Chapter 1610 IF Scenario: What if Shen Tang woke up earlier (Twenty-Four)

This matter is a bit complicated to explain.

In short, it's related to Shen Tang.

When Shen Tang saw Wei Lou, who had disappeared for seven or eight days, suddenly emerge from some hidden corner, she felt as if the folds of her brain had been instantly flattened: "You mean... this group of people who came to attack are all here for me? They want... to take revenge on me?"

Wei Lou nodded: "Yes."

Shen Tang couldn't sit still. She stood up abruptly and paced back and forth, clearly anxious: "They want revenge on me? I don't even know them. We have no past grudges or recent conflicts. Why would they travel all this way to attack me? Did I sleep with their father or kill their mother, or steal their wives and pimp for them?"

She covered her face with her fingers, forcing herself to calm down.

The more critical the moment, the more calmly you must handle the problem and not be emotional. It took me a while to calm down: "There's always a reason."

Wei Lou corrected Shen Tang: "The wise ruler said 'there was no grudge in the past and no enmity in the present' which is wrong. You have enmity with them, and it is a blood feud."

Shen Tang blinked: "Am I a serial killer?"

He then turned to Ji Mo Cong for confirmation: "I have amnesia?"

Was she not just an unlucky soul who died from overwork due to pressure to finish her manuscript? Or was the original owner of this body a notorious troublemaker who committed heinous crimes, made countless enemies, and was beaten into a vegetative state after going too far? And that's why Shen Tang transmigrated into this body?

"Your Highness loves all living beings, how could you be a murderer?"

Ji Mo Cong's gentle response dispelled her wild speculations.

Shen Tang shifted her gaze back to Wei Lou's face, her expression slightly provocative, while secretly gritting her teeth—she shouldn't have believed this old man's nonsense, almost being led astray by him: "Did you hear that?"

Wei Lou said, "Why doesn't Your Majesty let me finish speaking?"

Shen Tang: "..."

Wei Lou then threw out an unfamiliar term, which struck the ears of the high priests, including Mo Cong, like a thunderbolt: "There is a term that the wise ruler may not have heard of, but the wise ruler may have heard of it—the Assembly of the Gods. The source of this external threat lies here."

Shen Tang: "The Assembly of the Gods?"

Wei Lou explained to her in detail: "Yes, the Gods' Society. On the surface, the Gods' Society is just a small, informal society. Its members are mainly divided into inner and outer societies. The outer society mainly consists of kings, nobles, generals, and ministers from various regions. Members are recruited through recommendations, attracting talented scholars and warriors, and exchanging information. Over time, this forms a vast network of connections, providing more opportunities for advancement. Many famous ministers and generals are basically members of this society. For all these reasons, the Gods' Society is a sacred place in the hearts of many. However, this place is not a paradise; on the contrary, it has an extremely strict hierarchical division."

"A strict hierarchy?"

Wei Lou took out a piece of cloth and opened it.

The pattern on it made Shen Tang's pupils move: "What is this?"

Wei Lou pointed to one of the large character patterns: "As long as you join the Gods' Guild, you can obtain the lowest level member's badge. This is a level two member... This one represents a level three member..."

The identifier for a Level 1 member is a "large".

The identifier for a second-level member is two large "big" characters.

The third level of members consists of three "big" characters arranged in a circle.

Shen Tang was completely numb: "Are you... sure?"

What kind of good person would carry such a sinister symbol?

She hoped Wei Lou had made a mistake, but the calm reactions of Ji Mo Cong and the others were a silent rebuttal. Wei Lou hadn't made a mistake; this was the information circulating within the Gods' Guild. Shen Tang swallowed the thousand words in her heart and steered the conversation back to the Gods' Guild: "What have I done to the Gods' Guild?"

This "Gods' Association" sounds like a rather closed-off version of 58.com.

A talent recruitment platform.

Shen Tang racked her brains but couldn't understand what kind of grudge she could have with such a grassroots organization that would warrant them mobilizing resources and tens of thousands of people to attack her: "Even the hatred of wiping out an entire family is no more than this."

A smile flashed in Wei Cheng's eyes: "It's the hatred of wiping out your entire family."

Shen Tang: "..."

Is it too late for her to confess that she is not the original owner of the body and that the massacre of her family was done by the original owner and has nothing to do with her?

The high priests exchanged glances.

Ji Mo Cong sighed, "If only I had known this day would come."

Chen Mengguren Tang: "..."

This matter is quite complicated.

Thanks to their ancestors who loved keeping diaries, the clan has preserved the historical records to a great extent. The information in these records, pieced together from various sources, can roughly explain the ins and outs. There's no time to look through them now, so Ji Mo Cong extracted the key information and gave Shen Tang a general overview. The first piece of news she dropped was quite bombshell: the Pantheon was allied with the Gongxi clan thousands of years ago.

To be precise, they were all survivors of the Great Cataclysm.

"A cataclysmic event? A worldwide flood?"

Ji Mo Cong: "It's much more terrifying than that."

