Chapter 414: Detailed Account of Beija's Past

"For the past four hundred years, hasn't Beiga itself been quite turbulent?"

"Yes. Both within and among its vassal states, large and small wars have erupted, not to mention countless conflicts, frictions, and disputes. When it was founded, there were only twelve vassal states; at one point, there were seventeen, indicating both fragmentation and annexation. Now, it has returned to twelve."

"Twelve?" He Lingchuan's heart stirred. It was the 17th year of the Coiling Dragon Era, and Beiga only had twelve demon kings. However, in his time, a little over a hundred years later, there would be thirteen – one more.

"With such internal chaos, why hasn't Beiga disintegrated?" He Lingchuan sighed. "Our home country, Xiluo, is currently plagued by the struggles of its own warlords."

Sun Fuling smiled, "After centuries of chaos, I suppose they've gained a lot of experience, haven't they?"

"..." To remain intact despite the turmoil was indeed a unique skill.

"Alright, jokes aside. The authority of Beiga's Demon Emperor is unshakeable, which is quite different from other feudal systems, including our Xiluo," Sun Fuling said, clearing her throat. "No matter how chaotic Beiga gets internally, or how fiercely the demon kings fight among themselves, the Demon Emperor's command is always obeyed without question."

"I recall that 120 years ago, the vassal demon states of Suoluo and Baixiang were locked in a fierce battle when Beiga suddenly launched an expedition against the State of Yu. Suoluo and Baixiang immediately ceased hostilities, each dispatching seven thousand troops to accompany the Demon Emperor. The Demon King of Suoluo even sent his own son. The funniest part was that these two armies, which had been fighting to the death and inflicting casualties on each other just a month prior, were now grouped together, eating, living, and sleeping side by side."

He Lingchuan couldn't help but ask, "That worked? Nothing went wrong?"

"Oh, things did go wrong. Historical records show a hundred casualties from internal strife, but those were all from private brawls and duels. Officially, these two armies still had to cooperate against the enemy," Sun Fuling said leisurely. "After that war, the Demon Emperor returned to the capital, and the demon kings took their troops back. Suoluo and Baixiang then resumed the fight they hadn't finished."

"Indeed, it's astonishing." Generally, when vassal kings grow powerful or rebellions erupt, it's often due to a weakening central monarchy—a clear shift in power. However, Beiga's Demon Emperor firmly holds ultimate authority. Despite the disputes among the demon kings below him, he remains securely in control, and no one can escape his grasp.

"Other countries can't achieve this. Is it because the Demon Emperor's authority comes from the gods?"

"Of course," Sun Fuling nodded unequivocally. "While Beiga's founding emperor was undoubtedly a natural genius, capable of transforming a tiny state into a powerful one and ruling tens of millions of humans in his demon form, ultimately, it was the gods who brought him the greatest unifying power. Otherwise, how could he command these dozen or so unruly demon kings so effortlessly?"

For the past two thousand years, demons have declined, pushed into remote mountains and forests by humans for a reason. In terms of individual combat strength, how could humans compare to demons? What they lacked was cohesion.

"So Beiga venerates the gods so highly, with the entire nation showing reverence." What they revered was the very foundation of their state.

Of course, it could also be a requirement from the gods. Otherwise, why would the gods help the Demon Emperor rule Beiga? Out of kindness?

"Then other countries could also worship the gods. Why can't they become another Beiga?"

"This question has been raised before, and there's no definitive answer. The fact of the matter is, whether it's an individual or a nation revering the gods, it always seems to offer hope of victory, but almost none have come to a good end, except Beiga," Sun Fuling said softly. "My personal guess is that the problem probably lies with the gods themselves. They might not be a single entity; we know nothing about their organizational structure or how they communicate."

"Just as you previously hypothesized, the formation of the Emperor's Dew is related to the demise of gods." She smiled faintly. "I imagine they aren't a monolithic entity on the inside either."

"So, what do the gods gain from Beiga?"

Hearing the question, Sun Fuling paused slightly, swirling the wine in her cup. "For two or three millennia, the presence of gods has permeated the evolution of the human world. What do you think they're after?"

He Lingchuan thought deeply for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't know."

The gods left the human realm after the cataclysm, and theoretically, they should no longer interact with this world. Yet, He Lingchuan could always sense their presence. From Sun Fuping and Hong Xiangqian, all the way to the Beiga Empire he had just entered. The influence of the gods was everywhere.

"Perhaps finding the answer will explain why they chose to help the Demon Emperor?" Just then, a fluttering sound of wings came from above, and a figure descended from the sky, landing on the low table.

This was another old acquaintance of He Lingchuan's: the Sparrowhawk.

"What are you doing here?"

"Resting my feet." The sparrowhawk stared intently at the braised beef on the table. "I'm starving."

He Lingchuan retorted, "Aren't there enough magpies in this city for you to eat?"

"I'm tired of them," it replied. "Having to pluck feathers before every meal is quite tiresome. Sometimes, I just want ready-to-eat food. I often fly near your house, otherwise, the fish in your pond would have been gone long ago."

It was now seeking credit.

Sun Fuling pulled off a small piece of beef and tossed it to the sparrowhawk, which caught it precisely and swallowed it with an upward tilt of its head.

It ate too fast to taste anything. It slightly parted its beak: "More?"

He Lingchuan picked up a piece of roast chicken and dangled it in front of the bird. "First, tell me, what major news is there in the city recently?"

