Chapter 923: Great Lie

Ji Yuan frowned upon hearing this. While yin-attribute springs were rare for ordinary people, perhaps never seen in a lifetime, they were common for cultivators like them. Such springs certainly wouldn't concern a powerful deity like the Mount Heng God, who had already achieved the status of a true god of a peak.

As expected, the Mount Heng God spoke again.

"This spring water has been suppressed by Mount Heng's terrain for years," the Mount Heng God explained. "Though its yin-cold energy is astonishing, it's extremely impure and cannot be used for orthodox cultivation. It also changes constantly, flowing like a living entity, seeking paths through shadowed areas, and is difficult to block. I suspect it originated from the source of earthly malevolence..."

As he spoke, the Mount Heng God's voice grew deeper.

"I have vaguely sensed a great tribulation approaching," the God continued. "In the future, I fear it will be difficult to maintain the mountain's balance, and even harder to suppress the demons and monsters within the Southern Wilds mountains. But even if I perish, though the mountain's stability might falter, there will be successors who will eventually cultivate to become a mountain god. The demons of the Southern Wilds will surely be subdued by righteous individuals like Mr. Ji. However, this Abyssal Spring is truly problematic. If it loses my suppression, it might flow freely throughout the world, corrupting the netherworld everywhere."

Ji Yuan's eyebrow twitched, and he looked at the mountain peak in surprise.

"Corrupt the netherworld?"

As Ji Yuan instinctively voiced his doubt, the two clefts on the majestic mountain peak opposite seemed to subtly change, like expressions on the mountain god's face.

"Mr. Ji," the God explained, "perhaps cultivators today are unaware, but in ancient times, mountain gods could actually gather spirits. Later, when humanity first established itself and there were no city gods, ghost gods, or netherworld domains, those who died and became ghosts were often guided towards the mountains. Modern mountain gods may have forgotten this practice, but I still retain the memory, which is why I am clear about the potential for this Abyssal Spring to flow widely."

After some thought, Ji Yuan carefully spoke.

"Lord Mountain God, do you mean this spring could disrupt the netherworld across the land?"

"Mr. Ji," the God replied, "this spring could potentially breach the netherworld's barriers without the knowledge of the netherworld's gods and spirits. It's possible that the common sealing and concealment methods used by the netherworld's authorities would be ineffective. Ancient ghosts and malevolent spirits lurking in the desolate cities of the netherworld, and those evil spirits hiding in various corners, desperately trying to prolong their ghostly existence, could all escape. For the mortal world, this would be a minor disturbance, as ghosts and spirits could be captured, and humanity's path has seen new developments. What concerns me most is that it would absorb the yin energy of the netherworld, disrupting the balance of yin and yang. When this spring erupts, endless malevolent earthly qi would pour from the netherworld into the mortal realm. The gods of the netherworld might fall or perish, and ghosts throughout the world would be like beasts unleashed from their cages."

If anyone else had spoken this way, it might seem like overthinking. But coming from a powerful deity like the Mount Heng God, even a slight possibility necessitated serious consideration.

"Lord Mountain God, what exactly are you trying to tell me?"

Ji Yuan acknowledged that his suppressive power was incomparable to that of the Mount Heng God. If the discussion were merely about Zhu Yan, he could confidently promise to take care of it. However, the matter of this Abyssal Spring made it difficult to discern the mountain god's true intent. The God had elaborated on its potential dangers, but Ji Yuan currently had no immediate solution either. He decided to wait and hear if the mountain god had a specific request.

As expected, the mountain god had already prepared his thoughts before inviting Ji Yuan and speaking at length. Hearing Ji Yuan's question, he spoke directly.

"Mr. Ji, your profound magic and benevolent heart make you worthy of being called an 'Immortal'," the God said. "I hope you can help me with two things!"

"Please speak, Mountain God. If I can help, I will not refuse. If it's beyond my power, I will state it frankly."

Ji Yuan still didn't make full promises, but he was naturally more inclined to help with the mountain god's request.

"Thank you first, Mr. Ji," the God said. "Firstly, I hope you can join forces with me to find a way to eliminate that unpredictable demon. It would be best if we could lure it near Mount Heng!"

Ji Yuan nodded, saying nothing, but thought to himself that this first point likely wouldn't need consideration for now, as Zhu Yan had been dealt with some time ago.

"Secondly," the God continued, "I heard that at the dragon transformation banquet of the Jialong of Tongtian River, Mr. Ji displayed an astonishing and heaven-defying divine ability. You supposedly conjured a realm from a book, taking guests to explore it, and even resonated with a phoenix there in harmony. Is this true?"

Even the Mount Heng God had heard of this? Ji Yuan thought, considering nearly eight years had passed, it was understandable. He naturally acknowledged what he had done.

"That's right," Ji Yuan confirmed. "To spar with Ruo Li in a magical duel, I did indeed use that method. However, rumors often contain exaggerations and should not be fully believed."

"Good, it's good that Mr. Ji admits it!"

The mountain god's voice rose several pitches upon hearing Ji Yuan's admission, causing Ji Yuan to frown slightly.

"Mr. Ji has this astonishing and wondrous art that can deal with this spring!" the God exclaimed. "If you can cast the spell and guide this spring into the realm you conjured, this worry can be resolved!"

Hearing the mountain god's words, Ji Yuan felt it was unreliable.

