Chapter 64: Myriad Phenomena

The soul of the Profound Water Black Snake, though having repelled the combined forces of Luo Cheng and the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun, was in no better shape itself; covered in severe wounds, it triggered a violent flash flood.

In the blink of an eye, the Profound Black Mountain Range was engulfed in rolling clouds, howling winds, pouring rain, and flashes of lightning.

Boulders tumbled down the slopes, and cliff faces collapsed in rapid succession.

Muddy torrents rushed downward, towering ancient trees were uprooted, and churning mud filled the mountain streams.

The Goguryeo scouts, those who could run, cursed their parents for not giving them two pairs of wings; otherwise, they would not have been in such a wretched state.

Those who could not run fell to their knees, facing the howling gale and torrential rain, kowtowing repeatedly as they cried, "The mountain god is wrathful!"

The various military-agricultural training squads of the Great Sui Divine Empire hurriedly retreated into the Three Thousand Mountains.

The demonic souls, however, moved even faster than the training squads.

Instantly, the Three Thousand Mountains became lively once more as the number of demonic souls surged abruptly.

The demonic souls of the Profound Black Mountain Range scattered and fled; while the majority rushed toward the Three Thousand Mountains, a small portion also bolted into the territory of Goguryeo.

No one knew that deep within the Profound Water Black River, a dilapidated stone tablet inscribed with the two characters "Senluo" suddenly shattered.

wisps of black qi drifted out, and a shadowy figure wearing a black python robe, whose true visage remained obscured, quietly appeared.

It slowly drifted into midair, raised its head to gaze at the Profound Black Mountain Range, blocked the fleeing soul of the Profound Water Black Snake, and let out an ancient, furious roar: "Useless trash, losing your composure over so little."

"Lord Palace Master, it was triggered by the Vermilion Bird aura," the soul of the Profound Water Black Snake hurriedly pleaded for mercy.

Within the Ten Thousand Snake Valley, although the entity was merely a split soul rather than the true body of the Profound Water Black Snake, the true body could still feel the terror of this fragment.

The shattering of even a single head could affect the true body, leaving it with only eight heads remaining.

In a fit of rage, the soul of the Profound Water Black Snake urgently needed malevolent Qi to heal its wounds, which was why it had triggered the flash flood and rolling mudslides.

How could it have possibly imagined that this would summon the Palace Master of the Senluo Palace.

The Palace Master of the Senluo Palace had been suppressed for many years by the power of the Great Sui Divine Empire's national fortune dragon, rendering him completely unable to enter the tens of thousands of miles of Great Sui territory.

This time, he had managed with great difficulty to approach the Three Thousand Mountains, intending to sneak in under the radar.

Never had he expected that the soul of the Profound Water Black Snake would ruin his grand plan.

With nowhere to vent his anger, he let out a light sigh, "Hold the Profound Black Mountain Range for me. By whatever means necessary, prevent the army of the Great Sui Divine Empire from entering."

"Lord Palace Master, what about you?" Seeing a sliver of hope for survival, the soul of the Profound Water Black Snake hurriedly asked.

"Hmph, do not expect the Great Sui to rest easy," the Palace Master of the Senluo Palace sneered coldly. "Just because this Palace Master cannot enter does not mean others from the Senluo Palace cannot accomplish things."

"Respectfully sending off the Palace Master," chanted the remaining eight heads in unison as the soul of the Profound Water Black Snake frantically fell to its knees.

Peeking sideways, the Palace Master of the Senluo Palace drifted toward the northern region of the Great Sui Divine Empire.

Yet wisps of black qi continuously poured into the interior of the Great Sui Divine Empire.

Meanwhile, at the Demon-Suppressing Abyss, undercurrents surged, water levels rose wildly, and ferocious waves battered both banks.

At last, the river embankments cracked, floodwaters surged outward, and the deluge ran rampant.

As the Divine Emperor Yang Guang stepped into the Demon-Suppressing Grand Camp, before he had even settled his seat upon the dragon throne,

Prince Yue, Yang Xuangan, hurried over and reported, "Divine Emperor, the Demon-Suppressing Abyss has breached its embankments, and the major prefectures along the way have suffered severe disaster."

Yuwen Shu seized the opportunity to speak up, "Divine Emperor, my unworthy son Huaji has already returned to the Divine Capital and can take charge of this matter."

"Yuwen Huaji?"

Divine Emperor Yang Guang narrowed his eyes slightly. "Let Us ponder this for a moment."

"Divine Emperor, the disaster is grave and admits no delay," Yang Xuangan said, cupping his hands in haste. "The breach at the Demon-Suppressing Abyss must be rebuilt; otherwise, provisions cannot be transported, and the grand enterprise of subjugating demons will be obstructed."

"Prince Yue, do you also agree to let Yuwen Huaji shoulder this heavy responsibility?" Divine Emperor Yang Guang asked, casting a sidelong glance.

