Chapter 590

Really boring.

Indeed.

We look forward to an earth-shaking, bloody slaughter, with over ten national divine artifacts attacking each other—what a visual treat it would be!

Especially, the souls and essence blood of the soldiers strangled by the shockwaves of those national divine artifacts.

A long-awaited feast, isn't it?

But our wishes went unfulfilled. We completely wasted the energy we expended on that fox family—why should we help them obtain so many, so many innate divine artifacts? Know that even for our god-crystal star fortress, this consumption is enormous and unbearable.

After a long silence, the conversation continued.

Then that old fox must fulfill his promise. What was promised must be done.

What if not?

If not, we will let the other two nations gain power comparable to theirs, then issue a divine edict for them to join forces and overthrow the state built by that old fox.

The destruction of a nation, with the deaths caused by the war outbreaks in this process, would be enough to satisfy all our demands.

A fine idea. So, should we facilitate their three-nation unification?

After another long silence, a snow-white holy light shone in the darkness: "After their three nations unite, will they be qualified to challenge those several more ancient nations in the east?"

After a cautious, reserved pondering, someone chuckled softly: "If we have our help, it should be possible."

Within the snow-white holy light, that dignified and sacred voice continued: "Then, would attacking those several more ancient nations bring us benefits?"

A domineering voice boomed like thunder: "Benefits, of course……but we also need greater benefits."

The voice in the snow-white holy light grew ever more dignified and solemn: "The division of our internal benefits can be discussed later……this strategic decision has nothing to do with brute force, so, Lord Wutou, please control your emotions."

That domineering voice angrily let out a low growl, shaking the void so it twisted slightly.

A bright, pure blue cold light glimmered faintly: "Without doubt, attacking those several more ancient nations in the east will bring us great benefits, while dealing a heavy blow to our rivals. The precondition is that we must make good use of the authority we now hold, and not let our competitors strip it away."

A splendid seven-colored divine light illuminated the void: "Then, who is our choice?"

The seven-colored divine light undulated, like a gigantic seven-colored jellyfish, lazily extending its beautiful, poisonous arms in the void: "Who will bring us greater benefits and be easier to control?"

Is it the old fox whose head has been addled by women, or the barbaric, crude martial violence maniac, or perhaps that hypocritical, vain, filthy aged body that concentrates all humanity's original sins and filth—a refined degenerate?

Lord Wutou's domineering voice sounded again, once more like a muffled thunder, shaking the void as it swayed: "I say, esteemed lords, we need greater benefits……we cannot work for you for nothing, yet all we get in hand is that pittance of wages!"

Wutou interrupted the voice in the seven-colored divine light, shouting loudly: "You are about to reap a bountiful harvest, and we too need greater benefits!"

The dignified, sacred voice in the snow-white holy light once again cut off Wutou's words: "Violence cannot solve everything, Lord Wutou, you know……strategic decisions require strategic wisdom, and wisdom is precisely what you lack most."

Wutou roared in furious frustration.

Then dozens of strange lights flickered, together suppressing Wutou's voice, imprisoning him in darkness so that not a trace of his sound could escape.

A trace of dark divine light flickered, making the pitch-black void even more still and profound: "Why must it be these people? Why not others? Perhaps we could have more options, so that we may gain more benefits."

In the boundless void, a celestial body forged from seven-colored crystal sped across, merely extending from it an extremely fine crystal needle tens of thousands of zhang long; no matter where the celestial body moved, the needle's tip remained locked onto a certain point on that distant square continent.

The point the needle aimed at was precisely Anyang City.

At this moment in Anyang City, lanterns were hung and colored banners displayed, auspicious light filled the sky, propitious vapors rose, fragrant mist permeated the air, countless white cranes held sprigs of lingzhi in their beaks, slowly soaring and dancing in the heavens, golden-scaled dragons trod on the clouds, exhaling fragrant rain as they drifted slowly from high above.

From all sides, the Qingqiu army encircled, the Celestial Fox Guards patrolled around the imperial city, the 'Fox Tail' spies hurriedly scoured the tense surroundings, countless officials and runners from various offices moved through the markets, urging the people to rush into the streets, creating a scene of bustling crowds with empty lanes.

