Chapter 2624: The Vanishing Mist

The leader of Yada Island is a close aide of the Sea Emperor; taking down Yada Island is Cangyan's reciprocal courtesy to the Sea Emperor.

Moreover, the terrain of the Yada Archipelago is very suitable for the Earth Mother to exert her power.

After this battle, the world will know that Cangyan possesses unmatched overseas mobile forces, not only coming and going without a trace, but also able to descend like divine soldiers, striking anyone without warning!

At most half a year later, Cangyan's capital city Jucheng will again see the grand spectacle of all nations coming to court.

Of course, the Earth Mother does not understand statecraft, nor does she care about these matters; she pointed at the mirage in the midair and said to He Lingchuan:

"I surfaced and just settled down when this thing appeared. It looks too much like the city inside your Secret Realm, but there are living people both inside and outside the city. What is going on?"

It naturally noticed that the city in the mirage bears too close a resemblance to the gate of Panlong Ancient City—it is practically the same city!

The difference? Simply put, it's just a matter of whether there are people or not.

Although it is a mirage in midair, it actually looks more lively.

"Isn't it on your back? I was going to ask you." He Lingchuan sighed: "Has there been any change in the Secret Realm lately?"

He is the creator of Panlong Secret Realm, and in the dimness he shares a natural resonance with it. Just as the Earth Mother was returning from defeating Yada Island, He Lingchuan sensed a change in Panlong Secret Realm.

He asked casually, but the little stone figure kept nodding repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, plenty. You should enter the Secret Realm quickly."

Panlong Secret Realm is bound to the ancient city, so He Lingchuan need not waste half a year to use the return-city opportunity once; he can only wait for the Earth Mother to return to port.

"The mirage has attracted many people from Jucheng; don't let them enter the marsh." He Lingchuan instructed, "Also, later on, Jucheng will supply you with provisions."

"That saves trouble."

Afterwards, He Lingchuan walked into the southern gate of Panlong Ancient City.

The little stone figure on his shoulder followed him inside; ahead lay the brightly lit sleepless city, a gentle breeze sweeping the main street, while the lanterns flickered uncertainly.

From here, he entered Panlong Secret Realm.

On the surface, everything looks the same. But He Lingchuan knows that something is different.

The stone figure pointed east: "That Ming Sha Forest, also known as the Void Land, has changed. It was first discovered by that Qingtu great demon."

"Go take a look."

During the Zhong Shengguang era, Panlong Secret Realm's Ming Sha Forest was far from the city gate, but after He Lingchuan reshaped the Secret Realm, it moved to outside the eastern gate, right opposite the Qingtu great demon.

This great demon was originally the gate guardian beast of Yujing City; after Guan Biao's defeat, it quickly submitted to the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, then was incorporated into Panlong Secret Realm, resuming its old duty of guarding the eastern gate.

He Lingchuan walked to the eastern gate; the Qingtu great demon immediately manifested and bowed to this master of the Secret Realm.

He nodded and strode straight toward the Ming Sha Forest.

Formerly he called this place Mist Valley, because the valley was filled with a light red mist. But this time, upon re-entering, the valley remains secluded as before, yet visibility is excellent, the air fresh, not a trace of mist.

"No mist." The little stone figure on his shoulder explained, "I just left Yada Island when Qingtu came to report, saying that both the Secret Realm and the Ming Sha Forest had emitted tremendous sounds, then a gale swept through this forest, blowing the trees this way and that. Since then, the mist has vanished."

"Has there been no mist at all for so many days?"

Ming Sha Forest is the Void Land, not belonging to the Secret Realm, but established by the Great Fanghu. This forest, with its great wind blowing away the mist, indicates that the Great Fanghu has undergone a change.

"Gone."

He Lingchuan strode into the forest, asking as he went: "What kind of tremendous sound?"

"Like a long cry, also like a mournful whistle." The little stone figure said, "If you wait a while inside the city, you'll probably hear it."

Whose long cry, whose mournful whistle? There must be some agent behind it, right?

He Lingchuan walked into the forest, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

"That marsh is gone." The Earth Mother reminded him, "The very pond you awakened me from."

It had been drawn in by the Great Fanghu, after which He Lingchuan fished it out from the small pool in Ming Sha Forest and awakened it.

It retains a deep impression of that pool.

"It's gone." He Lingchuan walked back and forth in the forest several times, not seeing a single puddle, "How strange and marvelous."

The pool has disappeared!

This pool formerly had many wonderful uses: besides being able to display scenes outside the Secret Realm, it was also the channel through which He Lingchuan communicated with the Great Fanghu and with Hundun.

Now, the Great Fanghu has closed this channel—why?

He Lingchuan glanced left and right, casually plucked a few leaves, rubbed them in his hand, and they crumbled.

The leaves had not a drop of juice, dry and brittle, as if they had been baked in the sun for seven days and seven nights.

He tried several other trees, and it was the same.

"The vitality of the forest is disappearing." Lacking the nourishment of mist and pool, this forest may not last long.

If the forest land disappears, does Ming Sha Forest still count as existing?

He Lingchuan muttered to himself: "The Great Fanghu is dismantling the Void Land—why?"

Since swallowing the Hidden God Lord three years ago, the Great Fanghu has long been still.

He Lingchuan knows it is probably again immersed in comprehending and deducing some principle.

But this time, why does it act silently against the Void Land?

Just then, the ground suddenly gave a violent jolt!

Even He Lingchuan was caught off guard, taking a step forward and planting his feet.

The trees nearby cracked and snapped, several falling. He Lingchuan stood here, still able to see the Qingtu great demon emerge from the eastern gate, looking left and right, his expression flustered.

"What's going on?" He first asked the Earth Mother.

Panlong Ancient City rests on the Earth Mother's back—who else would you ask but her?

Yet the Earth Mother's tone was also surprised: "Huh? How could there be an earthquake?"

"Didn't it used to not quake?"

"No. This is the first time." The Earth Mother emphasized, "Could it be because you came?"

This tremor feels very strange.

Earthquakes are either vertical or horizontal displacement, so the human body feels either vertical or horizontal shaking.

But this quake felt completely different, as if one were inside a ship whose hull was suddenly thrust upward by a giant whale or large fish, causing one to lurch forward.

He Lingchuan had not yet answered when he heard a long, resonant cry like a steam whistle!

Loud, prolonged, and ethereal, it echoed across the entire Secret Realm above, lingering for a long time without fading. If another living person were here, they would likely have been stunned on the spot.

This is what is meant by the great bell and the great lute.

"That's it!" the little stone figure exclaimed, "It's been letting out this long cry!"

He Lingchuan turned his head and hurried eastward toward the East City Gate.

He was also familiar with this cry, having heard it more than ten or eight times before, but it had never sounded within the Secret Realm previously!

As he passed the East City Gate, he specifically asked Qingtu the Great Ghost: "What is going on?"

In a sense, Qingtu the Great Ghost has already become part of the Secret Realm. It also understands human speech, so He Lingchuan can communicate with it to accurately learn the Secret Realm's condition.

"It, it!" Qingtu the Great Ghost showed fear on its face, "It is striking the Secret Realm! It is becoming increasingly violent!"

(End of Chapter)