Chapter 922: Hengshan's God

Once the Venerable Lord's aura vanished, Shen Jie slowly closed his eyes and stood still, contemplating the situation. The Venerable Lord and Ji Yuan had just engaged in a long discussion, revealing many things. Shen Jie had initially thought the Venerable Lord might just be humoring Ji Yuan, but to his surprise, some secret information was disclosed without reservation. It was clear that this wasn't just about the Celestial Spirit Stone; the Venerable Lord was genuinely showing sincerity and attempting to recruit Ji Yuan.

'Even the Venerable Lord holds Ji Yuan in such high regard...'

Shen Jie had always held a grudge against Ji Yuan, but it now seemed that taking revenge was becoming increasingly difficult.

At that moment, a cultivator from the Yu Ling Sect approached Shen Jie and inquired in a low voice, "Sect Master, what should we do now?"

Shen Jie opened his eyes, glanced at the approaching cultivator, then looked towards the devastated Yu Ling Sect. The grand sect formation was not merely a protective barrier; it was also the foundation for creating the Yu Ling Sect's sacred and spiritual cultivation grounds, harnessing the power of the surrounding mountains and gathering the vital energy of heaven and earth. However, it had now been shattered by a single strike of the Heaven-Tilting Sword. The once picturesque and spiritually rich Yu Ling Sect grounds were already leaking spiritual energy and lay in ruins. Apart from some pavilions that still glowed with spiritual light, it could hardly be considered a cultivation sacred land anymore.

"We must find a way to repair the sect's barrier. But before that, instruct the disciples to cast spells and create a mist to prevent woodcutters and mountain visitors from accidentally entering the sect's forbidden grounds."

"Yes!"

The other person retreated, but two figures appeared behind Shen Jie: the beautiful middle-aged woman and Tu Xin, the nine-tailed fox demon, who had previously been hiding deep within the underground lair.

"Has Ji Yuan left? How does the Venerable Lord plan to deal with him?"

Ji Yuan had been gone long enough that they weren't worried he might sense them calling his name directly. When Tu Xin asked this, Shen Jie turned to look at both of them and briefly explained what had transpired outside.

"What? The Venerable Lord said all that to Ji Yuan? Ji Yuan is a paramount figure in the immortal path today; how could he be allowed to know so much?"

Shen Jie frowned, looking at Tu Xin as she spoke. "Does the Venerable Lord need your guidance on how to conduct his affairs?"

"My apologies, I spoke out of turn..."

The middle-aged woman, however, showed little surprise and spoke with a smile. "Brother Shen, you don't need to be too bothered. This might not be a bad thing. At the very least, Ji Yuan departed peacefully, and the Yu Ling Sect only needs to consider how to deal with Yu Huai Mountain. Moreover, if Ji Yuan could truly end up on our side, it would be an absolutely unimaginable aid to us!"

Tu Xin let out a cold snort. "Oh? You've never directly confronted Ji Yuan, yet you praise him so highly?"

The middle-aged woman covered her mouth and chuckled softly before replying, "Given Lady Tu's previous terrified reaction, I wouldn't rate Ji Yuan too low. Well then, Brother Shen, I have other matters to attend to, so I won't be able to help you rebuild the sect. Lady Tu, I shall take my leave first!"

The woman bowed. After Shen Jie cupped his hands in return, she disregarded Tu Xin's lack of a reciprocal gesture, simply rose, and flew away.

Tu Xin waited for a while after the middle-aged woman had flown off, then also wished to take her leave, but decided to offer a few more words of advice. "Fellow Daoist Shen, your past grievance with Ji Yuan is profound, so you must be extremely cautious when interacting with him. This person appears calm, serene, and easygoing, but in reality, he is exceedingly dangerous. If there's something he truly cares about, he will never let it go, no matter how great the obstacle. Back then, Tu Siyan was hidden in the Jade Fox Cave Heaven, with three fellow fox Daoists restraining outside and me personally guarding her within. Although Tu Siyan herself had suffered significant vital energy loss, she was not entirely defenseless, yet she still died inexplicably right before my eyes. It was truly heart-stopping!"

