Chapter 1923: Don't Be Self-Moved

This supreme treasure inherently possessed the ability to turn the illusory into the real, and since it was to remain on He Lingchuan to undergo the tempering of the mortal world, the Great Great Great Fanghu quietly made some modifications to it. He Lingchuan was not surprised in the least; that Coiled Dragon Lonely City originally existing inside the Great Expansion Heavenly Pearl had trapped and killed True Person Qianhuan and Miao Zhantian alive — if this wasn't the Great Great Great Fanghu's handiwork, he would never believe it.

But at the same time He Lingchuan launched the Shanjin Grand Plan, the Great Great Great Fanghu lent him the Three Corpse Worms — this was truly a case of "a pillow delivered just as one grows drowsy," exactly what he had been hoping for.

How could these natives on the Shanjin Plains have anticipated that the Three Corpse Worms could be controlled by someone, and used as a secret weapon unafraid of Yuan Power?

The Kesha Clan, the Longye Clan, and even the current Luodian Kingdom — all were left utterly bewildered, and then defeated.

This secret killing weapon was previously only given to the Red General by the Great Great Great Fanghu; now it has been inherited in full by He Lingchuan.

The Battle of the Inverted Sea — the survivor becomes king. Besides He Lingchuan, no one else could enjoy such a windfall.

But the Three Corpse Worms he summoned came with an additional restriction: the number that could emerge was limited, unlike the Red General's deployment on the Panlong Wasteland which covered the sky and blanketed the earth. Of Qu Ruhai's thirty-thousand-plus army, fewer than one-third were affected, and the duration of the madness-inducing effect was also shortened — at most several dozen breaths; for those with resolve as firm as Qu Ruhai, they might only be bewitched for three to five breaths before reclaiming their will.

He Lingchuan surmised this was probably because the deployment distance was too far; the Three Corpse Worms couldn't persist for long before being recalled by the Great Great Great Fanghu.

If the Three Corpse Worms were released in the Panlong Desert, there likely wouldn't be this kind of restriction.

"You want to use me against Elder Brother Wang? Useless." Qu Ruhai's lips were cracked dry. "Elder Brother Wang's temperament is unyielding; he won't submit to your threats. Luodian was once destroyed by the Yao Kingdom, and only after enduring hardships did it successfully restore the nation. My elder brother absolutely will not let Luodian perish at his hands."

He Lingchuan found it amusing: "Oh, can the King of Luodian beat me?"

Qu Ruhai fell silent.

The Black Armor Army, with the speed of thunder that leaves no time to cover one's ears, first took the Kesha and Longye, then occupied most of Luodian's territory — sufficient to illustrate the vast disparity in power between the two sides; Luodian's elites suffered another defeat today in the Chiling Mountains, the King of Luodian has very slim hopes of a turnaround, let alone victory?

"If he can't win and refuses to surrender, Luodian Kingdom will certainly perish. No matter how unyielding your elder brother's temperament, can he change Luodian Kingdom's fate?"

Whether a nation perishes — is that something the King of Luodian can decide?

Since ancient times, which monarch has ever wished for their own country to perish?

Qu Ruhai's mouth was full of bitterness; this time he truly had no words.

"However —" He Lingchuan was about to pivot, "even if Luodian Kingdom ceases to exist, the Luodian people still have a chance to survive, a chance to rewrite their own destiny, and a chance to grow and thrive!"

Qu Ruhai raised his head: "You mean?"

"As long as the Luodian people pledge allegiance to me from now on, obey my commands, they can endure in this world, just like them —" the Nine Nether Great Emperor tilted his head slightly, and the Longye Clan's young chieftain Wu Xuyang stepped forward, bowing to him with utmost respect.

"If the Luodian people fight bravely and well under my banner, the future Shanjin will have a place for you to live and work in peace! If the Luodian people achieve repeated meritorious deeds, there will certainly be fief rewards that can extend through generations, sheltering your descendants!"

"Go persuade your elder brother to surrender." The Nine Nether Great Emperor's voice was deep and steady. "Whether the Luodian people live or die hinges entirely on the King of Luodian's single thought. He may be moved by his own sacrifice, but on the Shanjin Plains there are so many powers rising at dawn and perishing by dusk — has the world ever cared?"

