"What should we do?"
Facing the questions from Zhang Da-niu and Han Li, Qi Ping looked down at the city famous for its illegal trades, his eyes gleaming with intense killing intent. After setting up a protective barrier to prevent eavesdropping, Qi Ping spoke slowly.
"Don't they want us to fight to the death with the people behind Starfall City so they can sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, then swoop in and reap the rewards? But how could we ever let them have their way? Since they want me to do this, then I shall do it! However, a small skirmish is boring. To break the opponent's layout, there is only one method we can use: muddle the waters and bring down the heavens!"
Hearing Qi Ping's words, both Han Li and Zhang Da-niu were jolted.
Muddle the waters? Bring down the heavens?
Han Li seemed to grasp something, but because he didn't know Qi Ping's true strength, he couldn't be sure of the key details.
"Senior Brother, how do we do it?" the two asked simultaneously.
"Let's talk about bringing down the heavens first. It's simple: a massacre. According to the rules set by the Qingyuan Sect and our duties as Wardens, we will kill everyone involved in the black industry who deserves to die according to the rules! And those whose deaths are debatable? Kill them all as well! These people, whose hands are stained with the blood of the innocent, deserve to die anyway. There's nothing more to say about them. The main problem is that there are too few people left in the city right now; we have to find a way to lure them back! Only if enough people die, and if a few heavyweight figures from within our sect who are involved in the black industry also fall, will it be enough."
Qi Ping continued coldly, "And just dying isn't enough. We must find evidence of these heavyweight figures violating sect rules and controlling the black industries. Then, we add the names of the people who trapped us in this dead end to that list and announce it all to the entire Qingtian Domain along with the evidence! We'll drag them down into the mud under the name of purging parasites! We need to reach a point where, if the Qingyuan Sect doesn't kill them, its reputation will be utterly destroyed. It must be so bad that countless low-level cultivators will want to leave the domain, and others won't dare to join!"
Although the low-level cultivators couldn't even scratch a Golden Core Elder together, if their numbers drastically decreased, the Qingtian Domain would decline. Economic income, rent, and industrial revenue would all plummet—and that was absolutely not a small matter.
"Senior Brother, this move of yours is ruthless!" Zhang Da-niu was shocked by the scale of the plan.
"Senior Brother Ya, this plan is a feasible way out, but I have a few questions..." Han Li was much calmer than Zhang Da-niu and had quickly identified the implementation methods and difficulties for certain parts of the plan.
"Things like determining the general range of the people behind our trap or spreading the word about the horrors of Starfall City's black industry across the domain aren't hard. We just need time to investigate and lay the groundwork. I can even compile some terrifying stories that would make anyone want to run for their lives... But the heavyweight figures behind Starfall City are very strong; there are even Golden Core Elders. Also, with Senior Brother Ya here, how do we lure those people back? Furthermore, the powers behind the city lose massive profits for every day the city is paralyzed. They might not give us much time and could strike very soon..."
Han Li stopped there. He had actually noticed another problem: the risk was too high. One slip, and the three of them would be buried without a grave. But they had reached a point where they couldn't care about that anymore. He had long prepared himself for death; now, all he wanted was to go out with a bang!
Qi Ping wasn't surprised by Han Li's concerns. He had already thought of countermeasures. He actually appreciated Han Li's meticulousness. With someone so careful helping him, combined with Han Li's connections, the plan would be much easier to execute.
"Leave the first problem to me. I will handle the killing of the powers behind Starfall City. Even if a Golden Core comes, I have a certain level of confidence in dealing with them! You don't need to worry about that!"
This casually spoken sentence sent a massive shock through Han Li and Zhang Da-niu. They exchanged a look, seeing the shared disbelief in each other's eyes. But they knew Qi Ping's character—he never boasted. If he said he could do it, he could! This was what shocked them most: Senior Brother Lin Ya's true strength was far more unfathomable than they had imagined!
Qi Ping didn't give them time to overthink and continued. "The second and third problems will be handled together. It's actually quite simple. First, we spread rumors that I have bowed to pressure and will not take action against any black industries in Starfall City. Then, Brother Han, I need you to communicate with those people and the powers behind them. Tell them I can turn a blind eye to Starfall City's affairs, but I want a share of the profits. Also, they must sacrifice a portion of their people every year for us to fulfill our duties as Wardens, so we don't face investigation or punishment from the sect. And they must not leave any blatant trails during our term. In exchange, we won't interfere and will even help them erase some of their tracks, acting as their umbrella..."
Qi Ping looked at Han Li. "Brother Han, you should be very familiar with such matters, right?"
"This... Senior Brother Ya, that won't be hard for me. I'm confident I can handle it well, but..." Han Li hesitated, looking at Qi Ping. "But if we do this, your reputation, Senior Brother, might be ruined..."
Qi Ping had been evaluated as a "Mainstay of the Sect" by the Heart-Questioning Mirror and had repeatedly rejected olive branches from the three major factions. They hadn't expected him to be willing to go this far.
To their surprise, Qi Ping only gave a faint smile. "I've never cared about reputation. A cultivator shouldn't be bound by such things anyway. From the beginning, I've only done what I should do. If I can achieve the result I want, what does a little stain on my reputation matter?"
Qi Ping's calm and indifferent attitude immediately earned him the deep respect of Han Li and Zhang Da-niu. As expected of Senior Brother Ya—his Dao-heart was admirably firm!
However, after saying this, Qi Ping's face suddenly became grave. He looked at the two of them. "Finally, there is one last problem: the risk of this plan is extremely high. If any part goes wrong, we could all be killed."
"Senior Brother, I, Da-niu, am not afraid—"
Qi Ping cut him off. "Listen to me. No matter what happens, I have more than a seventy-percent chance of escaping, even leaving the Qingtian Domain entirely. So, do not worry about my safety. Any risky actions must be attributed solely to me! You must not be involved! And I will find a way for you to escape safely before the final battle begins!"
"Senior Brother, but—"
"No 'buts'! You must solemnly promise me this! Do you understand?" Qi Ping said firmly.
Faced with such absolute resolve, Han Li and Zhang Da-niu could only nod in agreement.
"We will follow Senior Brother Ya's orders!"
At this moment, while their hearts were warmed, a seed of absolute loyalty to Qi Ping began to sprout in their souls.