It seemed that Zhan Wufeng and Jun Moxie were complete strangers. Although his analysis was quite insightful, even remarkably apt, his words were tantamount to speaking well of Jun Moxie! How could they possibly have such a connection?
Miao Zhan frowned, deliberating carefully for a long while before finally understanding!
And precisely because he understood, he suddenly let out a strange sound—a sharp "Pfft"—followed by an even more violent fit of coughing! He shook with the coughing, his face crimson, nearly choking to the point of collapse...
How could a Saint Venerable powerhouse suddenly start coughing like that?
Because—Zhan Wufeng’s actions were specifically aimed at striking the Miao family!
Because the Miao family possessed a future son-in-law whose potential was unmatched by anyone in the Phantom Abode based on sheer talent, whose future achievements promised boundless horizons, possessing the legendary Ethereal Physique. And this son-in-law, barring any unforeseen accidents, was destined to lay the foundation for the Miao family’s eternal, unshakeable legacy once he truly matured!
This, however, was something the Zhan family absolutely could not tolerate!
Therefore, Zhan Wufeng was now bringing out Jun Moxie to directly challenge the great genius Mo Junye!
To utterly suppress Mo Junye using Jun Moxie!
Because in this world, it seemed only Jun Moxie had the potential to rival Mo Junye! And not just rival, but to surpass him soundly! Absolutely, there was no third young man who could even be mentioned in the same breath as these two!
From this, it was evident that the Phantom Abode's presence here was fair and square; they were betting after assessing the situation, ensuring an infallible outcome!
But the Zhan family also had its own subtle agenda for this trip: before arriving, the Zhan family had already formulated an overarching, detailed strategy: this time, the Zhan family intended to cooperate with Jun Moxie!
Miao Zhan had guessed correctly; this was the optimal plan conceived by the entire leadership tier of the Zhan family! It was precisely Zhan Wufeng’s ultimate purpose for coming to the Profound Profound Continent!
To wholeheartedly, to the maximum extent, at any cost... secure Jun Moxie’s allegiance!
If they could truly enter into full cooperation with Jun Moxie, for the current Zhan family, it would be all benefit and no detriment!
If Jun Moxie’s true strength proved sufficient and he succeeded in destroying the Holy Lands, then the Zhan family's standing within the Phantom Abode would soar along with him! It was highly likely this could serve as the opportunity to finally crush the Miao family!
The reason was self-evident: if the entire Profound Profound Continent fell into the hands of the Zhan family’s loyal ally, Jun Moxie... even the Phantom Abode would have to yield in certain aspects!
After all, the Phantom Abode needed supplies drawn from the Profound Profound Continent to sustain its livelihood! For the Zhan family, as Jun Moxie's first powerful ally, it would be inconceivable if they didn't profit immensely!
Even if Jun Moxie, the Monarch of Evil, were to be defeated, the Zhan family would still exert every effort to prevent Jun Moxie himself from meeting an untimely end! Then, they would strive to bring him into the Phantom Abode... In that scenario, the Zhan family would gain a peerless master—one who had already fully grown, whose innate talent far exceeded even the Ethereal Physique—a peerless prodigy! With such a figure, the Zhan family could likewise dominate and seize absolute power within the Phantom Abode! At worst, they would only have to contend with the subsequent repercussions from the Three Great Holy Lands, but the result would still be that the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks!
Even if Jun Moxie only acted against the Miao family out of gratitude for the Zhan family saving his life, it would still represent a tremendous opportunity for the Zhan family!
After all, if Jun Moxie ended up in the Phantom Abode, then Jun Moxie and Mo Junye would represent the entirety of the Phantom Abode’s future prospects!
The strategy formulated by the Zhan family could hardly be called anything less than brilliant; even the most exacting critic would struggle to find a flaw!
However, all of this hinged upon one very "simple" prerequisite.
This simple prerequisite was: that Jun Moxie and Mo Junye were two different people, that was the extent of its simplicity!
As long as those two were not the same person, the Zhan family's strategy was flawless, and the probability of success was exceptionally high! While adding icing to a cake is easy, providing charcoal in the snow is difficult; under the crushing pressure of the Three Great Holy Lands, the support from the Zhan family would absolutely be a lifeline! Even if Jun Moxie were inherently ungrateful, facing such immense benevolence, he would surely be overwhelmed with gratitude!
After all, for someone like Jun Moxie to reach his level of Profound Cultivation, death was exceedingly difficult...
It was believed that no matter how perilous the future situation became, as long as he could hold on for a while, the Zhan family could save him!
And given Jun Moxie's current strength, no matter what enemy he encountered—even facing the Ninth Nether Fourteen Youths alone—he would definitely be able to... "hold on" for a bit...
The Zhan family's investment would absolutely be worth the value, and the returns would far exceed expectations...
The Zhan family's planning could not be considered anything less than astute! Moreover, after the failure of a plan spanning several thousand years, to immediately devise a strategy that was absolutely not inferior to the previous one... the Zhan family certainly had no shortage of talent! Their scheming was transparently exquisite...
Yet, the ways of the world are so mysterious; a simple premise is often not simple at all!
It was truly regrettable that the subjects of implementation, Jun Moxie and the Zhan family's bane, Mo Junye, were, in fact, the very same person!
Jun Moxie was Mo Junye, the genius son-in-law of the Miao family!
