Chapter 93: Backup Plan

As more and more people gathered on the stone bridge, Lu Yang suggested they leave and find an uninhabited place.

The four went to a secluded mountain forest. Lu Yang took out a map of Yanjiang Commandery, which marked the nodes of the Reverse Lifespan Array they had deduced previously. "The array nodes should be in the same locations as before," he said. "Before we proceed, I want to clarify something, Lanting. When you mentioned 'blood sacrifice,' did you mean killing people at the nodes, or using cultivators' vital blood as offerings to activate the array?"

Lanting didn't understand Lu Yang's point. "Both methods work," she replied. "However, the former is usually preferred. Killing mere mortals is easier, whereas using too much vital blood from cultivators can impair their cultivation and harm their future progress."

Lu Yang mused, "Then the person who set up the array would likely use the second method."

The three were puzzled. The array setter must be a demonic cultivator, and for them, killing people was undoubtedly far more convenient than extracting vital blood.

"Who do you think has the capability to conceal the Reverse Lifespan Array within small flags and arrange them all overnight, using the darkness as a cover, so that even if people were tired, no one would suspect anything?" Lu Yang asked.

Meng Jingzhou instantly realized, "Someone from the local government, and someone with high authority!"

Lu Yang nodded. "Exactly. To be precise, the Commandery Governor!"

"What?!"

At this revelation, Mang Gu and Lanting were shocked, but Meng Jingzhou, who had anticipated it, showed little reaction.

He had mentioned upon entering Yanjiang Commandery that collusion between the government and demonic sects was not uncommon.

"Last night, I overheard government officials saying that Governor Li personally oversaw the placement of the flags, emphasizing that their positions must be exact."

"For the Governor to personally handle such a task is overly far-fetched, even with excuses like 'dedication to work' or 'serving the people wholeheartedly'!"

"This can only mean Governor Li used these flags to set up this commandery-wide Reverse Lifespan Array!"

Mang Gu suddenly understood, feeling the world was truly dark. "So, Governor Li is the mole planted by the branch in Yanjiang Commandery. Given his cultivation and status, perhaps 'collaborator' would be a more accurate term?"

Lu Yang shook his head. "Not a mole, nor a collaborator. I suspect Branch Master Chu and Governor Li are the same person!"

"There's no direct evidence, but there are two suspicious points."

"First, Branch Master Chu always summoned us at night. I asked other deacons, and they said this isn't how it's done at other branches."

"Second, both Branch Master Chu and Governor Li are due for promotion, and their timelines are nearly identical."

Mang Gu gasped. The world was even darker than he imagined. If Branch Master Chu and Governor Li were the same person, wouldn't that mean he was benefiting from both the righteous and demonic paths?

"Of course, they might be two different people; these are just speculations. But regardless of the situation, the method to activate the Reverse Lifespan Array definitely won't involve killing mortals!"

Mang Gu still didn't understand. Meng Jingzhou explained, "Governor Li is due for promotion. If a vicious murder spree happened during the Spring Festival, how could he still expect to be promoted? Even if he has connections higher up, they couldn't openly promote him under such circumstances."

"Furthermore, given the Governor's status, obtaining cultivators' vital blood is simple. He could just pick a few cultivators from the prison."

Lanting still had some questions. "Is it a coincidence that both Governor Li and One-Foot-Red set up Reverse Lifespan Arrays, or is there a connection?"

"I believe there's a strong connection," Lu Yang said. After figuring out the relationship between Branch Master Chu and Governor Li, he had new insights into many things.

"Leaving aside the impact of capturing three Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivators on Governor Li's political achievements—in a small commandery, without a branch, three Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators would be nearly all of them. This is equivalent to eradicating the demonic cultivator leaders of an entire commandery."

"After the Reverse Lifespan Array is activated, it might not be obvious at first, but over time, its effects would certainly be discovered."

"Without One-Foot-Red acting as a scapegoat, the government would vigorously pursue the culprits, risking exposure for both the Yanjiang branch and Governor Li."

"Governor Li very cleverly arranged for One-Foot-Red."

"With One-Foot-Red setting up the Reverse Lifespan Array first, even if Governor Li activated his array to reduce mortals' lifespans, the government's focus would only be on One-Foot-Red."

Mang Gu was surprised. "But One-Foot-Red didn't succeed in setting it up."

Lu Yang scoffed. "One-Foot-Red's claim of failure is just her side of the story. It's highly possible the array was indeed activated, but due to her improper operation, it only reduced lifespans without increasing her own cultivation. After all, it was an unfamiliar array, and anything could happen."

Mang Gu still couldn't understand. "But One-Foot-Red's two companions could also confirm that it wasn't successfully set up."

Lu Yang said, "Companions? Demonic cultivators have no true companions; they merely use each other. It's perfectly reasonable for One-Foot-Red not to tell those two the truth."

"With such a readily available suspect, who else would they suspect but One-Foot-Red?"

"Moreover, One-Foot-Red has committed numerous crimes and is sure to be sentenced to death. By the time the government discovers the Reverse Lifespan Array was activated, One-Foot-Red might already have been executed."

"With One-Foot-Red as a target, who would still suspect Governor Li?"

Meng Jingzhou and Lanting nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Lu Yang's perspective.

Lu Yang then asked, "Also, are there seven nodes that require blood sacrifice?"

Lanting looked at Lu Yang in surprise and nodded, not understanding how he knew, given that he claimed no knowledge of arrays.

"Yesterday, when I left, I encountered seven deacons who had been temporarily summoned by Branch Master Chu. They must have had some mission. I suspect he arranged for them to take vital blood to the array nodes and wait for the opportune moment."

"So, please explain more about the Reverse Lifespan Array."

Lanting didn't refuse. She circled seven points on the Yanjiang Commandery map. "These seven locations are the critical activation nodes, near the scenic spots of Yanjiang Commandery. The array core is at... the middle of Mount Song!"

To use the Reverse Lifespan Array for breakthrough, one would naturally choose a secluded location.

"Let's first remove some Reverse Lifespan Talismans to prevent the array from activating," Lu Yang said. "However, doing so would likely draw Branch Master Chu's attention. Instead of waiting for him to come for us, we should ambush him and catch him off guard."

It was precisely because Lu Yang was worried about fighting Branch Master Chu that he hadn't left records of their combat styles in the scrying orb.

The three felt uneasy. It would be a fight to the death, and Branch Master Chu was a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, extremely difficult to deal with.

"Can we report this to the authorities? Tell Fang Qingyun?" Mang Gu asked.

Lu Yang shook his head. "If Fang Qingyun learns about the array on the flags, he'll definitely suspect Governor Li. If Governor Li is captured, our identities as members of the demonic sect will also be exposed."

Lanting hesitated. "It might be difficult for just the four of us to take on a late-stage Golden Core cultivator."

Lu Yang, however, was confident. "Don't worry. We'll be fully prepared. If worst comes to worst, I have a backup plan."

"What is it?"

"Senior Sister's Pictographic Fist!"

Meng Jingzhou and Mang Gu's expressions changed drastically upon hearing this. Lanting noticed their reactions but didn't understand. "What is Senior Sister's Pictographic Fist?"

"It's the ultimate move of Lu Clan's Pictographic Fist!" Lu Yang said with a confident look.

Lanting nodded, half understanding.