Chapter 397: Spirit Seed

Had his father spent twenty years honing himself, only for it all to come to nothing in a single moment, like hauling up a bamboo basket full of water?

He Lingchuan did not think that He Chunhua would be toppled that easily.

“I don’t know how far they’ve advanced. Nian Zanli seems to have fallen ill.”

“There’s a rumor that while Hong Chenglue was supporting Nian Zanli, he urged him to use a lost supreme treasure of the Azure Palace[1], the Verdancy Vase. That’s what decided the war in one stroke. I’ve also heard that someone in Lingxu City is very displeased about that operation.”

There it is.

He Lingchuan had always suspected that Nian Zanli must have used a strategic-grade magical artifact. Otherwise, how could he have turned the tide so completely?

So that magical artifact was called the Verdancy Vase?

“And what does the Verdancy Vase do?”

“That I don’t know. The only thing I know is that it’s probably incredibly powerful. I’m not an official of Lingxu City, so I don’t get the details. Honestly, just digging up the words Verdancy Vase took every ounce of my gossiping strength.”

The other official frowned and asked, “If they won, what’s there to be displeased about?”

“That treasure isn’t something a single army’s origin energy can activate,” the first man said. “What I’ve heard is that State Preceptor Shuang Ye waved his hand and allocated a huge amount of our Beijia origin energy to Nian Zanli. Otherwise, he could’ve strained himself to death and still wouldn’t have been able to use it!”

He Lingchuan sucked in a quiet breath. “If you give away that much, then what’s left for yourselves?”

“Exactly.” The official nodded vigorously. “So the elders in Lingxu City refused to swallow it. They said it was a waste of strategic reserves. We still have conflict on our eastern front, so how can we casually burn massive amounts of origin energy on some unrelated war?”

He Lingchuan murmured, “Unrelated?”

From a Beijia perspective, it was unrelated. Nian Zanli, who was the one pushing south with everything he had, was a surrendered general of Yuan. The northern monster state had not even deployed troops. To them, why should it matter?

And yet, if Beijia had not interfered, why would Yuan’s war have been this desperate in the first place?

The official added, “Besides, why give that much origin energy to a surrendered general? He’s contributed nothing to Beijia. So the Lord Emperor ordered State Preceptor Shuang Ye to reduce Nian Zanli’s origin energy quota, and to recall Hong Chenglue back home as well.”

Ordinarily, officials might address the monster emperor as “Your Majesty,” but Lingxu City enshrined the “Divine Majesty Lingxu.” Calling the emperor “Your Majesty” would be overstepping, so they instead used “Lord Emperor.”[2]

In ancient times, the term “Lord Emperor,” or sometimes “Imperial Monarch[3],” had been an honorific for high immortals who dominated a region. This was proof enough that the monster emperor held himself in extremely lofty regard.

He Lingchuan asked, “If Nian Zanli’s origin energy is reduced, his southern advance should slow down, right?”

“Perhaps,” the official said. “But it really depends on how hard Yuan resists. If Yuan collapses at a touch, then Nian Zanli might even fight his way straight to Yuan’s capital.”

Another official chuckled. “Yuan isn’t some tiny state. Even if it’s weak now, a dead camel still has a few hundred kilograms of meat on its bones.”

He Lingchuan asked, “And Hong Chenglue, what post will he take once he’s recalled to Lingxu City?”

“There’s no word about that. Who knows if he’s even reached Lingxu City yet?” the official shook his head. “News like this takes at least a month to go back and forth.”

The distance from the State of Baoshu to Lingxu City was long.

Having squeezed out the information that he had come for, He Lingchuan cupped his hands to them. “Many thanks.”

Just then, the herald’s cry rang out from the front, “Envoy of Lingxu City arrives!”

In an instant, the entire audience rose to their feet.

He Lingchuan turned his head. The delegation numbered only seven or eight people. Behind them came bearers carrying the gifts. At the front stood a middle-aged man who looked to be around forty years old. He held a ceremonial tally[4], tapped it lightly against the ground, and announced in a clear voice, “By the decree of the Lord Emperor, Baoshu King, receive thy gifts!”

The earth trembled faintly.

Only then did He Lingchuan see a colossal presence emerge from deep within the main hall, taking one heavy step after another. With the weight of a collapsing mountain and a toppled jade pillar, it dropped to its knees before the ceremonial tally of the envoy from Lingxu City.

