Chapter 2029: Unexpected Always Comes Suddenly

The content must first undergo official review before it can be published.

In the past, due to war and severe material shortages, Panlong City would never have dared to do such a thing. The current ability to openly exchange information, both internally and externally, is a clear sign of Panlong City's prosperity and confidence.

The 'Records of Learned Information' became an instant sensation upon its release. Despite its high price, it underwent continuous reprinting and additional issues. Teahouses, taverns, schools, and libraries all buzzed with discussions about the latest news within its pages, and even the illiterate could understand what was being said.

However, whenever a business proves profitable, imitations are bound to follow. As Panlong City welcomed visitors from all directions, its population became more complex than before. Before long, pirated and counterfeit versions of the official publications began to appear within the city.

Pirated copies were one thing; at least their content matched the official publication. Counterfeits, however, were outrageous, filled with sensational, bizarre, and vulgar stories designed to grab attention, all while masquerading as official publications. This was intolerable. Panlong City launched a vigorous crackdown, arresting thirty to forty people in quick succession within a month.

While He Lingchuan and Master Sun were strolling through the city, they witnessed city guards apprehending piracy vendors in the street. Seven or eight vendors scattered and fled when pursued, with one, in a desperate attempt to escape, even climbing up a Gura Tree.

"Wow, it's so high!" people below exclaimed, craning their necks to watch the spectacle, including He Lingchuan and Master Sun.

This Gura Tree had changed dramatically; it had become one of the landmarks in southern Panlong City. Since its absorption by the Grand Square Jar and subsequent planting in Panlong City, its growth rate had been astonishing. In just six years, it had transformed from a man-high sapling into a colossal tree, towering twenty-five zhang high, making it truly the tallest tree in Panlong City! He Lingchuan had never understood what it had "eaten" to grow so quickly. Outsiders entering Panlong City for the first time would invariably let out an exclamation of 'Oh!' upon seeing the Gura Tree.

The piracy vendor must have lost his mind to climb the Gura Tree. He climbed higher and higher, the ascent becoming increasingly perilous. By the time he realized his predicament, he was already fifteen zhang off the ground. Looking down, he thought, "Oh my, it's so high!"

The city guards arrived and shouted for him to come down. The man frantically shook his head, his legs trembling. He could get up, but he couldn't get down. He even dislodged several leaves, two of which were a beautiful reddish-gold color and were picked up by children. He Lingchuan forgot how the man eventually came down from the tree or how he was arrested, because he woke up.

After getting up, he practiced martial arts for half an hour, then took a cold shower. His leisure time was over, and it was time to work.

Before he could even eat lunch, new intelligence arrived. An urgent piece of bad news arrived from the west: the State of Ya had suddenly dispatched thirty thousand troops to invade the western part of Flashgold Plain, specifically the former territories of the States of Bo and Peng.

Flashgold Plain was vast, with a section bordering the State of Ya. In fact, when He Lingchuan first arrived in Flashgold Plain years ago, he had boarded a ship from the Yangshan Archipelago, rounded a large cape, and traveled through half of the State of Ya before reaching Julu Port.

For the past decade or so, the State of Ya had harbored covetous desires for Flashgold, but the plain's inherent exclusionary nature had repeatedly foiled its ambitions. Now, with the Dragon God rapidly claiming large swathes of Flashgold Plain, the State of Ya, observing from the sidelines, was once again stirring with ambition.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror, upon hearing this, angrily declared, "They drool at others enjoying their spoils! This State of Ya is truly asking for a beating!"

He Lingchuan shook his head. "The reason for their troop deployment may not be so simple."

"You mean?" The Mirror, now capable of thinking, gasped, "Oh no, could they also be colluding with Qingyang?"

After the death of Bai Ziqin, Flashgold Plain had become virtually a chessboard for the confrontation between He Lingchuan and Qingyang. The two of them, leveraging grand trends as their guide and the lives of the populace as their pieces, engaged in strategic maneuvers. He Lingchuan was unstoppable, yet Qingyang was also a master of myriad strategies. The Mirror had always felt it had underestimated Qingyang. An aged tiger is still a tiger; it won't turn into a cur.

"Qingyang is no longer the National Preceptor of Beijia. Given her current status, it would be fine for her to mislead these unsophisticated smaller states in Flashgold, but trying to incite the State of Ya to join the war would be quite difficult." He Lingchuan's analysis was cold and realistic. The State of Ya was a thorny problem even for the State of Mou, and it had always held itself in high regard. Why would it trust a disgraced former national preceptor? This was an imbalance of status.

"So?"

"At most, she could offer a suggestion. The true orchestrators of this could only be either the Heavenly Gods or Beijia." He Lingchuan pressed his temples. "The existing minor conflict between me and the State of Ya is negligible. The fact that the State of Ya chose to launch a major offensive precisely when our forces are stretched thin likely indicates coordination with Bai Tan, aiming to put us in a pincer movement. In this era, only two parties possess such long-range coordination capabilities."

The Bailong clan originally hailed from the State of Ya, but fled to Yangshan after being implicated in a coup. The State of Ya sent troops to pursue them, but these forces were repelled by He Lingchuan. This old history was nearly four years old. At the time, the State of Ya didn't pursue the matter, but now it could seize the opportunity to settle a minor score.

"Of course, the State of Ya likely deployed its troops with an opportunistic mindset, aiming to gain as much as possible." Flashgold Plain was a large, ripe piece of meat; who wouldn't want to take a few bites?

"Are the State of Ya's troops tougher than the State of Yao's?" When the State of Ya ran low on funds, it would extort smaller states around the State of Mou, such as Bailie. If its military wasn't formidable, the State of Mou would have retaliated and destroyed it long ago.

"What do you think?" He Lingchuan retorted. "The valiant and skilled Bailong clan was originally just a branch tribe of the State of Ya."

"So, what are you going to do?" The Lord's Dragon God War truly isn't easy. Despite all the preparations, despite having all the favorable conditions—timely opportunities, geographical advantages, and popular support—despite the powers of the Lingxu Gods being weakened to their lowest point in Flashgold, and despite the largest obstacle, the State of Yao, existing only in name—

Yet, He Lingchuan's war to conquer Flashgold continued to advance arduously amidst blood and fire. Even the State of Ya, which had always remained on the sidelines, had now suddenly joined the war!

"This matter has never been easy; I never dared to expect smooth sailing." He Lingchuan, always one to maintain the most optimistic outlook while preparing for the worst, said, "We must maintain strategic resolve now and not be easily led astray by the enemy. Most of our elite forces must be reserved to deal with Bai Tan, as the war against Yao will determine the success or failure of the Dragon God War."

War itself is full of variables, even if the Dragon God War was initiated by him. Flashgold was vast. The Black-Armored Army had largely completed their campaigns in the west, with some forces now in central Flashgold suppressing enemies, and others returning to Duo City to be integrated into the Dragon God's main army. Turning back now would play right into the opponent's hands. The decisive battle was approaching! His progress in clearing out the State of Yao and Bai Tan absolutely could not be slowed by such an unexpected turn.

The Mirror asked him, "Then who will deal with the State of Ya?"

He Lingchuan pondered for a very long time. From his vantage point, he could see the sunset slowly descending outside the window, and night falling upon the land. The fluorescent spore lamps on the table had grown dim, so he casually replaced one.

"One cannot have everything," He Lingchuan said, his gaze extraordinarily profound, a darkness in his eyes that even the fluorescent spores couldn't illuminate.

Thus, the Mirror knew he had made another decision, and it was not an easy one.