Chapter 487: Co-guarding This Mountain

The old beggar's facial muscles visibly twitched as he beheld the spirit before him. For a moment, he felt as if Ji Yuan's spirit-summoning technique had pulled his own face, rather than the mountain god, into existence.

Ji Yuan couldn't help but smile at the old beggar's expression. However, the beggar's momentary subtle look quickly vanished, and his composure returned, his thick skin rivalling the massive mountain created by the Mountain Suppression Art.

With that brief glance, Ji Yuan's attention shifted to the mountain god, who stood there nervously. His eyes darted between Ji Yuan and the old beggar, but primarily fixed on the undeniable mountain before him.

As someone aspiring to become the rightful deity of Pozi Mountain, his initial task was to thoroughly understand the terrain and the flow of the earth's ley lines. He knew every blade of grass and every tree on Pozi Mountain intimately, let alone its hills and peaks.

The sudden appearance of so many majestic peaks was clearly a result of the recent magical duel.

Oh, dear me... er, heavens above...

The mountain god had instinctively begun to exclaim, 'Oh, my mother!' like the local villagers, but then abruptly remembered he had no mother. He quickly amended it to 'Heavens above!'

Noticing Ji Yuan and the old beggar turn their gazes towards him, the mountain god quickly averted his own.

"My name is Shi Youdao. May I ask why the two esteemed immortals have summoned this humble deity?"

Upon hearing the name, Ji Yuan gestured to the side.

"This mountain was formed by Old Mr. Lu's Mountain Suppression Art, and beneath it, a female demon is suppressed, unable to escape for a hundred years."

The mountain god's mouth was slightly agape, and he nodded as he stared at the immense mountain.

"You are the mountain god of Pozi Mountain. I hope you will keep a close eye on it, ensuring that no issues arise with the suppression seal due to damage to the mountain's structure."

With such a massive mountain pressing down, the mountain god could barely fathom what kind of demon lay beneath. Ordinary demons would likely be crushed to a pulp just from the pressure, yet this one had to be suppressed for a hundred years? The thought sent a shiver down the mountain god's spine. What if the demon truly escaped? Wouldn't it immediately turn its wrath on him, the 'jailer'?

However, the demon had not yet escaped, and the two immortals who had conjured such a mountain to suppress it were undeniably standing before him. How could the mountain god dare to refuse?

"This humble deity accepts the command! This humble deity understands!"

The mountain god bowed once more, not daring to show the slightest disrespect in his words.

The old beggar cleared his throat.

The old beggar cleared his throat and also spoke. "This mountain, which suppresses the female demon, offers immense benefits to you, a mountain god who has yet to attain true deity status. This is not some illusory spell; it is a tangible mountain that will integrate with the surrounding peaks, enhancing the overall mountain range. While not immediately apparent, in five, ten, a hundred years, the geomantic power of Pozi Mountain will significantly increase because of it. If you are to achieve the position of a true deity, you should understand the implications of this."

"Thank you for your guidance, esteemed immortal!"

After a moment of hesitation, the mountain god expressed his concerns.

"However, while this humble deity is extremely willing to assist the two esteemed immortals, my cultivation is shallow and my magical power severely limited. I can only do my best, daring not to promise absolute success. Furthermore, though I call myself a mountain god, it is merely me elevating my own status. The Great Xiu Dynasty does not recognize my divine position, so I cannot openly display my magic in the mountains. Even if I were to build a temple, it would immediately be designated an illicit shrine and destroyed..."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan and the old beggar couldn't help but regard the mountain god with newfound seriousness. Being astute individuals, they naturally understood the implied meaning behind his words.

Interesting, I hadn't expected this mountain god to be so clever, knowing how to seize this opportunity, and also possessing the courage to attempt it.

"Mountain god, please rest assured."

Ji Yuan said, summoning with a gesture. From the side of the mountain behind them, the Golden Armored Warrior stepped forward, his form becoming visible after just a few strides. His imposing, powerful physique startled the mountain god.

"My lord."

The Golden Armored Warrior bowed slightly, then straightened. Though devoid of emotion, he was not unresponsive to his surroundings. After his gaze swept over the old beggar, he naturally turned his attention to the mountain god.

However, the Golden Armored Warrior typically stood with his head held high and chest out. Given the mountain god's slightly shorter stature, the warrior, standing beside Ji Yuan, appeared to be looking down at him with a sidelong glance. This posture conveyed a sense of arrogant disdain not only to the mountain god but also to Ji Yuan and the old beggar.

"Haha, this is a Golden Armored Warrior, also known as a Yellow Turban Warrior. He is a type of guardian general, and he will also remain here to assist the mountain god."

The mountain god nodded in understanding, then quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply to the Golden Armored Warrior.

"I am Shi Youdao, the mountain god of Pozi Mountain. It seems I will be working with you, General, for some time!"

The Golden Armored Warrior stood rooted, making no move to return the bow, maintaining his upward, sidelong gaze. When the mountain god completed his bow and looked up, the warrior simply averted his eyes, looking straight ahead, completely ignoring him. "Uh, haha, the Golden Armored Warrior means no offense," Ji Yuan interjected. "Let's discuss something else. You mentioned the Great Xiu Dynasty doesn't acknowledge your status, and you might even be apprehensive about their officials discovering your aspiration to become a deity, much less establishing a temple."

