Chapter 2703

"Every single ingredient in that formula serves an irreplaceable purpose," General Hong explained. "Even if the Heavenly Demons wanted to alter the formula, it absolutely could not be accomplished in a short time. Moreover, the current vassal demon kings all took the medicine upon their accession; if the Demon Emperor can develop an antidote in time, they can reclaim their freedom and escape the Heavenly Demons' control."

Wen Daolun thought for a moment, then smiled and said: "Even if the Holy Venerable of Lingxu manages to research a new 'Qinchang' formula, those vassal demon kings may not be willing to swallow the new medicine again. When that time comes, there will be a violent upheaval within the Beka Kingdom."

Once the news that the Demon Emperor has obtained the secret 'Qinchang' formula spreads, hope will inevitably sprout in the hearts of most vassal demon kings — hope that the Demon Emperor can develop an antidote, so their lives and deaths no longer need to be tied to the Heavenly Demons' hands. In such a situation, if the Holy Venerable of Lingxu presents a new medicine before the vassal demon kings and says 'Eat it,' how many vassal demon kings would obediently comply?

Back then they took the medicine because they could not ascend to their positions without taking it.

Now everyone has sat securely on their thrones for so many years; how many would still be willing to remain subservient to a foreign race, obediently serving as someone's dog?

The high-level figures of Panlong do not care what choices the vassal demon kings make, but the game between the Heavenly Demons and the vassal demon kings, between the Heavenly Demons and the Demon Emperor, and between the Heavenly Palace and Lingxu City will certainly be the source of the greatest contradiction.

"From now on, both the Holy Venerable of Lingxu and the Demon Emperor must race against time to see who succeeds in their research first."

Let's see whether the Demon Emperor produces the 'Qinchang' antidote first, or the Holy Venerable of Lingxu succeeds in improving the formula first.

The more Zhong Shengguang thought about it, the more he felt that He Lingchuan's move was truly a stroke of genius.

In reality, He Lingchuan had long known that an improved 'Qinchang' formula would not emerge so easily, which was why he dared to play it as a trump card in the Panlong World. After he stole the Hidden Sovereign's body from the Lingyun Palace, the Heavenly Palace would certainly suspect how this major secret had been leaked, and the several other secrets handed over simultaneously with the "Hidden Sovereign's hiding place" probably could not be kept either.

Yes, the real-world Holy Venerable of Lingxu must suspect that the secret 'Qinchang' formula has already been leaked and has begun developing a new medicine. But until He Lingchuan entered the Panlong World this time, the new medicine might still not have appeared, because just a few days ago he asked Seeing Fushan Yue, and King Chi Yan had never received any notification to switch medicines.

Three years have passed since the Battle of Lingyun Palace; if the Holy Venerable of Lingxu had succeeded in improving the formula, he should have tried every means to make the vassal demon kings take the medicine again. The Heavenly Demons cannot afford that risk and cannot sit by and watch the foundation of their rule over Beka be shaken.

Therefore He Lingchuan can basically conclude that the Holy Venerable of Lingxu in the Panlong World also absolutely cannot produce a new 'Qinchang' formula in a short time.

As for the real-world Beka Demon Emperor — has he developed an antidote? That is also a top secret; Cang Yan has likewise received no wind of it.

Once the Demon Emperor produces an antidote for the vassal demon kings to use, the conflict with the Heavenly Demons will immediately intensify.

Because the Holy Venerable of Lingxu controls the vassal demon kings through the 'Qinchang' secret medicine combined with divine abilities, making the vassal demon kings share life and death with a certain Heavenly Demon. No one knows whether the Heavenly Demons would become aware once a vassal demon king takes the antidote.

Before the Demon Emperor is prepared to completely tear face with the people of Lingxu, he will keep it deeply hidden.

In reality, the Demon Emperor and the people of Lingxu are mutually suspicious but have not publicly torn face.

But in the Panlong World, He Lingchuan intends to use the most brutal method to fan the flames and detonate the contradiction between the two as quickly as possible!

In the past, he rarely brought external information and intelligence into the Panlong World, fearing the world line would deviate further and further, fearing that one or two unknown variables would trigger Beka's all-out attack on Panlong City; but the thing he worried about most has now come true, so what is he still being conservative for?

Might as well go all out and act without restraint!

Even if he turns the Panlong World upside down, so what? Panlong's current crisis requires the four words "no destruction, no establishment" to break the deadlock.

Zhong Shengguang then asked He Lingchuan: "You said just now that sending Fu Shanlie away was necessary to proceed. What other ideas do you have after that?"

"I do." This was the real focus of He Lingchuan convening this remote conference today.

He walked to the sand table and first pointed at the position of Longhou Pass. "After we withdrew from the Maohe Plain, General Hong has been guarding Longhou Pass, holding back hundreds of thousands of Beka troops outside the pass — a truly outstanding merit!"

Panlong and Beka fought a bloody war on the Maohe Plain for over a year, both suffering severe losses. General Hong guarding Longhou Pass and blocking the Beka army from invading the Panlong Wasteland bought the Panlong army more time to recuperate and reorganize — a correct strategic decision.

General Hong heard that he was about to say "but," so he simply crossed his arms and said unceremoniously: "What do you want to say?"

"But now Beka has already opened a second front, cleared a path through the small nations south of the Panlong Wasteland, bypassed Longhou Pass, and thrust straight at the heart of the wasteland!" He Lingchuan pointed again toward the southern part of the Panlong Wasteland. "This front has no natural barriers to defend; the terrain is too flat and open. No matter how we defend, the Beka army will eventually break into the southern wasteland."

Wen Daolun smiled bitterly: "One more day delayed is one more day gained."

"Since I awoke I have been studying the war situation, and these past few days I fought a few battles against Fu Shanlie's army. In my view, Beka's main strategy should be pressing with superior numbers and using the many to bully the few; therefore after advancing south they will split their forces into multiple routes, hoping to defeat us one by one."

Zhong Shengguang nodded: "Beka will certainly bring its advantages into full play."

The Beka army's advantages are simply: vast numbers, ample logistics, thick bloodlines, and the ability to endure attrition.

The total numbers of the Beka army and the Panlong army cannot be compared at all.

The material supply and logistical support that Beka and Panlong can provide for their armies are also not on the same level.

If He Lingchuan were Fu Shanlie, the optimal strategy against the Panlong army would originally be to overcome ten with one force — human sea tactics.

The so-called clumsy method is the good method; even if tactics are not as brilliant as the opponent's, even if soldier quality is not as tough, Beka can still ultimately wear down the Panlong army until it is wiped out and exhaust Panlong's supplies by brute force.

The Holy Venerable of Lingxu has already said: take Panlong at any cost!

What does "at any cost" mean? This is it.

All four attendees understood clearly how critical Panlong's situation was. Once Fu Shanlie's great army enters the southern wasteland, it will spread like a tide. The Panlong army's defeat on the Maohe Plain may very well be reenacted.

But Panlong is helpless; the enemy does not fear a war of attrition. As long as they drag it out long enough, the scales of victory will ultimately tilt toward the other side.

This kind of dragging, grinding, attrition war makes people despair halfway through.

"Regardless of whether Fu Shanlie is transferred away or not, Beka's second front will open. In this situation, General Hong continuing to dead-guard Longhou Pass has no meaning; instead it wastes Panlong's sharpest dagger!"