Chapter 2268: Solitary Ruler, Widowed Man

Over these years, Cang Yan has devoted the most energy to this aspect.

It is not that Cang Yan does not want to bring all these immortal sects and demon clans under control and pin them to the ground like scallions, but that it simply cannot be done.

Even the Nine Nether Great Emperor cannot make an enemy of nature, cannot make an enemy of the trend.

Sun Hongye hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.

He Lingchuan saw through him at a glance and said magnanimously, "Speak."

"Allowing the immortal sects and demon clans to compete with and swallow each other like this — are you not afraid that one day they will produce a grassroots king, which would be unfavorable to the locality?"

Unfavorable to Cang Yan.

Over these years Sun Hongye has wandered the world and seen much of the power struggles and infighting among human forces. Why do they fight endlessly?

On one hand for survival, on the other for growth.

Are the immortal sects and demon clans not the same? If they struggle to the end and integrate into a few powerful sect forces, that would be extremely unfavorable to Cang Yan's rule.

"Good question." He Lingchuan patted his shoulder. Sun Hongye had just heard his governing philosophy and could already think deeper — his brain is still sharp. "However, nothing can be perfect in both aspects. There is no globally optimal solution, only the optimal solution for the present."

He Lingchuan is of course well aware that Cang Yan's current approach also has drawbacks, but: "Whether immortal sects or demon clans, their organizational methods are too backward, making it difficult to contend with truly great nations."

Key point: truly.

Why did the immortal sects and demon clans decline in the past? Besides the main factor of the decline of heaven and earth's spiritual qi, the rise of human nations was also a major reason.

He Lingchuan has always believed that compared to the looseness of immortal sects, the organizational structure of human nations is more advanced.

"Once the Jingzhe period passes, their numbers will decrease and individual forces will grow stronger — which will instead be beneficial to our management."

"Large quantity," "dispersed," "no main body" — these are the effective protective coloration of these forces.

Once they become integrated and embodied, the authorities can instead manage them effectively in a targeted manner.

Sun Hongye nodded: "That is also because Cang Yan is powerful."

Powerful, therefore fearless of challenges.

A strong nation, therefore possessing overbearing Yuan Li. This is a sharp weapon against divine abilities and immortal arts.

There are so many nations in the world; many collapse before they even reach the second stage.

Thinking of this, Sun Hongye could not help but sigh: "I heard that Beijia has also had some troubles these years."

"This is not Cang Yan's problem alone; Beijia, Mou Nation, and all other nations must face this shock head-on." He Lingchuan said, "Beijia calls itself the 'Northern Demon Nation,' but the foundation of its national continuity is still the vast human commoners, so it is likewise heavily impacted during the Jingzhe period."

Society's wealth, in the end, must still be created by humans.

"Beijia has also thought of many ways to resolve it, but the demon nation itself has one more trouble compared to Cang Yan."

"Please, Emperor Jun, instruct me?"

"The top nobility of the demon nation are mostly great demons; in the current environment, their demand for spiritual qi and xuan crystals has instead surged sharply." The more fierce the cultivation, the higher the cultivation base, the more spiritual qi needed. "But most demon clans do not engage in production; at this time they demand even more, increasing the burden on the commoners, and thus intensifying the conflict between demon clans and humans. So in recent years rebellions have frequently appeared within Beijia, and the authorities have always suppressed them forcefully. Furthermore, the power gap between the various vassal demon nations is growing ever wider, and development is becoming increasingly unbalanced."

Speaking to this point, He Lingchuan patted his shoulder, "Alright, I still need to see Zhu Xiuer. You have come from afar and are tired; rest first, I will look for you in a couple of days."

"Yes." Sun Hongye knew the Nine Nether Great Emperor's time was precious and immediately rose.

Sun Hongye's lodging had already been arranged; palace attendants outside the hall would lead him there.

After Sun Hongye withdrew, He Lingchuan summoned the Hao Yuan Golden Mirror, took a step and crossed back into the Imperial Study, only then waving his hand:

"Someone, who from Rang Mountain is on duty in the palace today?"

Soon a palace attendant replied:

"Second-rank Imperial Guard Peng Sixuan."

A quarter-hour later, Peng Sixuan arrived to receive the decree.

"Go ask Elder Dao: when he led the Rang Mountain disciples to Bai Sha Bay to board a ship back then, did he meet a person at the Qingmu Inn, named Sun Hongye?"

"Yes!"

"Also, did they mention Beijia's demon puppet experimental field to Sun Hongye?" He Lingchuan stroked his chin. "Sun Hongye will be staying temporarily at the Chixiao Golden Palace these two days; you have Elder Dao and those Rang Mountain disciples who lodged at the Qingmu Inn that night encounter him by chance, and see whether it really is this person."

"Yes!"

Peng Sixuan retreated respectfully, not turning to leave until he reached the door.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror asked He Lingchuan: "Eh? You don't trust an old acquaintance anymore?"

"Routine business." He Lingchuan drank a mouthful of water. "After all, it has been many years since we met; he suddenly appears and brings me such important news."

The mirror hummed twice: "Your paranoia is getting worse."

He Lingchuan could not be bothered to respond.

What is an emperor? Solitary ruler, widowed man.

Are these four words not enough to explain everything?

Hearts are separated by belly skin. In his position, there are far too many people around him with ulterior motives; he has no energy to distinguish them one by one.

What power brings him, besides supreme glory, is endless loneliness and suspicion.

Sun Hongye has talent, and is an old friend; he very much wants to use him. But the old saying goes well: suspect a man and do not employ him; employ a man and do not suspect him.

He thought: to use Sun Hongye, he must first determine this man is reliable, trustworthy.

For a superior like him, the loyalty and reliability of subordinates ranks far, far above talent and ability.

$$$$$

Cang Yan Nation, Xunyang Mountain north of Wei'an City.

A few days ago at dusk, a medicine farmer occasionally saw green light flashing in the outer mountains, suspecting a wild demon had invaded, and so reported it to the authorities.

The authorities dispatched people into the mountain to patrol; seeing nothing abnormal, they returned.

Xunyang Mountain consists of continuous undulating mountains; the outer ring has been opened as medicine fields and forest farms, while deep in the mountains human traces are rare and spirits and monsters are commonly seen.

This night, someone hurried into the mountain, walking almost without feet touching ground, a single stride crossing ten zhang, like a ghost.

By the stream a white stone lay like a reclining ox; this person reached out and knocked on the stone three times, then crashed into the large stone.

A streak of green light flashed across the large stone, and the person vanished.

The stream flowed gently, everything as before.

Behind the Reclining Ox Stone lay another world.

Before him was a waterfall, pearls and jade splashing, its flow ceaseless year-round.

By the waterfall stood the Bai Yu Mountain Gate, the characters "Qixia" inscribed in large seal script.

The mountain path wound upward, steps climbed, and pavilions and towers could be seen half-hidden among the green trees.

The color of the mountain rocks here differed from the outside world; at first glance they were plain white and gray-white, but when the evening sun struck them at dusk, a red light flowed through, as if branded red-hot by a branding iron, and in the next second they seemed to flow with molten rock.

Yet compared to the outside world, this place was too quiet.

After entering the mountain, this person leapt a few bounds and reached the hall's gate, lighter than a monkey.

The main hall was magnificent, but unguarded; he walked straight to the end, where three robed figures sat in meditation in the Bai Yu Hall, with several disciples attending on either side.

He stepped forward and bowed: "Disciple Tang Jingye, paying respects to the Sect Master, Uncle-Master, and all the Elders."