Chapter 634 Moths to a Flame

Things had come to this point.Even the Heavenly Emperors of the Celestial Realm didn't want the Lu Clan to win.Their momentum was too overwhelming; this ringleader was simply unappealing.But with that army's configuration, plus those thirty million generals and soldiers who were ready to die for their cause, defeat seemed impossible.Yu Shan knew this too.Immortal magic could encompass all laws, and he naturally understood a bit about the art of celestial secrets.He opened his Heavenly Eye, attempting to glimpse the future, but the answer he received was only four words—moths to a flame.When the sun blazed brightly in the Lu Clan's sky, it was the time of sunrise in the Celestial Realm.Late at night.Yu Shan sat alone on the steps outside the Celestial King's Palace, his usual carefree demeanor gone. Head bowed, hands resting on his feet, those four words echoing endlessly in his mind."Like moths to a flame." The sky was dotted with stars, beneath which stretched endless, ethereal immortal mountains, shrouded in mist. The floor tiles of the Immortal King's Palace beneath his feet bore the marks of time, but it seemed that with tomorrow's great wind, all of this would vanish into thin air.He had made all the necessary preparations for battle.But the Immortal Realm was not a normal royal realm. Unlike the human realm, with its Great Walls, numerous generals, and strategists capable of deploying troops, the Immortal Realm was free and undisciplined.Although tens of thousands of sects were now on high alert, they were highly dispersed, and their battle strategy was singular—"wait and see."Yu Shan was truly not a military strategist; such a profession didn't exist in the Immortal Realm.He only knew how to fight one-on-one; he knew nothing of warfare, and was now utterly helpless.Before he could even defeat Emperor Heng, he was already killed by the Lu Clan.It was truly unbearable.Suddenly, a gust of demonic wind blew past him.A refined and flamboyant old man appeared, his eyes indifferent.Yu Shan turned to look; Zhuge Tianming had already greeted him beforehand.“Mr. Li,” Cao Xiaoli said, sitting beside Yu Shan, “We can’t win, but we might not lose either.”“There’s only one way.”“What?” Yu Shan looked up, his brows furrowed.Cao Xiaoli said calmly, “This time, the Lu Clan’s Grand Tutor will personally descend to the mortal realm, kill him, possess his body, and issue the retreat order to win.”Yu Shan still frowned.How could things be so simple?Then, Cao Xiaoli began to explain."More than half a year has passed since the battle in the human realm. During this time, we found the whereabouts of the demon race and a tyrant's ally. They will lead the demon race to provide support.""But not now, but after the war reaches its climax.""The immortal realm and the human realm must first find a way to withstand the first wave of attacks, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy and crushing their morale.""The demon race's support will only be the final straw that breaks their morale.""The Lu clan's purpose in attacking the immortal realm is nothing more than for fortune. You must focus your actions on fortune, fighting until they realize that even if they win, the losses will outweigh the gains."Yu Shan nodded, saying, "I understand.""The immortal realm's fortune is composed of ten parts: the stars account for 20%, the realm itself for 40%, all living beings for 20%, and us, the powerful, for 20%.""I have already sent all living beings onto the immortal ships to the human realm. What remains are the stars, the realm, and ourselves." "If we fight to the bitter end, and all of us perish, the stars fall, and heaven and earth collapse, then the Celestial Realm's fortune will be reduced by at least 50%, plus the 20% already lost, minus the total of 100%.""In the end, only 30% will remain. Even if the Lu Clan obtains it, it won't change their situation in the Celestial Realm.""You mean, by then, when the Demon Realm's reinforcements arrive, the Lu Clan will withdraw?"Cao Xiaoli calculated with his fingers, saying calmly, "The Lu Clan is a fierce clan; in this battle, they will fight to the death.""To make them withdraw, we must add what I just mentioned: occupy the body of their commander-in-chief and then order a retreat."Yu Shan frowned: "How is that possible?""You've seen the Celestial Realm's methods; such a usurpation tactic can't be hidden from them.""It's possible," Cao Xiaoli said seriously, "but I need your help."As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand and pointed a finger through his own temple.Blood splattered, but ultimately gathered on his finger until Cao Xiaoli withdrew his finger from his temple, revealing a rune inscribed with "Eternity" on his fingertip.At the same time, Cao Xiaoli's aura weakened to the point of being indistinguishable from that of an ordinary mortal.Yu Shan's expression changed slightly. What kind of magic was this? It was so profound.Cao Xiaoli held the rune and said calmly, "This is me."Then he pointed to his own body and said, "This is also me.""I need you to record all of the Lu Clan