Chapter 394: Ling Seed

My father had toiled diligently for twenty years; could it all be for naught in a single day?

He Lingchuan felt that he wouldn't be defeated so easily.

"It's unclear where the fighting is now; Nian Zanli seems to be ill."

"There's a rumor," another official said, "that during Hong Chenglüe's support for Nian Zanli, he incited him to use a lost treasure from Qingyang Palace called the Green Serenity Bottle. That's how the battle was decisively won. Reportedly, some in Lingxu City are very unhappy about this action."

Just as I thought! He Lingchuan had always suspected that Nian Zanli had used a strategic-level artifact; otherwise, how could he have turned the tide? So that artifact is called the Green Serenity Bottle?

"What does the Green Serenity Bottle do?"

"I'm not sure about that, but it must be very powerful." After all, he wasn't an official from Lingxu City and wasn't privy to the details of these battles. He had already exhausted all his gossip resources just to learn the name 'Green Serenity Bottle.'

Another person asked, "They've already won the battle, so what's there to be unhappy about?"

"That treasure cannot be activated by the elemental power of just one army. I heard that Grand Tutor Frostleaf, with a wave of his hand, allocated a large amount of our Beijia's elemental power to Nian Zanli. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to use it even if he tried his hardest!"

He Lingchuan hissed softly, "If we give away too much, won't our reserves be depleted?"

"Exactly!" the official agreed. "That's why the elders in Lingxu City are protesting, saying it's a waste of strategic reserves. We still have conflicts in the east; how can we casually spend large amounts of elemental power on irrelevant wars?"

He Lingchuan murmured, "Irrelevant?"

Indeed, it's Nian Zanli, the Governor of Xunzhou, who is desperately attacking the south, and the northern demon nation hasn't deployed troops. So for the people of Beijia, isn't it irrelevant?

But if they don't intervene, why would the war in Yuanguo be so difficult?

"Furthermore," the official added, "why give so much elemental power to a surrendered general? He hasn't made any contribution to Beijia. Therefore, the Emperor commanded Grand Tutor Frostleaf to reduce the elemental power quota for Nian Zanli's army and recall Hong Chenglüe back to the capital."

Originally, officials could refer to the Demon Emperor as 'His Majesty,' but Lingxu City worships the 'Lingxu Sacred Venerable.' Using 'His Majesty' would be a transgression and disrespectful, so the title was changed to 'Emperor.'

In ancient times, 'Emperor' was the revered title for a high immortal who commanded a region, which shows that the Demon Emperor also held himself in high esteem.

He Lingchuan asked, "With the elemental power reduced, Nian Zanli's southern invasion will slow down, right?"

"Perhaps," the official replied. "It still depends on Yuanguo's resistance. If they're no match at all, then Nian Zanli might just march all the way to Yuanguo's capital."

Another official chuckled, "The Jiaguo is not a small nation. Although it's weakened now, even a starved camel still has hundreds of pounds of meat."

"When Hong Chenglüe is recalled to Lingxu City, what position will he take?"

"Haven't heard yet," the official said, shaking his head. "Perhaps he hasn't even reached Lingxu City yet? It takes a month or so for news to travel back and forth."

From Baoshu Nation to Lingxu City is quite a distance.

He Lingchuan had managed to gather the information he wanted to hear. He cupped his hands to the two men, saying, "Thank you, both."

Just then, the herald at the front announced again, "Ambassadors from Lingxu City arriving—!"

Instantly, the entire assembly stood up.

He Lingchuan turned his head to look. The delegation consisted of only seven or eight people, with those behind carrying gifts. The leader was a middle-aged man around forty. He held a ceremonial staff and gently touched it to the ground, announcing clearly, "By the Emperor's decree, the Baoshu King accepts the gifts!"

The ground trembled slightly. Only then did He Lingchuan realize that a massive creature was walking out from the depths of the main hall, step by step, and with a powerful, weighty movement, knelt before the Lingxu City ambassador's ceremonial staff.

It was a gigantic treant, standing approximately two zhang (about 6.6 meters) tall. Its entire body was a tangle of branches and vines, with tender leaves and white flowers growing at the tips of some branches.

It was immediately obvious that this was an avatar of the Baoshu King, representing its movement on the ground.

As it knelt, everyone else also knelt.

He Lingchuan slightly lifted his knees, not letting them touch the ground. Looking at the long slope, both humans and demons had also knelt down; not a single demon or human remained standing.

All living beings across the hills and plains knelt in submission to the might of the Beijia Demon Emperor.

The ambassador's clear voice resonated as he read the imperial proclamation. The content was nothing more than commending the Baoshu King for its past contributions to Beijia, wishing it a happy 800th birthday and bestowing gifts, and encouraging it to continue its efforts in safeguarding Beijia's southern gateway.

"Safeguarding the gateway..." He Lingchuan thought to himself. Other nations would be grateful if the demon nation simply refrained from bullying them.

When the ambassador finished reading, everyone stood up. The Baoshu King's Prime Minister, as usual, came out to receive the gifts on its behalf, and then led the ambassador to his seat.

He Lingchuan had long heard that the Baoshu King's Prime Minister had little presence and that Grand Tutor Sha was more influential in internal affairs. Now, observing Prime Minister Tang, he appeared somewhat short and plump, with fine eyebrows and eyes, and an exceptionally kind smile, which reminded He Lingchuan of Maitreya.

It was said he was an amiable person; as for whether his appearance matched his inner character, He Lingchuan couldn't say.

At this moment, the treant slowly ambled out of the White Cloud Abode, looked around, and let out a long sigh.

This sound resonated directly in everyone's hearts, like the tolling of evening drums and morning bells.

"I, who have lived for eight hundred years," the Baoshu King began, "have witnessed countless natural disasters and personally trodden through the flames of war. By the blessings of heaven and the grace of the divine, I still exist..."

