While perusing the "Record," Yuan Gong's voice also transmitted a reminder to Tao Qian:
"Can you feel how formidable that bald old thief Shipi is?"
"It's fine to scheme against that baldy, just make sure you don't confront him yourself. Although you possess many treasures, if that old thing truly harbors killing intent, he could poke you to death with a single finger."
"Let Duobao go up, or let the Alchemist Gao Huan come."
Upon hearing this, Tao Qian immediately agreed in his heart.
Shipi Arhat was unaware that the "good disciple" he had in mind was plotting against him. After a cold snort calmed down the rampaging warlords, he found himself in a bit of a bind.
These warlord generals, along with the millions in their Extraordinary Armies, had all been deemed by him as mere materials and provisions for Refining Treasure.
However, the plan was to initiate action the following night.
Now was not the right time.
And as could be expected, due to the unexpected news, so many generals would no longer sit tight and wait for tomorrow night's event.
The long-anticipated "Central Plains Great War" was likely to break out early in the Northern Land Provinces, and these generals, having failed to surround and kill Shi Zhongsheng and You Changqing, would probably leave ahead of time as well.
Without these lures to bait them, the three big fishes from the Tiannan Gao Family would also not be drawn in... a chain reaction that could possibly lead to failure.
If Kongchan were here, with his crafty mind, he would probably come up with a solution,
but since he and Lian Sha had gone to Tiannan, and Shipi himself was not adept at plotting, he frowned in thought.
Suddenly, Tao Qian sent a message:
"Uncle Shipi, with such an abrupt incident, it's not good to delay further, lest it leads to unexpected changes."
"First pacify these warlords, then force the Devil Concubine to perform a dance, and move the third part of the Dharma assembly ahead. There are only a few hours left until dawn on the third day; it's enough time to activate the Big Array."
"As for the Tiannan Gao Family, you could deliberately tear up the covenant and not inform them to come here. The Three Jile will undoubtedly think there's an opportunity here and might rush over. At that time, Uncle, you can use your skills to trap everyone here, and just wait for the return of the two uncles, then everything will be settled."
"Not only can the Great Compassionate and Merciful Transcendent Bodhisattvas be refined, but you can also capture the Devil Concubine and the Spring and Autumn Chariot, as well as bring Tiannan and Qiantang provinces into your fold."
"With Si Xixin and Hong Fu currently drawing the enmity of all the seventy-two provinces, there's no need for the Demon Buddha Temple to worry about the potential retaliation from the warlords' backing."
As soon as Tao Qian finished speaking, Shipi Arhat's eyes lit up.
Cheng Arhat at his side also overheard and chuckled silently, then sent a message:
"Elder brother, the arrangement devised by our immaculate disciple is wonderful, perfectly satisfactory."
"Speaking of which, this is the first time he has called you Uncle. It seems we can expect good news soon from Qingjing Zen Master's side."
"Three joys are coming our way; act swiftly."
After Cheng Arhat finished speaking, Shipi Arhat no longer hesitated.
He looked at the assembly of generals inside the temple, adopting the posture of a senior expert, and then said:
"Although you are all esteemed guests, you must also understand that this place is Little Leiyin Temple, the Daoist Field of Demon Buddha, and one should not rashly wield weapons and engage in killing here."
"However, I understand that you are all currently overwhelmed with the urge to kill, and all have grievances to resolve."
"How about this: the third bout of the Dharma assembly is brought forward by three hours. Yuann Daoist, you should also get ready; do not forget the promised dance offering."
"After everything is concluded, I can act on behalf of all to offer flowers to the Buddha; you may go to the old site of Han Mountain Temple to settle your disputes. Whether to fight over the Devil Concubine or to vie for the Spring and Autumn Chariot, that is up to you. How does that sound?"
Shipi finished speaking and looked towards the Free Temple side.
Master Shenxiu, Zen Master Da Yu, and others, all turned their gaze to Yuann Mingzhen.
They were indifferent to the Dharma assembly being brought forward,
but for the Devil Concubine to perform a dance was seen by them as a humiliating matter; it was unlikely that Yuann Mingzhen would agree.
Surprisingly, she consented.
She did so very readily, as though she had already resigned herself to fate.
Standing atop the Spring and Autumn Chariot, the Devil Empress nodded silently and then turned to leave for Han Mountain Temple.
After some explanations, a mix of cajoling and seduction, plus the deterrence of the Buddha's Dharma Image, truly calmed down the assembly of warlords.
"Fine, we'll give the Arhat some face. After the Dharma assembly concludes, we'll slay you two."
"The Green Hat Slave and Lackey wouldn't think of running away overnight, would they? We'll have to keep a close eye on them."
"Exactly, these two bastards are very likely to flee."
