Chapter 1892: The True Face of the Nine Nether Emperor

"His true identity?" Situ He immediately asked, "I'd like to hear the details."

"You know this person; it's He Xiao, the Island Lord of Yangshan!"

"He..." Situ He froze for a few seconds, a smile spreading across his lips. He almost laughed out loud, forgetting the deity's presence. "Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

He might believe it two or three tenths if the Heavenly God said the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities was anyone else, but Brother He... ha ha ha! That's absurd.

Yu Shen, however, didn't mind his lapse in composure. "Before the Venerable Miaozhan fell, he determined that the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities was He Xiao in disguise! The Venerable one possessed the Eye of Truth; he could not have been mistaken!"

Situ He retorted without hesitation, "That's not right. Brother He is just a merchant. He's not involved in military or political affairs; he only does business. At most, he's wealthy and influential... to a certain extent."

As he finished speaking, a thought stirred in Situ He's mind. Was he *just* wealthy and influential? Within the Allied Army, he had been told more than once that Yangshan's business operations in their territory had grown too large and could eventually become a menace.

"See, you yourself have doubts," Yu Shen immediately seized on his hesitation. "Think carefully about what the man named He has done in Shanjin and what schemes he has laid. This person has grand ambitions. If things continue like this, you and your Allied Army will be nothing more than pawns he manipulates!"

What *had* He Xiao done in the Shanjin Plains? He had supported the Situ family, provided financial and food aid to the Allied Army, killed the Ghost King, and expanded Yangshan's commercial reach throughout Shanjin! And indeed, the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities had also killed Xue Zongwu, the great general of Yao Kingdom! If the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities truly was He Xiao, then was Yao Kingdom also part of his calculations? That's too terrifying. It can't be, can it?

Yu Shen said sinisterly, "He used the Allied Army to extend his reach to places it shouldn't have gone."

Situ He composed himself. "What do the gods believe the Dragon God wants to do?"

"For you, once he truly rises, you and the Allied Army will have no place to stand," Yu Shen stated directly. "That's why I've come on behalf of the Heavenly God of a Hundred Battles, to offer you an opportunity."

"Please elaborate." Situ He also noticed that Yu Shen had not directly answered his question: what exactly did the Dragon God want to do? Did he not want to answer, or did he disdain to answer?

"Drive Yangshan out of your territory," Yu Shen said gravely. "He Xiao will show himself sooner or later. As soon as he enters Allied Army territory, you will cooperate with us to eliminate him!" Without waiting for Situ He to reply, he offered the greatest temptation. "Haven't you always wished for the favor of the gods? As long as you accomplish these two tasks, you will gain the support of the Lingxu Pantheon. Yao Kingdom prospered for two hundred years; why can't your Situ family do the same?"

Situ He opened his mouth, then said, "Brother He has shown great kindness to my family. I cannot repay kindness with enmity."

"Don't you want to establish a foundation that lasts for centuries? Don't you want this land beneath your feet to enjoy long-term peace and stability, and for the Situ family name to live on forever? If the man named He can demand repayment for a small kindness, then why should the Allied Army continue to follow you?"

That last sentence startled Situ He. Indeed, the Allied Army, assembled by his father, was inherently a complex entity driven by various interests. Each nation and faction had its own hidden agenda, and it was already difficult for Situ He to maintain even a superficial unity—in short, the team was hard to manage. If he refused Yu Shen's proposal, how many conflicts would it spark within the Allied Army?

However, he was no longer the naive, hot-blooded youth who would blindly throw himself into action the moment a Heavenly God spoke. At the very least, he had learned to remain composed. "If I agree, which deity will the gods assign to the Allied Army?"

For example, Lingxu City, while building temples and statues for the Lingxu Pantheon, primarily worshipped the Lingxu Saint Venerable. Yao Kingdom previously worshipped the Kshatriya Heaven, but later the King of Yao led his people to convert their faith, embracing Miaozhan Heaven and revering it as their principal deity. If the Heavenly God was sincere about incorporating the Allied Army, they would first need to designate a principal deity for them.

"That would certainly be the Venerable Hundred Battles."

Since Yao Kingdom had previously primarily worshipped Miaozhan Heaven, the populace had little understanding of the other Lingxu Pantheon deities. The Heaven of Hundred Battles was also a righteous god, ranking below Miaozhan Heaven, and Yu Shen was one of its attendant deities. No wonder Yu Shen had come to "have a heart-to-heart" with him today. Situ He suddenly realized that Yu Shen's principal deity was preparing to take over the Allied Army's faith.

"So, who will be the principal deity of Yao Land?" he pressed on. "And what about the central Shanjin Plains?"

After the fall of Yao Kingdom, the unrest there had continued for several months. Of course, Situ He knew that no matter how fiercely the various factions fought in Yao Land or which one ultimately emerged victorious, Miaozhan Heaven would always remain in a secure position. But now, Miaozhan Heaven itself was gone. So, which deity would inherit such abundant and vast faith?

The temple priest, controlled by Yu Shen, was expressionless. "You are overstepping. This will be a decision for the Lingxu Saint Venerable. You will know in due time."

"No, no, my point is, if the eventual principal deity of Yao Land isn't the Venerable Hundred Battles, then what does that make our Allied Army?"

Yu Shen glanced at him askance. "What? Do you still have designs on Yao Land?"

"Why not?" Situ He raised an eyebrow. "Yao Kingdom has bullied us for so many years. Now that such a great opportunity presents itself, why shouldn't I do the opposite?"

When his father was alive, their greatest wish was to overthrow Yao Kingdom, which had plagued Shanjin. Who would have thought that this seemingly unreachable dream would suddenly come true, with Yao Kingdom tearing itself apart, a living heavenly realm transformed into a hell? It was easier to fish in troubled waters, and Situ He's mind became active. Did he also have an opportunity?

"Do you truly believe your capabilities match those factions vying for Yao Land?" Yu Shen chuckled softly. "Mortals should first address the immediate dangers."

Situ He then asked, "What about Bixia?"

They had originally advanced to the Bixian homeland, but then General Zhongwu of Yao Kingdom had led his troops back, killing several Allied Army generals and resolving Bixia's urgent crisis.

"The Venerable Hundred Battles will intervene to end this war!" Yu Shen was prepared for this point and continued as he opened his mouth. "Bixia will cede some territory as compensation in exchange for peace."

"What if we insist on annihilating Bixia? General Zhongwu's backing was originally Yao Kingdom; now that Yao Kingdom is gone, why should I let them off?" Situ He was displeased. "I cannot leave my father's murder unavenged!"

If they destroyed Bixia, all its land would be theirs, not just "a portion."

Yu Shen pondered for a while. "This point is not non-negotiable. I will consult the Venerable one."

The conversation ended there, with Situ He's statement, "I need to think this over."

Yu Shen departed, and the temple priest regained consciousness, appearing unusually fatigued.

Situ He quickly left Dongping Village with his subordinates, returning to Yaopo before nightfall. As soon as he entered his study, before he could even take a sip of water, he dismissed everyone else, leaving only Xun Yu and Wang Han. Knowing he had important matters to discuss, Xun Yu turned to close the doors and windows.