Chapter 564: Chapter 389: Mid-Stage Core Formation

The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave believed this was the correct course of action, a fitting way to celebrate the emergence of a new Core Formation Cultivator within his sect.

Back then, the plan was that if the Celestial Cloud Sect could heavily wound the Demon Spirit Sect, the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect could make their move.

"Then tell me, what do you think is the reason for this situation?" Old Ghost Tang of the Ghost-Controlling Sect asked, looking at the Great Cave Master.

"I..."

The Great Cave Master hesitated, unable to speak.

He truly couldn’t think of any reason for the Celestial Cloud Sect’s behavior.

’The only preposterous explanation is that the Celestial Cloud Sect has teamed up with the Demon Spirit Sect, deliberately putting on an act for our benefit.’

"If this were the Celestial Cloud Sect of the past, I could understand their current actions. But today’s Celestial Cloud Sect is completely different, not to mention they have the help of that mysterious Spirit Refiner from the Purple Mist Sect."

The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave was referring to the Celestial Cloud Sect’s change in strategy.

The old Celestial Cloud Sect was very conservative; the new one is aggressive.

If not for this change, they never would have moved to annihilate the Celestial Demon Sect.

"Forget about it," Old Ghost Tang said, already shifting his own perspective. "Instead of dwelling on the reasons for the Celestial Cloud Sect’s actions, we should be thinking about our next move."

"You have a point."

The Great Cave Master nodded.

"Has the Demon Spirit Sect been in contact with you?" Old Ghost Tang asked.

The Great Cave Master shook his head. "Not since the Celestial Cloud Sect launched their counterattack. The Demon Spirit Sect hasn’t contacted me at all."

No contact meant no requests for aid from the Black Ghost Cave.

Even if the Demon Spirit Sect did ask for help, they would only watch from the sidelines, just as they were doing now. They wouldn’t lift a finger.

"In that case, the Demon Spirit Sect must have realized something was wrong quite early on. They might even know what our two sects are up to."

"So what if they know? Our objective has already been achi—"

The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave trailed off. He remembered that the Celestial Cloud Sect’s subsequent actions hadn’t gone according to their plan.

They had predicted the Demon Spirit Sect’s moves correctly, but they had miscalculated when it came to the Celestial Cloud Sect.

"Great Cave Master, what do you think? Should we make our move now?" Old Ghost Tang asked, watching the Great Cave Master.

He was, of course, referring to moving against the Demon Spirit Sect.

The Black Ghost Cave’s stance on the Demon Spirit Sect differed from that of the Ghost-Controlling Sect.

As the sect with the deepest-seated conflict with the Demon Spirit Sect, the Ghost-Controlling Sect was eager to see them destroyed.

"No," the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave refused, shaking his head. "If we make a move now, the Celestial Cloud Sect will likely stop their assault on the Demon Spirit Sect. Then *they* would be the ones sitting back to watch the show, not us."

As things stood, even though the Celestial Cloud Sect wasn’t committing much strength, they were at least still fighting the Demon Spirit Sect.

It would be far worse if the Celestial Cloud Sect stopped committing any forces at all.

"So it seems we have no choice but to wait?"

The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave contemplated this for a long, long time.

It seemed that waiting was indeed their most advantageous option.

"This is the only way."

But Old Ghost Tang of the Ghost-Controlling Sect did not agree with the Great Cave Master’s decision to wait.

He had more to say.

"You of the Black Ghost Cave can wait, then. We of the Ghost-Controlling Sect will do what needs to be done to the Demon Spirit Sect."

With things having developed to this point, their original agreement was naturally null and void.

"No," the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave refused, shaking his head.

"Great Cave Master, my Ghost-Controlling Sect is not the same as your Black Ghost Cave. If you move against the Demon Spirit Sect, the Celestial Cloud Sect might grow suspicious. But for us? It would be more suspicious if we *didn’t* act." Old Ghost Tang had his own logic. "If the Celestial Cloud Sect were to guess that we’re cooperating, they would almost certainly halt their current offensive."

At this, Old Ghost Tang was confident the Great Cave Master understood his point.

The Ghost-Controlling Sect’s actions would also serve to advance their overall plan.

The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave considered it. ’Old Ghost Tang has a point.’

When it came to the Demon Spirit Sect, the Ghost-Controlling Sect and his Black Ghost Cave were, after all, in different positions.

It seemed more in character for the Ghost-Controlling Sect to kick the Demon Spirit Sect while they were down—to twist the knife a few times.

With no better option, the Great Cave Master could only give his tacit approval to Old Ghost Tang’s plans.

The Black Ghost Cave would not be participating.

They wouldn’t have to commit any of their own forces, which was a good thing for them.

With this realization, the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave found himself in complete agreement with Old Ghost Tang.

...

「Demon Spirit Sect Territory.」

The ancestral home of the Liang Family, one of the Foundation Establishment Influences subordinate to the Demon Spirit Sect.

Patriarch Liang had always felt his family was in a poor location.

Their territory bordered the Ghost-Controlling Sect, meaning that if the Ghost-Controlling Sect ever moved against the Demon Spirit Sect, the Liang Family would be the first to suffer the consequences.

Now, however, Patriarch Liang no longer felt their location was so bad.

The territories near the Celestial Cloud Sect were the ones with truly poor locations.

A single move from the mysterious Spirit Refiner, and they would be wiped out.

Five of the Demon Spirit Sect’s subordinate Foundation Establishment Influences had already fallen to the mysterious Spirit Refiner.

Thankfully, the mysterious Spirit Refiner seemed uninterested in new Foundation Establishment Influences. Otherwise, in the lands bordering the Celestial Cloud Sect, no new power would dare establish itself where another had fallen.

Recently, Patriarch Liang had been feeling quite lucky.

The Celestial Cloud Sect was making moves, while the Ghost-Controlling Sect had remained quiet. This had made life quite comfortable for the Liang Family.

’The Ghost-Controlling Sect is on the move again...’

Upon receiving the new report, Patriarch Liang felt his family’s luck had run out.

’I celebrated too soon.’

An Elder from the Demon Spirit Sect had instructed him to report any movements from the Ghost-Controlling Sect immediately.

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