The tallest tree in the forest is sure to be toppled by the wind.
Xu Qing knew this truth well; he had to gauge the situation carefully, using action, discretion, and concealment to ensure the three sects survived the calamities.
During this period, all strategies against the calamities could only be executed in the shadows under the guise of 'Xu Xuan'.
When Xu Xuan acts, the blame falls on Xu Xuan.
Apart from contingency strategies, Xu Qing had to silence the Kitchen God for another reason, which was to shift the blame for the San Tu River hitting the upper realms, causing the sky to be torn apart and the heavenly path to open, onto Kong Ren and the General.
The General and Kong Ren were, after all, part of the Nine Netherworlds Dharma Master's retinue. As long as his variables remained unknown to the masses, the Celestial Emperor and the Upper Realm Gods and Buddhas would inevitably focus on the Dharma Master.