Chapter 567: Chapter Five Hundred Sixty-Three: Stand Up

To be honest, Tang Luo was truly surprised, so much so that he lost control of his emotions and stood up.

He believed that Tang Zu, the clan’s chief, wouldn’t deceive him. It was definitely Tang Zhi who had ordered the execution of Xiao Ziyu.

Yet, Tang Siyuan was now bringing about completely contradictory orders, shaking his firm belief and leaving him bewildered and shocked, he couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”

Looking at Tang Luo’s stunned expression, Tang Siyuan, the Great Elder, guiltily said, “This is the Tang Clan’s biggest secret, but since you will be duelling with Xiao Ziyu tomorrow, you should know now. In fact, we’ve formed an alliance with the Xiao Family. Their journey to Red Cloud Mountain is simply to mislead the opposition. So, do you understand now?”

With the explanation of the Great Elder Tang Siyuan, Tang Luo’s expression did not improve, but became more serious.

In his mind, the best situation would be a change of plans from killing Xiao Ziyu to a proper match. But judging from the Great Elder’s attitude, as if he didn’t know that he had already received the task to kill Xiao Ziyu or even thought that he was unaware of the alliance between their clans, this was too terrifying.

With countless thoughts passing through his mind, Tang Luo asked in a deep voice, “Great Elder, is this mercy towards him your decision, or is it the family’s decision?”

“The answer to that should be obvious. Despite the need for our alliance to be kept a secret from the Mi Clan, Xiao Ziyu is, after all, a bloodline inheritor of the Fire God and is the future of the Xiao family. No matter how you look at it, we shouldn’t seriously harm Xiao Ziyu. I believe the Clan Leader must think the same way.” Elder Tang Gaomin asserted.

Looking at the two earnestly persuading elders in front of him, Tang Luo realized why the guard duty was given to them and not his father Tang Sen.

The best way to prevent a plan from being leaked is not to share everything at the last moment, but to divide it into parts. Everyone only knows and executes their own part.

To convince the Mi Clan that the Tang Clan has broken ties with the Xiao Clan, just killing Xiao Ziyu won’t be enough. They also need to engage in a battle. As the Grand Elder reiterated, the breakout after killing Xiao Ziyu could be dangerous, and the climax of that enjoyment would be the grand defeat of the Tang Clan fighters by the combined forces of the Mi Clan and Xiao Clan, thereby winning the trust of the Mi Clan.

To fool others, first, you have to fool yourself.

Although the alliance between the two families is the utmost secret of the clan, Tang Luo was almost sure that the Martial ancestors serving in the Martial Hall knew about it. These people could be the biggest leak in the plan.

So, Tang Zhi had to make these people believe that the Tang Clan and the Xiao Clan have truly broken their relationship. Only then can they fight selflessly, winning Mi Clan’s trust in the process.

The key to this plan was Tang Luo’s decision, or, in other words, its Chief Tang Zhi’s test for him.

Tang Luo, who had made up his mind, slowly sat down and addressed the two elders, “If we want to keep the alliance a secret, I must not hold back tomorrow.”

“But rest assured, with Xiao Ziyu’s cultivation, it won’t be so serious that he can’t even admit defeat before losing. After all, this battle took place on the Red Cloud Peak and is witnessed by the Tang, Mi, and Xiao Clans. Since the Battle of Jianglin, the Mi Clan is well aware of my strength. If I go easy, they would suspect. So, I have to give it my all.”

In truth, he was just giving them an answer they would accept. Even if Tang Luo agrees with the Great Elder’s request, Xiao Ziyu is nearly destined to die tomorrow. Because the top leaders of both clans have decided to put on a play for the Mi Clan, and one thing is clear, to fool the Mi Clan, they first have to make the Martial Ancestors participating in the battle tomorrow believe that the fallout is real.

Having heard Tang Luo’s decision, the Great Elder Tang Siyuan and Elder Tang Gaomind pondered for a while before replying, “You have a point. The Mi family will indeed send people to watch the battle tomorrow. Let’s do as you said.”

Seeing the two elders accept his explanation without any suspicion, Tang Luo felt a heavy burden in his heart. He nodded and stopped talking.

…

On the first day of November, early morning, heavy snow was falling.

Two elders dressed in black and gold robes, accompanied by a dozen warriors in spiritual armours sat in a cloud sedan, departing from North Mountain to head east, their destination was the main peak of Red Cloud Mountain.

Before long, the cloud sedan stopped in a bamboo forest on the main peak of the Red Cloud Mountain. The bamboo forest where they had had their spring outing six months ago, which now seemed like a lifetime ago.

Besides the powerful members of the Xiao Clan who had already been waiting there, the prominent citizens of Xiling had also gathered in the bamboo forest, filling it to the brim.

Yet, when Tang Luo stepped out from the cloud sedan, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, as if welcoming a returning king.

Tang Luo knew they were just showing gratitude for his benevolence in distributing grain, but it still warmed his heart.

He waved at the crowd as if he wasn’t there for an arrangement but for a tour of his territory.

After responding to his enthusiastic citizens for some time, Tang Luo finally found the time and opportunity to greet those who would be his opponents today.

In the Xiao Clan’s camp, the strongest man in Xiling, Xiao Jinlin, his son Xiao Qi, and a few Martial Ancestors with a strength value above fifty thousand points had all arrived. It seems that the Xiao Clan took today’s performance very seriously.

As the master of Red Cloud Mountain, Tang Luo naturally needed to speak to the highest-ranking person first. So even before the Great Elder and Elder Tang Gaomin opened their mouths, he greeted Xiao Jinlin, “Clan Leader Xiao, we haven’t seen each other for a long time. How are you? And Young Master Xiao, it’s suddenly snowing today. Do you want to postpone the battle for a few days?”

He wasn’t mocking them, but the weather today really wasn’t conducive to the display of fire-type Spirit Arts, that’s why he asked. But to Xiao Ziyu, this was nothing short of an insult. He coldly responded, “I wouldn’t dare let the Heaven’s Chosen wait for long!”

Good intentions viewed as ill-willed, Tang Luo shrugged his shoulders, spreading his hands and asked, “What are the rules for this duel?”

“It’s according to the rules of the fighting arena in Xiling.” The Xiao Clan’s Junior Clan Leader, Xiao Qi, stepped forward, shouting at Tang Luo, “Tang Luo and Xiao Ziyu have agreed to duel on the top of Red Cloud Mountain. No spiritual armors or Soul Jades are permitted, only their own skills to fight for victory, either till one side admits defeat or meets death will the duel be considered finished. I will act as the referee for this duel. Does the Heaven’s Chosen have any objections?”

“No objections. Since Young Master Xiao is ready, let’s begin then.”

The place for their duel was the peak of Red Cloud Mountain. At this moment, they were only in the bamboo forest halfway up the mountain. Tang Luo did a little warm-up and launched his Immortal Wind Cloud Body Technique. He soared into the sky with his clothes rippling, heading to the peak like a banished immortal, eliciting cheers from the spectators.

Xiao Ziyu, who had presumed that Tang Luo would take the cloud sedan to the mountain, saw this spectacle and sneered, “Parlor tricks.”

He activated the strange flames from his Dantian Spirit Power Centers. Two flame dragons, one orange and one red, gathered under his feet. Riding on the flame dragons, Young Master Xiao chased after Tang Luo’s back and flew towards the peak.