Yang Xuangan explained with a helpless expression, "Divine Emperor, the other officials are all fully engaged in assisting the campaign against the demonic souls and cannot spare themselves. Only Yuwen Huaji has been idle for many years, and at present, people are precisely what is needed."

"In that case, Lord Yuwen, let your son Huaji serve as the Director-General of Disaster Relief." Divine Emperor Yang Guang narrowed his eyes, offering a deeply meaningful warning, "The people are the foundation of the state; do not be slack."

"Your decree is obeyed," Yuwen Shu hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude.

Divine Emperor Yang Guang dismissed all the attendants, leaving behind only Yang Xuangan. "How is that brat?"

"The true body of the Profound Water Black Snake soul has been located; Prince of Beiping's heir Luo Cheng and the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun were no match for it," Yang Xuangan immediately produced the dossier he had prepared in advance.

Divine Emperor Yang Guang examined it closely, nodding repeatedly. "To be able to find the weakness of the Profound Water Black Snake soul and lop off one of its heads—Prince of Beiping's heir Luo Cheng is truly extraordinary in his innate talent."

After pondering for a moment, he said, "Reward him with the Five-Hook Divine Flying Bright Silver Spear. And what of that brat?"

"Does the Divine Emperor wish to summon him?" Yang Xuangan hastily replied, "He has already returned and is fast asleep in the Lingyan Pavilion of the Heavenly Medical Valley."

"We cannot let him sleep. Send him out to investigate covertly," Divine Emperor Yang Guang said with a smile. "The 'All-Encompassing Senluo' of the Senluo Palace's Master has been unleashed."

"All-Encompassing Senluo?" Yang Xuangan was momentarily stunned.

"Indeed. The breach at the Demon-Suppressing Abyss was caused precisely by this."

Divine Emperor Yang Guang pushed open the window and looked out toward the distant Demon-Suppressing Abyss, which wound like a black dragon.

Wisps of black qi emanated from it; invisible to others, but to him—who bore the might of the Great Sui's national fortune dragon, his eyes flashing with golden light—it was crystal clear.

Yang Xuangan was dumbfounded. "Are the fires of war about to ignite across tens of thousands of miles of territory?"

Aside from the lineage of Heavenly Medicine, only the Divine Emperor was aware of the matters concerning the Senluo Palace.

Yang Xuangan had originally been in the dark, but the Divine Emperor had made it explicitly clear to him; not only him, but the Prince of Propps was also well aware.

Taking back the Purple-Gold Medical Token openly while secretly having Ling Xuan establish the Lingyan Pavilion was a decision jointly deliberated and agreed upon by the three of them.

Ling Xuan had lived up to expectations by finding the true body of the Profound Water Black Snake soul and severing one of its heads, a feat known only to them.

To sever a head of the Profound Water Black Snake soul—which had devoured the power of the Great Sui Divine Empire's national fortune dragon—required nothing less than the peerless arts of Heavenly Medicine.

Even though Prince of Beiping's heir Luo Cheng had led the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun into battle against the Profound Water Black Snake soul and been repelled,

Divine Emperor Yang Guang did not wish to bestow such merit directly upon Ling Xuan; instead, he credited this great achievement to Luo Cheng, the heir of the Prince of Beiping.

After all, Luo Cheng's renown had long been established outside.

Furthermore, the true purpose of the Lingyan Pavilion could not be exposed just yet.

Regardless of whether Ling Xuan knew about the Senluo Palace or not, he must not be subjected to excessive attention at this moment.

Yet the covert benefits would certainly not be lacking.

Divine Emperor Yang Guang opened his eyes wide. "The Purple Firmament Divine Flute is destroyed; then We shall send that brat another divine weapon."

"What shall we send?"

Yang Xuangan was slightly dazed.

The Purple Firmament Divine Flute was precisely the divine weapon the Divine Emperor had previously instructed him to deliver to Ling Xuan.

Regarding Ling Xuan's possession of the Great Shikigami, the Spirit Snake Entwining the Moon, Yang Xuangan had originally been ignorant.

Yet the Divine Emperor was well aware of it, and moreover knew of Ye Ziyan's identity as a former Chen royal family member.

Even the method of utilizing that drop of blood to condense the Purple Phoenix phantom and monitor Ye Ziyan had been suggested by the Divine Emperor.

Such matters filled Yang Xuangan with ever-deepening curiosity: just what kind of scheme was being hatched by the Divine Emperor, who had always projected an image of debauchery, fondness for wine, and unrestrained absurdity?

It seemed the Divine Emperor not only knew that Ling Xuan possessed the Spirit Snake Entwining the Moon, but also knew the identities of the hosts of the other great shikigami.

Now, placing such heavy trust in Ling Xuan was undoubtedly an attempt to bring the twelve great shikigami under the control of the Great Sui Divine Empire, safeguarding the enduring stability of the Great Sui for generations to come.