Chapter 664: The Third Step, Borrowing a Chicken to Lay Eggs

At Tian Xiao's place.

A group of strategists examined the intelligence gathered from Xingdou City. Fireworks all night? Xing Taidou's roar? What was the connection? According to the young master, Zhong Shan's hand was definitely in this, but what exactly had Zhong Shan done?

Confused and fatigued, the strategists continued to speculate.

At that moment, Xiao Wang's pupils contracted, and his face showed a look of extreme shock, as if he had thought of something crucial.

"No way," Xiao Wang muttered to himself.

"Xiao Wang, have you thought of something?" Tian Xiao immediately turned to Xiao Wang.

"I'm not sure," Xiao Wang shook his head.

"Oh? Tell us what you think!"

Everyone turned to look at Xiao Wang.

"Zhong Shan's first step was to make Shen Xiu harbor resentment towards the Tian family. This second step must have caused someone else to harbor the same resentment. Ye Qingcheng? Impossible! Then, Xing Taidou?" Xiao Wang said with grave seriousness.

"Ahhhhh!" Tian Xiao took a sharp breath. The others, however, still didn't understand, clearly not getting the point.

"Could Zhong Shan really be such a demon?" For the first time, Tian Xiao showed a look of astonishment towards Zhong Shan.

The group looked perplexed.

"I don't know. I've never been able to figure him out," Xiao Wang shook his head.

"Young master, this... will the Tian family be...?" Although a subordinate didn't understand fully, he could tell from their expressions that there was concern.

Taking a deep breath, Tian Xiao shook his head, "No need to worry. Even with Zhong Shan and all the surrounding forces, they can't impact the Tian family."

"Yes!" The subordinates replied.

"This is getting more interesting. Keep investigating, keep probing. Zhong Shan? Such talent, I must have him!" Tian Xiao said excitedly.

"Yes!" The subordinates responded promptly.

In Xingdou City, within the palace.

"Lord Ye, gather the elders of the Immortal Realm. When they arrive, we will annihilate the Tian family!" Xing Taidou said to Ye Qingcheng.

Ye Qingcheng looked at Xing Taidou, his eyes showing a hint of peculiarity.

Shaking his head, Ye Qingcheng said, "No need. The elders of the Immortal Realm are in deep seclusion. Let's keep an eye on the Tian family and act accordingly. Besides, didn't we already go once? We couldn't do anything to the Tian family with our strength alone. Unless we have external help, don't rush."

Don't rush? A flash of angry impatience crossed Xing Taidou's eyes, but he restrained himself.

"Alright," Xing Taidou could only nod.

At Zhong Shan's place.

"Zhong Shan, what's the third step?" Yi Lan Que asked.

"The third step is simple, borrowing a chicken to lay eggs!" Zhong Shan said confidently.

"Borrowing a chicken to lay eggs? Which chicken?" Yin Luo Yue asked.

"Xing Taidou!" Zhong Shan replied.

"Huh?" Yin Luo Yue looked puzzled. If Xing Taidou knew he was being likened to a chicken, who knows how he'd feel.

"You want Xing Taidou to persuade Ye Qingcheng to attack the Tian family again?" Yi Lan Que frowned.

"Exactly. Xing Taidou is already on the edge. He just needs a little push to tip him over. By exploiting his newfound hatred and desperation, we can use him as the driving force to initiate an all-out assault on the Tian family," Zhong Shan explained.

"But won't Ye Qingcheng be cautious? He seems reluctant to act rashly," Yin Luo Yue asked.

"Ye Qingcheng's reluctance is temporary. Once Xing Taidou's determination turns into fanaticism, his persistence will wear down Ye Qingcheng's caution. And with the right incentives and external pressures, Ye Qingcheng will have no choice but to join forces," Zhong Shan said with a knowing smile.

"This way, Xing Taidou becomes the spearhead of our attack while we remain in the shadows, manipulating events from behind," Yi Lan Que said, now understanding the brilliance of the plan.

"Exactly. Borrowing a chicken to lay eggs. We use Xing Taidou's desperation and Ye Qingcheng's eventual cooperation to achieve our goal without exposing ourselves directly," Zhong Shan concluded.

