Chapter Sixty-Two: The Strategy of Bait

“Brother Jiang, did I hear you right? You mean, the three of us stay behind, while you face the assassin alone? What kind of nonsense is that!” Wang Bixuan frowned, clearly disagreeing with Jiang An’s plan. “The safest approach is for all four grandmasters to remain in the city. China is a powerful nation, and other forces wouldn’t dare make a move in the open. In a bustling urban area, they’d be greatly restricted. If we make it through a month safely, your bounty will be like those at the top of the kill list—just sitting there for years. As long as you stay cautious afterwards, there shouldn’t be much trouble.”

“Master Wang’s words are prudent, but I must disagree. To guard against thieves every day is far too cowardly. Rather than passive defense, it’s best to go on the offensive, wipe out any enemies who dare approach. If they reach for you, break their claws; that’s what will make them fear you, keep them from acting recklessly. That is my way,” Jiang An replied with a chuckle, but his words cut like blades, brimming with killing intent.

“You say so, but it’s too difficult to execute.” Wang Bixuan smiled bitterly. “The enemy is in the shadows; we’re out in the open. They won’t attack us head-on as we wish, and we don’t even know who they are or where they’re hiding. How can we strike first? If we fall for a diversion, it could be disastrous.”

“That’s why we must create the opportunity for them!” Jiang An declared confidently. “You three will hold the fort here, and I can request soldiers and weapons from the military district to encircle this place. It may not be impregnable, but the enemy won’t dare attack recklessly. Meanwhile, every night, I’ll go alone to some deserted place. For the first few days, they’ll suspect a trap—like clever fish wary of bait, afraid of the hook. But what if they realize there is no hook? Then they won’t be able to resist showing themselves and taking the bait!”

“The crucial point is, if there’s no hook, the bait itself must be poisonous enough to kill the fish! Otherwise, if the bait is easily devoured and disappears beneath the water, that’s the worst scenario. Brother Jiang, can your bait withstand three big fish attacking at once?” Wang Bixuan pinpointed the key issue.

“Since I proposed this plan, I’m absolutely confident.”

“Brother, I know you have hidden cards. Frankly, I still haven’t seen through your true strength, but arrogance and carelessness are the worst enemies in a life-or-death battle. Even if you’re a master of the Yuan Gang realm, a lapse could be dangerous—let alone if you’re not. Granted, you’re gifted, skilled in both magic and martial arts, stronger than ordinary grandmasters. But what about Ou Xingkong? A martial grandmaster and a mind manipulator, and he still died at your hands. Caution is the best policy; surely you haven’t fully grasped this unchanging principle yet.”

Wang Bixuan spoke as he folded his arms, leaning back on the sofa, a hint of smugness in his smile. “For instance, if I wanted to harm you now, you wouldn’t be able to move!”

Everyone followed his gaze and saw that Jiang An’s feet had somehow turned to stone, fused with the floor as if he had grown out of it.

“Brother Jiang, I mean no harm,” Wang Bixuan stood, forming a seal with his hand and smiling. “I just want to show you: given enough time, a mage can ambush a martial grandmaster at close range. And there are many other extraordinary talents in the world. I’ll dispel the spell now; I hope you’ll reconsider.”

“No need, Brother Wang.”

Wang Bixuan’s face stiffened, a chill running down his spine. He slowly turned his head. Jiang An was standing calmly beside him, speaking lightly. Yet when Wang looked forward, there was still a Jiang An trapped by his “Earth Bind” spell!

The crowd stared dumbfounded at the two Jiang Ans. Suddenly, the one bound by earth emitted a blue light, then dissolved into a cool breeze, the spell dissipating on its own.

“Transformation technique! Impossible!” Wang Bixuan cried out. “When did you switch places? You didn’t form a seal or cast a spell! Are you from the ancient lineage of Qi cultivators?”

Jiang An walked over and sat down again where he had originally been. “Brother Wang, I can only say this: it seems most spell traditions these days have lost their heritage. Casting a single spell now requires the aid of talismans. Who says magic must always be performed with seals and incantations?”

Indeed, Jiang An found it utterly tragic. From what he’d seen of Wang Bixuan’s battles at headquarters—fire serpent, quicksand, giant stone, and today’s earth bind—all required talismans to be cast. While this greatly sped up spellcasting, it was putting the cart before the horse. In true cultivation, talismans are only auxiliary tools, a minor path. Low-level cultivators may need to use seals and incantations, but with deeper cultivation and understanding, spells form “spell guides”—also known as “Dao marks”—directly imprinted on the soul. Then casting a spell requires only a single thought, swift beyond compare.

Yet the magical arts on Earth, despite some unique flavors in their talismans, have become so dependent on them that practitioners’ skills have grown rusty. It’s like someone who uses a calculator for every calculation: the more they rely on it, the lazier their mind becomes, until they won’t even do simple addition in their head but instinctively reach for the machine.

“But isn’t that how the spell world works? Even the Onmyoji in Japan use tools and mantras. Can you really cast spells instantly out of thin air?” Wang Bixuan, his understanding shaken, pressed the question.

Jiang An pondered for a moment. “That’s a long story. Once this crisis is over, I’ll discuss it with you in detail.”

“Very well, it’s a promise!” Wang Bixuan rubbed his hands, full of anticipation. “You’ll be heading to the capital headquarters then. I’m sure the higher-ups will want to meet you!”

“So, Brother Wang, you agree to my tactics?”

“I tried to stump you and you turned the tables on me. How could I doubt your strength? It’s true, mages aren’t suited for close combat. If we were enemies, I’d have been in danger just now—watching your transformation, but letting your real body approach. Brother, with this move, other mages should beware,” Wang Bixuan said, still a bit shaken.

Jiang An only shook his head. Beside him, Ouyang Shi remarked, “You’re just too close to the situation. That transformation was empty—its aura wouldn’t fool anyone. In a real battlefield, with all kinds of killing intent and energy, it’s hard to deceive the enemy. Still, with surprise, it can be very useful.”

“As Master Ouyang said,” Jiang An agreed. “Just like martial grandmasters can shift positions, but rarely use it in battle. First, because everyone can do it, opponents lock onto your energy during combat, so there’s little point. Second, shifting places strains the body. In a duel where victory is decided by fractions, who dares waste energy on such techniques? At most, it’s used to dodge a lethal strike.”

In other words, shifting positions may look impressive, but it’s not very practical—mainly a flashy trick for short distances. Of course, if one goes further, it can become a common tool in combat.

The three discussed the details of luring the enemy and shared their insights on cultivation and fighting. The ones who benefited most were Dao Mo and Cheng Yang; this was the wisdom of veteran grandmasters, invaluable for their future growth.

The conversation flowed, listeners engrossed, and before they knew it, the afternoon had passed. Such discussions were common for Jiang An in the immortal realm, often lasting days, nights, or even a month.

Afterwards, Jiang An arranged a banquet for the two grandmasters, introducing Song Wanshuang and Jiang Xixi to them. Xixi, lively and exquisite, won everyone’s affection.

When the banquet ended, everyone enjoyed some tea together before retiring to rest.

But Jiang An still had much to do.

For instance, he needed to set up a warning and defensive array around the house, refine some pills, and most importantly, enhance his temporary combat strength.

A week soon passed, and the problem Jiang An dreaded occurred. Despite his strenuous efforts, the hundreds of spirit stones he’d obtained from headquarters were now gone.

At last, the fish were about to bite.