Miao Zhan chuckled lightly. "Our Illusion Manor has always existed outside the fray. We can only ever observe the Profound Profound Continent from afar. Our knowledge of the Lord of Evil is truly limited. Palace Master Mo, perhaps you could share your own perspective and the established strategy of the Reclusive Immortal Palace this time? We could then study and learn from it."

Mo Wudao offered a wry smile. "Senior Miao is truly formidable. With just a few words, you've pushed this matter back onto the younger generation. Heh, however, regarding this matter, I truly have nothing to say. This isn't me avoiding the issue or trying to evade responsibility, but because... my own brother, Xiaoyao, met a tragic end at the hands of the Evil Sovereign Jun Mo Xie. This vengeance, this hatred, runs as deep as the mountains and seas. Therefore... whatever I say will inevitably be biased and lack impartiality..."

He frowned deeply, appearing troubled. "If the Seniors have any wisdom to impart, that would be best. If the Seniors still cannot come to a firm decision, then perhaps we should wait until Brother Jin Cheng Xiruo Chenxi and Brother Hu Yan Aobo from the Blood Sea arrive, and we can formulate a strategy together then!"

Miao Zhan gave a noncommittal, faint smile. "Palace Master Mo speaks his mind with commendable candor. However, you've all traveled a great distance, so you must be fatigued. Let us rest first. There is no rush; the fifteenth is still seven or eight days away. We have ample time to pool our wisdom and devise a perfect plan."

Mo Wudao’s sharp gaze flashed and vanished, replaced by a genuinely bright smile. "In that case, I thank Senior for your consideration."

The Miao family members returned to their tent, every one of them wearing a frown.

Presently, Zhan Wuyun entered and sat opposite them.

"What kind of person is Mo Wudao?"

Miao Zhan looked around at the group, his brow furrowed, and asked with measured caution.

"This Mo Wudao needs deep analysis. If we can fully decipher him, I believe it would be equivalent to understanding half of Jun Mo Xie! Mo Wudao holds the dominant position among the Three Great Sacred Grounds! If we are to cooperate with the Three Great Sacred Grounds in the future, having this understanding gives us significantly greater assurance! Furthermore, deducing Jun Mo Xie's inherent character, strengths, and weaknesses from observing Mo Wudao is our current objective. Even if the Three Great Sacred Grounds should truly... fall, cooperating with the Evil Sovereign in that scenario remains crucial!"

"This was also strictly commanded by the Manor Lord before we departed—it is something that must be done, and done well!"

Miao Zhan’s statement was grave and exceedingly cautious. Especially when uttering the words 'if the Three Great Sacred Grounds should truly... fall,' he hesitated noticeably before saying it. Yet, the two characters for 'fall' seemed particularly difficult for him to articulate!

It appeared that within this pinnacle expert of the Illusion Manor, the notion of the Three Great Sacred Grounds being defeated by the Evil Sovereign, though seemingly absurd, was not entirely impossible in his mind!

Once those words were spoken, everyone present fell into deep contemplation. They all understood the gravity of what Miao Zhan had implied.

They had just interacted with Mo Wudao, parted ways after exchanging barely a few substantive sentences. Even now, the few pleasantries exchanged between Miao Zhan and Mo Wudao could easily be recounted by everyone present.

It had been nothing but polite formalities!

Purely formalities from beginning to end!

Yet, Miao Zhan was expected to excavate valuable intelligence from these mere courteous exchanges! To analyze Mo Wudao based on them, and to analyze him thoroughly! Such a demand was anything but small!

Even Miao Xiaomiao was startled. Based on the apparent harmony of their prior exchange, she had thought this Sixth Grand-Uncle held an excellent impression of the Palace Master of the Reclusive Immortal Palace, perhaps even feeling an instant kinship. Who knew that upon turning away, he would immediately seek to dissect the man's inner thoughts...

The world of adults was truly... incomprehensible.

"This Mo Wudao... this Mo Wudao..."

Miao Dao furrowed his brow, racking his brain. Both he and Miao Jian were characters accustomed to the bloody work of assassins and butchers; they were dreadfully unsuited for this sort of intricate mental labyrinth...

After muttering for a long time, he finally managed, "I don't know why, but I simply dislike this person!"

He had strained himself to produce just that single sentence, causing Miao Zhan to nearly choke with exasperation. Was this pointless chatter?

Who cared whether he liked him or not? The crucial 'why' was the very thing he couldn't provide!

Miao Lie, standing nearby, nodded vigorously, expressing his wholehearted agreement with his elder brother's sentiment.

Miao Xiaomiao let out a sudden burst of laughter.

"Perhaps Wu Feng should speak first."

Miao Zhan sighed. This was the primary reason he had summoned Zhan Wufeng; it was the sole purpose of his involvement in this mission.

Only someone seasoned in the arts of manipulation and scheming would be the best hand for this sort of analysis. Assigning him the task of detailed breakdown was truly putting the right person to the right job!

"Mo Wudao..."

Zhan Wufeng drew a breath, focusing intently, trying to recall every detail of the preceding moments. He slowly began, "This man possesses significant leadership presence and considerable charisma. Being around him unconsciously imparts a harmonious feeling, like basking in a spring breeze... Furthermore, in both his speech and demeanor, he exudes refinement and exceptional bearing..."