"Lord Mountain God, what exactly did the wondrous method you heard about entail?"

"I heard from a mountain demon cultivator meeting friends," the God recounted, "that there is a true immortal in Yunzhou who can perform realm-shifting techniques, transporting the entire dragon transformation banquet into another realm, and a phoenix even danced and sang at the banquet..."

Ji Yuan sighed softly. When a story was passed among too many people, especially among demons, it inevitably became unreliable. While it was true that he had taken guests to explore a world within a book, transporting the entire dragon transformation banquet was a gross exaggeration.

"Lord Mountain God," Ji Yuan clarified, "rumors cannot be fully believed. I merely led guests to explore a realm within a book. Strictly speaking, it was merely a dream, with the cultivators' true bodies resting in this realm..."

The mountain god was silent for a long time, then looked at Ji Yuan and spoke.

"Just a dream?"

"That's right!"

"But I heard that in this dream," the God pressed on, "the phoenix did not recognize you at first sight, but later formed a connection and recognized you, Mr. Ji. Furthermore, I heard that Mr. Ji has a wondrous immortal musical score titled 'Phoenix Seeks Phoenix,' which was inspired by the true phoenix's song at night. Is this not so?"

Ji Yuan himself couldn't fully explain such matters and didn't answer immediately. The mountain god, however, spoke again.

"As for what a dream is," the God continued, "whether it's real or fake, the dreamer may not be able to discern. Those guests at the dragon transformation banquet were unaware. Then, Mr. Ji, is this moment we are in a dream? We are also unaware; do you dare to definitively say whether it is a dream?"

Ji Yuan couldn't answer this question. He had asked himself this very question many times, forming many guesses but finding no answers. Thus, this time, he didn't even need to think.

"I can only say that human power has its limits," Ji Yuan replied. "The Abyssal Spring that only Mount Heng's terrain can suppress is difficult for my magic power alone to contain. Furthermore, my method of traveling through dreams and transforming realms can only carry sentient beings with thoughts, not inanimate objects..."

"Is it truly impossible? Is there no other way?"

The Mount Heng God immediately pressed with another question, and Ji Yuan shook his head helplessly.

"It's truly impossible, and there's no other way to..."

Ji Yuan suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his gaze shifting down to his sleeve. Perhaps, he wasn't truly without a solution after all!

Seeing Ji Yuan's reaction, the Mount Heng God immediately understood that Mr. Ji had likely thought of something.

"Mr. Ji, have you thought of something?"

Ji Yuan frowned deeply, looked up at the Mount Heng God, and hesitated for a moment. Then he relaxed his brows and shook his head with a wry smile. It seemed he had no choice but to get involved.

With that thought, Ji Yuan took out two scrolls from his sleeve and slowly unrolled them.

"Perhaps I truly am not without a way."

The Mount Heng God's divine sense and gaze focused on the two paintings floating open beside Ji Yuan. One depicted a wondrous mountain amidst beautiful waters, with a mysterious alchemical furnace on a peak, emitting faint green smoke. The fire within the furnace was dim, appearing to burn and not burn at the same time. The painting was static, yet it conveyed a sense of burning within the furnace.

The other painting showed a pool within a city. There seemed to be a chill over the pool, and a white spectral image within it. Seeing the painting, one could almost feel a roar.

"What are these?"

"These are my humble paintings," Ji Yuan explained. "They are used to contain two things: one is the alchemical furnace of an immortal's inner realm, and the other is a mad Qili dragon."

The mountain god, who had vaguely realized something but couldn't grasp the full context, couldn't help but ask.

"Mr. Ji, have you already thought of a solution?"

Ji Yuan had not only thought of something, but even felt that, if possible, this Abyssal Spring might not be a problem at all, but rather a somewhat audacious opportunity.

"I'll have to see the Abyssal Spring first, then we can talk," Ji Yuan replied. "I wonder if Lord Mountain God finds that convenient?"

"Hahahaha... Why not! Mr. Ji, follow me!"

A seven-colored spiritual breeze swept through the mountain, guiding Ji Yuan. He stepped on the wind and flew, following the breeze over mountains and into caves, heading deep into Mount Heng.

In a place beneath Mount Heng, the immense mountain's aura transformed into a hazy light mist, enveloping the underground. There, Ji Yuan saw the pool of Abyssal Spring and the spring source from which water continuously gushed forth.

Ji Yuan reached out and touched the Abyssal Spring, which immediately seemed to boil, making him feel a bone-chilling coldness. But he paid no mind, quietly sensing it for a long time, feeling its changes. He even performed corresponding divination with his fingers, and gradually the spring water quieted down. After a long while, Ji Yuan finally stood up.

"This spring is indeed troublesome," Ji Yuan announced, "but it's not impossible to deal with. If I can borrow the thoughts of all people, ghosts, and cultivators in the world, and then cast spells using my paintings and realm-traveling dream-transforming art, it might not be impossible to contain this spring, and even reverse its nature, turning it into a righteous path!"

"How would you do that?"

Ji Yuan looked up at the hazy light mist of the mountain's aura, where the mountain god's divine sense was omnipresent. Ji Yuan now revealed a smile.

"We are all righteous," Ji Yuan said. "But for this matter, I'm afraid we'll have to tell a colossal lie together. Well, not entirely; if it comes true, it won't be a lie, but a grand vow!"