Chapter 3122

Lingxu City is the Heavenly Demons' last major stronghold right now, with Heavenly Demons gathered like clouds, abundant supplies, and formations fully prepared — resistance will be extremely fierce.

He Lingchuan and General Hong have already conferred; taking Lingxu City within three days is impossible.

Therefore, they must make long-term plans.

Moreover, since they know the Lingxu Saint Venerable's first objective upon descending is to destroy the Yuan Power Laws, the War Alliance must prepare to face the worst-case scenario that may arise.

That is, the possibility of the Yuan Power Laws being damaged and the War Alliance's advantage turning into a weakness.

At that time, the Mount Xushan headquarters will be able to fulfill its true role.

Mount Xushan itself has towering peaks and steep mountain paths, a place easy to defend and hard to attack. Even more rare is that the Heavenly Palace has operated here for six hundred years, with countless buildings large and small, and all kinds of teleportation formations functioning normally.

Its area is also vast; the entire mountain range can accommodate two million troops without issue. You should know the Heavenly Palace often held birthday ceremonies for the Great Heavenly Gods here; the largest one had a full four hundred thousand believers attend.

Mount Xushan's geographic location is superior, very close to Lingxu City; its main peak is even higher than Heavenly Heart Island, granting a reconnaissance advantage as well.

In summary, He Lingchuan taking Mount Xushan as the War Alliance's rear base has important strategic significance. Now with the guardian spirit Eju's wholehearted assistance, Mount Xushan's defensive capability has been raised two levels directly.

He Lingchuan casually asked about Hu Min's whereabouts, and Liu Yidao reported: "General Hu is still pursuing the enemy: when we attacked Heavenly King Peak, several hundred Mou Kingdom soldiers suddenly exhibited abnormalities — first their gazes went dull and they sweated profusely, then their behaviors diverged; some knelt weeping in pain, some rolled on the ground begging for mercy, and some picked up weapons to attack each other."

He Lingchuan frowned: "How does that sound like the Three Corpse Worms at work?"

Before, the Three Corpse Worms released from Panlong City burrowed into human bodies and could cause the above symptoms.

"Indeed very similar, but General Hu says it's not." Liu Yidao continued, "Later it was discovered that Heavenly Palace Cloud Envoy Hou Tianyu was withdrawing from Heavenly King Peak; our side nearly caught up several times, but the army suddenly went abnormal, and even the ten Immortals accompanying the army felt their Dao hearts unsettled; Hou Tianyu took advantage of the chaos to escape. Afterward some soldiers recovered, but a portion remain mentally deranged; they just took heart-clearing and wisdom-brightening medicine, with no effect seen yet."

Even Immortals were affected? "What did the soldiers who recovered say?"

"All were sudden hysteria; some hallucinated falling into an abyss, some thought they were being torn apart by evil ghosts, some believed they had fallen into deep water and were about to drown, and some recalled past misdeeds they had committed — consequently they were terrified beyond measure."

He Lingchuan's mind stirred upon hearing this: "Even those possessing Yuan Power cannot be exempt?"

As of today, the Mou Kingdom's Yuan Power is also very powerful; logically it should help their soldiers resist many mind-confusing divine abilities and strange arts.

"It has already been reduced." Liu Yidao said, "During the chase, both sides passed a relay town that handled supply transfers for Mount Xushan, with a standing population of three hundred-odd, mostly strong men. As soon as the Heavenly Palace troops passed through, these three hundred villagers died cleanly; autopsies are underway now, and findings so far show all died with eyes wide open and tongues stuck out, livers and gallbladders shattered."

"Livers and gallbladders shattered?" He Lingchuan murmured, "Scared to death."

"We've already dispatched additional manpower to pursue. But it seems troops have also set out from Lingxu City's west gate, presumably to reinforce Hou Tianyu."

Just then, Zhu Xiuer jumped over from behind: "We've clarified from the Star-Plucking Tower captives; Cloud Envoy Hou Tianyu was originally leaving last night, but temporarily received a divine oracle from the Lingxu Saint Venerable and stayed an extra half day."

