I Can Upgrade My Talent Infinitely

Chapter 558: Chapter 386: Delicate Balance

Zhao Chongguang blamed the Black Ghost Cave for the operation’s failure.

In his mind, the Black Ghost Cave must have leaked information to the Celestial Cloud Sect, causing this entire situation.

Of course, he had no proof that the Black Ghost Cave had tipped off the Celestial Cloud Sect.

Song Yaoli’s failure this time, coupled with her encounter with a mid-stage Core Formation Elder from the Celestial Cloud Sect, only strengthened his conviction.

Had the Celestial Cloud Sect been unaware of their plans and not sent a Core Formation Supreme Elder to act as the Zhou Family’s Guardian...

Even then, their operation might still have failed. They could have been unable to breach the Zhou Family’s protective Grand Array before the Celestial Cloud Sect’s reinforcements arrived.

But even in that case, Song Yaoli wouldn’t have ended up in such a sorry state.

She was even slightly injured.

Without a Celestial Cloud Sect Supreme Elder acting as Guardian, they would have simply retreated on their own if they couldn’t break the Foundation Establishment Zhou Family’s protective Grand Array after a prolonged assault.

"Supreme Elder Zhao, what should we do now?" Song Yaoli asked.

"I’ll report the situation to those ghouls from the Black Ghost Cave. This is their problem, anyway. Go and get some rest."

"Alright."

Song Yaoli nodded, and in the next instant, her figure vanished.

Zhao Chongguang sent a message to the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave, summarizing what had happened.

He informed him that the operation had failed and added that if the Ghost-Controlling Sect still wanted the Foundation Establishment Zhou Family’s territory, many things would need to be renegotiated.

Furthermore, the Demon Spirit Sect would not be acting alone next time.

’The mysterious Spirit Refiner from the Purple Mist Sect should not be in the Celestial Cloud Sect. Now, we just have to see what the Black Ghost Cave is thinking.’

After a moment of thought, Zhao Chongguang began his daily cultivation.

He had been lying in wait ever since withdrawing from the operation more than half a year ago.

Waiting to see if the mysterious Spirit Refiner would make a move.

Only after confirming the mysterious Spirit Refiner from the Purple Mist Sect was not in the area did he launch another operation.

A Celestial Cloud Sect Supreme Elder had shown up during this operation. Now, the Celestial Cloud Sect would almost certainly retaliate against the Demon Spirit Sect.

But as long as the mysterious Spirit Refiner wasn’t involved, everything was manageable.

If there was one thing Zhao Chongguang regretted, it was that the Dragon Demon Palace refused to join their operation.

He had sent envoys to the Dragon Demon Palace.

Their reason was simple.

The Dragon Demon Palace was currently caught between the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect. If they participated in the operation, they would be the first to fall.

Caught in a pincer attack!

...

「Black Ghost Cave.」

Inside the Great Cave Master’s personal cavern.

The mixture of Yin Qi and Spiritual Qi here made it exceptionally comfortable for Ghost Cultivators to cultivate.

"It’s a message from the Demon Spirit Sect."

Upon receiving the message, the Great Cave Master immediately read its contents.

The message made him frown.

’The Demon Spirit Sect’s operation failed.’

The message was concise, but between the lines, Zhao Chongguang of the Demon Spirit Sect was implying that the Black Ghost Cave was the reason for the operation’s ultimate failure.

This did not sit well with the Great Cave Master.

The Black Ghost Cave hadn’t done a thing.

He had deliberately misled Zhao Chongguang during their last meeting. In reality, they had never tipped off the Spirit Refiner.

The failure of the Demon Spirit Sect’s operation had absolutely nothing to do with them.

Of course, the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave couldn’t say this directly. If Zhao Chongguang wanted to misunderstand, then let him misunderstand.

This turn of events, however, provided the Great Cave Master with a crucial piece of information.

’The intelligence network of the Celestial Cloud Sect and its affiliated Foundation Establishment Influences is better than I thought.’

The Demon Spirit Sect had clearly been discovered on their own.

This might have been due to the Demon Spirit Sect’s own carelessness, but the Celestial Cloud Sect’s intelligence-gathering capabilities deserved greater attention.

In the future, if the Black Ghost Cave were to move against the Celestial Cloud Sect, they would have to be far more cautious.

’The Demon Spirit Sect failed to seize a piece of territory in the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Earth Realm. Things didn’t go as well as we’d hoped, but it’s not a total loss. In the face of the Demon Spirit Sect’s provocation, the Celestial Cloud Sect is sure to make a move.’

The perfect scenario would have been for the Demon Spirit Sect to actually conquer the Zhou Family, a Foundation Establishment Influence with ties to a Spirit Refiner.

But as long as the Demon Spirit Sect ended up clashing with the Celestial Cloud Sect, the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave could accept a less-than-perfect outcome.

As for when to contact the Demon Spirit Sect to resume discussions about seizing territory in the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Earth Realm...

...that could wait.

He could just send them a message later, string them along for a while, and watch the two tigers fight from a safe distance before finding the right moment to strike.

With this in mind, the Great Cave Master shared the news with others.

...

...

「Celestial Cloud Sect, Cloud Summit.」

「Nightfall.」

After extracting a Combat Talent fragment, Fang Yun closed the light screen.

Last month, the Zhou Family was attacked by an early-stage Core Formation Demon from the Demon Spirit Sect. Zheng Wuji managed to lightly wound the Demon.

Upon learning of this, he had issued an order to take action against the Demon Spirit Sect.

They had just enjoyed a period of peaceful development, and now the Demon Spirit Sect was already stirring up trouble. In a situation like this, not retaliating was out of the question.

However, there was one thing he didn’t understand.

The Demon Spirit Sect only had three Core Formation Stage Demons, which made them a third-rate power at best among the Demon factions. Even with one of their Supreme Elders having passed away, the Celestial Cloud Sect’s public-facing strength should still be far beyond what the Demon Spirit Sect could afford to provoke.

’I have no idea what’s gotten into the Demon Spirit Sect.’

Normally, if the Demon Spirit Sect wanted to move against them, they should have allied with the Black Ghost Cave or the Dragon Demon Palace.

But from more than half a year ago until now, only the Demon Spirit Sect had made a move.

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