"When he speaks, he consistently maintains eye contact with his listener, his gaze sincere, conveying immense conviction. Especially in his command of language, it must have undergone rigorous refinement. Even knowing precisely which syllable to emphasize, which sentence to deliberately pause over, and what tone to use for a specific word at a particular moment—it is all executed flawlessly!"

Zhan Wuyun added gravely, "These are things typically honed only by the established nobility, yet even typical nobles might not reach this level; it often requires the accumulated effort of several generations to produce such a figure! Mo Wudao has achieved perfection in this art—he is a master among masters. Truly remarkable..."

Miao Zhan’s eyes showed genuine admiration.

Zhan Wufeng's analysis began with the outermost layer, dissecting Mo Wudao without immediately passing judgment on his character, but rather painting a portrait of his temperament and spirit solely through his rhetoric. No wonder this man was considered the second most important figure in the Zhan family; he was indeed extraordinary.

"There is another crucial point: Mo Wudao exhibits superb control over delicate situations! Every moment he seized the dominant position in the dialogue was achieved by subtly manipulating the flow of conversation to force the initiative onto himself, yet making it seem utterly unimpeachable! If we hadn't reviewed it afterward, we might never have realized it!"

Zhan Wufeng raised his head, closed his eyes, carefully visualizing every prior scene, speaking slowly all the while.

"In fact, with his very first sentence, he already revealed intense aversion toward the Lord of Evil! But he didn't state it directly; instead, he maneuvered to make others follow his lead... Had it been an ordinary person, they might have fallen right into his trap..."

"Then, seeing Sixth Uncle betraying reluctance, seemingly realizing his immediate goal was unattainable, he instantly retreated, switching to a strategy of 'advancing by retreating.' He proactively revealed that his own brother died at Jun Mo Xie's hands, suggesting he should recuse himself to avoid appearing biased, thereby making us perceive him as candid and dedicated to fairness over personal vendetta, further winning our goodwill and acceptance..."

Zhan Wufeng was a generation lower than Miao Zhan, Miao Dao, and Miao Jian, hence addressing the elder as 'Sixth Uncle'....

"By saying this, he accomplished two things: first, it informed us of the irreconcilable, deep-seated feud between their two factions; second, it showcased his impartiality and meticulous adherence to principle to the maximum extent, creating the image of a noble, upright hero... commanding immediate respect! Everyone who heard his words would think: his own brother was murdered by this man, yet he still upholds the principle of fairness. This man is truly benevolent and venerable... worthy of admiration!"

"And while stating his commitment to 'fairness,' this very declaration imposed the greatest injustice upon himself! Because we are then compelled to consider: Mo Wudao is so understanding and righteous, yet Jun Mo Xie still killed his own brother... Doesn't that make Jun Mo Xie profoundly wrong, and since the enmity remains unresolved even now... is this Jun Mo Xie perhaps a great demon, utterly wicked beyond redemption?"

"Therefore, although Mo Wudao explicitly signaled withdrawal, he actually advanced the furthest possible distance! If we failed to analyze this to the current depth, we would likely, without realizing it, form a bias, perhaps even a fixed opinion, against Jun Mo Xie in the time to come. Consequently, in future dealings with him, we would unconsciously foster distance—a mere look could suffice."

"And Jun Mo Xie has reached this stage for a reason; he is not easily fooled! A single glance or movement, I believe, would be enough to alert him! Once alerted, during such a critical period, his subconscious might already categorize the Illusion Manor as a hypothetical enemy! If the Three Great Sacred Grounds add a little fuel to the fire, even if we didn't intend to oppose him, it might become inevitable. Thus... to say all of this was Mo Wudao’s calculation is no exaggeration! In just a few sentences, he created a formidable opponent for Jun Mo Xie, while simultaneously securing a resolute ally for the Three Great Sacred Grounds!"

"Because, based on intelligence, Jun Mo Xie’s personality leans toward being utterly unrestrained! This man has never cared who his enemies were, nor has he ever shown fear or apprehension. When action is required, he would stab even the Heavenly King himself without hesitation... He dared to provoke the Three Great Sacred Grounds so openly, which suggests he might not necessarily fear the Ethereal Illusion Manor; at most, he simply doesn't wish to face another powerful adversary while already contending with the Three Great Sacred Grounds..."

"So, if we allow ourselves to be influenced by Mo Wudao’s words, even slightly, our opposition to the Lord of Evil becomes unavoidable! Because this is likely the single weakness of a person like Jun Mo Xie that an opponent can exploit! To infinitely magnify an enemy's greatest trait and utilize it—Mo Wudao’s cunning and political acumen are truly impressive!"

Zhan Wufeng let out a long breath, feeling a little parched. He scanned the area, found a teacup, filled it with hot water, and drank it down in one gulp.

He wiped his mouth before concluding, "Therefore, Sixth Uncle... in my personal assessment... Mo Wudao is exceedingly sinister! There is no doubt he intends to use us!"

Zhan Wufeng's speech, stripping away the layers from inside out, was methodical and flawlessly analyzed!

However, the four listeners—Miao Dao, Miao Jian, Miao Zhan, and Miao Xiaomiao—were all somewhat stunned.

Because whether Zhan Wufeng’s analysis held merit could be temporarily set aside; the premise upon which he spoke was crystal clear: his stance was firmly aligned with Jun Mo Xie!

Immovable!

Why was that?