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Chapter 292: Chapter 289 Trust
"The Cold Moon Sect wishes to merge into Lingxiao City?"
Fang Linghai’s words...
were truly earth-shattering.
The Cold Moon Sect was one of the Ten Great Demon Sects, a lineage of the Devas.
This sect had a history of eight hundred years to its name.
Unlike other sects, the Cold Moon Sect had produced four Devas throughout its history.
Yes,
four!
Since the founder eight hundred years ago, there were Devas born within the sect seven hundred years ago, five hundred years ago, and one hundred years ago.
Especially one hundred years ago, a Deva of the Cold Moon Sect had joined forces with Emperor Tianji in a campaign against the Daqian Royal Family and had outbreak a fierce battle with the Six Great Immortal Sects led by the Sanqing Holy Temple.
However, after that battle, the Deva of the Cold Moon Sect fell, and the casualties among those Primordial Spirit Monarchs who followed into the war were heavy.
Yet even so, the Cold Moon Sect still had as many as five Primordial Spirit Monarchs.
But now...
The Cold Moon Sect, possessing five Primordial Spirit Monarchs, more than a dozen Divinity Transformation Cultivators, and several dozen Refining God Immortals, was actually planning to merge into Lingxiao City?
"Sect Master Fang isn’t joking, is he?"
Gu Jinlai was astonished for a moment, then gradually calmed down, "How could Lingxiao City possibly deserve such a generous offer? We are not worthy of it."
"As of today, the situation south of Tianhe has gradually become clear to anyone who observes, it’s evident that Lingxiao City’s rise is unstoppable, and it’s only a matter of time before it unifies Tiannan. Our Cold Moon Sect is seeking a way out early on, which is within reason,"
said Fang Linghai.
In truth, the reason he made this decision was partly because of Lingxiao City’s ascendency to power.
The other reason...
was that the Cold Moon Sect planned to take advantage of the demons’ significant defeat to invade Mu State in hopes of weakening the power of the Mu State Demons as much as possible.
But they discovered...
that there were even more demons hidden within Mu State.
Despite such a vast number of demons, they did not swarm out during the conflict at Lengfeng Fortress a few months ago; instead, they showed remarkable restraint—what did this imply?
It meant that the demons undoubtedly had bigger plans than their previous assault on Blue State.
What those plans were, he could not determine.
But if it wasn’t for the help of the Purgatory Sect, the Netherworld Sect, and the support of Lingxiao City last time, the Cold Moon Sect would have ended up like the Yellow Sky Sect. If the demons attacked again...
The Yellow Sky Sect served as the perfect example.
Furthermore, Lingxiao City could simply slow down their support to calmly watch the Cold Moon Sect’s demise. When they counterattacked the demons and reclaimed Blue State, they could rightfully seize the governing power over Blue State.
The most frustrating part was, even if they realized this, there was nothing they could do to change it.
After over a month of continuous discussions, the people of the Cold Moon Sect reluctantly made a compromise.
Instead of ending up like the Yellow Sky Sect, it was better to take the initiative to pledge allegiance to Lingxiao City while still holding some cards, in order to secure sufficient benefits for the Cold Moon Sect.
At the very least...
they had to preserve some degree of autonomy.
And according to their requests, if all went well...
"It appears Sect Master Fang can represent the will of the Cold Moon Sect for this visit?"
"Correct,"
Fang Linghai nodded, "We of the Cold Moon Sect hope to receive Governor Gu’s acceptance."
"Oh, how exactly does Sect Master Fang wish to be accepted?"
asked Gu Jinlai.
His tone was quite composed.
Seeing his demeanor, Fang Linghai couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
Gu Jinlai seemed to have little interest in taking over Blue State.
But after a moment’s thought, he was not surprised.
After all, if the Mu State Demons were truly as formidable as to be beyond the Cold Moon Sect’s capability, they would encounter much less resistance if they were to reclaim Blue State after it had been destroyed by the demons.
They could even let the Cold Moon Sect and the Mu State Demons fight to mutual exhaustion to minimize their losses when Lingxiao targeted the demons.
For a moment, several of his plans were overturned in his mind. Eventually, he said, "We are willing to fully merge Blue State into Lingxiao City and invite the soldiers and Demon God Guards of Lingxiao City to station themselves there. Our Cold Moon Sect only wishes to retain Sea Moon City. However, I hope Governor Gu will allow us to recruit disciples in places like Blue State and Star State to ensure the continuity of our Cold Moon Sect lineage."
Sea Moon City was not the capital of Blue State but the second largest city, with a population of over four million, located near the Eastern Sea.
Thanks to its coastal location, the economy was quite developed, rivaling the capital city.
To offer a whole state while only retaining Sea Moon City...
It must be said, the Cold Moon Sect was showing sincere intent.
But Sea Moon City was situated near the rear of Star State, far into Blue State.
With Sea Moon City as their stronghold, they wouldn’t need to worry about demon threats anymore, and Gu Jinlai had to anticipate one possibility.
From reactive to proactive.
The Cold Moon Sect, under the pretense of giving Blue State to Lingxiao City for them to help defend against Mu State Demons, might wait until both parties were worn down and then leap out to pick up the spoils.
After pondering for a while, Gu Jinlai didn’t reject the offer immediately but said, "If Sect Master Fang has any other requests, feel free to write them down on paper, and I will discuss them with others. Once we have a result, it will not be too late to inform Sect Master Fang."
"Of course."
Fang Linghai nodded, "However, our Cold Moon Sect’s integration into Lingxiao City is very sincere."
Thereupon, both parties exchanged pleasantries once more, and Fang Linghai took his leave.
After he had left, Gu Jinlai summoned Gu Chaoyang and explained the matter to him.
