Another Possibility for Bringing the Foreign Lands to Heel

Black Mist.

This was the second time Qin Wangchuan had heard this term.

The first time was when the mysterious and unpredictable Xu Tianluo spoke of it; before his death, he left behind a single sentence:

"Go to Foreign Lands... dispel the Black Mist, become the king of that Foreign Lands, and then... destroy the immortals..."

The unfinished mention of "immortal" could refer to the Immortal Court, or something else entirely.

After that incident, he consulted his Old Ancestor and was able to glimpse the tip of the iceberg behind the "Black Mist."

It was a strange place that even the Three Heavenly Emperors had never truly set foot in, and were even unwilling to easily come into contact with.

It not only devours life, but also comes with a terrifying rule—any cultivator from outside the realm who steps into this Foreign Lands will be corrupted by it, even without getting close to the Black Mist.

The higher one's cultivation level, the more intense the erosion one suffers.

It is precisely because of this formidable natural barrier that, although the Foreign Lands have no Heavenly Emperor to oversee them, they have always been able to establish themselves on the side of the Three Thousand Provinces and have never been completely conquered.

What's inside the Black Mist...?

Qin Wangchuan did not directly respond to the proposal to join forces, but instead asked a seemingly unrelated question.

Shatong was taken aback, clearly not expecting Qin Wangchuan to ask this.

He frowned, pondered for a moment, then shook his head, his tone carrying a calm acceptance of the unknown. "I don't know."

"Perhaps our ancestors knew, but the records have long been lost. Now... no one truly knows what lies within the Black Mist."

All I know is that it devours everything and brings despair.

Qin Wangchuan nodded, but he understood.

'He doesn't know. But I do.'

At this moment, Li Qingluan, who had been listening silently, trembled almost imperceptibly on her eyelashes.

A very subtle ripple flickered across her cool eyes.

She knew that too.

Another version of myself once said with absolute certainty, "Within the Black Mist lies [power]."

The key to seizing power lies in obtaining Lv Yingxin's help.

The thought flashed through her mind, but she didn't show it on her face.

Qin Wangchuan then recalled the simulation of the "Calamity of This World," which explicitly mentioned the [authority] within the Black Mist.

As for the specifics of this power, no one knows; perhaps only by truly lifting the Black Mist can we find out.

But one thing is certain: it's good stuff.

Something good that can turn everything upside down.

'His goal conflicts with my initial intention to eliminate the Foreign Lands threat, but... it shares some similarities with the ideals pursued by Sixth Brother.'

Qin Wangchuan pondered to himself.

His Sixth Brother, who was deeply in love with him, preferred this way of coexisting.

'Want to collaborate?'

Qin Wangchuan was not a pure idealist.

Although the vision depicted by Shatong is beautiful, the process is too long and there are too many variables.

He actually preferred a more efficient, but also more ruthless, path—

Suppress the Foreign Lands with absolute power, slaughter all those who resist, and forcibly bring the remaining Alien Race under the order of the Three Thousand Provinces, turning them into vassals rather than equal allies.

In this way, although there is no equality, "peace" can be achieved quickly.

However, Shatong's concept of equal coexistence, though naive, is also precious.

If someone is truly willing and able to work in this direction, he might be able to lend a hand.

With this in mind, Qin Wangchuan did not rush to make a promise.

He needed more intelligence, a deeper understanding of this Alien Race royal descendant, and the true power structure of this Foreign Lands.

So he shared this cautious idea with Shatong, which required time to observe and understand.

Unexpected.

Shatong didn't show disappointment; instead, his eyes lit up, he nodded emphatically, and even a smile appeared on his face.

"I knew it! You're different from those people, you understand!"

"It's okay, we can take it slowly."

"I can tell you everything about Foreign Lands, about the various King Sovereign, about my tribe and my ideals!"

So the three of them traveled together for a while.

Interestingly, Shatong talked about most along the way was not the dangers and conflicts of the Foreign Lands, but rather... the various aspects of the Three Thousand Provinces.

It's unclear how the topic veered off course, but once Shatong started talking, she couldn't stop.

He began to recount a small border town of Human Race that he had once visited by chance, and the hazy mist hanging under the eaves before dawn;

Then he spoke of a great river that flowed quietly under the moonlight, its surface strewn with shimmering silver fragments;

There are also those nameless wildflowers that bloom only in specific valleys in spring, their fragrance carried for miles on the wind...

His descriptions are meticulous, recalling many ordinary yet vivid details, and capturing the essence of everyday life.

His tone conveyed a genuine affection and fondness, which was by no means feigned.

This was the first time Qin Wangchuan had heard such sincere and passionate praise for the land beneath his feet from a member of an Alien Race.

'Shatong...'

As Qin Wangchuan looked at the bright-eyed, eloquent young man from another Alien Race beside him, the cold-blooded thought in his mind of "stopping killing with killing and suppressing with force" quietly softened.

' The Foreign Lands is not entirely populated by greedy and bloodthirsty villains; there are also fools like Shatong, who harbor bright hearts and cling to near-impossible ideals.'

While launching a war and resorting to violent suppression may seem like a quick and effective solution, it is ultimately a mistake.

But that would also bring endless bloodshed and fire to the Three Thousand Provinces, causing immense suffering and death.

'To dispel the Black Mist and resolve the root cause...' he murmured this goal. 'If this can truly achieve peace between the two realms, it seems... more worthwhile than simple conquest and suppression.'

At least, this Alien Race before him gave him a glimmer of another possibility.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

Recently, Prodigy of the Academy's most promising talents have gone missing. Although elders have been dispatched to investigate, progress has been slow and the clues remain elusive.

An elder, having heard that Yun Zexuan was meticulous and often had unexpected insights, personally approached him and explained that this matter concerned the foundation of the Academy and the safety of the younger generation.

I hope he can secretly assist in uncovering the truth.

Yun Zexuan had already found Spider Silk, but it was only through Qin Wangchuan's telepathic message that his suspicions were finally confirmed.

"Just as I guessed, this incident wasn't caused by one party alone." Yun Zexuan's eyes gleamed.

"Behind the disappearance of the Prodigy is the action of the mixed-race individuals, and behind the mixed-race individuals... stands Alien Race."

"With such a commotion, the Alien Race is definitely up to something."

This intelligence came at just the right time; it was like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

But what followed was deeper doubt.

Yun Zexuan muttered to himself, "But the question is, how did he know?"