Many sturdy commoners tightly clutched their bulging money belts, feeling the round gold, silver ingots, and hard pearls and gems inside, they shouted hoarsely with tears in their eyes: "Long live the holy divine emperor, may his longevity be boundless! May the Linghu clan's foundation endure forever, eternally lasting!"

Linghu clan servants dressed in grand red silk robes rode in groups on various flying mounts, low across the sky, wearing large-capacity spatial rings filled with freshly minted gold, silver, and copper coins, all stamped with Linghu Qingqing's portrait and the clan name of the Linghu family.

Countless coins glittering with gold, silver, and copper fell like raindrops, and instantly the populace of Anyang City grew increasingly fervent.

An emperor willing to give money to the common folk is surely a good emperor.

Although many lower-class commoners don't know why the emperor suddenly became the Linghu clan, becoming the former left minister Linghu Qingqing……has the Sima clan ever done such a thing as scattering money from the heavens?

No!

The Sima clan's princes, princesses, dukes, and duchesses are accustomed to scraping the land clean, shaving it down three feet!

They would never let even a single copper coin leak from the cracks of their own fingers to the common folk!

Thus, the Linghu clan is better than the Sima clan, and Linghu Qingqing is better than Sima Xian.

Sima Xian is a foolish ruler, Linghu Qingqing is a sage ruler!

It's just that simple!

In this world where most common folk are illiterate and knowledge is monopolized by aristocratic clans, the thoughts of the lower classes are just this simple, this pure, this straightforward!

Within the inner precincts of Anyang City's imperial palace, outside the deep Sima clan ancestral temple where the founding divine emperor's holy image is enshrined, Linghu Qingqing, dressed in splendid attire, solemnly gazed upon the weary Sima Xian.

"Your Majesty, I hope that Your Majesty and I may see things through to a good end." Linghu Qingqing smiled as gently as she could toward Sima Xian: "I already know that since the 'Flying Swallow' has nothing to do with Your Majesty, but merely some Sima clansmen acting on their own, my anger will not be directed at you."

"As long as Your Majesty activates the Sima clan's ultimate national sealing prohibition, allowing me to fully command the ultimate divine-nation defense system they built with the gods' aid……I will surely let Your Majesty enjoy a peaceful old age." Linghu Qingqing looked earnestly at Sima Xian: "In fact, frankly speaking, the reason you are seen as a foolish ruler is also because……you have become powerless in court affairs, haven't you?"

Linghu Qingqing smiled very gently.

Sima Xian gave Linghu Qingqing a sideways glance, then heaved a deep sigh: "My inability to handle court affairs……hehe, I must also thank the Left and Right Ministers a lot……the two of them really cooperate well."

Equally splendidly dressed, Gongyang Sanlü stood a bit farther away, wearing a reserved smile, and gave no reply to Sima Xian's words.

One is the new ruler, the other the old emperor; as subjects, we ought not to appear too eager for quick profit.

To trample the old emperor's dignity in front of the new ruler might not win the new ruler's favor, and could even provoke his resentment and vigilance—so why bother?

Anyway, Linghu Qingqing's temper has been provoked; the original plan to gently replace the Sima clan, Linghu Qingqing, would now strike hard, using violent palace coercion to seize the throne outright—this outcome is quite desirable, not perfect, but more in line with Gongyang Sanlü's scheme.

Thus, it is good, very good.

Gongyang Sanlü smiled reservedly, lowered his head slightly, and fixed his gaze on his own toes.

From an angle Linghu Qingqing could not see, Gongyang Sanlü's eyes flickered, revealing a hint of deep scorn.

In his heart, Gongyang Sanlü looks down on Linghu Qingqing.

Having grasped nearly all the military might of the Great Jin Divine Nation, isn't it just about seizing the throne? Yet you act so cautiously—are you playing house? If Gongyang Sanlü hadn't used silver fish to give Linghu Qingqing a slight push, would this old fellow really wait until he repels the Wu Divine Nation, establishes supreme prestige, and then usurp the throne?

By then, Linghu Qingqing's position would be relatively stable, but Gongyang Sanlü would find it hard to make a move.

So, I still beg you, Linghu Qingqing, to act quickly—the rougher, the better.

Gongyang Sanlü raised his head, his eyes like water, and quietly looked at Sima Xian: "Prince of Jin Sima Xian, the auspicious day has arrived; please open the ancestral temple, carry out what His Majesty and you agreed upon… do not make any changes. Know that the life and death of countless members of the Sima clan are in your hands."

