Chapter 1754: Digital Game

The opponent, disguised as Elder Luo, intended to trick Peng Qi, collect the Black Crystals, and even had twenty-six or twenty-seven items prepared.

If our side had acted even a moment later, Luo Xie would certainly have died, and the Celestial Palace would likely have obtained over a thousand catties of Black Crystals.

These were currently the most crucial supply materials.

Xiao Wencheng suddenly transmitted a message to He Lingchuan and others through the Haoyuan Golden Mirror: "Elder Liu, who slipped out of the Companion Hill barrier, sent back intelligence. The Celestial Palace team has erected several layers of vine walls beneath the lighthouse, with giant venomous snakes slithering back and forth among them. These things seem to have grown from a large basket, and they are especially sensitive to ground vibrations. If Elder Liu hadn't employed some tactics, the disciples would have been discovered long ago. Therefore, at least one Immortal guards the Companion Hill lighthouse."

Countless venomous snakes and giant vines emerging from a flower basket?

Coincidentally, He Lingchuan had seen this set of divine abilities before.

"Feng He Goddess!" he immediately declared. "The one attached to Reverend Dihyun is Feng He Goddess, a subordinate deity under the seat of Miaozhan Heaven. She sent down an avatar to the Yao King's Palace, but it was killed by Immortal Venerable Qianhuan's external manifestation. One of her signature abilities is the divine art of Spatial Folding."

Since he and the Immortals were temporarily on the same side, he proactively shared the information with the Illusion Sect.

"So that's Feng He Goddess? Good." The elders now understood.

Feng He Goddess was not considered one of the most combative deities, but her divine art of Spatial Folding was very well-known; Xiao Wencheng had heard of it more than once.

With more intelligence, there would be more strategies for the battle.

Elder Liu asked on behalf of Sect Master Xiao: "When do we act at the lighthouse?"

With their people already infiltrated, the elders on Companion Hill watched the Celestial Palace's lighthouse grow taller and taller, its coverage expanding rapidly, almost enveloping the mine pit, which made them quite anxious.

"Don't rush, it's not time yet," He Lingchuan stated, having his own calculations. "Until the battle begins, the lighthouse serves no purpose. However, maintaining the barrier consumes energy, and making the lighthouse grow taller consumes even more. There's no harm in letting the Celestial Palace team waste more Black Crystals."

That logic seemed sound, didn't it? Although the Immortals subtly felt something was still amiss.

He Lingchuan chuckled inwardly; of course, something was amiss. But he wouldn't say it outright, only asking, "Have you ascertained the forces around Bai Ziqi?"

The Immortals and demons had been fighting for so long that he was well aware of the Illusion Sect's strength. However, due to the lighthouse barrier, it had been difficult to accurately estimate how many powerful beings the Sky Demons had brought in. Inquiries with captured prisoners had yielded vague answers; no one knew for sure—nor should they.

"Currently, three demon immortals have appeared and fought for the Celestial Palace, and there are seven suspected Immortals possessed by Sky Demons. When we previously concentrated our forces to destroy the lighthouse, we already killed two Immortals or Sky Demons." The term "suspected" meant that the Illusion Sect also couldn't ascertain whether these Immortals were their true forms or had been descended upon by Sky Demons, as it wasn't discernible from appearance alone. "It's not out of the question that there are hidden masters around Bai Ziqi. Heh, that's a certainty."

Neither the Illusion Sect nor Bai Ziqi would reveal all their trump cards at this stage.

"Eight Immortal-level opponents." He Lingchuan mused, adding, "In battles at this level, you clearly have the advantage."

In terms of average strength, the Celestial Palace's Immortals were not as skilled as those of the Illusion Sect.

Even among Immortals, there were variations in cultivation levels.

"This is the basis of my plan," He Lingchuan said seriously. "The Companion Hill lighthouse must be destroyed. We need to disperse the powerful beings guarding the tower as much as possible and defeat them one by one. Therefore, the battle at the spiritual mine must begin before the major fight at the lighthouse can commence."

Until then, everyone should remain calm.

Elder Liu relayed Elder Liu's question:

"Will the Celestial Palace definitely send demon immortals or Immortals to occupy this mine?"

"Yes," He Lingchuan answered without hesitation. "Bai Ziqi always acts cautiously. The spiritual mine is his direct objective for building the lighthouse, and he cannot afford any mishap. He will definitely send Immortals to guard it."

"Currently, there are only eight powerful beings from the Celestial Palace accounted for, including the demon immortals. At least three must be stationed at the lakeside battlefield to maintain control. The second lighthouse must have at least two guardians; we might not attack it, but they definitely have to defend it, otherwise the second lighthouse, built with such effort, might be extinguished."

Building a base wasn't entirely advantageous; having territory meant allocating personnel to guard it.

"Therefore, Bai Ziqi can only dispatch three powerful beings to Companion Hill," He Lingchuan explained, counting on his fingers. "Even if there are two more powerful beings hidden around Bai Ziqi and they are all dispatched here, that makes a total of five. I believe you can fight them, but it will certainly be a struggle."

The elders fell silent, acknowledging the realism of He Lingchuan's analysis.

"If we can tie down the powerful beings he sends to occupy the mine and excavate, then you elders can move freely on Companion Hill."

The Immortals then remained silent, tacitly agreeing to his method.

After another dozen breaths, Xiao Wencheng's voice rang out again:

"The Celestial Palace has sent eight individuals; they have arrived at the mine entrance. Be careful."

They're here, a chill ran through everyone's hearts.

Soon, the small scout Zhu Daniang had placed outside the cave also spotted them.

There were eight arrivals in total—no, there were nine.

Just as they stood still, something leaped from one of their shoulders and transformed into a colossal creature upon landing.

"That old thing is still alive?" Zhu Daniang's voice was full of surprise. It truly hadn't expected to see a familiar face in this isolated True Immortal's abode. "It actually joined Miaozhan Heaven?"

He Lingchuan and Dong Rui shared the eyeball spider's vision and also saw Zhu Daniang's old acquaintance.

This was not a human, but a giant lizard with a yellow base and dark red patterns!

At first glance, it resembled a crocodile, but its snout was more slender, its tongue was forked, and its movements were far more agile than those of a crocodile demon. It not only walked like a gust of wind but could also easily brush its long tail tip against one's eyelids.

"After this fellow became an Immortal, it called itself 'Jieshui True Person.' It's actually a fire giant lizard that lives in volcanic lava, and all its abilities are related to fire!" Zhu Daniang chuckled. "Before it became an Immortal, my sister suffered at its hands and had a leg bitten off."

What an ancient grudge. Dong Rui smiled, signing to her, "Do you want to avenge Second Mother?"

"What's there to say when one's skills are inferior?" But Zhu Daniang was eager to fight, flicking her front claws. "I hadn't heard anything about it for a very long time; I thought it had long since turned into lizard jerky. I never expected it to be working for Miaozhan Heaven."

"It probably didn't come from Beijia but was originally lurking in some corner of the Blazing Gold Plain. There are many powerful demons in Blazing Gold; Miaozhan Heaven has really unearthed all its forces there," Zhu Daniang remarked with a click of her tongue. "Oh, and besides this old lizard, that big-headed man also appears to be at the Immortal level, but I don't know his name. There were too many wild Immortals in ancient times."

She was referring to a short man.