No, that was not right. After the battle of Xinhuang Town, the nightmare energy gathered by the Beijia acolytes with the Dragon-Torture Pillar had been pitifully sparse. That showed it had faced a powerful competitor at the time, which He Lingchuan suspected was the Dafang Pot.
If the Dafang Pot could also collect nightmare energy, was there any need for Mitian to make Dragon-Torture Pillars?
Shao Jian did not recognize the item either. "This is...?"
"This object can gather vast amounts of mortal nightmare energy and pass it through the Heavenly Net barrier as a sacrifice. Every deity will love it." Mitian smiled faintly. "I have named it the Dragon-Torture Pillar."
He Lingchuan kept his expression neutral, but waves churned in his heart once more.
If the Dragon-Torture Pillar was named by Mitian, did that mean the object originated with her?
Yet the acolytes of National Preceptor Shuangye had claimed that the tradition of gathering nightmare energy to deliver souls had lasted four to five hundred years.
"Vast amounts?" Shao Jian's complexion changed instantly. "Nightmare energy can be collected artificially? Your Dragon-Torture Pillar...?"
"Of course." Mitian handed him the bronze tube. "Once activated, the Dragon-Torture Pillar will completely drain all nightmare energy within ten li in a day and a night."
"This... this..." Shao Jian was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Nightmare energy to celestial gods is like spiritual energy to all things in the world. They have always studied ways to gather nightmare energy secretly, but with very little success." Mitian spoke unhurriedly. "Without the Dafang Pot, no one can forge a Dragon-Torture Pillar."
He Lingchuan's ears twitched. So the key to forging a Dragon-Torture Pillar lay in the Dafang Pot?
For that alone, the deities had ample reason to covet the pot.
"What task do you have for me?"
"I have used divine remains to forge many Dragon-Torture Pillars." Evidently, the one in her hand was merely a sample. "You and your people are to bring them to nations and commoners who worship minor gods and evil spirits, and explain what they do. Remember, during this process, do not let them trace it back to you..."
Divine remains? He Lingchuan felt a stir in his heart. So when General Red fought her way into the royal palace of Xiji to unearth the divine remains, it had been for this purpose.
In other words, historically speaking, Panlong City was the true origin of the Dragon-Torture Pillar?
Beijia's National Preceptor had lied to his followers.
"I have purchased commercial property across various kingdoms under aliases..." Before Shao Jian could finish, the door of Gange Hall creaked open once more, and Zhong Shengguang strode inside.
"Brother Shao!"
Shao Jian smiled warmly and stepped forward to greet him. "Commander Zhong!"
The two gripped fists and clapped each other on the shoulder, genuine smiles in their eyes.
From this gesture alone, He Lingchuan could see how deep their friendship ran.
One could say that most of the twists in Zhong Shengguang's life trajectory had come about because of Shao Jian.
"Three years have passed since we last parted," Zhong Shengguang sighed. "Time flies too quickly."
"You look more spirited, though," Shao Jian chuckled. "Three years ago, you dragged me around sighing and lamenting, but now you are full of vigor!"
Panlong City had been viciously betrayed by its motherland five years ago, and three years ago it still had not recovered its strength. Facing troubles both within and without, Zhong Shengguang had exhausted mind and body every single day. But now, Panlong City had not only regained firm footing, but was also advancing by leaps and bounds, so Zhong Shengguang's demeanor was naturally nothing like before.
However, Zhong Shengguang's gaze swept over the table, and catching sight of the Dragon-Torture Pillar, his face changed. "This is..."
He looked at Mitian. "You truly made it?"
Mitian gave an "Mm." "I was just about to have Shao Jian take them out and deliver them into the hands of other deities."
Zhong Shengguang visibly hesitated before saying, "This matter would be best considered at length."
"At length?" Mitian's gaze turned slowly to his face. "Do you think we have much time left?"
"Once other deities obtain the Dragon-Torture Pillars, they will surely do everything in their power to collect nightmare energy."
"Otherwise, the nightmare energy will merely be drawn away by the Heavenly Net, leaving little in the mortal realm," Mitian said indifferently. "If you want spiritual energy in the mortal world to recover swiftly, the most effective way is to incite civil war among the celestial gods and bring about their downfall. Is there any debate about that?"
He Lingchuan's gaze shifted as thoughts flooded his mind.
There was an immense amount of information in those words.
Zhong Shengguang must have known this long ago; he merely continued, "I fear that in order to seize and hoard more nightmare energy for themselves, their first resort will be finding ways to incite wars in the mortal realm."
What method could cause humans to die suddenly and in massive numbers in the prime of their youth and adulthood—the period when life essence was at its peak?
War, perhaps, was the only way.
Only war could produce the greatest amount of nightmare energy in the shortest time.
Mitian said coldly, "Look at this world today—does it look peaceful to you?"
Zhong Shengguang shook his head. "If forging the Dragon-Torture Pillars causes wars to become more frequent and plunges the people into misery, that goes against the heavenly Dao, against our conscience!"
"Can the heavenly Dao and your conscience bring down Beijia? Can they bring down the celestial gods?" Mitian's brows rose in anger as she advanced toward him step by step. "Zhong Shengguang, has your heart softened? It seems to me that after conquering Xiji, you truly wish to take the opportunity and return to the Kingdom of Xiluo!"
Standing by the door, even He Lingchuan felt unprecedented pressure. The aura a deity unleashed was like a mountain collapsing before one's eyes, irresistible to mortal strength.
He did not know what Zhong Shengguang, facing her directly, felt at this moment.
Zhong Shengguang's body swayed slightly, a flush of red rising to his face, but his spine remained ramrod straight.
