Chapter 2197: New Changes in the Primordial Power

“If the celestials of Mount Ling could be as wise and devoted to the world, laboring tirelessly for the common good like Brother Xin, Mount Ling would not have declined day by day, constantly losing ground to sky demons who cannot even descend to the lower realms.”

He Lingchuan’s heartfelt words made Xin Yi’s eyes narrow slightly.

Laboring tirelessly for the common good? Where did this young man get that idea?

But He Lingchuan immediately raised his cup to toast him again, as if the comment had simply slipped out.

Yet, Xin Yi knew He Lingchuan was absolutely right.

For many years, he had seen through the true nature of Mount Ling and the Immortal Sect, and this realization had left him deeply disappointed and powerless.

It was no longer possible for Mount Ling to save itself, let alone the world.

Three days later, Xin Yi left the city.

Zhong Shengguang, He Lingchuan, and others saw him off, all the way to the Ten-Mile Pavilion outside the city.

Xin Yi waved one last time, departing with a broad smile.

His parting words to Zhong Shengguang were: “May Panlong City prosper indefinitely, and may Panlong City and Mount Ling watch over and assist each other!”

Zhong Shengguang reciprocated.

His words to He Lingchuan, however, were much more casual:

“I hope you and Master Sun will soon achieve your desired outcomes.”

Both knew that with him embarking on such a long journey, it was unlikely they would meet again.

Xu Shichu, the head of Shumin Academy, watched Xin Yi’s figure recede into the distance and sighed deeply: “Mr. Xin is a remarkable individual; alas, all feasts must eventually end.”

He and Xin Yi had a great rapport.

“In life, meetings are like duckweed gathering and scattering.” Zhong Shengguang patted his shoulder, then turned to He Lingchuan, whose face was grim.

He Lingchuan knew what Xin Yi was returning to the Sand River Basin to do, having learned it from actual history. This meant Mount Ling’s plan had already been set in motion.

To divert Beijia’s attention, would Zhenren Qianhuan, who currently governed Mount Ling, choose to betray Panlong City?

If that were the case, all He Lingchuan’s efforts would only have delayed the historical tragedy for a time; it would still inevitably occur.

Zhong Shengguang immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Recalling Mr. Xin’s warning before his departure, I’m greatly concerned Mount Ling might go back on its word.”

He Lingchuan had already informed Zhong Shengguang of Xin Yi’s warning, so Zhong Shengguang fully understood his apprehension.

“When soldiers come, we’ll block them; when water comes, we’ll find a way to deal with it. We simply need to be prepared.” He comforted He Lingchuan, then added, “Let’s head back to the city; Old Xu and I have something to discuss with you.”

The group returned to Panlong City. Zhong Shengguang summoned He Lingchuan and Xu Shichu to the training ground behind the government office, where he first cleared the area, then erected a barrier.

He rarely spoke in ambiguous or bureaucratic terms to his subordinates, and this time, he directly asked He Lingchuan:

“What have you felt recently when using Yuan Power?”

There were only three people present.

“It’s a bit strange,” He Lingchuan replied truthfully. “On one hand, the Yuan Power is unprecedentedly solid, almost tangible; but on the other, it’s far more vibrant than before.”

A red glow emanated from his body, a deep crimson tinged with a hint of purple.

This was what was referred to as “red turning purple.”

Previously, Yuan Power was merely a layer of red light covering the body’s surface, without any discernible thickness. Now, however, the Yuan Power on He Lingchuan was so concentrated it appeared almost substantial. When He Lingchuan extended his arm, the other two observed closely and could see the red glow flowing along his skin. Though incredibly slow, it truly resembled the cold air emanating from a freezer on the coldest winter days.

While touching it still yielded no sensation, observing it with the naked eye revealed—

“It’s somewhat like spiritual energy,” Zhong Shengguang and Xu Shichu exchanged surprised glances.

Spiritual energy exists in various forms throughout the world: mystic crystals are solid, Imperial Dew is liquid, and He Lingchuan had even seen gaseous spiritual energy during a morning in the Inverted Sea—faint greenish wisps clinging to the ground and plants, slowly flowing and evaporating, then dissipating with the first rays of the sun.

Indeed, it bore a resemblance to the Yuan Power currently emanating from him.

Xu Shichu immediately remarked, “General Huyi’s Yuan Power is so solid, it’s no less potent than General Hong’s. Commander Zhong allocates the same Yuan Power to all Panlong City’s great generals, yet the Yuan Power emanating from you is indeed the most potent.”

General Hong had gone into seclusion a few days prior, so she was not included in this comparison.

Xu Shichu’s statement was predicated on the understanding, shared by all three present, that the laws governing Yuan Power had recently shifted again, causing increased fluctuations. Consequently, the Yuan Power levels of each commanding general in Panlong City varied slightly.

However, He Lingchuan’s Yuan Power level far outstripped that of the other generals, putting him in a league of his own.

While such a disparity might seem odd elsewhere, in Panlong City it felt entirely natural. With General Hong already serving as a shining example, everyone was simply pleased to see another valiant general emerge.

Xu Shichu praised, “General Huyi’s widespread recognition and admiration among the populace and the army are truly exceptional. Panlong City is incredibly fortunate to have a general like him.”

Were these words heard by other leaders, they might well instill caution or even fear toward He Lingchuan. But Xu Shichu knew Zhong Shengguang was not like that.

Zhong Shengguang indeed said without hesitation, “Excellent, even better than I expected.”

His brows unfurled, clearly indicating his excellent mood.

He Lingchuan knew it was time for the main topic: “I’m all ears.”

“Yuan Power has existed in this world for over two millennia, and countless individuals have sought methods to utilize it.” The unique properties of Yuan Power have captivated both rulers and cultivators, driving their research. “They hoped to draw Yuan Power into their own bodies, storing and refining it for personal use just as spiritual energy is stored, but without exception, they all failed.”

He Lingchuan nodded. “Yuan Power always adheres to the surface; it cannot be introduced into the body.”

Yuan Power had long been a subject of diligent research within Panlong City, and He Lingchuan immediately showed great interest when Zhong Shengguang brought it up.

The laws of Yuan Power were subtly shifting. Whoever grasped the new patterns first would likely gain a significant advantage in the forthcoming competition. This was no laughing matter.

Although He Lingchuan had a close connection with the Great Square Flask, the research capabilities in Glimmering Gold Plains were relatively limited. Moreover, Yuan Power was profoundly mysterious, its secrets only accessible to those in high positions, leaving him with almost no one in his immediate circle to consult.

At this juncture, Panlong City’s significance once again became apparent.

As a current collaborator of the Great Square Flask, Zhong Shengguang himself possessed a deep understanding of Yuan Power. With numerous capable generals like General Hong and General Huyi under his command, along with researchers such as Xu Shichu, their progress would undoubtedly be faster than He Lingchuan working alone.

“Strictly speaking, Yuan Power cannot be introduced into living organisms,” Xu Shichu continued. “Consequently, some sought to circumvent this limitation by storing Yuan Power within magical artifacts.”

“Didn’t that prove successful?” He Lingchuan asked with a smile. “The National Grandmasters of various countries all manipulate Yuan Power in this manner.”

To cite a recent example, Hong Chenglue once lent a highly-mimicked Green Intent Bottle to Nian Zanli, enabling him to draw water from the great river and destroy Zhao Pan’s grand encampment. That artifact was a treasure only immortals and national grandmasters could activate. Given the scarcity of spiritual energy at that time, Nian Zanli certainly couldn’t have managed it on his own; he had to forcibly activate it by overdrawing the Yuan Power of his entire army.