roccoschili Chapter 212 — Before The First Move
Chapter 212 — Before The First Move
The Sanatan Flame Sect gradually quieted beneath the deep night sky.
The chaos of preparation had finally slowed after an exhausting day of planning, training, repairs, and endless discussions about the approaching war. Mountain winds drifted softly through the sect grounds while countless spirit lanterns glowed gently across the pathways connecting the halls and courtyards.
The orange sect banners fluttered peacefully beneath the moonlight.
Most disciples had already returned toward their quarters.
The male disciples occupied the western residential halls while the female disciples rested within the eastern courtyards near the spirit gardens. Warm lantern light spilled softly through wooden windows while distant conversations occasionally echoed through the quiet mountain atmosphere.
Not everyone slept yet.
Several disciples still wandered through the sect grounds casually.
Some sat along the rooftops eating snacks while discussing the upcoming conflict like spectators waiting for a tournament.
Others relaxed near the spirit pools beneath the trees.
A few disciples continued repairing damaged stone platforms while complaining dramatically about Wang Tian’s existence.
Near one of the outer courtyards, Xiao Rui sat upside down on a stone railing while eating roasted sweet potatoes beside Sheng Lu.
"...Hypothetically speaking."
Lee Bie didn’t even look at him anymore.
"That sentence always leads to problems."
Xiao Rui pointed toward the sky thoughtfully.
"If Master defeats the entire army without us fighting..."
A brief pause followed.
"...do we still get battlefield achievements?"
Lee Bie stared silently for several seconds.
"You are worried about achievement points during a potential war."
"That’s because rewards are important."
"...Your priorities genuinely terrify me."
Further away, Wang Tian and Luo Chen sat on the rooftop of the Male Disciples Quater beneath the moonlight while spirit watermelon rested between them.
Both looked unusually quiet tonight.
For almost ten full seconds.
Then—
Wang Tian grinned.
"I bet Master already has something insane planned."
Luo Chen leaned back lazily against the roof tiles.
"That’s obvious."
"He looked way too calm earlier."
A dangerous excitement flickered faintly inside Wang Tian’s purple eyes.
"I hope it causes emotional damage."
Luo Chen immediately nodded.
"Same."
The mountain winds drifted softly across the sect.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
Yet beneath that calm atmosphere—
The entire Sanatan Flame Sect moved like a sleeping beast preparing for war.
And at the highest point of the mountain...
Inside the enormous Main Hall...
One figure remained awake.
The massive Main Hall stood beneath the quiet glow of spirit flames attached along the towering jade pillars surrounding the chamber. Soft golden light illuminated the polished white jade marble floor while moonlight poured through the high open windows above, casting long silver reflections beneath the orange-and-gold sect banners hanging across the vast hall.
The hall was silent.
Completely silent.
At the very center—
Shaurya sat upon the Silver throne calmly with one leg resting over the other while his elbow leaned against the armrest, supporting his cheek lazily.
Golden spiritual energy flickered faintly around him like drifting embers.
No dramatic pressure.
No overwhelming aura.
Only thought.
For once—
The usually chaotic sect master looked genuinely focused.
Several floating spiritual maps hovered before him above the center floor, displaying the western plains surrounding the Azure Dragon Capital alongside countless glowing points representing villages, roads, rivers, forests, and nearby territories.
And far beyond them—
A slowly advancing crimson mark.
Liu Tong’s army.
Shaurya quietly stared at it.
Thinking.
Calculating.
The hall remained silent for several long moments.
Then suddenly—
A familiar golden window appeared before him.
[Host.]
Shaurya didn’t even blink.
"...You’re awake."
[I am a System.]
[Not a sleepy village uncle.]
Shaurya nodded thoughtfully.
"Fair point."
The floating panel flickered once.
[You’ve been staring at the same map for thirty-seven minutes.]
[A historical record.]
Shaurya looked personally offended.
"I’m planning."
[You look like a depressed emperor reconsidering taxes.]
"...That’s disrespectful."
[It’s accurate.]
Shaurya leaned slightly deeper into the throne while staring at the floating map again.
"Do you know how troublesome this situation is?"
[You say that every arc.]
"And every arc I’m right."
The system window flickered.
[Technically true.]
A brief silence followed.
Then the System spoke again.
[So.]
[What exactly is going on inside your brain right now?]
Shaurya sighed softly before lifting one hand toward the floating map.
The western plains expanded instantly into a larger projection.
"Simple."
His golden eyes narrowed faintly.
"If I fight Liu Tong directly..."
Several glowing pathways appeared across the plains.
"...the battlefield spreads."
Spirit marks illuminated villages surrounding the capital region one after another.
"Shockwaves."
"Army movement."
