[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-immortals-disappeared":3,"chapter-after-the-immortals-disappeared-after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-974":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Immortals Disappeared",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2284858,4468,"Chapter 974: Discussing the World","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-974",974,"\u003Cp>The two sides had an agreement in the past, but neither wanted to execute it properly; one did not want to give, the other truly dared to demand, and both were racking their brains to find loopholes and play smart. After the fire at the Star-Plucking Tower broke out, the last shred of foundation for mutual trust was burned to nothing by this fire. The suspicion and rift between the Heavenly Palace and the Zu-Ju would not disappear, so He Lingchuan believed that their internal friction could not stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person cannot stand without credibility. These words are not just moral indoctrination, but also a true reflection of interpersonal interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Credit is wealth; once destroyed, what can one rely on to rebuild it? The arrogance of the Heavenly Palace, or the greed of the Zu-Ju?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's twice as abundant as it was before the Zu-Ju started causing trouble! This really is adding frost to snow!\" Thinking of the gloom and misery of the Ke family, Fang Canran clapped his hands and laughed, \"The Demon Emperor and the Heavenly Gods should just let their own dogs be disciplined. As long as the collar is tightened, the Ke family wouldn't dare to let out a whimper even if they were choked until their eyes rolled back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more miserable the Ke family was, the happier Fang Canran felt in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not want Ke Shouyi to die immediately; he wanted the Ke family to suffer, watching their ill-gotten wealth slowly blown away by the wind and rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan asked him, \"What does it feel like to have a great revenge fulfilled?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Refreshing!\" Fang Canran closed his eyes and savored it again, \"That kind of exhilaration, that kind of unbridled joy—any language used to describe it would be too pale.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dying wish of the Shao clan—he had finally completed the first step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy responsibility he had shouldered since he was old enough to understand was finally lifted by a small fraction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ancestor Shao Jian died a tragic death, the work of Beijia; his home country, the Yuan Kingdom, was slaughtered, the work of Beijia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only stabbed Beijia once; if there were opportunities in the future, he would be very happy to stab them a hundred or ten more times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The road ahead is long, and the path is obstructed.\" The wine was warmed, and the aroma was enticing. Fang Canran personally filled the cups for both of them, \"It was you who helped me fulfill my great revenge. Come, I toast you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without He Lingchuan causing chaos in the Heavenly Palace first, he would have had no chance to take his revenge. From this point of view, he owed He Lingchuan a huge favor, one that could not be cleared by a few light words of thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three raised their cups and drank them dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wine had a faint fruity fragrance and went down smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, Fang Canran asked about He Lingchuan's whereabouts over the past year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan said simply, \"I went to handle some private matters, and then used your talisman and code to borrow some manpower from Rong Mountain, bringing them all the way here. I thought Rong Mountain would have told you about this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I laid low for a long time after leaving Beijia, and no one could contact me during that period. Actually, the talisman and code I gave you couldn't really be considered mine, but Lingshan's; I was just using public office for private gain,\" Fang Canran laughed, \"I created some illusions to make the Golden Horn family believe I died in the chaos of the Lei Qing giant beast. There were simply too many people missing that night to investigate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan remembered that most of the people who died or went missing on the night of the great chaos in Lingxu were commoners, but as the chief planner, Fang Canran clearly did not care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you come to Blade Harbor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan briefly explained the matter of purchasing the Yangshan Archipelago, then said, \"From now on, you can call me Island Master He.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Canran laughed heartily, cupped his hands and said, \"So it is Island Master He, excuse my lack of respect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laughed twice, feeling somewhat dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After finishing such earth-shattering events, you actually ran to Blade Harbor to start a business from scratch; that is truly...\" Bored to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What exactly did you come here to do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To lay low,\" He Lingchuan said with a helpless expression, \"Why you came is why I came!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Canran fled from Lingxu City and hid in a corner of the sea; wasn't it to disappear from Beijia's field of vision?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How exactly did you form such a grudge with Beijia?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people couldn't do such things. To put it bluntly, why would a small ant provoke a human for no reason? One shouldn't even have such a delusional thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can't one have a grudge against Beijia without being part of a sect or faction?\" He Lingchuan swirled the wine in his cup, \"My heart to topple Beijia is even stronger than yours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine, who doesn't have unspeakable secrets? Since he refused to say, Fang Canran did not force him, and raised his cup, \"You can, you certainly can. Come, this cup is to toast to setting sail in the world and a long future ahead!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had taken his revenge, and He Lingchuan had obtained an island; both had a brand-new start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan drank the wine in his cup before asking, \"How is the situation with the war between Beijia and the Mou Kingdom? I heard the Mou Kingdom has won several battles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sometimes slow, sometimes fast, with wins and losses on both sides. Whether it is Beijia or the Mou Kingdom, they are only probing each other now; it is far from the time to use their full strength,\" Fang Canran said leisurely, \"In wars between great nations, how could it be that simple?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Rui interjected, \"In your view, which country will be the final winner?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we are talking about national strength, there is no doubt that Beijia is the strongest,\" Fang Canran sipped his wine, \"I spent twenty years in Lingxu City, and what I felt most deeply was the accumulation and profound foundation of this country, which can only be described as bottomless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The longer you stay, the more terrified you feel. So, for the two of us to succeed in Lingxu City, it was really...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was really a stroke of incredible luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a great empire that has been powerful for six hundred years without showing signs of decline, the wealth, energy, and confidence it has accumulated are simply unimaginable to ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is what a foundation is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the Mou Kingdom's army is disciplined and fights bravely; not only are they supported by the people, but they also have the support of so many Daoist sects.