Chapter 1025: Discovered Background (Part 2)

Wang Xingyi slowly said, "We surmise that perhaps they felt the Star-Picking Tower was no longer safe, so they found another place to hide the treasure, or perhaps it's because Zuju hasn't returned it."

This is very strange. Since the Heavenly Palace and Zuju have reconciled, shouldn't they have demanded the treasure back?

Fang Canran's mind raced.

No matter how the Heavenly Palace tried to conceal the news of the Star-Picking Tower being raided, it would surely not escape the notice of Spirit Mountain in the end.

He thought for a moment and said, "Zuju most likely hid it beneath the earth's fire, using it as leverage against the Heavenly Palace. Otherwise, how could the Heavenly Palace let it go after the Fire Spirit caused such a huge commotion?"

Wang Xingyi looked at Fang Canran and asked, "You've been in contact with Zuju and conspired with He Xiao. Do you know where the lost treasure is?"

Fang Canran replied sheepishly, "I left Lingxu City that very night and had no further contact with Zuju. As for He Xiao, he said that as soon as he stepped out of the Ruins Mountain territory, Zuju betrayed him, directing National Master Qingyang and the Hundred Battles God to pursue him. Based on my understanding of Zuju, this is indeed its way of operating."

Wang Xingyi then asked, "Do you know what treasure was enshrined in the Star-Picking Tower? Did Zuju ever mention it?"

Fang Canran shook his head. Zuju was a very cunning great demon.

However, Zuju wasn't the only one who visited the Star-Picking Tower that night.

He Xiao was there too.

"It was the lid of the Great Square Pot."

"The lid?" Fang Canran was startled. "The Great Square Pot has a lid?"

"The pot and its lid were originally one piece, but they separated during the Middle Ages, and the lid's whereabouts became unknown. Later, the Heavenly Palace somehow found it and enshrined it in the Star-Picking Tower," Wang Xingyi said slowly. "After Zuju's rebellion, this lid disappeared."

Fang Canran understood. "You suspect... Spirit Mountain suspects that He Xiao stole the lid of the Great Square Pot?"

Daring to incite Zuju and sow chaos in the Heavenly Palace could only be for an immense grudge or an enormous gain. From this perspective, it seems plausible that He Lingchuan disturbed the Heavenly Palace to seize the treasure.

"Based on the current clues, this divine object is either in Zuju's hands or He Xiao's," Wang Xingyi said, picking up a siumai and swallowing it whole. "And the sudden climate change in the Panlong Desert, thousands of miles away, might be related to the Great Square Pot's lid. The Heavenly Palace probably inferred the same, which is why they dispatched He Jing."

He sighed softly. "I never expected Envoy He to die in a foreign land, leaving the entire matter shrouded in mystery. When the news reached back, the Heavenly Palace was shaken, and several more teams were sent to investigate."

Fang Canran asked curiously, "So, the Heavenly Palace still hasn't figured out what exactly happened in the Panlong Desert?"

Wang Xingyi shook his head. "After this incident, the Heavenly Palace also sent people to Baling, though I don't know the specific reason."

"Baling?" It was another country Fang Canran had never considered. "Is Baling also connected to the Great Square Pot?"

"This matter is becoming more and more confusing," Wang Xingyi said, putting down his chopsticks, no longer eating. "I ask you, where did this He Xiao come from?"

"He said he's from Fu Nation." He Xiao had previously used two seafarers to contact him. Fang Canran had asked these two seafarers, who boarded midway, and both said He Lingchuan started from Fu Nation.

Fu Nation was next to Beijia. Wang Xingyi pressed further, "Is he not connected to Yuan Nation or the Panlong Desert?"

"He didn't mention it," Fang Canran replied, though his heart stirred.

He Xiao recognized his ancestral signet ring and said he had seen a mirage in the Panlong Desert over a hundred years ago, which included Shao Jian.

