"What do you take the Spirit Beast race for?"
The Crimson King let out a cold, disdainful sneer. The heat around him surged uncontrollably for an instant, the temperature of the air rising until Tang Yuehua felt her lungs burn with every breath. If not for the deliberate restraint of the fierce beasts present, her body would have already collapsed to the ground.
His Lordship had only agreed—reluctantly—to hear this human out because of two reasons:
first, Tang San carried Spirit Beast blood, and second, that boy had managed to force his way into the top twenty of the Arena Rankings, a position that still carried weight in the current era.
But to think that this human woman had come here not to seek coexistence, not to negotiate boundaries, but to incite Spirit Beasts to participate in the internal slaughter of human sects—
"You want to use us as a blade?" The Crimson King's eyes glowed with killing intent. "You are not worthy."
Beside him, Hime's gaze was already fixed on Tang Yuehua like a predator staring at prey. A faint, eerie fluctuation of destructive energy coiled around her fingers, clearly preparing to reduce this ignorant human to ashes and feed what remained to the forest.
Throughout all of this, Gu Yuena remained seated before the Lake of Life.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
She did not even spare Tang Yuehua a glance.
Her indifference alone carried a pressure far heavier than overt hostility.
"How can this be exploitation?" Tang Yuehua forced herself to speak, even as her legs trembled violently. "The chaos within the Clear Sky Sect is a rare opportunity—one that allows the Spirit Beast race to enter the Spirit Master world without openly tearing apart the balance."
"Hmph!" The Crimson King snorted, flames erupting from his nostrils as he cut straight to the heart of the matter. "And how do you plan to explain this to Boss Li?"
"The Sacrificial Shop has already accepted two human women as official staff. If your scheme leads to retaliation—if it sparks war—do you think we can bear the consequences of angering him?"
His words were blunt, but every fierce beast present understood the implication.
The Spirit Beasts might be powerful, but they were not suicidal.
Tang Yuehua clenched her teeth. She knew this was the crux.
"If this escalates uncontrollably, then yes—it would be disastrous," she admitted. "But what if everything is kept within a controllable scope?"
She raised a trembling hand, activating a recording stone.
The image that appeared was unmistakable:
herself, late at night, persuading Tang San;
herself, secretly conversing with Tang Wei;
herself, weaving betrayal layer by layer.
"I possess evidence," Tang Yuehua said hoarsely, "proof that both Tang Wei and Tang San have betrayed the Clear Sky Sect."
"You need not act openly at first. Assist Tang San in seizing control. Once the dust settles, expose his crimes and execute him. Then, the Tang Sect falls into your hands."
"As long as pressure is applied carefully—without provoking a full-scale reaction—no united counterattack will occur."
The Ten Thousand Demon King narrowed his eyes. The Crimson King and Hime exchanged glances. For the first time, hesitation crept into the fierce beasts' expressions.
Only Di Tian remained unmoved.
"Why," he asked coldly, "are you so obsessed with destroying the Clear Sky Sect?"
Tang Yuehua's composure shattered.
Her face twisted violently, hatred pouring out like venom from a broken seal.
"I want revenge!"
Her voice cracked as she screamed, veins bulging at her temples.
"I want them to pay for Brother Hao's blood!"
"If they hadn't been cowards—if they hadn't abandoned him—how could he have been isolated, hunted, and forced into seclusion?!"
"If they hadn't led the encirclement, how would Chen Xin, Yu Yuanzhen, and Dugu Bo have been dragged in?!"
"If Brother Hao hadn't trusted the Sect—trusted them—how could he have fallen so completely?!"
Her breathing became ragged.
"And they still had the audacity to accuse him…!"
Her nails pierced her palms, blood dripping onto the ground.
"I will destroy the Clear Sky Sect. Destroy this Sect that betrayed its own blood!"
Her gaze turned vicious.
"And that woman—if it weren't for her, I could have—"
She stopped abruptly, eyes burning.
"Tang Xiao. That bitch. Tang San, who recognizes thieves as family, who cares only for power and profit—none of them will live!"
She looked directly at the fierce beasts.
"As long as you agree, all recording stones are yours."
The atmosphere shifted.
The Ten Thousand Demon King laughed softly.
The Crimson King's flames dimmed slightly.
Even Hime no longer immediately moved to kill.
Only Di Tian remained cautious.
"Are these meager human resources worth the risk?" he asked. "What if the Sacrificial Shop intervenes?"
Tang Yuehua inhaled deeply, forcing calm.
"The Shop is neutral. As long as no large-scale war erupts, they will not interfere."
"What you truly need," she said, eyes sharp, "is not resources—but influence."
At that moment, Gu Yuena finally stood.
Silver light rippled around her as she floated down, her presence instantly silencing all fierce beasts.
"Interesting," she said softly. "Continue."
Tang Yuehua seized the moment.
"There is no longer a fundamental contradiction between Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts. Limited cooperation is inevitable—but there can only be one dominant force."
"In the last major event, dominance belonged entirely to Spirit Masters. In the Sacrificial Shop's talent selection, every chosen candidate was human."
"Even now, transformed Spirit Beasts face an unsolvable dilemma:
no safe growth environment,
no systematic education,
no path to the top of the Arena Rankings."
"As long as this continues, Spirit Beasts will never surpass Spirit Masters in influence."
She spread her hands.
"You need a breakthrough. Haotian Academy is that breakthrough."
"Enter as guest elders. Control the Tang Sect. Then control the academy."
"Sacrificial coins. Political legitimacy. Alignment with the Shop's academy strategy."
"And most importantly—true integration."
Di Tian looked to Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena smiled faintly.
"A clever plan," she said. "But why should we trust you?"
Tang Yuehua immediately bowed deeply.
"Before absolute power, deceit is meaningless."
"Then hand over everything," Gu Yuena said calmly.
Before Tang Yuehua could respond, a terrifying mental wave swept over her.
Her pupils shrank.
Every thought—every hidden calculation—was laid bare.
"So that's it," Di Tian realized. "Tang Xiao fled with Ah Yin. That's why she's desperate."
Gu Yuena's silver eyes glimmered.
"Human hatred truly knows no bottom."
She placed a wisp of silver light into Tang Yuehua's forehead.
"Let me see how far this hatred can twist you."
In the end, the decision was made.
The hunter's net was cast.
And Tang Yuehua—whether she realized it or not—had already stepped into it.
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