elders are dissatisfied with the Sect Master and the Vice-Sect Master. But, he assured us that there seems to be trouble brewing," the maid replied.
"The elders have forced the Sect Master to rescind his order to start a massacre near the Grotto Heaven. For this, they even asked the First Grand Elder to intervene. There might be some turmoil in the Heavenly Demon Sect soon. A power struggle might emerge between the Sect Master's faction and the Elder's faction," the maid elaborated further.
"A power struggle in the Heavenly Demon Sect," the young man hummed in delight. "This might be the opportunity I have been waiting for. I need to see my master and get his opinion on this. You are dismissed."
The young man rose and immediately left the abode. The maid had a forlorn look on her face as she went about cleaning after him. After all, it was her luck that she became the maid of the Crown Prince of the Star Empire. Even if she longs to serve him in other ways, she knew her place and was very conscientious in her actions.
The young man appeared near a small cottage by the riverside and bowed his head respectfully.
"Master, disciple has come to pay his respects," the young man greeted.
"Little Siukong, I thought you would be secluding yourself in preparation for the event that will occur in seven years. Why have you come here?" an elderly voice came from inside the cottage.
"Master has ordered me to keep an eye on any unusual behavior from the Heavenly Demon Sect. I have some news regarding that," Xing Siukong said respectfully.
Silence followed his words for a while. This didn't bother Xing Siukong. He waited patiently for his master to reply. After a few minutes, an elderly man walked out of the cottage and appeared near Xing Siukong.
The man didn't look anything special. In fact, he looked as if he was an ordinary old man who could be seen everywhere in the world. But, the more he was like this, the more respectful Xing Siukong became.
Cultivators who cultivate will usually radiate auras around them even when they don't display their cultivation openly. Any being that has power will radiate aura unknowingly. Be it a demonic beast, a mortal emperor, a cultivator, or even a lowly soldier who is proficient in wielding spears, they all would radiate some of their aura in the surroundings.
That was something that can't be helped at all. After one cultivates to Nascent Soul realm, they could easily differentiate such people from ordinary people due to their aura leakage. Even when cultivators don't reveal their cultivation, their bearing will give them away.
And Xing Siukong was currently in the final stages of the Nascent Soul realm. So, for his master to hide his aura and everything about him in front of him, Xing Siukong knew that his master's strength was becoming unfathomable. The last time they met, his master still leaked out some aura. But, there was nothing to see now.
The old man casually took the jade slip and started pursuing it. The more he read, the more his expression became confused. His brows furrowed and his eyes became lost in thought soon.
"Something is not right," the old man murmured suddenly and his gaze sharpened.
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