Chapter 2778

Of course he didn't know that Yongning Town was part of "Yujing City," retaining some key main structures of this giant city, but the town now mainly serves as agricultural storage, incomparable to its former glory.

Yang Sheng immediately introduced both parties.

He Yue clasped his hands in salute: "Greetings, Immortal Mingke, thank you for your righteous assistance!"

"Not at all." This is none other than the Emperor's younger brother; Immortal Mingke dare not act presumptuously: "Did you encounter any enemies again on your return journey?"

Yang Sheng shook his head: "Returning went smoothly, we arrived directly here. It's just Immortal Ling..."

"He is on his way here."

Yang Sheng and He Yue, upon hearing this, both exhaled in relief.

"Are the demons targeting Panlong City?" He Yue raised this topic again: "How did the elder brother instruct?"

"The Emperor is in seclusion; I have already sent Liu Si to knock on the gate." Disturbing a high cultivator in seclusion is called "knocking on the gate."

"I have over two thousand people here, all awaiting orders." He Yue gritted his teeth: "The demons first killed my son, now they seek to harm my elder brother—this enmity is irreconcilable!"

"Your two thousand-plus are truly useful on the Mother Earth Plains." The Mother Earth Plains lacked forces; originally only six hundred garrison troops, now finally returned to nine hundred, restoring the total to fifteen hundred, plus the Shen Army's twenty-five hundred, making the garrison four thousand—multiplying several times over, suddenly much more ample.

As for troops, quantitative change leads to qualitative change; the elites He Yue can keep by his side are also not lacking.

Only regrettable, the spiritual energies of the two sides differ.

Immortal Mingke then said: "Let Mother Earth scan once, to avoid harming our own when battle begins."

A little stone figure emerged from nowhere, standing on the wall, its red eyes scanning over the Shen soldiers.

It kept looking back and forth for a while, then withdrew its gaze and said to Immortal Mingke: "Done."

Immortal Mingke was about to speak when the little stone figure suddenly warned:

"Thirty-seven demons and immortals in three groups converged at Shuituan, then vanished."

Immortal Mingke doubted greatly: "What does 'vanished' mean?"

"They disappeared from the spot. The celestial illumination artifact in the sky also vanished together."

"Perhaps they entered that storage space capable of holding living beings?" This is certainly not good, "but such a space also requires someone to carry it."

So this person would be invisible?

Immortal Mingke pressed the little stone figure: "All tracking methods—scent, sound, ground weight, light changes—found nothing of them?"

The little stone figure's eyes emitted red light, apparently conducting a deep search.

After a while, it shook its head: "None."

Truly worthy of being demons—so many tricks.

Yang Sheng's face grew grave: "Could it be they heard we returned?"

Otherwise, what coincidence—just as they arrived at Yujing City, the demons immediately disappeared.

"Impossible!" Qing Shu Di Jun, upon arrival and hearing this, was also startled: "Logically, enemies inside and outside the Mother Earth Plains cannot communicate."

A small squirrel sat on its shoulder, now suddenly chirping twice.

Qing Shu Di Jun listened, then translated for everyone: "It says, earlier, several fireworks rose consecutively outside the Plains' barrier, each of different colors."

Immortal Mingke immediately said: "That is a signal. Someone is sending messages to the demons inside the Plains."

"Prepare for battle!" Immortal Mingke said solemnly, "Being able to move a hundred li across the Plains is our advantage—you must make good use of it."

Too bad the Mother Earth's true form is absent; otherwise, our side would have more advantages.

The Mother Earth's true form has left no news; relying only on the little stone figure it left behind, Immortal Mingke cannot freely move structures or alter terrain on the Mother Earth Plains, lacking sufficient authority.

Otherwise, if the Mother Earth could rearrange buildings like blocks, it could confuse the demons utterly, making Panlong Ancient City impossible to find.

Such a mighty home-field advantage is currently not in Immortal Mingke's grasp.

Qing Shu Di Jun asked: "What now?"

Everyone turned their gaze to Immortal Mingke and Yang Sheng, awaiting their decision.

Yang Sheng immediately asked: "Did you previously launch any attacks?"

Immortal Mingke shook his head: "Insufficient manpower, so we avoided battle. Yang Tongling believes, how should we fight next?"

Jiuyou Dadi entrusted him with decision-making and coordination over all matters of the Mother Earth Plains; if involving war, Immortal Mingke admits this is not his forte. But Yang Sheng was formerly a senior general under Jiuyou Dadi, especially deeply involved in the Dragon God War—military affairs come easily to him.

For professional matters, Immortal Mingke still consults professionals.

Yang Sheng grunted: "The demons split into several routes—which two performed averagely?"

"Seven routes. Among them, two demon-immortal groups previously fought the stone figures, performing slightly worse than the others. I suspect no hidden masters are among them." Otherwise, they would have acted already.

"After I and the Crown Prince returned, our side gained some numerical advantage. Then we shall first allocate two thousand troops and two immortals to each of these two opponents, and the six war commanders will also be evenly distributed—let us first take down these two demon squads!"

Merely hiding from the demons is a temporary expedient; the Mother Earth Plains are vast, with many civilians—impossible to forever defend without attacking.

Earlier, the Mother Earth Plains avoided battle because even with added cultivators and two immortals, manpower was severely lacking, while the enemy split into seven routes, each with eleven or twelve demon-immortals; even if Immortal Mingke concentrated all his force on one route, he had no confidence.

But now the situation has changed: Yang Sheng and He Yue returned with troops, also bringing back an immortal bird, and Ling Jinbao is on his return journey—thus the Mother Earth Plains now have four immortals plus one immortal bird.

The two nodded.

After arrangements were made, He Yue then said: "Can I contact my father king to inform him of the situation here? My main army is still in the southeast, and I must also give them orders."

Immortal Mingke then took him to a quiet house in the street, letting him use divine powers to contact the Shen King. Of course, this requires special permission from the Mother Earth's avatar.

Seeing He Yue enter the house, Immortal Mingke snapped his fingers, then pointed at the house: "Brother Pak, trouble you to keep watch."

From the tree shadows nearby, something seemed to move slightly, silently heading toward the small house.

Immortal Mingke did not directly take He Yue to Panlong Secret Realm, but kept a doubt in mind, now also wishing to eavesdrop on his external communications, to confirm there is no plot against the Mother Earth Plains and Panlong Secret Realm.

Surely He Yue will set up a soundproof barrier when communicating externally, but that room is rather special.

Yang Sheng approached and said: "Better to bring him into Panlong Secret Realm—the demons suddenly vanished collectively, must have a scheme. I think they will soon find this place."

Immortal Mingke nodded.

At this moment, a figure flashed from the woods outside the city—long robe, wide sleeves, bloodstains everywhere, walking somewhat unsteadily.

It was Ling Jinbao, who had rushed back.