Rise of The Abandoned Husband Chapter 552 - 552 - The Fox's Gambit: Luring the Tiger, Raid

## Liam's Perspective

"This can't be opened by force?" I asked, tapping the ancient stone archway at the edge of Iceheart Lake.

Phoebe shook her head, her breath forming small clouds in the frigid air. "Generations have tried. The gap opens only during the Blood Moon, which won't occur for another seven months."

The stone arch looked ordinary, weathered by centuries of exposure. But I could feel the dormant power within, hinting at treasures beyond.

"Disappointing," I admitted. "But not unexpected."

We walked back toward the main compound of Jade Moon Villa, the morning sun casting long shadows across the freshly painted buildings. In just three days, our sect had grown considerably. New disciples arrived hourly, drawn by my reputation and our defiance against the Ascendant Saints Order.

"Your announcent in The Warrior's Scroll is working," Phoebe said. "We've already recruited over two hundred new disciples."

I nodded, but my mind was elsewhere. "Tell sothing, Phoebe. Have our scouts reported any unusual movent along the eastern roads?"

She frowned. "Nothing significant. Why?"

I stopped walking, turning to face her directly. "Because it's ti I told you the truth about that announcent."

Her brow furrowed. "What truth?"

"The announcent wasn't ant to recruit disciples," I said calmly. "It was bait."

"Bait?" Confusion flashed across her face, quickly followed by alarm. "You're trying to lure the Ascendant Saints Order here? Are you insane?"

I resud walking, forcing her to keep pace. "Not the entire Order. Just one man – Josiah Hale."

Phoebe's face paled. "The Supre Leader himself? That's suicide, Liam!"

"It's strategy," I corrected. "Josiah Hale is likely already on his way here, exactly as I planned."

We reached the main hall of Jade Moon Villa, where dozens of disciples practiced formation techniques under the guidance of senior mbers. I waited until we were in my private chamber before continuing.

"While Josiah races here to confront , his headquarters will be vulnerable," I explained, unrolling a map of the region. "And that's where I'll be."

Realization dawned in Phoebe's eyes. "You're planning to raid the Ascendant Saints Order while their leader is away."

"Precisely."

She sat heavily in a nearby chair. "That's either brilliant or suicidal. What exactly are you after?"

I marked a spot on the map – a secluded mountain valley deep in Ascendant Saints territory.

"Their Spiritual Spring," I said. "The source of their sect's power for centuries."

Phoebe's eyes widened. "The legends are true? It exists?" Thankyouforreading.Thiswasbroughttoyouby*.

"It exists," I confird. "And I intend to absorb its energy."

"Absorb—" She cut herself off, staring at in disbelief. "That's impossible. Such concentrated spiritual energy would tear your ridians apart."

I smiled thinly. "For most cultivators, yes. But I'm not most cultivators."

The truth was, I wasn't entirely certain my body could handle it either. But desperation drove . To rescue Isabelle, I needed power beyond what conventional cultivation could provide. The Spiritual Spring represented my best chance.

"Even if you succeed," Phoebe argued, "you'll make an eternal enemy of the entire Order."

"They're already my enemies," I countered. "They took Isabelle. Everything else is just details."

Phoebe studied my face, searching for doubt but finding none. "What do you need to do?"

"Evacuate the villa," I said. "Take our core mbers and retreat to the secondary location we established."

"You want us to abandon our new ho?" Protest filled her voice.

"Temporarily," I assured her. "Josiah Hale will arrive expecting to find . When he discovers I've tricked him, his rage will be... considerable."

Understanding crossed her features. "And anyone left here will bear the brunt of it."

"Exactly. I don't want innocent blood on my hands."

She stood, resolution hardening her expression. "When do we leave?"

"Today. Now." I rolled up the map. "My sources suggest Josiah is no more than a day's journey away."

Phoebe nodded. "I'll begin the evacuation imdiately."

"Good," I said. "Tell the disciples it's a training exercise if necessary. The fewer who know the truth, the better."

After she left, I gazed out my window at the bustling grounds of Jade Moon Villa. The sect I'd helped create would likely be reduced to rubble by this ti tomorrow. The thought brought no pleasure, but neither did it give pause.

In this war against the Ascendant Saints Order, sacrifices were inevitable.

---

Twilight shrouded the mountains surrounding the Ascendant Saints Order headquarters. I crouched on a ridge overlooking the massive compound, studying the patrols and defensive formations.

The journey here had been swift and silent, powered by my Dark Phantom technique. Now, as darkness fell, I prepared to infiltrate one of the most heavily guarded sects in the realm.

The compound sprawled across a valley floor, dozens of ornate buildings arranged in concentric rings around a central peak. Atop that peak stood the Grand Hall, where Josiah Hale normally resided. And beneath it, if my intelligence was correct, lay the Spiritual Spring.

Guards patrolled in groups of four, each team including at least one Grandmaster. Defensive formations humd with energy, creating a web of protection that would instantly alert the sect to intruders.

For most, such defenses would be impenetrable.

For , they were rely obstacles.

I withdrew a small jade bottle from my robe and drank its contents – a special concoction I'd prepared specifically for this mission. The alchemical mixture dampened my spiritual signature, making nearly undetectable to the formation arrays.

Then I moved, becoming shadow itself.

The first patrol never saw . I slipped between them like smoke, my footsteps silent on the stone path.

The second patrol ca closer to detecting . A hound accompanying them growled softly as I passed, but a quick pressure point touch sent the animal into a temporary sleep.

I reached the inner ring without incident, then paused in the shadow of a large storage building. Ahead lay the central peak, its sides too steep to climb without being exposed.

