My construction materials are weird

It can't be said that Qiao Liangyu didn't put in effort. Combining the Zero-Cost Acquisition with Michael, they really came up with a seemingly flawless plan.

Furthermore, it also showcased his and Rose's diplomatic negotiation skills.

After learning that some medium and large-sized Domains also didn't want Xuan Huang to exist, they saw an opportunity.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, an unbreakable truth.

They began to contact various parties, and after more than half a year of probing and communication, they finally agreed on a feasible plan.

The plan was to act within the rules. The Sacred beings within the Domains indeed couldn't leave, but don't forget, Domains not only have Sacred beings but also countless Anomalies.

They didn't care about the sacrifice of Anomalies, as they weren't the same kind as Sacred beings.

Using the Zero-Cost Acquisition's ability to bring Anomalies out of the Domain without cost, they gathered these Anomalies, had Michael take them out, and then released them in the three major battlefields, creating a fatal crisis for Xuan Huang's disciples.

Ideally, they could annihilate even more cultivators in one fell swoop.

Of course, the most important thing was to force Xuan Huang to show himself, interrupt his closed-door cultivation, delay his progress, and inflict irreparable damage on him.

Whether it was Qiao Liangyu or the medium and large-sized Domains, they had already given up hope of completely eliminating Xuan Huang.

A year had passed, and they had gradually accepted the reality that Xuan Huang Daoist was not so easily killed. This person occupied the Ruins of Return, which had always been mysterious. Who knew what life-saving methods he had?

So, killing Xuan Huang only existed in their imaginations.

However, they couldn't let Xuan Huang grow stronger just because they couldn't kill him. This was a feud over obstructing their path, with no room for reconciliation.

It wasn't a brainless act of provoking an enemy for no reason; it was an irreconcilable antagonism.

If Xuan Huang wasn't wiped out, the medium and large-sized Domains would suffer, even facing a catastrophic disaster. Under such circumstances, there was no need for deliberate hatred or instigation.

Under Qiao Liangyu's coordination at the Anomaly Clubhouse, and with the guarantees of the three top-tier Domains, a large number of medium and large-sized Domains were brought together, achieving the current situation.

The Sacred beings in the Domains would suppress some of the Anomalies in their respective Domains. When Michael used the Zero-Cost Acquisition, they packaged these Anomalies and sent them into the Zero-Cost Acquisition pocket.

This was using the ability of the Anomaly rules. The Zero-Cost Acquisition Anomaly was such a rule.

In this era where Anomalies were the protagonists destined by fate, it was possible to do this.

Then, Michael, carrying pockets full of Anomalies, would release them into the three major battlefields, launching fatal attacks on the cultivators, thereby implicating Xuan Huang.

For this purpose, they prepared thirty Tier 3 Anomalies, three hundred Tier 2 Anomalies, and three thousand Tier 1 Anomalies.

Each battlefield would receive ten Tier 3, one hundred Tier 2, and one thousand Tier 1 Anomalies.

There was also a prerequisite: to accommodate such a large capacity, Michael had to be at Tier 3. Even with the help of the Sacred beings to seal the Anomalies, such a large number and such strong intensity required Michael to be at Tier 3.

This was where Qiao Liangyu came into play. He provided Tier 3 Divine Blood.

When Michael resonated with the Anomalous abilities of the various Domains to enhance them, the Divine Blood provided support, allowing him to enter Tier 3.

A seemingly perfect plan.

"Since that's the case, let's set it for a month from now. A month is enough time for the Domains to prepare, and it will also allow Michael to reach Tier 3," Qiao Liangyu said at the Anomaly Clubhouse.

"Yes, Chairman," Madam Rose replied, then added, "Chairman, do you still remember Gou Jianren?"

"Hmm?" Qiao Liangyu felt extremely disgusted at the mention of Gou Jianren.

Speaking of which, the conflict between himself and Xuan Huang started because of this despicable Gou Jianren.

It was he who twice issued tasks through the Anomaly Clubhouse to kill Xuan Huang. The first time, finding Anomaly Shadow Qi Long, was fine, as it didn't involve the Anomaly Clubhouse.

But the second time, the Anomaly Rat Three Brothers—it was this time, coupled with his own arrogance at the time, that he indiscriminately judged it was Xuan Huang's fault for daring to provoke the Clubhouse.

He issued a kill order, and from then on, the conflict with Xuan Huang became irreconcilable.

If he could do it again, Qiao Liangyu had thought that perhaps he wouldn't have been so impulsive.

He should have befriended Xuan Huang.

Especially after experiencing the trials of the God-Devil World, he discovered that his own cultivation method was the best way to unlock his Clubhouse's golden finger.