It was a gigantic treant[5]. Standing upright, it was over six meters tall. Vines and branches twisted across its entire body; on some forked tips grew tender leaves, and even white blossoms.

At a glance, it was obvious that this was Baoshu King’s avatar, its representative that walked upon land.

The moment it kneeled, everyone else kneeled as well.

He Lingchuan lifted his knees and did not quite let them touch the ground. Looking up the long slope, he saw humans and monsters alike dropping to their knees. Not a single being remained standing.

All living things across the mountain bowed beneath the majesty of Beijia’s monster emperor.

The Lingxu envoy’s voice rang like a bell as he read out the imperial proclamation, praising Baoshu King’s contributions over the years, congratulating it on its eight-hundredth birthday, bestowing celebratory gifts, and urging it to continue guarding Beijia’s southern gate.

Guard the gate...

He Lingchuan thought dryly. If the monster states refrained from bullying others, foreign states would already be thanking heaven.

When the envoy finished, the crowd rose. As was custom, Baoshu King’s prime minister stepped forward to accept the gifts on its behalf and lead the delegation to their seats.

He Lingchuan had heard Baoshu King’s prime minister was a low-presence figure, while Grand Tutor Sha held far more sway in domestic matters. Now that he saw Prime Minister Tang in person—short and plump, narrow brows and eyes, smiling with a gentle warmth—He Lingchuan was reminded of the Laughing Buddha, Maitreya.

They said he was a good man. As for whether that kindness ran to the bone or only to the surface, He Lingchuan could not tell.

The treant then slowly strolled out of Baiyun Residence, swept its gaze across the crowd, and let out a long, lingering sigh.

The sound did not strike the ears so much as it struck the heart, like a dusk drum and a dawn bell.

“I, alone, have passed through eight hundred years. I have seen the calamities of heaven, walked through the flames of war. By Heaven’s blessing and by the gods’ favor, I yet remain...”

As soon as the ancient treant spoke, the common folk and the monsters dropped to their knees again, this time with unmistakable sincerity. Some listened to its heartfelt words and silently wept, chanting along.

In the lake, the colossal true body flared with a faint golden radiance, every leaf and branch shimmering.

The more devoutly Fufeng City’s people chanted, the brighter that light grew, until it blazed like a second sun.

He Lingchuan could only stare in awe.

He had never seen origin energy of such density and purity in his life.

Baoshu King’s hold on the people’s hearts was plain to see.

Then the golden light burst outward, and everyone shut their eyes at once.

When the crowd slowly opened their eyes again, they saw that within the great tree’s dense canopy, white blossoms had begun to bloom. There were dozens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands...

The entire tree had become a sea of white.

The mountain wind rose again, carrying the white flowers drifting toward shore like a snowfall.

Each person and each monster caught one blossom, and as Baoshu King had instructed earlier, gently placed it against their forehead.

In that moment, their minds became crystal clear, their sorrows and vexation dissolved.

After that, the blossom could be eaten.

He Lingchuan followed suit, then stuffed the entire flower into his mouth.

It tasted clean and sweet, almost like a lily, and its center held a pocket of fragrant honey that soothed straight down into the lungs and heart.

This was the Baoshu King’s blessing. So long as one consumed a blossom condensed from the great tree’s life essence, old ailments and wounds could heal without medicine; those without illness would instead be strengthened and revitalized. But it had to be eaten on the spot. After a quarter of an hour, it lost all effect.

The atmosphere reached its peak. Countless beings bowed toward the Baoshu King, thanking it for its generous gift.

He Lingchuan also turned toward the lake and bowed deeply. Whether or not his heart was sincere, he had taken the benefit, so gratitude was owed.

And then, suddenly, his chest grew hot.

He looked down and saw the divine bone amulet glowing again, its red light visible only to him.

What has this thing set its sights on now?

He lifted his gaze and realized that the golden light that had swept the entire crowd had actually condensed in the treant’s hands into a dense orb of radiance.

Slowly, that golden glow faded.

In the treant’s palms lay a single golden fruit.

The fruit was slightly larger than a lemon. It was dark gold all over and absolutely stunning.

Is that what the divine bone amulet wants?

He Lingchuan took two large steps toward the treant, and sure enough, the divine bone amulet’s heat eased.

A guard immediately blocked him, voice stern. “Please step back!”

The ceremony was orderly. Even distinguished guests were not allowed to wander.

