Chapter 151: Chapter 150 - Opposing sides at the entrance of the tomb
A few days ago, after hearing the news of the tomb from the bandits, Aile confirmed movement of the White Clan from one of the spy's on Ferli. That proved the rumour that something was indeed happening in the location Aurelius mentioned. With the confirmation, Aile immediately brewed a risky plan. Using his underground presence, he sold the news of the tomb to the Royals and other influential parties.
This was to gain some sort of benefit initially because infiltrating a tomb, in White Clan's territory alone would be very unlikely. As he was relatively weak and sneaking under their noses was impossible. Thus the only way he could enter it is if a lot of other forces also appear there. The chaos will allow him to enter, a person without much of a background.
At worst case, the fight between royals and White Clan would intensify, making them pay less attention to him, and he had already earned from selling the information.
At best, the chaos would allow him to explore, giving him some ideas and a path to save Hazel, improve his runes, or even an idea on how to deal with the new problem of his soul.
Plus the news does seem to have spread to a degree, Aile was just making sure for enough people to be there to make his infiltration possible.
From Aile's calculations, the best time to get there was after three days. This way, most forces would have already reached, and he could take this opportunity to enter.
As the mountains turned greener and the energy became denser, Aile knew that they were heading in the right direction. The sects of the past would not settle for an area with a low concentration of energy. On the way, the smile on his face kept on getting broader. This was because he had noticed the presence of many groups heading for the tomb. With that, Aile guided the mounts to the nearest cave and hid them there. After marking the location and the landscape around the cave, Aile left with Hazel on foot towards the tomb. The mounts were not good at hiding their presence, and their hoofs hitting against the ground would only attract unnecessary attention.
Aile and Hazel had mastered the Traceless Technique to the first level, so far, so their cultivation was hidden. Aile had done it because anyone powerful would know that he is not even in the first level of his light element cultivation. They usually targeted such individuals to make them an example for everyone else. Hazel was too powerful, and her strength would bring unnecessary attention to them. As such, they both hid their cultivation making them mysterious. People tend to stay away or at least think twice about their action in front of such people being afraid that they might end up kicking a steel plate.
Hazel had hidden the little wolf, and soon they saw a lone mountain in the middle of the hills, giving off a unique feel to it. At its base was the gathering of many groups of people. On one side were people dressed in a similar uniform and neatly and were standing equally spaced apart, they were the White Clan's forces.
On the opposite side, was a large glob of people without any formation, dressed in a variety of ways, some hiding identities with masks, while the others not caring about such things. Smaller groups were formed by them clearly showing the lack of synergy and order. As Aile looked through the crowd, he did not see the royals yet, so he did not make a move and started to observe the mountain. Halfway through the mountain was a strange cave with a protective formation, and that seemed to be the entrance to the tomb. For some reason, no one had entered yet.
Aile observed the people again and noticed some dead bodies at the side. The people who got here quickly and first seemed to have been killed by the White Clan. After Aile's arrival, he rested with Hazel watching everything as they sat next to each other in the shade of a tree. While Hazel's head gently rested on his shoulder and they watched the tense atmosphere of the groups, the royal group arrived.
Contrary to a strong display of might they just observe from the sidelines waiting for something. This did disappoint Aile's expectation, and he was wondering what they were doing.
Not long after he figured out their plan with his sensitive ears. It seems they were in the group sent by the royals from Port Kiar. There was another group that they were waiting for, and together they will come out with a more powerful presence.
It did not take long for the other group of royals to arrive displaying their might with heavy mounts.
The rhythmic sound of the hoofs against the ground, along with the little tremors they generated by their big and powerful mounts brought an overbearing presence and made a memorable entrance.
Although having another powerful presence brought a deep frown on the White Clan's side, it did not earn the smile of solo cultivators and people of lower status. This is because the higher status people prefer to deal with their own kind, rather than swoop so low as to treat the common people equally.
As such, after their arrival, the commander of the royal side smiled at everyone and then talked with White Clan's side. To no one's surprise, after talking between each other and offering snide remarks against each other, the White Clan's side proposed, that they get rid of the rift rafts first. So that they could collect the loot together like the usual.
The tense atmosphere brought the hand of solo cultivators to their weapons. With their masks, they did not fear retaliation against them. After seeing the situation, the head of the royal side immediately announced that everyone will enter and those lucky and fortunate will be able to get the treasures they are destined with.
This was an unexpected response as the Royal and White Clan's side clearly had the advantage, yet no one objected to such a deal. Why worry about the unusual behaviour when it is to your advantage, the solo cultivators thought. While a smile rose on their faces, Aile shook his head in their short-sightedness.
Hazel, by his side, asked, "What is wrong, isn't that good for us?"
"No, the group of solo cultivators are currently of the same mind, if they fought now, they can create chaos. Like an army with a clear goal they can resist and fight, this will allow us to sneak in the Royal side or the White Clan's side, pretending to be one of the people injured or killed. If they are allowed inside, each person returning would have gained something, and they would be afraid of the people next to them, they become easy pickings. Once they are back the Royal side and the White Clan's side will easily take care of them."
The strategy was simple to send the sheep to graze and get fat, once they arrive from the grass fields, they will slaughter them and take everything.
With a righteous smile, the White Clan's elder proposed that they would allow the outside cultivators first for their heavy-handed response. Of course, what they did not tell everyone was that they will not be going inside and will be waiting outside. Every time someone exits, they would be dealt with, and their findings would be taken away.
Seeing how easy the mass was swayed Aile thought of an idea and whispered it to Hazel. With a swish, they disappeared, and without anyone noticing, they spread rumours between the cultivators.
"I can't believe that this is a technique inheritance tomb. We can get special techniques and knowledge of different masters from the past."
"Did you hear Master Xing's, a talisman master's tomb is here, and we as the first people have a better chance of inheriting their legacy? We will be rich and powerful, let's pray to the goddess of luck."
"What are you saying... Is that true? We will be teleported out of the tomb, and not have to worry about our things getting stolen after we get out. Are you sure?"
"What you are saying you heard that from your grandfather and he was once an outer disciple of the sect."
....
With the rumours spreading like wildfire among the cultivators of the lower class, the effect was soon felt among the group of White Clan and Royals side. Their groups had smirks on their faces before, for tricking the sheep into their slaughter.
However, now they felt betrayed. With many similar rumours coming out of the low-status cultivators claiming the unique inheritances, they were sure of the authenticity.
How could a bunch of sheep try to outsmart them?
After all, finding information about the secret of the sects is hard, especially if it is one that has ceased to exist.
The chance of certain people having information about it was high in the vast population.
As they have not investigated this place too much in fear that someone will leak the information, the claim became more believable.
They only realized now that their might be other treasures apart from physical ones and missing on such an opportunity would be a slap to their face.
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