Tu Xin spoke with genuine sincerity, causing Shen Jie to sigh.

"Lady Tu's words, I, Shen, will keep them in mind. Even if the worst comes to pass, I still have my revered master to depend on. However, this foundation of the Yu Ling Sect, I will not abandon it unless it is absolutely my last resort." As he spoke, Shen Jie paused before continuing, "I've heard that on that occasion, Ji Yuan killed Tu Siyan in a dream?"

Shen Jie, who considered himself Ji Yuan's old rival, was actually deeply concerned with everything related to him. However, Ji Yuan's whereabouts were elusive, and he was adept at concealing heavenly secrets, making matters related to him incredibly hard to predict. There were many rumors, but very few verifiable facts. Since Tu Xin was there, it was a good opportunity to inquire.

Tu Xin was reluctant to recall the past events, but since Shen Jie had asked, she spoke in a low voice, "Whether it truly happened in a dream, I cannot say for certain. But honestly, back when Ji Yuan debated swords with Tu Yi, he let the effects of the wine take hold, and after drinking a thousand jars, he was genuinely drunk. He then fell into a deep sleep less than twenty zhang away from me. Even in his drunken slumber, his spiritual essence and physical form were fully present. All four individuals present were highly cultivated, yet not a single one of us sensed any magical aura. I truly have no idea how Ji Yuan made his move..."

Tu Xin had been sitting directly opposite Tu Siyan at the time, and recalling the incident still sent shivers down her spine. She wondered if, at the moment of Tu Siyan's death, a mere fleeting thought from Ji Yuan might have also taken her life.

"Dream-slaying the Nine-Tailed Fox..." Shen Jie murmured, while Tu Xin had already bowed and taken her leave.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuan flew swiftly with the three individuals from Yu Huai Mountain directly towards the southwestern hills of Mount Heng. After all, Guan He had gone to the Xiang Yuan Sect in that direction to seek reinforcements, so Ji Yuan couldn't possibly disregard him. Not long after flying beyond the mountains, Ji Yuan's Dharma cloud surpassed those of the two cultivators who had flown ahead. Shang Yiyi clearly saw that these two cultivators had halted their Dharma clouds and were standing respectfully on them, bowing towards them. They had evidently witnessed the previous combat.

"Mr. Ji, what exactly did that person discuss with you during your philosophical debate?"

True Person Ziyu and True Person Yangming had taken the medicinal pills Shang Yiyi carried, and their bodies felt much better. At this moment, they couldn't resist voicing the question on their minds. Ji Yuan looked at True Person Ziyu, then at Yangming and Shang Yiyi, sensing their clear eagerness to know.

"This matter is too sensitive to speak of directly. I can only say that it has no relation to the Celestial Spirit Stone, so Fellow Daoist Ziyu can rest assured."

"Uh, hahaha... I haven't even properly thanked Mr. Ji for his grace in saving us!"

True Person Ziyu chuckled awkwardly twice, but Ji Yuan merely glanced at him, softly said, "No need to be polite," and then stood quietly on the cloud, casting spells without uttering another word.

"Master, Mr. Ji seems preoccupied. What that person said earlier might be quite important."

"Overthinking is of no benefit. Let's clear our minds for now."

Yangming knew that given his level of cultivation, it was best not to interfere, and he also advised Shang Yiyi not to overthink the matter.

Three days later, the group's Dharma clouds encountered the cultivators from the Xiang Yuan Sect who had arrived with Guan He. The Xiang Yuan Sect proved to be quite principled; although their usual friendship with Yu Huai Mountain was like calm water, this time they dispatched over twenty cultivators of considerable skill, including Kun Mucheng, who had once summoned the Golden Armor.

After their reunion and a brief account, the individuals from Yu Huai Mountain were naturally overjoyed. They planned to recuperate together at the Xiang Yuan Sect's cultivation grounds. That area, situated in the southern hills of Mount Heng, was under the jurisdiction of a mountain god and served as a crucial cornerstone for stabilizing the Southern Barren Continent, thus they had no fear of any incidents occurring.

