Chapter 2267: Presenting Facts and Reasoning

"Two Sky Demons stayed in Fuxian for one night. I heard they neither ate nor drank, and left the residence early the next morning, vanishing without a trace."

"They're not returning to Puluo Island, are they?"

"They headed northwest, towards the mainland."

"Good, this information is indeed very valuable," He Lingchuan said seriously. "But how did you know I needed intelligence on these demon puppet experimental sites?"

"Because you firmly resist the Sky Demons, and they have been seeking ways to return to the human realm, for example, by using demon puppets as vessels for divine descent. I assume you're keenly interested in their progress."

He Lingchuan was slightly surprised: "How did you learn of this secret?"

Cang Yan had widely publicized the true nature of Sky Demons, but the fact that they were conducting experiments with demon puppets and ghoul beasts was little known. Such matters were too abstract for ordinary people to grasp and offered no benefit to public opinion. Conversely, simplified and popularized narratives, like inflammatory slogans and seemingly wise but ultimately empty platitudes, were more effective for mass dissemination.

Therefore, Sun Hongye, having drifted through small nations for many years, should not, by all accounts, have had access to such secrets.

"A few years ago, I worked at a trading company in Baisha Bay for over six months, lodging at the Qingmu Inn. One evening, a group of Rongshan people arrived at the inn. They were planning to take a ship from Baisha Bay to the Glimmering Gold Plains the next day, so they booked the inn's main hall for drinks that night. I even had a few drinks with them. I heard that Rongshan had been invaded by the Xu Kingdom, and it was suspected that Beijia also sent a demonic army to fuel Xu Kingdom's aggression. The Rongshan people held out for several months, but ultimately, they couldn't stand alone and had no choice but to leave their homeland."

He Lingchuan nodded.

When the Xu Kingdom first invaded Rongshan, Qiu Hu had sought his advice. He had suggested an immediate relocation of their sect to cut their losses in time.

However, Rongshan was ultimately reluctant to abandon its foundational territory. After battling the Xu Kingdom for several months and suffering significant casualties, they finally recognized the reality of the situation and decided to move their entire sect eastward to the Glimmering Gold Plains, seeking refuge with Qiu Hu.

"During the dinner, they spoke of Sky Demons and demon puppets. One elder, whose surname was Dao, even said that Rongshan had helped Mou Kingdom destroy a demon puppet experimental site, which consequently provoked Beijia's retaliation, inciting the Xu Kingdom to attack." Sun Hongye recalled the scene clearly. "I offered him a toast and asked what a demon puppet was, and he explained it to me then."

"I see. You're still as observant as ever."

After some casual conversation about past events, Sun Hongye asked:

"As I flew with Lord Pu from Julu Port to Jucheng, I saw many settlements of immortal sects and demon clans along the way, appearing no different from those outside. I wish to ask, Your Majesty, what is the relationship between Cang Yan and these immortal sects establishing their gates and demon clans multiplying in the Glimmering Gold Plains?"

"Immortal sects and demon clans are quite common in the Glimmering Gold Plains today." After all, the Glimmering Gold Plains are vast, and Cang Yan's authorities cannot manage every inch of land or every forest. "After humans began to congregate in towns on a large scale, farmlands, workshops, and estates also clustered around urban areas. The vast regions left vacated naturally became home to spirits and wild demons. Many immortal sects and demon clans, unaccustomed to human town life, would also return to the wilderness and mountains, establishing their gates and lairs there."

Simply put, since commoners had withdrawn from scattered settlements, the authorities no longer saw a need to station troops for protection. Consequently, these areas quickly reverted to a wild state, returning to nature. Of course, while these places were difficult for "ordinary people" to survive in, they became havens and paradises for immortal sects and demon clans, who then re-established themselves.

The law of the jungle also applied here; mutual annexation among demon clans and immortal sects was common. The Zhenyuan Sect, after its establishment, absorbed numerous nearby forces to achieve its current scale.

"However, since they are still on Cang Yan's territory, things are somewhat different from what you might see elsewhere; they must be self-sufficient." He Lingchuan pointed to the bustling city below the mountain. "After many nations disintegrated, immortal sects and demon clans regained dominance, enslaving local commoners and demanding tribute. This is a repeat of history from the ancient and early medieval periods."

Sun Hongye nodded: "In ancient times, the human world was not a paradise everywhere, at least not for commoners. This is also recorded in ancient texts."

The era with the most abundant spiritual energy was also a time when immortals and great demons roamed freely. With their overwhelming power over commoners, how could they possibly treat them equally or kindly?

Would you treat ants with courtesy?

The relationship between immortal sects, demon clans, and humans was vividly displayed within the Inverted Sea. Commoners were compelled to constantly offer reverence and tribute to these superior beings.

Who says history doesn't repeat itself? In the current spiritual energy environment, across vast parts of this world, history has indeed reversed course.

"But in Cang Yan, it's different. They can establish sects and flourish outside human settlements; Cang Yan can accommodate them. However, they absolutely cannot plunder or seize populations to sustain themselves, or Cang Yan will send troops." Not enslaving commoners was the red line Cang Yan drew for these extraordinary forces.

Beyond that, they were free to fight and interact as they pleased among themselves.

Sun Hongye understood: "Will these immortal sects and demon clans be obedient?"

He Lingchuan cracked his knuckles with a few pops:

"Initially, of course, they wouldn't listen. We gradually 'enlightened' them, and once they learned Cang Yan's new rules, they complied."

Sun Hongye gained a new understanding of the word "enlighten" that day.

"In truth, when people teach people, they often fail to change. But when events teach people, they learn in one go," he chuckled. "Even now, many forces continue to spring up like mushrooms after rain, and some still brazenly disregard our words. So, this task is truly endless."

No one had anticipated that the impact of this "Awakening Period" would be unprecedentedly far-reaching.

In a short period, countless plants and animals transformed into spirits and monsters, impacting human societal order.

Also in a short period, numerous immortal sects and great demons emerged from seclusion, reopening their lairs and challenging national defense lines and laws.

Many small nations simply couldn't withstand a few waves of this impact and were utterly destroyed. Those regions were forced to revert to their ancient and early medieval forms, where the strong prevailed and the weak became prey.

Only powerful and large nations like Cang Yan, possessing confidence, armies, and primal energy, could adapt to the new situation and changes, constantly adjusting their strategies to strive for coexistence between human nations and immortal and demonic beings.

Coexistence, however, didn't necessarily mean peaceful coexistence.

But such matters were never easy.

How could those extraordinary forces, fresh from their secluded lairs, possibly hold a nation like Cang Yan in high regard? When they entered seclusion, this land hadn't even formed a nation yet. Now, if you tell them what they can't do and what's forbidden, would they listen to you?

At such times, it was necessary to present facts and reasoning.

The fact was that Cang Yan had the biggest fist, and thus, its words carried the most weight.