Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible-Chapter 223: My Backer’s Identity Has Been Revealed!

It was one of the brighter evenings in recent days for the disciples of the Crimson Snow Sect. The fog tides were not as frequent and dense, allowing the sun to sink its waning golden rays into the heart of the mountains.

It brought Han Xuhan the perfect opportunity to set up the first step of his grand plan.

Having foreseen the excellent environment on his weather forecast map, he hadn't hesitated to run around all over the mountains, informing his fellow disciples that a new free lecture on law cultivation was about to be held this evening.

His fellow disciples, used to seeing a well-disguised Xuanyuan Zhou as their mysterious teacher, were in for a surprise, because it was Zhanxian who showed up with a lecture sheet in his gloved hands.

"Alright, alright, settle down, everyone. My colleague is on a break, so I'll be taking the class today."

The mask on Zhanxian's face hid his skeletal features, and multiple layers of thick robes hid the rest of his bony body. Even those who might have seen this minion near Han Xuhan in the past would never suspect his identity.

To the crowd, it was just a simple fact of one faceless senior replacing another faceless senior. As long as the quality of the lecture remained the same, they didn't care about anything else!

Han Xuhan, meanwhile, paced around the gathering of disciples, looking for familiar faces. Sure enough, he recognized a guy who was sitting in a corner keeping his head low a little too suspiciously.

Senior Brother Chen Yan had definitely not given up on his endeavor to fleece Han Xuhan. After Jiang Chen and Miss Mei had failed to snatch away the target share of the resources, Chen Yan must have been biding his time patiently, hatching up a different method.

Unfortunately for Chen Yan, Han Xuhan hadn't led the way for another transfer of resources between the Crimson Snow Sect and the Holy Land of Laws.

Even the lion's share of the Nightflower essence that he was supposed to hand over during the previous transfer had yet to fall into Chen Yan's hands.

Han Xuhan had hoped that it would push the older disciple into taking some drastic and desperate measures, acts that might lead to traces of incriminating evidence.

That way, he could deal with Chen Yan, the big fish, merely using the Sect authorities.

But Chen Yan had proved himself a patient man. He simply gave an order to the rest of his cronies to keep an eye on Han Xuhan's activities. Neither of them had any idea what the other side was planning.

So, Han Xuhan did not show any unusual reaction towards Chen Yan's spy. It was actually pretty convenient for his plan.

On the upper end of the plateau, Zhanxian began to recite the contents of the lecture, not at all sounding as nervous as he should have been. The credit for this went to the fog-therapy he had been subjected to mere minutes ago.

Recently, Han Xuhan had collected a new type of fog, labelled on his map for containing "Emotion-erasing poison".

Zhanxian, at this moment, felt no fear, no hesitation, no anxiety. His mind was a cold machine following the orders of his superior.

Watching his eldest minion dupe over a hundred disciples with such a casual air about him, Han Xuhan couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

"What I wouldn't give to have an endless supply of that poison for all of my minions..."

The content of Zhanxian's lecture was more or less genuine, just inflated with esoteric-sounding words that carried no real implications. The core knowledge was stolen from what Qian Yun had taught Han Xuhan last night.

The disciples who were already somewhat interested in exploring the path of law cultivation were fascinated by Zhanxian's words, exchanging excited looks amongst themselves. After all, it was a lost orthodox path that had once dominated this planet!

Who could keep their calm upon sensing the fact that there was a great opportunity in front of them, an opportunity to grab on to a complete, unique legacy shrouded in such mysteries?

Artificial worlds, unique realms, cool titles, and seemingly inexpensive progression methods...

All of it sounded so tempting that even Senior Brother Chen Yan's spy was listening with rapt attention, eyes aglow with greed

Zhanxian's lecture wasn't lengthy. There was no way he could reveal everything Qian Yun had discussed with Han Xuhan.

Even the inflated word count and slow, dramatic manner of speaking couldn't extend the session beyond an hour.

