Chapter 533: He Tall Man Supports When the Sky Falls

Everyone expected a fierce battle, but it ended before anyone could fully react. All eyes were fixed on the center of what was once the City God's grand hall, where a golden rope had firmly bound the City God and several other ghostly deities.

The cacophony of wailing ghosts and spirits immediately quieted, leaving only the echo of Ji Yuan's reply.

Jin Xiu, who had also been quite afraid, immediately grew excited upon hearing "Immortal-Binding Rope." She had long heard that the treasure refined by the five masters of Xianlai Peak was a rope, but she had never seen it nor known its name. Seeing the current situation and hearing Ji Yuan mention that the treasure had never been used, she naturally connected it to the legendary ultimate rope artifact.

Regardless, the outcome, achieved almost without a fight, was certainly positive. However, the City God's state left the remaining ghostly deities and underworld emissaries of the netherworld somewhat at a loss.

Ji Yuan gazed at the dilapidated City God's grand hall. The City God was bound by the Immortal-Binding Rope, and the overwhelming demonic energy was similarly restrained. Yet, some foul aura still lingered in the hall.

This aura was not merely demonic energy; it was a blend of divine power, the underworld's Yin energy, and accumulated resentment and malevolence, giving off a sense of corruption. Demonic energy on its own was merely evil, not typically so defiling.

Within the entire Nine Peaks Grotto-heaven, the most likely place for malevolence and resentment to accumulate was the underworld. Perhaps it had been fine for a long time, but with the realm itself already problematic, over time, the underworld became a sort of repressed outlet. The City God, who governed a portion of the underworld, was the first to bear the brunt.

The accumulated negativity from the entire grotto-heaven world surged into the underworld. Even a deity like the City God, truly considered a virtuous and upright god, could not withstand it and unknowingly succumbed to the demonic path. Due to their direct involvement, combined with the unrest and wars in the mortal realm, the City God's vital energy was easily damaged. This made it even harder for the City God to notice the change, and by the time they realized something was wrong, it was likely too late.

In comparison, while the changes that occurred in Ah Ze were unusual, the City God's fate was far more tragic.

Ji Yuan walked forward step by step. The lingering foul energy in the City God's hall automatically receded from beneath his feet. He stopped before the City God, who, due to the effect of the Immortal-Binding Rope, was now subtly trembling and unable to utter a sound, even with an open mouth.

"To be a virtuous and upright god, serving the people of both the mortal and spiritual realms throughout one's divine life, yet to end up like this."

With a thought from Ji Yuan, the bound City God's restraints lessened, allowing him to speak. He no longer resembled his former self; he was clad in a tattered black robe, his face demonic and sinister.

"You, who are you? There shouldn't be anyone like you on Nine Peaks Mountain. I thought you were just a new disciple, but it seems I was mistaken."

Ji Yuan did not smile. He nodded and said,

"You are correct. I am not a disciple of Nine Peaks Mountain. I merely borrowed the Sect Master's token to handle a matter. Let's not dwell on that. Tell me, when did you first realize you were being corrupted by demonic energy?"

"Heh heh heh... ha ha ha ha ha..."

The City God laughed maniacally, showing no intention of answering Ji Yuan. After a bout of laughter, just as Ji Yuan was about to speak, the City God suddenly said,

"I know you are an immortal from beyond this realm. I know this world is merely a small realm created by the immortals of Nine Peaks Mountain with great power. The saying 'beyond mountains, there are more mountains; beyond heavens, there are more heavens' — I didn't understand it before, but now I do! Birds in a cage all long to fly high. Do you understand this feeling, Immortal Elder?"

Beyond mountains, there are more mountains; beyond heavens, there are more heavens?

Many ghostly deities in the netherworld instinctively looked towards Ji Yuan, and even Ah Ze's gaze was filled with curiosity.

Although the City God's answer was evasive, Ji Yuan was not angered. He nodded and said,

"Indeed, there are mountains beyond mountains and heavens beyond heavens. However, from a different perspective, you yourself are already in the 'mountain beyond mountains' and 'heaven beyond heavens.'"

With that, Ji Yuan looked at the Judge, who was standing outside the hall.

"Judge, may I ask, what is the original name of this City God?"

The Judge quickly replied,

"Reporting, Immortal Elder, the City God's original name was An Shuyu. He was formerly a virtuous and renowned scholar of this region."

Ji Yuan nodded and took a few steps closer to the City God. Even the demonic entity showed a look of fear when facing Ji Yuan at that moment.

"Immortal Elder, you are an eminent figure from outside this realm. If you would spare me, I would surely obey your every command and revere you as a father!"

Ji Yuan said nothing. He had no need for such a "son." He simply extended a finger and lightly touched the City God's pale forehead.

"I request the appearance of An Shuyu, the City God of Beiling County."

A faint ripple emanated from Ji Yuan's fingertip, instantly enveloping the City God's entire body. The City God, already covered in demonic energy, suddenly began to shake violently. His face twitched uncontrollably, and his head thrashed back and forth, as if in immense pain.

"Ugh... ahhh... ho-uh-uh... ah..."

After a few breaths, the City God's expression calmed. When he reopened his eyes, the madness within them had significantly subsided. He stared blankly at Ji Yuan for a long moment before finally speaking.

"This humble sinner, An Shuyu, greets the Immortal Elder!"

"City God An, there's no need for such formality. The situation is special now, so please forgive me for not being able to unbind you."

