Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 1059: Six hundred sixty-one Cooperation? Refused!

Chapter 1059: Six hundred sixty-one Cooperation? Refused!

The Black Scale Guards had been tirelessly searching for O’Reilly’s whereabouts, but ever since the battle at Di’an, she had vanished as though evaporated into thin air.

However, if O’Reilly had been kidnapped amidst the chaos by a Sect Saint, all these inexplicable details would suddenly make perfect sense.

Xu Yuan couldn’t discern whether O’Reilly had forged a deeper alliance with the sect, nor did he have the luxury to ponder these matters right now.

If the Hanging Air Ring’s existence was exposed, the sect would certainly have prepared countermeasures.

In fact, it might be a trap intentionally laid out by the opposing side, luring Xu Yuan into summoning his uncle, ensnaring him in an ambush for the kill.

That uncle was formidable, but Emperor Bai was no less powerful.

In the Cangyuan Chronicles, he was recognized alongside Xu Yuan’s father as one of the world-renowned bosses, not to mention having the Jiantian Pavilion Master and that hunched elder aiding him...

No, something wasn’t right.

In a flash of realization, Xu Yuan abruptly noticed that he had fallen into a mental fallacy—

If the opposition were wholly united, his uncle indeed would face a grim fate upon arriving. Yet, it seemed that not everyone on the battlefield wanted his uncle dead.

Particularly Emperor Bai, the Lord of the Ancient Abyss.

Xu Yuan was uncertain why Emperor Bai had chosen to collaborate with the sect and assault the city, but from Emperor Bai’s perspective, for the millennia-old plans of the Ancient Abyss invading the Dayan Empire, he would undoubtedly not wish to see the Prime Minister’s faction excessively diminished before the empire’s internal strife erupted.

If their forces were weakened too severely and Xu Yinhè was forced to compromise, thereby avoiding conflict, the Ancient Abyss would be left waiting yet another few decades.

Over the past few decades, Emperor Bai had witnessed the Dayan Empire achieve a meteoric rise in national strength by opening cultivation systems to the lower classes.

If they waited even longer... who knew to what extent the empire’s strength would swell?

Summoning his uncle might actually present considerable room for maneuver...

As Xu Yuan’s mind churned ceaselessly in search of a strategy, Mu Xingyi’s parched voice came at the right moment:

"Brother Xu, judging by your expression, you seem to have already formulated a response to my words."

"....."

Xu Yuan furrowed his brows and instinctively looked over.

At the bottom of the massive pit, dense and viscous webs were striving to repair the ruptured insectoid body, whose fractured compound eyes stared at him fixedly from the shadows.

Restricted by rigid thinking, if it weren’t for Mu Xingyi’s reminder, he might have indeed overlooked this detail earlier. But why had the other party acted this way in the first place?

Before long, Xu Yuan had his answer:

"Brother Xu, join forces with me."

...

...

...

An alliance forged for mutual benefit will inevitably crumble when their interests no longer align.

For Mu Xingyi, the pact he had formed with the Sect Saint had already reached the point of needing to be torn apart.

Otherwise,

he and his family of three would all perish here.

Mu Xingyi undoubtedly understood his own limitations. Even though he had absorbed and inherited the bloodline power of the Bug Saint, as someone who had only achieved Soul Condensation previously, he was utterly incapable of wielding this tremendous force.

From the moment he confronted Xu Yuan, he knew the likelihood of walking into a trap and sustaining severe injuries was high.

Yet in this matter, he had no choice.

If he and Wan’er followed Lady Wen’s plan, they could indeed guarantee victory in this war without suspense. The death of Xu Changtian could be assured, and their injuries would not even be severe.

But...

Then what?

Given the sect’s methods, once Zhenxi Prefecture City was obliterated, their family would likely be next in line for annihilation.

Based on his understanding of the prominent figures among the Human Race, they would never tolerate uncontrollable Saints like himself remaining in this world.

If given a chance, they would undoubtedly kill him as swiftly as possible.

And as a fellow Saint, Mu Xingyi knew the disparity between themselves and the sect members. Aside from Nuonuo, neither he nor Wan’er were even a match for these opponents after a single exchange.

Thus, Mu Xingyi chose not to follow Lady Wen’s arrangement. The moment the city gates fell, he had actively approached Xu Changtian.

One goal was to attempt an instantaneous kill.

If successful, he would leave the battlefield with Nuonuo and Wan’er immediately.

