Chapter 2272

"Living things are prone to illness," Zhu Xiuer said to the man-eating flower and Dong Rui, stating a fair point, "Even a man-eating flower is not invincible."

Even if it is not a living thing, it still requires regular maintenance, a principle He Lingchuan understands, but:

"Dong Rui should have produced the treatment prescription a month ago, yet he delayed until now, allowing the pathogen to spread from the leaves to the stems! Moreover, the spore ball in Chengxi malfunctioned this afternoon and cannot carry passengers."

Zhu Xiuer speculated: "Could it be that the passage is blocked by pollen again?"

"No," He Lingchuan also said, speechless, "Some idiot insisted on jumping out while the spore ball was in operation, got crushed into minced meat, and temporarily blocked the passage. If we don't clear it, we'll have to wait until the man-eating flower digests and absorbs him completely, which would at least halt operations until midnight."

Zhu Xiuer laughed: "Isn't that just what he deserved?"

Jumping into the man-eating flower's belly? Even if it were as curious as it is, it wouldn't do such a foolish thing.

At this moment, a palace maid rushed in from outside, knelt down, and reported:

"The Questioning Heart Tower requests your presence; there is an urgent matter."

The Questioning Heart Tower? This is the high tower in the northwest part of the Chixiao Golden Hall, used to store some secret documents, usually kept sealed, guarded by disciples of the Phantom Sect such as Lu Jing.

He Lingchuan felt a sudden chill down his back, and his heart also tightened.

A sudden impulse.

And a very bad premonition.

"Go!"

Zhu Xiuer threw down the wine jar and stood up: "I'm coming too."

He Lingchuan summoned the Hao Yuan Golden Mirror, and he and the spider entered together.

In the next instant, they stood before the Questioning Heart Tower.

"Your Majesty!" Lu Jing had already been waiting here, and upon seeing the two arrive through the mirror, he immediately bowed.

He Lingchuan strode into the tower, asking as he walked: "What is the matter?"

"The soul-fire lamp enshrined in the red niche at the top of the tower has been extinguished."

He Lingchuan's steps halted, and he abruptly turned his head: "What did you say?"

He is the Emperor of the Nine Abysses; even when his usual demeanor is affable, he possesses heavenly might, and this expression caused Lu Jing to feel an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him, making his chest constrict: "The soul-fire lamp..."

"Wait below." He Lingchuan threw down a sentence and strode up the tower.

Zhu Xiuer followed closely behind, and in just two breaths, the two had disappeared.

The Questioning Heart Tower is seven zhang and seven chi high, with seven levels, each level one zhang and one chi, each containing treasures.

However, the seventh level contains no treasures; instead, hundreds of small niches are carved into the wall, each holding a blue lamp.

The wind on the tower is strong, blowing through, but the blue lamps burn steadily, their flames motionless.

These are soul-lamps, each representing a human life, and thus naturally cannot be extinguished by ordinary wind.

But in the corner, there is a niche built of red bricks, inside which only a single blue lamp stands alone.

Now, this blue lamp has gone out.

The lamp holder is also cracked, with shards fallen to the ground.

He Lingchuan stared fixedly at this blue lamp, his face full of disbelief.

He rarely loses composure like this; Zhu Xiuer also stared at the lamp, feeling a chill: "Could this... not be Fang Canran's soul-lamp?"

It is also the first soul-lamp placed in the Questioning Heart Tower.

"Yes."

Inside the tower, there was a moment of silence, only the wind whimpering.

"Fang brother..." He Lingchuan closed his eyes, with difficulty saying, "Has passed away."

Soul-lamps do not make mistakes.

When the person lives, the lamp lives; when the person dies, the lamp goes out.

The existence of the soul-lamp serves to indicate the life or death of its master.

Over the past many years, Fang Canran wandered the world unharmed, scattering over eight thousand punishment dragon pillars across the territory of Shali Heaven.

This is a highly difficult technical task; scattering too fast or too slow is unacceptable.

But he accomplished it excellently.

During the great turmoil in the Divine Realm and the frequent occurrences of emperor's flowing broth, he made tremendous contributions.

He Lingchuan never expected to receive such a shocking piece of bad news on this mild evening breeze!

Zhu Xiuer asked: "Can we find out who the murderer is?"

"The soul-lamp can only indicate life or death." He Lingchuan's neck stiffened, and he weakly shook his head, "The lamp holder is cracked, indicating he committed suicide."

If the lamp goes out but the holder remains intact, it is murder;

If the lamp holder is broken, it is suicide.

Where Fang Canran went, he himself does not know. The human world is vast; who could know Fang Canran's fate?

In such a vast heaven and earth, such a tiny individual—if it is said to be gone, it is gone; who could investigate?

He took a deep breath: "Auntie, I want to be quiet for a while."

"Very well." Zhu Xiuer said considerately, "You... mourn in peace."

Having said that, it retreated lightly from the tower, leaving space for He Lingchuan alone.

As it left, the last glance it took saw He Lingchuan's solitary figure facing the wall full of soul-lamps.

It remembered He Lingchuan having recited a line: raising a cup to invite the bright moon, with his shadow making three.

But now, these lamps are about to illuminate his shadow until it disappears.

Even Zhu Xiuer, who is usually thick-skinned, couldn't help but want to sigh at this moment.

Alas!

He Lingchuan stood silently for a while, walked to the niche, and sat cross-legged facing the blue lamp.

It was just like countless times before, when he and Fang Canran sat opposite each other chatting.

The surrounding scenery suddenly changed—one moment it was the tower spire brushed by the evening wind, the next it was the quiet pavilion by the water, koi swimming in the pond, osmanthus fruits hanging from the trees.

Fang Canran sat opposite him, with a chessboard between them.

This game had already been going on for nearly half a year; each time they set it up, it lasted less than half an hour—either He Lingchuan had urgent matters, or Fang Canran received a message and had to leave, both being extremely busy people.

After placing a piece, He Lingchuan said: "Fang brother, you will soon depart on a long journey. If you pass through Shen State, I still have some influence there—I can lend you a hand."

Fang Canran stared at the chessboard, idly tapping his piece against the chess jar twice, and said casually: "No need. I'd rather do this alone, without dragging others into it."

Once the Heavenly Demon notices what he is about to do, it will surely provoke a frenzied pursuit and retaliation!

Therefore, the fewer people who know this secret, the better.

"The Heavenly Demon can gaze upon humans; its gaze turns into a red thread that locks onto a person, sensing their movements. This red thread is invisible to both demons and humans."

He Lingchuan warned him: "If the Heavenly Demon fixes its gaze on you, your whereabouts will be impossible to hide from them."

Fang Canran's purpose in this journey is to place the Punishing Dragon Pillars everywhere.

If the Heavenly Demon learns of his movements, it only needs to note where he has been to easily guess his little secret.

Fang Canran was moved: "The Heavenly Demon is cunning. Thank you, Brother He, for telling me—how can I break it?"

He Lingchuan then drew a horsetail whisk from his bosom: "The wooden handle of this whisk is made of Panlong wood grown in Panlong City, possessing the power to pierce the azure darkness. Carry it with you, and whenever you come into contact with the Heavenly Demon's followers, or visit any of their temples, do not forget to walk under the sunlight."

Fang Canran took it: "Under the sunlight?"

"If you are being watched by the Heavenly Demon, grasp this whisk and walk into the sunlight—you will then be able to see that red thread." He Lingchuan explained, "Just a light flick, and you can sweep the thread away. Then you will be safe."