Instead of being like he currently was, like a parasite, relying on the Anomaly Clubhouse to improve his strength entirely through handouts.

He hadn't put in any effort of his own.

Not only did Qiao Liangyu recall the past, but she also imagined how great it would have been if they hadn't offended Xuan Huang Daoist.

"What good can come of him contacting us?" Qiao Liangyu said.

"Chairman, it's also about dealing with Xuan Huang Daoist," Rose said.

"Hmph!"

Qiao Liangyu didn't know what to say.

He could only say that this person was even more stubborn than himself, never forgetting his original intention.

"Moreover, Gou Jianren has been in a very miserable state recently. When I saw him, I didn't dare to recognize him at first. He's no longer human!" Rose continued.

"Oh? How is he no longer human? Tell me about it." Hearing this, Qiao Liangyu was delighted.

If he was no longer human and living a miserable life, that was good. It would have been upsetting if he was doing well.

"It has to start with the Demon Believers. Ever since their god descended, which is the Abyss Secret Land..."

Rose gave Qiao Liangyu a brief description.

"Hiss!" Qiao Liangyu was surprised to hear this:

"Isn't that to say that the current Demon Believers have all been enslaved, and the person enslaving them is their so-called god, treating them like livestock? Their god doesn't want believers at all; what he wants is a tentacle reaching into the human world?"

"Yes, Chairman, according to what Gou Jianren said, that's how it is, so they're living very miserably," Rose said.

"Then what's wrong with him?"

Rose said, "How should I put it? It's very complicated."

"Then just tell me simply."

Rose sorted her thoughts and said, "Chairman, although Gou Jianren is very disgusted with his Xia Country identity, feeling it's a backward and ignorant place, it's precisely this identity and the shaping of this country that make him naturally not so trusting of gods or masters, you understand?"

Qiao Liangyu understood this. Xia Country people don't believe in useless gods. Gods also have to compete. If you're not effective, why should I believe in you?

The simplest example is that the Dragon King's incense is very strong when the weather is good.

But once there's a drought or flood, and praying to the Dragon King doesn't alleviate the situation, then the temples will be smashed, and you'll be called a wicked dragon or evil god because you didn't do what we asked you to do.

"Because he doesn't believe, he retained his suspicion. Because of his suspicion, he didn't completely fall, right?"

Qiao Liangyu replied.

"Yes, that's how it is. Because he never believed in gods, he retained a trace of human rationality. This rationality allowed him to find a way, which was to boldly discuss with the god, expressing that as a human, he could be more useful, while becoming a demon wouldn't be of much use."

"The existence in the Abyss Secret Realm should also understand that having one more person to help them would be better. That's why Gou Jianren didn't continue to demonize. To maintain this state, he started to perform, and his way of performing was to target Xuan Huang."

"Haha…" Qiao Liangyu laughed after hearing this. This is diverting the trouble eastward.

These damn gods, upon hearing that there was a being like Xuan Huang in the human world, who had become a god and even developed a group of cultivators, wasn't this a blatant challenge to their authority?

Moreover, Xuan Huang is so magical that even the Holy Ones can't help but want to figure out why.

That's why Gou Jianren proposed the existence of the Xuan Huang Taoist. The Abyss Holy One had a conditioned reflex and ordered him to eliminate Xuan Huang.

So, Gou Jianren found the Weird Clubhouse.

Gou Jianren was doing this to save himself.

"What does he want to do?"

No mistakes, one song, one hair, one inside, one appearance, one look!

Qiao Liangyu asked after figuring it out.

"He said that he could also provide some combat power. For example, the demons that descend could be used to deal with Xuan Huang. He could also use the Abyss Qi as a source of pollution and release it into the spiritual lands under Xuan Huang's jurisdiction to create trouble for him."

After Rose finished speaking, Qiao Liangyu fell into deep thought.

He was worried about the so-called gods, fearing that the so-called gods not only wanted to eliminate Xuan Huang but would also harm himself and others as a result.

Those who are not of our race must have different intentions. This so-called Holy One didn't hide their different intentions at all, wanting to exterminate humanity or, rather, to kill everything they wanted to kill.

If I get involved with the Abyss Holy One because of this, it won't be good.

"What do you think?"

Qiao Liangyu asked uncertainly.

"Chairman, Gou Jianren would do anything to save himself. Cooperating with him is like dealing with a madman. I think we should be cautious… But if we refuse him, we can't guarantee that this person won't tell the Abyss Holy One that we didn't cooperate. In that case, the Abyss Holy One might shift their primary target from Xuan Huang Taoist to us. So, we need to be careful about both cooperation and non-cooperation."

