“Of course!” Mo Tianji glanced at Chu Yang rather approvingly. “I didn’t expect that you could also think of this with your level of intelligence. This truly makes me look at you in a different light.”

Black lines filled Chu Yang’s face and he gave him a flying kick. “So I’m nothing but an idiot in your eyes!”

Mo Tianji started laughing. “That’s not what I meant. Rather… You prefer to adopt a more straightforward approach when you do things. Even when you’re plotting something, this aspect of you doesn’t change. Therefore, from a certain perspective, your plots cannot be considered secret plots at all but more of overt traps. Creating a setup and waiting for others to come and break through the setup… That’s how you are.”

“You and I, as well as Diwu Qingrou, are three completely different types of people.”

“Diwu Qingrou adopted inertial thinking for secret plots to counter your overt traps… Thus, he took a beating. Moreover, the flames of war had already started burning in the Lower Three Heavens and the overall situation was in chaos; he could no longer change anything. That’s why you succeeded. But if he had been given sufficient time, I still believe that you wouldn’t have been able to defeat him.”

Mo Tianji said with a smile.

Chu Yang exhaled heavily. Raising his head to the sky, he thought back to each and every battle that took place in the Lower Three Heavens. He had to admit that Mo Tianji’s words made sense.

Pretty much none of his so-called secret plots was a true ‘secret plot’. Every aspect was placed clearly and openly in front of the other party…

This was absolutely true.

“However, those schemes of yours, be it Diwu Qingrou or me, neither of us can’t put them to use at all!” Mo Tianji smiled lightly. “This is because such plots can only be put to use by a clever person who is totally straightforward. Therefore, you are able to complement both of us. And so, I need you to complement me.”

Chu Yang’s forehead was full of black lines. He had an urge to strangle the living daylights out of Mo Tianji.

A clever person who is completely straightforward?

What kind of ‘clever person’ is that? You might as well just call me an idiot…

“There’s one more thing.” As he sped forward, he reached out a finger. “What we are discussing now is Diwu Qingrou’s weaknesses and not his strengths… Take note, I haven’t started talking about his strengths yet. What you need to supplement me with is precisely his strengths.”

There was clearly a sense of good-natured mockery in Mo Tianji’s eyes.

Chu Yang snorted, realizing that he had been tricked.

“As someone from one of the Zhuge Clan’s affiliated clans, to Diwu Qingrou, him suddenly receiving the Dharma Supreme’s favorable attention is equivalent to him ascending to heaven in one step!”

Mo Tianji said, “If the Diwu Clan wishes to emerge as a force, this is their only chance! In other words, the Dharma Supreme deliberately gave the Diwu clan this chance!”

“In that case, there’s something problematic here.” Mo Tianji went on. “Why did the Dharma Supreme give this chance to Diwu Qingrou? Instead of other clans? In fact, the Dharma Supreme himself can lead and coordinate this war. If he sends a high-ranking figure from the law-enforcement ward over, he can claim all the glory and credit for himself. Yet the Dharma Supreme gave it to Diwu Qingrou! Why is that?”

Mo Tianji said, “There’s a problem here which we’ll put aside for the time being — What is the relationship between the Dharma Supreme and Diwu Qingrou?”

Chu Yang’s brows furrowed. “I remember telling you before that the Dharma Supreme is one of the Nine Tribulations from the same generation as Diwu Qingrou’s ancestors. He is especially giving more care to the Diwu Clan.”

Mo Tianji snorted in derision. “Only… only… someone like you would believe such a reasoning! If it’s because the Dharma Supreme and the Diwu ancestors are from the same generation, then he should also do the same for his own descendants… In that case, why didn’t he foster his own clan back then? Instead of watching his own clan getting destroyed, yet preserving the Diwu Clan?”

“To think you actually believe a reason like that…” Mo Tianji was rather speechless. “Although it doesn’t really affect the general situation, I believe that there is a reason behind it and… Perhaps this reason may not be of importance, but should it really be important, it’ll be able to affect the overall situation!”

Perspiration drenched Chu Yang’s back. Chills somewhat running down his spine, he murmured, “If it were me… If only one of the two clans can be saved… then… I…”

Mo Tianji watched him closely. “What would you do?”

Beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead. With much difficulty, he said, “I would bring all the important figures of my brother’s clan over to my own… And preserve my own clan…”

Chu Yang finally discovered that he, who had always self-professed to be incomparably loyal and upright, was also someone who was absolutely selfish when it came down to it.

There was no way he could disregard his own parents and son to save someone else’s family. The only thing he could do was to try his very best to preserve the important figures in the other clan. However, the clan which he would ultimately choose to save was still his own.

“You need not feel ashamed!” Mo Tianji said, “If you disregard even your own parents, wife and son… can you still be considered human? Even if you saved the entire world, what is the point?”

Nodding, Chu Yang replied, “You’re right. But no matter what, humanity’s selfishness is unavoidable at any time.”

Mo Tianji nodded. “Yes. Hurhur… If even you, the Nine Tribulations Sword Master whose high morality reaches up to the clouds, are unable to do something so selfless, then… would that Lord Dharma Supreme really be able to? Isn’t that the biggest joke of the century!”

