Chapter 2196: Hidden Crisis

He Lingchuan smiled and said, "They all hope the other side will be the one to stand against Beijia. Without breaking this vicious cycle, even if this same pattern plays out a hundred more times, Lingshan still won't get the result it wants."

Xin Yi looked thoughtful: "You mean..."

"A leader with backbone has backbone from start to finish! How can you expect them to first grovel before Lingshan, then turn around and show iron resolve against Beijia?"

He Lingchuan spoke each word distinctly: "Lingshan's method first filters out all the capable men and talented generals; those selected are only cowards and weaklings. Do you really think crooked roots like that can grow straight shoots?"

Xin Yi was moved, and remained silent for a long while.

For many years, Lingshan had also been constantly reflecting on why it could not foster effective forces; the summarized reasons alone numbered in the dozens. But never had a single person hit the nail on the head like He Lingchuan.

What vexed him even more was that He Lingchuan was clearly right, yet Lingshan simply could not change.

Lingshan cannot help but seize the world's spiritual Qi; it cannot help but support the Upper Immortals; otherwise Lingshan itself could not exist.

The fundamental contradiction between it and the local regime powers determined that the two sides were outwardly united but inwardly divided, unable to pull together.

Neither of them mentioned why the Beijia fostered by the Heavenly Demon could succeed.

Because the answer was obvious.

And the Heavenly Demon had only this one major success story among its subordinates; all the others likewise ended in failure.

"The only forces in this world that can oppose Beijia and withstand the Heavenly Demon are autonomous forces as resilient and tenacious as Panlongcheng from start to finish. A few more such forces, and our final chances of victory grow that much greater." He Lingchuan only then circled back to the main topic, "Brother Xin, countless past failures have also proven that seeking refuge with Lingshan is not a good path. In the end, we can only rely on ourselves."

Given Xin Yi's status, He Lingchuan had to patiently persuade him again and again.

"Ourselves?" Xin Yi let out a soft sigh, his face showing melancholy, "You're right, we can only rely on ourselves. To be frank, putting myself in the same position, I've also repeatedly pondered how to establish a strong state that can both contend with Beijia and break the vicious cycle of the world's spiritual Qi reviving only to swiftly decline."

In the end, he couldn't help but speak these words.

He Lingchuan immediately said: "That's no easy task, but in my view, the core is just one thing—"

Xin Yi subconsciously pressed: "What?"

"Keep autonomy firmly in your own hands!" He Lingchuan said solemnly, "Minimize Lingshan's interference in the state to the greatest extent, and don't let Lingshan perch on your state and suck its blood!"

Xin Yi didn't speak, looking thoughtful.

"This is bound to be very difficult." He Lingchuan poured him wine, "But think about it — Beijia's Demon Emperor still has to be checked by the Heavenly Demon and the vassal demon states; that was a helpless necessity from the moment of its founding. This newly risen autonomous state, however, need not suffer those shackles; it can devote itself wholeheartedly. With such powerful autonomy, as long as it can weather the storms, why worry that it won't match Beijia in the future?"

Xin Yi examined him closely: "General thinks more deeply and thoroughly than I imagined; it seems you've pondered this quite a bit ordinarily. How about it — are you also very interested in founding a state?"

A man without ambition would never think to this level.

He Lingchuan smiled without speaking.

How could he merely think this way? He was simply doing it!

"General Hu Yi is a talent without peer in this generation; it's truly a pity for you to be stuck in such a small place." Xin Yi's eyes held longing, "East of Beijia lies even vaster heavens and earth, where you can spread your wings and soar ninety thousand li. Come with me — how about it?"

With his status, experience, and depth, he had never invited anyone so directly.

He Lingchuan lifted his bamboo chopsticks and pointed at that phoenix tree outside the door: "No matter how beautifully this tree grows, its roots are planted in Panlongcheng. If you transplant it ten thousand li away, even if it survives, it may not flourish as vigorously as it does now."

This was a refusal.

Xin Yi also looked up at the phoenix tree, and after a long while let out a sigh:

"What I want to take ten thousand li away isn't this tree, but the phoenix on the tree. Wherever a phoenix is, it's a phoenix; where can it not laugh proudly at the nine heavens? Besides, even if it's this tree being transplanted, at least it can survive."

"What does Brother Xin mean by this?"

"Anyway, I'll be leaving soon too, so let me lay it all out for you." Xin Yi looked like he had hesitated for a long time before deciding to speak everything.

He Lingchuan straightened his posture and sat properly: "Please speak, I'm all ears."

"Do you remember the multiple agreements Panlongcheng signed with Lingshan some time ago? The time when Bai Sha Bay nearly blocked the Ma River trade route."

At that time, Lingshan also wanted to set up a Spirit-Gathering Array on Panlong territory, but was repeatedly refused by Zhong Shengguang. Lingshan was displeased, withdrew all aid to Panlongcheng, and even had Bai Sha Bay ban all goods to Panlongcheng.

At that time He Lingchuan came to work on Xin Yi, and the two acted as intermediaries, separately persuading Zhong Shengguang and Lingshan to each take a step back, replacing tribute with investment.

He Lingchuan knew the difficulty involved and originally had no confidence of succeeding, but Xin Yi indeed carried weight in Lingshan, and in the end he still managed to persuade the Upper Immortals.

He Lingchuan's heart gave a sudden thump: "What problem?"

How long has it been since then, and another complication is about to arise?

Xin Yi said softly: "Don't think that just because an agreement was reached, you can rest easy. There are already Immortals who are dissatisfied, believing the original tribute method was better."

He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow: "Why? When calculated, the original method yields less profit."

"But the original method is simpler, clearer, and more straightforward." Xin Yi gave a low cough, "After signing the agreement with Panlongcheng, it takes at least one or two years to see returns, and the profit share each period isn't fixed, making it hard to account for; furthermore, helping Panlongcheng negotiate with states and local powers on the Second Sea Route, although it yields a share, is... too much trouble."

He spoke implicitly, but He Lingchuan still laughed, not hiding his contempt.

Taking money from others' tribute is naturally comfortable and effortless. Once you're used to such easy money, how can you still go earn hard money?

But where in the world is there so much easy money? Lingshan's inertia is too great, unwilling to change; in the future this kind of money is destined to become less and less.

Yet in the short term, its dissatisfaction is a threat to Panlongcheng, and who knows when it might erupt again.

"I'll be returning to the Sha River basin soon, and can no longer mediate for you in the middle." Xin Yi said earnestly, "Panlongcheng has signed quite a few agreements with Lingshan; you must be on guard against certain Upper Immortals within Lingshan making an issue of the agreements' effectiveness."

This was no longer a hint from him, but a direct statement.

Given his origins and position, even this was not easy.

"Many thanks, Brother Xin." He Lingchuan stood up and bowed to him in thanks.

Xin Yi pointing out Lingshan's true attitude toward the agreements — this matter is very important to Panlongcheng.

Knowing Lingshan's thinking, Panlongcheng can prepare in advance, making it easier to respond later.