"Nothing in the city, but there's something outside," the sparrowhawk replied, hopping down and slowly approaching the roast chicken.

After a raptor lands, it walks with a waddle, not much different from a goose strolling down the street.

Seeing it panting with its beak open, Sun Fuling realized it was very tired, so she poured a bowl of water for it. "You've flown for a long time; drink some water first."

Indeed, the sparrowhawk drank large gulps of water, allowing Sun Fuling to stroke its back feathers.

"The ruler of Xiji State died three days ago. I just returned from Xiji State and have already reported the news to Commander Zhong."

"Xiji State?" He Lingchuan frowned. "Isn't that the state blocking the eastern end of Coiling Dragon Wasteland?"

"Yes," Sun Fuling interjected. "Ten years ago, Xiji State was still part of Xiluo's territory, but it was seized by the Changhou people, who then established Xiji State as their own. The leader of the Changhou people, the ruler of Xiji, certainly had some capabilities, but it seems his life wasn't long enough, and his descendants aren't particularly promising."

Whether a hero or a warlord, one needs to live long enough to defend the territory they've conquered.

"How can you tell his descendants aren't promising?" As someone from the future, He Lingchuan was well aware of Xiji State's ultimate fate.

"The area around Xiji State is not peaceful, and a major event like the death of a ruler can easily trigger instability. If his son were intelligent and vigilant, he would keep the death a secret and buy time for a swift transition of power. The fact that this situation was discovered immediately makes me think Xiji State is in trouble." Sun Fuling asked the sparrowhawk, "Who will inherit the throne?"

"The third son, Hu Yan Zhao."

He Lingchuan asked Sun Fuling, "Do you think Coiling Dragon City will seize this opportunity?"

"Why ask me?" Sun Fuling smiled. "You should ask Commander Zhong."

The sparrowhawk pecked at his trouser leg with its sharp beak, finally getting a piece of roast chicken. It closed its eyes halfway, savoring the taste. "Hmm, delicious."

"Oh, right, I have something for you." He Lingchuan washed his hands thoroughly before taking a booklet from his bosom and handing it to her. "See if this suits you."

"The... Divine Reverence Record?" Sun Fuling's eyes lit up. She took it and flipped through a few pages, her pace quickening. "This is a journal written by Beiga's Demon Emperor Wu Chen in his later years. Where did you find it?"

"I bought it from an out-of-town merchant," He Lingchuan said with a slight cough. "It's for you."

He had asked Second Boss Shi to find it in the city after he arrived in Fufeng City. The Demon Emperor's journals were widely copied and collected by Beiga's upper-class nobles, so he suspected Fufeng City might have one. Sun Fuling had mentioned wanting this journal when they were on Spirit-Nurturing Island last time.

Sun Fuling's face was beaming with joy as she eagerly began to read. But after flipping through a couple more pages, she sniffed. "This handwriting looks like yours?"

"Uh, I copied it," He explained. "Physical copies couldn't be brought into the dream, so I had to memorize the entire text and transcribe it in the dream. Fortunately, my spiritual awareness is growing stronger, so memorizing a three-thousand-character essay isn't a big deal now. The old original was dilapidated; a few flips and it would crumble. It was just easier for me to copy it for you... Is my handwriting too ugly?"

"Not ugly at all," Sun Fuling said, smiling. "I really like it. Thank you!"

They looked at each other in silence, yet it felt as if everything was understood without words.

The sparrowhawk cautiously stretched its head out and snatched a piece of beef from the plate, trying to avoid making any sound. But the piece of meat accidentally knocked over an empty wine glass with a sudden "clink."

Sun Fuling cast a glance down at it. The sparrowhawk shrank its neck, the piece of beef still clutched in its beak, unsure whether to swallow or hold on to it.

He Lingchuan coughed, changing the subject. "Beiga's system has been all-encompassing for over four hundred years. Has no demon state ever managed to resist it?"

"Over the past four centuries, at least seventeen or eighteen regicides have seized power. Because the gods did not acknowledge or consecrate them, they attempted to break away from Beiga and establish their own states," Sun Fuling said, raising her cup and taking a sip. "Without exception, they all failed."

"The forces of Spirit Void City were too powerful, and more than ten other demon states joined in the expeditions. With odds like ten against one, these regicides had no chance of victory. For the next two or three hundred years, everyone obediently submitted, no longer daring to challenge the authority of the celestial gods and the Demon Emperor," she recounted. "It wasn't until a little over twenty years ago that another exception arose."

"Oh?" He enjoyed hearing about exceptions.

"The new ruler of Yuan State, one of the twelve demon states, refused to be consecrated by the gods and sought independence from Beiga. It so happened that at that time, three other demon states in Beiga were engaged in a chaotic internal war, preventing a timely response from Spirit Void City. The latter dispatched troops three times, but surprisingly, they were all defeated by Yuan State. The Demon Emperor was furious and launched a full-scale assault with the nation's combined might. Yet, Yuan State resisted fiercely for over three years before finally falling."

"Yuan State was quite defiant," He Lingchuan commented with curiosity. "Are there any books in the Imperial Library about the battles that took place during those years?"

"Very few. After all, Beiga is too far from us, and this event occurred over twenty years ago," Sun Fuling sighed. "Coiling Dragon Wasteland has also been under siege for over a decade now."