Chapter 554: Zhong Shengguang and the Red General's Disagreement

No, that's not right. After the last great battle in Xinhuang Town, the Nightmare Qi collected by the Bayard's disciples using the Punishment Dragon Pillars was pitifully small. This indicated a powerful competitor at the time, which He Lingchuan suspected was the Grand Square Vessel.

If the Grand Square Vessel could also collect Nightmare Qi, would Mitian still need to create Punishment Dragon Pillars?

Shao Jian also didn't recognize the object. "What is this?" he asked.

"This item can collect a vast amount of human Nightmare Qi and can also pass through the Heavenly Net Barrier through sacrifice. Every deity will love it," Mitian said with a slight smile. "I've named it the Punishment Dragon Pillar."

He Lingchuan's expression remained unchanged, but his heart stirred once more. The Punishment Dragon Pillar was named by Mitian. Did that mean she was its originator? However, the Frost Leaf Imperial Advisor's disciple claimed that the tradition of collecting Nightmare Qi for transcendence had continued for four or five hundred years.

"A vast amount?" Shao Jian's face instantly changed. "Can Nightmare Qi be collected artificially? Your Punishment Dragon Pillar...?"

"Of course," Mitian replied, handing him the bronze tube. "Once the Punishment Dragon Pillar is activated, all the Nightmare Qi within a ten-li radius will be drawn away, day and night."

"This, this..." Shao Jian was momentarily speechless.

"Nightmare Qi is to the Heavenly Gods what spiritual energy is to all things in the world. They have always been researching ways to privately collect Nightmare Qi, but with little success," Mitian said slowly. "Without the Grand Square Vessel, no one could create a Punishment Dragon Pillar."

He Lingchuan's ears twitched. So, the key to creating the Punishment Dragon Pillar was the Grand Square Vessel? This alone gave the deities reason to covet the Grand Square Vessel.

"What is the task you're entrusting to me?"

"I've created many Punishment Dragon Pillars using divine remains." The one in her hand was clearly just a sample. "You and your people must deliver them to the nations and common folk who worship lesser gods and evil deities, and explain their function clearly. Remember, don't let them trace anything back to you during this process..."

Divine remains? He Lingchuan's heart stirred. So, that's why General Hong infiltrated the Xiji royal palace to retrieve divine remains last time. This meant that, historically, Panlong City was the true origin of the Punishment Dragon Pillars? The Bayard's Imperial Advisor had lied to his followers.

"I used aliases when acquiring business assets in various countries..." Shao Jian hadn't finished speaking when the door to the Hall of War creaked open, and Zhong Shengguang strode in.

"Brother Shao!"

Shao Jian smiled heartily and stepped forward to greet him. "Commander Zhong!"

The two men clasped fists, patted each other's shoulders, and genuine smiles lit their faces. From this gesture alone, He Lingchuan could tell that their relationship was quite deep. It could be said that a significant portion of Zhong Shengguang's life trajectory had changed because of Shao Jian.

"It's been three years since we last parted," Zhong Shengguang sighed. "Time passes too quickly."

"You seem to be in much better spirits now," Shao Jian chuckled. "Three years ago, you were still lamenting to me, but now you're full of vigor!"

Panlong City had been severely exploited by its mother country five years ago, and three years ago, it hadn't fully recovered. Zhong Shengguang faced internal and external challenges, toiling tirelessly every day. Now, however, Panlong City had not only regained its footing but also achieved substantial development, so Zhong Shengguang's demeanor was naturally different from before.

However, Zhong Shengguang's gaze swept across the table, and upon seeing the Punishment Dragon Pillar, his expression changed. "This is..." He looked at Mitian. "You actually made it?"

Mitian hummed in affirmation. "Shao Jian is about to take them out and deliver them into the hands of other deities."

Zhong Shengguang clearly hesitated before saying, "It's best to deliberate on this matter at length."

"At length?" Mitian's gaze slowly turned to his face. "Do you think we have a lot of time?"

"Once other deities obtain the Punishment Dragon Pillars, they will surely collect Nightmare Qi with all their might."

"Otherwise, the Nightmare Qi will also be absorbed by the Heavenly Net, leaving little in the human realm," Mitian said indifferently. "To quickly restore spiritual energy in the human world, the most effective method is to incite civil war among the Heavenly Gods and bring about their downfall. Is there any dispute about this?"

He Lingchuan's eyes shifted slightly as various thoughts flooded his mind. The implications of that statement were enormous.

Zhong Shengguang must have known all this already, as he continued, "I'm afraid that in order to seize more Nightmare Qi for themselves, they will first try to instigate wars in the human realm." How else could humans die suddenly and in large numbers during their youth and prime, the period when their life essence is most abundant? Only war, perhaps. Only war could generate the most Nightmare Qi in a short time.

Mitian said coldly, "Does this world look very peaceful to you now?"

Zhong Shengguang shook his head. "If, because we've created the Punishment Dragon Pillars, wars become more frequent and lives are utterly devastated, then it would go against the Heavenly Dao and our original intentions!"

"Can the Heavenly Dao and your original intentions overthrow the Bayard, or the Heavenly Gods?" Mitian's eyebrows shot up, and she advanced on him step by step. "Zhong Shengguang, have you gone soft? It seems to me that after conquering Xiji, you truly wish to take the opportunity to return to Xiluo!"

Standing by the door, He Lingchuan felt unprecedented pressure. The divine might suddenly unleashed was like a mountain collapsing before him, impossible for human strength to resist. He wondered what Zhong Shengguang, who was directly facing her, was feeling at that moment.

