Chapter 1772: Both Sides Scheming

However, all the deductions above are based on the assumption that the Illusion Sect adopts the first plan. For his next question, He Lingchuan switched to sign language: "Do you know why I had the Illusion Sect immortals attack in dispersed groups, even though concentrating their power could destroy the lighthouse?"

At the lakeside battlefield, he deployed a maximum of three Illusion Sect immortals.

Although there were five immortals at the Banqiu battlefield, three were near the lighthouse and two (including Granny Zhu) were in the mine, so none were grouped together.

After defeating the God of Myriad Travels and True Immortal Jieshui, Granny Zhu briefly went to assist at the Banqiu lighthouse. However, as soon as the Goddess Fenghou was killed, He Lingchuan quickly recalled her, never allowing her to stay at Banqiu for too long.

Granny Zhu and Dong Rui both shook their heads. Unlike He Lingchuan, whose mind worked in complex ways, they couldn't possibly guess the reason.

"Because of Miaozhantian!" He Lingchuan gestured. "Its willingness to extract the Inverted Sea means it came prepared. Since the war between immortals and demons began, it has always been wary of Qianhuan and hasn't personally intervened. But if the bait is tempting enough, it's hard to guarantee it won't be moved to act."

Granny Zhu realized, "No wonder you said that if Illusion Sect immortals gathered to attack the Banqiu lighthouse, they could easily be wiped out in one fell swoop."

"There's strength in numbers; their view is not wrong, and neither is their mockery of me. The 'wiped out in one fell swoop' idea was just something I made up. I can't imagine how Miaozhantian could kill four or five immortals simultaneously, but if it does act, it will be with overwhelming force. The Illusion Sect immortals would suffer significant losses, and the balance of power between the Heavenly Palace and the Illusion Sect would likely be broken."

"Even if Miaozhantian can't eliminate the Illusion Sect immortals, it doesn't matter," He Lingchuan shrugged. "If the Banqiu lighthouse is destroyed, the Heavenly Palace's advance will be slowed down, which we would also be happy to see. No matter how you look at it, we won't lose out."

This battle was between the Illusion Sect and the Heavenly Palace; more deeply, it was between Qianhuan and Miaozhantian. He Lingchuan and his group were merely spectators. As long as they didn't stick their necks out, they could navigate freely between both sides.

"Besides, I've created such a good opportunity for Bai Ziqi. If he can't seize it and ends up losing, he can't blame me."

To some extent, he might have been the person who trusted Bai Ziqi the most within the Inverted Sea. Dong Rui found his smile a little unsettling.

After scheming against the Heavenly Palace, he then turned to scheme against the Illusion Sect. Those whom He Lingchuan had marked in his mental ledger were pitiable and unaware.

Dong Rui also gestured, asking He Lingchuan, "Is there anyone you and Bai Ziqi can't handle when you team up?"

He Lingchuan thought seriously for a moment: "Within the Inverted Sea, probably not."

Xiao Wencheng then sought out He Lingchuan and the others to enter Wenhua Pavilion again.

The elders had already left, and peace had returned to the pavilion.

Seeing his grim expression, He Lingchuan asked, "What happened just now?" "A traitor secretly entered the Immortal Radiance Cave, stole mysterious crystals, and transported some of them out."

He Lingchuan and Dong Rui exchanged glances. A traitor so soon? The Heavenly Palace hadn't even been in the Inverted Sea for a full night.

"Significant losses?"

"Not small," Xiao Wencheng replied with a grave expression. "But he didn't steal everything." *He*? Just one traitor causing trouble?

This extremely unfortunate incident at the Immortal Radiance Cave solidified Xiao Wencheng's resolve. They had finally gained the upper hand, but the Heavenly Palace had inexplicably acquired over sixty thousand catties of high-grade mysterious crystals. Who knew what they would do with them? The Heavenly Palace's methods were truly flexible, while their own people were restless.