strategist's memories, all his behavioral patterns, including his soul, during the battle. Make a copy, implant it into 'my' body, then erase the Lu Clan strategist's mental world and soul, and implant 'me' inside."Yu Shan's breathing suddenly became rapid. He understood what this Mr. Li meant.He had first backed up everything about himself—his power, his memories—and gathered it into this rune called "Eternity," then handed it to him.At this point, Lu's memories and soul are copied into his body. Mr. Li will then be Lu's strategist.This is because Mr. Li's original soul and memories have been completely erased and replaced with those of the Grand Tutor Lu.Mr. Li creates a "container" from his own body, filling it with the copied Grand Tutor Lu's memories and soul.At this point, Mr. Li is the Grand Tutor Lu.It's not a lie; his memories are the Grand Tutor Lu's, his actions are identical, and even his soul is exactly the same.Finally, this "copied memory and soul" is swapped with the Grand Tutor Lu's original memories and soul.Then, the Grand Tutor Lu's body will contain the soul of "Mr. Li.""Replace everything?" Yu Shan frowned, "What's the point?""You'll have a different soul and memories, but you'll no longer be yourself, while he'll still be the Grand Preceptor of the Deer Kingdom."Mr. Li said calmly, "You just need to add a little something to this soul and memories.""The demon race will come to their aid, and above them is the Zuo Clan. The little something you add is that the reason for the withdrawal in this war is because the Zuo Clan intervened.""They want to reap the benefits.""This will give them a chance to force the Deer Clan to retreat, and even incite conflict in the Heavenly Realm."Yu Shan's body trembled upon hearing this, "You want more than just the enemy's retreat; you want to use someone else to do the dirty work?""Use the Deer Heavenly Emperor's knife to kill the Zuo Heavenly Emperor?""But is that even possible?""What if you expose yourself?"Mr. Li frowned, "I expose myself?""You still don't understand.""I'm already dead. The one who returned to the Heavenly Realm isn't me, but a Grand Preceptor of the Deer Kingdom implanted with erroneous ideas."Li Xiaocao looked at Yu Shan, silently shaking her head inwardly.Every profession has its own secrets, and Yu Shan wasn't a schemer, so he didn't understand, and even less why he was so confident.“Firstly, the Lu Clan's Grand Preceptor also shares the surname Lu and is related to the Lu Clan's head. That's one point.”“Secondly, we can see the Lu Clan's character from the war that's about to begin tomorrow.”“The Thirteen Kingdoms of the Celestial Realm are inherently hostile. We've already obtained some important information from the Heng Clan; they were already planning to go to war.”“The fuse has already been lit. They just need a reason. Does it matter if that reason is true or false?”“As long as it exists.”“Remember, it's the Thirteen Kingdoms of the Celestial Realm, not the Lu Clan and the Zuo Clan.”“Do you believe that as long as the Lu Grand Preceptor goes back and says the Zuo Clan wants to take advantage of the situation and bully the Lu Clan, some kingdom will use the banner of justice to help the Lu Clan suppress the Zuo Clan?”“This reason isn't for the Lu Clan; it's for all the rulers of the thirteen kingdoms. Everyone can use this reason to do their thing.” Yu Shan felt his heart race upon hearing this. He had never done anything so thrilling in his life, and only one thought occupied his mind:Holy crap?There are experts in the Human Realm?! And this expert intends to personally enter the fray, toying with the entire Celestial Realm from the very beginning?Li Xiaocao calmly said, "Don't be too happy yet.""The premise is that you can lure the Grand Preceptor Lu into a place where even his king can't see him, secretly kill him, and replace me.""Grand Preceptor Lu is no pushover; his strength is formidable."Yu Shan nodded emphatically, saying, "It's alright. If all else fails, I'll fight him with my Great Dao True Form."Li Xiaocao calmly said, "He also knows the Great Dao True Form. I saw it three thousand years ago; thirteen kings and their grand preceptors all possessed it.""If you fight him with your Great Dao True Form and die, whoever dies will later have this Eternal Rune returned to me in the Celestial Realm.""This is just the beginning. Don't think about dying. The hard times ahead are long."Upon hearing this, Yu Shan's heart skipped a beat.Li Xiaocao continued, “Come on, now you are the source of the Immortal Realm’s fortune. I have a formula to help you rebuild your original body and power.”“Hmm?” Yu Shan’s eyes lit up immediately. “You mean you can help me return to my peak state?”Li Xiaocao said calmly, “Yes, provided you use your own fortune.”“Okay, but it’s almost dawn. Is there enough time?”Li Xiaocao then put the Eternal Rune back into his head.After regaining his power, he said calmly, “Using two Great Dao Forms to restore a realm, how could it be too late?”“Two?” Yu Shan frowned and looked up. “Who?”Li Xiaocao reached out and turned his head to face him directly. “Me.”