The other Saints wouldn’t obstruct them, as the destruction of Zhenxi Prefecture City had yet to be completed. Blocking their retreat would essentially push them towards joining the city’s defenders.

If unsuccessful, his second option was to use himself as bait, forcing the other Saints to intervene, thoroughly disrupting their plans, prematurely igniting a massive conflict between the two sides, and striking Xu Changtian amidst the chaos before escaping.

But the tide turned far too quickly.

Despite the battle barely having begun, Mu Xingyi’s assessment of the situation had already undergone drastic shifts due to recent developments.

The power of the Lord of the Ancient Abyss was overwhelming; the crushing force behind the instant death of the Great Desert Qilin Wolf was suffocating.

If the battle continued at this pace, Xu Changtian revealing his trump cards and the full-scale conflict erupting wouldn’t grant them the opportunity to escape even after slaying Xu Changtian in the turmoil.

Thus, adjustments had to be made immediately.

As the enormous iron chest gradually descended closer to the ground, Xu Yuan’s belated response finally reached Mu Xingyi’s ears:

"Cooperate? Can you convince those two fools in your family?"

The mocking tone momentarily rendered Mu Xingyi speechless.

He could remain rational, but that didn’t mean his wife and son could. The Yin Ghost’s characteristics made Wan’er and Nuonuo’s personalities intensely stubborn, especially in their obsession with devouring Xu Changtian—on that matter, the mother and son had utterly lost their sanity.

Before Mu Xingyi could organize his thoughts for a reply, Xu Yuan’s voice came once again:

"Xingyi, when you entered a partnership with the sect, you should have foreseen this outcome. Seeking the benefits of colluding with tigers without considering the risks is not a wise approach."

"I had no choice in this matter."

Upon hearing these words, Mu Xingyi’s previously flat tone carried a subtle rise: "I’ve long discerned your exceptional heritage. If I hadn’t collaborated with those Saints, would we have marched to your Prime Minister’s Mansion to kidnap people instead?"

"......"

Through these brief exchanges, Xu Yuan swiftly deduced Mu Xingyi’s motivations. Gazing at the below, where the hideous insectoid body was nearly reformed, he spoke wryly:

"See, I told you—the two of you are truly madmen. Knowing I come from an extraordinary lineage, you dared to plot against me for your son’s sake?! Will he die if he doesn’t eat me?!"

As those scornful words fell, Xu Yuan began cultivating, activating the Source Crystal container, and sneered:

"Mu Xingyi,

Your downfall is due solely to your foolishness."

With that said, the descending iron chest began emitting an unsettling radiance.

Witnessing this, Mu Xingyi’s tone instead regained its composure:

"Acting out of emotion isn’t characteristic of you, Brother Xu. This cooperation benefits both of us!"

"....."

Silent for a moment, Xu Yuan glanced upwards toward Tian Yuan.

Fluttering robes, white attire immaculately celestial, still locked in a standoff against the enigmatic, black-garbed Tian Ye.

Pretending not to hear anything?

As his gaze traveled, the Source Crystal container fully descended into the pit. Xu Yuan’s faint smile suddenly turned cold:

"You seem to be mistaken. In order to survive, even if I don’t cooperate with you, are you saying you wouldn’t still betray those sect Saints?"

"......" Mu Xingyi.

No words followed. Only as the container began radiating brighter light did Xu Yuan abruptly speak again with a chuckle:

"Oh, by the way, since your words earlier at least offered some insight and our cooperation would indeed benefit the greater scheme, let me offer you one free piece of intelligence.

Speaking as he pointed toward Tian Yuan:

"All of those messages you transmitted earlier, the Tower Lord heard every single word crystal clear. When you decide to backstab, make sure not to target her, Xingyi my dear friend~"

"......" Mu Xingyi.

"..."

"..."

Brilliant white light illuminated the depths of the pit, consuming Mu Xingyi’s nascent insectoid form.

Simultaneously,

A long spear shot forth from the direction of the Government Office, instantly piercing through the immobilized Mu Nuo.

The Lightning Arc power embedded in the spear was so overwhelming that even Tian Yuan and Tian Ye, locked in their celestial standoff, retreated dozens of meters.

As the chaos subsided,

The gust whipped through the air, ruffling Xu Yuan’s attire.

He gently clenched his fist.

A faint white halo quietly emerged behind him,

under the gaze of all present,

its black, mirror-like surface began undulating with rippling waves...