Chapter 82 Not Seeking to Cower in a Corner

Xu Anmin didn't show even a trace of pride. Instead, he seemed even more humble. His tone was calm yet full of confidence."I really can't accept your praise, Young Master. As a former scholar, these are just my life insights. However, the problem of Dongfengling must be solved as soon as possible. It concerns the safety of the common people and the foundation of our future."

Jiang Li nodded, and his gaze gradually turned solemn. His eyes were like a deep pool, unfathomable."In that case, what's your plan?"

Xu Anmin paused for a moment, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the time to showcase his strategic vision.

He slightly bent his body, deliberately emphasizing the solemnity of this moment."The plan has long been engraved in my mind. There's no need to worry."

He summoned a yellowed scroll from his storage ring. As he unfurled it, the paper emitted a faint rustling sound. He handed it to Jiang Li."This is a map, which clearly marks the layout of Dongfengling and the core of the mountain - protecting great formation. You infiltrate the interior of Dongfengling, find that core, and shatter it. Then, the great formation can be disrupted. After that, our people can smoothly charge in and jointly wipe out this force."

Jiang Li took the map and scanned it carefully. His brows knitted slightly, and a thoughtful glint flashed in his eyes."What about the formation in Dongfengling?"

Xu Anmin replied with confidence,"The mountain - guarding grand formation is powerful, yet not overly complex. Once you locate the core of the formation, it can be easily broken." He paused, and his tone gradually took on a tinge of assertiveness."As for the outer defenses, our elite personal guards are sure to break through." As he spoke, he met Jiang Li's gaze, the confidence in his eyes as unwavering as if it were ingrained in his very being.

Jiang Li's eyes were as sharp as a blade, piercing through Xu Anmin's gaze. He had formed a general assessment in his mind, yet remained vigilant. He continued to inquire,"What high - level cultivators are there inside Dongfengling?"

Without hesitation, Xu Anmin clearly listed the information,"The most powerful one is a Martial King at the peak of the consummate realm. There are also two Martial Lords at the mid - stage, along with some Martial Masters and Martial Warriors. Overall, although there are some formidable cultivators within Dongfengling, in terms of overall strength, we have every chance of defeating them."

Jiang Li pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly in agreement."In that case, this plan is viable." He gave Xu Anmin a profound look, and his tone remained steady."However, do you have sufficient manpower?"

A faint smile spread across Xu Anmin's face. His eyes were resolute and full of assurance."I've made all the arrangements. The elite troops are ready, and every detail of the operation has been finalized. All you need to do, Young Master, is give the order, and we can set off immediately."

Jiang Li fell into a brief silence. His gaze turned towards the window, fixated on the green mountains and clear waters outside, yet his mind was in turmoil.

On the surface, this plan seemed flawless, but everything was far more complex than it appeared.

His eyes gradually grew calm, and he said in a steady tone,"In that case, I'll consider taking action. But before that, I'll discuss it with my subordinates to ensure everything is foolproof."

"That's quite reasonable," Xu Anmin nodded.

The two continued to discuss in depth. Jiang Li was impressed by Xu Anmin's meticulous arrangements, especially the precise reconnaissance of Dongfengling and the elaborate planning, which undoubtedly provided sufficient guarantees for their operation.

However, in Jiang Li's heart, there was still a faint sense of unease that he couldn't shake off.

Xu Anmin's wisdom and experience undoubtedly commanded Jiang Li's admiration, but he also knew that behind such a well - thought - out action, there must be more calculations.

Jiang Li pondered carefully and finally came to a conclusion: What Xu Anmin had planned was not just a simple military operation, but more like a layout involving power struggles.

Jiang Li sat back in his chair, his fingers gently tapping on the table, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Outside, the wind was rising and clouds were gathering, while his mind was gradually clearing.

After Xu Anmin took his leave, Jiang Li remained lost in thought, staring at the map in front of him.

The lamp flickered behind him, casting his elongated shadow.

He examined the map once again. The complex emotions surging within him compelled him to re - evaluate his stance and future choices.

This was not merely a battle against Dongfengling but a part of the overall situation, and the role he was to play might far exceed his expectations.

"Who is pulling the strings behind this game? Or am I overthinking? But there are just too many coincidences to ignore," Jiang Li silently pondered in his heart.

With a stir of his soul, he summoned Shangguan Hao and the others into the room.

Shangguan Hao, Lin Xiao, Su Yao, Ye Xiaoke, Zhao Meng, and Zhang Shuo entered the room one after another. Fortunately, the tea table was large enough to seat all seven of them.

The lamp in the room flickered, casting shadows on their faces. The four of them sat down quietly, waiting for Jiang Li to speak.

Jiang Li slightly raised his head, stared at the four in front of him, and slowly said,"I just discussed the plan for Dongfengling with Xu Anmin. His arrangements are meticulous and almost flawless. But my intuition tells me that there's an underlying unease in my heart."

Lin Xiao's brows shot up, and his tone carried a hint of confusion."Young Master, you mean there's something wrong with Xu Anmin?"

Jiang Li was silent for a moment, his gaze gradually turning solemn. The sudden howling wind outside carried a chill. He took a deep breath and said slowly,"It's not just Xu Anmin. The forces behind this might be even more complex. Although Xu Anmin's plan is exhaustive, there could be intentions hidden behind his overly clear arrangements that we haven't detected yet. This layout is too perfect, so perfect that it seems flawless."

Everyone looked at each other, their brows furrowing unconsciously. Su Yao said softly,"Young Master, you mean he might be using us to achieve some of his own goals?"

