Chapter 2510: The Spoils of the Nine Abysses

How great an honor is it to be praised by a contemporary powerhouse, one of the Three Great Emperors, the Emperor of the Nine Abysses?

Moreover, when the Emperor of the Nine Abysses praises them, it will be recorded at Lingshan, and upon return they will be rewarded according to merit.

Competition within Lingshan is also fierce; a single word from the Emperor of the Nine Abysses settles their achievements—who would not be pleased?

True Person of the Si Sea naturally feels gratified as well, but they held back until the end, also having their own purpose.

He Lingchuan did not wait for him to speak, but handed over a list, expressing his stance very generously:

In the Battle of Jade Capital City, Lingshan exerted great effort and also suffered considerable losses; after the battle, when rewards are distributed, Lingshan should receive a share of the spoils.

This list is recorded on a jade slip; True Person of the Si Sea probes it with his divine sense, and is startled.

Dazzling and varied, truly dazzling and varied!

True Person of the Si Sea laughs until the wrinkles on his face smooth out, yet he waves his hand and says: "Enough! In this great battle, it was still you, Emperor, who slew Shangguan Biao."

Dividing the spoils—no, dividing the spoils of war—still emphasizes merit: whoever contributed the most, whoever had the greatest effect, naturally takes the largest share.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror cannot bear to look, muttering: "Putting on airs, huh!"

He Lingchuan's smile becomes even more gentle:

"To speak frankly, without Lingshan's strong cooperation, relying solely on us few, how could we have caused Shangguan Biao to throw his formation into chaos?"

It is true that their small team could fight, but it is also true that they were few in number; facing the vast Jade Capital City, they initially could indeed find no point of entry.

As for Shangguan Biao's treasury, the Earth Mother has not yet finished inventorying it; what has been unearthed so far is merely the tip of the iceberg.

True Person of the Si Sea declines, but He Lingchuan insists.

After such three refusals and three urgings, True Person of the Si Sea reluctantly accepts the kindness of Cangyan.

His mood is naturally very beautiful; Lingshan's attack on Shangguan Biao this time was originally intended to establish prestige and recover losses, merely wishing to give the Earth Mother a lesson, not truly hoping to destroy it—after all, over the past many years, Jade Capital City has been notorious as a dragon's pool and tiger's den, where none who enter return.

However, True Person of the Si Sea this time led the team effectively, not only unveiling the true face of the "Earth Mother," but also killing the mastermind behind it; regardless of who killed Shangguan Biao, True Person of the Si Sea and others have already exceeded the assigned task from above, so next comes taking the spoils of war as the victorious side.

As for the Grand Vessel, matters have come to this; True Person of the Si Sea simply does not mention it. This divine artifact, though fine, what relation does it have to him or to Lingshan?

True Person of the Si Sea has long pondered the matter of spoils, for within Lingshan it is well known that Cangyan and the Emperor of the Nine Abysses are domineering; now that Jade Capital City wholly belongs to the Emperor of the Nine Abysses, he has fully mastered the initiative—if he were like Shangguan Biao and hoarded all spoils in his own arms, True Person of the Si Sea would have no recourse whatsoever.

Who would have thought the Emperor of the Nine Abysses would be so generous? Then isn't it all-around joy?

The two purposes assigned to True Person of the Si Sea by Lingshan: one, to chastise the Earth Mother and establish prestige; two, to recover losses—have they been fulfilled?

They have been exceeded!

What else is there to say?

On this return to Lingshan, True Person of the Si Sea and others have not only achieved merit but also retrieved vast spoils of war, and will surely receive great commendation from Lingshan.

Perfect, utterly perfect!

Taking this opportunity, He Lingchuan also proposes letting more immortals of Lingshan take office in Cangyan.

Not accepting tribute, but taking office.

True Person of the Si Sea nods repeatedly, indicating he will certainly convey the message upon return, and based on his experience, this matter is fundamentally not difficult to handle.

After the meeting concludes, not only does True Person of the Si Sea laugh openly, but He Lingchuan likewise beams with springlike countenance.

The list allocated to True Person of the Si Sea is not only the spoils of war from the Battle of Jade Capital City allotted to Lingshan, but also compensation for personnel losses due to Lingshan—this time Lingshan's attack on Jade Capital City resulted in over two hundred casualties; therefore, part of this sum is consolation money. Cangyan allocates it to Lingshan, and Lingshan must further distribute it downward.

Moreover, He Lingchuan strikes while the iron is hot, and can also recruit and hire personnel in Lingshan.

If he were stingy, Lingshan would not be so accommodating.

By contrast, how rich were He Lingchuan's gains in the Battle of Jade Capital City?

He frustrated the Heavenly Demon's attempt to seize the "Yang Pass Road," accelerating the plan to manufacture the Descended Divine Body;

He severed the Heavenly Demon's delusion to seize the Grand Vessel, preventing the direct divine descent of the Holy Sovereign of Lingxu;

He rebuilt the connection between the Panlong New Secret Realm and the Grand Vessel, causing all factions henceforth to lose heart regarding the Grand Vessel;

At the same time, he also signed a contract with the Earth Mother, substantially becoming the new master of Jade Capital City; the majority of Shangguan Biao's estate naturally belongs to him and to Cangyan.

Simultaneously, the Panlong Ruins are also locked with the Earth Mother, becoming an ancient city that wanders the four directions, no longer clinging to the Panlong Wasteland; as long as He Lingchuan wishes, the Earth Mother can even carry it to Cangyan!

He Lingchuan's feelings toward this ancient city are complex, known only to himself; from now on, he and it are no longer separated by ten thousand li, powerless.

The Battle of Jade Capital City, He Lingchuan's achievements are all-encompassing and multi-dimensional.

Compared to that, what is the list given to Lingshan?

Money and wealth are merely He Lingchuan's least noteworthy gain in this great war.

The path by which he and Cangyan have grown strong is not simply through wealth; thus money and wealth are merely his expedient means, not his end.

After the meeting, He Lingchuan privately pulls Mingke the Immortal aside, smiling especially affably:

"Brother Mingke, what do you think of this incursion into Jade Capital City?"

Mingke the Immortal does not know what he intends, and answers truthfully: "Exhilarating."

"I heard from His Eminence Mingyao that you have wandered the four seas to this day, yet have not registered residence in Mou State or any other country?"

Immortals roam freely between heaven and earth, able to go anywhere, but taking office in a state requires a lawful formal identity, which the celestial realm jokingly calls "registering residence," namely, registering in the mundane world.

Mingke the Immortal, upon hearing the string and knowing the melody, immediately understands, and hesitates slightly.

Mou State has long had intentions to recruit him, but Mingke the Immortal, accustomed to idleness, enjoys wandering Tiannandibei, and can still visit some relics when idle, so he has never settled down, unlike His Eminence Mingyao, who already holds office in Mou State.

If another person invited him, Mingke the Immortal would surely decline politely; but now that the speaker is the Emperor of the Nine Abysses, Mingke the Immortal must give it serious thought.

When the Emperor of the Nine Abysses first arrived at Bai Yuan Station and joined Lingshan's war council, he used a military title no one had heard of, and Lingshan people did not take it seriously.

What status and temperament does an immortal have? At most, they would give Cangyan a modicum of deference, and how would they listen to a nobody?

How did He Lingchuan make his opinions adopted, and even in subsequent actions gradually seize the initiative?

He never revealed his identity openly; in the end, it was Shangguan Biao who exposed it.

This question, Mingke the Immortal has reflected on repeatedly since the battle ended, and the more he thinks, the more interesting it seems.