Chapter 343: Chapters 137-138 It goes without saying what a scene it was (two in one, asking for monthly tickets)
Ji Tianlu shook his head. "Another Defender Envoy needs to be stationed elsewhere; after all, the South Nether Prefecture is too vast. The three Demon-Subduing Divisions were strategically positioned to divide the South Nether Prefecture into three sections, with each Division located centrally within its designated area. But even so, sometimes our reach isn’t enough. To prevent Demon Evils from finding any exploitable opportunities, it’s necessary to have other Defender Envoys stationed in those places. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have contacted the Heavenly Inspection Guard to send you the message.
"Ultimately, the situation in South Nether Prefecture must not descend into chaos. Especially now, during this critical period, it’s highly probable that Demon Evils will look for chances to stir up trouble. Therefore, it’s crucial to have Defender Envoys stationed in other locations. When Demon Evils cause a disturbance, these Envoys can act immediately to suppress the ensuing chaos."
Shen Changqing nodded slightly. "Regarding the situation in the South Nether Prefecture, Defender Ji, you must have sent a message to the Capital City. I wonder if there has been any response yet?"
"Not yet." Ji Tianlu shook his head, his pale face taking on a somewhat inscrutable expression. "Actually, even if a message is sent to the Capital City, it’s highly unlikely they’ll dispatch many powerful experts here. Within the Demon-Subduing Division, the only one who can handle Shimohe with absolute certainty is Defender Dongfang. However, the Capital City is a place of paramount importance, and Defender Dongfang cannot leave it. If he doesn’t take action, it will be very difficult for anyone else to suppress Shimohe!
"The biggest problem in the South Nether Prefecture right now is Shimohe. If Shimohe could be dealt with, then with the Demon-Subduing Division’s current strength, we could easily resolve any other issues. Conversely, if Shimohe cannot be dealt with, all our plans are nothing but a joke."
Shen Changqing fell silent for a moment. "Defender Ji, what are your current plans?"
"At present, the Myriad Buddhas Sect’s influence is surging," Ji Tianlu replied, his expression calm despite the recent defeat. "If our Demon-Subduing Division suffers a decisive loss, eight or nine out of ten sects in the South Nether Prefecture will likely side with them. However, the situation hasn’t completely deteriorated to that extent. Our Demon-Subduing Division has stood firm in Great Qin for over three hundred years; it cannot be toppled by a single defeat.
"Besides, the Demon-Subduing Division is an institution of Great Qin, and the Imperial Court will not simply stand by. In fact, the Imperial Court also has many powerful experts. While we might not be able to annihilate the Myriad Buddhas Sect immediately, keeping them in check shouldn’t be a problem.
"After all, the world today still belongs to Great Qin. Shimohe, powerful as he may be, has not yet reached a stage where he can single-handedly overturn the entire realm. Let’s not even talk about Shimohe; in the past, even when Great Demons caused calamities, the Demon-Subduing Division suppressed them all the same, eventually imprisoning them in the Demon Sealing Tower for over two hundred years. Therefore, although Shimohe appears formidable now, it all hinges on whether the Demon-Subduing Division is truly prepared to take action at any cost. If so, he will inevitably be suppressed."
Upon hearing this, Shen Changqing said nothing. Although Ji Tianlu appeared relaxed, the reality was far from being as simple as he portrayed. The Demon-Subduing Division was indeed strong, but that referred to its overall strength. Currently, with its forces spread across the nine prefectures of Great Qin, they had never been fully consolidated. This was because if the forces of a Demon-Subduing Division in one prefecture were withdrawn, that prefecture could instantly become a haven for Demon Evils. If there ever came a day when all the Demon-Subduing Division’s forces were fully integrated, in Shen Changqing’s view, that would likely be the moment Great Qin itself faced annihilation.
Considering only the strength of the South Nether Prefecture’s Demon-Subduing Division, they were clearly no match for Shimohe. Of course, by leveraging the Imperial Court’s power in conjunction with their existing strength, achieving a balance of power should be feasible, but that would be the extent of it. Once a third party intervened, this delicate balance would shatter. Otherwise, Defender Ji wouldn’t have so urgently summoned him back. To put it bluntly, they were simply unable to hold on any longer.
"Let’s dispense with the formalities, Defender Ji," Shen Changqing said, cutting straight to the point. "This isn’t my first day. You’re well aware of the Demon-Subduing Division’s current predicament; otherwise, you wouldn’t have recalled me so urgently. The Eternal Alliance has always sought ways to destabilize Great Qin, and the current turmoil in the South Nether Prefecture plays right into their hands. If the Eternal Alliance Master were to attack personally, do you have any confidence in repelling him?"
An embarrassed expression flickered across Ji Tianlu’s face.
Xun Qu cleared his throat lightly, attempting to ease the awkward tension. "Elder Shen is correct. Our primary concern right now is indeed the threat posed by the Eternal Alliance. However, we also have Elder Shen to thank. During this time, your efforts in traveling across the South Nether Prefecture to eliminate Demon Evils have somewhat stabilized the situation."
After a brief pause, Xun Qu continued, "I heard that Elder Shen has reached the pinnacle of the Spiritual System. Is this true?"
"More or less," Shen Changqing nodded. "The Demon Evil in Luoyang City, due to the interference of Demonfolk from the Eternal Alliance, advanced directly to the Demon Evil level. I happened to be the one who killed it."
He didn’t ask how Xun Qu knew about this. It was obvious that this information must have been disclosed by the Heavenly Inspection Guard.
Upon receiving a definitive answer, Xun Qu couldn’t help but exclaim, "The pinnacle of the Physical System and the peak of the Spiritual System! Elder Shen, your accomplishments in Martial Dao are truly unparalleled in the Demon-Subduing Division!"
"Indeed," Ji Tianlu also sighed in admiration. "I’ve heard that reaching the absolute peak in both systems grants one the opportunity to break through existing limits and ascend to the next realm. It’s highly probable that Shimohe achieved his Great Grandmaster status by treading this very path."