Chapter 2254: The Mad Reversal of History

He let out a long sigh: "In fact, south of Beijia and west and north of Shen State, fallen states follow one after another—just counting casually, there are dozens, and those that have managed to survive are exceedingly few!"

Small states lack strength—whether in wealth, manpower, military force, or elemental power—they simply cannot withstand the endless waves of demon beasts coming from all directions, which in turn triggers internal strife, factionalism, conflict, and all kinds of unprecedented strange problems; they cannot hold out long before collapsing and vanishing.

Puhua was slightly curious about foreign lands: "After a state perishes, who takes over its land?"

"Ah, that's complicated." Sun Hongye counted on his fingers: "Usually it becomes a no-man's land where strange monsters run rampant, seized by tribes or bandits, and later on, it attracts immortal sects or demon clans. I've heard that ancient texts often use a single word to describe this era, to describe such places—"

"—Primordial Wilderness!"

Puhua laughed: "Our emperor just recently said that the true Primordial Wilderness era was in antiquity. Judging by the current environment, humanity is undergoing a historical reversal, and the Primordial Wilderness era has not yet arrived."

Sun Hongye sighed: "Now that states are no longer states, if antiquity or the true Primordial Wilderness were to come, could ordinary people still have good days?"

Puhua's smile faded slightly: "Everyone says antiquity is mysterious and marvelous, but in an era of immortal-demon hegemony and rampant great demons, how could it be friendly to ordinary people?"

"After the great outbreak of spiritual energy, the first to descend was actually heavenly disaster! Before the descent of heavenly demons, the human world was already in great chaos! Who could have imagined this?" Sun Hongye murmured: "Blessings harbor misfortune, as the ancients truly did not deceive me."

"Spiritual energy revives, all things vie for growth." Puhua enunciated each word: "This 'all things' does not refer only to humanity. The biological entities competing with humanity are nearly infinite. The emperor often says that the great outbreak of spiritual energy is both opportunity and challenge for living beings and states. Since it is called 'all things vie for growth,' there must inevitably be the weak who fall in the challenge, who lag behind in competition."

The fate of those who fall behind is extremely pitiable.

Over the past three thousand years, spiritual energy went from abundant to scarce; now it is the reverse—within these seven years, the total increase in spiritual energy has surpassed the sum of the previous three thousand years!

This world's spiritual energy environment is rushing forward toward the antiquity era, and shows no sign of stopping. It has already passed the late Middle Ages, the middle Middle Ages, and is now swiftly advancing into the early Middle Ages—perhaps with a bit more effort, it could return to antiquity—

Is this not precisely "historical reversal"?

With such frenzied fertilization, of course all things in the human world grow wildly.

Survival of the fittest is itself a natural law—how could those who stand out be limited to humanity alone?

When the great environment undergoes drastic change, before most people even react, their old order to which they had adapted also collapses alongside.

The outbreak of spiritual energy, however, was never said to be friendly to every person, every state.

Countless small states, facing such competition, were utterly unprepared, toppled after just a few stumbles, and were instantly buried in the dust of history.

Those states that endured seven years of upheaval and survived have their own strengths.

Sun Hongye probed: "Then how are the people of Cangyan faring?"

"Quite well. They eat when they should, drink when they should, worries don't linger in the heart. As long as one avoids the remote wilderness, order and security are largely guaranteed." Puhua smiled: "Outside the fortress, chaos reigns; within the walls, peace and prosperity prevail—this truly is the most contradictory and fascinating era."

No matter how chaotic this world becomes, Cangyan's interior remains orderly and thriving—this is all the more precious.

Sun Hongye recalled the residents and merchants he saw in Julu Port—most had ruddy faces and hurried steps, indeed not resembling those long accustomed to fear and anxiety.

The market's supplies were also extremely abundant, with goods from south and north fully stocked, trade flourishing.

After resting for half an hour, the mountain eagles spread their wings again.

Soon, ahead loomed the high mountains, peaks jagged and steep. Sun Hongye saw in the mountain forests not a few dwellings faintly visible, as if people were still walking about.

Yet the mountain eagles carefully avoided these several peaks, making a wide detour and flying far away.

This time, they reached Tongyue Mountain before sunset.

Mountain eagles are not owls; they dislike traveling at night. Moreover, Sun Hongye also needed rest.

After disembarking their passengers, the mountain eagles flew into the mountain forest to find a cliff for the night, while Sun Hongye and his companion went into the town to find lodging.

At the foot of Tongyue Mountain lies a town, adjacent to the Tongyue Mountain range.

Sun Hongye had thought the town small, but upon entering, he realized the interior was remarkably long and narrow, built winding along the mountain, with houses on the cliff face and rushing river water at the base of the rock wall—viewed from afar, it was quite striking.

After nightfall, the spore lamps and house lamps along the way lit up, like celestial sparks reflected in the human world—tranquil and gentle.

The two casually chose an inn to stay in, then went out to drink; they saw the town had many people, with over ten food and drink establishments all having customers.

Sun Hongye wondered, and upon inquiry learned that Tongyue Mountain specializes in producing xuanjing ore, with two rich mineral veins already surveyed, so Tongyue Town lives off the ore, mainly engaged in mining and transport.

Asked about population, wow—this so-called long and narrow town actually has over four thousand permanent residents!

No wonder the houses are built so densely.

If one also counts the south-and-north-bound merchants and other transient personnel, the total is roughly around seven thousand.

Moreover, a military garrison is stationed here to guard the xuanjing ore warehouses, so the inner part of the town is a restricted zone—outsiders keep away.

The xuanjing ore of Tongyue Mountain mainly supplies the central and western parts of the Jinjin Plain.

Ten years ago, xuanjing was still hard to come by; later, with the recovery of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, emperor's liquid seeped into the earth to become ore, and the underground xuanjing veins began to crystallize and grow, expanding the usage scenarios of xuanjing—not only cultivators need it. For example, the giant spell array at Julu Port—ten years ago, who would dare imagine a port could also be so luxurious?

Of course, the demand for xuanjing has correspondingly increased. Now, all surveyed xuanjing ore on the Jinjin Plain belongs to the state, all officially mined and escorted by the military.

Sun Hongye then asked about the several mountain peaks that the mountain eagles had to detour around.

"That is the territory of the Zhenyuan Palace."

"Is it an immortal sect?"

"Yes, an immortal sect that emerged from seclusion four years ago, with two immortals guarding it, and they maintain amicable relations with the authorities in negotiations. They established their headquarters on the original site, clearing and absorbing the nearby demon clans and Daoist sects; the sect has expanded from over ninety members to more than five hundred, and also has several dozen demon beasts."

Tomorrow they still need to fly for a day; after dinner, the two returned to the inn to rest.

Frog croaks and insect chirps—the night in the mountains was especially tranquil.

Sun Hongye had drunk a bellyful of soup, when at midnight he suddenly felt the urge to relieve himself, sat up, and changed clothes.

Just as he stepped out of the privy and had walked only a few steps, he felt something was off around him.

Outside the inn was a large pond; he had previously fallen asleep to the sound of a great frog chorus—why now was there not a single sound or movement?

Not even insect chirps remained—only the wind sighing through the treetops, woeful and monotonous.

The silence was so profound it made one's flesh creep.