The main path was heavily guarded, of course. But my research had revealed another way – an underground passage used by servants to deliver supplies to the Grand Hall. Finding its entrance took only monts.

The tunnel was dimly lit and slled of damp earth. I moved quickly, encountering no one until I reached its end. A heavy wooden door blocked my path, voices audible on the other side.

"—still don't understand why Master Hale left so suddenly," said one voice.

"Didn't you hear? That Liam Knight bastard has shown his face again," replied another. "Established so new sect near Iceheart Lake, openly challenging the Order."

"Foolish. When Master Hale returns with his head, we'll display it as a warning to others."

I smiled in the darkness. My plan was working perfectly.

I waited until the voices moved away, then eased the door open. Beyond lay the kitchens of the Grand Hall, bustling with servants preparing the evening al. None noticed as I slipped through, using serving carts and columns for cover.

From there, I navigated deeper into the Grand Hall, avoiding disciples and elders through a combination of stealth and timing. My destination was the restricted area beneath the hall – the sacred ground where the Spiritual Spring bubbled forth.

The entrance was guarded, of course. Two Grandmaster cultivators stood before an ornate door covered in protective talismans. Their power was considerable, but not enough.

I approached openly, abandoning stealth. Both guards imdiately tensed, hands moving to their weapons.

"Halt! Identify yourself!"

I smiled. "Liam Knight."

Their eyes widened in recognition and fear, but before either could raise the alarm, I struck. My Dark Phantom Strike technique connected with the first guard's chest, rupturing his core directly. He collapsed without a sound.

The second guard managed to deflect my initial attack and shouted a warning. His sword flashed with blue energy as he slashed toward my throat.

Too slow.

I caught his wrist, twisting until bones cracked. As he gasped in pain, I delivered a precise strike to his temple, rendering him unconscious.

Alarms blared throughout the compound. My ti was now limited.

I examined the door, quickly identifying the five-elent formation locking it. Complex, but not impenetrable. I applied counter-talismans to each corner, disrupting the energy flow. The door shuddered and swung open.

Beyond lay a spiraling staircase descending into darkness.

I rushed down, taking steps three at a ti. The air grew warr, more humid, charged with spiritual energy. At the bottom, another door awaited – this one unguarded but sealed with even more powerful formations.

This would take longer to breach, and ti was running out.

I worked thodically, dismantling the protective arrays one by one. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I concentrated, ignoring the growing commotion above. Finally, the last seal broke, and the door swung inward.

The chamber beyond took my breath away.

In the center of a vast cavern, a spring bubbled up from the earth. But this was no ordinary water. It glowed with blinding white light, pulsing like a living heart. The air around it shimred with concentrated spiritual energy so dense it was almost visible.

The Spiritual Spring of the Ascendant Saints Order – the source of their power for generations.

I approached reverently. Even standing near it, I could feel my cultivation responding, my ridians widening to accommodate the influx of energy.

"Stop right there!"

I turned to find a middle-aged man in ornate robes standing in the doorway. His cultivation was impressive – late-stage Martial Master, bordering on Martial Marquis.

"Tobias Bacchus," I said, recognizing Josiah Hale's second-in-command. "I was wondering when you'd arrive."

"Liam Knight," he snarled. "Your audacity is breathtaking. You dare invade our sacred grounds?"

"I do more than dare," I replied calmly. "I succeed."

Fury contorted his features. "You've sealed your fate. Even if you sohow escape today, the Ascendant Saints Order will hunt you to the ends of the earth."

I laughed. "You were already doing that. Nothing changes."

"Nothing except your imminent death!" He lunged forward, palm strike crackling with golden energy.

I sidestepped easily, countering with a casual backhand that sent him crashing into the wall. Before he could recover, I was on him, my hand at his throat.

"Your master isn't here to save you," I said softly. "He's currently searching for elsewhere, exactly as I planned."

Fear flickered in Tobias's eyes. "You... you lured him away deliberately?"

"Of course. Did you think my announcent was a coincidence?"

I released him, stepping back. Tobias slumped against the wall, rubbing his throat.

"Now," I said, "we have two options. You can continue this futile fight and die, or you can listen to a proposition that might benefit us both."

Suspicion clouded his features. "What proposition?"

I gestured toward the Spiritual Spring. "I ca for that. I intend to absorb its energy."

"Impossible!" he scoffed. "The spring would destroy anyone who attempted such a thing. Even Master Hale only takes small portions over ti."

"My body is different," I said simply. "But that's not the proposition. Tell , Tobias, how long have you served as Josiah's second?"

"Twenty years," he answered cautiously.

"And in all that ti, has he ever indicated you might succeed him?"

A flash of bitterness crossed his face before he could hide it. "Master Hale will lead for centuries to co."

"Unless sothing happens to him," I suggested. "Unless soone more... capable... took his place."

Understanding dawned in his eyes. "You're offering to make sect leader?"

"If you cooperate," I confird. "Show how to properly access the spring, and keep my presence here quiet when Josiah returns."

Tobias stared at , calculation evident in his gaze. "And if I refuse?"

"Then you die here, and I figure it out myself," I said bluntly. "But I suspect you're too ambitious to pass up this opportunity."

Silence stretched between us as Tobias weighed his options. I waited patiently, confident in my assessnt of his character. n like him – hungry for power but perpetually overshadowed – were predictable.

Finally, he straightened his robes and stepped forward.

"The spring requires specific preparation," he said. "Without it, the energy will tear you apart from the inside."

I smiled. The fox had successfully lured away the tiger, and now the tiger's own den would provide the power I needed.

"Show ," I commanded.