Chapter 560: Chapter 560 Cooperation (Part 1)

Hmph.

Xiao Zhan shook his head and sneered.

It’s just too naive. Who is the prey, and who is the hunter?

Continuing upward, noon arrived quickly. Xiao Zhan was about to rest when he saw an unsettling sight.

Two corpses were lying in front of them.

A man and a woman, with familiar faces. They were the people who had appeared on the platform last night.

Xiao Zhan stepped forward to examine the wounds, frowning slightly, “Killed with a single blow, quick and clean, probably by a Seventh Grade powerhouse.”

Huang Duohuan approached, his expression grave, “They must have followed too closely, making someone lose their patience.”

It’s a common occurrence for a Seventh Grade to kill a Sixth Grade instantly.

In this environment where everyone has the same goal, Sixth Grade Spirit Masters can only win the final victory by sticking together. Otherwise, they are nothing more than a snack for others.

It’s not easy to make a move when everyone is gathered because everyone fears the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

But once everyone splits up, caution is needed at all times.

“There are a total of seventeen enemy groups. With one group dead, sixteen remain. Three are Seventh Grade, the rest are thirteen Sixth Grade groups.” Xiao Zhan silently took note of the data in his mind.

After a brief rest, he continued on.

Soon, the night fell.

Without a platform to rest on tonight, everyone had to sleep in the snowy wilderness, Xiao Zhan included.

Of course, even if there was a platform, Xiao Zhan wouldn’t dare to rest. Their current location was only a step away from the Peak of Holy Mountain.

Just a little recklessness could provoke the elimination by a Seventh Grade Spirit Master.

Naturally, Xiao Zhan wasn’t too worried, but since everyone was still holding back, it was best to stay low-key.

“Brother Xiao Zhan, don’t worry. I’m not a despicable person. I absolutely won’t have any ill intentions towards you tonight.” Huang Duohuan said jokingly, thinking that Xiao Zhan was guarding against him because he didn’t pull out a house to stay in.

Xiao Zhan sneered.

Yes, no ill intentions tonight, but after tonight, it’s a different story.

“Tonight is destined to be restless,” said Xiao Zhan.

“Restless?” Huang Duohuan glanced around, “It seems quite peaceful to me.”

“Do you want to keep it peaceful?”

“Of course I do… What do you mean?” Huang Duohuan’s voice lowered a notch, his face cautious as he looked into Xiao Zhan’s eyes.

Xiao Zhan spoke, “Tomorrow is when the Holy Snow Lotus will bloom. In the chaos that ensues, do you think any of us will make it to the end?”

Huang Duohuan pondered seriously, “Most likely not. If I were a Seventh Grade Sovereign, I would get rid of the minions right at the start.”

“That’s right. They’re not moving now because it’s not time yet. When tomorrow comes, not one of us will survive.”

“So, what are you suggesting?”

“If someone wants my life, I’ll take theirs first!”

Upon hearing this, Huang Duohuan instantly understood.

He leaned in closer, “Brother Xiao Zhan, do you have a plan?”

Xiao Zhan’s mouth curved into a smile, then he whispered, “Among the Seventh Grade Spirit Masters that have shown up here, there are three groups. Tang Kun is in one group, the other two are from outside the region. If I’m not mistaken, the battle will be initiated by the two groups from outside against Tang Kun. After they take down Tang Kun, they’ll fight among themselves!”

The eight major families have four who couldn’t come, and the other three families sent people. But only the Tang Family sent Tang Kun, while the rest sent Sixth Grade Spirit Masters.

Xiao Zhan speculated that they had likely already agreed to let Tang Kun have the Holy Snow Lotus, with the Sixth Grade assisting in the snatch, and the Tang Family trading other benefits in exchange.

After all, the loss of a Seventh Grade Spirit Master would be a devastating blow to a super family.

“Uh-huh, go on,” Huang Duohuan nodded, thinking Xiao Zhan’s reasoning made sense, and gestured for him to continue.

“The saying goes, ‘don’t let the fat water flow into others’ fields.’ If the Holy Snow Lotus is going to be taken by outsiders, it’s better that our own people take it. And it’s even better if I take it myself.”

“So we should help Tang Kun fight the outsiders.”

Huang Duohuan frowned in silence for two seconds upon hearing this, “Even if we help, we can’t beat them. They are two Seventh Grades.”

“Can’t really beat them?” Xiao Zhan countered.

Huang Duohuan’s heart skipped a beat, “We really can’t win.”

Xiao Zhan didn’t believe him for a second, “If you can’t win, what would you be doing here alone? You wouldn’t dare to come without some ability, would you?”

“I came to scavenge for leftovers.”

“Alright, then you scavenge for leftovers.” Xiao Zhan turned and left.

Seeing Xiao Zhan so resolute, Huang Duohuan pondered for a moment, then called out to him, “I really can’t beat them, but if you ask me to fight to the death, I might be able to wound them a bit.”

Xiao Zhan’s strategy succeeded, and returning to his side, he said with a smile, “I certainly won’t ask you to fight to the death. You just need to cooperate with me simply.”

“Cooperate? How?”

“It’s simple. Just lure one of them away.”

“Be the bait? I refuse!” Huang Duohuan immediately objected, then questioned Xiao Zhan, “What about you?”

“Do you want to switch? If I go to assassinate, will you go?”

“That… But I could die within minutes as the bait, why don’t you use them as the bait? And, can you guarantee Tang Kun will cooperate with us?”

Xiao Zhan scoffed internally. Do you think I wouldn’t know if you were going to die?

Do you think I would choose you as bait if you were so easy to kill?

What good is bait that dies so quickly?

“I’m not afraid to tell you the truth, I am from the Ye Family. Tang Kun and I are both from the eight major families. Do you think he will cooperate with me?”

“You’re from the Ye Family?”

Huang Duohuan was shocked, not realizing Xiao Zhan was from the Ye Family.

“No wonder you looked somewhat familiar, I just couldn’t recall it at the moment.”

“Do you believe me now?” Xiao Zhan said.

Huang Duohuan was still wary, “I believe Tang Kun will cooperate with you, but when you fight, what about the others? Won’t they seize the chance to attack?”

“Hmph, during a battle that poses the greatest threat to both sides, do you think they would intervene? They will surely wait until both sides are severely weakened before they strike!”

“Right, but when the other Seventh Grade comes back, won’t they still have control over the situation?”

“Do you understand what a sneak attack is?”

Xiao Zhan really had his patience tested. This fella was just too cautious.

“I don’t think it’s very reliable,” Huang Duohuan shook his head. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his own skills as bait, but he didn’t believe that Xiao Zhan and Tang Kun could win.

After all, winning here didn’t mean simply winning by the definition of the word but rather it entailed an overwhelming victory with minimal damage, or at least only minor injuries.

Because if the diverted Seventh Grade came back and Tang Kun lacked the ability to fight on, their plan would fail.