Chapter 2380: The Earth Mother's True Form

The evergreen tree of the cultivation world, Changfeng Valley, had actually exited the stage just like that, in gloomy silence.

Amidst the world-shaking shock, people also said this was heavenly retribution; very few felt any pity.

After that, the Earth Mother, carrying the stationed Yujing City, entered the world and became a new primeval giant yaoguai. Immortals continuously went to challenge her, but without exception they all failed — either losing their lives in the Ghost City, or returning in defeat.

This data was too long, and the content too plentiful; Dong Rui read until his eyes were sore from rubbing: "It seems to mention that the Earth Mother's true form is a mountain range's heart?"

"Yes, it writes here that it experienced countless thunderbolts, and suddenly one morning awakened, becoming a spirit monster." In the ancient era, the mountain-guarding spirit beasts of immortal sects were usually subdued by great powers during their travels and brought back. "And it says that when the Earth Mother became a mountain-guarding spirit entity, she was extremely honest and kind."

"It's a stone, what bad intentions could it innately have?" Dong Rui scratched his head. "Then how did it become like it is today? Could it really have been influenced by what it saw and heard in Changfeng Valley? Tsk, just how bad must that sect's atmosphere have been, to dye even a piece of stone into this virtue?"

He Lingchuan pondered for a few breaths: "A mountain-guarding spirit beast turning on its master — for a major sect like Changfeng Valley, it's simply inconceivable."

Zhu Xiuer laughed: "The Heavenly Palace's main base, Mount Xushan, wasn't also hollowed out by Zhuoju? It even helped you burn down the Star-Plucking Tower and produced the Great Fanghu Lid."

Even one as strong as the Heavenly Palace capsized in the gutter.

He Lingchuan shook his head: "Specific matters require specific analysis. Which sect and its mountain-guarding spirit beast rely entirely on sentiment, with no methods? The Heavenly Palace also used the Mount Xushan Grand Array to control Zhuoju; if we hadn't shattered the array eye, how could Zhuoju have easily turned the tables? No matter how muddleheaded Changfeng Valley was, they wouldn't have failed to use methods to control the Earth Mother."

"Wasn't Changfeng Valley having a three-faction internal struggle at the time?" Dong Rui said offhandedly. "Maybe someone released its restrictions. Wanting the Earth Mother to deal with enemies for them, they'd have to offer some sincerity or benefits. Who knew this would be digging their own graves!"

"Makes sense." He Lingchuan then flipped the letter over. "However, these records are from too long ago; they cannot be fully trusted."

Information always gets more distorted the more it's passed on; these seven or eight thousand years of records surviving to now, who knows how many characters are still true.

There are still words on the back of the paper.

The back was shorter, only organizing a few legends.

One says the Earth Mother locked her own stone heart in the depths of Yujing City; this is also her vital point. Only by obtaining this stone heart can one truly defeat this monster.

Two, historically there have always been people trying to sneak into Yujing City to steal the heart, but without exception they all failed. This city is impregnable, and the Earth Mother's stone heart has always been safely hidden inside the city.

Legends like this are nothing uncommon. Zhu Xiuer finished reading and said: "Meaning, if we want to defeat the Earth Mother, we have to go get that stone heart?"

"This legend doesn't indicate a source; who spread it?" Du Shan had even specially marked it here: source unknown. He Lingchuan pondered: "Who would know that it hid its stone heart in the depths of Yujing City?"

"It can't be that the Earth Mother said it herself, right?" Dong Rui shrugged. "Everyone knows its true form is a mountain range's heart; that it hides its own vital point in the deepest part of the Ghost City — that's also very reasonable, no?"

"If this matter isn't clarified, the Earth Mother will be hard to deal with." Pure defense was absolutely not He Lingchuan's style. Besides, facing an opponent like the Earth Mother, passive defense would only be a dead end.