"I understand!"

Among all the ghostly deities and humans present, only Ji Yuan and An Shuyu truly understood the City God's predicament.

"City God An, when did you become aware of your corruption by demonic energy?"

Ji Yuan repeated his earlier question. The City God tilted his head back in thought, then slowly began to recount.

"In truth, I was unaware of my demonic corruption for a very long time. Approximately six hundred years ago, I began to feel frequently fatigued and occasionally weary. After that, when encountering ghosts who had committed evil in life, I often subjected them to extreme punishments. However, this was within my authority; at most, it was a sign of poor mood, and after self-reflection, I didn't feel there was a significant issue. Around four hundred years ago, my cultivation stopped progressing, and my sense of irritation grew increasingly severe..."

As the City God recounted his memories, Ji Yuan gradually understood the process of his fall to demonhood. Initially, things were manageable, but what truly exacerbated the situation was the increasing frequency of wars and unrest in the mortal realm. During periods of peace, incense offerings and prayers were plentiful, and divine power could resist demonic erosion. However, in times of turmoil, the City God's vital energy was easily damaged, and incense offerings were greatly affected—a time when demonic forces grew while righteous paths waned.

By the time the City God realized the severity of the problem, it was already a century or two ago. At that point, he vaguely knew his mental state was deeply troubled and had sought advice from the Great City God of the realm. The feedback he received was to engage in more secluded cultivation to correct his practice. Subsequently, he unknowingly transformed into his current state. It was also during his struggle with the demonic thoughts that the City God vaguely came to understand that there was an even vaster world beyond.

Listening to the City God's narration, Ji Yuan narrowed his eyes, picked out some crucial points, and asked,

"You said the Great City God told you to engage in more secluded self-cultivation?"

"Precisely. Now that I think about it, that too was highly problematic. Immortal Elder, please do not take it lightly!"

City God An was not foolish. He had been oblivious as an insider, but now he clearly saw that the Great City God himself was likely compromised.

Ji Yuan raised his head, closed his eyes, and sighed.

This was a top-down process. As the saying goes, "When the sky falls, it crushes the tallest first." This was ironically apt here. Who knew how many years had passed during this process? By the time it reached Ah Ze, it was already the third, fourth, or perhaps even fifth layer of corruption.

Ji Yuan lowered his head and opened his eyes. City God An Shuyu was looking at him.

"Immortal Elder, my cultivation has failed, and my primordial spirit is on the verge of collapse. While I still have consciousness, I ask you to grant me a quick end."

Beside the City God, the other ghostly deities bound by the Immortal-Binding Rope heard his words and began to struggle relentlessly, even biting at the rope. Yet, waves of demonic energy and malevolence remained trapped within their bodies, firmly locked in by the Immortal-Binding Rope.

Ji Yuan bowed solemnly to the City God.

"Farewell, City God!"

As he spoke, a wisp of Samadhi True Fire erupted from Ji Yuan's mouth, enveloping City God An Shuyu and the demonized ghostly deities beside him. Instantly, crimson and ash-gray flames blazed, incinerating them, along with their demonic energy, into ashes within a few breaths.

"Farewell, City God!"

Numerous ghostly deities and underworld emissaries, including the Judge and the Chief Official of the Merits Division, bowed in unison, bidding him a respectful farewell.

The Immortal-Binding Rope, having lost its targets, floated in the air in a circle before returning to Ji Yuan's hand and coiling around his arm.

"Immortal Elder, what should we do?"

The Judge carefully inquired from the side. The sorrow over the City God's demise could not alleviate the fear of the ghostly deities; instead, it intensified their unease. The words exchanged between the Immortal Elder and the City God had grown increasingly chilling, giving them a sense that a great calamity was approaching. At this moment, Ji Yuan naturally became their focal point.

"For now, rest assured, everyone. Please continue to maintain order in the netherworld as usual. The sky will not fall."

Half an hour later, Ji Yuan stepped out of Beiling County's underworld. Outside, dawn had not yet broken, and the city was still shrouded in darkness.

"Mr. Ji, what do we do?"

Jin Xiu nervously asked Ji Yuan. As a minor cultivator, she had never encountered such a situation.

"I am an outsider, after all. First, let your sect know about this development."

As he spoke, Ji Yuan took out a small paper crane from his pocket. The moment it landed in his palm, it unfolded itself, twisted its neck, and stretched its wings, as if just waking up. When the paper crane looked at Ji Yuan, it found that he had already hung a token around its neck.

The token was twice the size of the paper crane. It flapped its wings and flew up, curiously observing the dangling token beneath it, which bore the four golden seal script characters: "Five Thunders Obey Command."

Ji Yuan extended his hand and tapped the paper crane's head, transmitting what he had witnessed into it.

"Go to Nine Peaks Mountain and inform Sect Master Zhao that something major has happened in the Nine Peaks Grotto-heaven."

Receiving its master's command, the small paper crane did not hesitate for a moment. It immediately flew high into the sky, then transformed into a white streak of light, soaring towards the southern horizon.

"Mr. Ji... then, are we still going to see Ah Long and the others?"

Ah Ze didn't understand matters of immortals and demons, but he vaguely grasped that a significant problem had arisen. He wondered if Mr. Ji would still take him to see his former companions.

"Don't worry, we will find them."

Ji Yuan offered a word of reassurance, his gaze fixed on the direction the small paper crane had flown.