Just like the Battle of the Three Pools in years past, which ended with an array formation, neither side was willing to engage in close combat. Feng Zhen sighed, "Cultivation has reached such a level that their actions are beyond what we can fathom." Mo Daoist pondered over his words briefly before speaking tentatively, "If that’s the case, junior brother, you intend to stir discord between the Xiao Family and Zhang Yan. However, if you can perceive this matter, the Xiao Clan surely is already aware as well. For them to remain idle until now shows they also have no intention of acting against him yet." Feng Zhen suddenly burst into loud laughter, "Senior brother, the reason they have turned a blind eye is simply because the matter has not yet been openly exposed. If we find someone to spread this throughout the sect, once it escalates and becomes widely discussed, do you think they could still hold back?" Mo Daoist drew in a sharp breath. This junior brother truly has audacity—his attention has turned to targeting the Xiao Clan. Calming his heart and spirit, Mo Daoist gave the matter serious thought before raising a point, "Junior brother, while your reasoning holds some merit, from my limited perspective, the Xiao Clan, being one of the Five Great Clans, would remain unaffected even if such rumors spread. Before the sect-wide competition, my judgment is that they would not take any action." The Xiao Clan, with its thousand-year elite status, would hardly be damaged by any trivial speculation. Furthermore, they would certainly avoid provoking those aligned with the master-disciple lineage at this critical juncture. Most importantly, they have no desire to be the first to stir trouble. Feng Zhen smiled mysteriously, "Junior brother already accounted for that. Even if the old timers from their clan manage to keep quiet, the younger generation, though..." Mo Daoist’s heart stirred, "Junior brother, you mean..." Feng Zhen darkened his tone, "You must be aware of Xiao He, senior brother. He’s a close blood relative of Xiao Han, but his character is narrow-minded and selfish, reckless and impulsive. If not for his extraordinary talent that hasn’t been seen in a century, the clan would have discarded him long ago. Look no further than the chaos he caused after forming his elixir, and you’ll understand how defiant and unruly he is." At the mention of this name, an image of an arrogant and unruly face appeared in Mo Daoist’s mind, causing a surge of unspeakable disgust. Xiao He is utterly flamboyant in his conduct, relying on his third-grade elixir formation and direct inheritance status in the Xiao Clan to stir endless trouble. He even killed several disciples from other clans for no reason, merely because their Daoist robes bore a slight resemblance to his. Later, the Xiao Clan summoned him back and ordered him to focus on cultivation within the sect, forbidding him from venturing outside without cause. Lowering his voice, Feng Zhen said, "I dare to assert that the Xiao Clan is definitely withholding this matter from him, fearing he’d mess things up. With his nature, if he finds out about this, do you think he could remain composed? He would most likely go directly to Zhang Yan to cause trouble. Haha! At that point, it’ll be quite the spectacle. Thus, my plan isn’t aimed at the Xiao Clan, but rather at him." Mo Daoist cast a sidelong glance at his junior brother, surprised by the ingenuity of this scheme. Although somewhat petty, it was undeniably effective. Feng Zhen’s expression turned grim and vicious, "It’s no idle talk from me—Zhang Yan is extremely formidable. Xiao He is certainly no match for him. Should Xiao He confront him, he would likely not return alive. When that happens, let’s watch how the Xiao Clan responds." Mo Daoist’s gaze grew complex, and he suddenly let out a sigh, "An impressive plan, junior brother. Still, great caution must be exercised. Should the Xiao Clan discover it was your doing, they certainly won’t let you off." ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚫𝙣𝙚𝙩 Feng Zhen snorted, his face revealing traces of resentment, "At the Elixir Tasting Ceremony, the Five Great Clans stirred things up for us, the Twelve Great Families, while they sat idle and gained all the benefits. How can such easy profits be allowed? Today, I’ll ensure they, too, are dragged into this murky pool!" Mo Daoist let out a heavy sigh, "Very well. Since you’ve resolved to proceed, I, as your senior brother, will support you with all my effort. However, there are still nuances needing careful consideration to avoid self-sabotage." Feng Zhen composed himself and said solemnly, "This is precisely why I seek senior brother’s counsel to map things out thoroughly." The two discussed the matter in secret through the night, parting at dawn to return to their respective cave mansions. A few days later, word began circulating in the sect. It was said that Zhang Yan, while gathering medicinal ingredients in the outer sea, encountered two Xiao Clan relatives. As the three competed over a single herb, neither would concede. However, as Xiao Mousui was a Nascent Soul True Master, Zhang Yan failed in the struggle. In anger, he later enlisted Tao Zhenhong, True Master Tao, to step in. Together, they subdued Xiao Mousui and his relative, neither of whom has returned since. News of this sparked quiet excitement among many, who awaited a drama to unfold. However, the Xiao Clan remained completely silent, as if unaware of the matter, leaving many disappointed. Nonetheless, no one dared criticize them directly—it was impossible to claim the Xiao Clan feared Zhang Yan. Their intentions remained a mystery. The rumor, cleverly spread by certain individuals, inevitably reached Xiao He’s ears. He heard it from the mouth of one of his concubines and instantly flew into a rage, declaring he would seek revenge on Zhang Yan. Yet, the clan, knowing his unruly nature, assigned personnel early to monitor him closely, ordering him to sit quietly in his residence and forbidding him from going anywhere. This preemptively avoided any major incident that might prove too difficult to manage later. When Mo Daoist and Feng Zhen learned about this, they showed no urgency. Having thoroughly investigated beforehand, they knew Xiao He had refrained from causing trouble for over twenty years within the sect. By now, the clan’s oversight of him had significantly lessened. They simply waited patiently for the show to begin. ...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian.com for recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)