Xu Chengzhi's eyes gleamed as he gazed into the distance at the Tang Sect's stronghold.
Dragging Shrek Academy into the quagmire was a plan that Star Luo had been preparing for hundreds of years. From the Tang Sect's support for Star Luo to the infiltration of human pills into the Tang Sect's branches to corrupt them, they had been preparing for centuries.
Now, the Tang Sect's branches could no longer break free from the human pills, completely becoming pawns in their scheme against the Federation.
How tragic, Shrek Academy.
Compared to the newly risen Holy Spirit Sect and the Federation, you are like remnants of a bygone era, submerged in past glories, offering aid to Star Luo with an almost condescending attitude, unaware that you are merely chess pieces.
Before you exit the stage of history, lend one last hand to Star Luo and the Holy Spirit Sect.
Whether you are suppressed by the Federation or you wreak havoc in Douluo Federation, it will only deplete the Federation's strength!
And for us in Star Luo, that is victory!
Mo Yan also looked in that direction, his face filled with emotion. "It's a pity that the Spirit Pagoda was smarter than Shrek Academy in this regard, not giving us any leverage. Otherwise, with both the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy at odds with the Douluo Federation, the plan will have progressed more smoothly."
Xu Chengzhi retracted his gaze and shook his head.
"Once the Holy Sect welcomes back the Saint and the Saintess, we can use other methods to drag the Spirit Pagoda into the fray. We just need to wait a little longer."
Hearing this, Mo Yan frowned. "Your Majesty, forgive my ignorance. If we move against them and are noticed, it will be a formal declaration of war against the Douluo Federation. Are we truly prepared? Even with the addition of the Heaven Dou Continent, there is still a significant gap between us and the Douluo Federation, not to mention that the Holy Spirit God has not yet awakened…"
The gap that had expanded over ten thousand years was indeed too large.
If it wasn't for the Holy Spirit Sect's expertise in rapid development, the gap would be even greater.
Even if Shrek Academy was ensnared, causing internal strife within the Federation, it didn't mean they could gain the upper hand.
In his view, it was enough to involve Shrek Academy through this exchange; they could still accumulate more strength over time.
"Douluo Federation is brimming with talent in this generation. Waiting any longer would mean missing a golden opportunity."
Xu Chengzhi walked to the window with a confident smile, overlooking the brightly lit Star Luo City. "Shrek Academy's strength is naturally no match for the Federation's, but once the conflict between the two erupts completely, it will be enough to ignite a fierce war within the Federation. More importantly, it will bring chaos, allowing us to seize the opportunity to do more."
"After all, Douluo Federation's internal troubles are not limited to Shrek Academy. Shrek is just the first to fall, but it certainly won't be the last."
The night breeze brushed Xu Chengzhi's face, carrying a hint of coolness, but it couldn't extinguish the burning ambition in his eyes.
'After exhausting Douluo Federation's strength through internal conflicts with Shrek and other factions, how will you resist Star Luo, Heaven Dou, the Holy Spirit Sect, and... the Abyss?'
'Thousands of years ago, you expended more than half your strength to resist the Abyss. In the future, when facing us and the Abyss simultaneously, will you still have such capacity?'
'Star Luo has not found its savior, and neither will your Douluo Federation…'
...
Pan Wen looked at the documents in his hand, his expression growing increasingly grave.
"Is this true? Is the Tang Sect really consuming human pills? And providing support to Star Luo?"
Before Pan Wen, a member of the Shadow nodded with a heavy expression. "Yes, this is the result of my personal investigation."
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, this Shadow member, who followed Pan Wen's orders, wouldn't have believed that the Tang Sect had actually done these things.
Colluding with the enemy, betraying the nation, and internal soul masters degenerating into evil soul masters, these were all grave crimes. Once confirmed, Shrek's reputation, built over tens of thousands of years, will be ruined.
Pan Wen's fingers dug deeply into the edges of the document, his knuckles turning white with agitation.
This was exactly what he wanted, and what some of the Federation's top brass needed!
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Is the evidence conclusive?"
The Shadow member took out a soul recording device from his chest. After infusing it with soul power, the screen clearly displays Tang Sect disciples exchanging human pills and weapons at a secret location. More alarmingly, several figures wearing Star Luo Empire military uniforms were clearly visible.
In addition to the scenes captured on-site, there were also numerous documents. Pan Wen flipped through the encrypted files handed over by the Shadow, his pupils contracted sharply.
They detailed the list of supplies the Tang Sect branches had sent to Star Luo over the past three years, including the designs for seven soul tools unique to Shrek Academy.
"Good, very good."
Despite the potential to plunge Shrek Academy, one of the Federation's four major factions, into the abyss, Pan Wen couldn't help but smile.
He wanted to see how the Federation's doves and neutral factions would react to this.
"Sir, should we pass this information to His Excellency Amorous? He and the Shrek Academy's higher-ups might not be aware of these matters."
After the Shadow member left, Pan Wen's trusted secretary approached, hesitating.
He knew Pan Wen was pleased, but he had to pour cold water on his enthusiasm.
If Pan Wen, the Secretary-General and a strong contender for the next Federation Speaker, were to act, those charges might be firmly pinned on Shrek, leading to a civil war within the Federation.
And given Shrek Academy's influence and strength, if things went wrong, the Federation could be severely weakened.
Pan Wen paused, looking meaningfully at his secretary.
"I know you're concerned for the Federation, but this information must be sent back. After all, we've waited too long, and this is the best opportunity to clean up Shrek!"
Outside the door, just about to knock, Na Nali heard these words, paused, sighed softly, and left.
Troubled times indeed, there will be much to do.
...
"The bait prepared by Star Luo is too tempting; it's an open conspiracy."
Leaving the theater, Huo Yuhao conversed with the Snow Empress in his spiritual sea. "The hawks and the Federation's higher-ups who want to clean up Shrek will push Star Luo's plan forward."
The hawks, wanting to wage war, cannot bypass the neutral and dove factions led by Shrek. Now, with an opportunity to suppress the neutral faction's representatives right in front of them, they naturally wouldn't let it slip.
And those within the Federation's higher-ups dissatisfied with Shrek's state-within-a-state will also take the opportunity to strike, even some within the Spirit Pagoda will join in.
Star Luo only needs to dig a pit, and the various factions would, one by one, kick Shrek Academy into it and then bury it.
The Snow Empress's divine sense nodded slightly. "You were already prepared for Shrek Academy's reckoning, weren't you? That's why you left such intelligence for the Holy Spirit Sect and the Shadow through Lan Fuzi and the Blood-eyed Evil Soul Master."
"The ice didn't freeze overnight; the conflict between the Federation and Shrek was bound to erupt sooner or later."
Huo Yuhao's gaze narrowed. "And I need to take away from Shrek Academy that poses a fatal threat to us..."
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Who is scheming against whom, who is using whom, is still unclear.