The next day, news of the previous night's events in Xingdou City spread far and wide. The night of fireworks celebrating Ye Qingcheng and Xing Taidou's roar were both steeped in mystery.

This information soon reached Tian Xiao.

Reading the report, Tian Xiao's brows furrowed deeply.

"What is going on? I feel something is off, very off. Xiao Wang, take a look. Do you see anything unusual?" Tian Xiao handed the report to Xiao Wang.

"Yes!" Xiao Wang took the report and examined it carefully.

"I'm sure Zhong Shan's hand is in this. The fireworks must be related to him. But what is the issue? And why did Xing Taidou roar?" Tian Xiao pondered, frowning deeply.

"Yes!" Zhong Shan nodded.

"But they've already tried once and couldn't defeat the Tian family. Isn't that far from your expectations?" Yi Lan Que frowned.

"Once you borrow the chicken to lay the egg, won't the egg eventually hatch into another chicken? Chicken lays egg, egg hatches chicken! This cycle will repeat, like a snowball rolling down a mountain. Can the situation at the top of the mountain be the same as at the bottom?" Zhong Shan explained.

"Huh?" Yi Lan Que was puzzled, not understanding Zhong Shan's plan.

"So, what should we do?" Yin Luo Yue asked.

"First, we meet Xing Taidou and borrow this 'chicken'!" Zhong Shan said in a serious tone.

In Xingdou City, within the imperial court.

Xing Taidou listened to his ministers describe the current state of the Xingdou Imperial Dynasty, noting the widespread despair among the populace.

Hearing one bad news after another, Xing Taidou's expression was somewhat wooden, almost dazed. A few days ago, he would have been deeply worried, his heart tied to the fate of the Xingdou Imperial Dynasty. But now, ever since that night of brilliant fireworks, Xing Taidou's mindset had completely changed.

The survival of the Xingdou Imperial Dynasty no longer stirred even the slightest ripple in his heart.

As long as the Tian family was not destroyed, the Xingdou Imperial Dynasty, no matter how prosperous, was useless. The Tian family had to be destroyed.

Once the Tian family was annihilated, rebuilding an imperial dynasty would be easy. Even creating another heavenly dynasty would be no problem, considering he had done it before.

Xing Taidou's mind was now filled not with immediate concerns but with grand strategy. How to guide the overall situation? How to persuade Ye Qingcheng to lead the Immortal Realm in a deadly battle against the Tian family? Even if it resulted in mutual destruction, he would no longer worry.

The Immortal Realm had to act, and Ye Qingcheng had to be convinced.

"Your Majesty, the nation is in ruins, the people are in despair. The Xingdou Imperial Dynasty is in grave danger!" a minister shouted.

The shout jolted Xing Taidou out of his thoughts.

"Yes, I know," Xing Taidou nodded.

"Huh?" The minister was taken aback by Xing Taidou's dismissive response, realizing that the emperor hadn't listened to a word of his long report.

The ministers looked at Xing Taidou strangely, some wondering if he was planning to abandon the Xingdou Imperial Dynasty.

Just as Xing Taidou was about to impatiently dismiss the court, a guard suddenly rushed into the hall.

"Report!"

The guard's loud report startled everyone. What could make a guard dare to intrude?

"Your Majesty, someone outside the palace has sent a visiting card!" the guard said respectfully.

"Oh?" Xing Taidou raised an eyebrow.

The ministers began to scold the guard, questioning his understanding of protocol.

"Fool! A visiting card? Didn't the Ministry of Rites teach you the rules? Any matter can wait until after the court session. How dare you intrude?" an official shouted angrily.

"Your Majesty, the visitor claims to be Zhong Shan from the Great Yan Heavenly Dynasty and the Tiger Tribe's Supreme Yin Luo Yue. An emperor and a supreme leader; I dared not neglect them!" the guard quickly explained.

"Huh?"

The ministers were momentarily stunned. An emperor? A supreme leader? These two individuals' statuses were no less than the emperor's. Why had they suddenly come?

"Let them in!" Xing Taidou said in a deep voice.

"Yes!"

Soon, Zhong Shan, Yin Luo Yue, and Yi Lan Que walked into the main hall of the court.

