Lin Mu felt furious in his heart that Gu Yao had killed the innocent. He recalled the memories of the townsmen dying due to the plague but then steeled his heart. Nothing would come out of his mindless anger, rather if he wanted to avenge them he needed to be smart.

He needed to have a plan that would hurt them where it hurt the most. Lin Mu also knew that he couldn't just start killing the people straightaway as most of them were being controlled by Gu Yao and weren't necessarily at fault.

"Senior, will the people be freed if Gu Yao is killed?

" Lin Mu questioned.

"Hmm… that is a hard thing to answer. There are a few different possibilities that can happen. Theoretically, Gu Yao shouldn't be able to control that many cultivators that are at the Dao Shell realm himself.

And if he wants to control those that are at the Dao treading realm, I believe it will be impossible if he's not at the Dao treading realm himself. We know that he is controlling the Tri Cauldron peony sect and their strongest cultivator is at the Nascent Soul realm.

It is likely that the other sects that are cooperating with them have been controlled too… or rather their higher ups are. Just from this, we can assume that the number of Dao Shell realm cultivators that are under his control is around ten.

Not to mention the disciples and other elders that will follow their commands. You will have to fight a huge number of people, strong people. Going straight ahead will not work, you will need to weaken them first.

" Xukong answered.

Lin Mu nodded his head and thought to himself. For now, he couldn't come up with anything concrete and realized that he needed more information before creating a proper plan.

"I'll gather more intel in the city and see what else I can find. Hopefully by day after tomorrow, I get enough for the next stage.

" Lin Mu muttered to himself.

With this, he sank into the ground and went to spy on the disciples. Lin Mu also went to check on the underground chamber where he had fought Gu Yao, but it had the barrier surrounding it as well.

This one was even stronger than the one that was set up around the temple, and he couldn't find any way to break it himself. He knew he could force his way in using the ring by opening a portal, but there were risks to it.

By now Lin Mu had understood the implications of using the ring and was worried the Star Catching formation may detect it. Even if Xukong was able to restrict the passive spatial fluctuation coming from the ring, he wouldn't be able to stop something that direly affected the world's barrier.

Lin Mu spent a day spying on the disciples and listening to their conversations. He even stole some documents and letters from their quarters that helped him a lot.

He found out that the top ten sects were in a time of upheaval and that new alliances were being created. The Sky precepts sect had been the number one for a long time but there was now a chance their position may be threatened.

About six of the top ten sects were now forming alliances; there was the Zither Wind alliance and the Long Cloud alliance. Only the top three sects were staying independent while the sect that was ranked at the bottom the tenth in number was being fought over by the two alliances.

Whichever alliance was able to convince the last sect to join them would become the dominating one. It was a game of numbers, and the competition was only getting tougher as the days went by.

The smaller sects were not left unaffected either, and were now making alliances of their own. The empire had become alarmed and suddenly the emperor had fallen sick too. The royal physicians were unable to help him and they were now thinking of asking the Rainbow Pills sect for help.

But it was likely the Sky precepts sect and the Centennial sword sect would not allow something like this to happen. They could guess that the Rainbow Pill sect would likely put the empire in their debt, which in turn would push them to the top.

Though Lin Mu heard another news that surprised him. The alliance ceremony for the Tri cauldron peony sect, the Autumn Valley sect, the Cloven Sea sect, and the Zither Wind Sect will be held in the coming month.

As soon as he heard of this, Lin Mu understood what was actually happening.

"That damned Gu Yao! This is all his doing, isn't it? Pitting the sects against each other while the northern tribes mount their offense.

" Lin Mu uttered with rage.

"Perhaps the emperor getting sick may be due to him as well… there are many ways he could accomplish it if he has people being controlled in the palace too. There are far too many things we missed out on in these two years.

The hardest part is that even if the sects find out their people are being controlled, they may not be able to differentiate between who is being controlled and who is not. This will only sow more distrust and cause further conflicts in their unity.

Remember that memoir of the Lost immortal? The same thing would happen here.

" Xukong said.

Lin Mu was reminded of the memoir he had read some time ago in the Sleepscape.

The Lost immortal at that time was a Nascent Soul realm cultivator and was steadily growing his influence. An enemy nation at that time had planned to sow discord in the kingdoms so that they could annex them.

A great civil war occurred, and brothers fought against brothers, spilling their blood everywhere. The Lost immortal had written the conflict in detail; his aim to teach his successor about the divide and rule strategy.

Lin Mu gritted his teeth and vowed to not let it reach that level.

"That's it,

" Lin Mu uttered, as an idea suddenly came to his mind.

"I just need to dismantle their efforts.

"