Zhong Shengguang's body swayed twice, and a flush spread across his face, but he kept his back ramrod straight. He said sternly, "Absolutely not! We have a prior agreement!" At the same time, he gestured to He Lingchuan and Shao Jian. The two immediately left the Hall of War.

As He Lingchuan closed the door, he heard a loud crash from inside.

Shao Jian pressed his neck. "The long table?"

He Lingchuan whispered, "Eight-hundred-year-old ironwood. What a pity."

The four guards in the courtyard also looked towards the Hall of War at the sound. He Lingchuan waved his hand at them, and the four guards no longer paid attention. This place was called the Hall of War, so what was strange about an occasional commotion? However, the hall soon became quiet; Mitian had evidently set up a soundproof barrier.

Zhong Shengguang had made a pact with the deity during the divine offering. As long as the agreement wasn't broken, Commander Zhong should be safe. He Lingchuan wasn't worried about this.

Shao Jian, meanwhile, smiled at him. "You know my name, but outside, my surname is Wu and my given name is Shan. I travel through many countries, managing several merchant teams."

He Lingchuan immediately said, "Mr. Wu." Clearly, after completing King Yuan's commission, Shao Jian hadn't retired but had adopted a new identity to continue traversing the world, gathering information. He Lingchuan knew well that traveling merchants were one of the best means to conceal one's identity and gather intelligence. He also felt deep respect for King Yuan's nephew.

Shao Jian didn't know what the young man was thinking, but he could sense the respect emanating from him. "Just earning a meager living, constantly on the move," Shao Jian said casually, then asked, "Did you participate in the war against Xiji?" To rise quickly in the Great Wind Army, one largely relied on military merits.

He Lingchuan smiled. "From start to finish."

Shao Jian patted his arm and said sincerely, "Good lad!" Talented young people were the hope of this city.

Not long after, the door to the Hall of War reopened. Shao Jian and He Lingchuan walked back inside. The latter closed the door behind them, noting that the tension in the hall had dissipated, and Mitian had returned to her aloof demeanor. However, the long table made of ironwood had been broken into two halves. The break was uneven, not as if cut by a sharp instrument. He Lingchuan felt a chill. Even cutting eight-hundred-year-old ironwood with a *Fusheng* blade wouldn't be easy without activating its *Pojun* effect.

"Proceed as planned, Shao Jian. Distribute all the Punishment Dragon Pillars at once. Be quick! Before the deities of Lingxu notice," she said sternly. "The faster you disseminate them, the safer you will be." If Shao Jian completed the rapid distribution of the Punishment Dragon Pillars and then retired and hid, even if the deities of Lingxu discovered their existence, it would be difficult to trace their origin. Once something new appears, there is always a process from its acceptance to its gaining attention.

"Conveniently, the new trade route from Panlong City to the southern seaport has been opened. You can take a ship out to sea, bypass the Bayard, and the speed will be two or three times faster than before." With the opening of the new trade route, Panlong City's connection with the outside world was greatly enhanced. This was a huge step forward.

"This time, I came to Panlong City via that new route," Shao Jian said. "However, no matter how I distribute them, I'm afraid the Punishment Dragon Pillars will eventually find their way to the Bayard."

"Eventually?" Mitian laughed loudly. "That would be ideal! Do you think the deities of Lingxu are a unified front?"

Shao Jian accepted this arduous task. He Lingchuan noticed that while she was assigning the task, Zhong Shengguang remained silent, his brows tightly furrowed. He disapproved but ultimately did not object. This small conflict indicated that Zhong Shengguang and Mitian were not a unified front. And they shouldn't be. He Lingchuan secretly sighed. How could there be unreserved, sincere cooperation between Heavenly Gods and humans?

Mitian asked Shao Jian, "You'll still be in Panlong City for the next few days, negotiating business and procuring goods, won't you?"

"Yes," he replied. Procuring goods openly while secretly carrying out his mission was Shao Jian's cover.

"This afternoon, Zhong Shengguang and I both have affairs to attend to outside the city." General Hong's gaze shifted, and she called He Lingchuan forward. "Broken Blade, while Shao Jian is in Panlong City, you will be his personal guard."

"Yes," He Lingchuan replied. This order was exactly what he wanted.

General Hong then handed him a black iron ring. "Inside this are 1,200 Punishment Dragon Pillars. You are to keep them temporarily. When Shao Jian leaves the city, you will hand them over to him." Clearly, she didn't fully trust Shao Jian and was concerned they might be stolen while he was out and about in the city.

Shao Jian was startled. "One thousand two hundred?"

He Lingchuan respectfully accepted it, kept it close, and was secretly astonished. That was a truly massive quantity. Not much time had passed since the last divine tomb expedition, yet Mitian could refine over a thousand Punishment Dragon Pillars? Was the difficulty of refining these things very low?

"As long as we have the Grand Square Vessel and the materials, we can have as many of these as we want, can't we?" Mitian sneered. "Why did I have to research and develop it? Because the demand for it will surely be enormous!" He Lingchuan shuddered at the implication of that last sentence.

Mitian then told Shao Jian, "Don't use them yourself. Some of these Punishment Dragon Pillars bear the aura of the Grand Square Vessel. The first time they are used, they might alert some Heavenly Gods worshipped by the Bayard, attracting unnecessary attention."

Shao Jian exclaimed in surprise, "Only the first time?"

"Precisely. Otherwise, if the Heavenly Gods of Lingxu caught them red-handed every time, how would other lesser deities dare to use them? That wouldn't be fun at all."