"Sister, we are facing a Heavenly realm expert. Having a seventy percent chance of success is already very high!"
"If you want over ninety percent certainty, you'll need to find another Heavenly realm expert!"
"But can you find one? And even if you can, will there be enough time?"
"You must understand that the Guangming Hall may launch another attack at any moment, and their assault will undoubtedly be even more ferocious! In this situation, relying solely on the few experts at the entrance, even if we manage to defend it, few would likely return alive..."
Listening to Dongfang Mingyue's words, Ye Cangtian spoke unhurriedly.
He knew very well that the Guangming Hall's greed for the Chaos Seal was extremely fervent, and they would never give up.
The Guangming Hall's attack this time had been repelled, but their next assault would only be more ferocious. Even if it was repelled again, there would be subsequent ones.
Thus, without powerful reinforcements, the entrance would eventually be unable to hold.
Therefore, in Ye Cangtian's view, a decision should be made sooner rather than later.
Only when the Hidden Group became stronger would the Guangming Hall dare not act so recklessly!
"Alright! I'll listen to you, let's do it!"
"Tell me your plan!"
Dongfang Mingyue hesitated for a long time. After weighing the pros and cons in her mind, she finally gritted her teeth and made up her mind.
This was not only because the Hidden Group was facing internal and external crises, pushed to a corner with no retreat, but also because of her trust in Ye Cangtian.
On the other side, a faint smile appeared on Ye Cangtian's face. "Sister Mingyue, believe me, I won't disappoint you. Even if we lose, I will fall before you!"
With that said, Ye Cangtian went straight to the point.
Ever since he learned of Elder Long's impending recovery, he had been formulating plans in his mind.
From the perspective of a traitor, a traitor would be the last person to wish for the Hidden Group's rise.
Therefore, the method to draw out the traitor was simple: leak some information, such as releasing news during the process of improving subordinates' cultivation.
Ye Cangtian believed that upon hearing such news, the traitor would surely be unable to sit still and would return.
However, the manner of this return could be either overt or covert.
An overt return would be as a Heavenly realm expert of the Hidden Group. In this case, if the opponent wanted to do anything, they would likely not do it brazenly, and the threat would not be too great.
But if they returned covertly, it would likely be an assassination spree, and one would need to be careful then.
Hearing this, Dongfang Mingyue spoke, "If they truly return covertly, wouldn't we be unable to guard against them? How can we ensure our safety?"
"That's simple. We can force them to return overtly."
Ye Cangtian smiled slightly upon hearing this and then explained.
No matter how the opponent acted, their actions would undoubtedly be extremely secretive, and they would wish to keep their identity hidden. This way, the person could continue to lurk within the Hidden Group.
Therefore, as long as they stuck together and did not give the opponent an opportunity for solitary assassination, the opponent would not act rashly.
Once the opponent made a move and failed to silence witnesses, their identity would be exposed.
In such a situation, the best choice for them would be to return overtly as a Heavenly realm expert.
That way, they could use their identity and status to isolate those they wished to kill and carry out assassinations.
Upon hearing this, Dongfang Mingyue gave Ye Cangtian a thumbs-up. She was truly out of her depth when it came to such intellect.
Soon.
Ye Cangtian and Dongfang Mingyue quickly finalized their plan and immediately began to implement it.
...
Within the ruins of Huaxia.
In a secluded bamboo forest.
An old man was in his own small courtyard, leisurely loosening the soil for the vegetables he had planted with a hoe.
Looking at the man's leisurely demeanor, it seemed as though he truly enjoyed this feeling of facing the yellow earth and having his back to the sky.
However, for some unknown reason, the old man's originally placid eyes suddenly sharpened, and a glint of killing intent swept through them.
After a moment, a black figure appeared at the entrance of the farmhouse courtyard.
This person was entirely clad in black, with a masked face and a bamboo hat, yet they exuded a powerful aura. They slowly walked towards the old man.
The old man seemed to notice nothing and continued with his farming.
The next moment, the black-clothed man stopped two to three meters behind the old man, knelt directly on one knee, and respectfully said, "Your subordinate, Hei Yu, pays his respects to you, my lord!"
