Chapter 2214: The Hegemon Personally Takes the Field

Over the next three months, Panlong focused on internal affairs, while the warlord factions within Xiluo went from four or six to eleven, and then down to four!

They also knew the powerful neighbor to the side was eyeing them hungrily, but even if they wanted to stop, other factions within the territory would not allow it.

Some of these factions sent alliance requests to Panlongcheng, but more were defecting to Beijia, hoping it would support them in becoming another king of Xiluo.

Panlongcheng also received secret intelligence: Beijia was indeed in contact with one or two factions. Perhaps it felt the time to intervene had come.

And during these hundred days, the originally warlike Mitian did not urge Panlongcheng to mobilize troops, but remained silent instead.

This abnormality made Zhong Shengguang and He Lingchuan even more vigilant.

The demon's silence was precisely to stir up trouble.

Although Panlong had already established a state, discussions about Xiluo within its territory never ceased.

Especially after several months of statehood, the populace ceaselessly debated: now that we have grown strong, while Xiluo is fragmented and suffering from war's ravages, should we send troops to Xiluo?

Should we return to our homeland with the bearing of a king's return?

Even Panlongcheng, skilled at controlling public opinion, could not suppress this wave of sentiment.

This heartfelt fervor and anticipation could only be delayed, not brushed aside.

Every time he heard the bustling market debates, He Lingchuan knew Zhong Shengguang was right—the day of troop deployment was drawing ever closer.

￥￥￥￥￥

In the coming half-month or so, frequent reports came from the west:

Baiyi State invaded Tongming Sect;

Xu State accused Xu Mountain of polluting its upstream water source, causing widespread illness among its people, and thus launched a punitive expedition;

Between Peng State and Xuanye Sect, tensions intensified……

The world, which had been gradually quieting, suddenly saw smoke rise at seven or eight locations.

This is what is visible on the surface.

Beneath the surface, there is more: the great general of Mou State, Ji Ying-song of the Ji clan, his ancestral master Qian Song Daozun emerged from seclusion, only to encounter a demon attack, resulting in an indecisive battle on both sides;

Several major demons of Beijia, returning from the front lines to their homeland, also encountered ambushes, with three dead and seven seriously wounded……

In just over ten days, the world seemed to have descended into chaos.

These pieces of intelligence were delivered one by one to the desk of the Nine Nether Great Emperor, who directly categorized them all:

"These wars, at their core, all revolve around Beijia and Mou State. Mainly, the forces under Beijia's control have launched offensives against the forces of Mou State and Ling Mountain."

He Lingchuan concluded: "The war between Beijia and Mou State has escalated. Now, Beijia is calculating to clip the wings of Mou State and Ling Mountain. This move is quite clever."

The Soul-Capturing Mirror asked: "Does it intend to use this to transmit nightmare qi to the demon?"

Conflict inevitably involves bloodshed; war inevitably involves death.

"Not only that. The nightmare qi harvested from these local skirmishes will not satisfy the demon." He Lingchuan declared firmly, "These friction conflicts are mostly just a prelude, a means to keep Mou State overwhelmed. The main course is still to come!"

Put simply, these conflicts are merely a prelude, meant to give Mou State the feeling that a storm is approaching.

Therefore, the storm will surely come!

"Moreover, the concentration of spiritual energy between heaven and earth has risen. Originally in seclusion on the Jinjin Plain, demons and immortals have begun to emerge. It is likely the same worldwide—attacking these newly emerged immortals and demons not only allows the demon to accumulate corpses, but also weakens Ling Mountain's strength. Why would Beijia not do it? So, Ling Mountain and Beijia still have battles to fight on this level."

Not long after the intelligence was presented, Qiu Hu came to request an audience with the Nine Nether Great Emperor.

As one of the earliest followers of He Lingchuan and a capable officer, he and several of his fellow disciples originated from Xu Mountain. At this time, hearing that Xu State had dispatched troops against Xu Mountain, they felt some concern.

