Chapter 154: Warning
When Meng Zhang heard this news, his first reaction was to seek help from Twin Success Valley. However, he quickly realized that it wouldn't be of much use. Green Bamboo Mountain attacked Taiyi Sect more than two years after the incident, which was already giving Twin Success Valley some face. They clearly didn't want a large-scale conflict with Green Bamboo Mountain.
In warfare, one can only be a thief for a thousand days, but cannot guard against thieves for a thousand days. Even if Meng Zhang managed to get Twin Success Valley involved this time and stop Green Bamboo Mountain's actions, what about the next time? Twin Success Valley wouldn't keep obstructing Green Bamboo Mountain for the sake of Taiyi Sect forever. Sooner or later, Taiyi Sect would fall prey to Green Bamboo Mountain's sneak attack.
The initiative was in Green Bamboo Mountain's hands, and they would strike whenever they pleased. Meng Zhang regretted underestimating Green Bamboo Mountain's strength and leaving too many loose ends. The vengeful nature of Green Bamboo Mountain far exceeded his expectations, and he had overestimated Twin Success Valley's deterrence.
If Green Bamboo Mountain truly destroyed Taiyi Sect, would Twin Success Valley risk a large-scale war over just one Taiyi Sect? Even if Twin Success Valley wanted to do so, Flying Swan Sect would never allow them to act recklessly.
Meng Zhang realized that he had underestimated the power and methods of these major forces in the Cultivation World and failed to understand the true relationships between various cultivation forces under Flying Swan Sect's rule.
If it weren't for Jue Ying's timely warning, Taiyi Sect might have suffered annihilation. After Jue Ying analyzed the situation for Meng Zhang, he discovered his previous oversights. However, Meng Zhang still believed that recruiting Yang Family cultivators, especially talents like Yang Xueyi, was the right decision, even if it came with great risks.
His only mistake was underestimating Green Bamboo Mountain and not employing more secure means to rescue the Yang Family members.
Currently, Green Bamboo Mountain was planning to destroy Taiyi Sect, but for them, the Mirage Secret Realm was even more critical. The realm would open in a little over a month, much earlier than usual due to recent changes. Consequently, Green Bamboo Mountain was too preoccupied to deal with Taiyi Sect immediately.
With this buffer of time, Meng Zhang had more opportunities to prepare. After much contemplation and discussion with Jue Ying, he decided to take the initiative and disrupt Green Bamboo Mountain's arrangements.
Meng Zhang had formulated a plan, but it required a formidable fighting force, at least two cultivators at the Foundation Building level. Hiring Foundation Building cultivators from the black market was no longer an option, and Jue Ying's master, Luo Ye, couldn't move freely due to the demonic aura's influence.
As for Twin Success Valley, aside from the uncertainty of obtaining Foundation Building-level cultivators from them, Meng Zhang needed to keep his actions highly confidential to prevent any leaks.
Meng Zhang summoned Deep Earth, the Spirit General, and asked, "Deep Earth, you have displayed Foundation Building-level combat power before. If I provide you with enough stone stalactites, what level of strength can you reach?"
Deep EarthSpirit General pondered briefly before answering, "Suppressing ordinary early-stage Foundation Building cultivators shouldn't be a problem. However, it's best not to engage in prolonged battles."
Satisfied with Deep Earth's response, Meng Zhang still needed another Foundation Building-level combatant. When devising the plan, he had already considered this and decided to ask Shi Weiming for help.
Leaving Jue Ying at Taiyi Sect, Meng Zhang hurried to Singing Sand City to meet Shi Weiming.
Seeing Meng Zhang, Shi Weiming's face lit up with delight. "Sect Master Meng, have you changed your mind? Are you ready to enter the Mirage Secret Realm?"
Over the past two years, Shi Weiming had visited Taiyi Sect several times, trying to persuade Meng Zhang to change his mind and enter the Mirage Secret Realm to gather spiritual herbs. However, Meng Zhang had politely declined each time. With the opening of the Mirage Secret Realm approaching, Shi Weiming had become increasingly anxious. So when Meng Zhang appeared before him, he thought that Meng Zhang had changed his mind.
Meng Zhang shook his head slowly and said, "Brother Shi, I'm still firm in my decision not to enter the Mirage Secret Realm. I have come here this time with an urgent request for your help."
Shi Weiming looked disappointed and asked listlessly, "What do you need, Sect Master Meng? Please speak freely. As long as I can do it, there will be no ambiguity."
"I want to borrow someone from you to keep a Foundation Building-level elder from Green Bamboo Mountain occupied," Meng Zhang directly stated his purpose without any ambiguity.
"No, no, absolutely not. I've said it before; we only want to do business peacefully and won't get involved in the disputes between your local sects," Shi Weiming kept shaking his head at Meng Zhang's request.
"And besides, our people are too weak; how could they contend with a Foundation Building-level elder from Green Bamboo Mountain?"
Meng Zhang smiled and said, "Let's be straightforward. I came here to ask for the help of Senior Gu Tanghai."
"With your intimate relationship, this request shouldn't be difficult for you to fulfill."
"How do you know about Gu Tanghai's connection with us?" Shi Weiming's expression immediately darkened.
Meng Zhang remained silent and maintained a mysterious demeanor. During the last encounter, when Shi Weiming introduced Gu Dashan, Gu Tanghai's nephew, as a witness to the conflict between Taiyi Sect and Zhao Family, Meng Zhang used Mind Reading to gather information from Gu Dashan without his guard up.
He discovered that Gu Dashan's family and Shi Weiming's group were closely related and belonged to the same secret faction. Although Meng Zhang couldn't unearth the deepest secrets of this faction from Gu Dashan's mind, he was now employing Mind Reading again to read Shi Weiming's thoughts. While he couldn't access deeply buried information, he could glean some surface thoughts that Shi Weiming couldn't hide from him.
Seeing Meng Zhang's enigmatic expression, Shi Weiming fell silent for a moment before saying, "I don't know how Sect Master Meng found out about this matter, but please keep it a secret for us."
"If Sect Master Meng intends to use this matter to threaten us, then you've made a mistake."
"I assume Sect Master Meng wouldn't want to gain another enemy, right?"
Meng Zhang replied with a serious tone, "I have no intention of threatening you, Brother Shi. I simply seek a fair trade."
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