"What did you call me?"
As soon as the black-clothed man's voice fell, a chilling voice came from the old man's mouth.
With just this single sentence, the black-clothed man trembled instantly. He quickly stood up, cupped his fists in a salute to the old man, and said, "I am Hei Yu, greetings, old sir."
Only then did the old man slowly turn around, cast a glance at the black-clothed man, and reveal a gentle smile.
"Hei Yu, here, I am merely an old farmer tending to the land."
As he spoke, the old farmer gently took Hei Yu's hands and continued, "You have traveled a long way, you must be thirsty, right? Come inside with me for some water first!"
With that, the old farmer led the way into the bamboo house. The black-clothed Hei Yu, seeing this, did not dare to delay and quickly followed.
Inside the bamboo house.
The old farmer gestured for Hei Yu to sit down, then poured a cup of water and handed it to him before sitting down opposite him.
Hei Yu tremblingly accepted the water. Looking at the cup in his hands, he was unsure whether to drink it or not.
He had never experienced such hospitality in his life and truly did not know how to react!
Seeing the burly man's predicament, the old farmer said lightly, "Drink up. As I said, I am just an old farmer tending the land. You don't need to be so formal."
Gulp.
Hearing the old man's words, Hei Yu mustered his courage and drank the water in one gulp.
Seeing this, a satisfied smile appeared on the old farmer's face. He then said, "Hei Yu, you have traveled a long way. What business brings you to me?"
Hei Yu quickly stood up and respectfully replied, "Replying to you, old sir, the Hidden Group has been quite active recently."
"I told you, don't be so reserved. Sit down and speak slowly."
Listening to the old farmer's words, Hei Yu cautiously sat down again and continued, "News has come from Longcheng that Dongfang Mingyue somehow obtained some Nine-Revolving Golden Pills.
She has already administered the pills to four of her confidantes. These four confidantes have also broken through to the Earth realm and are now en route to the Huaxia entrance..."
"Four Nine-Revolving Golden Pills?"
"Are you sure they were newly obtained by Dongfang Mingyue? According to my estimations, Dongfang Mingyue should have three or four Nine-Revolving Golden Pills in her possession."
Upon hearing this, the old farmer picked up a cup of spring water, took a sip, and slowly inquired.
His intention was simple: perhaps his subordinates were too nervous and had made a misjudgment.
If that were the case, there would be no need to pay attention to it.
Four Earth realm experts, while possessing a certain combat strength, were still insufficient for the situation at the entrance.
The people from the Guangming Hall would deplete this force before long, so it was not worth considering.
"No, they should be newly obtained Nine-Revolving Golden Pills."
"It is said that in order to enhance the strength of the Hidden Group, Dongfang Mingyue specifically took out Nine-Revolving Golden Pills for a woman named Yao Bao'er to experiment with!"
"To research its components and formula, and to attempt to refine Nine-Revolving Golden Pills. Unfortunately, Yao Bao'er's attempt failed some time ago, causing the pill furnace to explode, and she was seriously injured..."
Hei Yu stated that researching the components and formula alone would require at least one Nine-Revolving Golden Pill.
And Yao Bao'er, who was seriously injured, recovered in a short period. Eyewitnesses claimed that Dongfang Mingyue had taken out another Nine-Revolving Golden Pill to save Yao Bao'er.
If that were the case, then Dongfang Mingyue would not have enough four pills to create four Earth realm experts.
This did not align with the facts. The only explanation was that Dongfang Mingyue had recently acquired new Nine-Revolving Golden Pills.
"Hmm, if you put it that way, it does have some credibility."
The old farmer nodded upon hearing this and continued, "What has happened in Longcheng recently? Has anyone completed an exploration mission, particularly a high-risk one?"
"No, Longcheng has been very ordinary recently, nothing significant has happened!"
"Only Long Xuefeng and that young girl named Yao Bao'er are getting along quite well. It is likely that he is trying to recover from his injuries."
"Additionally, no one has completed a high-risk mission, but Ye Cangtian has returned from the outside. It was after his return that Dongfang Mingyue enhanced the strength of four of her confidantes..."