Chapter 2064

Report to the Emperor, I just met him this morning. His name is Yu Hai, a citizen of the Yu State, and he is the leader of the Original Hometown Association. He Xiaoxiao assigned him to handle foreign affairs.

Although the title "Emperor of the Nine Abysses" resounds throughout the Flash Gold Plains, to Mu State, He Xiaoxiao is still merely a local power, only on a larger scale. The envoys he sends are not qualified to be received by the Mu Emperor, nor even to see the State Preceptor Wang Xingyi. Mu State sending the Right Chancellor of the Guest Department to meet him conforms to normal diplomatic etiquette.

Wang Haojing knew what the Mu Emperor wanted to hear: "He Xiaoxiao has a handwritten letter he wishes to present to you! We have examined it and found no divine abilities or poisonous residue."

The Mu Emperor beckoned to him with his hand.

Bring it.

He Xiaoxiao's letter was still sealed with wax, and the Mu Emperor was the first to open and read it.

Strictly speaking, this is a birthday congratulatory letter, since the Mu Emperor's birthday is in two months, so He Xiaoxiao's first words are wishing the Mu Emperor "eternal immortal blessings and longevity equal to heaven."

In the letter, he says that the Flash Gold Plains are engulfed in war, and he fears that two months from now he will still be leading troops on eastern and western campaigns, unable to personally come to celebrate the birthday, which he deeply regrets.

Of course, no one would congratulate the Mu Emperor on his birthday two months in advance, so this is merely a pretext.

He Xiaoxiao also emphasizes his stance and resolve of standing irreconcilably opposed to the demons, hoping to join forces with Mu State to jointly resist the demons and benefit all living beings.

"Join forces?" The Mu Emperor saw these two words and raised his eyebrows.

This brat is taking himself too seriously; he hasn't even become king or hegemon on the Flash Gold Plains yet, and he wants to "join forces" with a vast nation?

With his stature, is he worthy?

He Lingchuan also said in the letter that from now on, every thirty-odd years, he will have someone deliver newly picked Ming Deng Lanterns to the Mu Emperor, so the latter will no longer need to send the Ying Ya Guards to fetch them from afar.

Ming Deng Lantern. Hmm, the earlier mission at Ling Mountain let him know this secret, which is of no benefit to Mu State.

After the He letter, as customary, a gift list is attached.

The Mu Emperor glanced at it and immediately put away his casual expression, even sitting up straight.

Hmm? Really?

"Where is the birthday gift sent by He Xiaoxiao's envoy?"

Wang Haojing immediately said: "Already waiting outside."

"Summon it in."

He Xiaoxiao bestowed upon the Mu Emperor four gifts, the lowest being a large bronze box, square and square, with considerable volume.

The Mu Emperor's first glance fixed on it: "Open it!"

Wang Haojing had already been dismissed; the imperial study was filled only with the Mu Emperor's trusted aides, and Wang Xingyi walked over and personally opened the bronze box.

Inside were one after another of pale gold cylindrical tubes, material like metal yet like bone, with transparent crystal inlaid in the middle.

These cylindrical tubes varied in style, length, and size, so they could not be neatly stacked, but basically each one was hollow.

"This is..." With Wang Xingyi's broad knowledge, even now he involuntarily sucked in a breath of cold air: "Dragon Punishment Pillars?"

Seeing so many Dragon Punishment Pillars stacked together, he was also greatly enlightened.

The Mu Emperor again looked at the gift list in his hand: eight hundred and sixteen, some with fractions, some whole.

Wang Xingyi exclaimed in astonishment: "Where did he get so many Dragon Punishment Pillars?"

Ordinary demon cultivators having one or two, or two or three, in their hands would already be remarkable.

The Mu Emperor's gaze was also firmly attracted by the Dragon Punishment Pillars: "He Xiaoxiao said these are all obtained from Miao Zhantian."

Wang Xingyi immediately said: "Exactly, the Gods of the Spirit Void lost most of their Dragon Punishment Pillars due to Miao Zhantian's fall, and the righteous fury is unbounded, scouring the entire demon realm. It seems they discarded this batch."