Jiang Li nodded and said in a low voice,"That's very likely. Since he can clearly tell us how to break the formation, it shows that his understanding of Dongfengling far exceeds that of an ordinary ally. There might be a more complicated situation behind Xu Anmin."

Shangguan Hao stroked his chin and pondered for a moment."If it's really as the Young Master said, and Xu Anmin's intentions aren't pure, then how should we respond?"

The lamp in the room flickered in the silence, and the air seemed to grow heavy. Everyone's heartbeat became more distinct.

Jiang Li said,"First, we need to protect ourselves. Temporarily maintain the cooperative relationship with him, but be more vigilant and constantly observe everything around us. We still have to go to Dongfengling. There's a high possibility that there are even more powerful forces pulling the strings behind Xu Anmin."

Shangguan Hao said in a low voice,"Young Master, you mean we can't fully trust Xu Anmin? But if so, the next actions might put us in a dilemma."

Jiang Li nodded slowly, his tone solemn."Precisely. Although Xu Anmin's arrangements are exquisite, it doesn't mean he's truly our ally. The forces behind him might be watching us secretly, perhaps even using us to achieve some greater goals."

Lin Xiao's expression grew even more serious, his brows knitted tightly. Evidently, he was puzzled by this situation."So, how should we proceed?"

Jiang Li stood up and slowly walked towards the window, gazing out at the deep night sky. Dark clouds covered the sky, and only a few rays of moonlight filtered through the gaps. His deep voice echoed in the room."We'll still follow Xu Anmin's plan, but we must conduct a more detailed investigation of the internal situation in Dongfengling. And we can't let our guard down, in case there are more powerful forces pulling the strings behind the scenes."

He paused, then turned his gaze to the four of them."Each of you must stay vigilant at all times. Especially you, Shangguan Hao and Su Yao. You two are the strongest, so be ready to handle any unexpected situations at any time."

Shangguan Hao said resolutely,"If there are any changes, I'll go all out."

Su Yao nodded, her eyes filled with calm determination."We'll stay alert and make sure no enemies can infiltrate."

Jiang Li smiled slightly, as if feeling a bit relieved."Very well. Your attitudes put me at ease. For the upcoming actions, we'll start with reconnaissance to confirm the defensive situations inside and outside Dongfengling. Xu Anmin's plan is just the surface. We need to analyze it from multiple perspectives to ensure everything is foolproof."

He turned to Ye Xiaoke, a glint flashing in his eyes."Xiaoke, your 'Ghost Shadow Step' gives you a great advantage in scouting and infiltrating. For this mission, I hope you'll pay special attention to any changes, no matter how minor, both inside and outside Dongfengling."

Ye Xiaoke nodded gently."Don't worry, Young Master. I'll do my best to ensure that no clue escapes my notice."

Jiang Li then turned to Shangguan Hao, his tone becoming even more earnest."Shangguan Hao, your task is to organize every member of the team, ensuring seamless coordination during the operation, especially when it comes to the timing of ambushes and surprise attacks. Although some of the enemies may not be as powerful as you, there are still some formidable cultivators we can't afford to underestimate."

Shangguan Hao replied,"I understand. Once the operation begins, I'll make sure everyone is in peak condition."

Jiang Li looked out of the window again. The night had deepened, and the distant mountains loomed faintly in the darkness.

Xu Anmin's layout was undoubtedly exquisite, but Jiang Li knew clearly that he couldn't follow it blindly.

He had to be more cautious with every step, especially to find more ways out, so as to avoid falling into someone else's schemes.

Outside, night had fallen, and all was quiet. Only the occasional gust of wind cut through the tranquility.

Jiang Li's spiritual soul stirred slightly, sensing the surrounding auras, as if he felt a profound threat.

"What exactly is Xu Anmin hiding?" Jiang Li's brows furrowed slightly. His face had regained its calm, but his eyes betrayed deep - seated doubts.

"The operation will start tomorrow night. Time is running out, and we must be quick, precise, and ruthless," Jiang Li said in a low voice, his gaze as firm as iron, and his voice carrying an unwavering determination.

The four of them dispersed to make their respective preparations, while Jiang Li remained standing by the window, gazing at the distant mountains.

In his heart, a more complex mystery quietly spread. Whose chess - game was this? Had he already been drawn into it?

In a hall within Dongfengling, the atmosphere was eerily silent.

The weak candle flames in the hall flickered, casting a dim light on Cheng Yankun's cold and gaunt face.

He sat in front of an ancient wooden table, his eyes fixed on the map spread out on the table. His fingertips tapped the tabletop from time to time, producing clear echoes.

On the table were piled some bamboo slips and scrolls, in a disorderly mess, seemingly remnants from earlier affairs.

The howling wind outside whistled through the gaps in the palace windows, as faint as the buzzing of mosquitoes, accompanied by a few dull creaks of wooden boards. The entire hall seemed to be suppressing some intangible heavy pressure.

"Jiang Li..." Cheng Yankun murmured in a low voice, a deep glint flashing in his eyes. His voice was as cold as ice, tinged with a hint of barely - concealed hatred."You actually barged into Heluo City."

His brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes became vacant, as if losing focus.

Recalling Jiang Li's past cunning and narrow - minded victory, Cheng Yankun's heart became even more agitated.

That person had once seemed like an ant in his eyes, yet at a crucial moment, he had disrupted the carefully - woven plan. The setback and the loss of face had stirred a towering rage in his heart.