Chapter 2321: This Person

Everyone knew that the local water spirit was exerting its power. The water spirit of the Luo River was a giant eel, identical to the image materialized by Qing Guang.

It used its elemental power and a barrier to block the river.

As long as it held out for a few dozen breaths, the first two flood peaks would pass the narrow gorge, and the situation would return to normal.

At this moment, the Flying Peak had completely dissolved, disappearing as abruptly as it had appeared.

Others were bewildered, but He Lingchuan knew clearly that Master Frostleaf had collected the golden core, successfully intercepting it from the Qixia Sect.

That fellow truly had impressive methods.

In any case, with Frostleaf having obtained what he desired, he likely wouldn't show up again anytime soon.

Watching these scenes unfold, He Lingchuan felt a surge of emotion:

“Beijia is truly abundant in talent, boasting figures like Bai Ziqi, Qingyang, and Frostleaf, each one exceptionally brilliant and experienced. In contrast, Cang Yan's foundation is indeed a bit shallow.”

Cang Yan had only been established for a decade, and its talent reserves, whether in civil administration or military prowess, could not compare to established empires like Beijia.

Although it had greatly promoted education and benefited all its people since its founding, the time was still short, and the talents it had cultivated were only just beginning to emerge.

Looking on the bright side, Cang Yan's new era was gradually taking shape; looking on the downside, the age of great contention had already begun. How much time did Cang Yan have left for growth and development? It was likely that the brilliant young people of Flash Gold would have to face the impact of the new generation without the benefit of sheltered cultivation.

Fortune and misfortune are intertwined.

Ah, it’s hard to say.

The Blood Demon muttered, “Exceptionally brilliant isn’t necessarily a good description. You’ve already killed two of the three. I doubt Frostleaf will come to a good end either.”

“Not necessarily,” He Lingchuan countered. “Bai Ziqi was a loyal servant of the Heavenly Palace, and Qingyang was a staunch supporter of the Demon Emperor, but Frostleaf is different. I believe he is loyal only to himself. Such a person has no fundamental conflict with me from the start, so there’s no need for him to stubbornly contend with me over differing stances. Moreover, my understanding of Frostleaf is actually a bit deeper than others’.”

“What understanding?”

He Lingchuan smiled, recalling the small tombstone etched with a maple leaf in the demon’s lair.

But instead of mentioning that, he said:

“I also heard some rumors from Beijia. When Frostleaf was young, the Lingxu Royal Court wanted to execute him, but it was Master Qiugong who, against all opposition, brought him back and raised him to adulthood.”

Without a second thought, the Blood Demon said, “Master Qiugong probably didn’t have good intentions either, did he?”

It never believed there were many truly kind people in the world.

“Few outsiders know what happens within Qiugong,” He Lingchuan said lightly. “More than twenty years later, Master Qiugong died of illness, and Frostleaf took his place, single-handedly managing his funeral arrangements. In short, many things happened and many people died around the time he assumed his position.”

“Naturally,” the Blood Demon chuckled. “Without a storm of bloodshed, how could one truly deserve the glory of a national master’s position? Hmm, alright, no wonder you conceded profit to him. He wanted the golden core, and you wanted to understand him.”

“That’s not wrong,” He Lingchuan agreed. “The late Master Qiugong’s wife was named Cao. She passed away over a hundred years ago, but the Cao family is still protected by Frostleaf, because Madam Cao took very good care of Frostleaf back then.” He Lingchuan stretched. “Alright, let’s go check on the situation at the Bingyuan Department and retrieve the mirror.”

The Soul-Siphon Mirror was probably on the verge of collapsing, wasn’t it?

He exited the crowded area, waved his hand to summon Black King, and headed towards Xunyang Mountain.

Accompanied by the rushing sound of the Luo River, the people of Weian City spent a joyful evening.

The next morning, officials began sending people to clear the main roads near the northwest post station. This area had experienced a landslide the previous night, blocking both large and small roads, yet the post station itself miraculously remained completely undamaged.

Everyone said it was the Dragon God’s blessing.

The innkeeper also joined the clean-up crew with a shovel. At that moment, the mountain spirit manifested, transforming the soil and rocks blocking the road directly into a stone golem, which then stood up and walked away on its own.

The remaining mud, sand, small stones, and tree stumps on the road were minor, so people then cleaned them up.

Just as everyone was nearing completion, someone suddenly ran over from ahead:

“There are dead bodies at the crossroads ahead, six of them!”

“Crushed by the landslide?”

“No, no, they must have been murdered! Their eyeballs were gouged out!”

Six? The post station innkeeper paused, then dropped his shovel and hurried over.

Indeed, about half a *li* away at the crossroads, several severed heads were neatly stacked, each with its eyes gouged out and blood congealed on their faces, yet all bore a bizarre smile!

They looked as if they were laughing heartily, their gums exposed.

Upon seeing them, the innkeeper instinctively stepped back half a pace, a chill running through him. These six individuals were precisely the ones who had scouted his inn the previous night, intending to ambush the red-robed visitor on the road.

They usually robbed passersby, but it turned out the hunter became the hunted.

But their manner of death was truly gruesome.

Who killed them? The red-robed visitor?

Did the red-robed visitor leave the post station during the landslide and specifically go to the crossroads to kill them all?

Were these six heads laughing at their own blindness?

The innkeeper took two steps back, then silently turned and walked away.

He Lingchuan personally went to Xunyang Mountain to retrieve the Soul-Siphon Mirror.

The mirror surface had several cracks, evidence of the intense battle. The Giant Spirit Gods’ fists were indeed heavy; if it had lasted even a few dozen more breaths, the world within the mirror would have collapsed.

“Ow, ow, ow, gently, gently!” the mirror wailed with a mournful face. “I’m going to break! This is a work injury, a serious work injury!”

“You haven’t been injured in years,” He Lingchuan remarked. Since he founded the nation, he rarely personally engaged in battle, and the mirror had grown accustomed to an easy life. This thing truly couldn’t be spoiled; had it forgotten the good old days when it was injured every few days?

He Lingchuan took out a bottle of salve and applied all the flowing, crimson-gold paste onto the mirror’s cracks.

This treasure, called Flowing Gold Salve, was freshly made from Imperial Dew and specifically used for injured magical and spiritual artifacts.

Just as people apply medicine when injured, so too do artifacts. Imperial Dew was highly effective for both people and artifacts.

The mirror continued to cry out, “Those Giant Spirit Gods almost smashed my brains out!”

The Blood Demon couldn’t stand it. “You’re a mirror; do you have brains?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” the mirror retorted indignantly. “If I were shattered, my silver plating would leak out! Besides, I stood strong against ancient Void Spirits; it’s remarkable that I didn’t shatter into fragments… Give me more!”

He Lingchuan shrugged, then scooped out another finger-full of salve and applied it thickly.

The mirror hummed contentedly a couple of times, finally falling silent.

To save time, when He Lingchuan returned to Weian City, he still met Liu Qingdao at a suburban forest farm to hear his report on the Qixia Sect incident.

Liu Qingdao meticulously recounted the recent battle, then said, “The Qixia Sect has surrendered and accepted its punishment, proactively offering Giant Spirit Gods and Qionglong as collateral for the fine. Regarding their future mountain gate location, what are your thoughts?”

When discussing the sect's base, the Qixia Sect had also offered Qionglong as collateral.