He said sternly, "Never! We had an agreement first!"
At the same time, he made a gesture to He Lingchuan and Shao Jian.
The two immediately left Gange Hall.
Just as He Lingchuan closed the door, a resounding crash came from within.
Shao Jian touched his neck. "The long table?"
He Lingchuan murmured, "Eight-hundred-year ironwood." What a shame.
Hearing the noise, the four guards in the courtyard turned to look toward Gange Hall as well.
He Lingchuan waved a hand at them, and the four paid it no further attention.
It was called Gange Hall—hall of weapons and warfare—so what was so strange about a clash of arms breaking out once in a while?
However, the hall soon went silent; Mitian had evidently set up a sound-isolating barrier.
When Zhong Shengguang performed the deity blood sacrifice, he had forged a contract with her; so long as the agreement remained unbroken, Commander Zhong should be safe.
On that point, He Lingchuan was not worried.
Shao Jian smiled at him. "You know my real name, but outside I go by Wu Shan. I travel among various nations and manage a few merchant caravans under my command."
He Lingchuan immediately said, "Mr. Wu."
Clearly, after fulfilling the King of Yuan's entrustment, Shao Jian had not retired upon his success, but assumed a new identity to continue walking the world and gathering intelligence.
He Lingchuan knew very well that traveling merchant was one of the finest covers for concealing identity and gathering information.
Toward this nephew of the King of Yuan, he felt profound respect.
Shao Jian did not know what the youth was thinking, but he could sense that respect radiating from him.
"No fixed abode, just earning a bit of hard-won money," Shao Jian remarked casually before asking, "Did you participate in the war with Xiji?"
Rapid promotion in the Gale Army mostly relied on military merit.
He Lingchuan smiled. "From start to finish."
Shao Jian patted his arm and said sincerely, "Good lad!"
Outstanding youths were the hope of this city.
Not long after, the doors of Gange Hall opened again.
Shao Jian and He Lingchuan walked back inside. The latter pulled the door shut behind him and saw that the tension inside had cleared; Mitian had reverted to her cold detachment.
However, the long ironwood table had snapped in two down the middle.
The fracture was uneven, looking nothing like it had been sliced by a sharp blade.
The sight sent a chill through He Lingchuan. Even if he hacked at eight-hundred-year ironwood with his Fusheng saber, breaking it without triggering Army Breaker wouldn't be easy.
"We stick to the original plan. Shao Jian, spread all the Dragon-Torture Pillars at once. Quick! Before the gods of Lingxu take notice," she said sternly. "The faster you spread them, the safer you will be."
As long as Shao Jian quickly dispersed the Dragon-Torture Pillars and then slipped into hiding, even if the gods of Lingxu City discovered their existence, tracing their origin would be extraordinarily difficult.
Once a novelty appeared, moving from acceptance to scrutiny always took time.
"Conveniently, the new trade route from Panlong City to the southern seaports has been opened. If you board a ship out to sea to bypass Beijia, it will be two or three times faster than before."
With the opening of the new trade route, Panlong City's connection to the outside world had greatly strengthened.
This was a massive advancement.
"This time, I traveled that very new route to reach Panlong City," Shao Jian said. "Yet no matter how I spread them, I fear the Dragon-Torture Pillars will eventually make their way to Beijia."
"Eventually?" Mitian laughed heartily. "Nothing could be better! Did you think the gods of Lingxu were a monolith?"
Shao Jian accepted the arduous task.
He Lingchuan noticed that while she gave out the assignment, Zhong Shengguang remained silent, his brow tightly furrowed.
He did not agree, but in the end he did not object either.
This minor clash showed that Zhong Shengguang and Mitian were by no means a monolith.
Nor should they be.
He Lingchuan sighed inwardly.
Between celestial gods and mortal humans, how could there ever be wholehearted, genuine cooperation?
Mitian asked Shao Jian, "Over the next few days, you'll still be in Panlong City negotiating business and stocking up goods, won't you?"
"Yes." Procuring goods in the open while carrying out the mission in secret was Shao Jian's protective coloration.
"This afternoon, Zhong Shengguang and I both have business outside the city." General Red shifted her gaze and beckoned He Lingchuan forward. "Broken Saber, while Shao Jian remains in Panlong City, you will be his personal guard."
"Yes, Ma'am." This order suited He Lingchuan's wishes perfectly.
General Red then handed over a black iron ring. "The twelve hundred Dragon-Torture Pillars inside are for you to keep for now. Hand them over to Shao Jian when he leaves the city."
Evidently, she did not trust Shao Jian entirely, worried they might be stolen while he wandered the city.
Shao Jian was startled. "Twelve hundred?"
He Lingchuan respectfully accepted it and tucked it away close to his body, quietly astonished.
What an enormous number. Not much time had passed since the divine tomb expedition; how could Mitian have forged over a thousand Dragon-Torture Pillars already?
Could the difficulty of refining these things actually be quite low?
"As long as there is the Dafang Pot and raw materials, can't we have as many of these things as we want?" Mitian sneered. "Why was I so determined to figure it out? Because the demand for it will definitely be enormous!"
That last sentence sent a deep, chilling dread through He Lingchuan the more he thought about it.
Mitian said to Shao Jian again, "Do not bring them out and use them yourself. Some of these Dragon-Torture Pillars bear the aura of the Dafang Pot. Using them for the first time could very well alert certain celestial gods worshipped by Beijia, drawing unwanted attention."
Shao Jian let out a soft sound of surprise. "Only the first time?"
"Indeed. Otherwise, if the celestial gods of Lingxu caught them in the act every single time, what minor god would dare use them? Where would be the fun in that?"
Chapter 544