Only he himself knew.

What Diwu Qingrou had said… The reason for him staying here being for the sake of the overall situation, staying with the rest to stand against the common enemy, ten thousand years of friendship… and whatnot…

All of it was rubbish!

Because that plan of retreating to the mountains had never occurred to Lan Mofeng at all!

He himself didn’t even have any idea where he should be going in the future! After the clan was destroyed, Lan Mofeng had been at a loss all this time. His mind was in a haze and he went around like a zombie. It was as if he didn’t even have the ability to plan for the future anymore…

He could only stay here and risk his life in grief and indignation and at a loss… As for the so-called friendship among the Nine Super Clans… Lan Mofeng swore viciously in his heart.

What goddamn friendship! I don’t have any kind of f*cking friendship with them!

As for what Diwu Qingrou had suggested so sternly and righteously — Retreating deep into the mountains and waiting for an opportunity.

But… Lan Mofeng wasn’t the only one who knew this clearly in his heart; the others also knew this very well — How could retreating deep into the mountains be that easy? Once the war started and the world was thrown into chaos, it would be a piece of cake to find them no matter where they were!

Besides, what about the resources, food supplies and everything needed for cultivation after they go into retreat? Where were they supposed to get all these things? One must know that these remaining members of the Lan Clan could be said to be paupers right now!

Were the descendants of the Nine Super Clans supposed to fall so low as to commit robbery?

This plan was obviously not viable.

However, Diwu Qingrou’s words ultimately did have some effect.

He only touched on the topic without delving any deeper. Then, he said, “Our opponent is the Nine Tribulations Sword Master! For the last 90,000 years, the moment the Nine Tribulations Sword Master appeared, he would make a clean sweep of the Nine Heavens… If we refuse to form a united front even at this time, we can only wait to repeat our ancestors’ fate and be swept away once more! Therefore, everyone…”

His words paused earnestly. It was then that everyone really started to discuss.

Under Diwu Qingrou’s guidance, they finally put together a proper plan step by step — They would dispatch two experts to infiltrate and find out what was going on first before deciding on their next move. At the same time, they would request for assistance from the clans…

As for these two people to be dispatched, firstly, they must be quick-witted. Secondly, they must be meticulous. Thirdly, their cultivation level must be high. Fourth, their speed and agility must be fast. And fifth, when up against a ninth-grade Supreme Martial Artist, there must be a certain degree of assurance that they could escape…

Thus, after spending a long time nominating potential candidates, they finally decided on the final choices — Xiao Zhengyan and Shi Qishu!

The two of them set off immediately, vanishing into the thick night fog.

Diwu Qingrou returned to his tent and took out a book. He leaned against the cushions as he read, looking extremely leisurely.

But only those who knew him well would be able to tell that he was actually waiting for something.

After a long while…

A voice drifted in from outside the tent.

“May I know if Commander-in-chief Diwu is around?” A low voice rang out.

Then, someone reported, “Commander-in-chief, Elder Lan requests an audience.”

Diwu Qingrou sounded very surprised and very astonished. “Huh? Show him in at once!”

The curtains lifted. As a wave of chilly air gushed inside, Lan Mofeng walked in. He bowed very respectfully at Diwu Qingrou. “Commander-in-chief Diwu.”

“Not at all, you’re too modest!” Putting the book aside, Diwu Qingrou got up and warmly offered his seat. “Elder, have a seat… Someone, serve tea.”

The fragrance of tea suffused the air.

For a long while, Lan Mofeng didn’t speak.

Diwu Qingrou was naturally even more patient. He merely kept him company as he sipped on his tea, similarly keeping his silence.

“Commander-in-chief… Although the commander-in-chief has helped us out of our predicament today… I can sense that the Ye Clan and Xiao Clan etc definitely won’t let us, the Lan Clan, off just because of this reason!”

After a long while, Lan Mofeng finally spoke. The moment he did, he went straight to the point.