In other words, He Xiao personally admitted to having been to the ancient Panlong City.

But he couldn't tell Wang Xingyi this, as Fang Canran had never mentioned the past of the Shao family ancestors to Spirit Mountain.

This was Fang Canran's own secret.

If He Xiao himself was indeed connected to Panlong City and the Great Square Pot, then his recognition of Shao Jian's ring would not be surprising, and his attempt to seize the divine object from the Heavenly Palace would be understandable.

The events of Panlong over a hundred years ago were the origin of the connection and entanglement between him and He Xiao.

Because of his firm answer, Wang Xingyi grunted and fell into contemplation.

"Martial Uncle..."

"Your information is outdated. He is not from Fu Nation; he is from Yuan Nation," Wang Xingyi said slowly. "His real name is He Lingchuan. His father is He Chunhua, the Prefect of Qiansong Commandery in Yuan Nation, who is now a Grand General of Yuan Nation. And his family used to live in Blackwater City for over a decade. Do you know where Blackwater City is?"

Fang Canran blurted out, "The Panlong Desert?"

No wonder, no wonder He Xiao could reveal the secret of his ancestor Shao Jian and the ancient Panlong City.

"Yes, his family is on the edge of the Panlong Desert, guarding Yuan Nation's northwestern border," Wang Xingyi said, taking a sip of tea. "Some time ago, he went to Rong Mountain with your seal and password, mortgaging several million taels of silver for Yuan Nation's war efforts, and then led a team of Rong Mountain elites out to sea, traveling across the ocean to get here."

Fang Canran murmured, "So that's how it is."

"You say his father is a Grand General of Yuan Nation, now wielding immense power in the court. Why would he forsake the comfortable life of a general's son and come alone to the Yangshan Archipelago to establish his own foothold?"

Fang Canran considered for a long time. "Discord between father and son, or some unspeakable secret?"

Wang Xingyi did not reply.

Fang Canran waited a moment, then had to ask again, "Martial Uncle, what do you plan to do about He Xiao...?"

Wang Xingyi shook his head. "I don't plan to do anything to him."

That meant there would be no immediate action. Fang Canran felt slightly relieved. "What about the Great Square Pot?"

"The Great Square Pot is still in the Panlong Desert; that has been confirmed," Wang Xingyi sighed. "We don't know why the person who stole the lid did it."

But the Great Square Pot remaining in its original place undoubtedly reassured both the Heavenly Palace and Spirit Mountain.

That was what mattered most.

"You don't want to confirm this with He Xiao?"

"If he didn't steal the lid, he certainly wouldn't admit it; if he did, he still wouldn't admit it. Then what?" Wang Xingyi smiled. "Should Spirit Mountain apprehend him and torture him?"

Uh... Fang Canran rarely found himself in such a predicament. As far as he knew, Spirit Mountain had not been above such actions.

"Spirit Mountain once competed for the Great Square Pot, but the results were not ideal," Wang Xingyi sighed. "This supreme treasure obeys no one, and even ignores everyone. Zhong Shengguang, the leader of Panlong City, once said that the Great Square Pot chose him, not that he controlled it, and thus he couldn't transfer it to anyone else."

The reasoning was simple: if it wasn't yours to begin with, how could you give it to someone else?

"And ultimately, what does the loss of a divine object from the Star-Picking Tower have to do with us?" Wang Xingyi shook his head. "As long as the Heavenly Palace is in a difficult situation, that's enough."

"Indeed," Fang Canran assented, but in his heart, it was as clear as crystal:

He Xiao's outstanding talent was clear, and Spirit Mountain genuinely intended to recruit him, which was why they appeared so magnanimous.

Would they be so lenient with an unknown junior?

"So the Great Square Pot is such a unique spiritual object?" He then posed a question,

"If He Xiao is truly connected to the Great Square Pot, why isn't he guarding that divine object? Why did he travel across the ocean to the Yangshan Archipelago to seek new opportunities?"

