Chapter 844: Psychological Warfare, Deceiving People

Upon hearing this, Haotian Xuan Zhen instinctively scanned the scene around him. The crowd included the elderly, the weak, women, and children, many of whom were ordinary people. They all wore expressions of fear, their eyes filled with hope as they looked at him.

Indeed, as the head of the family, his life belonged to the clan, and he had to take responsibility for his people.

"Child, do what you can, don't push yourself too hard," Haotian Xuan Zhen said, giving Ye Chen a firm pat on the shoulder.

"I will."

"Let's go." Haotian Xuan Zhen turned abruptly and hurried away. His priority was to lead the Haotian family members to a safe place, so he could return without hesitation to fight back.

Soon, the people of the Haotian family followed in his footsteps.

As she left, Haotian Shi Yue glanced at Ye Chen with eyes like flowing water. "Qin Yu, I'll wait for you up ahead."

Ye Chen was stunned for a moment, not quite processing it.

When he looked again, Haotian Shi Yue had already vanished into the darkness of the night.

Boom! Boom! Rumble!

Outside the Haotian family grounds, the four directions of the heavens and earth were filled with continuous rumbling. Perhaps the overwhelming presence of the grand army was so strong that it made the virtual sky shake and groan.

Gazing into the distance, it was like a vast black curtain that obscured the sparse stars in the night sky. The battle had not yet begun, but the scent of blood was already spreading. Everyone's eyes burned with ferocity, full of savagery.

"Haotian Xuan Zhen, the time has come. Open the barrier!" Xue Qiong said from his throne, his voice echoing eerily.

"Lord, how about we make a deal instead?" Ye Chen's clone transmitted these words telepathically, so only Xue Qiong could hear them across the entire battlefield.

"I've told you, you don't have the leverage to negotiate with me." Xue Qiong replied coldly, growing impatient. He raised his arm, ready to issue the attack command.

"Don't you want to become the lord of Shi Xue Dian?" Ye Chen's clone said leisurely.

At these words, Xue Qiong's eyes narrowed slightly, and the raised sword halted in midair. He couldn't deny that Ye Chen's clone had struck a chord.

To outsiders, he was the honorable lord of a Shi Xue Dian branch, but in reality, he was being jointly suppressed by the other eight branch lords. Forget about competing for the position of Shi Xue Dian's overall lord—he was even at risk of losing his current role.

No one understood his situation better than he did. As one of the Shi Xue Dian branch lords, his power was far inferior to the other eight, and he could be ousted at any moment.

Now, Ye Chen's clone had suddenly brought this up, and it piqued his interest greatly.

"The Haotian family can help you ascend to the position of Shi Xue Dian's lord." At the entrance of the Haotian family grand hall, Ye Chen's clone sat casually on a stone, cracking melon seeds as he spoke slowly.

Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win every battle—this was his strategy of psychological warfare.

The spies that Ren Huang had placed in Shi Xue Dian were not idle. He had already thoroughly studied the intelligence: On the surface, Shi Xue Dian's nine branches appeared united, but in truth, they were full of hidden agendas and constant overt and covert struggles. This was the key point he aimed to exploit to buy time.

As it turned out, his decision was correct, for the lord of Shi Xue Dian's ninth branch hesitated.

"As an exchange, let the Haotian family go." Seeing his ploy starting to work, Ye Chen's clone added.

"Are you so certain I'll agree?" Xue Qiong sneered. "After today, the entire Bei Zhen Cang Yuan will belong to Shi Xue Dian. The Yuan Jia and Yin Yang Jia will pledge loyalty to Shi Xue Dian. Why should I listen to your empty promises?"

"Lord, you seem to have misunderstood the situation!" Ye Chen's clone smiled faintly. "Are you sure the Yuan Jia and Yin Yang Jia are loyal to Shi Xue Dian? That's rather naive. I can tell you straightforwardly: The Yuan Jia is truly loyal to Shi Xue Dian's eighth branch, while the Yin Yang Jia is loyal to the fifth branch. As for the other smaller forces in Bei Zhen Cang Yuan, they've already been drawn in by the other Shi Xue Dian branches."

Hearing Ye Chen's clone's words, Xue Qiong's eyes narrowed into slits, as if he already knew this deep down.

"Everyone else is busy expanding their forces, yet you're the only one locked in a bloody fight with the Haotian family. Not only are you failing to grow your power, but you're also depleting your own strength. Why bother?"

Xue Qiong's eyes narrowed again, though he still didn't speak.

Seizing the moment, Ye Chen's clone added fuel to the fire. "Shi Xue Dian's third branch is the closest to Bei Zhen Cang Yuan, while the ninth is the farthest, yet they specifically sent the ninth branch to wipe out the Haotian family. Haven't you considered that someone might be plotting against you?"

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Xue Qiong snorted coldly.

"Why ask when you already know, Lord?" Ye Chen's clone smiled playfully. "Your position is precarious; you could be removed at any time. But with the Haotian family's help, things would be different. To sit on Shi Xue Dian's lord's throne, you need to expand your power."

