Chapter 2028: Not a Single Soldier Expended

Qingyang, an old woman nearing two centuries in age and the former Imperial Advisor of Beiga, was inscrutable; no one could possibly guess her thoughts.

"You can't reach her?"

Qingwei shook his head. "The Palace Mistress said her current undertaking is of immense importance, and its specifics must remain confidential. However, if successful, it will permanently resolve the worries of Lord Bai and Beiga."

The explanation was so vague that Baitan frowned, snorted, and turned to leave. There was no point in troubling the young soldier; Qingyang had already departed. He had come today with the original intention of questioning Qingyang about a rumor.

Qingyang had previously invited powerful figures from Shanjin to join the anti-Dragon God faction, providing them with over a dozen divine descent vessels. However, Baitan had received intelligence that these vessels failed to summon heavenly gods during critical moments, leading to regrettable defeats for the local forces. Baitan was caught between worry and suspicion. These rumors had erupted and spread rapidly, making it difficult to believe there wasn't a deliberate hand behind them. Someone would fail to summon a god, and then just five or six days later, another would fail. Furthermore, the powerful figures from Shanjin who failed were often executed, leaving no one to confirm their failures. Clearly, this was the work of the Dragon God's army.

Baitan was keenly aware of the formidable propaganda tactics employed by Emperor Jiuyou. Even before Emperor Jiuyou openly annexed Shanjin, his and the Black Armored Army's deeds, portrayed as administering justice on behalf of heaven, had already deeply permeated public consciousness. This was achieved precisely by manipulating public opinion. This indicated that he was surely a master at fabricating information. So, releasing one false message after another to destabilize military morale and intimidate opponents would be second nature to him, wouldn't it?

Yet, despite knowing this, Baitan remained uneasy. The Dragon God and the Black Armored Army were growing increasingly powerful. Even if Baitan wished to delude himself, he could increasingly feel the widening power gap between the two sides. This disparity could only be narrowed by harnessing the strength of the heavenly gods. Qingyang had indeed guaranteed him that she could provide eight divine descent vessels. If these divine descent vessels proved unable to summon heavenly gods, then his hopes of defeating Emperor Jiuyou would be truly slim. This thought sent his mind into turmoil, and he resolved to rush back to Tianshui City to seek an audience with a heavenly god at the temple.

At Saint Lord Lingxu's insistence, the principal deity of Yaoguo had now been replaced by Duowen Tian. Baitan now wished to seek definitive confirmation from Duowen Tian: could those eight divine descent vessels truly summon heavenly gods to aid in battle? A divine promise was invaluable. Only with such reassurance could he train his troops with peace of mind.

But then again, where exactly had Qingyang gone? After he left Quiet Lake Retreat, he found someone to question. Baitan was never entirely at ease with Qingyang, always keeping Quiet Lake Retreat under surveillance. The scout reported that Qingyang's carriage had indeed left Quiet Lake Retreat but vanished after entering Liaocheng.

Liaocheng? That was in southern Yaoguo. What good was simply knowing a place name? Liaocheng was a major transportation hub; one could travel south, cross a river, or even leave the country from there. Baitan worried: what if the Dragon God's army advanced into Yaoguo and Qingyang had not yet reappeared? What would he do then? With Qingyang absent, he would be powerless on his own. Although he didn't particularly like the old woman, he had to admit that in terms of composure, cunning, and strategy, only Qingyang could truly rival Emperor Jiuyou. Why had she left a message suggesting that if this trip went smoothly, it might resolve the deeply troubling issues for both him and Beiga? Could it be...

***

Nanrong Family Territory.

Nanrong He sat in his study, gazing at the jacaranda trees in furious bloom on the opposite rooftop. For the past two days, he had often found himself lost in thought like this. His father had personally planted this tree, and over the years, its branches had grown lush and leafy. Every time it bloomed, it was like a magnificent dream, mirroring the flourishing prosperity of the Nanrong family. The Nanrong family's territory had also been passed down to him by his father, but now it seemed he might not be able to hold onto it.

Over the past two days, he had already consulted with his relatives and advisors. Surprisingly, few suggested he resist to the end; instead, a considerable number, including several of his sons, agreed to merge into the Dragon God's territory. The Nanrong family was not isolated, and their feelings towards the Dragon God were now more fear than respect. After all, the Dragon God had single-handedly toppled Miaozhantian and, in just half a year, swept through Shanjin, annexing Luodian, the Allied Forces, and Bixia. No matter how powerful the Nanrong family was, could they compare to those three? Emperor Jiuyou was currently still courteously persuading him to submit, but what if this was merely courtesy before force, and he grew impatient and turned hostile? Did the Nanrong family truly possess the ability to resist then? The rule in Shanjin had always been that might made right. How could he possibly imagine that Emperor Jiuyou couldn't truly overcome him? Reasons for deploying troops were easy enough to find. The Nanrong family had been established in Shanjin for decades; how could they not understand such a simple truth?

Furthermore, Nanrong He had consistently ignored the temptations of the Sky Demons and the requests from other forces to forge alliances. This was partly because he refused to collude with them, and partly because he didn't wish to be designated an enemy by the Dragon God. He truly could not afford to offend such an opponent.

So, if he couldn't defeat them, why not join them? The treatment for proactively swearing allegiance would undoubtedly be entirely different from that of passively surrendering. Furthermore, during his meeting with Emperor Jiuyou, he had indeed been impressed by the Emperor's foresight and resolve. The Shanjin Plain needed a hero to end its wars and division, a mighty leader to guide everyone forward.

He took a deep breath, picked up his pen to write a letter, but then, after a moment's thought, put it down again. It would be better to go in person.

That evening, Nanrong He, leading his clansmen, voluntarily swore allegiance to Emperor Jiuyou. The Dragon God's territory expanded once more, peacefully, without bloodshed or tears. Emperor Jiuyou was greatly pleased and hosted a banquet to entertain the Nanrong family. Following tradition, the Nanrong army was disbanded and integrated into the Dragon God's forces. Because of their voluntary submission and considerable combat prowess, the Dragon God designated the Qicheng area as the Nanrong family's new residence. This region boasted fertile land and beautiful landscapes, making it even more livable than the Nanrong family's former territory.

***

Before dawn, He Lingchuan awoke. This was his first actual sleep in seven or eight days. Usually, he was too busy with work and would use meditation to substitute for sleep. This was only possible because his physique was already extraordinary; otherwise, such a routine would have exhausted anyone to death. However, the pleasure of deep sleep was something meditation could not replicate. Last night, he dreamt he entered the Panlong World, where he enjoyed a rare period of leisure, spending most of the day exploring and eating in the city with Master Sun, before heading to the library to borrow books.

After several years of external exchanges, Panlong City's library had become much more comprehensive. The city also saw the emergence of a printed pamphlet called "Records of Knowledge and Inquiry," published every twenty days. This publication chronicled developments in the Panlong Wilderness and the outside world, from trivial matters, such as a recent series of strange occurrences at the wealthy Xu family's residence in Xiangwan, to major events like changes in Baling, Beiga, and sea routes, rainfall disasters, and fluctuations in the prices of various bulk commodities. This publication was originally an internal information exchange within merchant guilds and caravans, as those engaged in long-distance trade needed to be well-versed in geography and current affairs, keeping an ear to the ground. He Lingchuan found this practice useful after encountering it at a merchant guild, so he arranged for someone to record the information specifically, publishing it monthly.