Guo Shaoping, Chief Counselor of the Auxiliary Terrace Cabinet, laughed: "He Xiaoxiao sending this hot potato as a gift to the Emperor means he can't hold onto it."

The Mu Emperor snorted: "He dares to openly defy the demons, yet can't hold onto these few hundred Dragon Punishment Pillars?"

He Xiaoxiao is clearly anti-demon, appearing even more resolute than Ling Mountain.

How would one describe the wording of He Xiaoxiao's letter? It has nothing to do with respect, nor with being neither humble nor arrogant; it is fundamentally not a diplomatic document, and its wording and tone are more like casual chatter between acquaintances.

Huh, how strange, are they really that familiar?

The Mu Emperor smirked, but did not dislike this tone.

Guo Shaoping immediately said: "The harm his resistance causes to all demons will still take some time to manifest; but holding so many Dragon Punishment Pillars in his hand is a blatant declaration to all demons: come and take them if you can. The temptation and gap here are not just a little bit. In my view, the only ones in this world who can firmly hold over eight hundred Dragon Punishment Pillars are Ling Mountain and the Emperor himself."

The Mu Emperor smiled, his gaze upon the Dragon Punishment Pillars showing some satisfaction.

Regardless of He Xiaoxiao's purpose in sending this batch of Dragon Punishment Pillars, this in itself is indeed a heavy gift, a great gift!

These eight hundred Dragon Punishment Pillars, whether in Mu State's hands or Ling Mountain's hands, can be put to how many uses, the Mu Emperor can calculate it all.

"No one offers courtesies without a motive—what do you think?" He casually handed the He letter to Wang Xingyi.

Suddenly presenting a heavy gift must conceal an ulterior motive.

Wang Xingyi glanced over, read it hastily, pondered a moment, then said:

"He Xiaoxiao only mentions congratulations in the letter, not a single word about anything else."

"If he had mentioned it, it would become a transaction." The Mu Emperor snorted, "But since he didn't mention it, these eight hundred Dragon Punishment Pillars are just a favor."

Transactions are easy to handle, favors hard to repay.

"The Emperor speaks truly; if he had made demands, it would still be manageable." Wang Xingyi thought for a moment, "Currently, the war on the Flash Gold Plains has reached a critical juncture, and He Xiaoxiao suddenly sending Dragon Punishment Pillars at this juncture must be related to the situation."

The Mu Emperor slightly nodded: "How far has Ya State advanced?"

The war on the Flash Gold Plains, especially the conflicts in the western Flash Gold Plains, Mu State naturally monitors closely. Ya State's invasion of the Flash Gold Plains, the Mu Emperor received the news almost immediately.

"The Ge brothers have led troops for a month but still haven't taken Su River."

The Mu Emperor chuckled: "In my impression, the Ge brothers don't seem to be of this caliber. Who did He Xiaoxiao send to fight?"

The Ge brothers have fought several battles with Mu State's commanders, having both fame and skill.

The Ya State ruler wants to test the strength of the Flash Gold Plains and the Dragon God Army, so he certainly won't send novices into battle.

"Qiu Hu, Wanqi Liang, Wang Changhou, Lu Li Qun." Wang Haojing listed them off like treasures, "Among them, Qiu Hu is a disciple of Ying Mountain, Wanqi Liang was originally a Ya State citizen, but his Bai Long clan was expelled and pursued, Wang Changhou and Lu Li Qun are obscure, heard to be Flash Gold Plains natives."

"None are famous." Another attendant sneered, "I heard the so-called Dragon God Army suffered heavy casualties, and the western Flash Gold Plains can only temporarily hold off the Ge brothers by piling up human lives. This way, it won't last long."

Guo Shaoping immediately said: "The Ge brothers can't take it, and Ya State can't afford to lose this face, so they will likely dispatch reinforcements and launch a full-scale invasion. He Xiaoxiao offering birthday congratulations and gifts at this time makes his intentions clear: he wants the Emperor to relieve the siege."

The Mu Emperor only said: "What do all you ministers think?"

Everyone present was a trusted confidant of Emperor Mou, deeply aware of the relationship between Mou State and Ling Mountain, and also knowing the connection between He Xiao and Ling Mountain.