\" Speaking of this, he hesitated, \"Both are powerful nations of the current age; it's really hard to say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan could see that he believed Beijia had a better chance of winning. But from Fang Canran's position, he was unwilling to say so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There must always be hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The outcome of a war is not only determined by national strength, but also by national destiny, national momentum, resource endowment, and the hearts of the people,\" He Lingchuan lifted the flagon to pour him a cup of wine, \"Otherwise, there would be no need to fight; everyone could just compare who earned the most money over the years, who had the strongest armaments, and whose army could fight the best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, Fang Canran knew Beijia too well, knew Beijia's power too well; it was like staring directly into a bright light and being blinded, unable to see the scenery around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is also true,\" Fang Canran was able to retract and release at will, \"I heard that Beijia and the Mou Kingdom have the intention to temporarily cease fire, and the front lines are currently negotiating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\" He Lingchuan's gaze flickered, \"Can they reach an agreement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heard? Sometimes \"heard\" itself is a rumor intentionally released by others. Whether Beijia really wants to fight or not, perhaps only a few people like the Heavenly Palace and the Demon Emperor know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Negotiations, as long as both sides truly don't want to fight, they can succeed,\" Fang Canran said, \"But there seems to be some indecision within Beijia. The pro-war faction believes that they must first teach the Mou Kingdom a harsh lesson and use the prestige of a great victory to negotiate peace; otherwise, Beijia will lose face.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is correct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The majesty of a great nation cannot be offended. To put it the other way around, if other countries can offend Beijia and remain unscathed, can Beijia's kingly aura still intimidate everyone in the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is logic in both fighting and making peace; there will still be tug-of-war within Beijia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Mou Kingdom is busy fighting Beijia, so they have no time to look east for the time being. He Lingchuan pondered; in this way, the window of time left for him by the current situation would not be too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Canran also tore off a piece of dried squid, \"In such chaotic times, you hiding on the sea to be an island master is quite leisurely and comfortable. You can even sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch the tigers fight?\" He Lingchuan felt a stir in his heart, \"With the location of the Yangshan Archipelago, what tigers can I watch?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others go out to sea to avoid disaster, but he is doing it to gain a foothold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Ya Kingdom,\" Fang Canran chewed slowly, \"The Ya Kingdom has been making constant moves recently, probing both west and north.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ya Kingdom is east of Bailie, founded by nomadic tribes; it has swallowed Bailie's territory and even demanded a large sum of compensation from Bailie at the end of last year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To the west is Bailie, to the north is... the Chebin Kingdom?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct. According to the information I obtained, the Ya Kingdom has been in close contact with Beijia over the past few years; not only do they openly send envoys to each other, but for the Ya Kingdom monarch's birthday, Lingxu City even sent envoys to deliver gifts and congratulations. The Ya Kingdom received the gifts and publicized it widely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Ya Kingdom and Beijia have colluded together,\" He Lingchuan tossed two peanuts into his mouth, \"In this way, the Mou Kingdom is being attacked from both sides.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With Beijia backing them, the Ya Kingdom acts even more unscrupulously,\" Fang Canran analyzed, \"Currently, its interest in Bailie is greater than in the Chebin Kingdom to the north.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it is easy for the Ya Kingdom to get money from Bailie, they will do it again and again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Persimmons should be picked when they are soft; bullying will also become a habit, whether for people or for countries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if I were the Ya Kingdom monarch, I wouldn't swallow Bailie in one bite.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Canran also said, \"Yes, otherwise the Ya Kingdom would border the Mou Kingdom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keeping Bailie there means the Mou Kingdom cannot directly use force against the Ya Kingdom; without Bailie as a buffer in the middle, the Ya Kingdom would have to face the Mou Kingdom's fists directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the discussion on foreign policy, everyone chatted casually for a while, and He Lingchuan asked him, \"On Platinum Island, are you still doing your old trade?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The largest force on Platinum Island is the Taihang Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct, that is what I am most comfortable doing,\" Fang Canran gestured with his chin, \"Tonight's ghost market has an auction hosted by us; would you like to come and play?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good, I do have things I want to sell,\" He Lingchuan took two items from his storage ring and placed them on the table, \"Could the Chief Manager Fang give me an estimate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A seal that was oily yellow throughout, with a translucent, greasy luster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A token carved with three pythons in black, gold, and blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a faint light flowing slowly within the seal; Fang Canran recognized this as the highest quality chicken-fat yellow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three small colored snakes on the token, however, circled around under the eyes of the three, swapping positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Canran had seen countless treasures, and his expression changed slightly upon seeing them, \"You've gotten your hands on good things again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct, take a look at them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Canran put on gloves and carefully picked up the seal to examine it, seeing the two characters \"Miaomiao\" engraved in intaglio on the bottom; the dot in the middle of \"Miao\" was also sunken, not formed naturally, but a small hole poked out by external force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The token, however, was ice-cold to the touch; after holding it for a few more breaths, frost formed on his hands, and he could no longer hold it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Canran put down the two items, his expression solemn, \"Are these ancient relics? It is rare to have them maintained so well; do you know their origin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ancient spiritual treasures all have characteristics; others can know their basic functions and usage by touching them lightly. Unless the user has other insights, there is no need for additional explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These two items are both the personal magic tools of True Person Sanshui.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2255,"2026-06-20T02:23:34.395Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","ed7fcbf3b752dfb10330d98cfebc950714d9a40521c882f840d916188603a795","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-975","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-973",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-immortals-disappeared-cover.jpg"]