Chapter 2195: The Key to Unsuccessfulness

No need to rush—just keep getting stronger every day.

"You're too optimistic, all of you are too optimistic." Xin Yi lazily picked up a piece of pickled radish. "This is where disaster lies in wait."

Seeing his worried expression today, He Lingchuan simply said: "Even Bekka can't do anything to us for now—where would disaster come from? Brother Xin, just speak plainly."

"Bekka hasn't taken action against Panlongcheng, and you know why. First, the area here is small—even after a few expansions, it still doesn't pose a threat in Bekka's eyes, so they haven't used full force against you. Second, Ling Mountain is containing Bekka to the east, draining most of its strength. Third, Bekka has internal issues—the Demon Emperor doesn't want to lightly deploy troops here."

"See, these are all external factors, all changeable. If one or two of them shift, Panlongcheng won't be safe anymore—how can we hope for lasting peace?"

He Lingchuan said nothing.

In fact, the people of Panlongcheng have always felt a sense of urgency, having lived long amid the turmoil brought by war.

So-called lasting peace has only been the case in recent years, but the benefits of peace have been too great to give up—even Zhong Shengguang is reluctant to let go.

"If Panlongcheng keeps developing this fast, even if you hide your light and bide your time, Bekka will keep its eyes locked on you." Xin Yi said, "In the past six months, mentions of Panlongcheng in Bekka's court have clearly increased compared to before. It's clear they're already paying attention to you. Whenever they decide to strike and break your peaceful development, it might just be a word from the Demon Emperor."

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to Panlongcheng's development is its proximity to Bekka.

The Xiluo State between them is essentially nonexistent.

"Ling Mountain once proposed to you, willing to lend the deterrent power of a true immortal, but Commander Zhong refused, and all of Panlongcheng rejected it. So if that time truly comes, you'll have to rely only on yourselves."

As long as Bekka knows Panlongcheng can also borrow Ling Mountain's true immortal power, perhaps Bekka won't press you too hard.

Of course, Ling Mountain won't lend such deterrent power for free—the condition is that Panlong Territory must set up the Spirit Gathering Grand Formation.

Zhong Shengguang refused.

He wants all living beings in the territory to enjoy the benefits of spiritual energy revival, unwilling to return to the old path of gathering all beings' strength to nourish the Xian Sect.

So from now on, the people of Panlongcheng can only rely on themselves.

Xin Yi paused: "Three hundred years ago, the fertile Qingjin River basin rose a powerful state—Feng State—strong soldiers and horses, abundant spiritual power. Their leader was young and capable, also a strategic master, leading the people to prosperity, annexing several neighboring states in succession—alas, all this bears a striking resemblance to today's Panlongcheng, even the territory size is roughly the same. Only Feng State was closer to Bekka, with a worse geographical position."

"And then?" He Lingchuan knew, "but" was coming.

"Feng State soon drew Bekka's attention. At that time, Bekka wasn't as strong as today. They tried to win it over, but were rejected; attempts to induce surrender also failed. So Bekka launched a three-year war, utterly destroying that state." Xin Yi took a sip of wine, "Feng State was indeed strong—I checked the records. Bekka deployed over ten heavenly demons from the lower realms before finally capturing its capital."

He Lingchuan calculated based on real time—this should have been an event 150-plus years after Bekka's founding. Heck, Bekka was still quite young then, its age comparable to that of the later Mu State.

So this should have been Bekka's peak in political and military strength—its most efficient period. Feng State could hold out against it for three years, truly deserving the title of a brilliant rising star.

"Destroyed in three years—what a pity." Clearly full of potential, yet it barely stepped onto the historical stage before fading away, "By the way, did Ling Mountain ever make contact with Feng State?"

"Yes." Xin Yi without hesitation, "The Feng King refused to cooperate with Ling Mountain."

No wonder Feng State and Panlongcheng are so alike—

Both are stubborn.

"Why?" He Lingchuan immediately asked, "If they cooperated with Ling Mountain, they could seek true immortal protection—why did the Feng King refuse?"

"He was also in his thirties then, proud and arrogant, unwilling to pay homage to the immortals, and flatly refused—his attitude was even more resolute than Commander Zhong's." Xin Yi shrugged, "Ling Mountain had no choice but to let it go."

He Lingchuan laughed—this world truly never lacks stubborn ones.

"There are a few things I don't know if I should say."

"What's there that shouldn't be said?" Xin Yi thought, you've come this far with your words—how could I not let you speak? So he broadened his mind, "Today, you and I are parting—let go of identities and prejudices, just friends chatting casually."

"Alright, don't blame me for speaking bluntly." He Lingchuan had gotten along with him for years and understood his temperament, "Ling Mountain has poured effort into nurturing so many powers—why did none of them ultimately succeed?"

"Oh, you've figured it out again?" Xin Yi's interest was piqued, he proactively handed him a wine jug to pour, "You say, I'm listening."

"Spiritual energy is the core interest of every regime. Regimes willing to yield such interest to Ling Mountain—I'll put it bluntly—have neither vision nor backbone." Spiritual energy concerns grain output, economic prosperity, military strength, and people's livelihood within every faction's territory.

Simply put, it's almost everything.

Spiritual energy is also an extremely rare strategic resource, as important as sovereignty and territory.

Xin Yi objected: "Nothing is absolute. Ling Mountain's aid has, on several occasions, begun before these regimes even founded their states—then it certainly doesn't involve vision or backbone."

"Willingly helping the weak is never free of cost—this holds true at any time." He Lingchuan said slowly, "As a leader of one side, one naturally must make trade-offs at such a moment. If, for temporary developmental ease, one sells the spiritual energy within one's territory, it is actually, under the premise of the people's ignorance, selling away their rightful benefits and gains."

Ling Mountain's establishment of the Spirit Gathering Grand Formation is well concealed. He Lingchuan wouldn't know about it without a trip to the Flash Gold Plains.

Xin Yi offered no rebuttal.

"Then, between these powers and Ling Mountain, a core contradiction has actually arisen." He Lingchuan no longer beat around the bush, "They surrender such precious spiritual energy just to exchange for Ling Mountain's aid and protection—they naturally hope Ling Mountain steps forward to solve all their problems, especially resisting Bekka."

Just one sentence:

I've given myself to you—won't you protect me?

"And what about Ling Mountain? Ling Mountain nurtures these powers hoping they can grow strong on their own and help Ling Mountain resist Bekka. If every matter requires Ling Mountain to step in, what need does Ling Mountain have for them?"

"Brother Xin, have you seen through this fundamental divergence?"