"Spiritual techniques."
"Formation collapse."
His voice remained calm.
"The capital survives barely."
A brief pause followed.
"But the surrounding plains won’t."
The floating villages remained glowing beneath the map projection.
"And even if we evacuate..."
Shaurya slowly shook his head.
"It won’t be enough."
The system remained silent while listening.
Shaurya continued quietly:
"Too many civilians."
"Too much land."
"Too little time."
Then his eyes sharpened slightly.
"And the moment the Righteous Alliance sees large-scale destruction..."
Golden spiritual energy flickered around the throne.
"...they’ll use it as justification."
The system panel dimmed thoughtfully.
[So you want to avoid war entirely.]
Shaurya smiled faintly.
"No."
The system paused.
[...No?]
"I want to win before the war begins."
Silence.
Then the system window flashed brightly.
[Oh no.]
Shaurya blinked once.
"What do you mean ’oh no’?"
[That sentence never leads anywhere healthy.]
Shaurya looked genuinely confused.
"I’m literally trying to save civilians."
[Host.]
The panel flickered harder.
[Every time you say something morally righteous...]
[A catastrophe happens immediately afterward.]
"That’s slander."
[That’s historical documentation.]
Shaurya ignored the insult completely.
Then slowly—
A grin appeared on his face.
Sharp.
Dangerously calm.
"I just need..."
Golden spiritual energy slowly curled around his fingers.
"...to make sure Liu Tong’s army destroys itself first."
The system became silent.
Completely silent.
Then finally—
[Why do I suddenly feel nervous?]
Shaurya leaned back against the throne comfortably.
"Because you’re finally understanding how beautiful my plan is going to be."
The system window flickered twice.
[...I miss when you solved problems by punching people.]
Shaurya smiled peacefully beneath the golden spirit flames illuminating the throne hall.
"Oh, I’ll still punch people eventually."
A brief pause followed.
"But this time..."
His golden eyes glowed faintly within the darkness.
"...I’m going to think first."
The system window flickered quietly before Shaurya’s throne while countless spiritual maps still floated across the enormous Main Hall.
Golden light reflected faintly across the polished white jade marble floor while the mountain winds drifted softly through the open windows above.
For several seconds—
The system remained silent.
Then finally—
[So.]
[What exactly is your plan?]
Shaurya leaned lazily against the throne before stretching both arms upward with a tired sigh.
"Oh, it’s very simple."
The system immediately became suspicious.
[Then tell me.]
Shaurya suddenly laughed.
Confidently.
Like a supreme strategist who had already calculated every possible future outcome.
The system window stared at him silently for several long seconds.
Then—
[Host.]
Shaurya continued laughing.
[You don’t actually have a plan yet.]
The laughter stopped instantly.
Dead silence filled the Main Hall.
Shaurya slowly lowered his arms.
Then his face fell completely.
"...No."
A brief pause followed.
"...I don’t."
The system window flashed brightly.
Then—
Three laughing emojis appeared one after another.
[HAHAHAHA.]
[YOU WERE ACTING COOL FOR NO REASON.]
[YOU WERE FARMING AURA WITHOUT A PLAN AGAIN.]
Shaurya immediately looked offended.
"That is slander."
[You literally said ’I’ll think about it during the week.’]
"That was tactical confidence."
[That was improvised stupidity.]
Shaurya pointed dramatically toward the system window.
"You lack vision."
[And you lack preparation.]
"I have instinct."
[You have gambling addiction disguised as confidence.]
Shaurya narrowed his eyes.
"You’re getting disrespectful lately."
[Because your behavior keeps evolving negatively.]
"That sounds fake."
[Unfortunately it’s documented.]
Shaurya stood up from the throne immediately.
"Oh really?"
Golden spiritual energy flickered faintly around him.
"Say that again."
The system window instantly moved backward through the air.
[Host calm down.]
"YOU MOCKED MY STRATEGIC MIND."
[YOU ADMITTED YOU HAD NO STRATEGY.]
"I HAD THE IDEA OF A STRATEGY."
[THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING.]
The floating window continued retreating while Shaurya walked down the throne stairs looking personally attacked.
"You know what?"
He pointed accusingly toward the system.
"You’ve changed."
[Living with you damaged my emotional stability.]
"That sounds like a personal issue."
[YOU are the personal issue.]
Silence filled the Main Hall afterward.
Then—
Shaurya slowly returned toward the throne before dropping heavily into the seat again with an exhausted sigh.
"...Fine."
He leaned forward slightly while resting his chin against one hand.
"I’ll think properly now."
[Finally.]
The system window floated nearby cautiously.
Shaurya narrowed his golden eyes slightly while staring toward the massive spiritual map projection floating before him.