Ji Yuan, however, departed first, citing other matters, which considerably surprised True Person Ziyu, who had fully expected him to continue investigating the Celestial Spirit Stone. However, Ji Yuan's claim of having other matters was not an excuse; he genuinely did. As soon as he arrived at the southern hills of Mount Heng, he felt a divine sense carried by the mountain wind.

Decades ago, Ji Yuan had once rather childishly chased the wind on Cloud Mountain, attempting to merge his divine sense into it. He never expected to encounter the legendary "authentic" version of such a phenomenon now.

After flying for most of another day since leaving the Xiang Yuan Sect, Ji Yuan finally spotted a gigantic, cloud-shrouded peak deep within the majestic Mount Heng. However, Ji Yuan did not ascend the peak; instead, he stood on his cloud, meticulously bowing towards it.

"Before the Great God of Mount Heng, Ji Yuan offers his respects!"

Moments later, the clouds on the peak stirred, and numerous birds on the entire mountain were startled into flight. The peak itself seemed to tremble slightly, and a colossal sound, like rolling boulders, emanated from its direction.

"Mr. Ji, there is no need for such formality. I have long heard of your esteemed name; it is truly fortunate to finally meet you today. I hope Mr. Ji will not fault this old man for not personally coming to greet you... *rumble rumble rumble*..."

The clouds gradually dispersed, and birds hovered and landed, allowing Ji Yuan to see clearly that this colossal peak actually bore a face upon it.

"How could I dare trouble a Mountain God? I, Ji Yuan, am merely a casual cultivator from the wilderness, accustomed to being unrestrained. Too much formality, in fact, makes me uncomfortable."

"Hahahahaha..."

The mountain peak rumbled and vibrated, but while the birds and beasts were startled, they did not flee in frantic panic.

"Mr. Ji, please do not be modest. The moment you arrived at my Mount Heng, all defilement retreated wherever you passed. The spiritual winds in the mountains drew near of their own accord, and the clear springs in the small streams sang with joy. This is truly a sign of profound enlightenment. Among all the immortals I have encountered, none can compare."

Ji Yuan shook his head and smiled, dropping the formal courtesies. "Lord Mountain God, let's refrain from flattering each other. What important matter do you wish to discuss that required my presence?"

Ji Yuan had never previously interacted with the Mount Heng God. He had heard that this was a rather stubborn righteous deity who rarely engaged with cultivators or demons, so he was unsure why he was being summoned.

"Since Mr. Ji is so straightforward, this old man will speak plainly. Before meeting Mr. Ji, I still harbored some hesitation, but now I feel at peace. The spiritual essence of the mountains would not deceive me..."

The God of Mount Heng was an exceptionally rare entity among all mountain gods. He had cultivated to a state where he was indistinguishable from the mountain's spirit, capable of empathizing with heaven and earth to a certain degree. Even though he was widely rumored to have an eccentric temper, he found Ji Yuan utterly pleasing to his eye.

"Ji Yuan is all ears!"

Ji Yuan's response remained calm, and after a moment of silence, the mountain god spoke, his voice slightly deeper.

"Mr. Ji, I fear I may no longer be able to suppress the Southern Barrens. In recent years, new upheavals have continuously emerged within the vast mountains of that region. I can sense that a world-shattering demon has appeared there, yet this fiend remains secretly dormant and is absolutely not benevolent. In my trance, I seemed to hear the cry of an ape..."

Ji Yuan's expression turned peculiar. Could the mountain god be referring to Zhu Yan? However, as he listened to the mountain god's subsequent words, Ji Yuan's expression quickly grew solemn again.

"However, that ape's cry is not a singular, dominant roar; there are countless cacophonous sounds filled with malevolence, as if poised to tear everything apart. What concerns this old man even more is that beneath Mount Heng, a mysterious spring is suppressed. Its source seems to emerge from nothing, being neither righteous nor evil, but rather the antithesis of pure positive energy. Its cold, Yin energy grows stronger by the day..."