Chapter 1990

In fact, the Black Armored Army that He Lingchuan brought was never that numerous to begin with.

He is currently short on manpower, so he can only use illusion techniques to simulate the army inside and outside the town. Therefore, the envoys of Qingyang were indeed correct in their shout—these props are meant to be observed but not touched, and cannot be attacked.

But these frightening devices were set up by him using the Great Evolution Heavenly Pearl; the allied forces here have such weak spiritual power that they cannot perceive it at all, and thus cannot discern this divine ability. Meanwhile, the townspeople had already retreated into their homes and locked their doors tightly during the allied forces' internal strife, daring not to come out.

After the battle, He Lingchuan quickly withdrew his divine ability, after all, it consumes an astonishing amount of energy.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror chuckled: "Qingyang will surely vomit blood upon hearing the news. Her brilliant plan was severed by you at the waist,

and she lost an allied force for nothing."

Qingyang designed for the Beryl King to capture Boss Situ He and seize the allied forces' leadership position, after which her subsequent plan would target He Lingchuan.

Given her methods, there would certainly be a full combo sequence afterward; if He Lingchuan were to fall into it, he would be passive and troublesome—but he directly severed her opening move, and the Beryl King couldn't even capture Boss Situ He, let alone discuss what comes next.

Qingyang's plan didn't even complete its first step before being pressed down and interrupted, and incidentally helped He Lingchuan resolve a major problem.

Thus, He Lingchuan, under the pretext of rescuing Boss Situ He, naturally and rightfully took control of the seven allied territories, without needing to wait until the final stage of the second phase.

Clear-sighted people know his motive, but the evidence seized by the Nine Abysses Great Emperor is solid, and his justification for forceful intervention is also very sufficient.

The word "reason" is truly crucial—it allows He Lingchuan to easily seize a large territory while causing no harm to the Dragon God's prestige.

In this exchange, Qingyang lost before even opening her teacup—very cleanly.

Afterwards, Boss Situ He asked him, how did he know the Beryl King would strike at him this time?

"I received a secret report that the Beryl King went to see the Heavenly God and also secretly met with Qingyang's envoy." He Lingchuan laughed, "Qingyang wants to overthrow me, and the best pawn for that is Bai Tan and the allied forces. Bai Tan is too far from me, so only you remain—this allied forces conference is the perfect opportunity to strike."

In truth, he left one true thing unsaid:

He himself was not certain.

But it doesn't matter—even if the Beryl King did not act that day, He Lingchuan had other ways to force him to act.

The outcome of this matter will not change: the seven territories will surely be swallowed by the Dragon God!

￥￥￥￥￥

The allied territories are sharpening weapons and feeding horses, military reorganization proceeding like fire and tea.

Everything appears surprisingly smooth, yet Bai Tan constantly frowns deeply, the wrinkles at his eyes' corners deepening.

When Qingyang sees him again, she notices his hundred eyebrows have grown two more, and she can't help but smile: "I only asked you to mobilize troops, not to annihilate the Nine Abysses Great Emperor's territory in one go—why does it seem like you're risking your life?"

The Beryl King's plot against Boss Situ He should unfold within these two days. According to the original plan, once the Beryl King seizes leadership of the allied forces and raises the great banner against the Dragon God, Bai Tan must simultaneously dispatch troops westward to invade and plunder the Dragon God's lands.

At this moment, the Dragon God's territory is already ablaze with beacon fires; if the eastern and western powers simultaneously declare war on him, the entire plain will know the wind of war has shifted, those who revere and support the Dragon God will waver, while those who oppose and hate him will grow stronger.

He Huo's ambition is too great—he actually wants to swallow the Golden Flash Plains whole; Qingyang will make him learn what it means to "greedily chew more than one can digest"!

Bai Tan, expressionless: "Two more commanders have been assassinated—one dead, one wounded! These Jia people, having eaten the iron bowl, are dead-set on opposing me."

Before his rebellion, he had estimated the greatest difficulty would be killing the Jia King; but only now does he realize,

that the Jia people hate him, refuse to submit to him, and will not yield to him—this is the true crux of the problem!

Can he kill hundreds, thousands, even wipe them all out?

His army grows stronger by the day, yet these ill-intentioned Jia people still dare to stir restlessly, giving him surprises every few days. If his army were to go abroad to fight for the Heavenly God, and could no longer exercise its duty to suppress by force, would these bastards not overturn heaven?

As far as he knows, it seems several new forces in Jia territory are already buying people's hearts.

Precisely when it is time to "pacify the interior," he must instead dispatch troops on a distant expedition.

Bai Tan feels vexed just thinking about this.

Qingyang smiled gently, kindly saying: "Let me teach you a few methods—perhaps they can ease the Jia people's hatred and temporarily ease your mutual conflict."

"I humbly await the Palace Master's lofty insight!" Bai Tan's spirit lifted, yet in his heart he thought of seven characters:

"If you have a way, why didn't you say so earlier!"

"Since they deeply identify with their Jia identity, then you should not establish a new state."

Upon hearing this, Bai Tan lifted his head in alarm, but Qingyang waved her hand, signaling him to calm down: "Just let the Jia state's mandate continue—what harm could that do to you? You are also a person, are you not?"

"This—" Bai Tan unwilling.

He had finally, with great difficulty, overthrown the Jia King's rule, and now wishes to open a brand-new chapter for himself.

Yet Qingyang still wants him to return to the old path of the Jia state—"They hate you to the bone, constantly plotting to overthrow you; then your foundation is even weaker than that of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor."

Bai Tan remained silent. It turns out she understood him perfectly, clearly and plainly—she simply did not empathize with him.

"Then no matter what you do, it will be twice the effort for half the result, and may even backfire." Qingyang asked him, "Can you still not distinguish priorities now? Resisting the Nine Abysses is imperative—you have no room for maneuver, only to swiftly resolve internal troubles!"

Is this fellow still dreaming of founding a nation as a white-haired ancestor?

Bai Tan wanted to speak but held back, knowing his scheming had been seen through by her.

"Do you still remember your original intention when you killed the Flame King?" Qingyang reminded him, "You said the king was greedy and foolish, the court corrupt and decayed—beyond cure. Minor repairs are useless; only by breaking the old can the new be established."

This man once spoke passionately in her presence; now her words still echo in his ears, yet he has forgotten them completely?

"——Yes." He had indeed said that, but!

Qingyang laughed: "Whether you truly think so, I don't care. But you must make the Jia people know you act entirely for their good! Lean in close."

Her methods have always been effective, his troubles are now laid bare and urgently need resolving—so Bai Tan suppressed his inner agitation and listened carefully.

Two days later, Bai Tan's Upper Pillar General's Residence issued the《Letter to the Jia People》, posted in all public places in Shuishui City, such as the vegetable market entrance, with full text announcements and dedicated explainers.

The announcement opens by stating that the Great Jia is the sole miracle of the Golden Flash Plains, standing firm for two hundred years in chaotic times—its enduring grace and blessings cannot be compared to those fleeting, morning-born-and-evening-dead small states of the Golden Flash Dynasty. Though the Upper Pillar General carries out heavenly punishment, he still remembers his motherland's kindness, sympathizes with the people's sentiments, thus upholding the old order and protecting the Jia state's mandate to endure long.

Someone at the vegetable market couldn't understand, asking what this meant; the explainer struck the gong and replied in plain, easy-to-understand words:

"From now on, we remain a state—the Upper Pillar General will not change the state's name or its structure!"