Chapter 12

"Please go ahead and report, how much does Daxia need you to provide?" Puchuan asked as he picked up his fountain pen and began to take notes.

"Daxia wishes to purchase sixty million tons of steel from our Kameda Country."

"Here in Italy, we have fifty million tons..."

The chief representatives of various countries reported the amounts requested by Daxia one after another.

After a long while, Puchuan put down his pen, looked at the numbers on the blank sheet of paper before him, and his expression grew complicated.

"In total, one billion five hundred million tons of steel."

"Furthermore, Daxia's move is definitely not arbitrary. These amounts correspond directly to our national strengths. To be frank with you all, as the world's hegemon in recent years, although our status has declined lately, Freedom Country's steel reserves still stand at one hundred and one million tons. Yet Daxia casually asked for one hundred million tons."

"The amounts requested from you also closely approach the total steel reserves in your respective national treasuries."

"What... exactly is Daxia trying to do?" Puchuan frowned deeply.

"Ha, do we even need to guess?" Kameda Country Chief Kameda sneered. "We were just discussing Daxia's motives!"

"They are just putting on a show!"

"First they hold a press conference to stir up panic, then they scour for resources, pretending to prepare for the descent of the gods!"

"If we believe them, we'll be led by the nose! Our national strength will be dragged down and ruined!"

"Therefore, Daxia's massive procurement of steel this time is just to keep up appearances for us! To force us to believe them!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the chief representatives of the other countries nodded one after another.

"Indeed."

"Daxia's wolfish ambition is clear at a glance."

"Heh, they're certainly putting a lot of effort into this performance."

Seeing that he had won agreement, Chief Kameda continued, "If you ask me, we should simply ignore them and see how they carry on the act by themselves."

"As long as we pay no attention to them and refuse to let them influence us."

"Then the only thing they will consume is their own national strength!"

"Besides, they must realize we couldn't possibly sell them this much steel; they just want to intensify our panic!"

For a moment, the high-ranking officials of various countries participating in the meeting nodded in agreement.

However, only John, the chief representative of Great Britain, shook his head slightly.

He flipped through the copy of *The Art of War* on the table, a gleam of wisdom flashing in his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "No."

"Chief Kameda's proposal is certainly a safe bet."

"But in my view, we should simply go ahead and sell the steel directly to Daxia!"

At these words, the entire room was stunned!

"What?!"

"Chief John, have you lost your mind?"

"Do you know how much steel Daxia is asking for? They want... practically the entirety of our countries' steel reserves!"

"Daxia claims it's to resist the gods, but if we give this steel to Daxia... heaven knows what they'll do with it! What if they use it to manufacture weapons and expand their military industry? Their military might will undoubtedly rise to a whole new level!"

"By then, we'll be in serious trouble!"

"You know what steel resources mean to a country, Chief John. Surely you aren't unaware?"

"If we really give it to Daxia, we'll be handing over our own resources for them to forge weapons and attack us with!"

For a moment, voices of opposition filled the meeting room.

John remained silent for a moment, waiting until everyone had calmed down somewhat before speaking in a low voice, "Gentlemen, I am well aware of the importance of steel resources to a nation."

"However."

"What if we demand that Daxia pay for it directly at international steel market prices with items of equivalent value? Even if we are willing to sell, can they afford to buy it?"

"They will undoubtedly have to pay an equally heavy price!"

"Besides, turning steel into weapons takes time."

"One billion five hundred million tons of steel... Heh, given Daxia's productivity, translating that into military might will probably take decades to consume!"

"Therefore, selling steel to Daxia will not bolster their military power in the short term. Instead, it will force Daxia to pay a devastating price!"

"As long as we unite, even with this batch of steel, they wouldn't dare initiate a war against us anytime soon!"

"If they insist on continuing their charade, then with the steel we sell them, they'll have to keep putting on the act, which will only drain their own national strength all the more."

"To take a step back."

"Chances are they won't even be able to afford it in the first place! In the end, they'll just be lifting a rock only to drop it on their own feet."

Puchuan was somewhat baffled and asked bluntly, "What on earth are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that if they cannot afford to pay an equivalent value, we will have a legitimate pretext to unite and launch a war against Daxia!" Chief John sneered. "By then, other nations and world public opinion won't be able to object."

"After all, as the old Daxia saying goes, debts must be repaid—it is only right and natural!"

"Even if they can afford it, their military strength won't experience a sudden leap in the short term; rather, their national power will be impaired as a result of purchasing this massive batch of steel."

"And as for us, even without vast steel reserves, our existing military might will not decline in the short term."

