Chapter 435

Chapter 435: Dealing With

The reason Zhou Luo was so intent on learning Long Yunshuang’s information was primarily to determine Long Yu’s bottom line.

Earlier, he had hired killers for Long Yunshuang, cooperated with her for an extended period, and even entered ruins together.

Long Yu couldn’t possibly be unaware of these matters.

Now that he supported Chimagong Sect in attacking Qinyuan Sect, if they succeeded and he wanted to join Chimagong Sect,he would have to demonstrate his sincerity.

And this sincerity naturally lay in the siblings Long Yunshuang and Long Yunting.

Over the years, although Long Yu had never taken action against him, there was a natural gap between them.

For him to secure his position, Long Yunshuang would be the most crucial piece.

Therefore, he had to find their whereabouts.

Currently, he suspected it was precisely at Qinyuan Sect.

In truth, even if Hong Xiu didn’t state it, her few promptings just now had already exposed it.

But for such matters, it was still better to obtain confirmation.

Soon, Hong Xiu spoke up: "You guessed correctly, Long Yunshuang and Long Yunting are indeed at Qinyuan Sect."

After speaking, she added: "I’ve already reminded you, while I admire you, your current actions will become our intelligence."

"If anyone wants to buy it later, I won’t cover for you."

Zhou Luo’s matters couldn’t be hidden if anyone was serious about asking.

That was why Hong Xiu had given him that reminder earlier.

"I know, thank you."

Zhou Luo appeared indifferent; he stood up, cupped his hands toward her, and left the room promptly.

"I hope you can make the right choice."

Watching him leave, Hong Xiu murmured to herself.

After leaving Yao Chi Pavilion, Zhou Luo hurried back to Zhou Fu, wrote a letter immediately, and summoned Zhou Chang Le and others to Zhou Fu.

Ten days later.

Zhou Chang Le and others arrived at Immortal City’s Zhou Fu.

"Father!"

Several children stood in the main hall, postures erect, bowing respectfully to him.

Although each was a Foundation Establishment strong person, facing their father, they showed no sign of pride.

Even Zhou Changqing, who usually acted recklessly, stood obediently behind his elder brother, head lowered and not daring to speak.

"Follow me to the study."

Zhou Luo said, and also picked up Zhou Changtian to bring him into the study.

Though the little one might not grasp such matters, listening more could help train his planning ability.

Together, they came to the study.

Zhou Luo sat behind the desk, while Zhou Changtian sat properly on a small stool placed dutifully beside him.

Opposite them, Zhou Chang Le, Zhou Shiling, Zhou Chang Lun, Zhou Changqing, and Zhou Chang Lang stood respectfully in a row, their expressions serious and grave.

These five were the core leadership of the current Heavenly Alliance; many of the alliance’s orders were directly issued by them.

Their father’s summon had made them realize the urgency of the situation. Thus, even as their sect was about to deploy them to the frontlines, they had immediately set aside their tasks and rushed here.

Seeing his five children, Zhou Luo revealed a look of satisfaction.

Over the years, their performance had greatly pleased him. It was precisely due to their efforts that the Heavenly Alliance had gained such a prominent position, even beginning to face targeting from their sect.

Such targeting meant the Heavenly Alliance had started to significantly influence the factional strife among the higher echelons.

In fact, over these many years, unknown numbers of people had privately approached Zhou Chang Le and the others, attempting to pull them into their own factions.

Yet, all were politely refused.

For the Heavenly Alliance to maintain its space to exist, it must not tilt toward any single faction.

Now, although the sect harbored intentions to target them, it wasn’t seeking eradication, only weakening.

Once the Heavenly Alliance became subordinate to any one faction, they would inevitably face an onslaught of diverse conflicts from all the others.

"Some matters I alluded to earlier in my correspondence," Zhou Luo said lightly.

He referred to the phrase "Chaos is the ladder to power."

Since it was a message, and to prevent eavesdropping, Zhou Luo had phrased it vaguely then.

Now that all five were present, he reiterated it.

This time, however, he went beyond suggesting the Heavenly Alliance could use this opportunity to expand externally. He also presented another concept.

If the tide turned irreversibly against their current side, they must decisively and swiftly align with the Chimagong Sect.

"Father, what do you mean by that?" Zhou Chang Le, hearing this, couldn’t hide his astonishment and asked.

The other four didn’t speak, but the shock on their faces was clear.

"Because standing behind the Chimagong Sect is the Ninth Prince," Zhou Luo stated the intelligence he had obtained.

"What?"

The same word burst from all five mouths simultaneously.

Clearly, this information left them utterly dumbfounded, to the point of being hard to accept.

Royalty intervening in an internal sect struggle—wouldn’t that be like overwhelming them with overwhelming force?

In Huoyun Country, the most powerful and influential entity was the Huoyun royal family.

Occupying all of Zhongzhou, the royalty commanded tens of thousands of mighty cultivators.

Aside from Zhongzhou, the other five major states encircled it.

Royal power deliberately extended into these other states, naturally, to facilitate its rule.

Though the Three Sects and Three Clans currently ranked as Jinyun Continent’s strongest powers, the two princes’ residences stationed there, while their overall strength might not surpass them, utterly dwarfed them in terms of background and status.

If royalty could mobilize the imperial army, it would spell annihilation for any sect.

Fortunately, Long Yu had only recently become the Ninth Prince. To protect his reputation and standing within the royal family, it was inadvisable for him to appear openly or dispatch imperial forces.

Otherwise, the Qinyuan Sect would likely have been obliterated in an instant.

However, even knowing a prince was involved, the Qinyuan Sect remained indifferent, clearly holding some hidden aces and strategies of its own.

The outcome of The Great Battle genuinely remained unpredictable.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Zhou Luo didn’t give them time to digest it. He pressed on, laying out specific tasks.

The critical aspects were how decisions should be made if the Qinyuan Sect showed signs of defeat, and how members of the Heavenly Alliance should conduct themselves on the battlefield.

Over the past ten days, Zhou Luo had been intensely simulating and calculating.

For him, this conflict between the two Immortal Sects represented both an opportunity and a challenge.

He had to be meticulous; otherwise, everything he had painstakingly built could crumble.

He didn’t just speak; he also urged the five to actively contribute their own ideas.

They spent an entire day just discussing how to respond to the crisis, skipping meals entirely.

Zhou Changtian, sitting properly nearby, listened with intense fascination.

Only when evening came did Zhou Luo look outside and say, "Let’s pause the discussion here. There’s one more task I need you to undertake."

The five who were sitting immediately stood up straight.

"Help me locate Long Yunshuang and Long Yunting. At the very least, pinpoint their whereabouts," Zhou Luo stated gravely.