Chapter 1280: Immortal Descendant Family

Panglong City has established contact with Spirit Mountain, which has since been continuously sending various talents here. So far, nearly three hundred people have arrived. Most of them are disciples from different Daoist sects, and the person named Xin standing before them is one of them.

Sun Fuling said softly, "Mr. Lu cannot make it due to family matters, so Mr. Xin is taking over. From now on, Mr. Xin will be the contact person between Panglong City and the East."

He Lingchuan gave a prolonged sound of acknowledgement.

"The East" specifically refers to Spirit Mountain. Originally, the designated contact person between Spirit Mountain and Panglong City was Lu Xun, the ancestor of the Bailie Lu family. According to their agreement, Lu Xun was supposed to be permanently stationed in Panglong City soon, but now, according to Sun Fuling, he won't be able to come.

"The surname Xin is quite uncommon," He Lingchuan remarked. He had only encountered it once before, and that was in his previous life.

Xin Yi was also sizing up He Lingchuan, his eyes full of curiosity. "The youngest general of Panglong City, I finally get to meet you today," he said. "I heard that Westmore Ridge has been holding selections for elite soldiers recently?"

His last sentence was spoken in a low voice.

He Lingchuan gave a knowing smile. "Mr. Xin is very well-informed."

This was not a top-level secret, but it was still a military secret, never lightly disclosed to outsiders.

"Commander Zhong only informed me yesterday."

With that single sentence, Xin Yi indicated that his source of information was secure and reliable.

Commander Zhong himself had said it, so what objection could He Lingchuan have?

"And several Daoist disciples who came with me this time will also participate in the Westmore Ridge selections," Xin Yi added. "Commander Zhong has already approved my request to observe on-site."

He Lingchuan generously replied, "That's excellent then. There's no time like the present. How about you return to Westmore Ridge with me this afternoon, Mr. Xin?"

Panglong City and Spirit Mountain had already begun deep cooperation, so some matters were no longer kept secret.

Furthermore, a timely display of their powerful military strength would also help consolidate bilateral relations.

Xin Yi immediately said, "Good, then I won't disturb you two. General He, I'll see you this afternoon."

With that, he smiled at Sun Fuling, bid farewell, and departed.

Only after his figure disappeared behind the stone gate did He Lingchuan withdraw his gaze. Sun Fuling chuckled, "Why were you looking at him as if he were a thief?"

"Nonsense!" He Lingchuan grinned, walking alongside her towards the exit. "What is Mr. Xin doing at the academy?"

"He just arrived to assume his post and came today to visit Dean Xu," Sun Fuling explained. "The East has sent many talents, eleven of whom are helping the academy organize and supplement its ancient texts and records. Dean Xu is overjoyed. As you know, Panglong City was originally just a border town in the wilderness, with incomplete archives. The Shuming Academy has been working hard to complete them over the years."

Panglong City was originally isolated, with poor communication with the outside world, and its internal and external environment had only improved in the last two or three years. "Spirit Mountain's assistance has been a huge help," she added.

"I heard that the East also sent us many seeds that can adapt to environments rich in spiritual energy and are more high-yielding," she continued. "Mr. Helian has already ordered the establishment of special fields for trial planting."

He Lingchuan was moved. "That is truly a monumental achievement."

One of the major factors that had long restricted population growth in the Panglong Wilderness was food production.

Without enough food, they couldn't sustain a large population.

With the current revival of spiritual energy in the world and the increased fertility of the wilderness land, combined with improved grain seeds, Panglong City would be able to support a larger army and sustain more wars.

In ancient times, sects would cultivate 'immortal fields' where extraordinary crops were grown. Regarding grain seed improvement, Spirit Mountain's experience should be richer than that of most cultivators outside.

"Spirit Mountain has also sent experts to exchange insights on artifact forging with Panglong City's blacksmiths and even to spar on some basic cultivation techniques," Sun Fuling added.

"That's wonderful news!" He Lingchuan had to admit that Spirit Mountain was truly generous at this point. "Recently, the Imperial Nectar has appeared frequently, and the spiritual energy is rapidly recovering, so Panglong City's old cultivation techniques also need updating."

Most of the cultivation techniques practiced by Panglong City's military and civilians were derived from Mitian, with the remainder being compiled from methods brought back by Zhong Shengguang, Xu Shichu, and others from outside.

However, Mitian was, after all, a Sky Demon, and its understanding of Daoist sect techniques was naturally not as profound as that of Spirit Mountain, which was founded by immortals.

Perhaps it's no exaggeration to say that the ancient texts stored in Spirit Mountain are the true source of Daoist techniques in the current world.

Spirit Mountain's willingness to help Panglong City update its cultivation techniques to adapt to this new world was an act of immense benevolence and profound sincerity.

Therefore, Panglong City also reciprocated by sharing much intelligence and many resources with Spirit Mountain.

He Lingchuan had not expected the two powers to enter a "honeymoon period" so quickly.

After all, Lu Xun had previously conveyed that Spirit Mountain disliked Panglong City's worship of spirits and hoped that Zhong Shengguang would sever ties with Mitian for true cooperation to be possible.

Had Spirit Mountain abandoned its prejudices and decided to support Panglong City so quickly?

It seemed Spirit Mountain was also facing considerable external pressure.

Sun Fuling then asked him, "How have things been at Westmore Ridge recently?"

"Quite smoothly," He Lingchuan chuckled. "Several arenas have been broken, and the new recruits are truly full of fighting spirit."

For the past several days, he had been busy with the selections for elite soldiers at Westmore Ridge.

These "selections for elite soldiers" involved picking out the top individuals from the army to form a powerful special forces unit.

He Lingchuan planned to name this elite force the "Tiger Wing Army."

The army under his command as Tiger Wing General had recently swelled from five thousand to seven thousand seven hundred, but so far, fewer than two hundred and fifty individuals had been selected for the Tiger Wing Army itself.

They were selecting the best of the best, the strongest of the strong, to form a separate vanguard unit.

These soldiers needed robust physiques, formidable combat strength, fearless courage, and strict military discipline. They also had to undergo the most rigorous training to become a blade in the Tiger Wing General's hand, striking wherever he commanded.

Just like the Great Wind Army.

After expansion and reorganization, the current Panglong Army now numbered one hundred ninety thousand. However, the Great Wind Army, its most elite unit, still comprised fewer than three thousand five hundred soldiers. The selection ratio for it was less than one in fifty-five, making it far more stringent than even the Tiger Wing Army He Lingchuan was about to establish.

In the Panglong Wilderness, being selected for such an army was the highest honor, but the Great Wind Army was simply too difficult to get into. Therefore, the number of applicants for the Tiger Wing Army surged, with people even from outside the military rushing to sign up.

Zhong Shengguang had plans for future wars, so the entire Panglong Wilderness and Maohe Plain were expanding their forces and preparing for battle. For every general commanding troops, it meant tight deadlines and heavy responsibilities.

At this point, He Lingchuan abruptly brought the conversation back. "Tell me more about Mr. Xin. Where is he from, and what is his status in Hanyuan Prefecture?"

Sun Fuling glanced at him with a knowing smile. "Do you know the location of Hanyuan Prefecture?"

He Lingchuan shook his head. "There are countless Daoist sects; how could I know them all?"

This was over one hundred sixty years ago; why would he bother to remember the number of Daoist sects in the world at that time?

"Hanyuan Prefecture is in the Shariver Basin, very, very far from our Panglong Wilderness."

He Lingchuan immediately blurted out, "Yes, it's in Mou— no, it's east and north of Beijia. Quite far."