Chapter 2777

The relics of Miao Zhantian they hold can only pierce illusions and mirages, not directly guide them—since they are not artifacts personally controlled by the original owner, their effectiveness differs greatly.

They also tried sending other magical artifacts into the sky to scout from high altitude, but they were shot down in an instant.

The enemy's air superiority means you cannot fly, but they can fly freely.

The demons possess many search-type spells and divine abilities, but remember this is the Earth Mother Plain—stone men and stone beasts roam everywhere, and few things can escape the perception of the little stone men's avatars; search-type divine abilities are also easily dispelled by them.

Yet the demons continue their tireless search, for though the Earth Mother Plain is vast, it has an end, and the Panlong Ruins will eventually be found by them.

At this moment, several fireworks suddenly bloomed in the sky above the plain.

These are specially crafted fireworks—exceptionally bright and conspicuous, and capable of perfect ignition even in harsh conditions.

One red, three yellow, one green.

All the demons halted their steps, gazing up at the night sky.

They were not admiring the fireworks' splendor, but analyzing the message within them.

The Earth Mother Plain can block the transmission of divine abilities between inside and outside, preventing communication, but the fireworks exploded above the plain—anyone can see them.

This most basic visual signal transmission method is now the most effective.

"This, this!" Geng Yue Shen exclaimed in shock, "They actually failed to stop He Yue?"

Over a dozen immortal-demons in ambush, yet they couldn't even detain a mere Crown Prince of Shen State?

When Dongmu Heng made this arrangement, he felt it was like using a cleaver to kill a chicken—such overwhelming force should have followed the Celestial Venerable into the Earth Mother Plain to battle the Great Emperor of Nine Abysses. As for the Shen State Crown Prince, sending just two or three demons to deal with him was already generous.

Not to mention the Shen State Crown Prince—even the Shen King himself, how could the Lingxu crowd possibly regard him as significant?

How could this happen? Remember, those demons are all fully descended deities.

Ju Li Shen immediately pleaded to the Celestial Venerable: "I wish to intercept again."

If once fails, twice might work? He simply doesn't believe the Shen State Crown Prince has three heads and six arms.

"The Shen State Crown Prince is nothing special—escaping Dongmu Heng's ambush is likely due to the Black Armor Army of Nine Abysses." The Celestial Venerable's eyes flickered, "The Black Armor Army and the Shen State Crown Prince have likely already returned to the edge of Kunlong Pool. When this Black Armor Army moved, it was astonishingly fast—from the Earth Mother Plain to the edge of Kunlong Pool took only a dozen breaths; they must have borrowed the Earth Mother's divine power to shift dozens of miles in an instant. If they return the same way, you have no chance to intercept them."

They travel the high-speed route; the demons cannot catch up.

This is the intelligence Dongmu Heng simultaneously provided them before their infiltration into the Earth Mother Plain.

The demons all fell silent.

The safe return of the Shen State Crown Prince and the Black Armor Army to the Earth Mother Plain indicates our tactic of luring the tiger away from the mountain failed—we did not weaken the enemy, but instead added many difficulties for these ground infiltrators.

A failed campaign is not a good omen.

The Celestial Venerable's eyes flickered twice, yet he said: "This is also good."

Also good? Good in what way?

Geng Yue Shen humbly asked for advice, but the Celestial Venerable replied: "Have you forgotten that one must not speak recklessly in the Earth Mother Plain?"

Earlier, he bluntly declared his intent to attack Panlong Ancient City, not fearing the enemy would hear it—rather, he wanted to provoke the enemy's fear.

The demons previously collaborated with Shangguan Biao, knowing that even the slightest wind and grass movement on the Earth Mother Plain cannot escape the Earth Mother's senses, so at that time they sent the brothers Xi Yu and Wu Yao into Yujing City, as they could communicate via divine thought without speaking aloud.

When Yujing City fell, they also perished. The Lingxu crowd mourned the loss of a pair of brothers with extraordinary talents.

Ju Li Shen immediately switched to voice transmission: "Celestial Venerable, how should we proceed?"

Voice transmission—then the Earth Mother's "ears" cannot hear it.

If the Celestial Venerable acts personally, he could certainly break this dilemma. But then, what use would these gods be? Major and minor affairs, major and minor enemies—let the Celestial Venerable handle them all himself.

The Celestial Venerable's strength and energy should be properly conserved, awaiting the Nine Abysses.

"All three groups come with me; the remaining groups continue searching for the Panlong Ruins." The Celestial Venerable gave a cold smile, "The Shen State Crown Prince is a fine target, just like the Panlong Secret Realm."

Earlier, they were not troubled by the fact that the plain's immortals and garrison hid in this vast plain, playing hide-and-seek with them, refusing to come out for open battle.

Now it's fine—so long as they go capture the Shen State Crown Prince, the Cangyan people will have to think of ways to obstruct them.

Isn't that just walking straight into death?

He looked at the demons via voice transmission: "You can find the Shen State Crown Prince's whereabouts, right?"

"Yes, we can track his personal guards." Two demons replied immediately, "This is Dongmu Heng's backup plan—if the Shen State Crown Prince escapes the encirclement, we can still track him on the plain."

The Celestial Venerable immediately ordered Ju Li Shen: "Prepare the 'Qing Le Ancient Weir'—the Shen State Crown Prince will help us accelerate this war's progress."

……

Mingke Xianren had just stepped out of the Panlong Secret Realm when a little stone figure popped up from the adjacent stone wall: "Yang Sheng brings people back to the granary."

Mingke Xianren's spirit lifted: "Send them here……uh, send them to Yongnian Town!"

As an avatar of the Earth Mother, the little stone figure can swiftly transmit designated individuals to any corner of the plain. Mingke Xianren originally wanted to bring them to Panlong Ancient City, but out of caution, the first stop was chosen as Yongnian Town.

Anyway, the Earth Mother avatar's transmission is not too taxing.

He himself also rushed over at flying speed.

At this moment, the Shen State army stood outside Yongnian Town, dazed, their horses still emitting heat vapor.

They had just whipped their horses into a frenzy, the whips nearly snapping, finally following the Black Armor Army into the Kunlong Pool.

What followed was fantastical—the Black Armor Army brought them in batches into several pitch-black granaries. He Yue still felt some unease, especially when they sensed the granaries vibrating violently, and everyone felt a strong push from behind.

Where had the entire army been sent to?

Then they suddenly came to a halt.

Most people were dazed and disoriented when Yang Sheng told them: We have arrived.

Outside the granary, fine rain fell like threads, the imperial flow arrived, and straight ahead stood a massive city gate tower—though not as grand as the southern gate of Panlong City that He Yue had seen, it was already remarkably imposing, with exquisite gate beasts and various carvings on the walls.

"This is not Panlong Ancient City." He Yue had long learned from his father king that the Earth Mother had taken the entire Panlong Ruins away. He originally thought that upon entering the Earth Mother Plain, he would see the long-lost ancient city.

"No, this is Yongnian Town." Mingke Xianren walked over from behind to respond.

He Yue didn't quite understand—why would a nearly deserted small town need such a tall and magnificent gate tower? It was like a dusty roadside stall selling only small skewers, yet topped with an enormous gilded sign.

Welcome Gu Su classmates, we now have another new budding master~Applause!