Chapter 1324: Dark Communication

He Xiao and Wang Xingyi still have a connection?

Others might not know Wang Xingyi’s true background, but Qingyang, as the former Chief Imperial Advisor of Begas, certainly knew that this Grand Imperial Advisor of the enemy nation was from Lingshan!

No, that’s not right. Wang Xingyi has met countless people; He Xiao isn't necessarily connected to Lingshan.

But how did he get involved with Wang Xingyi?

He Yang continued to report, "Currently, Crown Prince Fu Shanyue of Chiyan is also on Yangshan Archipelago."

Qingyang raised an eyebrow, "What is he doing there?"

He Xiao had served as Chiyan's special envoy and had a good personal relationship with the Chiyan Crown Prince. Given Fu Shanyue's unconventional personality, it didn't seem strange for him to go to Yangshan Archipelago.

However, for He Xiao, a mere island master on a small island, to be linked to Begas's Imperial Advisor, Mou Nation's Imperial Advisor, and Chiyan's Crown Prince—this was beyond what an ordinary person could achieve.

Now He Xiao had also gone to Blazing Gold Plain, stirring up the grievances between the Situ family and the Bixia people.

What ulterior motive does this fellow have?

Qingyang knew that if something appeared abnormal, chaotic, contradictory, and illogical, it meant too many secrets were hidden within.

She frowned for a long time, remaining silent.

Since her arrival in Yaoguo, He Yang had rarely seen her so contemplative, so he couldn't help but ask, "Palace Master, should we send someone to contact He Xiao for further intelligence?"

Qingyang was no longer the Master of the Azure Palace of Begas, but her close associates continued to address her by that title.

"No!" Qingyang immediately shook her head. "People with too many secrets and too much trouble are best killed quickly!"

Annoying people deserve to die.

In the past hundred years, how many complex troubles had she resolved? Sometimes, a swift killing was the optimal solution. No matter how intricate the situation, just cut off the root cause with a blade, and all the intertwined threads would be severed at once.

If He Xiao couldn't overcome the Bixia people, she would consider it a small release of pent-up frustration.

Only if He Xiao survived would he be worthy of her attention and investigation.

As she was contemplating, the small golden bells on her left hand suddenly chimed.

These three golden bells were no larger than red beans, delicate and charming, with hollowed-out centers.

But as soon as they chimed, Qingyang immediately stood up and headed towards her living quarters.

Her study was only fifty paces from the lake, backed by mountains and facing water, with a secluded garden. Old pear trees bloomed profusely, reaching as high as a three-story roof eaves, and a warm breeze from the lake would send fragrant snow drifting everywhere.

The study faced south and held a long table. Qingyang dismissed her attendants, closed the doors and windows, and placed a small statue on the table.

Then, she personally lit six sticks of incense, muttering incantations.

The smoke rose straight, condensing in the room without dissipating, even pausing for a moment as if time had stood still.

Then the smoke cluster shrank, becoming smaller and smaller, until it formed a vague face.

"True Monarch Tongming."

A low voice resonated directly in her mind, "Three matters!"

"Please speak."

Qingyang's demeanor towards it was even more gentle and polite than it had been in Lingxu City.

In the immortal elixir case, True Monarch Tongming had helped her secure lenient treatment—though this was based on mutual interests.

Now she was no longer Begas's Grand Imperial Advisor, while True Monarch Tongming remained a high and mighty Celestial Being.

Although they still exchanged what they needed, their status had quietly shifted.

"In the past five months, the Nightmare Energy collected by the Celestial Net Star has been scarcer than usual, especially on Blazing Gold Plain."

Qingyang was startled, "How is that possible? The chaos on Blazing Gold Plain is as usual. Vendettas, wars, and dynastic changes — nothing is lacking."

"But the Nightmare Energy collected by the Celestial Net Star on Blazing Gold Plain is indeed insufficient," True Monarch Tongming stated. "As you know, the Celestial Net Star's perception is vague, but it's never wrong."

Qingyang tightened her expression, "Could it be that... too many Dragon Punishment Pillars are active nearby, and the Nightmare Energy is being divided among them?"

Blazing Gold Plain was known for its turbulence, and Qingyang knew that the Heavenly Realm had been unstable lately, with various Celestial Beings fiercely competing for Nightmare Energy and dispatching followers there.

Wherever there was war, these followers would rush there, holding Dragon Punishment Pillars, like sharks drawn to the scent of blood.

They frantically devoured the Nightmare Energy that belonged to all Celestial Beings, no less greedy than humans. How could they now have the nerve to blame her for inefficiency?

"You should put more effort into it," True Monarch Tongming said menacingly. "Otherwise, it won't be me reminding you next time."

Qingyang tensed.

The Demon Emperor sent her to supervise Yaoguo not for her to retire.

If she achieved nothing, she would face a furious wrath.

"Yes!" She took a deep breath. "I understand."

True Monarch Tongming continued:

"Second matter, the Heavenly Palace has dispatched Bai Ziqi to Blazing Gold Plain."

"Bai Ziqi?" Qingyang frowned. "A dignified Capital Envoy sent to Blazing Gold Plain to chase rumors? Could it be that the old geezer doesn't get along with him and specifically threw him over here?"

"Revered Sage Lingxu and Heavenly Sovereign Miaozhan believe there's something suspicious here, perhaps even related to the Grand Square Cauldron."

Qingyang's eyes flickered.

She knew very well that if it truly concerned this treasure, it wouldn't be overkill for Celestial Beings and the Heavenly Palace to send the Capital Envoy himself.

The judgments made by Revered Sage Lingxu and Heavenly Sovereign Miaozhan must have other bases, which she could not see. But even a mere "perhaps" could stir up tumultuous waves on Blazing Gold Plain.

"I heard there's another reason Bai Ziqi was sent here: the appearance of a Jiao-Head Totem on Blazing Gold Plain."

Jiao-Head Totem? Qingyang's nearly two hundred years of memories were truly vast and varied; it took her some effort to dig this term out from the depths of her mind. "It seems Begas once had specialists researching this, but they yielded no results."

"The last historically verifiable place where a Jiao-Head Totem definitively appeared was Panlong City."

Qingyang tensed slightly, "And this time?"

She had weathered countless storms in her life, but Panlong City's impression remained deeply etched in her memory.

It was a mysterious and terrifying power, a place that the gods could not tolerate.

Most importantly, the name Panlong City had always been linked to the Grand Square Cauldron.

Jiao-Head Totem, Panlong City, Grand Square Cauldron—all ancient memories.

"This should have been you telling me," True Monarch Tongming said, not bothering to conceal its displeasure towards her.

The former Imperial Advisor Qingyang would have known every slight stir within Begas.

And now? She was just an old woman, uprooted from her home, with dulled senses, unable to even obtain intelligence within five hundred li of Yaoguo, needing a Celestial Being to inform her.

Qingyang felt its disdain and secretly cursed it for being snobbish, yet on the surface, she had to maintain a smile.

The longer she dealt with Celestial Beings, the more she felt that these lofty figures were as selfish, petty, and greedy as humans, sometimes even foolish!

What real difference was there between so-called divinity and humanity?

Only then did True Monarch Tongming say, "Jiao-Head Totems appeared in Shizhoutou and Liuping on the same day, followed by Heguagou, Tengxiang, and Daishan. Do you know what happened in all those places?"