Legend has it that this cataclysm claimed seven or eight billion lives, leaving only a fraction of all plant and animal species alive. Those who survived were mutated by the corrupting influence of the mortal realm. A vast and glorious civilization was destroyed in an instant, and the surviving remnants hid in a secluded paradise, where the immense pressure of survival caused their civilization to steadily decline. Fortunately, they survived, enduring the most polluted period of the world.

Because of resources, Taoyuan also has internal strife.

Some people left, while others stayed to persevere. Those who went out settled down and multiplied, and the land that had been silent for many years gradually came back to life.

When faced with survival pressures, people only think about how to unite and survive. But when those pressures subside, there are many more things to consider. Some people are using certain "legacy" left over from the previous civilization to attempt to manipulate the world from behind the scenes.

These people were the original elders of the Pantheon.

To satisfy their greed, they betrayed God.

Everything comes at a price. So while they gained what they desired, they were forever imprisoned in the dark, sunless underground city. No matter how much wealth and glory they possessed, they could only gnaw at it like rats in a corner unknown to anyone. Perhaps spending so much time underground truly corrupts; these people became utterly twisted. Extremely proud, arrogant, and conceited, they secretly stirred up trouble, fanning the flames everywhere, preventing the people on the surface from ever uniting. Any outstanding force would be quietly eliminated by them.

The division of the world is what benefits them the most.

The Gongxi clan had previously entered the world.

But that time they almost suffered a total defeat.

Behind this, the Pantheon must have played a significant role in its instigation.

Since then, the Gongxi clan has remained steadfast in their seclusion until Shen Tang awakens, at which point Ji Mo Cong knows the time is ripe.

Shen Tang was stunned.

"Am I that capable?"

Ji Mo Cong: "...Because Your Highness's awakening means their end is near. This is both an opportunity and a death knell for the Gongxi clan. The Gongxi clan members are mostly long-lived, thanks to divine favor and protection. People like Lord Wei can live long lives because of their literary talent and martial prowess. Their longevity depends on Your Highness's 'divine blood' from back then. The clan's records on this part are not detailed, only vaguely mentioning that 'Your Highness' was once a prisoner, and your 'divine blood' should have been lost at that time... Perhaps the 'divine blood' was not given willingly, or perhaps they abused the 'divine blood,' defiling its purity. While they enjoy the benefits, they also suffer the backlash."

The moment Shen Tang awoke, the scattered "divine blood" sensed its master's presence and erupted in agitation. Anyone who had used the "divine blood" and contaminated it would die in the most agonizing torment.

Upon hearing this, Shen Tang finally understood.

No wonder Wei Lou said she had a blood feud with the gods that could wipe out her entire family.

So it turns out she opened her eyes and wiped out all the high-ranking officials in one fell swoop.

"...So, the reason those people from the Pantheon didn't cause me trouble immediately is because I was lucky." Shen Tang was about to lighten the mood with a joke when her lips froze. "Wait, how did they know I was here? Was there a traitor?"

Wei Lou scoffed: "Why would we need any traitors?"

If there had been an inside traitor, she would have been sold out long ago.

How could she have established herself in the four prefectures within six months?

Shen Tang asked in confusion, "Not a traitor? Then what could it be?"

"Didn't Congjun say that their ancestors and the Gongxi clan came from the same place? How could they not know of each other's existence? As soon as they discovered that their bodies had become woody and decaying, they would know that Xianjun had awakened. The Gongxi clan also came out in full force with Xianjun, and who knows how many storms they have stirred up in the past six months while hiding their identities?"

Who in this area doesn't know Shen Tang, the rich and powerful prodigy? No matter how much they've seen, they never imagined that one day someone could create such a large territory simply by throwing money at others.

Shen Tang: "..."

She put her hand to her forehead: "The high priest didn't tell me."

If she had known about this old case earlier, she would have toned down her arrogance long ago, at least making the Gongxi clan change their surnames when they were out in the world, so they wouldn't act so eccentrically.

"Never mind, there's no going back."

For now, we can only take it one step at a time.

Instead of shifting blame, we should think about how to resolve the crisis.

Wei Lou had an idea: "A decapitation strike."

Shen Tang: "...Just go for it?"

Wei Lou said matter-of-factly, "If we don't take advantage of the fact that they don't have any tacit understanding and are just a motley crew, do we have to wait for them to choose a leader and unite them?"

Shen Tang: "..."

Striking when someone is still unsettled is indeed the most cost-effective way to intimidate them psychologically!

When Wei Lou said that, she also thought of a wicked plan.

"They've come from afar, do they have a lot of provisions?"

Wei Lou had already investigated these matters thoroughly: "The remaining members of the Gods Society, using the secret agents they had laid in the secular world years ago, pieced together an allied army. Their provisions were tacitly supported by several countries along the way, and as a result, it amounted to a considerable sum of aid."

There must be plenty of food supplies.

Shen Tang said, "That makes things easier."

She clapped her hands: "It's settled then. I'll first launch a decapitation strike to demoralize them, then send people to destroy their supplies and poison the groundwater near their camp. I don't believe I can't torment these bastards to death!"

