Chapter 1430: Test and Confrontation

Chapter 1415: Probing and Confrontation

Xin Yi touched his eyebrow again: "Blessed lands themselves possess spiritual energy, and before immortals go into secluded cultivation, they store up large quantities of Mystic Crystals."

Sun Fuling happened to be peeling a cooked chestnut: "Like squirrels preparing for winter?"

Squirrels also hoard provisions like acorns, hazelnuts, and even dried fruit beforehand to avoid having nothing to forage during the harsh winter.

Xin Yi's smile remained perfect: "Something similar."

"But He Lingchuan continued to press: "Mr. Xin also mentioned earlier that the recovery of spiritual energy in the world is too slow, and the depletion of spiritual energy is far more severe than immortals anticipated. So, what happens once the spiritual energy in the blessed lands and the Mystic Crystals stored by immortals run out?"

Once a blessed land is depleted, even the most powerful immortal would be like a fish out of water, slowly dying of thirst.

Xin Yi gave a wry smile, "That would be very cruel. Over the past long two thousand years, immortals in this world have disappeared precisely this way."

Sun Fuling said, seemingly casually, "Mr. Xin's ancestor, True Man Wuhuan, was truly fortunate. The blessed land he entrusted himself to never dried up, did it?" Xin Yi nodded: "Exactly. The blessed land chosen by my ancestor is extraordinary."

He Lingchuan opened his mouth to speak, but then continued: "Speaking of spiritual energy, Commander Zhong told me that where the Black Flood Dragon Seal appears, neither energy nor spiritual energy can be collected. I tried creating a small spirit-gathering array, and indeed—it couldn't absorb anything."

"He even talks about such things," Sun Fuling mused with a touch of admiration, "Mr. Xin is straightforward."

He Lingchuan, however, was slightly surprised. As a communications officer from Spirit Mountain, Xin Yi would sooner or later learn some of Dragon City's core secrets. But He Lingchuan was still somewhat surprised that Zhong Shengguang revealed the secret of the Black Flood Dragon Seal to him so quickly. Zhong Shengguang didn't seem like someone so impatient.

"Not at all, I just enjoy research," Xin Yi excitedly said. "Do you know how important this discovery is? If the Black Flood Dragon Seal can expand outwards, it can block the source of the Sky Demons' demonic energy! This is a fundamental solution: if Sky Demons can't absorb demonic energy, the recovery of spiritual energy between heaven and earth will be even faster!"

Sun Fuling said regretfully, "The Black Flood Dragon Seal appeared inexplicably; we don't even know its cause, let alone how to promote or expand it."

"That's the point of my research!" Xin Yi tapped the table. "If we can decipher the cause and the Black Flood Dragon Seal can be popularized, the protracted battle between us and the Sky Demons will reach a welcome turning point! Commander Zhong understands this, which is why he's willing to give me his full support!"

Full support? He Lingchuan pondered for a moment; this was indeed Zhong Shengguang's vision. For so many years, Dragon City had been unable to figure out the patterns of the Black Flood Dragon Seal. Spirit Mountain had more experts, so Zhong Shengguang simply handed the task over to Spirit Mountain to try. If it succeeded, wouldn't everyone be happy? "If the Sky Demons absorb less and less demonic energy from the human world, perhaps the Divine Realm will also fight fiercely over the remaining demonic energy, just like the human world."

"There's enough internal strife; it shouldn't be confined just to the human world."

"Then the Emperor's Dew will arrive more frequently."

"Exactly!" Xin Yi exclaimed, his face lit up. "In the long run, the power dynamic between the two realms will shift, and the human world will regain its safety!"

This was a vision, or the so-called most ideal scenario.

"Then I wish Mr. Xin good luck." He Lingchuan, knowing later history, was not as excited as Xin Yi. "The Black Flood Dragon Seal has appeared before, Mr. Xin, do you know that?"

"I know, it seems it was in Yuan Kingdom of Beijia. Before that nation was wiped out, it was also united, like Dragon City, and its ruler was deeply loved." Xin Yi touched his brow again—He Lingchuan noticed this seemed to be his unconscious habit when thinking—then pondered: "I wonder if it has more in common with Dragon City."

Of course, it does. The leaders of both places possess the Grand Square Pot. He Lingchuan, acting as the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities, brought justice from Heaven, and wherever he slew evildoers, the Black Flood Dragon Seal would appear. This clearly proves that the Black Flood Dragon Seal must be related to the actions of the Grand Square Pot's wielder. This secret might not remain hidden from later generations of Beijia, but Spirit Mountain certainly doesn't know it yet.

Just as He Lingchuan was about to speak, the Thin Man rushed into the Hongxiang Restaurant, clutching a document: "The Commander has issued orders!"

He Lingchuan took it and glanced at it, then said sternly, "The deployment order has come down. Mr. Xin, we depart the day after tomorrow."

Zhong Shengguang ordered the Tiger Wing Army to march to the eastern front of Yuheng City! Xin Yi was to accompany He Lingchuan to Yuheng City and exclaimed, "I promised Dean Xu I would annotate three ancient texts for Shumin Academy. Time is too tight; I need to go back and work quickly. General He—" He stood up: "Shall we meet again the day after tomorrow?"

"Please do, Mr. Xin." Xin Yi nodded a farewell to Sun Fuling and then departed.

He Lingchuan also left the restaurant, taking Sun Fuling's arm, and slowly walked home. Sun Fuling gazed at the starry sky and murmured, "Another big battle is coming?"