"We can likewise take advantage of this window to wage war against Daxia!"

At this point, John stood up with palpable excitement.

"Gentlemen."

"Steel can be produced anytime."

"But the opportunity to strike at Daxia presents itself only once!"

For a time, the high-ranking officials of the major powers present all fell silent.

After a long pause, Puchuan slowly tapped the desktop. "Gentlemen, let's proceed according to John's plan."

"Remember to warn Daxia that they must pay with resources of equivalent value."

"Otherwise, we do not rule out uniting to take military action!"

With that, Puchuan chuckled. "Heh, Daxia's little show is about to collapse under its own weight."

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Shang Weitian, the head of the Ministry of Commerce who had previously interacted with Lin Fan, was discussing something with Chen Yan.

Suddenly, his cell phone vibrated.

"Bzz, bzz..."

Shang Weitian immediately answered the call, exchanged a few words, and then looked at Chen Yan with great excitement. "The various countries have replied!"

"They have all agreed to sell steel to our country at international market prices! And the quantities have not been reduced at all!"

"Calculated this way, the one billion five hundred million tons of steel, combined with the five hundred million tons in our national reserves, fully satisfies the needs of the Steel Great Wall!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan's eyes widened instantly. "Really?"

"Really!"

"How strange." Although overjoyed, Chen Yan still found it hard to believe. "Why would those countries be willing to sell us so much steel?"

The surprise had simply come too abruptly.

Chapter 27: My Mercy, Buddha One had to know. Daxia had only just announced that the gods were about to descend. At such a time, other nations should have also taken notice and raised their guard; this was precisely the crucial moment for hoarding every available resource to prepare for the gods.

Every resource appeared infinitely precious at this juncture.

Especially steel resources!

Yet these countries were actually willing to sell to Daxia at market prices?

This left Chen Yan truly struggling to comprehend.

"Who knows? Maybe they want to help us? I had originally prepared several plans, but I never expected things to go this smoothly."

Shang Weitian was equally bewildered, finding it genuinely hard to understand why the high-ranking officials of those countries would agree...

Chen Yan fell silent for a long time. "It seems we wronged them before. The leadership of those countries are truly good people!"

Chen Yan was unaware of the malicious intentions harbored by John, Puchuan, and the others. In his view, this was self-sacrifice for the sake of others!

He had informed them that the gods were about to descend and told them to prepare quickly. Yet instead, they directly shipped their most precious steel resources to Daxia, disregarding their own safety to safeguard Daxia!

At a time like this, even blood brothers would find it hard to pull off such a touching gesture.

"They are truly, wholeheartedly helping our Daxia," Chen Yan sighed with emotion. Then, suddenly snapping back to attention, he strode rapidly toward the door. "Come with me to the Supreme Conference Room to see the Commander-in-Chief in person!"

"This matter must be reported to the Commander-in-Chief directly!"

Shang Weitian's expression also tightened as he briskly followed toward the door.

Meanwhile, inside the Supreme Conference Room.

The tables had been pushed aside, and everyone was seated on the floor, legs crossed in meditation, hands resting on their knees with palms turned upward.

Lin Fan was pressing his hands against the soft, supple lower back of Xingye—the young woman from the Moyin Starfall Sect—slowly releasing his God-Slaying Power to channel it into her body while carefully sensing the flow of her internal breath.