"Do you think I'm a fool, Haotian Xuan Zhen?" Xue Qiong laughed coldly. "Ye Chen is the holy lord of Nan Chu Tian Ting, and their forces far surpass Shi Xue Dian's. Why would you choose to serve me?"

"Then why do you think Ye Chen wants to kill Cang Ming?" Ye Chen's clone asked, looking at the lord of Shi Xue Dian's ninth branch with interest.

"Everyone in Da Chu knows that. No need for more talk."

"You only know part of it, Lord!" Ye Chen's clone grabbed another handful of melon seeds from his pocket, cracking them rhythmically as he brazenly bluffed. "Ye Chen wants to use Shi Xue Dian's hand to destroy the Haotian family!"

"Isn't that reason a bit ridiculous?" Xue Qiong scoffed. "He's your child. Even if he doesn't want to acknowledge you, he wouldn't go to such lengths to harm the entire Haotian family."

"What if I killed his mother?" Ye Chen's clone said casually, his prepared lines flowing smoothly.

At this, a subtle glint flashed in Xue Qiong's eyes.

"It was all foolish business from back then," Ye Chen's clone continued.

"Haotian Xuan Zhen, you've truly surprised me." Xue Qiong smiled mockingly.

"Now, can we talk about the deal?"

"I'd like to hear how the Haotian family plans to help me become the lord." Xue Qiong stared intently at the protective mountain barrier, his gaze sharp even though he couldn't see Ye Chen's figure.

"Since the Haotian family wants to help you, Lord, we'll go all out. I'll personally step in to win over Chan Yuan Gu Cheng for you."

"Chan Yuan Gu Cheng." At the mention of those four words, even Xue Qiong's composure flickered with intense eagerness. That was a major power balancing Bei Zhen Cang Yuan, with depths impossible to fathom. If he could bring it under his control, his forces would surely surge.

"That's just the first step." Ye Chen's clone went on. "We'll team up with Chan Yuan Gu Cheng to pull in the Yuan Jia and Yin Yang Jia. Before long, the entire Bei Zhen Cang Yuan will be yours, Lord. All you need to do is lie low, play the game of alliances and divisions—you understand that principle. As long as the other lords see you as no threat, their attention won't be on you. Once your wings are strong, you can seize the Shi Xue Dian lord's position."

"You seem to have overlooked a crucial issue." Xue Qiong smiled faintly. "The higher-ups want the Haotian family wiped out tonight. Even if I wanted to spare them, I couldn't silence the gossip. I need a solid reason for the Haotian family to survive."

"I've already thought of that for you, Lord." Ye Chen's clone stretched lazily. "Just tell Yan Luo of Shi Xue Dian that we're keeping the Haotian family alive to use as bait to lure Ye Chen here. I think Shi Xue Dian has no reason to refuse that."

"Haotian Xuan Zhen, I've really underestimated you." Xue Qiong's lips curved into a smile. "You didn't become the Haotian family head for nothing."

"You're too kind, Lord. It's all for the family."

"Your request is granted. Open the barrier!"

"Hold on, I have one more thing to ask." Ye Chen launched into another round of stalling tactics.

"Don't push your luck." The lord of Shi Xue Dian's ninth branch shot a cold, piercing glare.

"It's nothing major, really."

"Speak."

"Relax, Lord, and hear me out." Ye Chen cleared his throat, straightened his clothes, and prepared to bluff the lord of Shi Xue Dian's ninth branch into a corner once more.

For a long time after that, the two continued their conversation through divine sense transmission.

Ye Chen's clone was undeniably skilled at bluffing, mastering psychological warfare to perfection. He led Xue Qiong around in circles, hook, line, and sinker.

While he was spinning tales with flair, the armies of Shi Xue Dian's ninth branch outside were left baffled.

"What's going on with the lord?" Shadows murmured among themselves everywhere, scratching their heads in confusion.

"The lord has his own plans. What's the rush?"

"Just wait patiently. The Haotian family isn't going anywhere." The various commanders barked coldly.

Even so, as commanders, they were also puzzled, exchanging glances toward Xue Qiong.

Ever since they had surrounded the Haotian family, their lord had just stood there, issuing no orders to attack. It felt incredibly awkward, like they were in limbo. This is a war—are we fighting or not? Give us a clear word!

Meanwhile, far away in some distant place, Ye Chen's true body sat leisurely on a stone.

In front of him stood the teleportation domain gate, and he looked like a watchful guardian.

However, he wasn't there to welcome his clone back; he was preparing a grand gift for Shi Xue Dian—a feast tailored just for them. If his clone couldn't hold out, it would be his turn to step in.

"Shi Xue Dian, you'll love my gift." Ye Chen wiped his Ba Long Dao as he murmured to himself with a cold laugh, his lips curling into a mocking smile and his eyes gleaming with sharp menace.