The incident began with a letter of indictment from Black Crow Mountain.
It accused Langlang Mountain of ambushing and killing seventeen Little Demons from Black Crow Mountain within their own territory.
The letter laid out the course of events and the reasons behind them in clear, exhaustive detail.
Regarding Langlang Mountain's actions, Black Crow Mountain stated its position: they would pursue accountability to the very end.
It ordered Langlang Mountain to pay three thousand Demon Stones in reparations, five Middle-grade Magical Artifacts, twenty Low-grade Magical Artifacts, three sets of Tier One Middle Grade Array Flags, ten Top-Grade Demon Talismans, thirty Middle-Grade Demon Talismans, one hundred bottles of Clearing Qi Pills, Qi Replenishing Pills...
All in all, the total compensation demanded was worth no less than ten thousand Demon Stones.
The wording was harsh and utterly domineering.
When the news broke, Langlang Mountain was shaken to its core. The Demon populace was enraged, clamoring for war.
Langlang Mountain's side immediately sent a swift reply.
They denied the ambush, believing Black Crow Mountain was fabricating the charges.
At the same time, they expressed severe dissatisfaction with Black Crow Mountain's baseless accusations and boorish behavior.
With this development, relations between Langlang Mountain and Black Crow Mountain immediately grew tense.
Xu Chang'an didn't know whether Langlang Mountain had actually ambushed Black Crow Mountain's Little Demons or not.
But he did know that, in terms of overall strength, Langlang Mountain was slightly weaker than Black Crow Mountain.
Moreover, Langlang Mountain's Foundation Establishment Great Demon, Jin Yuanba, had been severely injured in his early years and had been in seclusion to recuperate ever since.
It was rumored that Jin Yuanba's injuries were so severe that he was struggling just to maintain his Foundation Establishment Realm.
This rumor had suddenly started spreading across the mountain after the situation between the two mountains became tense.
There was no way to know if it was true.
However, it was a fact that Langlang Mountain's Foundation Establishment Great Demon hadn't made a single appearance in all these years.
'The conflict between the two mountains isn't just a simple matter of fighting.'
'There are also treacherous undercurrents, full of schemes and plots!'
Reality wasn't a novel. A war between two factions was not as simple as both sides gathering their forces for a big brawl to see who would come out on top.
True power struggles involved the overall coordination and allocation of resources.
The distribution of Demon Power, investment of resources, and strategic planning—not one could be overlooked!
Each was a profound and incredibly complex field of study.
Faction wars were fought not just with hard power, but with soft power as well!
It wasn't that simple!
Of course, power struggles could be simple at times.
That was when one side produced an expert who was so overwhelmingly powerful that their opponent had no answer, an individual who could crush the entire situation.
Someone who could cause the other side to simply collapse and disintegrate.
'Looks like the peaceful days are numbered.'
Xu Chang'an let out a long sigh.
Sure enough, just three days later, Langlang Mountain announced that, in response to the outraged cries of the Demon populace, it was officially declaring war on Black Crow Mountain!
When he first heard the news, Xu Chang'an was surprised.
'Could it be? Are the rumors about Langlang Mountain's Foundation Establishment Great Demon being seriously injured false?'
Otherwise, where would Langlang Mountain get the confidence to proactively declare war?
However, a day later, Xu Chang'an heard a secret piece of news from Xiong Da.
This news helped him understand the full story.
Two days prior, Black Crow Mountain had dispatched a Demon Army to attack Langlang Mountain's mining area.
'No wonder. Langlang Mountain had been so restrained in the face of Black Crow Mountain's previous provocations.'
'That was why the situation had remained relatively stable.'
'The reason they declared war so forcefully this time is that their bottom line was crossed!'
If Xu Chang'an hadn't known the reason for the war, he likely would have misjudged the true situation and made the wrong decision.
He would have assumed Langlang Mountain was acting from a position of strength by initiating the war.
In reality, Langlang Mountain was only declaring war because it didn't want the situation to spiral completely out of its control.
This declaration of war was an act of desperation!
Announcing it internally as a proactive strike was a way to rally the hearts of the demons and prevent the situation from worsening.
