Chapter 2313: Boundless Merits of Frostleaf National Master

He Lingchuan was somewhat impressed with him. As expected of an old fox who had navigated Beijia’s official circles for over a century, his emotional intelligence was remarkably high. Frost Leaf not only spoke pleasing words, but also delivered his message objectively and accurately. He clearly expressed his personal stance: appreciating Cang Yan’s innovations while simultaneously questioning the limitations of his new policies.

Frost Leaf continued, "Ever since the advent of primal energy, and considering the current world situation, nations are not unaware of the value of public sentiment and welfare. However, the extraordinary power of immortals and demons is truly the nation's sharpest tool. If one cannot have both, then the ordinary is abandoned in favor of power. Take Qixia Sect, for example: granting them the benefits of a few cities can secure the aid of immortals, a choice that doesn't even require deliberation in other countries. Yet, Cang Yan alone refuses to yield authority to immortal sect grandmasters. As a result, during the Awaken period, the grandmasters emerging from Golden Flash Plains have all flocked to Beijia and Mount Ling. Doesn't Nine Netherworld find this regrettable?"

"They all left for profit," He Lingchuan chuckled. "But neither Beijia nor Mount Ling can provide sufficient benefits to every cultivator. Why doesn't Frost Leaf mention the large number of cultivators who are instead drawn to Cang Yan because the spiritual energy here is more abundant and opportunities are fairer?"

Both Beijia and Mount Ling used resources and privileges to attract grandmasters. When some take more, others naturally receive less.

The common people were always the ones who suffered the most.

Due to the Black Dragon Totem, Golden Flash Plains could not construct large spirit-gathering arrays, which resulted in a generally high concentration of spiritual energy. The government also prevented grandmasters from preying on the common people and forbade any sect from being entirely supported by a single city. This, in fact, benefited newcomers and smaller sects, allowing everyone to progress and earn a living based on their own abilities.

"Nine Netherworld's ambition is indeed lofty," Frost Leaf gently clapped. "Everyone in Lingxu City once believed that Cang Yan's indifference towards immortals was a deliberate way to avoid competing with Mount Ling for their allegiance. I never expected Cang Yan's national policy to be so direct and straightforward."

During the Awaken period, Mount Ling naturally focused on attracting as many grandmasters as possible to join them. Since Cang Yan offered no special privileges to immortals or demons, it was difficult to retain them. In this regard, Cang Yan's policies did not significantly infringe upon Mount Ling's core interests.

The peaceful coexistence between the two sides for many years was largely due to this very point.

The Lingxu Royal Court had always considered Cang Yan's policies to be very flexible and skillful.

He Lingchuan chuckled. "Cang Yan's national policy isn't put on display for Beijia and Mount Ling; it's a proclamation to the people of Cang Yan and to like-minded individuals across the land. As the saying goes, 'The great Way is simple.' Only with clear policies and resolute execution can they be effective."

Frost Leaf slowly took a sip of wine. "Nine Netherworld has indeed made a grand vow. My apologies, my apologies."

Using primal energy as the core of martial arts and harnessing the power of all living beings to fight against heavenly demons — these tenets had long been incorporated into Cang Yan's national policy. The people of Cang Yan believed in this implicitly, though they didn't fully comprehend its underlying principles. In contrast, the top elites of other nations understood the principles but did not believe in their practicality. When nations underwent transitions, weren't slogans always shouted to the heavens, and wasn't everyone determined to reform and innovate?

And the result? In the end, it was always the same.

He Lingchuan glanced at him. This fellow loved beauty: not just beautiful people, but also beautiful words.

Since that was the case, he decided to expose this guy's true colors first.

He had arrived just in time. Since Frost Leaf hadn't left yet, he would surely have to make a request to him.

"Speaking of which, on such a desolate, cold night, what brings Imperial Advisor Frost Leaf to Flying Peak?" He started with a rhetorical question. "Could it be that you, too, have set your sights on the treasure beneath this ground?"

"These past few days, Weian City has been loudly cursing Qixia Sect for blocking the waterways and causing an artificial drought," Frost Leaf said, a look of compassion on his face. "I happen to have some methods I could try to remove the obstructions and dredge the river. Why wouldn't I come to lend Weian City a hand?"

"Boundless merit, boundless merit!" He Lingchuan nodded in approval. "For Imperial Advisor Frost Leaf to come to their aid, Weian City would be delighted. But why not act openly? That way, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Weian City would have someone to thank."

"I originally intended to act quietly. Why would I need others' gratitude?" Frost Leaf's eyes narrowed with a smile. "Once the deed is done, I'll simply brush my sleeves and leave, concealing my achievements and name."

"I can't take this," the Blood Fiend spat several times, turning to He Lingchuan. "I thought your audacity was unmatched in the world, but today I learned there's always someone better."

"I see," He Lingchuan said, a look of sudden realization on his face. "I had assumed that whoever sneaked in here was most likely the mastermind. After all, it was for this Flying Peak that he deliberately caused Qixia Sect to bleed."

Frost Leaf's smile didn't reach his eyes either.

As expected of Nine Netherworld, to have unraveled the whole affair in such a short time.

One had to consider that there were living people who should have been dead causing mischief, and dead people who should have been alive confusing both sides.

But why would Nine Netherworld so quickly connect the mastermind with him, Frost Leaf?

"Oh?" Frost Leaf asked with interest. "What's so special about this Flying Peak that it's worth the mastermind going to such great lengths?"

At that moment, their roles seemed to have reversed, with the true culprit questioning the true culprit's motives.

He wanted to see how much Nine Netherworld truly knew.

"Because—" He Lingchuan lifted his foot and stomped twice on the ground. "Beneath us, there's a golden core, which is to say, a Devourer's brain core!"

"These two conditions helped me narrow down the possibilities. After all, the monster most interested in a Devourer's brain core, and capable of changing its appearance..." he enunciated each word, "could only be another Devourer!"

After that last sentence, the air seemed to thicken, and the nearby leaves ceased their rustling.

"A Devourer?"

Frost Leaf repeated the three words, his tone full of amusement.

The events of the past few days had been confusing, like scattered flowers blurring one's vision, and his plan was to fish in troubled waters. He hadn't expected Nine Netherworld to deduce his actions because it had already grasped the two most crucial clues beforehand.

Beforehand!

He Lingchuan scrutinized him, then abruptly changed the topic. "When Qingyang mentioned you in her lifetime, disdain was evident in her expression. She was nearing two hundred years old, well-traveled, and of a steady temperament. She usually wouldn't be so harsh towards people, let alone towards you, the esteemed Imperial Advisor of Beijia. Unless, of course, she wasn't cursing a human."

Frost Leaf didn't take the bait. He merely folded his arms, a helpless look on his face. "The words she used weren't pleasant, were they?"

"No," He Lingchuan agreed. Monster, evil spawn, neither human nor ghost – none of them were pleasant terms.

"As people age, they can become a bit paranoid. If Qingyang had cultivated some verbal restraint, she might have lived past two hundred," Frost Leaf remarked blandly, then asked him, "How were you so certain the mastermind would come here?"

He Lingchuan sighed. "His suggestion that Master Yuan use the golden core to cut off the water was to bring the golden core into existence. His strenuous efforts to incite conflict between Qixia Sect and Cang Yan were so that both sides would be too preoccupied to notice, allowing him to calmly take this golden core. But I'm very curious: what would one Devourer do with another's brain core?"

Once one knew that the so-called "golden core" was actually a Devourer's brain core and deduced the true identity of "Tang Jingye," it wasn't difficult to uncover Frost Leaf's real objective.