“Hmm?” Frowning, Diwu Qingrou replied, “That’s within my expectations. The reason I gave was rather far-fetched after all. However… Surely they won’t be so foolish as to impair their own power at such a time? This is a critical point after all!”

Lan Mofeng smiled wryly. “To be honest, I am the same type of person as them. To us, there is actually no such thing as a ‘critical moment’… All of us are people who have gone through life and death too many times in the martial world… Striking when one should — This is something that is understood.”

“The Lan Clan has finally fallen into decline after so much difficulty. In their eyes, this bit of power we can provide is no longer able to affect the overall situation!”

“Moreover, over the last ten thousand years, towards the Nine Tribulations Sword Master… They actually don’t hold much fear towards him anymore. The confidence and haughtiness that spring from ten thousand years of supremacy is something that is very difficult to get rid of.”

Lan Mofeng smiled rather sorrowfully. “Take this for example… Commander-in-chief Diwu, honestly speaking, the Lan Clan has already been destroyed by the Nine Tribulations Sword Master, such that the few of us are the only ones remaining now. This is enough to show just how fearsome the Nine Tribulations Sword Master is, right?!”

Diwu Qingrou nodded. “That’s right! The Nine Tribulations Sword Master and his Nine Tribulations are extremely terrifying.”

Lan Mofeng broke into a smile that looked as if he wanted to cry. “But even so, in the eyes of us losers from the Lan Clan… The Nine Tribulations Sword Master remains as an existence that isn’t really that frightening. He remains an existence that we feel can be destroyed with a flip of our hands… The ones with this sort of mindset include even myself. I wonder if you can understand when I put it this way?”

Diwu Qingrou heaved a deep and heavy sigh, his countenance somber and grim. “Even though it sounds ridiculous… I really do understand.”

Lan Mofeng laughed tragically.

He understood it indeed.

Ten thousand years of supremacy and ten thousand years of being in a lofty and prominent position had led this sort of pride and confidence to already seep deep into one’s guts and bones. It wasn’t something that could be easily changed. Perhaps if one experienced it for himself and witnessed it with his own eyes, it might change somewhat but… Before someone personally experienced it, this mindset would never change!

It was a lethal sort of haughty mindset.

This was the same as the refusal to admit defeat that people experienced in their daily lives. Even though one knew full well that another person was several times more formidable than himself and had even lost to him, in his heart, he would still feel that ‘that person’ was nothing more than just this nonetheless.

Diwu Qingrou sighed to the heavens. “I finally understand the reason behind the defeat of every generation of the Nine Super Clans… So it’s all thanks to this sort of mindset!”

He couldn’t not sigh.

There were many ways to guard against the Nine Tribulations Sword Master. There were actually also many ways that one could take the Nine Tribulations Sword Master’s life. Even if the Nine Tribulations Sword Master had grown to full maturity, it wasn’t impossible to destroy him.

Yet all the Nine Super Clans in the last 90,000 years had failed.

To the Nine Tribulations Sword Master who had just started growing, their power surpassed his by a billion times! To the Nine Tribulations Sword Master in the midst of growing, their power surpassed his by a million times.

In fact, to the Nine Tribulations Sword Master in his peak, the power of the Nine Super Clans still surpassed his by dozens of times, even several hundred times.

Yet they had still lost!

Why was that?

Diwu Qingrou had even once thought of the stupidest solution — Heading to the Middle Three Heavens from the Upper Three Heavens once every 50 years or 100 years and wiping out all the young experts who just started to make a name for themselves!

He’d rather wrongfully kill millions of people than let even a single suspicious person off.

If they continued killing like that… The Nine Tribulations Sword Master wouldn’t even have the chance to grow at all. Even if the Nine Tribulations Sword Master himself could, could the Nine Tribulations? As long as the Nine Tribulations Sword Master couldn’t gather the Nine Tribulations, what was there to fear?

Yet… For some reason, no one had ever put this into action!

