Chapter 694: Chapter 557 Starting Move_3 “How could they possibly be so unhurried?” “At this final moment, when placing the last piece determines the winner in this grand chess match, how could they suddenly become timid turtles, withdrawing and pulling out?” “Those old immortals who are nearing their end must certainly be more anxious than I am…” “No, this isn’t right!” “Unless… they’ve calculated something, or perhaps, are they wary of something?” “Or maybe, this chess game isn’t quite what I thought it was…” Doubts surfaced in True Man Situ’s mind as he stroked his beard and paced back and forth in the hall, losing count of how many circles he had walked when he suddenly stopped, his heart quivering: “Could it be that there’s been a change in this game?” “The current state of the game… is not the end but merely the beginning?” “Beginning with Mr. Zhuang’s death?” “Taking the appearance of Back Ruins Heaven Burial as the first move in a grand strategy that spans heaven and earth?” Throughout the two thousand years since the establishment of the Taoist Court, fragments of deeds and rumors surfaced in his mind, linking together… True Man Situ found it somewhat unbelievable. “Impossible, right?” “Who could have, such a grand scheme?” The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became, as if a boundless abyss had opened a giant maw, emitting an alarming breath. True Man Situ’s body couldn’t stop trembling. What exactly was hidden inside? Or was he just overthinking it? True Man Situ slumped into the chair, silent for a long time, before he finally sighed deeply: “Forget it, I should just focus on staying alive for now…” Even if there were some conspiracy, it was still far from him. If not a millennia, then at least a thousand years, and perhaps by then, he might already be dead and gone… True Man Situ suddenly felt relieved. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎 For now, he still had to consider the matters at hand. The Old Ancestor of the Bai Family telling Bai Qiancheng to “stand aside and watch” must have his reasons. That suggests that all of these people, once involved, would face a life-or-death crisis. Where would they die? Without thinking, he knew it would definitely be Gui Tao’s people, inevitably related to “Planting Devil in Taoist Heart”… The title of Taoist was not simple. True Man Situ frowned and pondered for a moment before summoning a disciple and instructing: “Send down the order to set up the Clear Heart Formation, Solidifying Spirit Formation, and Dustless Formation around the camp…” “Strengthen the guard on all sides, and if anyone looking like a ‘Taoist,’ or any oddly shaped cultivator approaches, let me know immediately…” “Tell all cultivators in the Feather Transformation Realm not to go out indiscriminately…” … True Man Situ reeled off a lot in one breath. After he finished giving instructions, he finally took a breath of relief, then began to doubt himself again: “Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?” “No matter how strong Gui Tao’s people are, they can’t possibly kill all ten of us in the Feather Transformation Realm, can they…” No sooner had True Man Situ finished speaking than he immediately caught himself, lightly smacking his own mouth. He mustn’t jinx it! He studied causality, he should not speak such ill-fated words! After True Man Situ’s arrangements were put in place, it wasn’t long before other Feathered Immortals heard about it and came to see him, starting with: “Senior Situ, aren’t we overreacting a bit?” “No matter how strong Gui Tao’s people are, they surely can’t…” The razor-sharp gaze of True Man Situ immediately silenced him. “Better safe than sorry!” “Don’t underestimate Gui Tao’s people!” True Man Situ spoke with a heavy tone. Seeing the solemn expression on True Man Situ’s face, everyone else figured the matter was serious and said no more. … And a few days later, a disciple reported. “Ancestor, a ‘Taoist’… has come…” True Man Situ felt a chill in his heart and immediately got up to take a look outside. But the surroundings were empty with formations densely arrayed, and mountains looming; there was no sign of the ‘Taoist.’ True Man Situ frowned. “Strange, I’m certain I saw a ‘Taoist’…” The reporting disciple mumbled quizzically. “Where did the ‘Taoist’ go?” “Could he be hiding?” “Or could it be that…” A moment of silence followed, and then the disciple’s voice became hoarse and wooden: “…I am the Taoist?” True Man Situ heard this and was startled, breaking out in a cold sweat. As he turned his head to look, he saw the disciple’s pupil turn pitch black.