Chapter 2204: Increasingly Dangerous Situation

However, there were several challenges. Firstly, the Yangshan Archipelago is vast, its islands are dispersed, and it is guarded by King Yinhui, making a comprehensive clear-out difficult. Secondly, and most importantly, Blade Harbor, which faces the Yangshan Archipelago across the sea, is now under Cang Yan's control.

Given the close relationship between Emperor Jiuyou and Fu Shanyue, Mu Nation could no longer sail from Blade Harbor as they once did. To take the Yangshan Archipelago, they would have to launch an expedition from their own ports.

The shortest distance to the archipelago is over four hundred li. If a conflict broke out, how would they manage subsequent supplies? The enemy in Yangshan could easily acquire more weapons. Moreover, Mu Nation was unsure of Cang Yan's reaction. What if Cang Yan sent troops to support the Yangshan Archipelago? Emperor Jiuyou's actions were always unpredictable.

A final concern was that Chi Yan would not stand by idly if Yangshan was attacked. Was Mu Nation prepared to open a second front against Beijia? For all these reasons, Mu Nation had delayed taking action.

Nevertheless, given all the factors, Mu Nation was deeply displeased with Beijia's military vessels assisting Ya Nation.

"There are over six thousand people, including officers, soldiers, logistics personnel, and accompanying civilian merchants. Apparently, civilians make up sixty percent," He Lingchuan shook his head. "Isn't that absurd? Why would civilian ships detour into Mu Nation's distant waters?"

Mu Nation's coastal waters were not restricted to civilian or merchant vessels.

Fu Shanyue's letter also mentioned that the attacking force against Beijia's fleet was a massive army of sea monsters, including giant whales, flat pythons, and stonehead fish, but the most numerous were the Yaksha.

Stonehead fish are about half the size of humpback whales, but they have a massive, hard bone at the front of their heads, resembling a boulder. Some even have a protrusion like a giant hammer. They use this "stonehead" to severely injure other large sea beasts. Similarly, it's very effective for attacking ships; one ram to a wooden hull creates a large hole.

As for the Yaksha, they are a general term for a type of sea creature with diverse appearances, similar to those He Lingchuan encountered in the Upside-Down Sea. He later learned that True Man Qianhuan's creations were based on real Yaksha samples, not purely imaginary.

Du Shan said, "Your Majesty, the Yaksha clan is Mu Nation's naval force!"

He Lingchuan stroked his chin. "Are they Tower Island Yaksha?"

There are different clans of Yaksha, usually divided by region. For instance, his treasured halberd came from the Nest Sea Yaksha King. However, a Yaksha clan known as the Tower Island Yaksha is indeed active in Mu Nation's Tower Island region. They are responsible for patrolling Mu Nation's southern waters. Passing ships that cross their navigation lanes are either expelled or forced to stop.

From this, it seemed that Beijia's military ships were indeed sunk by Mu Nation. Survivors from the Beijia ships also reported that after the Yaksha and other sea monsters capsized the vessels, they devoured people indiscriminately, staining the surrounding sea red with blood. Yes, monsters from both Beijia and Mu Nation did this.

"This is no small matter. Beijia has just been humiliated by Mu Nation and is furious."

Du Shan immediately said, "Ya Nation has just been defeated by Mu Nation. If this incident escalates, it will only benefit Cang Yan." He then sighed, "Cang Yan truly has astonishing national fortune!"

If the war between these two great powers escalated, Cang Yan would become a crucial ally for them to win over, and He Lingchuan would certainly hold more leverage.

"Regardless of whether their war escalates, Mu Nation should be contacting us soon," He Lingchuan told him. "Make some preparations."

"Yes."

After Du Shan left, the Soul-Capturing Mirror asked He Lingchuan:

"It's not that serious yet, but if Beijia and Mu Nation go to full-scale war, will the Yangshan Archipelago become particularly dangerous?"

The Yangshan Archipelago is a vital shipping lane connecting the Glittering Gold Plains with the west. Mu Nation had long been displeased with its presence but had refrained from further action to avoid escalating conflict with Beijia. If Beijia initiated an all-out war against Mu Nation this time, would Mu Nation, with no more reservations, dispatch troops to seize the islands? After all, Mu Nation had always harbored resentment about having such a thorn in its side.

The process might be difficult, but in the face of a great power's determination, could the Yangshan Archipelago be defended? Conflict between Beijia and Mu Nation affecting Cang Yan's maritime trade was something Cang Yan wished to avoid.

He Lingchuan shook his head. "Not yet. If the war between their two nations escalates, Mu Nation would least want to offend me. At such a time, blockading or seizing the Yangshan Archipelago would make them an enemy of Cang Yan. Mu Nation struggled so much to defeat Ya Nation; how could they dare to open two fronts now?"

The Dragon God Army might not currently be stronger than the Ya Army, but Cang Yan possessed astonishing strategic depth and significant war potential.

"So, will their war really escalate?"

"It's highly likely," He Lingchuan offered his assessment. "With hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers lost and five great generals sacrificed, Mu Nation's war losses have greatly depleted its strength. Beijia might seize this opportunity to deliver a severe blow to Mu Nation." He wasn't the only one who saw an opportunity; Beijia also perceived Mu Nation's weakness.

"Furthermore, too much Imperial Nectar has erupted in recent years, causing some imbalance in spiritual energy between the demon world and the human world. After the Ya-Mu war, there haven't been any significant major wars in the human world, but the Sky Demons still require large amounts of nightmare energy," He Lingchuan slowly continued. "Previously, Beijia could incite conflicts in various regions to satisfy its master. Now, with the Glittering Gold Plains unified under me and Shen Nation stabilizing the western countries, the world's overall situation is actually tending towards stability. Since Beijia can't provoke others, perhaps it will have to enter the fray itself."

Otherwise, how could the Sky Demons be satisfied?

The mirror gasped. "If Beijia and Mu Nation fight to the death, will the human world's spiritual energy be drained again by the Sky Demons?" The Mu-Ya war alone caused over 800,000 casualties among young adults. What if Beijia and Mu Nation fought an intractable war? The human world's spiritual energy had just begun to recover; would it return to its state ten years ago?

"Not necessarily," He Lingchuan was not so pessimistic. "Firstly, no one else can absorb the spiritual and nightmare energy from the Glittering Gold Plains, ensuring the livelihood and production of Cang Yan's people. Secondly, the Demon Emperor is also cunning and seasoned. Beijia will not easily throw everything into war, at least not initially."

Beijia only wished for others to bleed and die; it did not want to sacrifice itself to fill the gods' appetites.

"Then, Master, do you believe the war will escalate?"

"Because Qing Yang fell, the Demon Emperor's power was severely weakened," He Lingchuan smiled. "Before the Immortality Elixir incident, the Demon Emperor had Qing Yang's strong support and was absolute in Spirit Void City. In recent decades, Beijia rarely initiated large-scale wars, only bullying weaker nations and powers. Even its wars with Mu Nation were slow and grinding. While this stemmed from Beijia's own deep-seated issues, it also reflected the Demon Emperor's will. He personally experienced the War of Abyss Nation and the War of Coiling Dragon City and knew that such wars inflicted immense losses on Beijia."

"But after Qing Yang was banished to Yao Nation, the original power dynamic was broken. The Heavenly Palace grew stronger, Nie Xiaolou's prestige was far inferior to Qing Yang's, and the Azure Palace's status was suppressed by the Autumn Palace."

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