"Don't move around. Let me guide you." "Steady your mind, follow my lead, and guide the God-Slaying Power through the Fengchi, Fengfu, Yuzhen... you must commit these acupoints to memory. Run the God-Slaying Power through five major heavenly cycles each time, and then practice your Moyin cultivation technique." "Mm..." Feeling the scorching heat radiating from behind her, the young woman's pretty face hidden beneath her black veil flushed slightly. "Why has your body been trembling this whole time?" Lin Fan's expression suddenly tightened. "You don't have some sort of chronic internal injury, do you?" Lin Fan was well aware that due to years of practice, some practitioners of ancient martial arts were prone to hidden injuries. Although practicing the God-Slaying and Demon-Butchering Technique would gradually heal such ailments within them, time was currently of the essence! "If you have a hidden injury, just tell me. I'll help you..." Lin Fan said with a look of concern. However. "Mmh~" The young woman suddenly let out a soft, alluring moan. Her body trembled even more violently. "I—I don't have any hidden injuries..." the young woman murmured softly. "You're just pressing a bit too hard..." Lin Fan was slightly taken aback. His expression grew peculiar. He suddenly recalled a piece of gossip from the future. Xingye, the Guardian God of Daxia, possessed a highly sensitive constitution. Of course, this was a good thing; after all, a person with a sensitive constitution could keenly perceive changes in the environment—temperature, humidity, even the slightest movement of air could be captured effortlessly. Moreover, her nervous system's reaction speed far exceeded that of ordinary people, and her control over her own body was vastly superior. This made her ideally suited for the Moyin Starfall Sect, which was renowned for assassination. It was just that in certain other aspects, she was far more sensitive as well... Lin Fan weakly withdrew the hands he had been pressing against Xingye's soft, supple lower back, only to see Xingye stand up with a blushed face and whisper, "Commander-in-Chief, may I go back and change my pants first?" "Huh?" Lin Fan raised his head like a wooden block, asking curiously, "Why change your pants?" "They're wet..." Xingye was so embarrassed she could barely lift her head, her eyes brimming with moisture as she avoided looking directly at Lin Fan. "Ah." Lin Fan never expected Xingye to be quite so sensitive, so he quickly waved his hand. "Go and be quick about it. Remember the guidance I just gave you, and resume running the major heavenly cycles when you get back." "Mm." Xingye stood up with her head lowered and hurried out the door. The others took no notice of this, entirely absorbed in practicing the God-Slaying and Demon-Butchering Technique. They were, after all, inheritors of ancient martial arts. During their past cultivation, although they had failed to develop inner breath because there was no divine power drifting in the air, they had long since opened up their meridians. Now, upon practicing the God-Slaying and Demon-Butchering Technique, the divine power drifting in the air merged into their bodies, transforming into God-Slaying Power that filled their previously opened yet parched and empty meridians. This sensation was akin to sweet rain after a severe drought, or miraculous medicine for a long-term illness! The God-Slaying Power continuously grew and flowed within their meridians, granting them an unprecedented sense of power! It was also constantly nourishing their bodies, slowly healing the hidden injuries caused by excessive past training! "Is this... what the ancestors called inner breath?" Wang Hu asked himself, intently focused on his cultivation while excitedly clenching his fists. "This strength... I feel like I could punch a bull to death with a single blow!" "The ancestors did not deceive me!" "My boxing techniques used to be fierce, but compared to now, they were practically weak and powerless! This kind of power... perhaps we really can fight the gods?" Wang Hu, the inheritor of Xingyi Boxing, was filled with towering battle intent at this moment, wishing he could immediately engage the so-called gods in combat! Behind him, illusions of a roaring tiger, a spreading white crane, and a praying mantis stalking its prey flickered into existence from time to time. Even his large, rough hands occasionally transformed into tiger claws, crane wings, and mantis hooks. Until this very moment, Wang Hu had finally stepped across the threshold into the true mastery of Xingyi Boxing! Beside him, Master Beimin, the middle-aged monk, chanted sutras in a low voice while exerting himself to the utmost to run the God-Slaying and Demon-Butchering Technique under Lin Fan's guidance! Around his body, a faint illusion of a golden bell inverted itself, protecting him like an unbreakable shield. A ring of golden Buddhist light radiated from the top of his head, and a golden swastika slowly took shape behind him. Every inch of his skin looked as though it had been edged in gold, and the Vajra Subduing-Demon Staff resting across his lap shimmered with golden light, radiating the imposing aura of a demon subduer! He looked like a Buddha descended to earth! Despite years of Buddhist mental discipline, a wave of immense joy still managed to bring a smile to the lips of this ordinarily equanimous Master Beimin. At this moment, having obtained the God-Slaying Power—which was known in Buddhism as Buddha Qi— those once dry and tedious Buddhist martial arts, which had seemed of limited power, suddenly came alive! The Buddhist Golden Bell Shield! The Vajra Lion's Roar! The Immovable Myoo Body! The Vajra Subduing-Demon Staff! Merely sitting there, his presence was as heavy and solid as a mountain. "Amitabha." Master Beimin, whose body was increasingly suffused with Buddha Qi, felt the transcendent power within him and murmured softly, "My mercy, Buddha. This time, allow this poor monk to deliver the gods to salvation." It was not that Buddhism lacked mercy; there was also the wrath of the Vajra. Whoever dared to enter Daxia, even if they were gods, he would dare send them straight to the Western Paradise! Amitabha. This was the compassion of Buddhism, and the compassion of Daxia as well.

