Chapter 2096: The Essence of the Immortal-Demon Struggle

He slowly withdrew his smile, fell silent for a good while, then said:

"The conflict between immortals and demons uses the lighting of the Heavenly Luo Xing as a node. Before this, immortals prevailed, successfully driving the heavenly demons back to their lair; but in the three thousand years since, the heavenly demons have been unable to descend to the mortal realm, while immortals have gradually fallen behind, losing the competition.

Master Xin, where do you believe the root cause of the Lingshan's defeat lies?"

Xin Yi was somewhat surprised. The two of them had been discussing the supply issue of Panlongcheng, so how did He Lingchuan steer the conversation to this topic?

This question is too big and too macroscopic; it should not be raised by a mere general of Panlongcheng, nor even by humanity itself.

Had it come from someone else's mouth, Xin Yi would probably have given a faint smile and issued an order to evict the guest. But he and He Lingchuan have known each other for a long time, and he also acknowledges this young general's talent, so he too settled down and said: "This question, immortals have also discussed for three thousand years. During these three thousand years, spiritual energy has risen and fallen like tides. And each time spiritual energy revives, the immortals' strength also rises accordingly, able to suppress the demons' arrogance; when spiritual energy declines, the opposite occurs, and the demons regain their dominance.

He sighed: "But Lingshan actually knows that the outcome of the immortal-demon conflict is not solely due to the rise and fall of spiritual energy. With the Heavenly Luo Xing, the mortal realm and the demon realm have actually been forced into a single whole, and the peoples of both realms are compelled to share all spiritual energy. Three thousand years ago, it was merely a conflict between immortals and demons; after the Heavenly Luo Xing lit up, myriad living beings also joined in, turning it into a multi-sided struggle.

He Lingchuan nodded. Xin Yi's words essentially acknowledged the complexity of war, with myriad living beings as a third great force taking the stage.

This is also a huge variable that cannot be ignored; immortals wishing to make a difference in the war cannot possibly ignore the power of living beings.

He Lingchuan added: "I have heard that Lingshan once supported many forces, but most ended in dismal failure.

Those forces either grew estranged from Lingshan and went their separate ways, or fell apart and vanished into nothing.

Viewed over the long term, the heavenly demons still have one successful case, while Lingshan has not even a single force it could stabilize.

Xin Yi did not rebut, for this is indeed the truth: 'Some immortals believe that Lingshan has always mishandled its relations with the mortal realm, which is the main cause of its current predicament; others believe that we have simply failed to make good use of the new laws derived from the Heavenly Luo Xing, and now find it hard to reverse the situation.'

'Then, what is your view, Master Xin?'

'My grandmaster, the Immortal Without Worry, believes that the heavenly demons were able to gradually gain the lead over these three thousand years precisely because they cannot descend to the mortal realm.' Xin Yi recalled, 'Because of this saying, my grandmaster and the True Person Thousand Illusions once fell into dispute, but I side with my grandmaster's view.'

'Since the heavenly demons cannot come down, all matters must be handled through the mortal realm, whether demon or human. Thus, their relationship with the forces they cultivate becomes more harmonious. As for Lingshan—' Xin Yi sighed, 'Lingshan's nature is all too clear to me—'Well, no more beating around the bush, speak plainly, I also need to go out.'

'Master Xin is straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush either—let us open the skylight and speak plainly.' He Lingchuan first offered a preemptive remark.

Xin Yi laughed: 'We have known each other for a long time; you could not offend me, so there is no need for such excessive caution.'

He does not mind if He Lingchuan's words are unpleasant to hear.

'What you just said is quite correct: after the Heavenly Luo Xing lit up, mortal beings became the third party in the immortal-demon hegemony, a huge variable capable of deciding the immortals' and demons' victory or defeat. To put it bluntly, the heavenly demons have been able to prevail in this long marathon precisely because they found a way to coexist with humanity, while Lingshan has not.'

'The way of coexistence?' Actually, Xin Yi also wanted to say just that. Hearing these four words, he roughly understood He Lingchuan's point of entry.

'All under heaven hustle and bustle, all for profit.' When directness is called for, be direct; He Lingchuan also did not keep him in suspense, 'The essential demand of both immortals and demons is spiritual energy, but the heavenly demons gather demonic energy through the Heavenly Luo Xing, and for most of the time do not compete with Beijia for profit, instead relying on it to generate energy.'

'In contrast, Lingshan demands civilian support—money, materials, mystic crystals, none of which can be lacking.' He Lingchuan laughed, 'I will speak bluntly: this is called contending with the people for profit, for all of Lingshan's demands ultimately get distributed onto the heads of all beings.'

These words are unpleasant to hear; Xin Yi rubbed his nose. 'This brat is really this direct?'

'The heavenly demons coexist with humanity through mutual use and symbiosis; immortals coexist with humanity through mutual plunder and contention for profit. Master Xin believes,

which way can endure?'

Xin Yi picked up the vegetable box beside him again and took a bite: 'Crack.' 'Can your method change this situation?'

This pattern is a chronic ailment; immortals naturally recognize it as flawed, yet lack the power to improve it. To maintain their own existence, they need vast support. For example, the True Person Thousand Illusions—how much living being's power must be expended to sustain one overturning sea?

Having struck a sore point, one must then prescribe medicine; otherwise, even if Xin Yi's temper is good, he would also grow dissatisfied with He Lingchuan's abruptness.

'There is a good chance.' He Lingchuan spoke softly, 'If seven or eight years ago, this method might not have worked, for the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was waning, mortal energy was heavy and stagnant, and Lingshan and mortal beings were in a competitive relation, all vying for limited spiritual energy.

Immortals drawing one more breath of spiritual energy means mortal beings lack a bit of livelihood.'

He sighed: 'Actually, the unpleasantness between Lingshan and Panlongcheng now—is it not also due to this?

Lingshan extending its hand for too much support—even if Panlongcheng gives this time, it feels unhappy inside. These losses will eventually be shifted onto mortal beings, and Panlongcheng will eventually be unable to bear them; in the end, both sides will still quarrel.

This scene, in history, should be far from rare.

'Panlongcheng giving with difficulty, Lingshan also feeling wronged, thinking it asks for too little. This is a struggle over existing resources, which under the previous large environment was hard to resolve.' He Lingchuan said earnestly, 'But these two years, the outbreak of Imperial Flow Broth has shown no sign of stopping, and this is a rare opportunity for both Panlongcheng and Lingshan! We finally have a chance to no longer contend and plunder each other, but to ride the same boat forward and make waves!'

Xin Yi fell silent, pondering.

'Master Xin, we should seek dividends from development.' He Lingchuan leaned forward slightly, 'When the water rises, the boat rises. With our proposed method, as long as Panlongcheng develops, becoming rich and beautiful with a thriving population, Lingshan's profits will also rise steadily, and there will be no need to plunder mortal interests. You see, the relationship between Lingshan and Panlongcheng, and between immortals and commoners—would it not become much healthier?'

'Mutual benefit and health are necessary for longevity.' He Lingchuan said solemnly, 'Furthermore, as of today, the immortal-demon conflict is no longer merely a contest of magical powers and divine abilities, but a struggle of systems, that is, a struggle of regulations and statutes. Whose system better adapts to the current laws of heaven and earth will gain the upper hand in the confrontation.'

The two words 'system' moved Xin Yi deeply.