Not to mention, she still has the "Yangguan Dao" treasure on her; He Lingchuan's original purpose in chasing here this time was to not let it fall into the Heavenly Demon's hands.

Zhu Xiuer happened to ask him: "Hey, would the Earth Mother have already handed over the 'Yangguan Dao' to the Heavenly Demon?"

"No." This was Dong Rui snatching the answer. "Look at how both sides harbor ulterior motives; how could the Earth Mother possibly hand over what the other wants first? Speaking of which, the Earth Mother's greedy and suspicious nature really doesn't seem like an innate stone heart."

"Formerly honest and kind, later ferocious and cruel — two completely different yaoguai, hmm—" He Lingchuan murmured. "I always feel this data is missing some things."

Some important, directional things.

"That's for sure." Dong Rui took it for granted. "It's seven or eight thousand years ago; being able to draw out details would be the real miracle!"

"Look at what the Earth Mother has done these thousands of years — she's also single-mindedly growing stronger. She constantly devours ruins, making Yujing City stronger and stronger." He Lingchuan's gaze flickered slightly. "This approach is in the same lineage as the Changfeng Valley of that year."

"Ideals align, yet you say she wasn't corrupted?" Zhu Xiuer laughed. "The simpler the yaoguai, the easier it is for the mortal world to corrupt their Dao heart. After all, turning toward evil is far easier than turning toward good."

"Later, capture some more Yujing City yaoguai for interrogation, supplement a few more details." This data had insufficient analyzable content; He Lingchuan set it down and picked up the next letter.

Tsk, also densely packed full of two sheets of paper.

The more He Lingchuan read, the more heavy and solemn his expression became.

After a long while, he slowly set down the letter paper.

Zhu Xiuer asked him: "What's wrong?"

"Du Yun the Chief Envoy passed away some days ago; Lu Yongyan succeeded to the Chief Envoy position." He Lingchuan was also pondering.

Dong Rui interjected: "Wasn't that known those few days?"

The news of Du Yun the Chief Envoy's replacement, Du Shan had long since sent via flying transmission to the Nine Nether Great Emperor.

"Mei Wuniang managed to investigate the major secret the old Chief Envoy orally entrusted to Lu Yongyan, and escaped Mou Ren's pursuit and Nie Xiaolou's trap, only then delivering the intelligence to Du Shan's hands."

Dong Rui jumped in fright: "What? Even Nie Xiaolou made a move? Is Mei Wuniang alright?"

"Injured very heavily, but can recover." Having read Du Shan's letter, He Lingchuan was also deeply moved.

Du Shan's character and temperament, he understood better than anyone. This fellow saw through people's hearts, yet was himself almost truly a heart of iron and stone.

But from between the lines of this letter, He Lingchuan could sense that Du Shan's state of mind while writing had some fluctuations.

Mei Wuniang delivering these few pieces of intelligence was truly not easy.

That kind of battle in despair, few people have experienced and won.

Moreover, that was a one-person war, isolated and without aid.

He Lingchuan spoke word by word: "She investigated the hiding place of the Hidden God Monarch!"

Dong Rui's breathing grew light; Zhu Xiuer even cried out in alarm: "What! For real?"

"Under heaven, those who know this intelligence, besides the Heavenly Palace's Lu Yongyan and the rest, are only us."

Dong Rui clapped his hands: "Truly worthy of being a wheat seedling!"

He Lingchuan's eyes flashed with sharp light: "After resolving the Earth Mother trouble, we must rush to Yanxia Bay in the north of Song State!"

This intelligence was earth-shattering; he didn't plan to wait any longer.

Delay invites change.

If we can destroy the Hidden God Monarch's body, the Spirit Void Saint Venerable's large-scale divine descent plan will most likely be ruined!

This is a merit of heaven! He Lingchuan thinks about it and feels his heart surge with excitement.

But he immediately steadied his mind and said to Dong Rui: "The plan changes; time moves up again. You go out alone to gather intelligence; I'll stay to study the Secret Realm."