Ji Yuan considered this for a moment and continued.

"This matter is quite simple. Old Mr. Lu and I will go speak with the Imperial Preceptor of Great Xiu. I imagine the Great Xiu imperial family will grant us this much deference."

The mountain god was overjoyed, his face beaming with unconcealed delight. If he gained official recognition from Great Xiu, allowing him to establish a mountain god temple within the mountain or along the roads outside its entrance, the benefits to him would be enormous.

If he could even secure an imperial decree of enfeoffment from the Great Xiu Emperor, allowing officials to lead the people in worship, then... well, never mind...

As he thought this, the smile on the mountain god's face became fixed. The words of such immortal experts were true promises, far more reliable than any mortal adage like 'a word spoken is a chariot hard to retrieve.'

Happy as he was, he knew better than to get carried away. The mountain god quickly bowed again in thanks. This matter concerned his own cultivation and future, so he dared not be careless in the slightest.

"Thank you, esteemed immortals, for your favor. With this, this humble deity feels truly at ease!"

Ji Yuan and the old beggar exchanged glances, nodding slightly to each other. With the mountain god's involvement, the security of the suppression would increase by more than just one level.

"Very well, thank you, Mountain God Shi. We shall depart now. We will return when this female demon awakens; perhaps you won't need to guard for a full century."

Ji Yuan left his sentence unfinished. The mountain god didn't grasp the meaning, but the old beggar understood the implication: Tu Sixuan, the eight-tailed fox demon, was not easily killed, nor perhaps easily confined.

Seeing Ji Yuan and the old beggar preparing to leave, the mountain god quickly interjected with another question.

"May I ask, esteemed immortals, what kind of demon is suppressed beneath the mountain? I would like to be prepared."

Clouds already formed beneath Ji Yuan and the old beggar's feet, lifting them skyward. As they ascended, Ji Yuan's voice reached the mountain god's ears.

"An eight-tailed fox demon named Tu Sixuan. She is eloquent and skilled at transformation. No matter what she says, do not believe her."

With these words, Ji Yuan and the old beggar bowed slightly to the mountain god, then ascended into the sky on the clouds. The mountain god, naturally, did not dare to neglect sending them off with a profound bow.

"Phew... being in the presence of such exalted beings is quite a lot of pressure, but it's good news overall, hehe..."

Once the white clouds had vanished, the mountain god immediately relaxed, his smile becoming more uninhibited. While an eight-tailed fox demon was indeed formidable, the two immortals who could suppress such a creature were far more extraordinary. Their cultivation was heaven-reaching; with their backing, his future appeared boundless.

The mountain god, still smiling triumphantly, turned to face the mountain, only to be startled by the Golden Armored Warrior.

"Oh my!" The mountain god flinched and recoiled, almost forgetting that a general was also guarding the mountain with him. Had his previous behavior been observed? He wondered if this general would report him...

"Uh, may I know your esteemed name, General? We may be working together for quite some time, hehe, this humble deity offers his greetings!"

Mountain God Shi Youdao bowed again to the Golden Armored Warrior. The latter's gaze swept over him, his eyes narrowed as he looked down with a sidelong glance, making the mountain god uneasy. He was convinced the warrior had witnessed his earlier moment of slight self-satisfaction.

"General, do you, do you have any preferences? This humble deity would be honored to extend some local hospitality..."

The Golden Armored General finally reacted to this question, turning his head slightly to look at the mountain itself, then turning his gaze back to the mountain god.

"By the venerable lord's decree, I guard this mountain and watch over the demon."

Having said that, the Golden Armored Warrior slowly retreated towards the mountain wall, his form subtly fading until he vanished from the mountain god's sight.

The mountain god stood dumbfounded for a while. He understood that while the warrior might disdain him as a minor spirit, he possessed a meticulous nature. He bowed slightly again towards the mountain, then transformed into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared into the ground.

Above the white clouds, Ji Yuan and the old beggar stood in silence. After a long moment, the old beggar finally broke the quiet.

"Mr. Ji, you can also summon spirits?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you mention it earlier?"

Ji Yuan smirked.

"Old Mr. Lu didn't ask either."

"Alas..."

The old beggar sighed, then addressed Ji Yuan.

"Mr. Ji's unique spirit-summoning art, where words become law, is truly profound and much more potent than this old beggar's."

"You flatter me. Old Mr. Lu, your spirit-summoning art is also the first I've witnessed, and it is equally wondrous."

The old beggar smiled.

"The original method was somewhat incomplete. This old beggar merely improved and practiced it; it's nothing worth mentioning, nothing at all."

Ji Yuan opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

After a moment of silence, the old beggar suddenly spoke again.

"Mr. Ji, what other profound divine abilities do you possess? Would you perhaps tell this old beggar about them? Like your Sleeve of the Universe?"

That one truly couldn't be performed; it was merely for show. As for his other divine abilities, none seemed suitable for casual display, and simply speaking of them would sound like boasting. So, Ji Yuan could only shake his head.

"We cultivators all possess some hidden talents, but I am merely a reclusive individual from the mountains, incomparable to Old Mr. Lu's profound foundation, so I shall refrain from discussing them."

The old beggar's expression conveyed utter disbelief, but he didn't press further. He had only mentioned it casually, and he was indeed somewhat afraid that Ji Yuan might actually reveal some earth-shattering techniques.