Upon hearing this, Gu Chaoyang’s expression turned extremely solemn, "Patriarch, this is an obvious stratagem by the Cold Moon Sect. They hand over Blue State to us, letting us deal with the devils, and in fighting the devils, four possibilities could arise! The first is that we utterly rout the devils, the second, we end up in a stalemate with the devils, the third, both we and the devils suffer heavy losses, and the fourth, we are defeated by the devils. In these four possibilities, aside from the first, the Cold Moon Sect will be the biggest winner."
"There is no need to exclude the first possibility, even if the first situation does occur, they will still be considered victors."
Gu Jinlai said, "If we can decimate the devils with overwhelming force, it shows that our power far surpasses that of the Cold Moon Sect and other forces. Even if they teamed up with the Purgatory Sect and the Netherworld Sect, they might not be able to turn the tide. In such a scenario, them being the first to pledge allegiance to our Lingxiao City naturally equates to them having the merit of following the dragon."
As for the remaining three possibilities...
If Lingxiao City is stuck in a stalemate with the devils, we will inevitably have to sincerely ask for their assistance, and at that time, they can obtain greater power.
If Lingxiao City and the devils each suffer significant losses, they would not mind kicking us while we’re down.
If Lingxiao City is defeated by the devils...
That would be the worst-case scenario.
Then, what are we waiting for, run away.
"Since the patriarch has already seen through the real intentions of the Cold Moon Sect, I’ve worried unnecessarily."
Gu Chaoyang subtly delivered a compliment.
"Seen through it indeed, but I still intend to accept the allegiance of the Cold Moon Sect."
Gu Jinlai said with a faint smile.
"This..."
"Fang Linghai will send me a document with the rights the Cold Moon Sect wishes to retain after they join Lingxiao City. Discuss with Qi Renwang, Gu Changfeng, and Xin Tianqi which rights can be accepted and which need to be refused."
Gu Jinlai instructed.
"Yes."
Although Gu Chaoyang could not fathom what exactly his patriarch was thinking, he could only agree at this moment.
"The allegiance of the Cold Moon Sect has made me realize that our Lingxiao City has now garnered such prestige in the land of Tian Nan that the trip to the Purgatory Sect can be moved up," Gu Jinlai said.
He had planned to wait until the Mystic Bird Fighting Machine was upgraded before visiting the Purgatory Sect and having a good "exchange" with the three Supreme Elders of the sect.
Now, it seems that the Purgatory Sect’s current attitude towards him is also complex, unsure of what choice to make.
Well, then, he would help them make a choice.
If he could subdue the Cold Moon Sect and the Purgatory Sect, even if Zhang Yukan and Zhou Mingshi still hadn’t found the rift in the Tianhe Demon Realm and completed the upgrade of the Mystic Bird Fighting Machine by the time the three-month ultimatum from overseas arrives, he would still have sufficient strength to intimidate Lizhou State and the Overseas Twelve Islands, forcing them to hand over the culprits.
"Prepare a message for Lu Zhanfeng to send back, and in half a month, you, Su Nanxing, along with Gu Xiangyang and a team of a thousand Demon God Guards, I have been a Supreme Elder of the Purgatory Sect for so long, it’s time to return to the Purgatory Sect."
Gu Jinlai said.
Gu Chaoyang agreed and quickly set about arranging it.
That same afternoon, Fang Linghai had Fang Yumian, who was traveling with him, bring over a document.
Gu Jinlai glanced at it and passed it on to people like Gu Chaoyang.
Professional matters are best left to the professionals.
Lingxiao City, under his leadership, was already on the right track, and there was no longer a need for him to get hands-on with everything.
The next day.
Far away in Jiangzhou State, Xin Tianqi contacted Gu Jinlai through the Thousand-mile Light and Shadow Mirror.
"I don’t understand."
In the mirror, Xin Tianqi was somewhat puzzled, "Governor Gu should have discerned the true intentions of the Cold Moon Sect, right?"
"Do you think our Lingxiao City would fail?"
"No."
Xin Tianqi said gravely, "I have absolute confidence in Lingxiao City. Relying solely on those demons of Mu State, they will by no means be able to harm us in the slightest, not even force us into a stalemate. Given the current pace of Lingxiao City’s development, as long as the demons do not launch an offensive within a year, after one year, we will inevitably have the power to utterly rout the demons of Mu State!"
"Then there is nothing to worry about, is there?"
Gu Jinlai said.
"But this agreement, at worst, they will be able to carve out their own kingdom... At that point, I fear that the Purgatory Sect and the Netherworld Sect will follow suit, becoming a state within a state. Consequently, there will inevitably emerge many privileged classes within the administrative system of Lingxiao City, which is extremely unfavorable for the propagation of our system."
"Carve out their own kingdom? Not necessarily."
Gu Jinlai said, "We can add a clause stating that the citizens in their governed areas shall have the right to free movement."
"Free movement?"
Xin Tianqi did not understand.
"Just add that one clause," Gu Jinlai said. "A state within a state is the saving face I’m leaving for the Cold Moon Sect, and in due time for the Purgatory Sect and the Netherworld Sect as well. With this saving face, at least when Lingxiao City becomes so powerful that it cannot be defeated, they will not, like the Yellow Sky Sect, commit senseless acts of madness."
After listening, Xin Tianqi fell silent.
Governor Gu...
Is he trying to prevent a real war from breaking out in Tian Nan, which would lead to a calamity for the living beings?
"Trust me, Lingxiao City’s administrative system will not easily be shattered."
Gu Jinlai said.
Xin Tianqi looked at Gu Jinlai, and eventually nodded.
Gu Jinlai was the one he had chosen, and since he was his choice, he should have unconditional faith in him to the very end.
