Chapter 2368: History Revisited

He Lingchuan hurried over.

"Mingsha Forest is where the Red General and the Great Wind Army sacrificed themselves!"

Many mysteries surround the Red General's death. Back then, the Red General fell in battle, the Great Wind Army was annihilated, and Panlongcheng was driven to a dead end.

He suddenly understood.

"I've been here several times, but I never realized this was Mingsha Forest! Perhaps because that battle changed the landscape."

As they spoke, they had already entered the valley.

"This is the abnormal place!" He Lingchuan walked faster and faster. "In reality, Mingsha Forest is dozens of li from Panlongcheng—it's certainly not visible just outside the city gate."

But in the Panlong Secret Realm, it appears outside the city walls right after they collapse.

This isn't a hint—it's outright obvious.

Everywhere are saplings as thick as bowls, many trunks even growing faces—human-like, not quite human, but all with eyes closed.

This is Mist Valley!

After Na Luotian's avatar was devoured by Chaos, it was planted here as a tree. Later, He Lingchuan made a deal with Na Luotian and released this avatar.

He Lingchuan had been here several times, but he never imagined this place was actually Mingsha Forest!

Zhu Xiuer suddenly said: "Many trees here have withered."

The Mother Cave Spider's perception of forest health far exceeds that of humans. It raised a claw and lightly tapped a small tree, hearing a crack— the tree snapped.

It wasn't deliberately broken by it; rather: "The tree's core has long been withered, almost like dry firewood."

With this discovery, the three observed the surrounding trees and found that about fifteen or sixteen were already dead, or half-dead.

Dong Rui asked: "Was it like this before?"

He Lingchuan shook his head: "The Secret Realm has encountered trouble."

This is a new situation never seen before the Grand Vase Jar was closed!

"The Panlong Secret Realm is a transition from void to substance. Judging by the current situation, I'm afraid it's becoming increasingly..." He Lingchuan pondered his words, "unstable!"

The Panlong Secret Realm has been stable for over a hundred and fifty years—what caused it to suddenly change?

He Lingchuan thought for a moment, then strode toward the valley's center.

Passing through the forest where red mist drifted, the three soon reached the edge of a water pool.

This small puddle, or rather small pond, still exists, the water is full, as if unaffected by the Panlong Secret Realm's changes.

Seeing it still there, He Lingchuan breathed a little easier, leaned forward, and looked at the water surface.

This is the boundary between the Secret Realm and the Grand Vase Jar. He has countless times peered beneath the water, seeing the crimson silhouette of Chaos.

But this time he waited half a day and still saw no giant fish swim by.

The Blood Demon said: "Hey, the Great Heaven Pearl has changed."

The Great Heaven Pearl was used as a button on his robe, and the Blood Demon constantly touched it directly, so he was the first to notice its abnormality.

He Lingchuan lowered his head to look—and sure enough, the usually tranquil Great Heaven Pearl now had a pearlescent glow swirling on its surface.

What activated it?

Zhu Xiuer suddenly extended her forepaw and pointed at the water surface:

"Look at your reflection, look at the pearl in the water!"

The three's reflections in the water were all blurry and indistinct, like looking in a funhouse mirror. Only He Lingchuan's Great Heaven Pearl on his neck stood out in high definition—round and beautiful, with every wisp of pearlescent glow reflected.

Such an obvious difference in treatment is a hint. The three are all sharp—how could they not see it?

So the Great Heaven Pearl is the key? He Lingchuan casually unfastened the Great Heaven Pearl and gently placed it into the water pool.

The ripples from his action gradually faded, and the water surface became smooth as a mirror. This time the image was very clear, but it was not the three's reflections—it was another scene entirely!

A clear little river babbled along its way, but the shops on both banks were less than half open; people came and went along the riverbank, but all wore heavy expressions and hurried to and fro.

Dong Rui exclaimed: "Isn't this the place we were just at?"

"Yes, it's the Nancheng Gate Plaza." He Lingchuan was too familiar with the location in the water image—he recognized it at a glance. This is the small river behind the Waterfront Plaza, where lotuses bloom in summer, and also the water route Zhang Mr. uses to enter and exit the Library Pavilion.

But even through the water surface, he could feel the "Panlongcheng" atmosphere in the image—heavy and solemn, the economy depressed.

He had experienced this before. Combined with Panlongcheng's history, it was most likely due to war.

And although he could instantly recognize the water image as Panlongcheng's streets, the building layout differed somewhat from the Panlong World, appearing somewhat dilapidated, lacking the vibrant vitality of the Panlong World.

At this moment, several riders galloped along the riverbank, pedestrians hastily made way, and everyone bowed to the horsemen.

Dong Rui pointed at the lead rider and asked: "Who is this? He has great prestige."

He Lingchuan stared intently and replied without hesitation: "Zhong Shengguang, Zhong Zhi Du Shi."

The two beside him were slightly surprised, not expecting to instantly see the historically renowned Zhong Shengguang.

As for why He Lingchuan could recognize him at a glance, the two didn't bother to ask further. His connection with the Grand Vase Jar and Panlongcheng is known even to the Heavenly Demon Heavenly Palace—how could these companions possibly feel nothing?

What the image shows is the true history already vanished with the wind. This Zhong Shengguang appears more weathered than his Panlong World counterpart—his temples are already streaked with white, his cheeks hollow, deep grooves etched into his forehead. He Lingchuan knows him too well; seeing his expression, he knows Panlongcheng again faces imminent danger.

In true history, Panlongcheng failed to hold the Mao River Plains, thus losing the chance to expand and raise troops. Zhong Shengguang never went on to found a kingdom or crown himself king, but Panlongcheng remained remarkably resilient. He Lingchuan wonders what trouble the Commander has encountered this time.

Zhong Shengguang galloped along the riverbank into the river's inner bend—this is the very end of the riverside shops, already one hundred sixty or seventy zhang from the South Gate Plaza, having turned two corners, with little foot traffic and poorer business, but the advantage is spacious shops and tranquility.

Zhong Shengguang reached the last shop; its dark brown wooden door was ajar, with two signs hanging on it, the top one reading:

Divination, consecration, naming, sealing red envelopes.

The bottom sign:

Open for business today.

Seeing this, He Lingchuan frowned slightly.

He remembered this shop— in the Panlong World it sold dried fruits and mountain goods. He had accompanied Master Sun to browse here, knowing the backyard was a courtyard with racks drying various mountain products, so it usually smelled of various sour and fragrant aromas, occasionally with a hint of rot.

It certainly wasn't a divination shop.

Who would the shop owner be? At the moment Panlongcheng faces crisis, Zhong Shengguang came flying here— who exactly was he seeking?

The three of them were all curious upon seeing this.

Zhong Shengguang dismounted at the gate, handed the reins to the guard behind him, said "Wait here," and pushed the door open to enter.

He even casually took down the wooden sign on the door and hung it up properly on the reverse side.

On the back of the sign were also four characters:

Closed for the day.

Zhong Shengguang could hang up the closed sign without even looking, clearly indicating he was no mere regular here.