Even the stupidest solution hadn’t been carried out, much less other solutions…

“By right, having confidence and pride is not a bad thing.” Lan Mofeng said bitterly, “But to clans like ours, it is instead a lethal flaw. If not for the clan’s crisis, it would never have occurred to me either. But even if it has occurred to me now, I am still unable to change this mindset of mine…”

Diwu Qingrou heaved a heavy sigh.

“Thus, it is destined that the Nine Super Clans would never form a united front.” Lan Mofeng laughed bitterly.

Diwu Qingrou lowered his gaze, his thoughts unknown.

“And so… It won’t be long before the Ye Clan and Xiao Clan take action against us. When that time comes, it will also put you, the commander-in-chief, in a very difficult spot!”

Diwu Qingrou’s fingers drummed against the table lightly. “Yes, this has also occurred to me. I am currently looking for a way to resolve this crisis…”

Lan Mofeng fell into silence again.

After a long while, he suddenly raised his head. “Commander-in-chief Diwu, the Diwu clan is just one of the many Zhuge Clan’s affiliated clans… This is seriously a pity and frustrating for someone of amazing talent like you.”

Diwu Qingrou smiled wryly in response. “There’s nothing I can do about it even if it’s frustrating…”

Lan Mofeng asked cautiously, “May I ask the commander-in-chief something — Does the Diwu Clan have any plans for the future?”

Diwu Qingrou kept quiet for a moment before he finally replied dispassionately, “The debut of the Nine Tribulations is the Nine Super Clans’ trial but also their opportunity. But similarly, it is also an opportunity for us, the Diwu Clan!”

“We may not necessarily be unable to emerge as a force to be reckoned with!” Diwu Qingrou’s tone was very heavy. “Heroes emerge in times of chaos!”

He spoke very candidly and very clearly, not hiding his ambition the slightest.

He knew that what the current Lan Mofeng needed was exactly his ambition! Should he not possess any ambition, then Lan Mofeng would turn around and leave immediately.

Without even saying another word to him!

Lan Mofeng stared fixedly at him for a moment before he said, “I am very grateful for the commander-in-chief’s honesty! Now, I have a suggestion.”

Diwu Qingrou said gently, “Please say it.”

“We can cooperate!” Lan Mofeng took a deep breath. “The commander-in-chief is someone who can accomplish great things, so I’ll take a gamble… From today onwards, I shall place the fate of the Lan Clan in your hands, Commander-in-chief… and we shall work towards greatness together. Should there come a day where… the commander-in-chief rises to greatness in his career… I ask only that you give the Lan Clan a place that can be our base so that our descendants can carry on the family line… and that would be enough!”

Diwu Qingrou fell silent. After a long while, he sighed lightly. “I hope that I can… strengthen the Diwu Clan and I also hope that I can let both our clans shine at the same time…”

Lan Mofeng got up, agitation in his eyes. “Thank you very much! Thank you very much… Master!”

‘Master’!

When he heard this term of address, brilliant light sparkled in Diwu Qingrou’s eyes. With a gentle smile, he said, “Rest assured, Elder Lan. As long as I, Diwu Qingrou, am around, the Lan Clan… would never be destroyed!”

“Yes!”

Lan Mofeng had already thought things through before coming here.

All the various instances of casting them out, layer upon layer of scheming against them, and their predicament of being at the end of their tether had made him realize that only by seeking refuge with Diwu Qingrou could they have a chance of survival.

Otherwise, if they really waited until the Ye Clan and the Xiao Clan took action, even Diwu Qingrou would have no choice but to go along with the flow by then…

Watching Lan Mofeng walk out, Diwu Qingrou slowly took a seat and faced a dim corner.

“Chu Yang, the pressure you apply on the Nine Super Clans will fulfill my ambitions.” Diwu Qingrou said silently in his heart, “I’ve already done it before your arrival. If you come… The rewards I reap shall be even bigger.”