She could feel the turbulent undercurrents beneath Dragon City's bustling night scene.

"Yes."

"Is this your first major battle since forming the Tiger Wing Army?"

"Yes, the time to test the results is approaching." An uncut jade is not a vessel; he had been training the Tiger Wing Army for so long, it was time to test their mettle on the battlefield. The experience of commanding an army in the Dragon Realm was invaluable; there wouldn't be so many opportunities for practice and trial-and-error in reality, nor guidance from so many renowned generals.

Sun Fuling's myriad words finally condensed into one sentence: "Please be very careful, and make sure to return safely."

"I will." Seeing her look sorrowful, He Lingchuan changed the subject, "What do you think of Xin Yi?"

"Enthusiastic, talkative; everyone seems to like him. If all visitors from Spirit Mountain have this attitude, I imagine cooperation between us will be very pleasant." Sun Fuling was very astute. "Why, I sense you're somewhat wary of him?"

She said "everyone likes," but didn't include herself. "Wary" was a good word choice; He Lingchuan indeed felt that way: "I'm always cautious around strangers, especially those who immediately win over everyone."

Sun Fuling chuckled: "Is being likable a bad thing? Are you jealous?" Just then, a parent from the roadside greeted her. She tilted her head slightly, and a playful wisp of night breeze brushed her hair under He Lingchuan's nose. It smelled wonderful.

"General He, you are also known and liked by everyone in Dragon City."

"Heh, I just feel that kind of likability is too deliberate. Too much pretense." He Lingchuan knew something was off.

Sun Fuling patted his arm: "Are you hoping the communications officer they sent would be haughty and speak in officialese to everyone?"

"Those kinds of people are actually easier to deal with," He Lingchuan gently squeezed her soft hand in return. "He appears open and straightforward, speaking freely, yet he avoids answering crucial questions."

Sun Fuling's gaze shifted slightly: "You mean his explanation about the blessed lands?" She knew He Lingchuan and understood that he had subtly pressed the issue earlier. However, Xin Yi responded vaguely, not answering directly, which was quite unlike his usual straightforward demeanor. In this verbal exchange, Xin Yi chose to evade. It seemed He Lingchuan made him a little uncomfortable.

"Precisely." He Lingchuan had pondered that question for a long time. "He at least didn't tell the whole truth. How can plans keep up with changes? With dramatic shifts in the world outside, are the blessed lands truly peaceful and unchanging? What would powerful immortals do if the spiritual energy there ran out? As farsighted great immortals, they must have prepared contingency plans, right?"

He Lingchuan recalled the ancient memories shown to him by the Black Dragon's Heart Scale: when those several high immortals retreated into the blessed lands, they were followed by numerous core disciples; it was essentially great immortals bringing lesser immortals with them. With so many immortals, the demand for spiritual energy must be astonishing. How could the small amount of spiritual energy generated by the blessed lands themselves be enough? Could merely hoarding and conserving truly help them survive three long millennia? Therefore, Xin Yi's understatement was not entirely truthful. He Lingchuan vaguely felt there was another mystery hidden within.

Sun Fuling understood what he wanted to say: "You think the high immortals have other ways to acquire spiritual energy and replenish themselves?"

"There must be," He Lingchuan said. "The Beijia capital, Lingxu City, adopted the practices of immortal sects, building a Grand Array of Xu Mountain to gather spiritual energy for the city's demons and cultivators. This method was learned from immortal sects; do you think immortals wouldn't know it or wouldn't use it?" He had previously caused a great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace, where he broke this grand array and stole Zhu Erniang's immortal cocoon which served as the array's core.

Sun Fuling tilted her head: "How do you know Lingxu City has a spirit-gathering array?"

Oops... he let it slip. He Lingchuan's expression didn't change, and his heart didn't skip a beat: "Commander Zhong told me; it's no secret in Lingxu City." Zhong Shengguang had also traveled and studied in Lingxu City when he was young, so this explanation was plausible.

Sun Fuling smiled, pressing her lips together: "If you had suspicions, why didn't you press him further just now?"

"Xin Yi's vague answer meant he didn't want to reply further. Even if I pressed him, he wouldn't give me the real answer." He Lingchuan let out a soft sigh. "Xin Yi, on the Platform of Questions, spoke of ancient times, describing how immortals enjoyed extraordinary freedom and roamed the heavens at will, making everyone below yearn for and revere them. But he never once mentioned where the spiritual energy immortals needed came from. In ancient times, immortals and immortal sects fought among themselves, which I believe was essentially over spiritual energy. If that was the case in ancient times, what about the medieval period and now? For the high immortals of Spirit Mountain to survive, they must have exhausted all means, certainly not appearing as serene and ethereal as they seem." He uttered the last sentence in a very low voice.

To contend for qi and the Dragon Punisher Pillar, the Divine Realm is currently fighting tooth and nail; how much better could it be among immortals? In an environment of scarce spiritual energy, who survives and who turns to dust—is it decided by rock-paper-scissors? Yet Spirit Mountain still harbors many immortals, which can only mean they still have ways to obtain large amounts of spiritual energy. The premise for peaceful coexistence is abundant resources. He gave a cynical smile: "The appearance of having nothing to hide might just be to conceal truly unspeakable secrets."

Sun Fuling whispered, "Do you also believe that Spirit Mountain isn't genuinely helping us?"

"Also?" He Lingchuan immediately seized on the keyword. "Does the Master also think so?"