Essence Devouring Art

In other words.

Within this month.

If Wu Dao steps into the Twelfth Floor.

That would mean he’s at the Twelfth Floor in three different Daos!

Achieving Twelfth Floor combat power in three separate paths is far more than simple addition.

Even without being on the celestial vault.

Wu Dao would have the power to threaten a Dao Embryo.

”Then in Governor Luo’s opinion, what should be done?”

Yan Feihong looked slightly displeased, but he also knew that the Luo Ding Army was speaking the truth. He didn’t refute it, instead asking the Luo Ding Army for a countermeasure.

”Master, your disciple has confid—”

The cold, gloomy youth behind Yan Feihong, seemingly feeling slighted, tried to speak up, but he held his tongue when Yan Feihong simply frowned.

”In my opinion...”

The Luo Ding Army didn’t fault the blood-robed youth for his lack of etiquette. After a moment of contemplation, his expression turned cold and sharp as he declared:

”This Wu Dao is an extreme egoist. He will absolutely never do, or even get involved with, anything that doesn’t benefit him.

Before Pingliang was breached,

he met with one of Prince Nanyang’s men and seemingly made some kind of deal, which is why he willingly joined the conflict.

This time, he’s suddenly appeared on the front lines, and his target is Xuzhou Prefecture!

And according to all our intelligence, Prince Nanyang is inside Xuzhou Prefecture. I don’t need to explain what that implies.

If we don’t want a repeat of what happened in Pingliang, and if we want to eliminate this threat for good,

my proposal is to strike when he least expects it. We take the initiative and strangle this unstable element in its cradle!”

As soon as these words were spoken,

the atmosphere in the meeting hall fell deathly silent.

The others seated around the circular table all frowned involuntarily before one asked, ”Wouldn’t that be breaking the rules?”

They knew what the Luo Ding Army meant.

It was nothing more than this: if Wu Dao entered the battlefield and challenged someone as a Fighting General, they would directly dispatch a Dao Embryo master to eliminate him with a Thunderbolt strike.

But such an act would show a lack of Martial Virtue.

If they really did it,

Prince Nanyang’s side would certainly cast aside all restraint as well. The battlefields of the future would likely become contests between Dao Embryos, where anyone below that realm was a mere ant. The casualties would be unimaginable.

”Rules?”

The Luo Ding Army, however, shook his head. ”All warfare is based on deception. On the battlefield, there is only victory and defeat, not so-called fixed rules.

Besides, if Wu Dao really joins the battle, he’s essentially a giant bullying the small. It’s perfectly reasonable for us to dispatch a Dao Embryo.”

The main reason he dared to propose this...

...was that the struggle between the Southern Border and the Central Plains was currently at a stalemate. Even a worst-case scenario wouldn’t break this balance.

Killing Wu Dao...

...wouldn’t change much.

But if they let Wu Dao run rampant, the impact would be enormous.

”And what if he doesn’t join the battle?”

Jiang Changsheng stroked his white beard, breaking the silence in the hall, his gaze profound and meaningful.

”We ambush and kill him!”

On the other side, Yan Feihong’s expression was frosty as he said in a chilling voice:

”This boy’s growth rate is too fast. We absolutely cannot risk betting that he isn’t a hidden trump card Prince Nanyang has been saving.

With the Great Tribulation approaching, the path of Cultivation is arduous. It’s impossible to advance to the Dao Embryo realm in any of the three Daos.

Therefore, basically all Dao Embryos in the world are known and accounted for, recorded by name. Both sides have ways to deal with them.

But Celestial Treasure Masters are not on that list!

No matter which side gains a Celestial Treasure Master with Dao Embryo-level combat power, the threat they pose will far exceed that of a Celestial Being!”

”Ambush and kill...”

Hearing this, the Luo Ding Army furrowed his brow. He had thought his own idea was ruthless enough, but he never imagined Yan Feihong would be even more so.

With the might of the Southern Alliance’s army,

ambushing and killing Wu Dao wouldn’t be difficult.

But there was a problem.

How could they get past the Nanyang King Group?

On the current front line, which stretched across the Three Prefectures,

both sides had deployed measures to guard against trespassing Dao Embryos. To forcibly ambush Wu Dao without alerting Prince Nanyang’s side was simply unrealistic.

Unless...

The Luo Ding Army’s eyes lit up as if he’d thought of something. He looked toward the youth with the kind eyes and long eyebrows standing behind Jiang Changsheng and smiled.

”I was wondering why Alliance Leader Jiang would be willing to bring his precious treasure out. So you’ve already made a plan with Palace Master Yan...”

”This junior, Nangong Li, greets Alliance Leader Jiang, Palace Master Yan, and all the seniors present.”

Seeing the Luo Ding Army’s gaze fall upon him,

the white-robed youth behind Jiang Changsheng, who had been standing silent with his kind eyes, long eyebrows, and refined temperament, gave a modest bow to everyone.

The blood-robed youth behind Yan Feihong saw that the Luo Ding Army, who had previously shown no confidence in him, now trusted Nangong Li. He couldn’t help but size up Nangong Li for a moment, then furrowed his brow again.

’So weak.’

’At most, he’s at the Grand True Master realm of the Immortal Dao, with the strength of the Celestial Human Sixth Floor.’

’But...’

’...he gives off a strange feeling, as if he’s right in front of you, yet actually as distant as the horizon.’

Before his confusion could linger,

the Luo Ding Army’s next words gave him the answer: ”If we have Fellow Daoist Nangong’s Celestial Treasure to help us, then ambushing Wu Dao and retreating unscathed should indeed be no problem at all.”

A Celestial Treasure Master!

PHEW~

The blood-robed youth let out a soft breath. His gaze, as he looked at Nangong Li again, now held a hint of gravity, or perhaps even envy.

Although he was exceptionally talented in the Military Dao,

in front of a Celestial Treasure Master who completely defied common sense, he truly wasn’t much to look at.

Although...

...Nangong Li was currently weaker than him,

Nangong Li’s future was far brighter than his own, for whom the path was severed and Divine Techniques were out of reach.

”To be honest, this junior shares a blood feud with that Wu Dao for the murder of my father. I hope I will have the chance to kill my enemy with my own hands.”

Nangong Li faced the crowd’s appreciative gazes without a trace of pride or impatience, a flicker of long-suppressed hatred appearing in his eyes.

If Wu Dao were here,

he would have discovered

that Nangong Li’s appearance bore a slight resemblance to the contemporary Clan Leader of the Nangong Family whom he had killed during the breach of Pingliang.

...

While the various heads of the Southern Alliance’s army were plotting Wu Dao’s demise,

on Wu Dao’s side,

he had already crossed a thousand mountains and rivers to arrive in Xuzhou Prefecture.

Because he had given them advance notice,