Chapter 159 Behind the Curtain (Part )

"Why is our Shu Kingdom always so passive? Is it because we advocate peace? Or is it because our Shu Kingdom is too weak? No."

Under Wang Yao's focused gaze, Zhuge Liang's blue eyes were shining with brilliance.

"It's just because the land under our feet is already barren!"

Wang Yao's shoulders trembled slightly. This answer was unexpected, and he couldn't help but ask subconsciously: "Wait, what does this have to do with land?"

Zhuge Liang raised his head, looking feebly at the beam on the top of the tent like an old man in his twilight years: "War is not something that can be started casually. The party that initiates the war often needs to pay a great price, that is, consume a huge amount of energy, to open the dimensional channel connecting to the canyon battlefield."

At this point, Zhuge Liang looked at Wang Yao again and said, "You have been to the Canyon Battlefield, but do you know where it is?"

As Wang Yao stared in confusion, Zhuge Liang raised a finger with a strange look on his face and pointed to the top of his head calmly: "It's floating in the air."

“Isn’t that a bit ridiculous?”

"Whether you believe it or not, this is a fact that I have seen with my own eyes. Above this King's Continent, there are two canyon battlefields suspended in the sky. One is called the Eastern Canyon, and the other is right above us, the Western Canyon."

After a pause, Zhuge Liang continued, "For many years, I have been devoted to studying various ancient documents. According to vague records, in the past, some kind of super-intelligent entity created two canyons in the east and west in order to avoid the dangerous demon zone. Their original purpose was to serve as a transit station for the transmission matrix, so that people at that time could safely cross the demon zone for international exchanges."

At this point, Zhuge Liang sighed slightly: "But as time goes by, the Canyon Battlefield has gradually been seized by later heroes. Today, it has become a tool for those ambitious overlords to wantonly launch aggressive wars. As long as they consume enough energy, they can connect their own transmission matrix to the Canyon Battlefield and open a dimensional channel to the enemy. In order to resist the invasion, there has been this Canyon War that has lasted for thousands of years."

Wang Yao reviewed Zhuge Liang's words and roughly understood the origin and purpose of the Canyon Battlefield. He then asked, "What do you have to do with the land under our feet after you said so much?"

"Because the energy needed to open the Canyon Battlefield is the life of the earth, that is, the energy crystal set inside the defense tower!"

Zhuge Liang suddenly smiled, but it was a creepy and cold smile.

"The so-called energy crystal is actually a collection of energy extracted from the land beneath our feet. It is both the essence of the earth and the source of life. This collection of energy can be used by our heroes, provide almost unlimited firepower for defense towers, and open passages to the canyon battlefield. It is a non-renewable resource that is countless times more precious than gold."

Hearing this, Wang Yao's face suddenly turned pale: "Cannot be reproduced?"

"That's right." Although Zhuge Liang was slightly surprised as to why Wang Yao could understand the term "non-renewable" seen in ancient documents, he did not ask more questions because it was not important.

"Energy crystals are the source of life. Uncontrolled extraction and consumption is equivalent to depriving the earth of its lifespan. Once the energy is exhausted, the land beneath our feet will die and eventually become a desert, making it impossible to survive."

Wang Yao was silent.

He could particularly understand Zhuge Liang's vivid description, because in the 21st century, such global problems also exist nakedly.

"Now you know why the defense towers standing in the canyon are so important? Why will the war never stop? The problem lies in these non-renewable energy crystals. Our heroes need them, and the land under our feet needs them even more. The seemingly meaningless canyon war is actually a fight between the enemy and us to seize each other's living space. The strong survive and the weak perish. Look at the map of the King's Continent. Do you know how many glorious civilizations are hidden under the desert that covers two-thirds of the area?"

Zhuge Liang leaned weakly on the back of his chair, as if he was unable to straighten his back due to the cruel law of survival.

"For so many years, the war has never stopped. The energy content of this land under our feet has long been depleted due to the ravages of war. Shu Kingdom can no longer afford the consumption of actively launching a war, so it can only accept it passively, because the fighting party needs to consume very few energy crystals. But even so, in recent times, I can still clearly feel that the earth is gradually drying up." Zhuge Liang stopped talking, with obvious worry on his haggard face.

Wang Yao was speechless. He didn't know why. He suddenly remembered the skyrocketing prices of vegetables when he went to the market this morning. Perhaps there was a reason for the price increase.
Thinking of this, Wang Yao asked: "Why don't the soldiers know about these things? Why not make it public and let the soldiers fight for survival, wouldn't it be better..."

"You are too idealistic!" Zhuge Liang interrupted decisively, "Do you think that this alone can infinitely enhance the fighting spirit of the soldiers? No, they are short-sighted and will only be afraid and doubtful. They are afraid that the life of the earth can be extracted, and they doubt why the heroes consume the energy crystals they rely on for survival. At that time, not only will the order be in chaos, but everything will become uncontrollable."

"Haha." Wang Yao suddenly laughed sneerly: "In the final analysis, it's because you heroes are selfish and deliberately concealed the facts in order to shirk responsibility."

When everything became clear, Wang Yao thought of Jixia, the place that required heroes to take looted energy crystals to provide upgrades. What did the rulers there want to do by collecting energy crystals?

So Wang Yaocai sneered.

Facing Wang Yao's ridicule, Zhuge Liang remained calm, with a haggard face, and said calmly: "Believe me, this world is not as dark as you believe. Many seemingly shameless means actually have unspeakable difficulties. You are just too young and don't know what we will face in the future."

At this moment, Zhuge Liang seemed to have aged in an instant. The brilliance in his blue eyes began to fade, and his breathing gradually became rapid, as if he was enduring some heart-wrenching pain.

However, in Wang Yao's opinion, Zhuge Liang's words were vague and ambiguous. Rather than clarifying his position, it was more of an excuse for sophistry. He snorted in dissatisfaction.

But Zhuge Liang seemed to have anticipated that Wang Yao would definitely not accept it, so he interrupted and said, "Alright, this meaningless argument is just a waste of time, you can leave now."

As he spoke, Zhuge Liang waved his hand weakly and rubbed his temples with his fingers. He did not seem to be worried that Wang Yao would spread the news.

Wang Yao still stood there.

"Is there anything else?" Zhuge Liang supported his forehead with his palm, and a weak voice came from his lowered face.

"You just arranged heroes to guard three routes, but there seems to be no place for you?" Wang Yao asked expressionlessly.

The dim tent was silent for a long time.

"I don't need to go at all."

A hollow voice sounded, and Zhuge Liang slowly raised his head. His thin and pale face had a pair of dull, lifeless blue eyes, like the pupils of a dead person, without the slightest sense of focus.

"This battle between Shu and Wei will definitely end in a draw!"

After the soldier with a look of doubt and uncertainty left the tent, everything returned to normal.

But the heavy breathing became heavier and heavier, like a suffocating person who tried desperately to breathe but couldn't get any oxygen.

In a place where no one noticed, the man in blue and white armor suddenly seemed to have finally reached his limit, his upper body fell heavily on the table in front of him, and he completely fainted.
(End of this chapter)