Chapter 1845: We Still Have Personal Grudges

He Lingchuan used it as a shield, which also mitigated the damage he sustained from Xiao Wencheng's powerful divine ability.

Without primal energy, even wearing the Qianglong Battle Armor, he wouldn't dare to easily engage Xiao Wencheng.

After layers of reduction, it was uncertain if even two-tenths of the full power of the opponent's attack actually reached him.

However, battles between immortals, or between immortals and celestial demons, also emphasized ebb and flow, reduction, and mitigation, similar to He Lingchuan's strategy. After all, there's a limit to the strength of a flesh-and-blood body; combat tests methods and strategies.

Madam Zhu threw him a red bead:

"Eat this; it will help you heal faster."

He Lingchuan didn't say thanks. He took the bead and swallowed it, then consumed several pills made from Emperor's Nectar before sitting down to meditate and regulate his breathing.

He Lingchuan had previously obtained this kind of Spider Queen essence blood from Madam Zhu Er. If not activated to become spider soldiers or guards, it could be consumed directly to enhance primal energy and strengthen blood and Qi.

In terms of short-term efficacy, it was actually more effective than Emperor's Nectar medicine.

While he circulated his energy and regulated his breathing, his primal energy did not recede, still defending against and eradicating the invasion of the toxic thorns. When the two met, shallow bubbles fizzed and a light golden smoke steamed up.

Madam Zhu instructed everyone, including herself, to stay away. These were toxic thorns being forced out of the wounds, and anyone who got close could easily get entangled.

Although He Lingchuan's external injuries looked alarming, the most dangerous threat was actually internal. If not for the primal energy protecting his body, the decay of his internal organs would be most fatal once the toxic thorns invaded.

That would be difficult to treat, what is known as "beyond salvation."

No one present had the dense primal energy protection that He Lingchuan did, so getting entangled by the toxic thorns would be troublesome for them.

As time passed, the "gold foil" on He Lingchuan's body gradually faded, eventually shrinking into a small golden pellet. Before it hit the ground, it transformed into a small bird, flapping its wings and trying to fly towards Yaozi Lake.

This thing actually knew how to return to its master?

He Lingchuan's hand rose and fell with his blade, chopping it into a ball of golden mist, which then dissipated.

With the toxic thorns completely gone, his wounds finally began to heal faster.

At this moment, the surface of the Haoyuan Golden Mirror suddenly rippled like water, and then a blue light flashed.

He Lingchuan sensed something. His gaze narrowed slightly, and he reached out and tapped the mirror frame.

A voice suddenly came from the mirror:

"He Xiao, there is no grudge between us. Why did you travel thousands of miles to harm me!"

Everyone was startled; Ghost Ape and Lingguang's neck hair stood on end.

He Lingchuan's expression remained calm.

Only then did everyone recognize that the voice from the mirror belonged to Thousand Illusion.

The Haoyuan Golden Mirror was connected to the Upside-Down Sea's law network, meaning Thousand Illusion could also communicate with him, just as he transmitted messages to Xiao Wencheng and other Illusion Sect immortals.

But the one who communicated with He Lingchuan had always been Xiao Wencheng, not Thousand Illusion—

Until now.

Through the Haoyuan Golden Mirror, He Lingchuan knew that this conversation could not be overheard by other members of the Illusion Sect.

As a True Immortal, Thousand Illusion had always presented an aloof and indifferent image, only now showing a gnashing of teeth.

Everyone was focused on the battle within the Isolated Dragon City, knowing that Thousand Illusion was now at his wits' end and could only grasp a slim chance of survival by preemptively killing the Shadow Dragon.

Dong Rui's heart stirred. "Wait a minute," he thought. "Thousand Illusion actually has another option—"

Directly pleading with He Lingchuan.

Within the Sea of Consciousness, one of the key points in Thousand Illusion's conversation with Miao Zhantian was the Grand Cauldron. Dong Rui had also heard it clearly.

Thousand Illusion must have realized that, to some extent, no matter how powerful the Grand Cauldron was, it could only affect the Upside-Down Sea through He Xiao.