He Lingchuan said gravely, "Wait, these mysterious crystals have already fallen into the Heavenly Palace's hands?" Immortals valued their reputation; if he said "not small losses," the stolen amount of mysterious crystals must have been astonishing.

"Yes. They used bottomless bags enhanced with divine magic. What was stolen here was instantly received at the lakeside lighthouse; no transport was needed in between."

"No wonder!" He Lingchuan realized. "With these mysterious crystals, Bai Ziqi will have the resources to raise the Banqiu lighthouse higher!"

"As long as the Banqiu lighthouse's range continues to expand and connects with the second lighthouse, he'll be able to move all ground troops from the lakeside there!" He Lingchuan deduced in an instant. "Once they occupy Banqiu, they'll be practically at the foot of Stone Dragon Mountain!" Even without playing their final trump card, the Heavenly Palace was steadily advancing towards the Illusion Sect's base. With these mysterious crystals, they could take a significant leap forward.

Even without using Miaozhantian's power, the Heavenly Palace was close to reaching the foot of Stone Dragon Peak.

"A single traitor can rewrite the battle situation on Silver Pearl Island?"

Xiao Wencheng sighed, "We've decided to launch an all-out assault on the Banqiu lighthouse." Dong Rui immediately glanced at He Lingchuan, signaling "You were right again."

He Lingchuan nodded solemnly. "I wish your sect great success."

Excellent. As long as Bai Ziqi and Miaozhantian made a move, the pace of the Inverted Sea battle would accelerate.

Xiao Wencheng then said, "I'd like to request the help of the Spider Queen to assist in attacking the Banqiu lighthouse again."

This cave spider queen was not only brave but also very experienced in combat, making her an extremely valuable asset at the moment. The Illusion Sect wanted to capture Banqiu in one go, so the more immortals participating, the better.

He Lingchuan immediately asked, "Are there elders guarding the other lighthouses?" "Yes, there are."

"Granny Zhu can fight, but she'll only go to the lakeside battlefield," He Lingchuan said promptly. "Sect Master Xiao knows how to arrange it."

His concerns were unconcealed, and Xiao Wencheng's heart sank, but since the sect had already made a decision, he found it difficult to change it.

"Alright." The Spider Immortal was not a member of the Illusion Sect, so even if Xiao Wencheng was displeased, he couldn't force the issue. He immediately transferred Elder Su from the lakeside battlefield to Banqiu and had the cave spider queen fill the void at the lakeside battlefield.

He Lingchuan gave Granny Zhu a few instructions, and she promptly jumped into the Haoyuan Golden Mirror and went to roam around the Inverted Lake.

With no one else in Wenhua Pavilion, He Lingchuan smiled at Xiao Wencheng and said, "I thought Sect Master Xiao would have the elders carry the Haoyuan Golden Mirror to Banqiu."

Illusion Sect disciples, who inherited the teachings of Qianhuan, were all confined within the rules of the Inverted Sea. By themselves, they could not easily destroy the Haoyuan Golden Mirror.

Xiao Wencheng's expression was a little bitter. "It can't be moved in. The Haoyuan Golden Mirror represents the laws of the Inverted Sea and cannot be brought into Miaozhantian's lighthouse barrier."

He Lingchuan understood. Right, why did Miaozhantian erect a lighthouse barrier? It was to keep the laws of the Inverted Sea out. So the mirror could be activated anywhere, except within its barrier.

Miaozhantian's barrier was truly growing more powerful.

Dong Rui, however, winked at He Lingchuan, as if to say, "Wow, that old guy actually tried it!" If Qianhuan emerged from seclusion, he wondered if Qianhuan would scold Xiao Wencheng for being an unworthy disciple.

Upon receiving news of the Goddess Fenghou's death, Bai Ziqi's heart sank to rock bottom once again.

Including the God of Myriad Travels and True Immortal Jieshui, who went missing in the mine, the Heavenly Palace had already lost five powerful figures on this trip to the Inverted Sea without even seeing Qianhuan's face, far exceeding their own estimates.