Chapter 121: Detention and Immobilization

The three outside fled in three different directions, moving at speeds that far exceeded the martial arts limits of their current bodies. One of them stumbled and fell directly to the ground after running dozens of yards, not because they tripped, but due to another surge of demonic thought and energy leaving their body.

‘They’re just going to slip away, just like that?’

Ji Yuan frowned, having clearly underestimated the deterrent power of the "God-Restraining Spell." At the same moment, he took a step forward, as if shrinking the ground beneath his feet, pursuing one of the figures.

Although Ji Yuan had realized he didn't actually possess any means to capture the three demons alive, he could at least try.

Though the martial artist possessed by the demonic thought moved swiftly, they were still no match for Ji Yuan's speed and were caught within a dozen steps.

As the person fled, it seemed as if they were shattering the curtain of rain, while Ji Yuan, in pursuit, moved as though raindrops merely slid past him.

Before he even got close to the person, droplets of rain around Ji Yuan had already formed dozens of streams of water, coiling into a spiral.

As Ji Yuan flicked his sleeve, like an immortal guiding the way, this ring of water instantly shot through the falling rain, enveloping the martial artist, whose demonic energy was surging, from above.

With a whoosh, the water streams tightened like steel cables.

Bang!

Caught off guard, the martial artist lost his balance and fell onto the mountain path, rolling several times along the path due to momentum and splashing up a great deal of water. The water streams, binding him like ropes, rendered him immobile.

Seeing that the body could not escape, the demonic energy on him surged immediately, as he intended to flee the physical form.

Ji Yuan arrived, stepping through the rain curtain. Upon seeing this, he was momentarily at a loss, but then steeled himself and used an immature idea as a spell.

His command, imbued with a trace of profound yellow energy, resonated as he pointed a finger towards the fallen martial artist.

“Freeze!”

Instantly, the martial artist's body stiffened at the sound, as if all functions had ceased. The surging demonic energy was locked within his physical body, leaving only fearful eyes watching Ji Yuan slowly approach.

‘It actually worked?’

Ji Yuan felt a slight dizziness, but even with his current state of mind, he was still extremely excited internally. Though it seemed he had only frozen a minor character, what did that matter?

This was an immobilization spell! Neither the *Tongming Scroll* nor the *Heretic Transmission* contained records of such a spell. Ji Yuan had only ever seen something like it in the *Journey to the West* TV series in his previous life.

Well, Ji Yuan also knew that this unconventional spell was far from the immobilization spell he remembered from his previous life. At present, it was merely a command spell that severed the demonic energy's influence on the physical body and sealed the demonic energy within.

But it was enough to show Ji Yuan a possible path forward!

The remaining two demons had by then escaped a considerable distance, especially the one whose demonic energy had fled, soaring into the sky. Ji Yuan had no means to reach them.

However, while he couldn't capture them, eliminating them would be simple.

From the current situation, it seemed less like these three were full demons and more like they were merely three dense and unique wisps of demonic thought. Moreover, their demonic energy appeared to originate from the same source, so keeping more or less of it made little difference.

Without further thought, Ji Yuan turned his head and softly addressed the Azure Vine Sword.

“Go.”

The sound of the sword leaving its sheath was accompanied by a flash of sword light, which in the very next instant caught up to the demonic energy and shattered it with a cold gleam. The sword light then sliced towards another direction, and with a swift turn in the mountains, the other person, who was frantically fleeing with light-footed techniques, suddenly collapsed from their high-speed dash into the rain, skidding a long distance against the rocks.

Soon after, Ji Yuan returned, carrying the person possessed by demonic energy, who was still bound by the water streams.

The mist in front of the Mountain God Temple had long since dispersed, revealing a hunched-over monster wearing an ill-fitting short jacket, with furry hands and feet, and a prominent protrusion on its forehead.

At that moment, the monster stood trembling by the temple entrance, not daring to breathe. Seeing Ji Yuan return and look at it, it immediately held its breath, then, as if realizing something, it quickly spoke.

