Chapter 2356: Relic Devourer

The temple was especially quiet now.

He Chunhua entered, and the guards proactively closed the door, standing outside to guard.

The Crown Prince personally lit the incense and bowed before the statue of Naralotian: "Please, Divine One, resolve my doubts."

The voice of Naralotian echoed timely within the temple:

"You have come for the matter of the Panlong Wasteland?"

"The Divine One perceives even the finest details." Naralotian indeed knew!

"It is the Earth Mother eroding the Panlong Wasteland."

"Earth Mother?" He Chunhua heard this name for the first time, "Can the Divine One elaborate further?"

"The Earth Mother is a primordial great demon, dormant during the decline of spiritual energy, only awakening a few years ago." Naralotian said, "It came specifically for the Panlong relics."

He Chunhua frowned tightly: "But the Panlong Ancient City and the Great Square Vessel are united as one. Does it seek the Great Square Vessel?"

"That depends on the Earth Mother's capabilities." Naralotian paused, "The Earth Mother specializes in devouring various ancient relics and mineral veins. It is said it was originally the mountain guardian spirit beast of an ancient great sect, but after growing strong, it betrayed the sect and devoured all the immortals and cultivators within. The dragon clan once tried to intervene, but it comes and goes without trace, making it hard to capture."

A great demon that specializes in devouring relics? Such a thing actually exists in the world.

"Does it dwell in that ghost city?"

"Yes, with each relic it devours, it incorporates the relic's characteristics into its ghost city, enjoying them slowly as spoils of war."

Now even the heavenly gods are unwilling to provoke the Panlong relics—what scheme is this Earth Mother hatching?

Thinking this, He Chunhua suddenly felt something was off: "Huh, wasn't it asleep for many years? How would it know about the Panlong relics and the Great Square Vessel?"

"Naturally, someone—or rather, a god—told it." Naralotian chuckled hehe, "The Grand Void Holy One sent two heavenly gods to meet the Earth Mother, discussing cooperation. It seems the Earth Mother was persuaded, which is why it left Shaocheng."

The Earth Mother dealing with ruins—isn't that just professional expertise?

"Discussing cooperation?" He Chunhua's political intuition had always been sharp, "But if the Panlong relics are truly devoured by the Earth Mother, wouldn't the Great Square Vessel fall into its and the Void Gods' hands?"

This surely wouldn't be what Naralotian wants to see, would it?

"I said it already—then it depends on the Earth Mother's capabilities." Naralotian chuckled hoho, "Once it clashes with the Great Square Vessel, what harm could it do to us?"

For you, there is none, but this great battle erupting within Shen Guo's borders will greatly affect Heishuicheng and Shen Guo!

This remark, He Chunhua could only hold in his heart, while maintaining outward respect: "For so many years, no one has dared to entertain the thought of attacking the Great Square Vessel. Divine One, have the Void Gods seen some opportunity to exploit?"

"That is natural." Naralotian said, "All things have an end; do not assume the bond between the Panlong ruins and the Great Square Vessel is eternally unbreakable. The Grand Void Holy One acting now must be because a new opportunity has arisen."

A new opportunity? Could it be?

"Actually, I once thought this opportunity had already come, but I never expected it to be delayed until now."

He Chunhua felt a secret shock. So the demon gods have repeatedly tried and failed, yet still keep trying after repeated failures?

"Look, what is the Earth Mother's ghost city doing?"

"The darkening of the Panlong Wasteland is precisely the Earth Mother's advance. You and I both know the Panlong Wasteland and the Great Square Vessel are nearly united, and the Earth Mother seeks to first seize control of this land!"

The Panlong Ancient City still exists upon the wasteland. To devour it, the Earth Mother must first gradually encroach upon the opponent's territory, reducing their strength.

He Chunhua felt unwilling: "What should we do?"

"Do what you ought to do." Naralotian gave a gloomy smile, "The Void Gods and the Earth Mother are both untrustworthy; you must prepare thoroughly—more preparation is better, more speed is better."

Having spoken, the smoke and mist dispersed.

He Chunhua opened the doors and windows for ventilation, but his mind kept calculating.

The first thing that came to mind was his eldest son, He Lingchuan.

The relationship between the eldest son and the Great Square Vessel is quite special; now that the Panlong Wasteland suffers the Earth Mother's invasion, I wonder if the eldest son has received the news?

Also, what exactly has happened on the wasteland—will the Great Square Vessel truly be taken by the Earth Mother and the Void Gods?

For humanity, this is truly not good news.

Just as he stepped out of the temple, He Yue came toward him face-on, and upon seeing him, he hurriedly said: "Father, the Panlong Wasteland has changed; I wish to lead troops there!"

"You must not go; Youjun Shan happens to be nearby, I will station him at Heishuicheng, and the National Preceptor will also bring reinforcements." He Chunhua waved his hand, "The God of Fate has already commanded—full vigilance."

"Ah?" He Yue was startled, "Does the God of Fate know the origins and details?"

"The anomaly in the Panlong Wasteland is the divine power of the great demon 'Earth Mother.' The Void Gods have allied with it, seeking to seize the Great Square Vessel. The Panlong Wasteland will soon be unsettled; as Crown Prince, you are not permitted to lightly court danger!"

"Does the God of Fate have a plan?" He Yue had long known that Shalitian and the Void Gods are enemies in the divine realm—what reason would there be to watch the other side scheme for the Great Square Vessel and sit idly by?

He then thought again: "Huh, wait—have they perhaps reached some agreement?"

"That is beyond what you and I can know." He Chunhua inwardly thought it was likely eighty percent so, but outwardly still said he didn't know, "Why the rush? Is the Great Square Vessel so easy to take? The gods have coveted it for years, yet never succeeded."

He Yue scratched the back of his head, recalling his father's past setbacks at the Panlong relics, and couldn't help but say: "Should we send word to inform the elder brother?"

"Of course!" The relationship between the eldest son and the Great Square Vessel is peculiar—he certainly cannot stand idly by, though distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Still, Shen Guo ought to notify him: "Shangyan and we have long cooperated; this personnel matter must still be fulfilled."

Hearing him speak so righteously, He Yue rubbed his nose.

……

Returning to the old place, a different feeling arose in his heart.

He Lingchuan returned to the Panlong Desert, also for the first time riding a demonic bird to fly over, and for the first time looking down from high altitude upon the path he once took.

And now, man is no longer what he was.

At this time, the Panlong Desert nearly overlaps with the Panlong World, with grass growing, streams gathering, animals running, thick meadows stretching to the horizon, dotted with shrub clusters and small groves.

Once, those stubborn, solitary poplar trees in the desert now sway gently in the wind among the trees, nodding without haste.

At first glance, grass grows and hawks fly—human beauty—but before long, Dong Rui pointed at the ground and said:

"How did this become black earth?"

Zhu Xiuer looked further ahead: "The boundary between the black soil and yellow sand ahead is still emitting smoke."

He Lingchuan frowned, ordering the crane demon to circle nearby twice.

Thus, the three discovered that the black soil was gradually transforming—or rather, invading the wasteland—and doing so at great speed.