Chapter 2987

His relationship with Frost Leaf was also quite peculiar—they had cooperated against Qingyang, he had been wary of him when he fled to the Yangshan Archipelago, and finally, after the founding of Cangyan, they had become both enemies and friends. This man was the National Preceptor of Beijia, but there was no fundamental contradiction between them, and they had even completed several clandestine transactions. They rarely kept in touch, but Frost Leaf was no more formal with him, just as direct:

"Is that Sea Emperor's Halberd in your hand capable of gathering the water tribes of the Western Sea?"

"Yes."

"Could you lend it to me for a moment?" Frost Leaf National Preceptor said quickly, "I need to go to the deep ocean of the Western Sea to find a certain jellyfish for medicine, but they are elusive and require the Sea Emperor's Halberd to draw them forth. As payment, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, He Lingchuan interrupted him:

"Certainly."

Jiǔyōu was too blunt, and Frost Leaf National Preceptor blinked in surprise: "Huh? You're not asking for conditions?"

"After the old demon emperor passed away, the Wuhuan resolved to send troops against Shen State, and you were the one who actively blocked them." Such intense court opposition could not be hidden, and of course it reached He Lingchuan's ears through various channels, "That is enough."

The key lies in these two words:

Initiative.

Regardless of Frost Leaf National Preceptor's motives for blocking the Wuhuan, he had in fact prevented the Beijia cavalry from entering Shen State.

Shen State and Balian had been locked in war for three years, their economy and livelihood somewhat exhausted, and recently, taking advantage of the prestige from destroying Balian, they had begun to expand, now consolidating and enlarging the Southwest Alliance. In the great backdrop of the imminent descent of the Heavenly Demon, small and medium states uniting in common defense became very important, and He Lingchuan not only welcomed it but was willing to strongly support it.

Moreover, Shen State and Cangyan share a strategic relationship—once Beijia attacks, Shen State will inevitably turn to Cangyan for aid. At that time, this will become a thorny problem troubling He Lingchuan. After all, Shen State is too far from Cangyan.

Meanwhile, the Panlong Army is currently stationed near Bai Sha Bay, which lies within Shen State's borders, making it hard to simply ignore. If the Panlong Army must now intervene in the war between Shen State and Beijia, would that not fulfill the Heavenly God's will and also help shift Beijia's internal contradictions?

He Lingchuan wanted to send troops, but not at this critical juncture.

He wished to seize the initiative for himself.

Frost Leaf National Preceptor had resolved this major crisis for him, and in geopolitical terms, it carried more weight than any personal transaction between them. Moreover, Frost Leaf had acted first, without consulting He Lingchuan, thus proactively demonstrating his sincerity.

Compared to directly asking for spears and then haggling over every detail, Frost Leaf's move was far more clever.

These intricacies were well known to the Jiǔyōu Great Emperor.

By comparison, what is a mere divine artifact?

Frost Leaf silently exhaled in relief: "Thank you!"

The Jiǔyōu's conduct is indeed becoming ever more magnanimous.

Previously, when Jiǔyōu spoke with him, he still had to set conditions, making it clear it was a mutual exchange; this time, he made no deal—Frost Leaf spoke, and he agreed immediately, without even asking further.

Those who achieve great things do not fuss over trifles.

"Where shall we meet?" He Lingchuan always felt something was off, "And what has happened in your place? Could it be...?," "The Holy Mother of Jin Du descended to the mortal realm a few days ago and is now in my Autumn Palace. The command from the Holy Lord Ling Xu to Chi is to never leave my side." "Chi has finally attained divine manifestation? Congratulations." He Lingchuan, so perceptive, understood at once:

The Holy Lord Ling Xu sent the Holy Mother of Jin Du to the mortal realm to monitor Frost Leaf, ensuring he would obey.

"Never leave his side? I haven't seen Chi at all."

If the Holy Mother of Jin Du were staring intently at Frost Leaf, how could the latter maintain contact with the Jiǔyōu Great Emperor?

"These past few days I've been handling state affairs, and Chi found it utterly boring, so he is now staying in the hot spring thirty zhang away." Frost Leaf's face darkened unconsciously, "As soon as I step outside, Chi will follow immediately. Where I go, Chi goes."

Sun Fuling, who had just entered, heard this and couldn't help but smile faintly.

Like most heavenly beings, the Holy Mother of Jin Du does not concern herself with governance, nor does she understand Frost Leaf National Preceptor's daily decisions; watching his work only makes her more drowsy and bored, and staying constantly in his study is like imprisonment—so she eventually goes out to find amusement.

After several days like this, Frost Leaf National Preceptor quietly sent Chi away and then secretly contacted the Jiǔyōu Great Emperor.

"Why haven't you killed She yet?" He Lingchuan knew Frost Leaf's study must have a soundproof barrier, allowing him to speak freely, "You seem to have been hoping for Chi's descent into the mortal realm for several years now?"

Years ago, Frost Leaf had sneaked into Cangyan to steal a certain treasure, intending to use it against the Holy Mother of Jin Du.

The Jin Du demon spawn and its mother share a bond of life and death—if the Holy Mother of Jin Du dies, regardless of cause, Frost Leaf will also perish simultaneously. He Lingchuan is certain this fellow must have long studied how to escape the Holy Mother's control. But since the Holy Mother has not come to the mortal realm, Frost Leaf cannot accomplish this heaven-defying act.

Now that the long-awaited opportunity has finally arrived, what is he still waiting for?

"Could it be that something went wrong, or that he simply hasn't found the chance to strike?"

"The timing is not right, nor the location." Frost Leaf cannot act while Beijia moves, for the heavenly forces here are too strong, "Besides, the Holy Mother of Jin Du gave me a formula for the Rejuvenation Pill, giving me a chance to become stronger. Before verifying the medicine's efficacy, I had better preserve Chi's life." Strangely, this matricide plan is his top-secret absolute secret—even Xi Yunhe, who has served him for decades, does not know it, while the Jiǔyōu Great Emperor, who is both enemy and friend, is aware.

"Rejuvenation Pill?" He Lingchuan and Sun Fuling pondered briefly, then suddenly understood, "Ah, now I see!"

Gluttonous Devourers gain a powerful eating BUFF only for a short time after birth—the stronger the food they consume, the stronger they become, even partially gaining the prey's abilities. Frost Leaf National Preceptor is nearly two hundred years old; eating anything now would be too late.

He wishes to greatly enhance his own strength, and the only shortcut is to return to the moment of rebirth.

"In other words, during that period you must eat as many strong beings as possible?" He Lingchuan stroked his chin, "It seems you have prepared all the food you intend to eat?"

Frost Leaf National Preceptor nodded.

He had long wanted to exploit this loophole, had made extensive preparations—including the ingredients to be used then—but for years had struggled to find a usable rejuvenation pill formula.

This is indeed Frost Leaf National Preceptor's consistent style: silently preparing in the dark. He Lingchuan asked him: "Is the Holy Mother of Jin Du's formula genuine?" "My strength is her strength, and the faster the better—Chi has no need to deceive me." Frost Leaf National Preceptor said, "But to be safe, I will always keep Chi by my side."

He is a meticulous person.

"So you borrowed the Sea Emperor's Halberd to concoct the Rejuvenation Pill." He Lingchuan said lazily, "Had I known this earlier, I would not have so readily agreed to your request. An enemy becoming too strong—what good is that to me?"