The difference in meaning between being proactive and being reactive was immense.
The importance of information channels was undeniable!
'In this conflict, Langlang Mountain is on the back foot.'
'Even without considering the Foundation Establishment Great Demon, their overall strength is weaker than Black Crow Mountain's.'
'The tides of war are treacherous and unpredictable; one can lose their life at any moment.'
'Especially when you're on the weaker side.'
'I can't join this fight!'
Xu Chang'an saw the conflict between the two mountains with perfect clarity; he wasn't about to be foolishly sent to his death as cannon fodder.
'If the war escalates, Langlang Mountain is bound to start conscripting internally.'
'Even though I'm just a Skills Demon in the Hundred Arts Peak's Alchemy Hall, I'm afraid I'll still be at risk of being drafted to the front lines.'
'In that case...'
A glint in his eyes, Xu Chang'an's mind raced.
...
An entry-level Alchemist from the Hundred Arts Peak's Alchemy Hall, a Mouse Demon of the Skills track, has applied for certification as a Low-grade Alchemist.
The news sent ripples through the Alchemy Hall.
This Mouse Demon had only been formally studying Alchemy Skills for less than five years.
From his initial studies, to becoming an Alchemy Apprentice, to becoming an entry-level Alchemist.
And now, he was applying for certification as a Low-grade Alchemist!
This Mouse Demon's progress was astonishingly fast!
The Mountain Goat Spirit who had first guided Xu Chang'an was also shocked when he heard the news and remained skeptical.
However, after Xu Chang'an successfully refined several batches of Tier One Low-grade Elixirs in a row, he no longer dared to doubt him.
He started calling Xu Chang'an a genius of the Alchemy Dao!
His star pupil!
In reality, Xu Chang'an's current Alchemy Skill was already approaching the Tier One Middle Grade level.
Not much different from the Mountain Goat Spirit's own level.
With plenty of free time, not to mention the high-level perspective from his memories and experience of reaching Core Formation in a past life, if he couldn't reach this level after spending nearly five years, Xu Chang'an might as well go and hang himself.
Now that the war between Langlang Mountain and Black Crow Mountain had begun, vast quantities of supplies were being gathered and prepared under the coordination of Elder Peak.
The many Alchemist Demons in the Alchemy Hall were naturally busy with Alchemy as well.
Normally, Xu Chang'an's certification as a Tier One Low-grade Alchemist would have been postponed.
But the Mountain Goat Spirit proactively took the lead, calling in quite a few favors.
He coordinated with several Middle-grade Alchemists from the Alchemy Hall to complete Xu Chang'an's certification as a Low-grade Alchemist!
Thus, just before the war between Langlang Mountain and Black Crow Mountain intensified, Xu Chang'an completed his certification as a Low-grade Alchemist.
The scheming involved was not worth mentioning!
"Thank you, Master, for making this happen."
Xu Chang'an bowed solemnly to the Mountain Goat Spirit before him.
"It was a small effort. Think nothing of it."
The Mountain Goat Spirit was no longer young, and his voice was a bit hoarse with age.
"Grey Rat, you are the most talented Demon I have ever mentored."
"I hope you will continue to advance and not squander such a gift."
"Remember, the Alchemy Dao is vast and boundless. You must never become arrogant or complacent!"
"Yes, this disciple will remember."
Xu Chang'an replied respectfully.
This wasn't just an act; he truly held a sense of respect for the elder before him.
"This 'Explication of the Alchemy Dao' is the accumulation of my life's experience."
"Take it back with you and study it carefully. If there's anything you don't understand, you can come and ask me anytime."
With that, a Book popped out of the Mountain Goat Spirit's Storage Bag.
Xu Chang'an put on a look of being overwhelmed by the favor.
He accepted the Book, thanking the spirit profusely.
The Mountain Goat Spirit had been born alone and helpless, with an ordinary Bloodline and aptitude.
He had grown up in an environment of constant setbacks and hardship.
In the end, through his own efforts, he specialized in the Alchemy Dao and achieved his current status.
Whether as a human or as a Demon, all beings have feelings.
This time, although there was scheming involved, Xu Chang'an was genuinely grateful.
...