Chapter 1736: Revealed

At this moment, Bai Shi reported, "According to the Phantasm Sect captives we just apprehended, besides the sect leader Xiao Wencheng, there are eight other elders in the sect. They all reside at the Wind God Temple, where they receive offerings and incense. Each possesses immense supernatural powers and moves with great agility."

"So, besides Qianhuan, the Phantasm Sect has nine immortals stationed here!" Bai Ziqi was slightly moved. "That's more than I anticipated. It truly is an ancient True Immortal's dwelling; its defensive power is formidable."

That makes ten powerful figures, including Qianhuan.

Bai Shi continued, "They arrived by crossing through a mirror! On top of Stone Dragon Peak, there's a Haoyuan Golden Mirror. Phantasm Sect elders can travel anywhere; they just need to step into the mirror to arrive instantly!"

Bai Shiqi suddenly understood, "No wonder they arrived so quickly!"

"Once the lighthouses activated, they could no longer teleport into the barrier via the mirror; they could, at most, reach its edge." From the barrier's edge to the lakeside battlefield was several miles, so arriving Phantasm Sect members had to either walk or fly on artifacts, making it much less convenient. "The Goddess's magic is boundless; she even blocked the power of the Haotian Golden Mirror."

Otherwise, this battle would have been too difficult.

Bai Shiqi added, "With so many immortals, if they had swarmed us, we would have been hard-pressed. Fortunately, the Goddess and the Commander were incredibly resourceful, erecting a barrier to block their scrying and then causing them to disperse, allowing us to defeat them one by one!"

"The immortals won't swarm us," Bai Ziqi said. "In that case, our plan to build more lighthouses to lure and eliminate immortals can proceed with minor adjustments. Silver Pearl Island isn't large. Once the anti-phantasm zones are interconnected, we can advance to the center of the island and no longer concern ourselves with the Yakshas."

Bai Ziqi was certain that when they first entered the Upside-Down Sea, the Phantasm Sect, unaware of their full capabilities, wouldn't deploy their entire luxurious immortal lineup, opting instead for, at most, localized probes.

However, that was the Phantasm Sect's best strategic opportunity. Once missed, the Heavenly Palace would establish roots in the Upside-Down Sea, gradually eroding and absorbing the Phantasm Sect.

Didn't the Phantasm Sect intend to uncover the true strength of the Heavenly Palace's forces? Yet, the presence of the lighthouse barriers made it impossible for them to discern how many high-level combatants the Heavenly Palace had actually deployed.

Bai Ziqi's strategy of establishing lighthouses across Silver Pearl Island would effectively disperse the Phantasm Sect's immortals, preventing them from concentrating their power in a single location.

Among these so-called "great powers," very few were adept at military strategy, which conveniently allowed the Heavenly Palace to defeat them individually.

Bai Shiqi smiled, "Although these immortals are powerful, they lack experience in commanding troops in battle and are certainly no match for the Commander."

"After luring and eliminating a few immortals, we can advance to Stone Dragon Peak and destroy Qianhuan's lair." Bai Ziqi then casually asked, "By the way, have any reports come down from Stone Dragon Peak?"

"Not yet."

Bai Ziqi gazed at the northern mountains. "Stone Dragon Peak possesses the richest profound crystal reserves, but they are difficult to access."

Another quarter of an hour passed, and Bai Shi reported, "Commander, we interrogated five immortal sect disciples and finally extracted the answer you sought."

He quietly spoke a few words.

Bai Ziqi's face brightened. "What about the reserves?"

"They don't know."

"I suppose not. Why would they concern themselves with such details?" Bai Ziqi's orders were concise. "Go to the mining village and ascertain the information."

"Yes, sir."

Another team crossed through the Haoyuan Golden Mirror, entering the battlefield by the Upside-Down Lake.

The leader was, once again, a Phantasm Sect elder.

Just then, an Yingtai goat cart wound its way up the Stone Dragon Peak mountain path, reaching the summit and stopping above the plaza.

Two Phantasm Sect disciples entered the corridor and bowed to Xiao Wencheng, saying, "Sect Leader, the profound crystals have been delivered."

