Chapter 2453: Another Goal of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor

Zhu Xiuer understood: "This is fighting oneself, called using the child's softness, uh..."

He Lingchuan focused entirely on shaking the small drum, with no time to speak.

Mingke Xianren continued: "Using the child's spear, attack the child's shield."

"About the same." Zhu Xiuer didn't quibble over details.

Taking advantage of the python's unresponsiveness, the paper crane fluttered several times and broke out of the gray-yellow cage in one go!

The sky was still blue, the mountains still green, and they had escaped.

The three turned back, seeing the giant python unwillingly opening its huge mouth toward them, but it could no longer reach.

Even from afar, this sandstone giant python was extraordinarily magnificent, surpassing mountain ranges.

Mingke Xianren's ability to ride the void was truly impressive, but this escape was mainly thanks to He Lingchuan's small drum.

He let out a long breath, raised the wave drum to look, and saw that the small mallet on the drum body had broken one, and the drum surface had two more cracks.

This was the magical artifact he snatched from Li Yun's hands, actually a portion of "ability" lent by the "Earth Mother" in the Secret Realm to Longfeng Valley, which naturally possessed earth-controlling power.

The Secret Realm's master suddenly activated the Earth Mother's power, using the sandstone giant python to ambush them, while He Lingchuan used the wave drum to seize the python's control with the Earth Mother's power!

This was a clash of the same-origin powers, except the former existed in the "present," while the latter existed in the "past," and their simultaneous appearance in this Secret Realm created a bug, instantly stunning the sandstone giant python, unsure whose command to follow.

He Lingchuan didn't truly expect it to obey him, only needing it to temporarily ignore the Secret Realm master's commands, giving the three a space to escape.

Zhu Xiuer suddenly said: "Quick, look at the ground!"

Mingke Xianren, having learned from previous lessons, let the paper crane fly very high, but when the two looked down, no matter where the paper crane flew, the lush surface of Duzhi Mountain looked as if plowed, with earth and rock churning, stone figures crawling out one after another, chasing toward the paper crane's direction.

Looking further back, the sandstone giant python was sinking into the ground, yet its pair of giant eyes stared toward the paper crane's direction, flicking out tongues with ill intent.

The three had no doubt that once they landed, this big fellow would leap up again and give them a surprise.

Moreover, there was actually another group of pursuers behind:

Longfeng Valley!

Mingke Xianren piloted the flying vessel at full speed, striving to shake off the pursuers, while saying to his two companions:

"It's time to go out!"

Since the mission to probe the Earth Mother's nest had failed, staying longer was meaningless; better to leave the Secret Realm early, and also coordinate with Lingshan's actions.

The personnel Lingshan dispatched this time were not bad; the leading few Xianren all led small teams to infiltrate Yujing City, causing the striking force on the front battlefield of Sihai True Person to weaken. These Tiger Wing General and Earth Cave Spider Empress are strong hands; once they return to the front battlefield, our side will gain great strengthening.

He Lingchuan, however, said: "Not urgent."

This was the second time he had said these two words since entering the Duzhi Mountain Secret Realm.

If anyone else said this, Mingke Xianren would only curse "Get lost," but this time he had to suppress his temper and ask:

"Why?"

"There's still one thing unfinished; we need a bit more time."

"How much longer?"

Even the Blood Demon reminded: "Hey hey, Shangguan Biao outside is invading and devouring the new Secret Realm you created; you really don't need to bother with it?"

He Lingchuan actually couldn't give a definite answer: "Hard to say."

"..." Even Zhu Xiuer couldn't help but stare at him.

Rare indeed, rare indeed, the Nine Abysses Great Emperor rarely speaks and acts so off-track.

"You..." Mingke Xianren didn't know what to say, "What exactly do you still want to do!"

He Lingchuan's eyes flickered slightly, first setting up a soundproof barrier, enveloping this small space on the back of the flying crane:

"Although the Earth Mother's essence cannot be found, our entering the Duzhi Mountain Secret Realm actually still has one untouched goal. As long as we defeat it, this journey remains complete."

Mingke Xianren and Zhu Xiuer spoke in unison: "What?"

"Shangguan Biao himself." He Lingchuan immediately added, "I mean the master of this Secret Realm."

"What do you mean, you think the Secret Realm master is also here?" Mingke Xianren pointed downward, "Also in Duzhi Mountain?!"

"Exactly." He Lingchuan said solemnly, "The one commanding troops and fighting Lingshan outside is merely a wisp of Shangguan Biao's avatar. His true body should be hidden within this Duzhi Mountain Secret Realm!"

"Why?"

"This Secret Realm, even the monsters of Yujing City don't know of its existence. In fact, it's not really the Duzhi Mountain Secret Realm at all, but the 'Flowing Light' Secret Realm of Wang Ye Wang, the sect master! Only here can that Wind Dew Golden Lotus and other herbs continue to grow!"

The herbs in the medicine field were growing vigorously; He Lingchuan and Mingke Xianren had secretly plucked a few, discovering they were genuine and worth their price.

But according to Liu Yisheng's earlier words, in such so-called "Time Cut" Secret Realms, time is basically stagnant, and the Secret Realm merely presents a fragment of spacetime.

In such a Secret Realm, how could real herbs possibly grow?

— Except for the "Flowing Light" Secret Realm created by Wang Ye.

There, time flows, able to grant living things the power to grow.

Only such a Secret Realm can place the Wind Dew Golden Lotus.

"Those qualified to reside in the 'Flowing Light' are only the true masters of Yujing City!" He Lingchuan glanced ahead, "The Wind Dew Golden Lotus can soothe the Earth Mother's emotions, so it must be placed around its stone heart. Thus, the golden lotus, stone heart, and Shangguan Biao won't be far apart; the best solution is to have all three in one Secret Realm."

"Moreover, the one who controlled the sandstone giant python earlier was also the Earth Mother's power. But the monsters of Yujing City, not a single one appeared here. Why didn't the Secret Realm master let his own subordinates enter this Secret Realm? Even the screen Secret Realm stationed at Longfeng Valley's garrison allows ordinary monsters to approach."

Zhu Xiuer understood: "The true body of 'Shangguan Biao' is here, so he doesn't dare let any monster know, nor let any monster enter?"

"He himself knows these subordinates are all no good birds. Once they discover his weakness, endless calamity will follow." He Lingchuan analyzed, "Given Shangguan Biao's nature, he will never trust others, nor share precious things with people. The Secret Realms he treasures are mostly related to his own weal and woe. And such Secret Realms are certainly not many in Yujing City."

Managing monster groups is difficult; this point Liu Qingdao has the most say in.

Mingke Xianren frowned: "Even if the Secret Realm master is truly here, he could be playing any role, possibly the first gardener we met upon entering the mountain, possibly any random laborer coming to watch the fun, maybe even Li Yun or that surnamed Xu! You say, where should we start looking?"

Is this search difficulty not greater than finding the Earth Mother's essence?

He Lingchuan shook his head: "Not them."

His tone was unusually certain.

(End of Chapter)