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"I’ll give you two choices..." The Princess Royale gazed at Tian Heng’s grim expression and said with a smile, "I have a batch of medicine here that can greatly enhance the soldiers’ potential.

Dealing with those weakened Buddhas shouldn’t be an issue, and at the very least, it will suffice to purge Jiangnan.

You wouldn’t want your forces to be constantly disrupted by Buddha Kingdom’s interference, would you? "

"Medicine?" Tian Heng said flatly, "If the effects of this medicine are so miraculous, there must be some side effects, correct?"

"What in this world comes without side effects?" The Princess Royale smiled and said, "But often, it’s about knowing how to weigh gains and losses. The side effects are indeed significant—potentially depleting the soldiers’ strength, vitality, and even their lifespan. But these are extraordinary times; hasn’t war always demanded sacrifices?

Let alone something as trivial as taking medicine. "

"Moreover, if I recall correctly, doesn’t your faction wield direct control over reincarnation?

If that’s the case, offering some rewards would suffice, wouldn’t it?

Any soldier willing to use the medicine could be promised better arrangements in their next life, or simply granted an official position in Hell Ruler’s domains.

I imagine... many would jump at such an offer, wouldn’t they? "

Tian Heng: "......."

This is essentially a prelude to a suicide squad.

This is far from a pleasant proposition.

The Western Sea Army may be full of soldiers eager to earn military merits and improve their standing, but none would willingly embrace certain death.

Besides, an unnerving instinct told him that if he himself were to use this medicine, the consequences could be catastrophic. ..

"May I dare ask, Your Highness, what’s the second option?" Tian Heng frowned and cautiously inquired.

"The second choice, hmm? Since General Tian is neither confident about purging the Buddhist temples nor wholly trusting in my ability to defend the city gates—why not... I personally lead the forces to Jiangnan and resolve the issue for you?"

Tian Heng’s lips twitched immediately. Isn’t this essentially saying you’ll take Jiangnan from me directly?

If I lead my troops back, with the fortified defenses of Jiangnan’s key cities, supplemented by Gate Deity arrays and various techniques, even the Imperial Army would pay a hefty price to seize it.

But if I let you march directly into Jiangnan.

.. wouldn’t that be tantamount to throwing pork buns at a dog, never to return?

"Your Highness... could we not wait a little longer?" Tian Heng asked with a tone bordering on negotiation.

Truthfully, he had no idea what delaying would achieve, but Wang Ye had said Chen Qing had plans. His only task now was to stall for time.

"Waiting is not an option..." The Princess Royale shook her head.

"You’ve seen the capabilities of Buddha Kingdom—if time drags on, the foundations will undoubtedly be shaken.

When I left, Capital City was already experiencing an eruption of activity from many Buddhist temples.

Swift and thunderous action is necessary to purge them.

Or are you not concerned that the citizens within Jiangnan will also be influenced?

Unless... Jiangnan has already allied itself with Buddha Kingdom! "

As she spoke, her pupils glimmered with a fleeting trace of tear-like radiance, though it disappeared in an instant. The suffocating pressure that followed caused Tian Heng’s breathing to falter.

In mere moments, he discerned that the Princess Royale, from this distance, could kill him without giving him the slightest opportunity to retaliate—and the same would hold true on the battlefield!

"Your Highness has brought quite the weighty accusation..." Tian Heng retorted sharply, "I dare not accept it..."

"It’s best you don’t dare..." The Princess Royale smirked faintly. "Jiangnan’s Hell Ruler is uniquely positioned to directly manage reincarnation, making it strikingly compatible with Buddha Kingdom. Had we not been aware of Chen Qing’s actions ahead of time, we might have immediately assumed such collusion existed. .."

Tian Heng’s face stiffened; he could only force a smile and reply, "The Princess Royale surely jests."

Her remarks were clearly meant to corner him, backed by perfectly reasonable logic: suspicion of collusion with Buddha Kingdom. If he insisted on inaction, that would be tantamount to admitting collaboration!

Once legitimate grounds were established, they could tear up the treaty and act directly.

Taking a deep breath, Tian Heng lowered his voice and said, "May I be allowed a moment to consider this?"

