Chapter 2474: The Vast World Offers No Refuge

"For many years, you have been inseparable from Yujing City," Shangguan Biao said, pointing a finger at He Lingchuan. "Yujing City has also swallowed his Panlong Ancient City—just that alone means he will not let you go."

He Lingchuan had just said he would not force the Earth Mother, and Shangguan Biao came right after to undermine him.

"Among all living things born of heaven and earth, which does not yearn for freedom?" He Lingchuan thrust his spear into the man's mouth. "Earth Mother, you only need to return Panlong Ancient City to its original place and let it recover as much as possible, and I will never blame you."

Yujing City can swallow relics, and it can also spit them out. Otherwise, over all these past years, Yujing City would have eaten every relic it encountered, and its size would be ten times more bloated than it is now.

The Blood Demon then said: "But the Heavenly Demon will not let you go."

This was the second time they had mentioned the Heavenly Demon. The Earth Mother rumbled in a muffled voice: "I hid myself in the Earth's Heart Volcano, refusing to take part in worldly strife—is that not enough?"

Changfeng Valley has already been destroyed. If it could reclaim its own Stone Heart, it would thereafter wander freely between heaven and earth, never again having to deal with these ill-intentioned beings.

"With Yujing City on your back, you can go anywhere. In this day and age, such a talent is exceedingly precious." He Lingchuan spoke solemnly. "It is a mobile fortress, and also a divine instrument of military logistics. In an age of great contention, what is contested is initiative, and also means. You will find it hard to keep to yourself."

Any leader of a human state can see the immense war potential in the Earth Mother's body! This is no secret at all.

He Lingchuan pointed at Shangguan Biao: "Even if Yujing City is under his control, the Heavenly Demon still harbors designs on him. Even if, after retreating ten thousand steps, he could defeat everyone here, he would still find it hard to meet a good end! For bearing Yujing City is his greatest original sin."

Shangguan Biao slashed with his twin blades, yet strangely offered no rebuttal.

The Blood Demon interjected again: "Do you know the Hidden God Sovereign?"

"I have heard of it—it is the overlord of the sea." As fellow ancient beings, only the Earth Mother could say such a thing: "It is not older than I."

"The Hidden God Sovereign has always lurked in the deep sea, keeping to itself and not taking part in the war between immortals and demons. But a few years ago, it was defeated by the Heavenly Demon Jia Lou Tian, its body used as a breeding vessel for demonic puppet beasts, bringing endless calamity." The Blood Demon chuckled twice. "Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, as long as this shell of yours is useful to the Heavenly Demon, they will dig you out from heaven to earth."

The Earth Mother remained silent.

"It originally was just like you—living alone, disliking involvement in any faction's struggles." The Blood Demon continued, "But in an age of great contention, even if we have no intention to join the fray, we will unconsciously be drawn in. The Heavenly Demon approaches; this world no longer has an inch of pure land! Whether you are willing or not, in the end you cannot keep to yourself."

"So even a demon like you has pledged allegiance to humanity?" The Earth Mother had long seen through what the Blood Demon truly was.

"The times have changed, and individual power has become ever more insignificant. Even these immortals before you are all backed by great trees. The three great powers of the present age are Bekka, Mu State, and Cangyan. And the founding emperor of Cangyan—" the Blood Demon boomed, "is none other than the one standing before you now."

At this very moment, only by directly revealing his identity as the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses to the Earth Mother, and showing that the invitation comes from Cangyan, would it carry due weight.

"You blow your own horn too big, but aren't afraid of being punctured by a single needle?" Shangguan Biao sneered. "I see no chance of victory in you at all, with your paltry methods—how dare you style yourself a reborn Dragon God?"

He pointed his blade tip at the Earth Mother: "Big fellow, you have also seen the Dragon God with your own eyes—do you really think this brat is the Dragon God reborn? Do you really think he is worthy of the Dragon God's might and ability?"

The Earth Mother, going along, glanced at He Lingchuan.

This human is indeed quite formidable, however, he is not like it.

Not even a bit like the Dragon God.

How mighty the Dragon God is—just a lift of the hand or a step forward can destroy heaven and earth. If the person before you had such ability, then Yujing City, Shangguan Biao—none of that would be beyond a single gesture to destroy.

So, is he truly the fraud that Shangguan Biao said he is?

Did it, upon waking, mistakenly place its hope of escape in the hands of a fraud?

"The Dragon God fell upon colliding with the Tianluo Star, but it also seized the opportunity to merge with the Heavenly Dao, leaving behind for the world a new power and law, to serve as a tool for later generations to resist the Heavenly Demon!" He Lingchuan spoke solemnly. "Think carefully—why do Shangguan Biao and the Heavenly Demon both come to seize Panlong Ancient City? Because this power is in my hands, within the Panlong Secret Realm! If you do not join forces with me, not only will you be resealed, but you will also plunge this world into endless war!"

He first emphasized that he too is a victim, targeted by two bandits.

Then he told the Earth Mother of the necessity to resist Shangguan Biao.

At least these two major points are quite certain—do the other minor details still matter so much?

"He is able to imprison you and faintly tower over you because he is using his own power in this void, combined with your Stone Heart's power. Shangguan Biao's own strength needs no doubt—relying solely on the remaining half of your strength, resisting him is extraordinarily difficult. This is Shangguan Biao's confidence in controlling you!" He Lingchuan spoke rapidly, "Only after I enter the fray do you gain a chance to defeat him!"

Shangguan Biao gave a strange laugh: "Wait until I throw you into the heart-fire, then see how the reborn Dragon God is refined!"

"You say you are the Lord of Cangyan?" the Earth Mother asked He Lingchuan, then strained to shift a Secret Realm. "I just heard those immortals inside Yujing City say that Bekka is the Heavenly Demon's lackey, Mu State relies on Ling Mountain—what, then, do you Cangyan have to rely on?"

"Bekka has demons behind it, Mu State has immortals behind it." He Lingchuan dodged a pickaxe strike from Shangguan Biao. "We of Cangyan have someone behind us."

"People?" The Earth Mother was visibly puzzled.

What is so great about people?

The Blood Demon added: "The world's laws have undergone drastic change, which is very beneficial to human states—the newly arisen power can stand equal to immortals and demons."

Convincing a stone-headed blockhead is no easy task—even the Blood Demon has to personally get involved.

Shangguan Biao mocked: "He is deceiving you! When have you ever heard that mere mortals can stand shoulder to shoulder with immortals?"

As his words fell, several stone men burst from the ground, varying in height and build, each with different weapons, all coming to surround He Lingchuan.

One of them was thin and wiry, the whip in his hand dancing like a spirit snake—no, the whip's tip was actually a snake head that could spit out its tongue!

He first dipped the whip into Lei Chi, so that every lash carried the power of thunder and lightning, letting the Blood Demon struggle to keep up. When the time came to swing, the whip danced into a storm of violent wind and sudden rain, coordinating seamlessly with the other clones.

He Lingchuan could not avoid it, so he could only raise his right arm to take the blow head-on.

With a crack, it hurt so much that even his soul trembled. The armguard of the Qi Long Battle Armor was also struck with a deep dent, which only slowly recovered afterward.

But by enduring this injury, He Lingchuan also blew apart two of Shangguan Biao's clones.

He dared not use his full strength, fearing he would harm the Earth Mother too severely.

"What use is that?" Shangguan Biao said contemptuously. "You cannot kill me at all—you are only helping me give the Earth Mother a good thrashing."