Chapter 2413: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

"When that wretch is unhappy, he comes in and whips people." His flat tone mixed with deep resentment: "He's been especially frustrated these days, taking it out on us at the slightest provocation. Is this related to you?"

Ling Jinbao immediately said: "Of course not. His bad mood is his own business."

These two prisoners are truly pitiful, having to serve as the earth mother's punching bag even when there's nothing wrong.

Mingke Xianren pressed: "You said 'wretch'—are you referring to the Earth Mother, my lord?"

Liu Yisheng flipped his eyelids: "Earth Mother, my lord? You outsiders also call her 'Earth Mother, my lord'?"

As soon as he said that, the atmosphere froze.

Ling Jinbao puzzled: "What do you mean?"

"Stop pretending. If you were really cyclopes, why would I waste this much time talking to you?" Liu Yisheng spoke quickly: "That wretch's sharpness and viciousness exceed your imagination. No matter what you plan to do sneaking in here, you'd better hurry—there's a saying: die early, reincarnate early."

He naturally didn't know the purpose of these intruders, but held a pessimistic attitude.

Zhu Xiuer instantly looked toward He Lingchuan. The latter didn't beat around the bush: "You don't even know who we are, yet you lack confidence like this?"

"Who it is doesn't matter. I've been imprisoned here for thousands of years. Occasionally someone sneaks in to ask for information, then says they'll deal with that wretch. Among them, one or two would pat their chests and guarantee they're famous in later generations, having been through dangerous places countless times, and would surely take the Stone Heart!"

Liu Yisheng curled the corner of his mouth into a trace of mockery: "At first we believed them, still chatted with them in detail, then watched them leave full of hope. But not long after, the heads of these few 'saviors' would be held in that wretch's hand, flung in here for us to see!"

"Only later did I realize, this was all arranged intentionally by that wretch!"

Zhu Xiuer wondered: "Why?"

"He doesn't like our lifeless appearance. What's fun in tormenting the living dead? He needs us to ignite hope." Liu Yisheng spoke slowly: "When we fantasize about taking revenge, about gaining freedom, he personally crushes that hope. The more we despair and suffer, the happier and more satisfied he becomes."

He then pointed at Li Yun: "After doing this three times, Li Yun went mad."

Hope dashed again and again, the foreseeable future left only endless torment, boundless pain, even lacking the ability for self-liberation. Who wouldn't go mad living like this?

"How did you recognize us?" Hu Yingjiangjun gave the three's disguise, even Mingke Xianren thought it flawless.

This is a Mirage Horn, a treasure of Qianhuan True Person. If used properly, not to mention ordinary immortals, even a great nation's spiritual power might not detect it.

"Your disguise itself has no flaw, even mimicking the unique stench of cyclopes." The cyclopes' stench, among all demons, is very prominent, like salted fish left as ballast for days, "but the problem is, cyclopes are usually stupid and dull—how could they possibly spot three such clever ones at once?"

"……" Is this praise?

Liu Yisheng added: "If you were cyclopes, coming in you'd only press the golden sword, complete the mission—why would you chat with me so much?"

Only smart people have curiosity.

Ling Jinbao glanced at the golden sword: "Would you inform the Earth Mother?"

"Is it necessary?" Liu Yisheng countered: "Anyway, you'll die sooner or later. The number of intruders into Yujing City is unknown, but in the end they all meet the same fate."

He dared not harbor any hope.

"If you really think that way, why waste so much time talking with us?" He Lingchuan looked at him: "If you still want to see 'it' fall in your heart, then you still hold a sliver of hope. Anyway, you've been disappointed countless times—what's one more, right?"

Liu Yisheng fell silent for a few breaths: "You're very smart. Anyway, I'm idle here with nothing to do—ask away."

"Who exactly is the 'wretch' you mentioned, if not the Earth Mother?"

Liu Yisheng lightly inhaled, just saying this name felt pressured:

"His name is Shangguan Biao."

"After Sect Master Wang passed away, I and my fellow disciples disagreed, causing some tension—just evenly matched, neither could overcome the other. Shangguan Biao then offered advice, saying the contract between our sect and the mountain guardian spirit beast Earth Mother had some loopholes. According to the original contract, Earth Mother couldn't attack Changfeng Valley disciples, but if I slightly adjusted it, this clause could be avoided. At the time I was already at a disadvantage, somewhat anxious, and actually believed his advice. But I only wanted to release Earth Mother to intimidate my fellow disciples—who knew it would go berserk, devour them all, and no matter how I restrained it, it was useless. Later events, you probably already know."

He Lingchuan nodded, mercilessly: "Such a vast Xian Sect, actually bitten back by its mountain guardian spirit beast. Changfeng Valley's end is a great joke from ancient times."

"Somewhat anxious"—these four words perfectly explain the intensity of the infighting within Changfeng Valley.

"We racked our brains to death wondering why Earth Mother's temperament changed so drastically." Liu Yisheng spoke bitterly: "But after our souls were imprisoned in this screen, we finally saw Earth Mother walking in behind a person—Shangguan Biao."

"Really unexpected—turns out he's the mastermind behind the scenes!" Liu Yisheng chuckled: "During those hundreds of years in Changfeng Valley, his respect and enthusiasm toward senior sect members were all feigned; deep down he'd long hated us, constantly scheming how to doom Changfeng Valley! Until the three sects besieged Changfeng Valley, Earth Mother suffered heavy injuries, and his opportunity came."

Ling Jinbao pressed: "How could he control Earth Mother?"

"When Shangguan Biao was overjoyed and careless, he said he held Earth Mother's Stone Heart. So he makes Earth Mother say what he wants, and she says it; he makes her do what he wants, and she does it."

Mingke Xianren sought confirmation: "Rumors outside say Earth Mother's Stone Heart is hidden in the deepest part of Yujing City."

"Earth Mother indeed has a Stone Heart, which is her elemental core. When Changfeng Valley subdued Earth Mother as mountain guardian spirit beast, that contract was planted on this Stone Heart." Unfortunately, he altered it himself—otherwise Earth Mother couldn't have done anything to Changfeng Valley. Liu Yisheng closed his eyes: "As for where the Stone Heart is, do you think Shangguan Biao would tell me?"

"Such a world-ruining demon—where did he come from?" How did Changfeng Valley raise such an exceptional one?

"He was originally the son of a medicine merchant in Su City under Changfeng Valley's jurisdiction, his family had been in trade for generations, with some spare money. At the time our sect was at its peak, whether commoner or noble, everyone tried every means to send their children into Changfeng Valley for a bright future. Shangguan Biao enrolled at twelve, somewhat old but with decent talent, passed the assessment smoothly, and was thus taken into our sect."