But they are now officers of Cangyan, bound by national law and military discipline, cannot abandon their posts, and their families are also here. Qiu Hu rushed urgently today to seek an audience with the Nine Nether Great Emperor, wishing to ask for strategies regarding Xu Mountain.

Wang Fuobao and several fellow disciples originally intended to follow Qiu Hu, but were flatly rejected by him, who repeatedly said it was improper.

"Relocate the sect." He Lingchuan did not beat around the bush, "Xu State's overall national strength surpasses Xu Mountain, and it also has the support of primordial force. You know, primordial force is no longer what it once was; in a conflict between Xu Mountain and Xu State, the latter would gain little advantage."

Qiu Hu hesitated slightly, and He Lingchuan continued: "In the past, when Xu State and Xu Mountain clashed, they did not wish to inflict eight hundred units of self-damage, so they hastily settled. This time is different—it has a whip at its back, forcing it to advance even if unwilling, to fight even if unwilling."

Qiu Hu also understood: "Beijia!"

"Xu Mountain's disadvantage lies mainly in geography—it is too close to Beijia and too far from Mou State." Xu Mountain lies on the border of Shen State, naturally too close to Beijia, "This is just like Ya State's initial disadvantage. Even if Mou State wished to support Xu Mountain, it could at most do what Beijia did for Ya State. Look, could Beijia ultimately prevent Mou State from destroying Ya State?"

Qiu Hu shook his head.

"Furthermore, Beijia will certainly have a next move against Mou State; I doubt Mou State will retain the capacity to support Xu Mountain in the later stages." He Lingchuan spoke slowly, "Beijia adopts a multi-point strike strategy, making it difficult for Mou State to aid every ally under Ling Mountain. Therefore, I suggest Xu Mountain abandon its homeland and relocate swiftly. Of course, if it is willing to move to Cangyan, I would be delighted to receive it."

Qiu Hu took a deep breath: "Thank you, Great Emperor, I will do my utmost to persuade the sect!"

Xu Mountain had deeply cultivated that region for many years, naturally unwilling to relinquish it easily. But in Qiu Hu's heart, the Nine Nether Great Emperor is the most trustworthy person under heaven.

The Great Emperor's judgment will certainly not be wrong!

Thus he must swiftly send word, wholeheartedly convincing the obstinate elders within the sect.

After he took his leave, He Lingchuan softly sighed: "Xu Mountain's plight is merely a microcosm of the many forces under Ling Mountain. This chaos has likely only just begun."

……

After a few days, another earth-shattering bombshell:

Beijia dispatched a force of four hundred and seventy thousand to invade Mou State's western front, unprecedented in scale!

Among them, the major demon states of Baoxiang, Shan Yu, Shan Jun, E Ling, Bi Li, and Bo Lang all sent heavy troops. Among them, Shan Yu State is a demon bird state, and Bo Lang State is a sea-demon state.

Water, land, and air—three fronts launched simultaneously.

Just as He Lingchuan had anticipated, that earlier series of disturbances was merely an appetizer. Beijia's planned main course is here.

In nearly thirty years, Beijia has never displayed such a formation against Mou State. The latter urgently transferred two hundred thousand troops from the western provinces, with armies and cultivators from all regions rushing rapidly to the western front to intercept.

Having just finished the campaign against Ya State, Mou State's main forces were still on the eastern front, and had not even returned home. Beijia's sudden massive pressure on the border placed immense defensive pressure on Mou State.

At the same time, because Beijia's aquatic demons invaded the gulf, Mou State's southern region simultaneously blockaded several straits, five or six ports.

The vast Mou State was thrown into panic, immediately launching the deepest and broadest war mobilization, tenser than during the Mou-Ya War period.

After all, this time the main opponent is Beijia, the strongest state in the present age, their arch-enemy. Furthermore, the shadow of the Ya War has not yet passed, Mou State has not recovered its vitality from the previous great war, and now must immediately engage in continuous combat.