Chapter 2281: The Home That Can't Be Returned To

He Lingchuan had many questions for the High Shaman, and he asked them. But after waking up, he couldn't remember a single detail of their conversation!

He Lingchuan rubbed the back of his head and sighed. Given the current strength of his primordial spirit, it was unusual for him to forget what he had experienced in a dream. So, what external force had clouded his memory?

"How annoying!" the mirror grumbled listlessly. "If the Necropolis were still here, you wouldn't be bothered by such interference!"

He Lingchuan tapped the mirror with his finger, making it yelp in pain: "It hasn't disappeared; it's just temporarily closed."

"Yes, yes," it said, implying, 'Whatever you say, old man; you're just deluding yourself.'

In fact, the last time He Lingchuan entered the Coiling Dragon World was during the earth-shattering battle between General Hong, the Dragon God, and Mitian. After that, he couldn't enter the Coiling Dragon World anymore, neither by day nor by night. During those major battles, strange phenomena frequently appeared in the Coiling Dragon World's sky. He Lingchuan had a premonition then, knowing that Da Fanghu had introduced new variables. But he never imagined that the Coiling Dragon World would remain closed for several years!

The previous closure of the Coiling Dragon World had only lasted a few months, but this time it was more than ten times longer. He wondered how the Coiling Dragon City's campaign to conquer Xiluo was progressing, and if the war between the Coiling Dragon Army and the Beijia forces had ended. He also wondered what stage Xin Yi's leadership of the Shahe tribe in resisting Beijia's oppression had reached. Of course, most importantly, he wondered if Master Sun was well.

After the Coiling Dragon World closed, He Lingchuan could dream normally. But he didn't like this change at all. Would the Coiling Dragon World ever reopen? He had pondered this for a long time but found no hint. The path that world had taken was now completely different from real history. Did it still need He Lingchuan? He felt uncertain. What if he could never enter again...

He Lingchuan rubbed his temples, feeling a bit irritable. He now presided over a vast and prosperous land with countless citizens, but not being able to return to the Coiling Dragon World felt like being unable to go home. Whenever he had free time, his heart felt empty and adrift. The most magnificent palace in the world couldn't replace his ordinary residence in Coiling Dragon City. He still remembered the day before the expedition to Xiluo, sitting on a bamboo chair under a large tree, with sunlight filtering through the sycamore leaves, casting dappled patterns on the chessboard. He had tried to cheat, only to have Master Sun slap the back of his hand from across the board: "Hey, a true man never regrets his move!" No amount of glorious achievements could fill the void of being unable to return home.

Two hours later, Elder Dao of Rongshan arrived for an audience with the Emperor to report: "Your Majesty, we met Sun Hongye this morning and exchanged a few pleasantries. He is indeed the young man who drank with us at the Baishawan Inn back then."

The Emperor always demanded direct, detailed, and unembellished reports from his subordinates, so Elder Dao continued immediately: "It's been a long time, and I can't quite recall the details of the conversation, but my two disciples beside me remember clearly that we cursed the demon puppets while drinking and also mentioned the Heavenly Devil's plan. At the time, Sun Hongye asked very detailed questions, which made my grand-disciple Wang Zhen feel somewhat suspicious. However, thinking we were about to set sail, he didn't pursue it further. This time, my disciples specifically asked him more details, such as what wine we drank that day, who paid the bill, and what kind of gangs were fighting outside. Only the person actually present could answer these questions."

He Lingchuan hummed in acknowledgment. Elder Dao's recollection matched Sun Hongye's description. This was good. He Lingchuan least wished to see a former good companion transform into a hidden arrow shot by an enemy.

However, He Lingchuan and his two companions could not depart as scheduled due to an unexpected development. The following evening, urgent news arrived from the southeast: North of Wei'an City, a large mountain suddenly appeared at the mouth of the Ice River, diverting its flow and cutting off the Luo River! The Luo River's water level had already dropped below the dry line; riverbed rocks would appear within two days, and Wei'an City would lose its water supply within three days. The Immortal Estate, Qixia Sect, had publicly claimed responsibility for diverting the Ice River, though their methods remained unknown. Currently, the Qixia Sect had made its presence known around Wei'an City, possibly intending to establish a base there.

Wei'an City had been developed into a major city by the authorities due to its strategic location. The Ice River to the north split into two tributaries here: the northeast-flowing Lu River and the southeast-flowing Luo River. The Luo River flowed directly through Wei'an City, providing a continuous water supply year-round. With the Qixia Sect cutting off the Luo River, people would have to travel forty-five *li* to the Lu River for water, crossing several large mountains along the way. It was uncertain how the Qixia Sect would make things difficult. A city's production and daily life cannot function without water. The Qixia Sect's actions endangered the survival of millions of people.

Along with this urgent report, a bag of soil was also enclosed. The water from the Ice River, which should have flowed into the Luo River, was blocked by this suddenly appearing mountain. Local officials had led people to dig and clear the mountain for two days, but no matter how much they dug, the mountain's elevation remained unchanged; it simply couldn't be removed. How formidable was Cangyan's construction capability nowadays, capable of building roads through mountains and bridges over rivers? Yet, the seventh-largest city by population was stumped by a small mountain, indicating this must be an immortal's doing.

There were many theories circulating in Wei'an City. Some called the mountain, which appeared overnight, a "Flying Peak," believing it must have flown in from somewhere else. The Prefect of Wei'an City, while organizing the mountain excavation, sent a sample of the dug-out soil. This was, of course, not a pointless act. When He Lingchuan saw the soil sample, his brows furrowed. Normal forest soil should be loose and breathable, with any clumps easily crumbling when squeezed. But this soil was dark red, feeling soft and pliable like dough, and it could even be stretched into threads when pulled apart. Upon closer inspection, the soil was rich in a gelatinous substance, very sticky to the touch; if one sniffed it, there was a strange, fishy smell.

What was this substance?

He Lingchuan divided the sample into seven or eight portions and sent them to as many powerful individuals, instructing them to analyze them immediately. Cangyan was now abundant with talent and strong research capabilities. However, most samples did not yield satisfactory answers; only the one sent to Dong Rui received feedback: Dong Rui himself dropped his current experiment and rushed over.

"Where did this come from?" he demanded the moment he saw He Lingchuan. "Where was this soil sample dug out from?"

"A mountain suddenly appeared at the source of an Ice River tributary, blocking the Luo River's water. No matter how much we dig, it won't collapse. This lump of mud was taken from that mountain," He Lingchuan summarized briefly. "Well, is there anything significant about it?"

"A mountain that can't be dug away?" Dong Rui translated mentally. "So, this mountain can grow on its own?"

"Probably, I haven't seen it myself."

"Then you'd better see it for yourself!"

He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Dong Rui said word for word: "This soil sample contains components of the Heavenly Devil!"