Chapter 2097: System Dispute

Repeatedly pondering those two words, he realized they truly struck at the core of the immortals' decay. He had pondered this for so long, yet it felt as if he could never find more precise terminology.

"It has been this way in the past, and it will be this way in the future. Ling Shan has proven over three millennia that the old ways are no longer viable. With the resurgence of spiritual energy, if we don't adopt new methods, we'll be squandering a grand opportunity bestowed by heaven and earth." He Lingchuan took a deep breath. "The conflict between immortals and demons will eventually end. I fear that when that time comes, no one will be able to bear the consequences."

Xin Yi pondered for a long time, even forgetting the errands he needed to run.

He Lingchuan's remarks about "systems" and "development dividends" truly struck a chord with him, instantly flooding his mind with thoughts.

A twig fell on his head with a soft *plop*. Though the sound was faint, it brought Xin Yi back to his senses.

"Your tongue is truly capable of bringing the dead back to life," he said, pressing the outer corner of his eyebrow. "Can Ling Shan really reverse the war against the Sky Demons just by investing in Panlong City and becoming a shareholder? Your claim is far too presumptuous and absurd."

He Lingchuan could extrapolate so much from a small place like Panlong City.

Yet, considering Panlong City's meager output and its non-essential status within Ling Shan's faction, how could it possibly shake Ling Shan's system or reverse the competitive relationship between Ling Shan and the mortal world?

True to form, Xin Yi wasn't so easily swayed. He Lingchuan calmly replied, "Compared to Ling Shan's sheer size, Panlong City is indeed tiny. But isn't a small place perfectly suited to be a testing ground?"

He paused. "The system I'm referring to might not be limited to just cooperation and dividends in the future. Changes in heaven and earth are subtle yet pervasive, and both we and Ling Shan should adapt to the times and circumstances. It's still the old adage: in the conflict between immortals and demons, it will come down to who can best adapt to and exploit the new rules!"

"If this approach proves viable, and both sides can enjoy the dividends of development and maintain long-term cooperation, then Ling Shan can propagate this successful experience both downward and outward," He Lingchuan said earnestly. "One Panlong City won't be decisive, but consider how many forces are under Ling Shan's command. If they can all benefit mutually, then through accumulation, like grains of sand forming a tower, how could the immortals' past unfavorable situation not be fundamentally reversed? And with Ling Shan serving as the central hub for all this, its influence over the common people will undoubtedly soar, and its prestige in the mortal world will surely be rebuilt!"

He saw clearly that what the increasingly declining Ling Shan truly craved was not merely wealth and profound crystals, but influence and authority over the mortal realm, over sects, and over nations.

The more one lacks something, the more one desires it. Losing something after having gained it is the most painful.

He Lingchuan stated solemnly, "Such an experiment must be done quickly; time waits for no one."

He also picked up a taro date to eat. "Oh, and we'll offer another condition: From this moment forward, for any new partner Ling Shan actively helps Panlong City secure, Ling Shan can take an additional 30% profit from all future commercial transactions between Panlong City and that partner. Ling Shan commands forces as numerous as the stars; wouldn't it be simple for them to act as matchmakers and earn such dividends?"

Xin Yi gazed at him for a moment, then smiled. "You rascal."

But Xin Yi didn't find He Lingchuan's proposal bad at all.

Wealth moves hearts, and Ling Shan was no exception. There was no reason for them to refuse money that was easy to acquire.

He Lingchuan chuckled. "Ling Shan only needs to act as a matchmaker and invest. They can collect golden eggs from this golden goose every year, without even needing to send people to manage the business. They won't have to exert themselves or worry; they can just sit back and wait for the money to roll in. Such good opportunities are rare in this world."

Panlong City faced numerous obstacles in establishing foreign relations and opening trade routes. If Ling Shan handled it, things would be entirely different.

To put it bluntly, Ling Shan would have no qualms about employing methods Panlong City could not.

He Lingchuan's proposals were designed to deeply bind Ling Shan and Panlong City through funding and cooperation. Otherwise, Ling Shan would continue its long-standing aloofness from the mortal world, claiming involvement without full commitment, essentially observing the rise and fall of mortal powers while retaining the ability to withdraw at any moment.

He Lingchuan wanted to use Panlong City to draw Ling Shan completely into this, not just for shared prosperity, but also for shared adversity. As long as Ling Shan entered the game this time, he had other methods up his sleeve.

He poured himself a cup of sea buckthorn juice and drank it all in one gulp. "I've talked myself hoarse. Are you satisfied, Mr. Xin?"

Xin Yi said helplessly, "All right, you've convinced me."

To be fair, Ling Shan hadn't originally intended to extract much tribute from Panlong City. While Panlong City had indeed developed well, from Ling Shan's perspective of overseeing the world, its territory was ultimately limited, which in turn determined its limited prosperity.

What Ling Shan valued most were its geographical location, the quality of its military and civilians, and the leadership abilities of Zhong Shengguang and General Hong.

Ling Shan sought this tribute primarily to confirm the relationship and status between the two parties.

Therefore, He Lingchuan's proposal sounded like a fantasy at first, but upon closer thought, it might not be impossible to implement.

"Panlong City and Ling Shan, if united, both benefit; if separated, both suffer. If we part ways, only our enemies will rejoice," He Lingchuan said earnestly, his smile gone. "The resurgence of spiritual energy across heaven and earth is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. If we can sincerely assist each other and rise with the tide, then Beijia and the Sky Demons will no longer be insurmountable obstacles."

He held this mindset in reality as well, which made his words doubly sincere.

Xin Yi also suppressed his smile.

But as he gazed steadily at He Lingchuan, watching the light in the valiant general's eyes, he couldn't help but sigh.

If Ling Shan could also be as united as Panlong City, would he still need to expend so much effort and worry?

"That's quite interesting; I'm also someone who can be swayed by money," Xin Yi said, standing up and stretching. "I'll write a letter to those old diehards and explain it thoroughly. But truthfully, this matter will be very difficult for me to handle. You haven't seen how stubbornly conservative the True Immortals are. Whether it will ultimately succeed, I can't guarantee."

The elder immortals of Ling Shan didn't interact with others as Xin Yi did. They would only view Panlong City as a subordinate, never seeing this bilateral relationship as "cooperation." For a superior, treating a subordinate inherently meant command and subjugation.

This was one of the problems Xin Yi had to address.

However, the key points He Lingchuan made today were very enlightening to him. He needed to organize them well before discussing them with Ling Shan's elders.

He Lingchuan was overjoyed. "Mr. Xin is wise and open-minded, so naturally, there's nothing you can't achieve."

Xin Yi chuckled. "What you've discussed with me today doesn't sound like terms Commander Zhong would offer. Are you perhaps..."

"Yes!" He Lingchuan no longer hid the truth. "Now that I've discussed it with you, I'll have to go back and convince him. Alas, Commander Zhong is far less open-minded and flexible than you, Mr. Xin! By acting on my own initiative, I'll probably get a good scolding."