As soon as the old treant spoke, the commoners and demons on the hillside knelt down again. It was evident that this time their sincerity was particularly profound. Some, listening to its expression of will, silently shed tears and began to chant along.

The giant tree in the lake radiated a faint golden light from its every branch and leaf.

The more devoutly the citizens of Fufeng City chanted, the more intensely the light on its body blazed, as if it were a second sun.

He Lingchuan was astonished.

Such density and purity of elemental power, he had truly never seen before.

The depth of the Baoshu King's popular support was clearly evident.

Then the golden light exploded, and everyone closed their eyes simultaneously.

When everyone slowly opened their eyes, they found white flowers blooming in the dense canopy of the giant tree in the lake—from dozens, to hundreds, to thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands...

The entire tree was covered in brilliant white.

The mountain breeze rose again, carrying the white flowers, which floated and drifted towards the shore like a heavy snowfall.

Every person and every demon picked up a white flower and, following the Baoshu King's previous instruction, gently placed it on their forehead.

Their minds became clear, and all sorrow and worries instantly vanished.

Afterward, the flower could be consumed.

He Lingchuan did the same, and then ate the entire flower in one bite.

It tasted sweet and fresh, surprisingly similar to a lily, with a dollop of fragrant nectar in the center. It was refreshing and invigorating to eat.

This was the Baoshu King's boon: as long as one consumed the flowers formed from the giant tree's life essence, chronic illnesses and wounds would heal without medicine, while those without illness would be strengthened. However, it had to be consumed on the spot; it would lose its efficacy after fifteen minutes.

The atmosphere across the entire scene reached its peak. Countless people bowed in profound gratitude to the Baoshu King from afar, thanking it for its generous gift.

He Lingchuan also bowed deeply towards the tree in the lake. Whether he was sincere or not, he had received the benefit, and it was only proper to express thanks.

However, his chest suddenly felt warm.

He looked down and saw that the divine bone necklace was glowing again. Of course, only he could see the red light.

What had this thing taken a fancy to now?

He Lingchuan looked around and suddenly realized that the golden light that had swept across the entire scene earlier had actually condensed into the old treant's hand, forming a dense ball of light.

Finally, this ball of golden light slowly dispersed, and the old treant held a golden fruit in its hand.

It was slightly larger than a lemon, dark golden all over, and exquisitely beautiful.

The divine bone necklace couldn't possibly want this, could it? He Lingchuan took two large steps towards the old treant, and indeed, the heat from the divine bone necklace diminished.

A guard nearby stopped him and said sternly, "Please step back!"

Order was maintained at the site, and even VIPs were not allowed to wander freely.

He Lingchuan took two steps back, and the necklace became hot again.

As expected, the divine bone's taste—or rather, its appetite—had always been rather discerning.

He Lingchuan sighed deeply. "Brother, do you want me dead?"

Although he didn't know the specific use of this seed, seeing the old treant, Prime Minister Tang, and Grand Tutor Sha huddled around it, treating it like their lifeblood, he knew that anyone who dared to mess with it would die. No matter how benevolent the Baoshu King appeared, it wouldn't be lenient with him.

Stealing the remains from Aunt Zhu's place last time was one thing—that was 70% luck. But trying to steal a seed right under the Baoshu King's nose—was that even possible?

The Heart-Protecting Mirror let out a long 'Wow!' "That seed is truly a treasure!" it exclaimed. "I can feel the power it contains!"

It wanted it too, but knew it couldn't have it. "Oh well," it muttered, "I'll just settle for a twig!"

Shi Er Dangjia heard He Lingchuan's sigh and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," He Lingchuan replied. "This flower is really delicious. Can I have another one?"

The nearby guard replied, "Its spiritual effect is only once. Taking more would be useless."

He Lingchuan shrugged regretfully and looked at the old treant in the main hall.

Hmm, is it really impossible?

He needed to think carefully.

The seed was handed to Prime Minister Tang. He faced the people and announced loudly, "The twenty-six territories of the Northern Border have gained another guardian!"

A cluster of people on the slope immediately cheered.

"Excuse me, what does that mean?" He Lingchuan asked the guard next to him, who was human, so communication was unobstructed. "What's the connection between a guardian and this seed?"

"Every guardian is an avatar of our King," the guard explained. "They can strike down invaders, repel enemies, and ensure peace in a region. Those cheering now are all residents of the Northern Border. After waiting so many years, their turn has finally come."

"They weren't assigned, so they had to wait?" He Lingchuan asked curiously. "It's been eight hundred years; surely the entire nation should be filled with our King's avatars by now?"

The guard shook his head. "I'm new to this duty, so I don't know."

The Heart-Protecting Mirror interjected—of course, only He Lingchuan could hear it—"In the current environment, it's not easy for the Baoshu King to produce a spirit seed. Do you think it's laying eggs, producing countless ones in eight hundred years? Look at how grand today's ceremony is, yet it only produced one."

He Lingchuan then asked, "Is the northern border of Baoshu Nation adjacent to Chiyan Nation?"

Shi Er Dangjia interjected, "The northern border of Baoshu Nation is very long. To the northwest is Zhuolu Commandery, and directly north is Twilight Plain. Cross that great plain, and you'll reach Chiyan Nation."

"Twilight Plain?"

"That's one of the prefectures under central control."

"So where is this seed being sent?"

The guard replied, "It should be sent directly north."

Meaning, to the border region adjacent to Chiyan Nation in the north? He Lingchuan pondered.

North of Baoshu Nation are Twilight Plain, which is under Lingxu City's jurisdiction, and Chiyan Nation. Chiyan Nation, being one of the Thirteen Demon Nations, is not an external border of Beijia.