"Consideration?" The Princess Royale stepped closer and smiled. "Doesn’t General Tian have an unbeatable authority within the Western Sea Army? And yet, you wish to return and ponder now—is it because you need to consult someone?"

"One must consult the deputy general at the very least, wouldn’t you say?

" Tian Heng responded with a grin. "After all, this is a major decision... and if I were to return to Jiangnan, I’d need to send advance notice.

Otherwise, if I march back abruptly with troops, the Shen Family might suspect me of betrayal. "

"That does sound reasonable..." The Princess Royale chuckled. "Then I’ll grant General Tian two hours to consider. I’ll be waiting here at the gate; I ask that General Tian hurry..."

"Understood..."

-----------------------------------

"Troop deployment for reinforcements?" Wang Ye furrowed his brows slightly upon hearing Tian Heng’s report.

His brow tightened deeply. "So, you’re saying she handed you a batch of medicine and instructed you to lead forces back to deal with the Buddhist temples?"

"That’s what she said..." Tian Heng lowered his voice and said, "I have no idea what that woman’s motives are, but that medicine... I suspect it’s not simple..."

"That medicine is likely from the Taoist Sect..." Wang Ye glanced outside. "The Taoist Sect must have made contact with both the Princess Royale and the King of Qin. That medicine was probably provided by the Taoist Sect; the Princess Royale is using you all as test subjects."

"Test subjects?"

"Forcibly consuming your forces comes at an enormous cost, so the optimal approach is to weaken them. The medicine has side effects, and pushing you into a decisive battle against the Buddhist temples is a means to deplete your strength. Once the timing is ideal, she’ll naturally lead her soldiers to seize Jiangnan in one fell swoop! "

"Then what do we do now? Move against her?"

"Do you have confidence in defeating her?" Wang Ye asked curiously.

Tian Heng’s lips twitched; Wang Ye’s tone was far from pleasant...

If I had confidence in defeating her, would I have waited until now?

"If I had known the Princess Royale would arrive so quickly, I could have leveraged Ao Zhen’s powers to eliminate Lan Shang and the Princess Royale together.

But now, it’s impossible—I don’t even have forty percent of my previous combat strength.

Forget defeating her; I might not be able to protect myself amidst an army. "

"Then it’s a one-sided outcome... what more is there to say?" Wang Ye frowned and said, "Obviously, take the medicine and leave. If you resist, she’ll act immediately—and with valid justification."

"But as you’ve said, she’s draining my strength..."

"Delay..." Wang Ye smirked. "Accept the task, then return to Jiangnan. Once you’re there, the city defenses of Jiangnan’s major cities will protect you. She won’t just invade outright. As for purging Buddha’s Gate—that task you can take your time with."

Tian Heng nodded at his words. "That’s exactly my thought. The issue is this gate’s strategic positioning—if they unleash the Celestial Serpents here, with no Flaming Sun Array, those serpents that burrow underground will be highly troublesome."

"She wouldn’t do that..." Wang Ye shook his head. "The Princess Royale wants a complete Jiangnan—not a devastated Jiangnan. The Central Plains are riddled with scars, the North is barren and lifeless, overrun by demons. Most of Humanity’s population is concentrated in Jiangnan and the four districts of Capital City. If Jiangnan were to suffer another wave of devastation from the Celestial Serpents, Humanity’s population might not even reach ten billion afterward. "

"Population represents the hope of the future. The Princess Royale wouldn’t kill the proverbial goose laying golden eggs. Neither she nor the Emperor harbors such shortsighted ambitions."

"But perpetually stalling isn’t a sustainable solution. Just how much longer does the Master’s plan require? Also... if the Master’s plan succeeds, will it truly resolve the current crisis?"

"That..." Wang Ye hesitated briefly. He wasn’t sure how to respond; Chen Qing’s plan involved activating supercomputers to create Super Life Forms capable of receiving Dao Fruits, but the number of supercomputers was limited—and thus, so was the production of Super Life Forms.

Depending on a few entities to turn the tide against the current situation seemed overly optimistic.

It remained uncertain just what Chen Qing ultimately had in mind...