Chapter 2118: Going to the Battlefield

By the last few sentences, he was almost talking to himself.

He Xiao's unification of the Golden Plains was an unprecedented achievement that surely astonished many. However, his swift decision to launch an external campaign, especially against the State of Ya, left Fu Shanyue, and likely other nations both large and small, utterly bewildered. Did this fellow truly believe he could win?

Taozi asked, "Then why fight?" What did the fate of Bailie have to do with the Golden Plains?

"I can only surmise one reason for his sudden intervention in this war: revenge and establishing authority," Fu Shanyue said, rubbing his temples. "But considering all angles, the risks outweigh the benefits. Even the State of Mou is reluctant to get involved; why did he insist on choosing this moment?"

"Even my father said before he left that after Cangyan's establishment, the most crucial task would be to recuperate and build up national strength to prepare for future turmoil." From a young age, the phrase that resonated most deeply with him was, "If one isn't ruthless, one cannot stand firm."

Although He Xiao had ended millennia of conflict and re-established a vast and powerful nation, it was a well-known fact that "no strong nation existed in the Golden Plains." Even the most powerful State of Yao was already fragmented when the Dragon God Army intervened, preventing it from unleashing its full combat potential. Even though He Xiao proclaimed himself the reincarnated Dragon God, the war to annex the Golden Plains was viewed by major powers like Beijia and Mou as nothing more than "chickens pecking at each other." Chickens are chickens; if one wishes to prove oneself a phoenix, one must first defeat a hawk, mustn't one?

The State of Mou's failed attempt to seize the Yangshan Archipelago had already created friction between Mou and Cangyan. Meanwhile, the State of Ya was boasting everywhere that they had defeated the Dragon God Army as if they were beating their own children. In summary, the State of Cangyan certainly needed several decisive victories in foreign wars to silence external criticism and establish its authority. Status and dignity are earned through force.

Yet all these issues circled back to one critical question: Could they win?

If they won, everything would be well. If they lost, the State of Cangyan's upright image and the Nine Nether Emperor's undefeated record would suffer a fatal blow. Even the confidence of the nation's military and civilians would be shaken, which would be the most devastating consequence. And don't forget, Cangyan initiated this conflict; it was a battle they insisted on fighting. Fu Shanyue believed that the surrounding powers were watching intently, evaluating the strength of both sides and awaiting the outcome of Cangyan's first foreign war since its establishment. Would this be a moment of triumph, declaring "We are here!" to the world, or would they suffer a major setback and be forced to endure humiliation while quietly rebuilding? Fu Shanyue rubbed his hands, feeling an unbidden sense of nervousness.

Three days later.

For two continuous days, rain fell ceaselessly, cloaking the entire mountain forest in mist. The damp air was thick with the wild scents of grass and earth. He Yue's shoes and legs were caked with leaves and mud, and a spiderweb clung to his sleeve cuff. The so-called "exile's path" was certainly not for ordinary travelers; after crossing the State of Ya's border, it immediately led to cliff climbs, followed by sinkholes and wild caves. Out of a four-day journey, three were spent navigating the mountainous coastal region. Yet, his spirits were high because Taozi had told him that once they crossed this low mountain, they would enter the plains, and the path would become much easier. After one more day of travel, someone would arrive to meet them.

He Yue finally understood why the Crown Prince of Chiyan had sent this small girl as both guide and bodyguard. She appeared sweet and delicate, with skin so soft it seemed one could pinch water from it, yet she traversed mountains and valleys as if walking on flat ground, never even breathing heavily. Her stamina far surpassed that of anyone in He Yue's group of seven or eight.

Along the way, they encountered a group of bandits. This path for exiles wasn't exclusively known to them; bandits also lay in wait, ambushing those who illegally crossed the border. Around forty bandits were utterly routed, fleeing in disarray. Afterward, He Yue discovered Taozi was missing and felt a momentary pang of worry. However, she returned safe and sound about half an hour later. When speaking with He Yue, she couldn't help but let out two satisfied burps.

"Ah, the Yangshan Archipelago is wonderful in every way, except it's not very convenient for feeding on blood and flesh."

Yet, He Yue's keen sense of smell seemed to detect a faint scent of blood. He vaguely suspected the truth: the king and prince of Chiyan were both 'Ba', beings who relished human blood. This young girl was likely one as well. It was truly a land of demons, home to all manner of bizarre creatures. Moreover, she was adept at earth-burrowing techniques! He Yue knew that humans rarely possessed such a talent. Therefore, either she wore a magical artifact for burrowing, or she herself was truly not human.

He even gossiped with Taozi about it, and her answer was unexpected: she was a young orphan girl rescued by Fu Shanyue and He Xiao.

Oh well, he wouldn't inquire further. He wondered how his older brother had managed to escape the Northern Demon Nation after burning down the Star-Picking Tower years ago. During their journey these past few days, he also questioned Taozi about the events that had unfolded in the Golden Plains. Taozi's knowledge was incomplete, limited to only the most crucial major events. Yet, even that was enough to repeatedly astonish He Yue:

Organizing a vast merchant association that spanned the Golden Plains;Leading the Black Armored Army to uphold justice across the Golden Plains in the name of the Nine Nether Emperor;Undermining the rule of the State of Yao;Seizing the perfect opportunity presented by the fall of the Miao Zhan Heavenly God and the fragmentation of the State of Yao to establish the Dragon God Army and embark on the ambitious task of unifying the Golden Plains!Defeating the former Imperial Advisor of Beijia and annihilating the State of Yao, thereby completing the final piece of a vast new territory.

Any one of these numerous great feats, if accomplished by another, would have been sufficient to secure a place in history. Yet He Lingchuan accomplished every single one in a mere three and a half years! The Golden Plains, which had been divided for nearly a thousand years, finally achieved grand unification under his leadership.

The more He Yue listened, the more a sense of unreality settled over him: The formidable figure who accomplished this unprecedented, millennial feat was, unbelievably, his own older brother! He knew better than anyone what his older brother had been like, having grown up with him. This was certainly not the brother he was familiar with. Before this journey, father and son had a rare heart-to-heart conversation. He Chunhua had confessed that he previously suspected his eldest son's soul had been replaced. At the time, He Yue was full of contempt, believing his father was merely fabricating an excuse for sacrificing his son for personal gain. However, after arriving at the Yangshan Archipelago and hearing about his brother's deeds, he too understood his father's apprehension. His brother's transformation was too drastic and too peculiar, far exceeding the bounds of normal understanding.

The further they advanced, the more cautious Taozi became, often stopping to wait. From this point onward, they were in the territory patrolled by soldiers of the State of Ya. At least three times, patrols from the State of Ya passed directly in front of the bushes where they were hidden. Fortunately, Taozi proved reliable, ensuring their journey was filled with close calls but no real danger.

At the edge of the forest lay a large lake, whose outflowing waters flowed directly towards the sacred lands of the State of Ya. Taozi walked to this spot, looking left and right, before finally choosing a white birch tree. She crushed several small, round objects and smeared their liquid onto the tree trunk. He Yue watched from the side, wondering if they might be some kind of animal egg sacs.