The War Alliance army advanced triumphantly toward Lingxu City; the Heavenly Palace's high-level figures aren't stupid either — they wouldn't sit and wait for death; most have already fled inside, no, withdrawn into Lingxu City.

"What did he stay for?"

"It seems the Lingxu Saint Venerable bestowed some treasure, ordering Hou Tianyu to stay and receive it." Zhu Xiuer, baptized by war, was no longer the mountain wild demon of twenty years ago; she handled matters much more thoroughly. "I had the Come-and-Go God detained at the Star-Plucking Tower to have Him carefully identify it.

He said there was indeed a lingering divine artifact aura, at most less than two hours old, but He didn't know what divine artifact. I asked if there was a divine descent; He said no."

The Come-and-Go God's talent is very special; He can trace the origins and destinations of divine ability auras.

"A divine artifact indeed?" He Lingchuan thought a moment, then kicked a nearby boulder with his foot: "Eju."

A little fire man burrowed out from underground, white flames rising all over his body: "What for?"

Eju can be considered Mount Xushan's mountain-marsh spirit, commonly called a land god. After signing the contract, He Lingchuan can summon it here at any time.

"Hou Tianyu's force is fleeing southwest; you help me intercept them, don't let them escape. I'll send more pursuers."

"Sure, but only within Mount Xushan's territory. Be quick." Finished speaking, the little fire man vanished into the earth.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror grumbled: "It really doesn't cherish old ties at all when dealing with its former master."

After He Lingchuan finished assigning tasks, he once again mounted his eagle and took flight, not descending the mountain directly, but stealing a bit of time amid the busyness to visit the Questioning Dao Tree.

This great tree is no different from twenty-odd years ago, still lush with branches and leaves, a single tree embracing the mountain.

Back then He Lingchuan obtained the Questioning Dao Tree's golden leaf here, and by virtue of the "one leaf obscuring vision" divine ability, blocked Miao Zhantian's True Eye.

Otherwise He Lingchuan would have died long ago; how could there be the later Nine Nether Great Emperor?

And this leaf was actually left for him by the Wood Spirit Venerable of the Great Return Sect hundreds of years ago, accompanied by three lines of verse.

Still those words: the vast long river of three thousand years, countless benevolent and ambitious people striving each in their own way to resist the Heavenly Demons. The sparks they passed down generation after generation were handed to He Lingchuan, and finally through He Lingchuan's hands became a prairie fire!

He Lingchuan placed his hand on the Questioning Dao Tree and said softly: "Many thanks."

He fled too quickly back then. Twenty-odd years later, he finally has the chance to return and make up this thanks.

A mountain wind blew past; the Questioning Dao Tree's branches and leaves rustled, as if responding to him.

This pair of good cause and good effect comes to an end.

However He Lingchuan did not withdraw his palm for a long time; instead he closed his eyes and meditated, as if communicating with the great tree.

After a long while, he withdrew his hand and bowed once more to the Questioning Dao Tree: "Then I'll trouble you once more."

Liu Yidao and the others followed behind him, entering the cave beneath the Questioning Dao Tree.

Everyone was entering the cave for the first time; looking up they saw dense tree roots, looking down a clear spring and still pool — all found it novel. The Questioning Dao Tree's fame spreads far; even on the eve of this great battle there were still those who came admiring its name.

A mountain wind blew past; the Questioning Dao Tree shed leaves in profusion, all falling onto the water surface. He Lingchuan had everyone bend down to pick up leaf fragments — as many as they could gather.

Everyone picked one or two thousand pieces before the Questioning Dao Tree stopped shedding leaves.

"Alright, down the mountain to pursue the enemy."

He Lingchuan himself had just turned around when he saw light and shadow flashing at the cave entrance — someone had entered.

Everyone hurriedly saluted; He Lingchuan smiled: "You've come at just the right time. One of the powerful enemies we're about to pursue has a special connection with you."