The next day-
A huge uproar was caused within the palace, which alerted both Jiao Mingue and Jiao Bo (the vice-general). Jiao Bo signaled Jiao Mingue to stay here while he examined the surroundings. Jiao Mingue nodded her head lightly. She didn't expect Long Tao's word from earlier to have come true. Just what did Long Tao do to cause such a huge commotion within the palace. All she hoped was that the enemies to have not made any move. She has not yet prepared for a counter-response. Jiao Bo returned with a grim shocked face.
Jiao Mingue's initial thoughts were that something bad just occurred to have caused the expression of her uncle to be this bad. "has the enemy attack already arrived?" Jiao Mingue asked in a very nervous tone. Jiao Bo calmed himself down and said" Its not that. I just got to know what Long Tao meant from his first move.". Jiao Mingue was getting excited now. "What has he one?"
"Do you know how many people work within the royal palace, including the Jiao clan itself?". Jiao Mingue arranged her thoughts "It's somewhere around 600. What is the matter?". "Long Tao just killed a lot of them within one night. The body count currently stands at 150, with more coming in." Jiao Mingue was shocked. 150+ people being killed in cold blood. Just what was Long Tao thinking. "Why has he taken such a step? Where did he get the intel about them being traitors?"
"We need to ask the question to him. The thought in my mind is not about the deceased. It's about the fact that, if Long Tao's intel was actually correct then, we had 150+ traitors just within the palace. What do you think about the scenario in such a case?" Jiao Mingue got chills just from the thoughts. If it were true, they need to re-think the strategy about whom to believe in. Jiao Mingue and the vice-general both proceed towards Long Tao's dwelling.
The Crimson Lord-world-
Long Tao's avatars were currently engaged in absorbing the first thunder ball. The start of the absorption was quite dangerous. Although Long Tao made all the necessary preparation, the pure thunder energy which was concentrated did do a lot of damage to the meridians instantly. Long Tao spewed lots of blood. The keeper had to step in to control the absorption rate of the thunder energy. "I told you, this move is quite risky, but we can't waste the thunder energy. You need to bear with it."
Long Tao had no choice but to agree to the suggestion. He absorbed the thunder balls completely and used the full of his energy to direct it towards his meridians. The pain was excruciating. The meridians were literally burned down, and the thunder energy was wreaking havoc in his body. Blood flowed from his mouth constantly, but Long Tao chose to persist. It was the only way he would be able to open the rest of the tertiary meridians.
He tried to direct the whole power through the meridian's channels. His QI was encapsulating his meridians from outside, trying to heal and contain the thunder energy. After a long time, he finally managed to open the first meridian. But the thunder energy was constantly pouring in. The meridians which were just opened were not ready for it. The pain spiked up. Long Tao had to bite his lips until blood flowed out of them to keep his sanity. Long Tao's pain subsided a little after opening the second meridian. The channels were starting to adapt to the inflow of such large energy.
But the pain spiked once more, as the open meridians were assaulted with the thunder energy. The process continued. Long Tao tried his best to persist through the process. The ball of thunder within his body was getting smaller and smaller as time went by. He managed to exhaust the whole thunder ball. Long Tao laid down exhausted due to the lack of Qi. It was the first time Long Tao had to face Qi deficit while training with a resource. He closed his eyes and took a short nap.
After a period of time, Long Tao finally woke up. "what is the current condition of your body?" The keeper asked with a tinge of enthusiasm in his tone. Long Tao inspected his body and found the results to be very satisfying. "I manage to open 6 meridians instead of five.".
The keeper looked at Long Tao with a smile. "I have to remind you of your body getting adapted to the energy. The next time you try to inculcate energy from that thunder ball, you won't feel the pain you felt now, neither will you gain so much." Long Tao understood the logic. The same resource wouldn't work as efficiently on his body anymore. If he wanted the same results, he needs to use a more powerful source of energy.
Long Tao managed to recover his Qi by devouring many of his pills which repaired some of the damages caused by the thunder energy. The best way to heal them up was a natural pathway or using a very potent source of energy. The second thunder ball appeared in Infront of Long Tao. He closed his eyes and started the process.
The royal palace, Long Tao's dwelling-
The princess and Jiao Bo entered the courtyard at the same time. They could see Long Tao continuing his training. The efforts he puts into cultivation made both of them admire him. "May I have some of your time Sir Long." Long Tao stopped his training and invited them to his dwelling. "What is the cause of this visit princes. Did you manage to gather your preliminary forces?". "That is not the reason for this visit Long Tao. We are here to ask you about the pile of bodies you formed in the royal palace. Did you have proper evidence that they were traitors to our cause." Jiao Bo asked in a stern voice.
Long Tao's expression turned serious. " I hope you do understand what you are trying to accuse me of lord Jiao. Do you have evidence that I am behind it?" This statement left both Jiao Mingue and Jiao Bo speechless. "I thought so. If there is no evidence, then there is no criminal in here.". Shamelessness at its peak. But it also showcased Long Tao's ruthlessness. "How did you find the first step in this game, princess?'. " I am not sure how to reply sir Long. I would like to discuss our strategy for the offense."
Long Tao laughed out loud. "Let me show you, something princess." Long Tao took out a chessboard from the house. "have you ever played chess General. ". "I have". "Good, as you might be knowing, chess 's is much like a real war. In the beginning, the pieces which have the most value are guarded by the soldiers all around. But then its time to start the battle."
"Both sides try to place their pieces in a favorable position. Once the initial positioning is done, its time to start the real mind game. Someone has to take the offensive first. They must take the first step to gain an upper hand. Now that strategy works most of the time, as it disrupts with the plan of the other party" Long Tao took a soldier out with the rook" but what if the other party had a hidden ace, which deals a grand blow to counter this first move.". Long Tao took the rook out with the help of the horse" the other party's plan falls apart."
'now what most party would do is to regroup their pieces, so as to rebuild their formation, which provides some time for us to plan a few steps ahead of them. But the upper hand doesn't last. The enemy soon catches up. But our side does get some valuable time. Now they must strategize to win. The threshold here is the fact that how many hidden cards you have up your sleeve to act on. The one with a larger number of cards manages to win. "
The princess's eyes shone with bright light" So you are trying to take their cards out of the game itself. Hence, we don't lose the upper hand. I have to say it is a good move." Long Tao gave a mocking glance at the princess. "The enemy's cards are still hidden, and the number unknown. How do you suppose this would help us?". The princess's happiness didn't last. Even Jiao Bo was struck silent. "What do you suggest we do?'
"Well, the best strategy here is to try to create more cards in your hand. But the time is too little. Hence, we have two ways left. The first way is a total miracle out of nowhere, where another hidden ace deals a fatal blow to the enemy. The chances of that happening are very less. The other one is a more realistic one. We bait the enemy, into showing his hidden cards and when he advances multiple of its front soldiers into the battle, it leaves its defense in tatters."
"Now both the side thinks the same things, leaving another of their pillar defenseless in their overconfidence. That is the time when either of them can land a surprisingly uncertain attack, thus beginning the counter-extermination of their enemies. The only thing remaining is who is the one being exterminated in this case."
