Chapter 2747: Retreat and Ask the Next Best

He strode out of the Secret Realm, scooped some clear water into the bowl he usually drank from, then pulled a small wooden doll from his bosom.

The doll was dark brown, its surface covered in red lines like meridians, looking somewhat sinister at first glance. Xianren Mingke ignited a pinch of true fire at his fingertip and tossed the doll into the flames.

Long-distance communication techniques usually require both parties to possess the corresponding magical artifacts in order to receive each other.

If one needs to temporarily contact additional people, one must resort to unorthodox methods, such as the Sacrificial Communication Technique.

This doll contains an evil spirit. By burning it as a fire offering, Xianren Mingke can temporarily reach someone, even if they are ten thousand li away.

When set alight, the doll actually screamed, and listeners instantly felt demonic sounds piercing their brains.

The wood ash fell into the bowl, and Xianren Mingke swiftly stirred it a few times with his hand, murmuring incantations under his breath.

Once the water calmed, another face appeared on its surface:

Liu Qingdao, head of the Cangyan State's Bingyuan Department.

"Elder Liu."

Seeing Xianren Mingke, Liu Qingdao was also somewhat surprised. He was working in the Bingyuan Department when ripples suddenly appeared in the air, indicating someone far away was seeking him.

"Xianren Mingke?" He reacted immediately, "Is something happening at the Dimu Plains?"

Liu Qingdao knew Mingke was a xianren permanently stationed at the Dimu Plains, usually in direct contact with the emperor and rarely dealing with the Bingyuan Department. Now that Xianren Mingke had suddenly sought him out, the matter was not simple.

"An urgent matter has arisen, but I cannot reach the emperor."

"The emperor has been in seclusion at Lingxu Cave these past few days, strictly forbidding disturbances." Jiukuang Dadi sometimes uses seclusion as an excuse to go out, but this time he is truly in seclusion, in the Lingxu Cave of the Chixiao Golden Hall. "State affairs are handled by Deputy Du on his behalf, while extraordinary affairs are shared by me."

Matters concerning the Xian Sect, demonic beasts, and various extraordinary affairs are temporarily under his jurisdiction.

"Ah this?" Xianren Mingke rubbed his hands upon hearing the words "strictly forbid disturbances."

The emperor often secludes himself, but has never said "strictly forbid disturbances." This shows this seclusion is very important; if disturbed without cause, neither dares to imagine how they would bear the emperor's wrath.

Of course, Liu Qingdao also does not know the true reason why He Lingchuan chose this moment to seclude himself. On one hand, state affairs in the country proceed orderly with no urgent major matters; more importantly, the war in the Panlong World has reached a life-or-death critical juncture.

He Lingchuan has long since lost his deathless gold medal, and in the Panlong World must exert himself fully.

To remain single-mindedly focused, he has no choice but to seclude himself to cope.

Whether Panlong City can reverse its predetermined fate, and whether the soldiers and civilians of the wasteland can survive this merciless war, depends on this final battle!

Xianren Mingke rejoiced that he had not continued waiting in vain: "We arrived at Kunlong Ravine five days ago, and Dimu began hibernation. But now the Tai Zi of Shen State is pursuing the defeated general Zhao Shuo from Baxian, heading to Kunlong Ravine, vowing to kill this person to avenge his son's death! Lingjinbao observed closely, and he asked us to help him hunt down Zhao Shuo."

His report had never been so efficient; he summarized the situation in a few words, then said: "Or perhaps, Elder Liu, you could give me an idea?"

Liu Qingdao's pen in his hand suddenly stalled.

Xianren Mingke's five sentences contained a lot of information; he needed to digest them.

He knew Xianren Mingke was asking whether to help the Tai Zi advance? Whether the Dimu Plains should intervene in the war between Shen and Baxian?

Many states have already recognized that the Dimu Plains belong to Cangyan.

Therefore, its appearance and intervention, to some extent, represent Cangyan's intervention.

If it were other Shen State generals pursuing the enemy, Dimu could naturally ignore it, but since it concerns Shen State's Tai Zi Yue and the emperor's nephew's murder, if they stood by and watched, once the emperor emerges from seclusion and learns the details, would he not assign blame?

He spoke again, his first question not about He Yue, but about Dimu:

"Why did Dimu go to Kunlong Ravine to hibernate?"

Due to the agreement, even He Lingchuan rarely inquires about Dimu's whereabouts, and Liu Qingdao is even less able to control it, only knowing it runs east and west, wandering the world.

This is also good; the more freely it roams, the less others can discern its path.

"Kunlong Ravine is Dimu's birthplace; here it must extract nutrients. As long as it still carries the plains on its back, it must return periodically."

Liu Qingdao's brows furrowed.

"Must Dimu return to Kunlong Ravine periodically? This leaves a trace."

"How long is 'periodically'? Be more specific."

"We asked, but Dimu only said it must return here to rest and nourish when exhausted. Long: seventy or eighty years; short: over ten years; depending on circumstances. Oh, during periods when heavenly and earthly spiritual energy declines, it is completely subterranean, almost no consumption, so it need not return."

"So, this is its first return to Kunlong Ravine after waking from a long slumber?"

"Yes."

Liu Qingdao felt slightly relieved. During Guan Biao's control of Yujing City, he also let Dimu plains sleep underground for a very long time. Even if someone wanted to grasp Dimu's movement patterns, it would be absurdly difficult.

The data is too scarce, the ages too remote.

This is nearly impossible to achieve, for if Dimu itself is uncertain, how could others infer?

Moreover, the Shen-Baxian War has already been ongoing for several months; Shen State's successful counteroffensive against Baxian has been reported to Cangyan. Shen State's great army is now attacking and plundering in central Baxian, and He Yue coming here is within reason.

Furthermore, the He father and son have already investigated He Changjue's murder case for several months; it is time they found relevant clues.

However, is Zhao Shuo the killer of He Changjue?

"What background does this Zhao Shuo have?" Liu Qingdao felt he had heard the name before, but he was not a famous general. On the Baxian battlefield, who knows how many commanders fought; Liu Qingdao could not possibly monitor every one.

After all, the Shen-Baxian battlefield is truly far from Cangyan, and this war does not take place within Cangyan's borders.

Fortunately, the attendant beside him reported the Death-Inquiry Worm is an unforgettable omniscient, this bug the size of a thumb, resembling a beetle, usually residing in the inkstone. Liu Mengdao placed this monster beside himself, making it convenient for him to query anytime.

"Zhao Shuo?" The Death-Inquiry Worm searched for a few breaths, then reported: "He is the nephew of Zhao Huanrong, the former Vice Premier of Baxian, who has always been under Zhao Huanrong's care."

"Zhao Huanrong?" Liu Qingdao still knows this person's identity and background, and immediately understood: "No wonder, his backer is the Heavenly Palace."

Under the Heavenly Palace's direction, Zhao Shuo sent people to kill He Changjue? Perhaps He Yue investigated this point, which is why he relentlessly pursued Zhao Shuo.

Xianren Mingke again sought guidance:

"Then how should we act? Tai Zi Yue is still awaiting Lingjinbao's reply."

Liu Qingdao still harbored many doubts in his heart, such as how He Yue ascertained Zhao Shuo was the true culprit? Why did Zhao Shuo flee to Kunlong Ravine?

Wait.

"Let Lingjinbao ask him, when did he discover Zhao Shuo was the murderer?"