"You're right, that's what I think too. How about this, let's not let their demon envoys participate for now. Let's deal with it first, such as releasing the Abyss pollution source to harass Xuan Huang a bit."

"…Explain it to him clearly. It's for caution, not to refuse him… But we also need to have our own attitude, not to be afraid of his threats, and to show the determination that we're not afraid to break up completely. He wants to show his value in front of the Holy One, and he can't do without our support. He also has weaknesses… In short, you need to grasp the proper measure, understand?"

"Yes!"

Rose understood. She needed to avoid making enemies while being cautious.

This required grasping the proper measure.

… … … …

"Venerable, are we maintaining observation?"

"Yes, just maintain observation. We won't participate."

Nanshan Venerable, the presiding Venerable of the Mount Tai Realm, said.

After speaking, he asked again, "You have personally contacted the Xuan Huang Taoist, what do you think? Do you think he can handle it?"

The one being asked was the porter of Mount Tai.

The porter thought for a while and said, "In the Xuan Huang Taoist's dojo, seeing him is like seeing the majesty of heaven. The Xuan Huang Taoist's domain is no longer as simple as a domain. It already possesses some of the essence of the fourth order. Seeing him is like seeing the majesty of heaven. This is the best proof."

It was not a direct answer, but Nanshan Venerable nodded in satisfaction.

At their level, they didn't need detailed descriptions. A few words could answer a lot.

The majesty of heaven is a characteristic possessed by the fourth-order True Self, representing that I am the master of my domain.

Why is the fourth-order True Self powerful and able to achieve immortality? This is the reason.

In my world, how long I want to live is just a matter of conveying a will. In my world, it's not too much to maintain my peak state at all times, right?

This means that no matter how many third-order beings there are, it's useless.

The ability of the fourth order, even if it's just a small essence, cannot be surpassed by stacking third-order beings.

To put it bluntly, after my domain appears, you can't even break my defense, so how can you trouble me?

And I can sweep away all of you at your peak one by one.

"But in that case, wouldn't it interrupt his seclusion?"

This was the only shortcoming Nanshan Venerable could think of.

Xuan Huang Taoist is indeed strong, but interrupting your seclusion and breakthrough would achieve the enemy's goal.

"Not necessarily…" As he spoke, before the porter could respond, he began to say, "Perhaps Xuan Huang Taoist still has some other means, such as his treasures. He is a master of weapon refinement. Even if he can't personally control the treasures during seclusion, as long as the treasures are strong enough, they can solve the problem."

"Yes."

"In that case, Xuan Huang Taoist will not be at risk. It's just the loss of disciples. Disciples can be developed again. As long as he is still there, everything is easy to say."

"Venerable, since that's the case, should we inform Xuan Huang Taoist so that we can earn some favor?"

"It's too late. Those in the Wen Temple and Wu Temple thought of it earlier than you… Of course, you can go for a trip. The first message is not important, but our intention is sent. Although this person once refused the Emperor Lord's invitation, he has become powerful, so it's better to maintain friendship."

"Yes!"

After speaking, Nanshan Venerable's words evoked his memories, and he said, "Venerable, I still don't understand why he refused. Isn't he afraid of Seven Heavens causing trouble in the future? Or does he think we're deceiving him?"

"You can expand on that a bit."

Nanshan Venerable smiled mysteriously.

"Venerable, I am foolish."

"Hehe, there's one thing you need to admit. Our understanding of Seven Heavens is a subjective assumption and speculation… Conversely, Xuan Huang Taoist has personally contacted several Seven Heavens, right?"

Nanshan Venerable said.

"Huh?"

The porter felt a bit enlightened by this sentence.

The Venerable is right. Our understanding of Seven Heavens, including the Emperor Lord, is based on the understanding of the realm's Heavenly Will.

On the contrary, Xuan Huang Taoist has really exploited them.

In comparison, he is an expert in Seven Heavens, while we are just innately thinking that it should be like this.

"Understand?"

Nanshan Venerable said, "After you came back, I thought about it for a long time and couldn't figure it out. But after jumping out of the limitations of my own identity, I thought of this. Our understanding comes from the realm's Heavenly Will. Perhaps the higher-level Seven Heavens don't think so?"

"The realm is fighting for every inch of land and expanding its origin at all costs, but for the Seven Heavens that can nurture True Saints, perhaps what They care about is not this little bit of exploitation, but change!"

"The only constant in all things is change."

As if enlightened, the porter said this sentence.

Including the Great Dao, the Heavenly Dao, luck, etc., all the truths of the highest existence, everything is in change, change is the only constant.

… … (End of this chapter)