He Lingchuan retreated two steps, and the amulet burned him again.

So yes, whether it was “taste” or “appetite,” the divine bone’s preferences were, as always, impeccable.

He Lingchuan let out a long sigh.

Brother, are you trying to get me killed?

He did not know what this seed was for, but judging by how the treant, Prime Minister Tang, and Grand Tutor Sha stood in a tight circle around it, as if it were their very lifeline... It was obvious that it would be no different from courting death should one try and even touch it. Although the Baoshu King looked benevolent, who knew if it would be kind toward him?

Stealing a molted shell from Zhu Erniang had been one thing, which had already been seventy percent luck.

As for stealing a seed right under Baoshu King’s nose? Was that even remotely possible?

He Lingchuan patted the divine bone amulet.

Stop drooling. Some things just aren’t meant for you to eat.

The heart-protecting mirror let out a long, awestruck “Waaah...”

“That seed is truly a treasure. I can feel the power stored inside it!”

It wanted it too, but it knew that it could not afford the price. “Forget it. I’ll just settle for a branch.”

Second Boss Shi heard He Lingchuan’s sigh. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He Lingchuan forced a smile. “This flower is delicious. Can we get another?”

The guard at his side answered, “The effect only works once. Taking more would be useless.”

He Lingchuan shrugged regretfully and looked toward the treant in the main hall.

The seed was passed into Prime Minister Tang’s hands. Facing the people, the prime minister called out in a loud voice, “Among the twenty-six northern territories, another guardian has been added.”

A cluster of people on the slope erupted into cheers.

He Lingchuan turned back to the guard. The guard was human, so conversation was easy. “What does that mean? What’s the connection between a guardian and that seed?”

“Each guardian is an avatar of our king. It can repel invaders and protect a region’s peace,” the guard said. “The ones cheering are residents of the northern borderlands. They’ve waited many years—at last, it’s their turn.”

“So if you’re not chosen, you have to keep waiting?” He Lingchuan was puzzled. “It’s been eight hundred years. Shouldn’t the entire border already be covered in the king’s avatars?”

The guard shook his head. “I’m newly assigned here. I don’t know.”

The heart-protecting mirror cut in, though of course, only He Lingchuan could hear it, “In today’s environment, it isn’t easy for Baoshu King to birth a spirit seed. You think like it’s laying eggs? In eight hundred years, you expect countless seeds? Look how grand today’s ritual is, and it only produced one.”

He Lingchuan asked, “The northern border of the State of Baoshu, does it border the State of Chiyan?”

Second Boss Shi answered, “The State of Baoshu’s northern border is long. To the northwest is Zhuolu Commandery. To the north is the Twilight Plains. Cross that great plain, and you reach the State of Chiyan.”

“Twilight Plains?”

“That’s one of the places under direct central control.”

“So this seed is being sent to?”

The guard answered, “It should be sent due north.”

So the border region northward, neighboring the State of Chiyan?

North of the State of Baoshu lay the Twilight Plains under Lingxu City’s direct authority, and then the State of Chiyan. The State of Chiyan was also one of the thirteen monster states, so it was not a foreign border of Beijia.

1. Note that this was Qingyang Palace (青阳宫) in the raws, and that can also be somewhat translated to Spring Palace, but as this palace clearly belongs to State Preceptor Qing Yang of Beijia, and it has already been stated before that they are the master of the Azure Palace (青宫), I’ve decided to simply change the instance here to Azure Palace. Note that the term 青阳宫 does not seem to be mentioned again for at least the next 2000 chapters, while 青宫 still does, hence the decision. ☜

2. Note that Your Majesty (圣上) is conflicting with Divine Majesty (圣尊) as the key character here is actually 圣, which can be literally translated to either holy, divine, or sacred, and using that character in referring to the monster emperor would have placed him at about the same level as their revered heavenly god. Of course, this explanation is just a gross simplification, but I think I kind of explained it? I don’t know either. This is hard to explain. ☜

3. The term really has a lot of possible translations, I added this to show just a bit of that. ☜

4. This is a symbol of authority, often issued by a ruler to their generals or envoys. If you want to look up more information about it yourselves, feel free to search up 符节 (fújié). These also sometimes come with their own sticks, which is probably how the envoy “taps it lightly against the ground.” ☜

5. I opted for this over treeman, though the original term 树人 literally means tree + man. It’s basically like how I opted for werewolf over wolfman. ☜