Sima Xian took a deep breath, then he hehe laughed, a bit maniacally: "Prince of Jin, hehe, Prince of Jin… I, Sima Xian, have been made Prince of Jin by the new ruler… thank you, thank you… hehe, truly, I am endlessly grateful."

Shaking his head, Sima Xian pressed a palm against the ancestral temple's heavy bronze doors, which slowly opened, and a vast purple qi drifted out from within.

Linghu Qingqing waved a hand, and a large group of Heavenly Fox Guard experts surrounded them as they cautiously entered the ancestral temple.

Inside the ancestral temple, on the main hall stood an upright statue of the Founding Divine Emperor Old Ancestor of the Great Jin Divine State, nine zhang tall; before it sat a stable, square four-legged cauldron, about three zhang high, filled with a cauldron of fragrant blood plasma, atop which floated a fist-sized crystal ball flashing with various divine lights.

Linghu Qingqing gazed at the crystal ball, and his pupils instantly turned red.

No matter how many troops he commanded, no matter how many state artifacts he held, no matter if he joined forces with Gongyang Sanlü to sideline Sima Xian, no matter how great a price he paid to please You Ruo and the other divine spirits… as long as he had not yet grasped that crystal ball hovering over the blood water, he could not be considered a true Divine Emperor.

This crystal ball is the covenant between the Founding Divine Emperor of Great Jin and the myriad gods.

This crystal ball is the true national artifact of the Great Jin Divine State.

This crystal ball symbolizes the legitimacy of the Great Jin Divine State, symbolizes the myriad gods' recognition of the Great Jin Divine State, and symbolizes that the Divine Emperor of the Great Jin Divine State possesses the most rightful, most orthodox authority to offer sacrifices to the myriad gods.

More importantly, this crystal ball is the sole passage that can unlimitedly receive offerings to the myriad gods.

Yet the outlet of this passage is not under the control of You Ruo and them.

The ones who made the sacred covenant with the Founding Divine Emperor of the Great Jin Divine State are even older gods—older than You Ruo, Sheng Rong, Wu Tou, and other deities, with higher status and greater authority.

Those ancient lives are the elders of You Ruo and the others.

You Ruo and them merely represent those more powerful, higher-status gods, closely monitoring and overseeing Mu Dalu, controlling and guiding the development of the indigenous beings on Mu Dalu.

Taking advantage of their position and authority, You Ruo and the other divine spirits can trade privately with the indigenous people, and both sides gain certain benefits.

But the genuine, divinely protected and recognized, sole legitimate official channel for trade is this crystal ball. Every few years, the Great Jin Divine State must hold a solemn, grand heavenly sacrifice ritual, during which it opens the crystal ball's offering passage to present to the myriad gods the rare offerings collected over the years.

And the myriad gods will also, via the offering passage, give some benefits back to the Great Jin Divine State.

For example, directly causing some elders of the Great Jin Divine State's royal family to become divine spirits' divine medicine… or, one or two rare chances that allow some fortunate individuals of the Great Jin Divine State to enter the Divine State via the offering passage, and so on.

Linghu Qingqing and Sima Xian walked together to the front of the four-legged square cauldron, and Linghu Qingqing's body trembled slightly.

Sima Xian, meanwhile, stared blankly at the statue of the Sima clan's Founding Divine Emperor for a moment, then firmly slapped the four-legged square cauldron with a palm.

With a tremendous boom, the cauldron rumbled; the cauldron's fresh blood, gathered from the essence blood of over ten million members of the Sima clan throughout the ages, turned with a whoosh into a fragrant blood mist that shot up into the sky and merged with the purple qi within the ancestral temple.

Linghu Qingqing's body trembled violently as he shouted hoarsely, "What next? Is it our Linghu clan's essence blood?"

Sima Xian fell to his knees with a thud, bowed deeply before the statue of the Founding Divine Emperor, and lazily replied, "Indeed."

Linghu Qingqing let out a long whistle, a pure vial flew from his sleeve, and a stream of viscous essence blood emitting strong magical fluctuations spurted out and quickly poured into the cauldron.

The ancestral temple shuddered slightly, the crystal ball burst out with blinding light, and the statue of the Sima clan's Founding Divine Emperor cracked with a snap, shattering into countless fragments the size of mung beans.