Though these words were cruel, they were the truth on the Shanjin Plains.

Qu Ruhai took a deep breath and agreed.

He Lingchuan was not the least bit surprised by his softening; he had dealt with Qu Ruhai before — this man appeared coarse and bold, but his mind was actually quite sharp; his performance in Tianshui City also showed that this man understood very well what "circumstances are stronger than men" means — when compromise is needed, one must compromise.

Luodian Kingdom's situation was hopeless; a turnaround was virtually impossible.

As the one in power, he had to consider his clansmen's future.

Qu Ruhai knew the Nine Nether Great Emperor was right — the life and death of the Luodian people, only the Luodian people themselves care about. Whether lighter than a goose feather or heavier than a great mountain, to others it holds no meaning whatsoever.

Gone is gone; extinction is the norm on this continent.

That night, dark clouds pressed down on the city. The gates of Luodian's capital were tightly shut.

The outer city was empty and desolate, only the tracks of troops and chariots to be seen.

Over the past two days, both sides had clashed twice; in the most recent night raid, the army dispatched by the King of Luodian went inexplicably mad, several generals were wounded in succession, and two were even captured.

This battle left everyone baffled, confidence greatly shaken. The King of Luodian had no choice but to tightly shut the city gates and urgently order Qu Ruhai and the various regions to send reinforcements to the capital.

But all the King of Luodian received was bad news — Luodian's major strongholds were all embroiled in war; some had already fallen, others were too busy saving themselves to spare any force to aid the capital.

Rumors flew wildly inside the capital, people's hearts were in panic. Therefore, anyone in the marketplace speaking of the Dragon God's reincarnation was beheaded on the spot by the city garrison.

Soldiers on the city walls saw the vast enemy army encircling the city below, armor and weapons bristling like a forest, and couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. A few streaks of lightning cut across the sky, illuminating the wilderness; the people in the city, startled by the thunder, looked up and turned deathly pale:

Lightning illuminated the horizon — amidst the sea of clouds above the enemy army, a dragon's silhouette was shockingly coiled!

From the ground's perspective, it was like looking up from the seabed at a giant whale on the ocean surface; the play of light and shadow made it appear even more majestic.

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Moreover, this was a dragon!

Thick, massive, lazily crouching on the cloud tops overlooking the mortal world, its might boundless.

"Dragon God!" Countless people on the ground cried out in alarm — not only in Luodian's capital, the Canshan Grand Army was no exception.

The lightning vanished, and the dragon's silhouette disappeared as well.

But everyone knew — it was still there!

The King of Luodian was also furious, but the distance was truly too great; each flash of lightning illuminated the dragon's silhouette for only two or three breaths, and it was somewhat blurred — even with his Yuan Power, he couldn't discern whether it was real or illusion.

But the commoners and soldiers in the capital would believe it — that was what shook their hearts.

Just then, a figure emerged from the enemy camp and walked alone toward the city gate.

"Halt!" The soldiers on the city wall issued a warning, but this person turned a deaf ear.

Two arrows landed at his feet, yet he continued advancing just the same.

The archer guards were slapped aside by someone: "Are you blind? Can't you see that's Elder Zongzhang?"

Elder Zongzhang?

The guards gasped in shock; looking closely, who else could it be but Left Elder Zongzhang Qu Ruhai?

At this moment, who knows how many people had two words flash through their hearts:

It's over.

Everyone had held fast without sallying forth, all harboring a single hope:

Elder Zongzhang would bring troops to relieve the king, drive back the enemy army!

Now their own army's whereabouts were unknown, yet Elder Zongzhang walked out alone from the enemy camp — this...

Qu Ruhai paid no heed to their turmoil, walking straight to the base of the city gate.

Someone had long since flown a message to the King of Luodian.

He climbed up onto the city gate tower to take a look, but his brow furrowed as he raised his voice and shouted: "What are you?"

To the other guards, he appeared to be Ru Hai; but from King Luo Dian's perspective, Ru Hai's silhouette was somewhat blurred, not as solid as a living person.