Chapter 2175: Targeted Trial Against the Gods

"What if Mou State suffers a crushing defeat? That wouldn't be good for us, would it?"

"Silly child, how could Mou State lose so easily?" He Lingchuan burst into laughter. "How long has Mou State been fighting Beijia? Both sides know each other inside out. A nation that has stood strong and prospered for over a century right next to Beijia – do you really think a few battles will bring it to its knees?"

Great nations have deep reserves; they can't be ruined by just a few missteps.

"Mou State's victory is simply a matter of cost." He stopped pressing He Yue and stated his conclusion directly. "The price it pays will certainly not be small, which is something it previously tried to avoid at all costs. Since Ya State could compromise with us before, it won't fight Mou State to the bitter end. The international landscape in this region has undergone a transformative change. Both Ya State and Mou State will have to consider the formidable power lurking nearby, watching like a tiger. If they fight each other to the death, others will easily profit from their struggle. Therefore, Mou State must first sign an agreement with us before it can fully commit to the conflict."

Lingguang, who was sitting by the window eating fruit, pointed at He Lingchuan when she heard the words "formidable power."

"Lingguang is truly clever." Even the Medicine Ape understood.

He Yue pondered for a long time. "Facing the same war with Ya State, why were you, Brother, able to withdraw in time, but Mou State cannot?"

His brother was clearly the instigator of these major battles! Yet, he simply walked away, completely untainted.

He Lingchuan looked at him with a hint of appreciation; asking this question showed he was thinking more deeply.

This child is teachable.

But He Lingchuan did not enlighten him this time. "Battlefield situations are ever-changing; what seems like a hair's breadth difference can lead to vastly different outcomes."

He should ponder this question more on his own.

"Alright, go have your meal. I've instructed the imperial kitchen to make sweet-skin duck, your favorite."

He Yue knew his place, immediately took his leave, and palace attendants guided him.

The Crimson Firmament Golden Hall was truly enormous, several times the size of Shen State's royal palace; even palace attendants could easily get lost if they stepped outside their assigned service areas.

When He Yue first arrived in Jucheng, it was a bright, sunny day. The majestic splendor of this Immortal Palace under the sunlight left him with an incredibly stunning first impression!

In the past few days, dedicated guides had taken him to tour and explain the various scenic spots within the Crimson Firmament Golden Hall.

The Illusion Sect had spent thousands of years meticulously constructing the exquisite gardens and halls; the Treasure Tree and Jade Forest situated halfway up the mountain, for instance, had flowers of specific colors that bloomed according to each season. In this season, vibrant pink and blue blossoms were unfurling, appearing gentle and serene like a dream, set against the backdrop of flowing clouds and mist.

However, regardless of the Crimson Firmament Palace's grandeur and opulence, the Great Emperor Jiuyou had no time to spare it even a glance.

Even though he was right there.

From the moment He Yue arrived at the Ya State battlefield, he witnessed firsthand how busy his brother was. Once, for five consecutive days, his brother didn't eat, subsisting only on the elixirs meticulously prepared by Lingguang.

No matter how nourishing the spiritual elixirs were, they couldn't compare to the effects of proper meals. But when the Great Emperor was busy, he couldn't even spare fifteen minutes to eat.

The palace attendants also said that the Emperor usually worked late into the night. The longest he had slept in the past ten days was merely four hours.

The phrase "forgetting to eat and sleep" was no exaggeration when applied to the Great Emperor Jiuyou.

His diligence was even more extreme than that of King He Chunhua of Shen. It was already remarkable that he could spare even a moment to guide his younger brother.

He Yue sighed silently.

His brother had started from nothing; none of his successes were unearned.

He Lingchuan sent his brother away, then asked Lingguang to leave as well. Only then did he close the doors and windows tightly, take out a statue, place it in the southeast corner of the room, light an incense stick before it, and then sit down to wait.

When the smoke coalesced into a blurry human face, he finally asked, "You're looking for me?"

"Did you obtain the Godhead of Fate from Bailei?"

Of course, only Naraka Tian would ask such a direct question, getting straight to the point.

This showed the importance He placed on the question.

"Your information is quite well-informed," He Lingchuan said, crossing his legs, taking the opportunity for a brief midday rest himself.

When he completed the Godhead of Fate, although the Lu family, the Mou Guards, and the Black Armored Army were present, they likely couldn't comprehend what was happening. Even if Commander Huang returned and recounted the entire incident, could Mou State's high command, based solely on their descriptions, confirm that the Lu family's relic was a Godhead?

So, where did Naraka Tian get this information?

Most likely, He had informants within Mou State's court.

The relationships between the Deities, Beijia, Mount Ling, and Mou State were truly a tangled mess, full of both opposition and connection.

He Lingchuan neither denied nor equivocated because Naraka Tian was the former owner of the fragments of fate. No other Deity could possibly understand the meaning of "fate" more profoundly than He did.

He flipped his palm, and the Golden Serpent with Ring floated up out of thin air, faintly glowing in the secret chamber.

"It truly is the Godhead of Fate!" Naraka Tian's voice sounded exceptionally emotional. "To think it would be restored in your hands."

This was originally His supreme treasure, yet it was absorbed by the Grand Flask. Now, it had fallen into the hands of His intended vessel, and was even fully restored!

Fate truly loves to play tricks on mortals and gods alike.

He Lingchuan was somewhat impressed by Him too. Any other deity would have exploded with rage; how could they calmly continue a conversation with someone who had taken their Godhead?

"To dare give you such a lethal divine artifact, the Grand Flask truly disregards your life!" Naraka Tian sneered. "However, with your current abilities, it's impossible for the complete Godhead of Fate to acknowledge you as its master! If the Grand Flask hadn't intervened, you would never have passed the Godhead of Fate's trial!"

He Lingchuan smiled; that was all in the past.

"Heh, that's a trial meant for deities! You, a mere human who hasn't even reached immortal status, how could you possibly be qualified to undergo it?"

"Were you also tested back then?"

"Naturally!" Naraka Tian's tone was self-evident. "How proud are the Godheads of ancient deities? How could they easily acknowledge a master! How did it test you?"

He Lingchuan didn't conceal anything, explaining it in a few words. There were advantages to communicating with the Godhead of Fate's previous owner.

"'Know Thyself!'" Naraka Tian laughed loudly after hearing this. "'Know Thyself' is merely the shallowest level of fate; it's certainly not the style of this particular Godhead."

The very proposition that people spend their entire lives exploring was merely the most superficial one for the Godhead of Fate.

He Lingchuan's heart stirred slightly. "Does the Godhead of Fate give the same test to every trial participant?"

"It changes based on you; don't expect any standard answers." Naraka Tian didn't hide His malice. "Just wait. If you want its full acknowledgment, you likely have a very long road ahead, and other trials to endure."

"Before you, two Deities who underwent the trial of fate died! Heh heh, and the one you hold is the complete Godhead of Fate! I hope you can make it through, at least until we meet."