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Chapter 2196: Hidden Crisis

He Lingchuan smiled. "They all want the other side to fight Beijia for them. Unless this vicious cycle is broken, Lingshan will never get the results it desires, even if they repeat this pattern a hundred times."

Xin Yi pondered, "Are you saying..."

"A leader with integrity possesses it from start to finish! How can you expect them to kowtow to Lingshan first, and then stand unyielding against Beijia?"

He Lingchuan enunciated each word: "Lingshan's method first filters out capable individuals and talented generals, leaving only cowards and weaklings. Do you truly believe that such crooked roots can yield good shoots?"

Xin Yi was deeply moved and remained silent for a long time.

For years, Lingshan had been reflecting on why it failed to cultivate effective forces, compiling dozens of reasons. However, no one had ever pinpointed the issue as incisively as He Lingchuan.

What frustrated him even more was that He Lingchuan was clearly right, yet Lingshan simply couldn't change.

Lingshan couldn't avoid seizing the world's spiritual energy or supporting the Immortals; otherwise, Lingshan itself wouldn't exist.

The fundamental conflict between Lingshan and local political powers ensured that while they appeared cooperative, they were deeply at odds and couldn't genuinely work together.

Neither of them mentioned why Beijia, supported by the Sky Demon, had succeeded.

The answer was obvious.

Furthermore, the Sky Demon had only this one major success story; all its other endeavors had also ended in failure.

"In this world, only independent forces like Panlong City, which have been resilient and unyielding from the start, can resist Beijia and fend off the Sky Demon. With more such forces, our ultimate chances of victory will significantly increase," He Lingchuan finally steered back to the main topic. "Brother Xin, countless past failures have also proven that relying on Lingshan is not a viable path. Ultimately, we can only depend on ourselves."

Given Xin Yi's position, He Lingchuan patiently reiterated his points.

"Ourselves?" Xin Yi sighed softly, a look of wistfulness on his face. "You're right, we can only rely on ourselves. To be frank, I've often put myself in that position and pondered how to build a strong nation that can both contend with Beijia and break the strange cycle where spiritual energy rapidly declines after its resurgence."

He finally couldn't help but voice these thoughts.

He Lingchuan immediately said, "That won't be easy, but in my opinion, there's only one core principle—"

Xin Yi instinctively pressed, "What is it?"

"Firmly grasp autonomy in your own hands!" He Lingchuan declared solemnly. "Minimize Lingshan's interference in your nation and prevent Lingshan from bleeding your country dry!"

Xin Yi remained silent, deep in thought.

"This will certainly not be easy," He Lingchuan said as he poured him wine. "But consider this: Beijia's Demon Emperor is constrained by the Sky Demon and its vassal demon nations, a helplessness that has existed since its very foundation. A newly emergent autonomous nation, however, wouldn't be subject to such restraints and could act wholeheartedly. With such powerful autonomy, as long as it withstands the trials, why wouldn't it eventually surpass Beijia?"

Xin Yi looked at him closely. "General, you've thought about this more deeply and thoroughly than I have. It seems you often ponder such matters. What, are you also very interested in founding a nation?"

Someone without ambition would certainly not think to this extent.

He Lingchuan smiled without speaking.

It wasn't just that he thought this way; he was actively doing it!

"General Huyi, you are a talent rarely seen in this world; it's truly a pity for you to be confined to such a small place." A hint of longing appeared in Xin Yi's eyes. "East of Beijia lies a vaster realm, where you could soar ninety thousand miles high. What do you say, come with me?"

Given his status, experience, and composure, he had never made such a direct invitation to anyone before.

He Lingchuan lifted his bamboo chopsticks and pointed to the phoenix tree outside the door. "No matter how beautiful this tree grows, its roots are in Panlong City. If you transplant it ten thousand miles away, even if it survives, it might not flourish as it does now."

This was a refusal.

Xin Yi also looked up at the phoenix tree, and after a long silence, sighed:

"What I wish to take ten thousand miles away is not this tree, but the phoenix perched upon it. Where is a phoenix not a phoenix? Where can it not reign supreme in the heavens? Moreover, even if it were this tree, it could at least survive the transplant."

"Brother Xin, what do you mean?"

"Since I'll be leaving soon anyway, I'll tell you something frankly." Xin Yi seemed to have hesitated for a long time before deciding to speak his mind.

He Lingchuan straightened up and sat attentively. "Please speak, I'm all ears."

"Do you remember the various agreements Panlong City signed with Lingshan recently? That was when Baisha Bay nearly blockaded the Mao River trade route."

At that time, Lingshan also wanted to deploy its Spirit Gathering Array in Panlong territory, but Zhong Shengguang repeatedly refused. Displeased, Lingshan withdrew all aid to Panlong City and instructed Baisha Bay to embargo all Panlong City goods.

At that time, He Lingchuan approached Xin Yi, and both acted as intermediaries, persuading Zhong Shengguang and Lingshan respectively to make concessions, replacing tribute with investment.

He Lingchuan knew the difficulty and wasn't confident it could be achieved, but Xin Yi indeed held significant sway within Lingshan and ultimately managed to persuade the Immortals.

He Lingchuan's heart skipped a beat. "Is there a problem?"

How long had it been, and what new complications could arise?

Xin Yi said softly, "Don't think that reaching an agreement means you can rest easy. Some Immortals are already dissatisfied, believing the original tribute method was better."

He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow. "Why? In actual calculation, the original method yielded less profit."

"However, the original method was simpler, clearer, and more straightforward," Xin Yi coughed lightly. "After signing the agreement with Panlong City, it will take at least one to two years to see returns, and the share received each period isn't fixed, making it difficult to calculate. Furthermore, helping Panlong City negotiate with nations and local powers along the second sea route, while yielding a share, is... too arduous."

He spoke subtly, but He Lingchuan still smiled, not bothering to conceal his disdain.

Naturally, taking tribute money was easy and effortless. Once accustomed to such easy gains, how could they possibly be willing to earn money through hard work?

But where in the world is there so much easy money? Lingshan's inertia is too great for it to change, and this type of income is destined to shrink in the future.

In the short term, however, Lingshan's discontent posed a threat to Panlong City, and it was unclear when it might erupt again.

"I will be returning to the Sand River Basin soon and can no longer mediate for you," Xin Yi said earnestly. "Panlong City has signed many agreements with Lingshan, and you must be wary of certain Immortals within Lingshan who might try to exploit the effectiveness of these agreements."

This was no longer a hint; it was an explicit warning.

Considering his background and position, this was quite remarkable.

"Thank you, Brother Xin." He Lingchuan stood up and bowed in gratitude.

Xin Yi's revelation of Lingshan's true attitude toward the agreements was very important to Panlong City.

Knowing Lingshan's intentions, Panlong City could prepare in advance and respond accordingly in the future.

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