"Having lost the Imperial City Governor, he is bound to be annoyed. If he could seize the Devil Concubine and the Spring and Autumn Chariot and offer them up, he might even turn this into a great merit."
"Humph, Si Xixin is just courting his own destruction."
...
With but a few words, Tao Qian dispelled a bloody melee, advancing the Dharma assembly.
This also caused the atmosphere inside and outside Qiantang Province City to resemble that of a volcano on the verge of eruption, with restless energy visible everywhere.
An Extraordinary Army numbering in the millions, vile and violent, stood ready to run amok at any moment.
Amidst such a tense environment, Tao Qian once again received an invitation from Yuann Mingzhen for a covert meeting in her dreams.
Perhaps intent on offering a dance, Yuann Mingzhen did not appear this time in her usual plain and charming maiden disguise.
Instead, she wore a very serious outfit, dressing up as the Empress.
She even cunningly allowed Master Tao to catch a glimpse of her changing clothes. Though no indecent exposure occurred, the scene that Tao Qian saw was nevertheless enchanting.
Due to being in her dream, this teasing became quite successful, and Tao Qian was at a loss for words. He merely considered that Yuann Mingzhen guessed that the idea to move the contest ahead had come from him, hence her playful mood.
Had it not been for Yunrong's presence, Tao Qian might well have been pushed onto the phoenix bed by this dear younger sister.
Having her fun spoiled, Yuann Mingzhen raised her delicate eyebrows in anger and said,
"Brother Tao is not a good person. If you can influence that Shipi Arhat, why then do you force your sister to perform a dance?"
"If Brother Tao you truly wish to see Mingzhen dance, just say so. I can dance for you right now. Even the Heavenly Demon Dance and the like, Mingzhen knows them all."
As Yuann Mingzhen spoke, she even made a move as if to stand up, ready to shed the Empress' robes and perform the Heavenly Demon Dance for Tao Qian.
Tao Qian, witnessing this, remained unmoved.
After several encounters, how could Tao Qian not understand what kind of person Yuann Mingzhen was?
Though she appeared as a delicate and pretty young girl, she possessed transcendent intelligence and was adept at imperial strategies—a true ambitious figure.
She acted this way before Tao Qian precisely because she knew that Master Tao was susceptible to such behavior, and so she adopted this guise.
To truly believe her would be to not even know how one had died.
He remained silent, but Yunrong had something to say. Displaying her true Kitten nature, she stretched lazily in her husband's embrace, gave Yuann Mingzhen a sidelong glance, and promptly revealed,
"What kind of act is this little phoenix putting on?"
"Those crude and foolish warlord Demon Cultivators think they can feast their eyes on your dance, but with your cunning, how could you truly be taken advantage of?"
"If I am not mistaken, your so-called dance performance probably involves some scheme concocted with Shipi Arhat, designed to incite those brutes to kill each other."
"Am I right?"
After Yunrong finished speaking, Tao Qian also couldn't help but glance at his dear sister, his good wife.
Seeing Yuann Mingzhen's reaction, it was clear that Yunrong had guessed right.
Indeed, the situation was as such!
The dance that Yuann Mingzhen agreed to perform had its own significance.
Watching it, those brutal and uncouth warlord generals—and the millions of soldiers with them—would become restless and begin to slaughter each other.
"This fat cat is such a bother."
Yuann Mingzhen too looked at Yunrong, making no attempt to conceal her displeasure.
She found it peculiar; she had never seen Yunrong before, yet for some reason, she could not stand her.
As a result, she also took a dislike to all creatures of the Kitten's kind.
Having her intentions guessed, Yuann Mingzhen was not about to let Yunrong have the last laugh. Without replying, she turned to Tao Qian, revealing a secret:
"I have received secret messages from many of my planted agents within the alchemists."
"Si Xixin's raid on the Imperial City was a unilateral action, and a decision made on the spur of the moment at that. Not only were confidants like Shi Zhongsheng, who were sent on external missions, unable to get the word in time, even his wife in name, the Devil God Third Princess, did not receive the news."
"The Third Princess is now fiercely angry and is considering calling off the marriage."
"The reason Si Xixin took such action is that within the alchemists, Li Wanshou, Gao Huan, and a few other old monsters seem unable to resist the mutation and have decided not to wait for the Hidden Dragon to devour each other any longer, instead placing their bets on Si Xixin first."
"These old monsters collectively instructed Si Xixin to take over the Imperial City, intending to force the other old monsters to also support Si Xixin."
"Moreover, these old monsters had already given part of the Ancestor Dragon Bloodline to Si Xixin in advance. If I am not mistaken, Si Xixin's daily meals now consist of nothing but Ancestor Dragon Dead Fetuses..."