“Banana… Banana Leaf Mountain’s Mountain God, Gong Muhua, greets the Immortal Elder and is ready to serve!”

As it spoke, it awkwardly mimicked a human's cupped-hand salute.

Having already frightened the entity and proving his God-Restraining spell effective, Ji Yuan, not one to take advantage or gloat, casually tossed the person he held into the temple and hastily returned the "Mountain God's" salute.

“Mountain God Gong, no need for formalities. I took the liberty of summoning you because I need your help with something…”

As he spoke, Ji Yuan pointed to the unconscious boy.

“This child's soul is likely fleeing through Banana Leaf Mountain. It's possible that someone possessed by demonic thoughts is still pursuing it. Please bring the child's soul back. As for those corrupted by demonic energy, something else will deal with them.”

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, the returning Azure Vine Sword materialized.

Although the Banana Leaf Mountain "Mountain God" couldn't see the Azure Vine Sword, it had heard the sword's hum and seen its light moments ago. Now, seeing the immortal sword by Ji Yuan's side, it dared not hesitate upon hearing Ji Yuan's command.

“Understood, Immortal Elder! This humble deity will go at once!”

After saying this, the monster's form transformed into mist and it vanished into the mountain wall ahead. The Azure Vine Sword, sensing the Mountain God's movement, also flew into the sky in pursuit.

Inside the Mountain God Temple, Mo Tong and the others had been speechless since the sudden events began, staring blankly at the changes occurring at the temple entrance.

“Mr. Ji… what… what is this…”

Mo Tong wanted to say something, but found his tongue tied, unable to articulate anything.

The previous conversations were secondary; the true profound shock for those inside the temple was the scene of Ji Yuan summoning the Mountain God of Banana Leaf Mountain. In a way, their psychological state was similar to that of the three demons who had witnessed the same event.

Even someone incredibly foolish would now realize they had encountered an immortal tonight. Beyond their excitement, they felt a sense of bewildered helplessness.

Ji Yuan simply stood at the temple entrance, gazing at the rain. He turned to look at the group and, feeling there was nothing more to explain as things were exactly as they had witnessed, simply offered a reassuring word.

“The Mountain God will retrieve your young master's soul. There's no need to worry; just wait a moment!”

Hearing this, the group instinctively looked again at the Mountain God statue inside the temple. Although the "Mountain God" that had just appeared differed slightly from the statue, it was indeed generally similar.

At this point, Mo Tong and the others finally regained some composure. Except for one woman holding a child who couldn't stand up, the rest all stood and bowed to Ji Yuan in thanks.

Within Banana Leaf Mountain, the soul of a seven or eight-year-old boy was indeed darting and running through the mountains. Behind him, a martial artist with nimble footwork constantly gave chase.

This martial artist was entirely shrouded in black energy; even his eye sockets were pitch black, a shade deeper and more terrifying than the color of night itself.

“You little brat, you can run so well, but don't think you can keep escaping forever. Your physical body will soon be caught. Even if you choose to abandon your body and become a wandering ghost then, we have ways to pull your soul back!”

“Don't chase me, don't chase me! I don't want to be a wandering ghost, I don't want to be a wandering ghost! Ah!”

The little boy's soul cried out as it fled. His final scream came when he suddenly saw a hunched, monstrous figure emerge from the mountain wall ahead.

“A monster!”

Though the ghastly entity chasing him was terrifying, it at least still resembled a human in the child's eyes. What appeared before him now was a complete monster, frightening him beyond words.

The Banana Leaf Mountain "Mountain God" glanced to the side, where the sword light had already flashed. The martial artist pursuing the soul had already fallen from the branch they used for their light-footed technique. It swallowed nervously, then hurried to pursue the child's soul.

“Don't be afraid, little boy. I am the Mountain God of Banana Leaf Mountain, and I have come specifically to take you back!”

“You’re a monster!”

The child continued to wail, showing no intention of stopping.