Liu Tong’s army.
The plains.
The capital.
The sects accompanying him.
Everything remained suspended before him like pieces across a giant chessboard.
The Main Hall gradually became quiet again.
Shaurya rested both elbows against his knees while scratching the side of his head thoughtfully.
"...Direct battle causes destruction."
"Assassination is annoying."
"Ambush won’t stop the army."
His fingers tapped lightly against the throne armrest.
"And if Liu Tong dies immediately..."
A brief pause followed.
"...the Righteous Alliance sends someone worse."
The system listened silently while Shaurya continued staring toward the massive spiritual map floating before the throne.
Then suddenly—
Shaurya froze.
His golden eyes widened slightly.
"...Wait."
The system window blinked once.
[What?]
Slowly, Shaurya lifted his head.
And then—
A grin spread across his face.
Not chaotic.
Not arrogant.
Dangerous.
The kind of smile that immediately made the system feel uneasy.
[...Why are you smiling like that?]
Shaurya’s fingers tapped lightly against the throne armrest before a low laugh escaped him.
Soft at first.
Then gradually louder.
"Oh..."
He leaned back slightly while staring toward the glowing map projection.
"...this is evil."
The system window flickered violently.
[HOST?]
Shaurya covered part of his face with one hand, still laughing under his breath.
"No no no..."
He leaned back against the throne while grinning like a man who had just discovered forbidden knowledge.
"This will absolutely work."
The system window flickered nervously.
[I suddenly dislike this conversation.]
Shaurya immediately opened the system inventory.
Hundreds of glowing items appeared before him in floating golden windows while categories rapidly shifted through weapons, formations, treasures, medicinal herbs, talismans, spiritual arts, and forbidden consumables.
Then Shaurya spoke calmly:
"Search poison-type items."
The system froze.
[Excuse me?]
"I need poison."
[WHY DO YOU NEED POISON?!]
Shaurya looked genuinely confused.
"For poisoning."
The system window shook violently.
[I KNOW THAT.]
[WHY ARE WE POISONING PEOPLE NOW?!]
Shaurya leaned lazily against the throne again while scrolling through the inventory casually.
"Because mass warfare is inefficient."
The system became silent for two full seconds.
Then—
[...That somehow sounded reasonable.]
"Exactly."
The inventory continued shifting rapidly before finally stopping at a dark crimson item page.
A small black bottle appeared within the projection surrounded by warning symbols.
[Soul Dissolution Powder]
[Grade: Emperor Grade ]
[Effect: Instantly kills Cultivators below Nascent Soul Realm]
[Detection Difficulty: Extremely High]
[Activation Delay: Approximately twenty minutes after ingestion.]
[Price: 1000 Dharma Points]
The system window floated nearby nervously.
[...Host.]
Shaurya read the description carefully.
Then slowly smiled.
"Yes."
A dangerous excitement flickered faintly within his golden eyes.
"This is perfect."
[THIS IS NOT PERFECT.]
Shaurya ignored the system completely.
"Instant death."
"Delayed activation."
"Undetectable."
He nodded approvingly.
"Beautiful craftsmanship."
[YOU SOUND WAY TOO IMPRESSED.]
Without hesitation—
Shaurya pressed purchase.
DING.
[-1000 Dharma Points]
The black bottle materialized instantly within his palm.
A faint dark mist swirled quietly inside the transparent container.
The system immediately spoke again.
[Host.]
[This poison only affects cultivators below Nascent Soul.]
[Liu Tong is above the Spirit Lord Realm.]
[How exactly are you planning to use this?]
Shaurya casually stood up from the throne before walking down the jade stairs slowly.
Moonlight reflected across the white marble floor beneath his feet while he lazily tossed the poison bottle upward once before storing it inside his Storage Ring.
Then he stretched his shoulders comfortably.
"I’ll think about that tomorrow."
The system froze.
Complete silence filled the hall.
Then—
[You bought a Emperor Rank assassination poison...]
[WITHOUT KNOWING HOW TO USE IT YET?!]
Shaurya yawned tiredly while walking toward the exit of the Main Hall.
"It’s called trusting the process."
[IT’S CALLED MENTAL INSTABILITY.]
Shaurya waved one hand lazily without even turning around.
"Goodnight."
The system window flickered violently.
[HOST.]
[HOST COME BACK.]
[YOU CANNOT SLEEP AFTER SAYING SOMETHING THIS CONCERNING.]
But Shaurya had already left inside his room and shut the door.
Leaving only the floating system window behind.
Speechless.
Again.
And somewhere far beyond the western plains—
Liu Tong’s army continued marching toward a war whose outcome had already begun changing beneath the quiet moonlight.
To Be Continued...