Thus, no matter how meticulously detailed or flawlessly seamless the Zhan family's plan was, in the end, it would only turn into a joke! A joke where they prepared the feast for someone else to enjoy, and perhaps even a colossal joke where they ended up destroying their own household!
After investing everything, they discovered they had been expending their greatest efforts to dig their own graves! And once dug... they would lead their entire family tumbling right in...
Would such an occurrence be an unprecedented wonder of the ages!
It was precisely because of this realization—having completely pieced everything together—that Miao Zhan began to cough violently... Was this some kind of farce? Was it truly a case of truth being stranger than fiction? In this entire world, could such an ironic situation exist?
It seemed the destiny of the Zhan family had truly run its course... No one could fathom how such a vast and intricate plan of self-destruction could have been calculated—were they all geniuses? An entire family of geniuses?
...
"Sixth Grand-Uncle... What is wrong with you? Is it serious?"
Miao Xiaomiao was greatly alarmed! For a Saint Venerable expert to suddenly start coughing like that... this was an event that even a Silver Profound cultivator wouldn't experience...
"I'm fine... Sigh." Miao Zhan finally managed to stop coughing, struggling to compose his expression into one of slight dejection, muttering gloomily, "I was truly too shocked just now. Wufeng’s analysis has a great deal of merit. I tried my best to imagine how terrifying Mo Wudao was, but I didn't consider the details to this extent... It seems... this world truly is teeming with capable individuals. This old man is getting old..."
Zhan Wufeng chuckled softly, replying respectfully, "Sixth Uncle, why speak like that? You are robust and in your prime. If there was any oversight, it's because of your forthright nature; you never treat others with guile. For your nephew to worry on your behalf is only as it should be, my duty."
"Old, old, truly old..."
Miao Zhan shook his head and sighed.
"Then, since we have uncovered Mo Wudao's conspiracy, how shall we proceed when the Abode Opening Day arrives?"
Miao Dao inquired.
"Nothing much. We proceed according to the original plan: use steadfastness to counter all changes, and in the future, act with even greater caution."
Miao Zhan sighed deeply. "No matter what machinations Mo Wudao employs, we must always back the right horse. We are not seeking short-term gains, but a partnership for eternal ages! Even if his scheming is profound, if we simply disregard it all, then it matters not..."
Zhan Wufeng smiled with relief. "Sixth Uncle's decision is wise; using steadfastness to counter all changes is precisely the suitable approach right now."
He wasn't worried about the Phantom Abode altering its established decision, because the Abode's choices had to account for the entire organization.
And the Zhan family could only effectively implement its strategy on the basis that the Miao family was taking responsibility for the entire Phantom Abode. If the Phantom Abode ceased to exist, if it collapsed, then even if the Zhan family monopolized it, what meaning would that hold?
In this sense, calling the Zhan family the greatest parasite of the Phantom Abode would not be an overstatement.
But Miao Xiaomiao grew increasingly astonished the more she listened, finally asking, "That Jun Moxie... what kind of person is he, exactly?"
She was increasingly shocked because these individuals present were all important figures in the Phantom Abode, yet both the Zhan and Miao families held Jun Moxie in extremely high regard!
Even too high regard!
In all her years, this was the first time Miao Xiaomiao had witnessed the Miao and Zhan families reaching complete consensus on a single issue!
And all of this was because of that Monarch of Evil!
"Jun Moxie... regarding this, perhaps you should ask Mo Wudao tomorrow. Or perhaps, tomorrow the people from the Three Great Holy Lands will all have arrived, and by then, you should be able to learn more. The information we currently possess is still relatively fragmented..."
Miao Zhan gave Miao Xiaomiao a meaningful look, his words carrying layers of hidden implication. Miao Xiaomiao felt that her Sixth Grand-Uncle's tone sounded peculiar, yet she could never pinpoint precisely what made it so strange...
That very evening, people from the Dreamy Blood Sea and the Supreme Gold City also arrived sequentially!
Contrary to the expectations of the Phantom Abode's masters, these two great Holy Lands also sent their top two leaders to take charge! Judging purely by the status of the envoys, the Three Great Holy Lands were showing tremendous respect to this Monarch of Evil this time!
The current leaders of the Three Great Holy Lands personally coming to offer congratulations—this level of formality... throughout history, it seemed such a grand spectacle had only occurred once before, during the opening of the Misty Phantom Abode nearly ten thousand years ago!
And those two singular instances shared astonishing coincidences and similarities, as if history were repeating itself!
At that time, the Three Great Holy Lands were reluctant to see the Misty Phantom Abode break away. Their congratulations were laced with resentment and deep hostility, the atmosphere even bordering on open conflict. Had it not been for Miao Qingcheng and the goodwill nurtured with several senior brothers, that occasion might have escalated into a fight to the death, a mutually assured destruction...
And this time, judging by the current situation, it was not much different from that previous occasion!
Danger lurked beneath the surface everywhere; any rash move could incite bloodshed that stained half the heavens!
Xi Ruochen from the Supreme Gold City also brought six elite masters, and similarly, Huyan Aobo from the Dreamy Blood Sea had his retinue.
It was clear the three factions had coordinated; even their ranking and echelon of power were identical.
Another common trait was that the faces of all these envoys were uniformly grim.
In the morning, the assembled groups exchanged pleasantries before preparing to discuss how to handle the current matter.
Miao Xiaomiao, being young, could not contain her impatience and asked again: "What kind of person is this Jun Moxie, truly?"
Miao Xiaomiao remained intensely focused on this question.
Because, she was deeply unconvinced!