“So I don’t believe it one bit!” Mo Tianji said, “In this story which you related, at the point where the Dharma Supreme suddenly appointed Diwu Qingrou as the main commander-in-charge… I even suspected that this Dharma Supreme whom you speak of is exactly that person who plotted everything back then… Diwu Chouchang! And not some Lou Wenlong!”

Chu Yang’s countenance changed drastically. All of a sudden, he stopped right where he was, totally dumbstruck.

On the other side, Mo Tianji, who was in the midst of speeding forward, also did the same — The Master of Calculation and Manipulation had been shocked by his own deduction!

When those words had left his mouth, they were nothing but just a vague hypothesis of Mo Tianji’s. But in this instant of saying it, Mo Tianji felt as if his brain had been struck by lightning!

He was utterly astounded by his own words!

In the frigid chill of the night breeze, the two of them stood in the wind, feeling as though they had plummeted into an icy pit.

They exchanged a look, both discovering the deep iciness in each other’s eyes.

Both of them thought of that story at the same time.

The story narrated by the Dharma Supreme, which Chu Yang had eavesdropped on and then related to Mo Tianji.

Chu Yang hadn’t left out even a single word.

It was indeed like that.

Back then, Diwu Chouchang had been the first to suggest this solution. And subsequently, the Diwu Clan was ranked fifth among the Nine Super Clans!

In other words, Diwu Chouchang had also ranked fifth among the Nine Tribulations!

Back then, the establishment of the Nine Super Clans had been according to the ranking. The Nine Tribulations nourishing the Heavens naturally also needed to follow the brothers’ ranking. There were nine holes in total; in that case, who was the person in the fifth hole?

Diwu Chouchang!

It could only be Diwu Chouchang!

In this instant, neither Chu Yang nor Mo Tianji spoke.

Even though this was only a conjecture which Mo Tianji had blurted out, this conjecture was incomparably close to the truth! Both Chu Yang and Mo Tianji felt this in their gut — This time, an unexpected word of exchange had revealed the truth of the matter!

All of these had been planned by Diwu Chouchang, who then benefitted, escaped and ultimately… became the Dharma Supreme! And then controlling everything in the world and going against the Nine Tribulations Sword Master…

While the law-enforcement officers, who were originally supposed to be assisting the Nine Tribulations Sword Master, suddenly became bitter enemies with the Nine Tribulations Sword Master!

This change could also truly be explained at this point.

That was why the Dharma Supreme had suddenly suggested that Diwu Qingrou be the commander-in-chief! It was because… Diwu Chouchang and Diwu Qingrou had the same goal — To let the Diwu Clan prosper!

The night breeze was cold and imposing, yet the hearts of these two men were filled with crashing tumultuous waves.

Should it really be Diwu Chouchang, then this was no grand revenge in the name of justice and righteousness, but… a complete head to toe betrayal! He was the only person who had truly made use of all his brothers and everything they had done for his own interests.

Mo Tianji took a deep breath. “The Dharma Supreme… Since he has given this chance to Diwu Qingrou, with Diwu’s wit, he would naturally realize that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Diwu Clan! Therefore, he would inevitably grab it…”

Chu Yang also suppressed the torrential waves in his heart.

This wasn’t the time to discuss Diwu Chouchang but Diwu Qingrou instead.

“However, even though Diwu Qingrou is occupying such a high position, due to his background, he is unable to receive the corresponding authority — Because he doesn’t have any foundation.”

“The disadvantage of ascending to heaven in one step is being thoroughly exhibited to its limit on Diwu Qingrou right now!”

Mo Tianji said.

Chu Yang nodded slowly. Indeed, people frequently used ‘ascending to heaven in one step’ to describe the luckiest person whom they wished the deepest to become.

Yet they didn’t know that ascending to heaven in one step was not a positive thing. When a regular mortal ascended to heaven in one step and reached the celestial realm, his outcome was that he would be ridded of in the shortest time possible.

When someone new from the bottommost tier ascended to heaven in one step to become someone of authority standing at the highest pinnacle — such as a prime minister or a great general — his outcome would also end up being outcasted until it led to his death!

Because he doesn’t have the experience of occupying such a high position at all. Moreover, all those holding high positions, which of them was easy to get along with? They would never give him the chance and time to learn and get used to things.

Right now, Mo Tianji using ‘ascending to heaven in one step’ to describe Diwu Qingrou’s current circumstances was incredibly apt!

Indeed, Diwu Qingrou was likely facing such an awkward situation right now.

“Diwu Qingrou’s one and only advantage is that the Dharma Supreme is supporting him at the back…” Mo Tianji said, “If not for the Dharma Supreme personally nominating him, no matter how intelligent Diwu Qingrou is, he would also have ended up as a pile of bleached bones long ago, even if we don’t do anything at all right now.”

Chu Yang nodded slowly.

Mo Tianji made extreme sense.

What the two of them didn’t know was that what Mo Tianji was saying right now was practically as if he was seeing it for himself with his own eyes — All these were precisely what Diwu Qingrou was truly experiencing! And in truth, it was also exactly as what Mo Tianji had said — If not for the Dharma Supreme nominating him, Diwu Qingrou, the commander-in-chief who had popped out of nowhere, would have been reduced to a pile of bleached bones long ago even if he had a hundred thousand lives right now!