Xiao Wencheng didn't reply, simply waving his hand to urge them to work quickly.

Li and Wu then took the boxes from the Yingtai cart and emptied their contents into the Haoyuan Golden Mirror.

Clattering sounds ensued—

The crisp clatter of profound crystals colliding continued without end; it took over ten breaths for the entire box to be emptied.

Dong Rui secretly timed it from the side, inwardly exclaiming "holy shit" over and over. How many profound crystals must have been in that box? Pouring them directly into the Haoyuan Golden Mirror was akin to throwing them into an abyss; not even a single splash could be heard.

Only with an exceptionally abundant supply would anyone dare to be so wasteful.

The Phantasm Sect, though seemingly small, possessed wealth equivalent to, or even surpassing, several nations in the outside world. At the very least, he had never encountered any country that dared to squander profound crystals in such a manner!

Maintaining the Jinghongdu teleportation array consumed dozens of catties of profound crystals daily in Beijia, which he already found incredibly extravagant. However, compared to the Phantasm Sect, it was utterly insignificant.

Qianhuan and the Phantasm Sect had indeed amassed a vast quantity of profound crystals, which served as the fundamental resource for the Upside-Down Sea's operation. However, He Lingchuan was well aware that the Phantasm Sect's abundant supply of profound crystals was the outcome of over a century of forced exploitation of the Gold Flash Plains!

This spiritual energy rightfully belonged to all living beings of heaven and earth.

Just then, He Lingchuan suddenly felt a tremor.

His treasured blade warned him!

The Fusheng Blade was connected to his mind; it was alerting him to an anomaly.

However, the mountaintop remained quiet, with nothing new happening besides the drifting clouds and mist… Oh, wait. There was something.

He swept his gaze and spotted the third Phantasm Sect disciple descending from the Yingtai goat cart, carrying a box and also intending to pour profound crystals.

It was a boy of thirteen or fourteen; aside from his expressionless face, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But before he even reached the mirror, the Fusheng Blade vibrated once more.

It was this person!

He Lingchuan suddenly stepped two paces diagonally, blocking his path.

"What's your name?"

"Fang Qing," the boy replied, stopping and looking at He Lingchuan, then at Xiao Wencheng. "I am under Elder Liu's tutelage."

Xiao Wencheng turned his head. "What's the matter?"

He Lingchuan had no idea what was wrong, but he managed to improvise. "What's a thirteen or fourteen-year-old child doing up here?"

Fang Qing lifted the box in his hands. "I, I came up to deliver profound crystals."

Li and Wu, who had just finished pouring the profound crystals, exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with uncertainty.

"Didn't Junior Brother Fang say something different just now?"

Dong Rui instantly noticed their unspoken hesitation. "What's going on?"

"Junior Brother Fang just said that Elder Liu was looking for him..."

Senior Brother Li, who was speaking, was closest to Fang Qing. Unexpectedly, the boy suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a yellow shadow. Senior Brother Li's mouth was open at that moment, and the object was about to shoot into his throat.

With a soft 'clink,' He Lingchuan reversed the hilt of the Fusheng Blade, batting the yellow shadow to the ground.

Without a word, Fang Qing turned and fled.

Exposed, it had no further reason to remain and needed to quickly return to Upside-Down Lake to report its observations from Stone Dragon Peak.

The location of the Immortal Light Cave treasury and the mysterious mirror on Stone Dragon Peak were both crucial pieces of intelligence!

Especially this mirror—the Phantasm Sect's astounding techniques were likely all executed through it. As long as this information reached the Commander and the deities, they would surely devise suitable methods to counter the enemy.

But before he could take five steps, a handful of spider silk shot out from his side, adhering to his back and pulling him back with astonishing force.

It was Madam Zhu who had intervened.

Attempting to run past the Spider Queen was an exceedingly dangerous endeavor.

The recoil was faster than his initial sprint. Just as Fang Qing was about to be yanked back in front of the mirror, he suddenly opened his mouth, and another object shot out with a 'whoosh,' darting towards the edge of the platform with lightning speed.