Chapter 2208: Great Slaughter of Mitiãn

“But as you all know, the biggest obstacle to taking Xiluo is Beijia,” Zhong Shengguang said in a deep voice. “We can certainly seize Xiluo, but it’s better to deploy troops later than sooner, and to claim it later than earlier.”

His pronouncement settled the matter, and the others no longer pressed the issue.

Zhong Shengguang had made it abundantly clear that Panlong City would eventually seize Xiluo; it was merely a matter of time.

Against a behemoth like Beijia, wasn't it essential to employ strategic methods?

The group continued their discussion for a long while before finally adjourning.

Zhong Shengguang cast a glance at He Lingchuan, who instantly understood the unspoken signal.

Fifteen minutes later, He Lingchuan made his way to Zhong Shengguang's office.

Zhong Shengguang was already back. Upon He Lingchuan's arrival, he immediately asked, "What's your take on the upheaval in Xiluo?"

He Lingchuan understood the question and promptly replied, "It's a good opportunity for us, but I'm unsure who the mastermind behind it is."

"You don't believe it's Beijia?"

"It offers no substantial benefit to Beijia," He Lingchuan added. "It might benefit the Sky Devil, but not necessarily Beijia; in fact, it's caused them considerable trouble. Beijia is currently embroiled in fierce conflict with the Lingshan forces to the east, so they wouldn't welcome any unexpected shifts on the western front."

"Well said, that's precisely the logic."

Observing Zhong Shengguang's expression, He Lingchuan's heart stirred. "Could it be that you know the mastermind?"

Zhong Shengguang didn't answer. Instead, he rose, closed the door, activated a protective barrier, and even produced a Devil's Eye to scan the room, ensuring there were no eavesdropping abilities or tiny creatures present.

This Devil's Eye was only ever used during Panlong City's most secretive military councils. Seeing it, He Lingchuan knew that whatever Zhong Shengguang was about to say would be of immense significance.

Once the room was confirmed clear, Zhong Shengguang put away the Devil's Eye and uttered something seemingly irrelevant yet utterly earth-shattering:

"Mitian's true form is about to descend. If it's quick, it could be in half a month. At the very latest, it will be within one or two months!"

He Lingchuan's heart gave a violent lurch.

Was this moment finally upon them?

Even he, usually so composed, felt his throat go dry. "When?"

"Mitian may have sensed our intentions. General Hong hinted to me that she could feel Mitian's malicious intent." He continued, "Due to Mitian's repeated divine descents, General Hong shares a form of synesthesia with her—a spiritual resonance, allowing her to occasionally perceive Mitian's emotional shifts. This sensation is profound and difficult to articulate."

He Lingchuan nodded. Given that they were plotting against Mitian, it was natural that Mitian wouldn't be a pushover.

Zhong Shengguang pointed upwards. "According to the intelligence I've received, over a month ago, Mitian went on a killing spree in the heavens. Together with Xalitian, she killed one True God, severely wounded another, slew seventeen Lesser Gods, and sixty-nine Subordinate Gods. The number of ordinary divine beings killed is unknown. The Gods of Lingxu are now enraged, pursuing her throughout the entire Demon Realm."

He Lingchuan immediately knew this was ominous. "Her unrestrained slaughter means she's already secured an escape route."

What escape route? The best would be to descend into the human realm.

"Before Mr. Xin left, he mentioned that in the past, Sky Devils would occasionally die mysteriously in the Demon Realm. The Lingxu Gods suspected Mitian because all the deceased Sky Devils had participated in the War of the Three Sacred Gods. However, there was never any concrete evidence," Zhong Shengguang said, his expression grave. "Mitian has now completely dropped the pretense and resorted to outright slaughter. This indicates she has no intention of remaining in the Demon Realm any longer."

"In fifteen days, there will be another major surge of Emperor's Dew," He Lingchuan calculated, counting the days. "And in just over a month, the accumulated Emperor's Dew resulting from Mitian's recent rampage will begin to burst forth, in truly immense quantities."

