Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 30: The Grandmaster Has Fallen, War Breaks Out

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Grandmaster Has Fallen, War Breaks Out

"How far have things progressed?"

Upon hearing Zhang Yao’s words, Zhao Donglai chuckled, lowered his voice, and said, "In recent months, the Wang family’s attitude has softened significantly, using all sorts of enticements, inducements, and divisive tactics, striving for a smooth transition."

"Several of us old fellows have openly agreed to the Wang family’s terms, and our relationship with them seems closer than ever."

"But it’s all a facade! Just a deception to fool others."

"The Wang family has been greedily oppressive for years, bullying us harshly, and now they think a gesture of goodwill can make us let bygones be bygones? Ridiculous folly!"

He scoffed disdainfully and said, "Let me put it to you this way."

"Now, the major factions in the city are just waiting for that old guy to kick the bucket."

"The day he dies will be the day the Wang family meets their end!"

After hearing his words, Zhang Yao immediately understood in his heart.

The situation was just as he had judged—a powder keg ready to explode—hence the Wang family prepared an escape route, relocating their members, to ensure the continuation of their family line.

But unless in the most desperate circumstances, they certainly wouldn’t easily abandon the foundation of Changping City to others.

"Hmm..."

Zhang Yao pondered for a moment and cautiously said, "Hall Master Zhao, how do the forces of the Wang family compare to the major forces in the city?"

This part of the intelligence was always out of his reach.

After all, the number of Absolute Peak Experts is very few, and outside the Martial Arts circle, they prefer to stay hidden as a deterrent trump card.

Given his previously low status, he had no access to this level; even Zhou An had only a superficial understanding, forcing him to seek Zhao Donglai’s counsel.

"Power comparison..."

Zhao Donglai thought for a moment and said, "Over the years, the Wang family has monopolized the entire Changping’s resources and been directly instructed by a Martial Arts Grandmaster, producing quite a number of experts."

"To my knowledge, combining both the surface and hidden experts, they should have three Absolute Peak Experts and over a dozen Perfect Martial Artists."

"Besides the Wang family, the strongest force in Changping City is the Noble Family, although it’s divided."

"The Noble Family is split into two, led by the Li Family and the Chen Family, each with an Absolute Peak Expert in charge; the rest are the Martial Arts and Commerce Association."

He paused, a hint of dread in his voice:

"The Commerce Association is very wealthy, secretly maintaining many experts; the most formidable among them is an old swordsman named ’Yunyi.’

"This person’s sword technique is extraordinary; within Changping City, aside from that old immortal from the Wang family, he is probably the most formidable..."

"I understand."

Zhang Yao nodded, pondering in the dark.

If the four forces unite, the Wang family is at a disadvantage in the number of Absolute Peak Experts, and the number of Perfect and Great Success level martial artists is even more lacking.

Just the Martial Arts alone can gather seven or eight Perfect Martial Artists, not to mention adding the Commerce Association and Noble Family.

No wonder Zhang Donglai could assert that once the Grandmaster Wang dies, the Wang family will fall; it’s purely because they are overwhelmingly outmatched, making it difficult for the Wang family to make a comeback.

Unless something unexpected happens, like one or two forces defecting, or failure in the confrontation of Absolute Peak Experts, the Wang family can’t possibly outmatch the four forces’ alliance.

"Nephew."

Zhao Donglai suddenly spoke, his tone uncertain: "If you and I join forces, we must be open and frank, right?"

"I still don’t know what exactly you desire, and without knowing that, how can we talk about the terms of cooperation?"

Zhang Yao glanced at him and said indifferently, "Rest assured, Hall Master Zhao, I don’t have much appetite; I’m not concerned with the things you all are vying for."

He said this while extending two fingers: "I have only two conditions."

"Please speak."

Zhao Donglai adopted a listening posture.

"First, I want a small portion of the Wang family’s accumulated wealth and treasures."

Zhang Yao remained calm and spoke slowly: "Second, if there are secret manuals or records regarding a Grandmaster’s cultivation insights, I need a copy."

"That’s it?"

Zhao Donglai looked at him with astonishment. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

He had thought Zhang Yao was being modest, but unexpectedly, his appetite was indeed so small.

A little wealth, a secret manual—what does that count for?

As an Absolute Peak Expert, Zhang Yao is entirely qualified to claim a share in the new order after the battle, potentially becoming one of Changping City’s de facto rulers, with wealth and beauties at his disposal.

"Yes, just those."

Zhang Yao nodded slightly and said, "With conditions like these, surely Hall Master Zhao can agree?"

"Of course!"

Zhao Donglai promptly agreed, smiled slightly, and pursued, "Then let’s settle on it; during the chaos, you and I will work together, advancing and retreating as one!"

Zhang Yao, as a collaborator, is likely desired by everyone, and Zhao Donglai found no reason to refuse.

That night, the two of them moved to a dark room, discussing the various shifts in the situation and the details of their collaboration in secret for more than an hour.

It wasn’t until late at night that Zhang Yao quietly returned to the Governor’s Mansion, silently lying low and waiting for the opportunity.

......

Another month passed.

The north wind howled, temperatures dropped sharply, and Changping City entered winter.

On this day, Zhang Yao was under an osmanthus tree, flipping through a book, comprehending the secrets of the Grandmaster.

"This travelogue doesn’t help much; too many things are described ambiguously..."

Zhang Yao frowned, closing the book in his hand.

More than a month ago, during his secret talk with Zhao Donglai, he inquired about the mysteries of the Grandmaster Realm.

In Zhao Donglai’s words, a Grandmaster seemed to have refined some kind of "qi," transcending the mundane, with their power advancing to a nearly incomprehensible level and possessing various miraculous abilities.

But for more specifics, he couldn’t elaborate, and in farewell, he gifted Zhang Yao a travelogue supposedly written by a Grandmaster himself.

Regrettably, this travelogue only narrated some experiences of the Grandmaster and didn’t offer much assistance to him.

"I’d better go see Master."

Zhang Yao carefully stored away the book and left the Governor’s Mansion, heading to West Main Street.

After winter set in, Zhou An’s health deteriorated by the day, and Zhang Yao practically visited the Golden Furnace Martial Arts Hall daily, talking with Zhou An to keep him company.

"Oh..."

As he neared the Golden Furnace Martial Arts Hall, someone suddenly bumped into him, let out a cry of pain, and walked away cursing.

Zhang Yao withdrew his gaze, maintained a calm demeanor, and continued walking forward until he arrived at the martial arts hall.

Once inside the courtyard of the martial arts hall, he opened his palm to reveal a small paper ball.

Zhang Yao unfolded the paper, revealing a line of delicate handwriting, seemingly written by a woman: "Sleeping dragon’s eyes closed, fruit as the secret before, the gain is not false, midnight in the west."

After reading the note, a faint smile appeared on his face, and he casually crumbled the paper into powder, scattering it wildly.

This was the agreed-upon secret code between him and Zhao Donglai:

Grandmaster Wang has died, the Wang family secretly hides the funeral, confirming it’s not a trap set by the Wang family, and action is to be taken at midnight tonight!

"It has finally come!"

Zhang Yao sighed with emotion, feeling a sense of inevitability, as if another shoe had finally dropped.

"A great battle is imminent, unavoidable."

"This is also my closest opportunity to reach the Grandmaster Realm..."