The Great Square Pot was still in the Panlong Desert, yet He Xiao had come to the Yangshan Archipelago. They were separated by more than ten thousand miles. Even a trip back would be incredibly troublesome.

"Perhaps there's something he desires here; perhaps he's still part of an organization and is simply here on a mission," Wang Xingyi said with a smile. "In any case, these are all conjectures, unconfirmed. Fortunately, we still have time. You and He Xiao share similar ambitions, so you might as well interact with him more often and foster a good relationship."

"Yes."

"Spirit Mountain does not accept people with secrets." This statement from Wang Xingyi made Fang Canran's heart skip a beat. "He Xiao has too many secrets; he truly isn't suitable for officialdom. But that doesn't mean he's useless to us."

But National Master Wang had just invited He Lingchuan to join Mou Nation. Fang Canran immediately realized it was merely a test.

Regardless of whether He Lingchuan was connected to the Great Square Pot, the young man's courage, ability, valor, and talent for planning and strategizing were still the excellent qualities Spirit Mountain valued most.

Spirit Mountain would naturally pay attention to such a talent.

Compared to the Heavenly Palace's divine object, whose whereabouts were unknown and whose specific use was unclear, Spirit Mountain's needs were more practical.

Divine objects were ethereal; talented individuals were tangible.

"If he truly is the person chosen by the Great Square Pot—" Wang Xingyi said slowly, "if even the Great Square Pot has chosen him, what reason do we have not to?"

Fang Canran had just replied "Yes" when he suddenly sniffed twice. "What a wonderful fragrance."

A faint, elusive fragrance permeated the air, stimulating one's appetite.

What was this?

He quickly walked to the wall and pushed open the window.

Fresh wind and pouring rain instantly gusted in.

But the rainwater carried a hint of green, refreshing to the heart and mind.

"The Emperor's Nectar is here!"

Wang Xingyi also walked to the window and held out his hand to catch some rainwater. "Rare, the Emperor's Nectar actually arrived simultaneously with the hurricane?"

The Yangshan Archipelago had arrangements in place; the storm couldn't enter human settlements, but heavy rain could.

The Emperor's Nectar had arrived with the torrential rain.

He had experienced the Emperor's Nectar several times before, but this was the first time he had seen it under such circumstances.

Recalling his earlier instruction to He Lingchuan to welcome the Emperor's Nectar after the hurricane, he felt a bit awkward. The events were so close together that he hadn't managed to extend his gesture of goodwill.

Fang Canran took a deep breath, suppressing the restless stirrings caused by the Emperor's Nectar. "Tonight is truly not peaceful."

Within good fortune lurks disaster.

The Emperor's Nectar was beneficial to living beings and most capable of stirring their primal instincts. It was not uncommon for a city or region to erupt in riots because of it.

At such times, a leader's organizational and control abilities were most severely tested.

Both men looked at the lights on the island, where ghostly figures seemed to flicker everywhere. Their own willpower was exceptionally strong, preventing them from being swayed by the Emperor's Nectar, but ninety percent of the island's inhabitants were mortals.

Moreover, due to the arrival of the hurricane, Sordin Island had a large number of foreign visitors tonight.

These foreign seafarers and sailors differed from the local inhabitants; their qualities varied, and their emotions were unstable. Would they obey He Xiao's discipline? Would they clash with the Archipelago Guard?

He Xiao was the host, and they were the guests. If host and guests were to engage in a brawl tonight, brandishing blades, swords, and fists against each other, could Sordin Island maintain a good reputation along this shipping route in the future?

But if left unmanaged, chaos would inevitably ensue.

Putting himself in He Lingchuan's shoes, Fang Canran felt the difficulty of his situation.

"That's why he had to deal with the Bailong people and the Beijia people before the Emperor's Nectar arrived." Otherwise, with natural disaster and human calamity colliding, it could drive people insane.