Therefore, if He Xiao was willing to let him go, could he persuade the Grand Cauldron to open a passage in Isolated Dragon City and give Thousand Illusion a way out?

This was likely the reason Thousand Illusion suddenly sent a voice message to He Lingchuan.

At this critical juncture of life and death, he could only try to revive a dead horse, as it were.

From Thousand Illusion's perspective, he felt incredibly wronged. He had been perfectly well, cultivating in seclusion in his small grotto-heaven, and hadn't provoked He Lingchuan. Yet, this person had brought Miao Zhantian and the Celestial Palace to his doorstep, seizing his body and coveting his foundation, intending to uproot the very lifeline of the Illusion Sect.

He had no grievance or enmity with this junior; why should he suffer such an unexpected calamity?

He Lingchuan simply asked him calmly:

"Were you present on the day Dragon City fell?"

This question had lingered in his mind for a long time, ever since he learned that the Great Evolution Heavenly Pearl had fallen into Thousand Illusion's hands.

Now, he finally had the chance to question a True Immortal!

The information Thousand Illusion deduced was quite rich. He Lingchuan's sudden question indicated that he not only had the Grand Cauldron as his backing but also had ties to Dragon City.

This was definitely not good news for Thousand Illusion.

"That dead city vanished more than a hundred years ago," Thousand Illusion said. "If you just get the Grand Cauldron to unlock the passage, I promise you..."

He was an ancient True Immortal, one of the rulers of Spirit Mountain!

Both in cultivation and status, he was rarely matched in the world.

If He Lingchuan wanted to achieve great success or if Yangshan Archipelago wanted to grow strong, for him, it would be as easy as snapping his fingers—

Provided he could survive this calamity today.

He Lingchuan directly interrupted him. "First, answer my question," he said. "Where were you on the day Dragon City fell? Did you add fuel to the fire?"

"Who do you take me for?" Thousand Illusion said angrily. "When Dragon City fell, I was far away in Spirit Mountain! How could I have been there! The spiritual energy of heaven and earth wasn't abundant then; how could I personally travel to the Dragon Wasteland?"

For a True Immortal to emerge, it's like a giant whale going out to sea. If the spiritual energy isn't abundant enough or the water isn't deep enough, they can easily get stranded.

"The Great Evolution Heavenly Pearl was originally embedded in the Dragon City wall. How did you get your hands on it?"

"The Baling general who breached the city quietly collected it, and later, the Baling Kingdom presented it to me!" Thousand Illusion said quickly. "Small kingdoms like Baling and Yao are always opportunistic and wavering; on the surface, they pledge allegiance to Beijia, but secretly maintain ties with Spirit Mountain."

"How did the Baling Kingdom know you wanted the Great Evolution Heavenly Pearl?"

How chaotic was the scene on the day Dragon City fell? Assuming Thousand Illusion himself wasn't there, how could he ensure that what he wanted would definitely be obtained afterward?

Thousand Illusion said, "The Baling Kingdom didn't know at the time. It was Spirit Mountain that found out the Great Evolution Heavenly Pearl had fallen into Baling's possession. That's how..."

A cold smile bloomed on He Lingchuan's lips. "As expected of True Immortal Thousand Illusion," he said. "On the verge of death, you still can't tell two true words."

Judging by Miao Zhantian's attitude, this Grand Celestial Demon knew nothing about the Great Evolution Heavenly Pearl.

Even Miao Zhantian didn't have information about the Great Evolution Heavenly Pearl. How did Thousand Illusion know?

Was there really such a coincidence in the world?

"What I said..."

He Lingchuan interrupted again. "The Thunder Response Spear was originally General Hong's weapon," he asked. "How did it later fall into the hands of the founding emperor of the Mou Kingdom?"

This was also a question that had bothered him for a long time.

Thousand Illusion was displeased. "You're unwilling to help me," he retorted. "Why should I clear your doubts?"

He felt no sincerity in He Lingchuan's negotiation.

Miao Zhantian had once proposed cooperation to He Lingchuan but had been greatly rebuffed. At this moment, Thousand Illusion could actually empathize with his frustration.