Ji Mo Cong said, "There's no need to go to so much trouble."

They can also spread plagues.

For example, she could feign negotiations and seek peace with them, then send them laced gifts, allowing these gifts to quietly develop within the enemy camp, eventually turning it into a massive worm nest! If the worms don't work, she also has some strains of the original virus in her collection, which are also useful.

Shen Tang: "..."

Wei Lou: "..."

Ji Mo Cong thought they were worried that the Gu calamity would get out of control, and laughed, "We are all here, we can control it."

I'm fairly confident about that.

Gong Xiyu, who had been listening in, said, "If we trigger a large-scale Gu calamity, it will likely cause fear among the people, which would be detrimental to His Highness's future rule over the four directions. High Priest, it would be better to act more discreetly."

Shen Tang and Wei Lou both looked at him at the same time.

Gong Xiyu said calmly, "I remember there is a kind of Gu worm that can burrow into the spiritual platform and sea of ​​consciousness. We can make good use of it. After they choose their leader, we can find an opportunity to use the Gu worm to control him. With the help of both inside and outside, we can gradually swallow up this allied army and strengthen ourselves."

The leader is chosen by everyone together, so he can't be a traitor, and people will naturally trust the leader's judgment.

Looking further ahead, there could be further actions.

For example, after annexing and gradually eroding the Allied forces, they could drive the remaining Allied troops to seek help, and the Allies would follow behind. These remnants would seek help from one city, and the Allies would cooperate from within and without to open the city gates and destroy that city! Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Shen Tang: "..."

I never expected Gong Xiyu to be so cunning at such a young age.

You can't judge a book by its cover, and you can't underestimate a cunning person.

Wei Lou: "After all, it's a heretical method and shouldn't be used indiscriminately."

He was rather resistant to this kind of power.

Gongxi Yu disliked hearing this: "Wei Jun's words are unpleasant to hear. What do you mean by 'heretical practices'? You're insulting our entire clan. Gu worms are something that the Gongxi clan can't live without in their daily lives. How can you call it heretical practices?"

Gong Xiyu, who has not yet been beaten down by life, has sharp edges and corners.

Ji Mo Cong smiled and said, "Unorthodox methods?"

Wei Lou's expression turned somewhat unnatural: "This object is too mysterious and unfamiliar to the world, and its function is in such a situation, it is inevitable that it will arouse people's resistance. If it is maliciously slandered by those with ulterior motives in the future, how will you stand if they have the strength and influence?"

Use what the world considers the right path, and do so as much as possible.

The Gongxi tribe has now established a good reputation; locals say they can bring life to all things and ensure a food supply. As long as the Gongxi tribe is associated with the label of "giving people enough to eat," it's impossible for the world not to accept them.

There's no need to take a risky gamble that could destroy our own defenses.

Wei Lou said, "The wise ruler's suggestion is quite good."

The world's prevailing attitude is to admire the strong.

Using force to suppress is far more commendable than using intrigue and trickery.

When she displays absolute power, all those who slander her and belittle her will kneel at her feet in submission. Such is the way of the world: either the East Wind prevails over the West Wind, or the West Wind prevails over the East Wind; it all depends on who is stronger. And today, she is the wise ruler of the world.

Shen Tang: "Then it's settled."

Even a rank 20 Marquis was a rare breed at this time. The world's Word Spirit Army formations were still in their most rudimentary form, and their ability to stop Shen Tang, who was using a dimensional attack, was minimal. The three armies could only watch helplessly as a streak of light moved through the formation as if it were empty.

First to charge, first to break through enemy lines, first to kill enemy generals, first to seize the flag!

When Shen Tang took down the enemy alliance leader's head, wielding his banner and sweeping across a vast area, the enemy finally woke up from their daze.

"It's her! Capture her!"

|ω`)

Thinking about the synopsis for this new book is driving me crazy.

We are seeking talented individuals.

Due to the business development needs of this dynasty

We are currently recruiting for the following positions:

The elderly, the infirm, the disabled, pregnant women, and those who cheat, swindle, or steal.

The number of these positions varies; the more the better.

Salary negotiable, excellent benefits offered.

Our sole goal is to go public and become the world's number one dynasty!

Those interested, please contact Ms. Zhang, who lives outside the town of XX County, XX Prefecture, XX Country, and has only one head.

Contact information: onethree, onethree, oneonethree.

———————

Zhang Yang, an NPC who unexpectedly awakened his self-awareness, disguised himself as a human player for over a decade, enduring terrifying inflation and working like a slave for more than ten years before finally buying a piece of wasteland.

They happily took the land deed to the official registration office, only to be caught in a server crash.

Open your eyes again—

Good news, the land title deed is still valid.

Bad news, the wasteland is full of red-named players.

The worst news is that she now only has her head left; her body remains buried in the ground.

Zhang Yang: "...Damn it!"

———————

Name: Zhang Yang

[Ultimate Mission]: Don't let humans discover you're not human!

(End of this chapter)