"Abundant spiritual energy will be advantageous for her activities in the human realm." Mitian's slaughter of her own kind wasn't merely for vengeance; it was also to create a more favorable environment for her descent.

Killing two birds with one stone.

Mitian's actions, combined with the current environment in the human realm, objectively corroborated General Hong's premonition. The critical question now was:

"When will she choose to descend in her true form?"

"It likely won't be during the Emperor's Dew outburst," He Lingchuan mused. "Since Mitian is wary of us, she'd know we'd be at our most vigilant on the night of the Emperor's Dew."

"I've asked General Hong," Zhong Shengguang said, his face grave. "She estimates her current body can now withstand seventy percent of Mitian's power, long-term! The spiritual energy of heaven and earth is increasing too rapidly. Although General Hong intentionally tries to suppress her cultivation, Mitian performs irregular checks, causing her power to still surge too quickly."

Any other parent would be beaming with pride if their daughter's cultivation advanced so rapidly. But for him, the old father, only sorrow filled his face.

He Lingchuan's own heart felt heavy.

Mitian could already descend with seventy percent of her power! General Hong's body was now almost perfect for Mitian, capable of handling nearly any unforeseen event in the human realm. As for the remaining thirty percent, it could simply be temporarily stored in the Great Square Jar.

Despite the apparent prosperity of the entire Panlong territory, a crisis for both General Hong and Panlong City was already looming!

"Once Mitian's true form descends, what will become of General Hong herself?"

Zhong Shengguang replied grimly, "Even if she isn't devoured, I fear she may never see the light of day again."

Currently, Mitian only descends occasionally, leaving General Hong herself in control most of the time. But once Mitian's true form descends, she will fully occupy that body twenty-four-seven. What chance would General Hong's spirit have to ever reappear?

"Panlong City faces utter annihilation."

With General Hong and Panlong City working in unity, this territory has flourished. But if Mitian descends and acts solely on her own will, who could possibly stop her?

He Lingchuan looked at Zhong Shengguang, realizing that Mitian's descent in her true form would likely also be Zhong Shengguang's end.

Zhong Shengguang would most likely disapprove of whatever Mitian intended to do.

Without eliminating Zhong Shengguang, she wouldn't be able to truly control Panlong City and the Great Gale Army.

Considering Mitian's brutal actions in the heavens over the past month, it was clear she would act in the human realm without any moral compunctions.

He Lingchuan could sense Zhong Shengguang's apprehension and anguish.

Sacrificing his daughter and welcoming Mitian was a decision he had made years ago. Although Zhong Wuhuan had expressed her willingness, and it had been a desperate measure at the time, he still had to bear the immense risk of losing his daughter and unleashing calamity upon the world.

At this juncture, any words of comfort would be utterly hollow. Moreover, the most crucial matter wasn't solace, but rather a strategy.

"What about the Bright Lamp?"

"It's already refined and ready for immediate use," Zhong Shengguang replied. The Bright Lamp was his contingency plan for Mitian's divine descent.

He Lingchuan breathed a small sigh of relief.

"Now that things have come to this, I won't keep anything from you," Zhong Shengguang said, walking to the table and slowly sitting down, his voice a mix of relief and profound sorrow. "My daughter Wuhuan's cultivation has progressed with astonishing speed, rarely seen in history. But she is, after all, a human soul, and quite young. There's simply no way she could possibly contend with an ancient divine demon like Mitian!"

Mitian was a True God of the Demon Realm, even the Lingxu Exalted Ones were wary of her, and she bore the epithet "God of War." In her youth, she had effortlessly routed True Person Qianhuan. The resilience of her divine soul was such that not even the combined might of Zhong Wuhuan, barely in her twenties, along with Zhong Shengguang and He Lingchuan, would be any match for her.

Yet Zhong Shengguang was still preparing for a desperate struggle, which indicated he had a hidden ace.

"Can the Bright Lamp truly counter her?" He Lingchuan knew that this long-held secret was finally about to be revealed.