Yi Lan Que stood behind Zhong Shan, not revealing his identity, appearing as if he were merely accompanying the other two. No one paid him any particular attention.

"Zhong Shan, greeting the Great Emperor Xingdou!" Zhong Shan said with a smile.

With the fall of the Great Yan Heavenly Dynasty, Xing Taidou was no longer an emperor and was now referred to as the Great Emperor. Zhong Shan used this term to establish equality between them in conversation.

"Xing Taidou, we meet again," Yin Luo Yue added.

At this moment, Xing Taidou's eyelid twitched. He could see that these three were led by Zhong Shan.

Xing Taidou had information on Zhong Shan, knowing that his origins were mysterious and that he was highly capable, having come from the mortal realm. He had learned this from the Immortal Realm.

"What brings you both here from afar?" Xing Taidou, sitting on his throne, asked with a frown.

Perhaps because Yi Lan Que appeared too ordinary, Xing Taidou directly overlooked him.

"We are here for the Tian family," Zhong Shan said in a serious tone.

"Oh?" Xing Taidou's interest was piqued.

"We are here to destroy the Tian family!" Zhong Shan reiterated loudly.

"Whoosh!" Xing Taidou stood up abruptly, staring intently at Zhong Shan.

The ministers were surprised to see Xing Taidou stand up so suddenly. What did it mean?

"Dismiss the court!" Xing Taidou said softly.

"Dismiss the court~~~~~~~~~~~~" the old eunuch behind Xing Taidou immediately shouted.

"Long live the emperor, long live, long live~~~~" The ministers chanted as they left the hall, faces filled with confusion.

Once the ministers had departed, only five people remained in the hall: Xing Taidou, the old eunuch, Zhong Shan, Yin Luo Yue, and Yi Lan Que.

"Emperor Zhong Shan of the Great Yan Dynasty?" Xing Taidou slowly walked down from his throne.

"Yes, it is I," Zhong Shan said calmly with a smile.

"You are the one who discredited Tian Xiao?" Xing Taidou asked curiously.

"Indeed, it was me."

"When you left the Tian family that day, it must have been quite unpleasant. Do you really want to destroy the Tian family?" Xing Taidou stared hard at Zhong Shan.

"Don't you want to?" Zhong Shan retorted.

"Hahahahaha~~~!" Xing Taidou burst into a loud laugh.

"Yes, I very much want to. But what is your purpose in seeking me out?" Xing Taidou's expression then turned serious as he looked at Zhong Shan.

"To conspire with you against the Tian family!" Zhong Shan said confidently.

"Oh? Conspire against the Tian family? What makes you think you have the capital to conspire with me?" Xing Taidou squinted his eyes.

"I am not inferior to you!" Zhong Shan affirmed.

"Not inferior to me? Hahaha, it's been a long time since I've seen such an arrogant youngster. Do you know how much capital I have?" Xing Taidou sneered.

"You, the eunuch behind you, Shen Xiu, and the Immortal Realm members. Am I right?" Zhong Shan smiled.

"Correct. And you? Do you only have Yin Luo Yue?" Xing Taidou stared at Zhong Shan.

"Yin Luo Yue? He is not involved in this matter. However, I am sure you have investigated me and know that I, Zhong Shan, do not speak empty words. If I say I have the capital, then I have it, and it is not inferior to yours. If you are sincere, we can conspire against the Tian family together!" Zhong Shan said seriously.

Xing Taidou's brows furrowed deeply as he stared at Zhong Shan. How could Zhong Shan gather a group of Heaven-Realm cultivators? Xing Taidou had studied Zhong Shan but couldn't figure out where he got such powerful allies.

"Where is this capital you speak of?" Xing Taidou squinted his eyes.

"When your determination is united, my capital will naturally appear before you!" Zhong Shan said confidently.

Both Xing Taidou and the old eunuch, as well as Yi Lan Que, stared at Zhong Shan intently. Only Yin Luo Yue was sweating nervously. Where was this capital? Don't blow it, Zhong Shan! From the Great Yan Dynasty to here, he hadn't seen any allies. Besides, Xuan Yuan wouldn't follow Zhong Shan to attack the Tian family, and Mr. Corpse could only create a Heaven-Realm level ghost.