Chapter 2168: Self-Proving

In fact, Lingshan also intended to clarify its relationship with Cang Yan and He Xia personally as quickly as possible. However, Wang Xingyi's most pressing task on this trip was to resolve more specific issues, as ambiguity would certainly fail to achieve his objectives.

After a slight hesitation, he stated, "On this diplomatic mission, I come representing the Emperor of Mou."

He Lingchuan then sat with him in a pavilion located in a corner of the garden, where attendants promptly served fine wine and fruit. Though the weather was warm, tiny beads of water clung to the wine glasses and fruit, indicating they had just been taken from an ice cellar.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, neither side hastened to get to the main point. Instead, they discussed the rebellion that occurred years ago in the Yangshan Archipelago during the Imperial Dew. Wang Xingyi mused:

"Your Majesty possesses great magnanimity. Back then, when Wan Qifeng and his nephew plotted to usurp your islands, you instead brought them into your fold. Just now, upon entering, I noticed several individuals sporting the Bailong tribal hairstyle. Oh, and I heard that the Afu Sea region, which Cang Yan acquired from Ya Kingdom, was also the original homeland of the Bailong people?"

"That's correct. The Bailong tribe has pledged allegiance to me and serves my purpose. I had previously promised them that one day they would return to their ancestral land."

"Your Majesty's integrity is evident."

"Without trustworthiness, people cannot stand; without it, a nation cannot flourish," He Lingchuan stated meaningfully. "Both Mou Nation and Cang Yan conduct their affairs according to the principles of 'trust' and 'reason'."

Wang Xingyi nodded, fully understanding the implication. Well, he certainly laid out his intentions right from the beginning.

He Lingchuan then inquired about Fang Canran: "Is there any news of Mr. Fang? He departed from me several years ago."

Wang Xingyi shook his head. "After he returned from Shanjin, he came to take his leave, stating he had gained profound insight and wished to travel far and wide. I couldn't dissuade him. From that day, he vanished without a trace."

Cultivators come and go like duckweed, gathering and dispersing, some never to be seen again in a lifetime. He Lingchuan felt a touch of melancholy. Where Fang Canran had gone, He Lingchuan truly didn't know. For safety, Fang Canran seldom sent news; a letter might not even arrive in six months, and when he did write, it was only about everyday matters, never directly revealing his whereabouts. He Lingchuan could only deduce from Fang Canran's descriptions of local customs and scenery that he had traveled through the western and southern territories of Shen Nation.

Yet Fang Canran's achievements were extraordinary, for He Lingchuan had learned from various deities that a vast number of Dragon Punishment Pillars had mysteriously appeared in the human realm! The order that the demon realm had painstakingly stabilized was suddenly disrupted once more. Previously, when Miaozhantian's true form descended to the lower realm, it resulted in the Lingshu deities losing eight hundred Dragon Punishment Pillars. Despite extensive scavenging in recent years, they had been unable to recover so many. With a sudden new eruption of Dragon Punishment Pillars in the human world, how could the Lingshu deities possibly let such an opportunity pass? In the past two years, the Imperial Dew continued to erupt constantly, a phenomenon no longer attributed to Miaozhantian's demise. Fang Canran, a mere cultivator, had acted as an arrow, stirring up unrest between the two realms and indirectly altering the fates of billions of living beings.

After choosing several common topics and sufficiently warming the atmosphere, Wang Xingyi finally spoke: "Your Majesty knows why I have come. Our nation is deeply shocked by the death of Lu Zhensheng, head of the Lu clan, and by the changes that have taken place in Bailie and Blade Port!"

He explained the reasons behind Mou Nation's military presence, emphasizing that he still referred to Lu Zhensheng as "Head of the Lu Clan." This implied that Mou Nation did not acknowledge the Great Emperor Jiuyou as Bailie's new sovereign. Due to this non-recognition, Cang Yan's actions—whether seizing Bailie or claiming Blade Port—were viewed by Mou Nation as an invasion and forceful occupation! Consequently, the Mou army had justification to deploy troops to expel Cang Yan's forces on behalf of Bailie and Qing Nation. To avert such a conflict, the Great Emperor Jiuyou would need to earn Mou Nation's trust. This process, in particular, was worth discussing.

"Everything boils down to emotion and reason," He Lingchuan said, unsurprised. Given Mou Nation's disposition, it would be astonishing if they readily conceded. "Has Commander Huang already reported the events?"

During the Lu Estate incident, Commander Huang of Mou Nation and ten other individuals were direct witnesses to the entire affair. Upon their return, they would surely report every detail precisely, without omission. He Lingchuan had no need to re-describe the process; he merely had to identify himself.

"Commander Huang's account was exceptionally detailed," Wang Xingyi nodded. "The entire focus is on the Lu family's treasure. How can it be demonstrated that you inherited this artifact, rather than forcibly seizing it?"

He Lingchuan gave a faint smile. As expected of the Royal Preceptor, and Lingshan's envoy, he immediately sought to put He Lingchuan in the difficult position of having to prove himself. Didn't you, Great Emperor Jiuyou, just claim to adhere to the principles of trust and reason? Now is the time for you to present your arguments and evidence. If the Great Emperor Jiuyou and Cang Yan wished to uphold their personal and national standing, they would need to provide irrefutable evidence!

Wang Xingyi immediately continued, "To be frank, the Lu family's statements and support are biased, and our nation cannot accept them as credible." This meant that even if He Lingchuan called upon the Lu family elders as witnesses, it would be futile, due to their perceived "bias." Who could say what motivated these Lu family members to acknowledge He Lingchuan as their new patriarch? Perhaps they were threatened, or perhaps they sought a more powerful patron. The more significant reason, of course, was that Mou Nation did not care about them, much less their testimonies. Wang Xingyi's stance was unequivocal: the Great Emperor Jiuyou must provide a reason that would persuade Mou Nation; otherwise, this major conflict would be unavoidable.

"Commander Huang didn't quite grasp what the Lu family's ancestral treasure truly was, did he?"

"It was merely described as a formidable artifact."

He Lingchuan chuckled, "After all these years, has Mou Nation never actively sought to understand the Lu clan's heirloom?"

"Within our nation, under Lingshan's dominion, reside many ancient cultivation families, far older than our own country. We respect these esteemed houses and would never deliberately pry into their ancestral treasures."

What treasures others possess are their private affair. If Mou Nation and Lingshan were to exhibit a probing, covetous demeanor, what family would dare to remain here for long?

"Indeed," He Lingchuan agreed. With a flick of his wrist, a golden wheel materialized and hovered above his palm. It floated in the air, gleaming with a faint golden light. Its form was that of a golden serpent perpetually consuming its own tail, yet never quite finishing, causing the entire golden wheel to revolve slowly.

Wang Xingyi observed it, his expression subtly shifting. As Lingshan's adjudicator, his cultivation and discernment were extraordinary. At this moment, the golden wheel evoked contradictory sensations within him. On one hand, he could discern every minute detail of the golden serpent biting its tail, even the serrations along the edges of its scales. Yet, he could not genuinely perceive its tangible presence; it felt like an illusion, a mere reflection on water. On the other hand, he distinctly sensed the immense danger it contained—this was unequivocally not something any living being could casually touch!

So, did it truly exist, or was it an illusion?

He Lingchuan then extended it slightly forward, presenting it openly for Wang Xingyi to observe. "Please, Royal Preceptor, examine it, but consider carefully before reaching out. Any living being that touches it instantly perishes; it has claimed many lives."

If Wang Xingyi were to overestimate himself and die there, it would constitute an extremely grave diplomatic incident. He Lingchuan certainly wished to avoid such trouble.