"Blessings." Nian Songyu snorted impatiently. "Don't you even have this bit of common sense?"
The rain poured down on them, but He Lingchuan instantly felt invigorated. It was as if his body was cleansed from the inside out, washing away accumulated filth and filling every muscle with energy.
The soldiers around him cheered in delight.
In Blackwater City, plagued by endless sandstorms, many residents suffered from respiratory and pulmonary ailments. Yet under this miraculous downpour, their ailments eased significantly, their breathing smoothened. Even old injuries, such as chronic joint pains and overworked tendons, silently healed, leaving their bodies light and unburdened.
The people turned to look at Sun Fuping with newfound reverence.
For most, the National Advisor was a distant figure, like a deity floating in the clouds. But now, having witnessed this miraculous display firsthand, soldiers and civilians alike fell to their knees, worshipping him as if he were a god.
Taking advantage of the moment, Sun Fuping declared his mission in a loud, clear voice, rallying the morale of his troops to the peak.
This was exactly the effect he desired.
Nian Songyu cast a glance at He Lingchuan. "Now, the ritual begins." He muttered, clearly intent on showing the "country bumpkins" a proper ceremony.
After the downpour subsided, the sky cleared, leaving everyone drenched to the bone. Water dripped steadily from their soaked clothes and muddy shoes, pooling into the ground below.
Sun Fuping raised his long staff again and tapped it against the ground. What happened next left everyone astonished:
Residual water was extracted from their clothes, dripping down to the ground.
Moreover, the puddles under each soldier's feet began to move, slithering like snakes toward the altar.
Atop the altar stood a massive crystal vat, about the size of two adults embracing. It was flawlessly transparent, allowing an unobstructed view of its contents.
The accumulated water, seemingly alive, defied gravity and climbed upward in a stream, pouring itself into the vat.
In no time, the vat was filled to the brim, the surface of the water almost level with its rim.
The ground outside Blackwater City's gates was trampled by thousands of feet, mixed with unrelenting wind and sand, making it impossible to gauge the filth embedded there. Yet the water collected in the vat was as clear as if distilled to perfection.
"Water that cannot be reclaimed!" He Lingchuan couldn't help but give Sun Fuping silent applause. Regardless of the man's character, this level of magical mastery was awe-inspiring.
A true National Advisor indeed lived up to the title.
"Each of you who marches into battle with me has contributed your fortune and luck into this vat," Sun Fuping announced, turning to Zeng Feixiong with an outstretched hand. "Hand me the Yuan Coin."
In Yuan Country, the Scepter of State was symbolized differently in each region. For government officials in Yuan Country, it was embodied as Yuan Coins.
Zeng Feixiong, having come prepared, promptly took out his Yuan Coin and handed it over.
It was a large copper coin inscribed with a faint blue swallow motif.
The weight and hue of the Yuan Coin were determined by several factors, not limited to rank and position. Judging by Zeng Feixiong's coin, he was merely an average vice-commander.
Sun Fuping frowned slightly. "This is insufficient." Without further explanation, he tossed the coin into the crystal vat.
Curiously, the coin didn't sink but floated steadily in the center of the vat. The previously calm water began to ripple, and the flow of energy intensified.
Under the streams of magical water, Zeng Feixiong's Yuan Coin darkened, its shade changing to a mix of deep blue and light green.
"Even with the entire troop's morale as support, it's barely enough," Sun Fuping muttered. He pulled out a cloth pouch from his robe, opened it to show He Chunhua and his group its contents, then tossed the entire bag into the vat.
The pouch contained half a sack of yellow sand, which wriggled and moved autonomously, even without being touched.
He Yue whispered under his breath, "Is that sand from the Panlong Desert during a wild sandstorm?"
He Chunhua nodded, his gaze fixed on the vat.
Entering the Panlong Desert during its storm season was a perilous gamble with death, and the He family had paid a hefty price to acquire this small sack of sand, retrieved from the outer reaches of the Red Cliff route.
Certainly not from the desert's core.
Yet as soon as the sandbag touched the water, the vat erupted into chaos. Bubbles surged to the surface as if the water had been brought to a boil.
He Lingchuan even saw flashes of lightning and heard faint thunderclaps.
The water quickly became turbid, with thick clouds of steam rising from it. The steam appeared in two distinct colors: deep blue and murky yellow with streaks of dark red.
The two colors intertwined, seemingly at war.
After just two rounds of conflict, the murky yellow steam emerged victorious, pinning its opponent to the water's surface as if crushing it beneath its weight.
The disparity in strength was clear.
Sun Fuping's face darkened. "This won't do. The rank is too low, and the source energy is too weak. Who else?"
He Chunhua's voice was strained. "Is this truly not enough?"
"Far from sufficient!" Sun Fuping snapped angrily. "Governor, do you have any alternatives?"
Braving the Panlong Desert during its storm season was a death sentence. No sane official or military officer would risk it unless utterly desperate.
Moreover, there were no other officials present of high rank—only—
He Lingchuan glanced sideways at Nian Songyu. "Can't he contribute?"
He regretted it the moment he spoke. His unfamiliarity with the world had betrayed him again.
Nian Songyu sneered, his gaze dripping with mockery. "This unit belongs to Blackwater City, not under Captain Nian's command. For him to access the unit's collective fortune, he'd need to either be transferred here or stripped of his status and reassigned by Governor He. Both require a royal decree."
A Xunzhou military officer could not command soldiers from Jinzhou.
—At least not under normal circumstances.
Sun Fuping leaned close to He Chunhua and whispered, "Going in like this is suicide. Either call off the operation or have a senior official from Blackwater City lead the charge."
That left only one person—Governor He Chunhua.
Life or career—what would he choose?
He Chunhua's expression shifted as he realized the trap he had walked into.
Yet even Zeng Feixiong and the other subordinates were staring at him expectantly.
He knew he couldn't afford to delay. With a heavy heart, he reached into his robe and produced his Yuan Coin. "Let's give it a try."
"Father!" He Yue shouted in alarm.
How had the situation turned so dire so quickly?
He Lingchuan pressed a hand over his father's, clutching the coin between their palms. "Don't act rashly, Dad! Now isn't the time for heroic sacrifices."
He Chunhua shook his hand free. "Calm down."
Beside them, Nian Songyu raised a thumbs-up. "Admirable loyalty, Governor He!"
Both He brothers glared daggers at him, silently accusing him of rushing the Governor into action.
Under the watchful eyes of all, He Chunhua took a deep breath and walked to the vat. With his own hand, he dropped his Yuan Coin into the swirling waters.
The coin was light green, several ranks higher than Zeng Feixiong's.
As the coin entered the vat, the water churned violently, releasing massive clouds of steam. This time, the vapor was predominantly yellow, streaked with a distinct brightness.
Even Sun Fuping let out a long "Hmm," surprised. "Jumped four ranks at once?"
Even with the troop's morale boosting its power, leaping from light green to proper yellow was an impressive feat, albeit temporary.
He Chunhua gave a bitter smile. "It seems I'm rather well-regarded."
He then turned to Sun Fuping. "If I lead the army on this expedition, what are the odds I'll make it back alive?"