The entire gathering let out a pensive, discontent groan when it came to an end. But just as they were about to rise to their feet, Zhanxian's voice rang out again.

"Recently, I've heard that some of you have gotten a little too greedy for your own good. You want to monopolize the legacy of law cultivation, make sure that none of your peers can walk this path."

Zhanxian's claim sent a wave of confusion and alarm through the crowd. Whispers and loud questions broke out uncontrollably, but Zhanxian paid the commotion no heed.

"In order to achieve this goal, you've been conspiring against us in all kinds of ways. A few days ago, my junior brother, the person who has been working so hard to organize this whole thing, was ambushed by a group of miscreants and left bedridden from injuries."

Numerous pairs of eyes fell on Han Xuhan at the back, who nodded to confirm the claim, wearing a helpless expression.

It immediately gave a platform to a bunch of hot-headeded young cultivators, mostly those who were already enamored by the path of law cultivation.

This was a direct strike upon their interests. How could they take it lying down?

"Who the hell dares!"

"Brother Xuhan, who was it?"

"Please don't hesitate to reveal their identities!"

"Whoever they are, they'll learn how sharp my saber is tonight!"

"Brother Xuhan, you shouldn't have kept it a secret until now."

"Everybody, let's form a group and track those bastards down!"

"Conspiring against your own brothers and sisters in the sect... Do these people deserve a place in the outer court?"

"Expulsion! Such crimes call for expulsion! I'll immediately inform the head of the disciplinary committee!"

Han Xuhan met Zhanxian's gaze from afar, and nodded subtly the moment he felt that the crowd's fury had reached its peak. Shouting loudly, Zhanxian grabbed their attention once more.

"Don't put Junior Brother Xuhan in such a tough spot, you fools. Use your heads before you speak!"

Sneering at the puzzled faces below him, Zhanxian began to explain. "Who do you think is in control of this insidious scheme? Just a random outer court disciple driven by jealousy and greed?

It hasn't even been a year since you juniors joined our sect. Who amongst you has such influence and ambition?"

The sharper mind in the gathering grasped what he meant almost immediately. Faces turned pale and gazes grew cautious. Those who were a beat slower had to hear it from Zhanxian himself.

"Obviously, this scheme isn't the handiwork of a disciple of your generation, juniors. Someone from MY generation is behind it.

So, your target should be this senior disciple. Now tell me, who dares to challenge that villain?"

This time, not even the dumbest disciple in the crowd raised their voice. Their discontent was restrained to whispers and impotent displays of rage.

Zhanxian laughed uproariously, having expected this scenario. Han Xuhan had told him this would be the most natural situation.

"I'd not blame you guys even if you don't have the guts. I understand that most of you aren't the brightest stars of your generation, since you're chasing after alternatives to the techniques popularized in our sect," he continued.

"But as your senior brother, how can I not do anything? Not only is that wretch scheming against you juniors, but he's also scheming against me indirectly. Their bold plans cannot go unchallenged!"

A fire of hope ignited in the hearts of all present, only to be doused by Han Xuhan's meek voice.

"But senior brother, we have no concrete proof. The disciples who attacked me would never admit it, would they?"

"Then let them approach me privately to settle it through a duel, betting on real stakes. If they win, we will do what they wish for us to do. If they lose, the same rules apply!"

Zhanxian raised a fist and waved it in the air, as if challenging this invisible, anonymous enemy.

During this small movement, his sleeves slipped down a few inches and revealed the crystalline armor over his bony hands.

Most people in the crowd wouldn't think much of that little 'accident', far too concerned with the arbitrary decision of this mysterious senior. They kept shouting all kinds of things to convince him to discard this plan.

But the spy sent by senior brother Chen Yan would realize the truth, because they'd been spying on him long enough to know about Zhanxian's armored hand!

This was the message Han Xuhan wanted the spy to send to Chen Yan; that the mysterious senior brother backing Han Xuhan was actually his useless minion!