Chapter 2622: Mirage

"These past few years, Bekka has even stationed troops in six vassal states, and it has indeed helped them forcibly stabilize the situation." Sun Hongye laughed, "Regardless of whether it's a symbolic garrison, it's still Bekka's troops, genuine and substantial. Whether immortal, demon, or other external forces, they must weigh their options before acting, and can only resign themselves."

"Baling thought, with the gold tablet in hand, that facing Shen State he could act with impunity."

He Lingchuan asked him: "In your view, will Bekka ultimately intervene or not?"

Sun Hongye pondered: "The intensity of the war between Shen State and Baling is escalating quickly. If Baling keeps retreating and Bekka still does not show up, Bekka's prestige will inevitably suffer."

He Lingchuan smiled; of course he could hear the difference between "intervene" and "show up."

A great power's dignity cannot be provoked, but Bekka wants to intimidate Shen State, to make it know when to retreat, and that is not limited to military means. Don't look at the tense relationship between the Kshatriya Heaven and the Lingxu Multitude—Shen State and Bekka have huge trade volume, and Bekka is even Shen State's largest export destination.

This is also easy to understand: Bekka is currently the wealthiest nation, its purchasing power is formidable, and earning its money is easier than earning others'.

Shen State still has many special products.

Economic sanctions would be a powerful move.

Despite He Chunhua repeatedly issuing strict orders banning it, over the years Shen State's officials and wealthy merchants have continued to acquire property in Bekka—Bekka's industry is both valuable and profitable.

Because of this direct interest, they also exert strong influence on Shen State's court.

Just the two words "Bekka" are enough to generate immense deterrent force against any contemporary nation—except Mou State and Cangyan—and it will also make good use of this deterrent force.

"Increase export aid to Shen State. Their custom-made special weapons, war puppet parts, and Bigu pills—weren't they supposed to ship in a month and a half?" He Lingchuan instructed, "Work overtime; they must be dispatched within five days."

Bigu pills were originally for cultivators and immortals only, but later the states discovered they are even more useful in the military, for they are so-called high-energy food, especially filling; eating just one small pill means an ordinary person need not eat anything for three to five days. Of course, soldiers expend more when exercising, but it can also last two days.

There are only two drawbacks: one is that it's expensive, the other is that one can only take one every twenty days; taking more causes abdominal pain and difficulty in excretion.

Thus, Bekka, being rich and powerful, directly made it standard issue for the military. Other states followed suit, equipping their elite units with it.

"Yes." With one order from the Emperor, the many weapon workshops and harbors in eastern Cangyan will again be bustling, "Your judgment: will the Shen-Baling war not subside so quickly?"

"The Kshatriya Heaven also supports many forces in the human realm, the most successful being Shen State. The Lingxu Multitude has let He Chunhua enjoy many good years; now that this opportunity has arisen, of course he should repay the Kshatriya Heaven's efforts." He Lingchuan mused, "Shen State has not yet challenged Bekka's strength, but if it defeats Baling so thoroughly that Baling is left looking for its teeth, the Kshatriya Heaven's prestige in the human realm will surely increase greatly; and for He Chunhua, since the alliance Shen State belongs to has recently absorbed several more state forces, it needs to display its strength to win allegiance; also, precisely because he himself is right next to Bekka, Shen State longs to win a battle against an old, established strong power like Baling, to flex its muscles, thereby easing the pressure from the geopolitical crisis."

He clearly understood how He Chunhua thought: the greater the strength he displays, the safer Shen State becomes, and the more support the Kshatriya Heaven gives to Shen State.

He Lingchuan also deeply empathized with He Chunhua's helplessness, because he could only think that way.

"So—" he softly sighed, "yes, since all the warring parties have the will to continue fighting, this war is probably not going to end quickly."

After thousands of years of longing, the swift recovery of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy has finally arrived, but what it brings is not peace across the four seas, but intensified upheavals between nations.

Ah, an age of great contention.

Just then, a palace servant entered from outside, knelt, and reported: "Your Majesty, the western sky is filled with thin, wandering mist, and a mirage has appeared."

"Oh? Now?" He Lingchuan closed his scroll, set down his brush, and leisurely walked out of the imperial study.

His imperial study, facing the Chixiao Golden Hall, has a very open view; looking west, one can see everything, all the way to the horizon.

At this moment the setting sun is gradually sinking, and the western sky was originally a expanse of gold-red, with vapors rising and rosy clouds glowing, beautiful beyond compare. However, just as the palace servant said, a large expanse of mirage has appeared in midair.

Sun Hongye followed him out, his face full of surprise: "Eh? It's actually a great city! Magnificent, but I can't tell what city it is."

This is also a great city; roughly estimated, its area is nearly catching up to Ju City. The buildings in the city are layered and overlapping, solemn and imposing.

The city walls are towering and heavy, seeming even thicker than Ju City's walls, and on the gate tower there are soldiers marching back and forth on patrol. Sun Hongye, gazing from the ground, can see everything clearly.

Not only can the Chixiao Golden Hall see it, but at this moment all the citizens of Ju City looking west can see this magnificent spectacle.

However, the Nine Abysses Great Emperor remained silent, his expression unusually complex.

Just then, the gate of the great city in midair slowly opened inward, and troops marched from outside into the city. Their uniforms were also very familiar to him.

Sun Hongye wondered aloud: "This isn't our Cangyan's city, is it? The troops' armor doesn't look like ours."

How could the mirage appearing over Ju City select scenes from beyond the Jinjin Plains?

He Lingchuan remained silent, and after a long while said: "No."

Then he turned to Sun Hongye and said: "You go down first."

"Yes."

This conversation ended, and Sun Hongye immediately took his leave.

He Lingchuan turned around, had just taken two steps outward, when the Hao Yuan Golden Mirror emerged from the void.

He stepped into the mirror, and instantly vanished from the spot.

……

He Lingchuan emerged from the mirror, already atop the western gate tower of Ju City.

Ju City is the prosperous capital of the Jinjin Plains; its gate and official road see carriages and horses day and night, twelve shichen, never ceasing. But now, the merchants and travelers beneath the gate, and the well-traveled Ju City locals, have all stopped their steps, set up shade awnings, and gaze westward:

"What is that? A great city in midair."

"There's even a flood dragon on the gate tower."

The flood dragon suddenly moved, swimming along the high city walls. This scene immediately triggered startled cries from the civilians.

"Alive, that flood dragon is alive!"

The gate guard hurried over, rushed to He Lingchuan, and bowed: "Your Majesty!"

The Nine Abysses Great Emperor comes and goes suddenly; the soldiers are already used to it. The Emperor just has heavenly-reaching methods.

He Lingchuan tossed him a half-finger-long crystal, pointed to the Hao Yuan Golden Mirror, and casually ordered: "Go inform Minister Du, the Earth Mother has returned, have him send personnel to transport supplies out of the city."

The Earth Mother approached Ju City; as the master of the Panlong Secret Realm, he naturally sensed it.