At the heart of this strategy was the deliberate ceding of territory—not once, but twice. And this point troubled Duong Wanshan. Wouldn't such an act lead others—especially those at the higher echelons—to view him as weak and unworthy of trust?
To this, Daoist Yunyu offered a subtle smile.
"Lord, you are mistaking the true purpose of this war."
Duong Wanshan had been bestowed with a celestial treasure by an Immortal, gaining prestige and momentum over the other two. His threat level, accordingly, was far greater. On the surface, he appeared powerful and untouchable—but in truth, his situation was dangerously precarious.
This tactic of ceding land to gain aid was, in essence, a strategy of 'feigning weakness to confuse the enemy' (kỳ địch dĩ nhược).
Let others see Duong Wanshan as lacking the pride of a true monarch—cowardly before a great enemy, willing to cede land rather than fight to the death. Then, Daoist Yunyu posed a question:
