I Can See Your Combat Power

When Tang Luo entered the headquarters, clan leader Tang Zhi had already returned from the new city and was discussing issues related to food distribution with Tang Gaomin, the sixth elder, in the back hall of the ceremonial hall.

“Clan leader, Sixth elder.” Tang Luo, expressionless, greeted the two with a salute.

The two exchanged a knowing glance. Clan Leader Tang Zhi smiled, waved the warriors away from his side, and said to Tang Luo, “You know already?”

“Heh….” Tang Luo hesitated, unsure how to answer the clan leader’s question. What did he know? He had a vague guess that the impending flood was related to the three-earth plan, but he was afraid to confirm it. If true, it would imply that the mountain at the mouth of the Lingjiang River was not washed away by the flood but by human design.

In all of Xiling, the only ones capable of such a taskwere the Supreme of the Mi Clan and the Sect Head of the Tang Clan. And the only one who could perform it without raising suspicion was his own father, Tang Sen, who had fused with the spirit of a ferocious beast, the Qilin, during the forging of his divine soul. Taking a deep breath and suppressing his distracting thoughts, Tang Luo decided to get a straight answer: “Clan leader, was the Sect Head’s task a few months ago to hollow out the three mountains at the mouth of the Lingjiang

River?”

With piercing eyes, Tang Luo stared at the calm, composed face of the clan leader, seeking an answer.

“Correct.” Without attempting any deception, Clan Leader Tang Zhi nodded and admitted outright, “I instructed the Sect Head to turn the core of the mountain to sand, which is why we could successfully reroute the Longpang

River.”

Since this plan had already reached this stage, there was nothing left to hide; in three days, the flood would sweep across Xiling. As the most crucial part of the Tang Clan’s future territory, Tang Luo should know the details of this matter.

The clan leader’s forthrightness about the operations was a severe blow to Tang Luo. The terrifying reality he didn’ t want to accept shook him to his core. He pointed at Tang Zhi and said harshly, “The Tang Clan already obtained a massive amount of resources and secret tactics from the Minor Spiritual Realm. We could’ve suppressed the Mi Clan with just ten years of steady growth. Why did you have to carry out this plan!”

This strategy, meant just to suppress the Mi Clan, implicated millions of lives in the disaster of the millennium flood, entirely overwhelming every city and countless villages along both banks of the Lingjiang River. The thought that there were other methods, but the most ruthless one was chosen, crossed Tang

Luo’s bottom line.

The clan leader, Tang Zhi, stopped Tang Gaomin, who was about to spring to his defense. The clan leader, his face calm and composed, was outspoken on the matter. He was willing to share his most authentic thoughts with Tang Luo. Even if Tang Luo couldn’t understand now, the leader hoped to plant a seed in his mind which would one day grow into a towering tree.

Tang Zhi spoke seriously to Tang Luo, “The moment the Tang Clan obtained the resources of the Minor Spiritual Realm, the Mi Clan wouldn’t permit us to have ten years of peaceful development. Based on the ambition of Mi Jin, had the flood not arrived, both clans would already be at war. Hence, the duress of ten years of peaceful development that you speak of is not feasible. Moreover, even if we did have ten years of peace, I would not abandon this plan.

“Because you want to become the most outstanding clan leader, you treat the lives of millions in Longzhou as dispensable. Tang Zhi, are you sick!?” This was the first time Tang Luo addressed the clan leader by name, the fury within him disregarding all decorum.

“Impudent!” Sixth elder Tang Gaomin raised an eyebrow, despite having high hopes for Tang Luo’s future, he didn’t tolerate such insolence and was about to intervene. But he saw Tang Zhi give him a slight shake of his head, a hint of a smile on his face, apparently unbothered by Tang Luo’s accusations.

“It’s not just about that.” Clan leader Tang Zhi explained, “What’s more important is that Mi Clan’s Wind Media Department is the best in Xiling. The Han Family’s Undying Battle Body is still in its early stages of cultivation by most Martial Ancestors, and its unique silver light is still overshadowed by the Golden Light Dominating Body. Still, if any Martial Ancestors perish, and Mi Clan discovers the divine runes, Tang Clan could face annihilation. Therefore, we must take the initiative.”

“Are the lives of millions of people just like grass and trees to you?” Tang Luo shouted in anger. He could accept that the clan was exhausted from dealing with the coming flood or even that the exposure of the Undying Battle Body led to an attack by the An Clan because these were either irresistible natural forces or risks that came with gaining benefits. But causing a natural disaster merely to increase the odds of victory was sheer insanity.

“Not exactly.” Tang Zhi shook his head. He seemed to disagree with Tang Luo’s words: “The once-in-a-millennium flood in the Longjiang River is inevitable. Even if we didn’t redirect it, it would still flow downstream, inundating hundreds of cities and affecting millions of people. The retargeting of Longjiang to Lingjiang merely transferred the burden of the Longjiang flood to Lingjiang. Although millions will suffer, it will also relieve the pressure downstream in the Longjiang region and allow millions more to escape the flood. Does Luo Zong think that’s not the case?”

“Heh! So, people downstream at Longjiang should thank you. Your design has saved them from a once-in-millennium disaster!?” Tang Luo sneered in anger. “Lingjiang’s channel is not even a fifth as wide as Longjiang’s. What is a millennium disaster for the people downstream of Longjiang will turn the western regions into swampland when redirected to Lingjiang, the floodwater not receding for years and silt burying several unknown cities. And you think you’ve done a great deed!?”

Is a disaster in another country the same as a disaster in one’s own? Tang Luo is an ordinary man; he hopes that all disasters stay far away from his hometown. If his mother, Xu Shuhui, had not already gone to Yuanzhou to visit relatives, he would have exploded with anger by now.

“The West will suffer more; that’s a fact, but the West also has a smaller population. From the perspective of the whole region, redirecting Longjiang to Lingjiang is better for overall Longzhou.” Tang Zhi calmly admitted. “Therefore, even if this change comes abruptly, both the Martial Saint Mountain and the Beast Taming Sect will not act. After all, diverting the flood to Lingjiang is a great benefit to the public. You said I’ve done a good deed. From the perspective of Longzhou, yes, I have!

As a true leader, Tang Zhi would never plan anything by considering individual cities or regions. For him, Xiling was too small. Tang Luo is right about one thing—Tang Zhi wants to become the most illustrious clan leader in Tang’ s thousand-year history, and defeating the Mi Clan is only the first step in his plan.

Looking at the ever-composed expression on Tang Zhi’s face, Tang Luo felt a chill in his heart. He finally understood why his father, a man who usually had no secrets, hesitated when his mother asked what mission he was executing. He thought it was due to the confidentiality clause of a top-secret mission, but nowit seems his father knew how heartbroken his kind-hearted mother would be if she learned the truth.

“No matter what happens, family is always family.’

Thinking back to these words now, they seemed to prepare him for what’s to come Considering how Clan Leader Tang Zhi dismissed those beside him as soon as he walked in, Tang Luo realized that his actions were probably well within the clan leader’s expectations. Even their conversation seemed effortless for Tang Zhi.

The reason for his calm demeanor was simply that everything was going as planned, under his control. Being around such a cold and cunning man was chilling to Tang Luo.