Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Personally Serving the Statue of the Great Celestial Dog Deity

"Can you still not see the current situation for what it is?

This is no longer a struggle between our Great Jing Empire and the White-Red Empire against Chu He.

It has evolved into a showdown between the Lighthouse Empire and Chu He.

The reason the Lighthouse Empire is making such a great show of force

is to curb the development of Chu He and, by extension, the Great Xia Empire under his protection.

If they are allowed to continue on this path, even the Lighthouse Empire, the sole superpower on Blue Star,

will suffer a blow that could shake them to their very core."

Ji Shengyue stood by the sea, her hands resting on the railing.

She gazed at the sparkling sea, the bright sunlight, the seagulls wheeling over the water,

and in the distance, the towering Deceitful Ships, like slumbering behemoths, as batch after batch of fully armed Martial Artists descended from them in orderly lines.

"As always, Your Majesty sees things with perfect clarity." Zong Yajuan was quick to offer her praise.

"It has nothing to do with clarity.

Even the White-Red Empire has obediently become the Lighthouse Empire’s lapdog. What right do we have to complain?

However, we must study that deity statue of the Great Celestial Dog inside and out.

As far as I know, the White-Red Empire has already reported this matter to the Lighthouse Empire, hoping to use their pressure to force us to return the deity statue of the Great Celestial Dog.

However, there is no precedent for the Great Jing Empire to simply hand over what has fallen into its grasp."

Ji Shengyue said with a cold smile.

"What should we do if the Lighthouse Empire pressures us to return the deity statue of the Great Celestial Dog?"

Zong Yajuan asked, her voice laced with worry. "If they demand its return, the Great Jing Empire will be in a terrible position."

"Rest assured, the Lighthouse Empire won’t do that.

This is the way of emperors.

The Lighthouse Empire chose both the Great Jing Empire and the White-Red Empire in this region

precisely because they don’t want our Great Jing Empire to develop too smoothly under their patronage.

The White-Red Empire wasn’t just chosen to keep an eye on the Great Xia Empire;

it’s also a warning to us. It’s as if they’re saying, ’See? It’s simple for us to find a new dog.

The Great Jing Empire isn’t our only option.’

But no matter. So long as the core of our empire remains, we will never lack for the means to rise again.

The Great Jing Empire will one day restore its former glory."

At this, Ji Shengyue was overcome with emotion and slammed her fist down on the iron railing before her.

The flotilla of magnificent, towering Deceitful Ships moored on the sea, and the powerful Martial Artists continuously disembarking from them,

their sheer numbers—tens of thousands—created a powerful visual impact.

Ji Shengyue was green with envy. It was such a pity that these Martial Artists and Deceitful Ships were all sent by the Lighthouse Empire.

’How wonderful it would be if they belonged to the Great Jing Empire.’

"Has the deity statue of the Great Celestial Dog shown any signs of awakening yet?" Ji Shengyue asked, pulling her gaze away from the sea.

"Not yet. There’s been no change at all.

Our people in the Great Jing Empire are all waiting with bated breath.

Everyone understands that it doesn’t matter where this Deity came from. As long as the Great Jing Empire has a Deity of its own, that’s all that matters.

The White-Red Empire’s few Deities have already fully awakened. According to the grapevine, 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

the reason the White-Red Empire allowed the Lighthouse Empire’s Martial Artists to establish a presence and build a Martial Artist Base within their borders

was the result of direct negotiations between the White-Red Empire’s Deities and the Lighthouse Empire.

Could it be that Chu He really knows some secrets about the Deities?

Otherwise, why hasn’t the Great Xia Empire made contact with any? The Great Xia Empire has a much longer history, and their Deities are countless."

Zong Yajuan said, puzzled.

"By the way, have we sent anyone to infiltrate the Great Xia Empire?"

Ji Shengyue asked, as if she had suddenly remembered something.

"The White-Red Empire is just a tiny, insignificant country with very few Deities.

Compared to the Deities of the Great Xia Empire, the difference is night and day. There’s simply no comparison.

One is heaven, the other is earth.

But from this perspective, the Deities of the Great Xia Empire would be easier for our Great Jing Empire to steal."

The more Ji Shengyue spoke, the more excited she became.

Before, her focus had been on the White-Red Empire, but now she suddenly realized that her neighbor was hiding even greater treasures!

Moreover, Ji Shengyue had always harbored a deep-seated loathing for the Great Xia Empire.

If she could steal a few Deities from the Great Xia Empire, it would surely infuriate Great Xia’s Lu Yinxing and Chu He to no end.

"I have been trying to send people to infiltrate, but not a single one has gotten in.

The entire Great Xia Empire is now on lockdown.

A while ago, they expelled everyone who wasn’t a citizen of the Great Xia Empire.

In the last few days, they’ve made a new move. Those who married foreign wives,

or married foreign husbands and have been living long-term in the Great Xia Empire,

are now being registered and prepared for forced deportation.

There’s been a lot of resentment within the Great Xia Empire lately."

Zong Yajuan reported.

"Even so, we must not give up on infiltrating the Great Xia Empire.

Perhaps at a time like this, the Great Xia Empire will let its guard down."

Ji Shengyue said, patting the railing in front of her.

"I’m going to see the Great Celestial Dog’s statue now.

Also, help me spread the word within the Great Jing Empire. Say that for the happiness and safety of the people,

I, as Her Majesty the Queen of the Great Jing Empire, will personally attend to the statue of the Deity, the Great Celestial Dog.

As for the other embellishments, you should know what I mean."

Ji Shengyue’s trust in Zong Yajuan had reached an unprecedented level. She entrusted all matters, large and small, down to the last detail, to Zong Yajuan’s care.

"I understand, Your Majesty," Zong Yajuan replied.

...

Within the deep and unfathomable grotto-abode,

light was meticulously woven by an invisible hand.

A nimbus of black and white energy swirled around Chu He.

It was like the gentlest demarcation in the sky at the break of dawn—not purely daylight, nor profound night,

but the ineffable harmony and contrast that lies between.

This radiance, as fine as silk, gently brushed over every inch of space within the grotto-abode,

causing the surrounding stone walls and dome to seem as if they were breathing, fading in and out with the flow of light and creating an otherworldly, dreamlike sensation.

Chu He’s figure, amidst this interplay of light and shadow, appeared even more solitary and aloof.

The phantom image behind him, like an ancient Divine Spirit slowly emerging from the void, its outline gradually became clearer.

Every subtle change was accompanied by a tremendous surge of the purest energy between heaven and earth.

This energy, as if guided by an invisible hand, surged furiously into the phantom image,

imbuing it with an ineffable power and majesty.

The surrounding air seemed to tremble from the convergence of this power, emitting a low and resonant hum.

At this moment, Chu He’s eyes became the focal point of the grotto-abode.

His left eye, like a lake covered by the first snow of winter, was clear and profound, emitting a soft and pure white light.

His right eye, like the brightest star in the dead of night, was deep and mysterious, flickering with a dark and alluring black gleam.

This pair of mismatched eyes seemed as if they could see through the essence of all things,

or as if they connected two completely different worlds, inspiring both awe and longing in those who looked upon them.

He spoke in a soft whisper, and though his voice was light, it echoed in the silent grotto-abode. ’I never expected the path to the Nascent Soul Realm to be this long and difficult.

I wonder how much time has passed outside, and what has happened.

But right now, the breakthrough is more important.’

With that, Chu He slowly closed his eyes again, shutting out the distractions of the outside world and the turbulence within his own heart.

His breathing became long and deep, resonating with the surging energy around him,

and the entire grotto-abode began to tremble gently in time with his rhythm.