Chapter 28: Haoran Qi! Behind him, Dao Wanqian, the master of the Daoist Sect, sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, the illusion of an Yin-Yang Bagua disk condensing behind him and revolving in myriad ways. As black and white intertwined, the Daoist essence was boundless. Old Master looked as though he were veiled in clouds and mist, possessed of an indescribable immortal aura and a profound, unfathomable presence. Even Lin Fan couldn't help glancing over a few times, feeling a surge of astonishment. Dao Wanqian had only just begun practicing the God-Slaying and Demon-Butchering Technique, yet his aura had inexplicably become ethereal and unpredictable—so much so that even Lin Fan found it difficult to fully discern! One had to know: drawing upon his combat experience from his previous life, Lin Fan had spent two days pushing the God-Slaying and Demon-Butchering Technique to the Great Perfection of Rank Nine, leaving him just half a step away from the ultimate demigod realm! Half a step to demigod! With just a fraction more, Lin Fan could break through and become a true mortal demigod! Yet Old Master had only just started practicing the God-Slaying and Demon-Butchering Technique, absorbing the divine power drifting between heaven and earth—what the Daoist Sect often referred to as the essence of the sun and moon—into his body. It had to be said that Daxia's ancient martial arts truly possessed extraordinary qualities. And the Daoist Sect was indeed worthy of being the essence left behind by Daxia's ancestors. Even the gods could not afford to underestimate them. With the rotating Yin-Yang Bagua disk at his back, Old Master's aura flowed around him. His Daoist robe rippled without wind, his white beard drifted, and he seemed to merge completely with heaven and earth. The peach wood sword at his waist rose into the air of its own accord, continuously revolving around Old Master. The yellow paper talismans at his waist fluttered in the breeze, with hundreds of paper slips scattering outward to distribute themselves through the surrounding space, forming a protective barrier around Old Master of their own accord! Faintly, they formed a talisman array, utilizing Daoist array techniques to further gather the essence of the sun and moon drifting in the air, accelerating his cultivation! "This old man is truly shrewd..." Lin Fan's gaze was filled with admiration. Meanwhile, Mr. Mo Buzhi from the Confucian Sect was likewise sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed. The four treasures of the study—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—radiated an eerie luster as they hovered before him, the script on the paper unfolding. A thick, pitch-black ink-like aura coiled around him. Literary Qi transformed into ink! Mo Buzhi chanted in a low voice, reciting the classics of the sages. "The Master said: 'Shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it—this is knowledge.'" "The Master said: 'Is it not a pleasure to learn and apply what you have learned? Is it not delightful to have friends coming from afar? Is not one who remains unperturbed when misunderstood a superior man?'" "The Master said..." As he silently chanted in a low voice, pitch-black ink qi writhed behind him, transforming into individual characters that seemed to possess the authority of a heavenly decree! "He has already mastered the basics of using Haoran Qi to stir heaven and earth." "This fellow is quite the talent too." Lin Fan frowned slightly. He knew full well that when Confucian cultivation was pushed to its extreme, those scholars might look as though they lacked the strength to truss a chicken, yet with a single sentence they could stir the forces of heaven and earth, borrowing the power of the cosmos to slay enemies! In the past, Mo Buzhi had recited the poem, "Ten steps to slay a man, leaving no trace for a thousand miles," turning himself into a God of Slaughter who traversed a thousand miles in the blink of an eye. With ten steps taken, heaven and earth would crush a believer of the gods. After a thousand miles, he had single-handedly slaughtered a million-strong army of a god's believers down to the last man! It was just that... Back then, Mo Buzhi had started his cultivation far too late. Whereas now, watching Mo Buzhi, who had already begun mastering the use of Haoran Qi to guide heaven and earth, Lin Fan wore a smile on his lips. "In my past life, Mo Buzhi only began to make a name for himself in New Era Year 005. Most of the other ancient martial artists didn't realize that the divine power drifting in the air could be used to catalyze ancient martial arts until New Era Year 002 or 003." "And now." "The gods haven't even descended yet!" "These ancient martial artists are already starting to use God-Slaying Power to catalyze their martial arts!" "This time, Daxia has gotten ahead of the gods!" "History has finally begun to change from this very moment!" Lin Fan's heart surged with intense excitement. Because he had returned precisely to change history! He had once feared that he might be powerless to alter the course of history. But this time, though it was only an initial success, it at least proved that he could indeed change history! "Then next, let history change completely!" Just at that moment, "Tap, tap, tap!" Someone knocked on the door. "Xingye is back?" Lin Fan frowned slightly and walked briskly toward the door. Opening it, however, it wasn't Xingye, who had gone to change her pants. "Elder Chen, Shang Weitian?" Lin Fan looked at the two visibly excited men in some confusion. "Is something the matter? Shouldn't you two be preparing for the next phase of the plan to gather the steel resources?"