He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow. "Give me a straightforward answer," he said, "and I'll give you a straightforward reply."

Thousand Illusion had no choice but to say, "After the great battle that day, that weapon was obtained by Hundred-Battle Heaven, who later bestowed it upon Wuji, a general of Beijia. A few years later, Wuji was killed by Xin Wuhuan in the Iron Willow Forest of the Shazhou River Basin, and the Thunder Response Spear changed hands again."

Xin Wuhuan was the ancestor of the founding emperor of the Mou Kingdom, another True Immortal of Spirit Mountain, True Immortal Wuhuan.

Thousand Illusion was probably very familiar with him, casually referring to him by name and not using his honorific title.

He Lingchuan frowned slightly. "Don't tell me," he said, "that the Celestial Demon who killed General Hong was Hundred-Battle Heaven!"

This was somewhat different from what he had expected. But by this point, Thousand Illusion seemingly had no reason to conceal the truth for Mou Kingdom's founding ancestor.

"By himself, how could he have such ability?" Thousand Illusion said angrily, as the situation within the Sea of Consciousness became increasingly perilous. "I have already answered your question!"

"Alright, then I'll give you a straightforward reply too," He Lingchuan said, not beating around the bush. "The lockdown of Isolated Dragon City is the will of the Grand Cauldron; I will not interfere!"

By himself, how could he be qualified to tamper with a True Immortal's Sea of Consciousness?

Locking down Isolated Dragon City and turning it into a dueling ground for a True Immortal and a Grand Celestial Demon—this was the Grand Cauldron's doing!

"If you had faced Miao Zhantian in your own Sea of Consciousness, then nothing would have happened, and no one could have harmed you," He Lingchuan said calmly. "You insisted on valuing your life, on borrowing strength, and even thought of killing two birds with one stone, letting Miao Zhantian and the Shadow Dragon of Isolated Dragon City weaken each other so you could claim Isolated Dragon City. Heh, this current turn of events is your own doing!"

If you only think of gaining advantages, there will always be a time when you suffer losses.

He had long since seen that Thousand Illusion's nature was like this: always liking to use others as shields and to profit from behind others. Now that he had met He Lingchuan and the Grand Cauldron, who were even better at playing it safe, he suffered a huge loss.

Without waiting for Thousand Illusion to speak, He Lingchuan immediately continued, "You True Immortals have used all living beings as shields, hiding from celestial demons for too long. Now, with a Grand Celestial Demon finally trapped in your Sea of Consciousness, can't you be a bit tougher and personally eliminate this scourge for this realm?"

He believed this was also the will of the Grand Cauldron, because simply escaping could not solve the problem.

He Lingchuan had pretty much figured out that True Immortals like Thousand Illusion, by seizing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, still possessed earth-shattering abilities in the present day. Yet, they always cowered within their grotto-heavens, cautiously preserving themselves and abandoning the fate of all living beings to the celestial demons!

No wonder Miao Zhantian, when capturing them, used the words "digging out holes."

These Grand Celestial Demons also despised them from the bottom of their hearts.

Thousand Illusion was furious. "You want me to kill Miao Zhantian," he spat, "but why did you also activate the Shadow Dragon's malevolence?"

This brat's words were grand and righteous, but in reality, he was secretly pulling strings—incredibly despicable!

He Lingchuan smiled.

As expected of Thousand Illusion, even when at his wits' end, his mind was still so clear, not swayed by He Lingchuan's words.

So He Lingchuan spoke bluntly: "That's naturally because we still have a private grievance!"

"You are but an unknown junior! What private grievance could I have with you!" Thousand Illusion roared. "Don't even mention Dragon City; that's an old affair from more than 150 years ago!"

His divine soul trembled, and a great wind immediately swept through the Upside-Down Sea.

"Alright, then allow me to reintroduce myself." He Lingchuan straightened his back amidst the howling wind. His right hand clenched into a fist, thumb tapping his chest—

"I, He Lingchuan, am the Tigerwing General of Dragon City!"