Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible-Chapter 243: Monster Versus Monster

If her deduction was correct, then...

She couldn’t even imagine the consequences, fathom all the implications hidden underneath the chaotic schemes, or understand the thought process of this monster in human skin standing right next to her.

Chen Yan’s monstrosity, in her eyes, no longer had anything to do with his bloodline.

The way he had considered every factor, controlled every side, schemed against cultivators stronger than him, opponents no less brilliant than him, dancing along the edges of his Dao Heart Oath of loyalty to her and her clan... 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Was this not a monstrous enough concept?

Would even the most irrational cultivator, standing at the peak of the Physique Transformation realm, holding enough resources and connections to travel to a more advanced civilization, do something this risky?

What could his true goal be? Defeating Han Xuhan or entering the Inner Court of the Crimson Snow Sect were definitely not what he’s after!

From the very beginning, Chen Yan must have merely treated these goals as auxiliary milestones!

"Your highness, rest assured, our bloodline isn’t so easy to detect," Chen Yan suddenly interrupted her chaotic thoughts, appearing concerned.

"Even if Inspector Fang Xie is hiding here, he won’t suspect anything. Our ancestors couldn’t have kept themselves hidden for so long if such detection methods were widespread."

Xiao Mei gazed up at the older youth. The wooden mask was hiding his face now. But perhaps the face under that mask wasn’t the real Chen Yan either.

The real Chen Yan had always kept himself covered under layers of disguise.

The fake Chen Yan was her sincere protector and advisor, whose network, influence, power, and resources were fully dedicated to her and her clan. He was bound by his oaths to obey their orders, even if it spelled his death.

The real Chen Yan had used those very things to toy with everyone around him, carve out a way to escape the control of his clan, plunge his sect into a war, and ensure that not a single obstacle could stand on his path in the upper realms!

"Your highness, is something wrong?" Chen Yan enquired again, sending a wave of shivers down her spine.

Xiao Mei took a deep breath. In that split second, she prayed to the heavens that she was being paranoid, that she was misinterpreting coincidences and suspecting innocent actions.

’Even if it were true, I must not show a single trace of suspicion towards him!’

For the first time in her life, Xiao Mei felt that being seen as a rash musclehead, being disdained by cunning monsters like Chen Yan, was a good thing.

As long as she acted like her normal self, Chen Yan would never suspect her!

"Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking what schemes Han Xuhan might come up with for this duel. The ’mysterious lecturer’ behind him is none other than his skeleton minion, incapable of fighting anybody.

Han Xuhan can’t be planning to face you on his own, either. Do you think he’ll ask another senior disciple to duel you on his behalf?"

Chen Yan nodded thoughtfully. "He threatened to do it if I really pushed him into a corner. Now he has no choice."

"Which senior disciple might he run to? Is there anybody in the outer court right now capable of fighting a Soul Reformation realm cultivator?"

"I’m not worried about any outer court disciple dueling me on behalf of Han Xuhan. That could hardly be his trump card. He definitely doesn’t expect a surefire victory. He has a fallback plan. It’s that plan we need to be concerned about."

Xiao Mei racked her memories, and realized that any speculation on Han Xuhan’s strength simply circled back to his greatest golden thigh: Sect Master Xuan Zi.

"Three days ago, when you accompanied him to visit the Sect Master, didn’t he let anything slip? That guy’s always running his mouth and showing off as long as you give him a chance to."

"His behavior that day was quite odd, now that I think about it," Chen Yan said bemusedly.

"He wasn’t his usual playful self. In fact, he didn’t even pay much attention to me; seemed more preoccupied with some other thoughts."

"What could it be? What did he say to the Sect Master?"

"We went into the Sect Master’s chamber separately. I don’t know what he told that old man to convince him to provide support for the duel. To be honest, I doubt he even needed to say much. Xuan Zi has been supporting everything he does like a blind fool. But..."

"But?"

"I tried to eavesdrop and caught a bit of their interaction. The things they were discussing didn’t have anything to do with our duel, which has since been bothering me."

That was news to her. Chen Yan hadn’t mentioned this before.

Leaning forward, Xiao Mei asked curiously, "What were they discussing?"

"Han Xuhan said he had something to report. He had apparently compiled a list of all the members of the sect who fell ill from coming into contact with the poisonous fog.

He said he had discussed their symptoms and treatment issues with the Healers in charge, through which he came up with some strange ideas. He wanted Xuan Zi to evaluate his ideas. That’s all I managed to hear before the Isolation Array around the room was fully activated."

"What kind of strange ideas could he have?" Xiao Mei felt confused and curious at the same time.

Why was that freak wasting his time on such mundane matters when he had Chen Yan’s sword hanging over his neck?

Could it truly be something unrelated?

From her frequent interactions with Han Xuhan, she had gotten a good understanding of his character. Setting aside his criminal tendencies, Han Xuhan was almost as much of a monster as Chen Yan in the scale of cunningness and ambition.

Her instincts, stimulated by the terrifying discovery just moments ago, screamed at her.

Han Xuhan was definitely hiding a scheme! Was he planning to do something with the poisonous fog during the duel?

But Chen Yan had already foreseen such traps and taken adequate preparations. If Han Xuhan made that mistake, he’d be digging his own grave!

In this contest between two monsters, Chen Yan was already in an invincible position.

He has not only laid out schemes to be used inside the duel, but he has also woven a giant net outside the duel, encompassing all factors, factions, and cultivators remotely connected to it!

Xiao Mei let out a sigh, not sure if she should be relieved.