Chapter 979: Heart Verification

"Ah, I'm fine." He Lingchuan steadied himself. "Knowing this gun is a replica, why are people still buying it?" Bids were already being called from the floor below.

"Where would one even find a genuine article? There has always been a custom of replicating divine artifacts in later generations; for instance, the Green Intent Vase in the collection of the Beijia Azure Palace is not an original, but a replica." Fang Canran noticed his complexion turning from pale to white. "Are you really alright?"

"Perfectly fine." He Lingchuan took a few deep breaths in secret, suppressing his emotions. "Just touched by the scene, recalling some past events."

He quietly unclenched his left hand; the beads of blood welling up in his palm brought a sharp sting.

No rush. He watched the replica Thunder-Response Spear on the stage with cold eyes.

He would get to the bottom of the reason for this sooner or later! In this instant, a deep sense of vigilance rose in his heart.

……

He Lingchuan did not sleep all night.

The next day was bright and clear. Min Tianxi switched to a small skiff, carrying He Lingchuan toward another island ten miles northwest of Platinum Island: Toulon Island.

Reefs of all sizes sliced the waterways between the islands into narrower lanes, like the alleys on land, which the locals called "water lanes."

Min Tianxi took a shortcut, rowing through the water lanes.

The narrowest parts were only a fathom wide, just enough for a boat to pass. From near and far came the chirping of unknown insects and the roars of beasts, and looking up, there were towering branches—the jungle was so dense it completely blocked the sky above the water lane.

Outside, the sun was high, but here it was secluded, dark, and cool.

He Lingchuan looked up and waited for a long time, finally catching a sliver of sunlight piercing through layers of obstacles to shine on his face.

Light in the dark jungle was precious and scarce.

He closed his eyes, exhaled softly, and let his mind sink, recalling what he had seen yesterday.

Why did he cross the vast ocean to come to Bailie? Aside from wanting to reclaim his family's territory, more importantly, the geographical location here was excellent, situated right in the deep rear of the Mou Kingdom.

It is good to lean against a big tree for shade; hiding behind the Mou Kingdom—a powerful nation and a mortal enemy of Beijia—naturally gave him a greater sense of security.

After the great upheaval at the Heavenly Palace, his instinct was to stay as far away from Beijia as possible.

But this was the territory of Lingshan, the sphere of influence of the Mou Kingdom. According to his initial plan, as long as he could gain a firm foothold here and successfully establish a connection with Lingshan, then based on his record of burning down the Heavenly Palace, he should be able to gain Lingshan's acceptance and support, becoming a friendly force.

This was a setup for the future: if he used forceful means to take Bailie, the Mou Kingdom's reaction might also be forceful. At that time, he would need Lingshan to step in and mediate, resolving the conflict between both sides. Even if the Mou Kingdom felt dissatisfied, with Lingshan standing in the middle, how could it easily fire upon a teammate in the same camp? After all, the matter was settled, it was still fighting a war, and they would all have to unite against Beijia in the future.

However, the small Thunder-Response Spear that appeared at the auction last night poured a basin of ice water over He Lingchuan's head.

He shivered and woke up.

He had been too presumptuous.

Zhong Shengguang, who possessed the iron-blooded Panlong City and the undefeated Great Wind Army, seemed unable to win Lingshan's absolute loyalty—even though this might involve Mi Tian, the Great Square Pot, or other inside stories—so what about He Lingchuan himself? Would Lingshan go all out to protect him just because he set a fire in the Heavenly Palace and had a few guns under his command? Who did he think he was?

Lingshan was also a behemoth; an individual was insignificant and not worth mentioning before it. Did it really think highly of him?

Even if he threw himself into Lingshan's embrace now, aside from knowing that Lingshan and Beijia were at odds, he knew nothing of its guiding ideology, strategic policies, personnel composition, or style of conduct.

Heh, even his own biological father, He Chunhua, could not be trusted, so why did he blindly believe from the start that he and Lingshan shared common ideals and were natural allies? Was he influenced by Zhong Shengguang's attitude toward Lingshan? No, that wasn't it.

He Lingchuan spent the night questioning his own heart, only to realize with a start that the root lay with Beijia, and the crux lay within himself.

The Beijia he had seen was merely the tip of the iceberg, yet it was enough to chill one's heart and soul.

Opposing Beijia alone was too difficult.

Being independent was too difficult.

When facing danger and obstacles, people instinctively seek help, instinctively grasp at straws, without caring if they are reliable.

And within his reach, the toughest backer and the most powerful shield was none other than Lingshan.

He subconsciously trusted it, relied on it, and longed to use its power to oppose Beijia.

Perhaps Zhong Shengguang was the same back then.

But was Lingshan truly reliable?

As a force that had been locked in battle with the Heavenly Gods for thousands of years, how complex must its internal workings be? As immortals who were originally high above, what kind of perspective would they have toward the various nations and the human world?

In essence, how different were they from their opponents? A small Thunder-Response Spear had awakened He Lingchuan; it was time to adjust his strategy: prioritize "himself" and develop with a low profile.

While maintaining independence, communicate amicably and increase understanding with Lingshan and the Mou Kingdom. After all, in this vast and chaotic world, he still needed allies for coordination and support.

He still viewed Bailie as his own, but when and how to take it required more appropriate timing and more sophisticated methods to avoid overly provoking the Mou Kingdom.

The boat moved silently; still waters run deep.

A large spiderweb appeared ahead; He Lingchuan brushed it aside, thinking of Zhu Xiuer.

This ancient demon immortal could both fight and produce; even thousands of years of spiritual energy depletion couldn't kill her, yet in the present world, she was chased into exile, homeless.

Because self-reliance is very difficult, and she did not easily join any force just because she feared difficulty—until she met He Lingchuan.

Even though this newly formed team was still very weak, she found peace and trust here.

Trust is the most precious foundation.

He Lingchuan once thought that he had solidified his Dao heart before and after burning the Heavenly Palace, and from then on would be brave, fearless, and constantly improving.

But only now did he understand: how could it be that easy? "Fear" and "fear of difficulty" had never truly been brushed out of his heart.

They were just hidden deeper, harder to detect.

This was his inner demon.

He needed to constantly reflect and warn himself.

And in his approach to the world, in his attitude toward carefully choosing partners and allies, he should learn from Zhu Xiuer and no longer blindly admire strength.

The world is vast, and there are still many ambitious people who, when opposing Beijia and the Heavenly Gods, also need a credible and powerful shield.

One day, would he become their shield?

……

From behind came Min Tianxi's respectful voice:

"My lord, we've arrived!"

He Lingchuan slowly opened his eyes, ending this journey of self-verification.

The entire archipelago was quite large, and Toulon Island was closer to the coastline, with several thousand permanent residents, all local natives.

He Lingchuan put on his mask again and walked toward the depths of the island.

Min Tianxi did not follow; he found a small barbecue stall near the pier's trestle bridge, ordered some pickled vegetables and grilled meat, and ate while he waited.

The buildings along the road were scattered, some sparse and some dense, with no overall planning.

He Lingchuan walked over a hundred paces before spotting a small temple ahead.

(End of chapter)