C2008 Chasing Ducks to the Rack!

A bone pagoda emerged slowly from the direction of the Devil Palace, materializing midair above Hellfire Mountain, buoyed by the ashen clouds.

Wu Rann, his gaunt frame cloaked in a gray robe, stepped out from the pagoda with a grave look on his face. "Yu Yuan!" he called out, taking a deep breath and exhibiting an unusual level of caution, refraining from any superfluous actions.

Inside the pagoda, several cultivators from the Devil Palace who had attained the Unrestrained Stage whispered urgently to him, advising him of Yu Yuan's formidable exploits in the vast expanse and cautioning him against any hasty moves, especially since the palace master was currently absent from the area.

Wu Rann, who had resided in the Outer Star River for years, avoiding return due to Lin Daoke's influence, had only ascended to the highest echelon thanks to Tan Xiaotian's intercession and Han Miaoyuan's leniency. Despite his intense desire for vengeance, Wu Rann showed remarkable restraint in Yu Yuan's presence, carefully holding his tongue.

Lu Hongpeng, the newly elevated Sword of Seven Emotions, along with Du Yuan from the Sword Sect, Kong Banbi, Chen Qingyan, and other Yang Gods, arrived aboard a gleaming sword boat. Chen Qingyan, Kong Banbi, and those acquainted with Yu Yuan remained on the sword boat, while Du Yuan and Lu Hongpeng descended, halting dozens of meters away to pay their respects from a distance.

Having witnessed Yu Yuan's prowess in the Firefly Starfield, Oblivion Starfield, and the vast expanses, Du Yuan and Lu Hongpeng now understood Yu Yuan's esteemed first-life identity, as revealed by Lin Daoke and Han Miaoyuan. They offered their profound respect to the man who had pioneered a golden age for humanity and crafted a grand civilization.

Cao Ji from the Spirit Void Sect, clutching an ancient tree root, arrived silently beside Hellfire Mountain via a space teleportation array. The root, a relic from the Fallen Divine Tree that perished in the vast expanse, had been vanquished by the combined efforts of Taishi and Han Miaoyuan. Cao Ji had since transformed this segment of the root into a handy weapon.

Additionally, Faang Yao from the Red Devil Sect and Zhou Cangmin, recently returned from the Quietus Continent, made haste to join the gathering, drawn by the proximity to Hellfire Mountain.

"Yu Yuan..."

Eyes converged on him, filled with words left unspoken.

Yu Yuan, having withdrawn his soul consciousness from the deep recesses of the earth, was aware that Xu Jingyao from the Primordial Yang Sect, along with several Mountain Lords, were en route.

Meanwhile, Cao Jiaze from the Profound Sky Sect remained in the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area.

The extremely intelligent soul form was still within the Ascension Mountain Range, in that secluded valley housing the space gate.

These two formidable figures, fully aware of his presence in the vast expanse, maintained their composure.

"There's no need for alarm. I won't take any drastic action until Han Miaoyuan, Lin Daoke, and Tan Xiaotian return," Yu Yuan reassured them.

His thoughts lingered on Mo Baichuan, deep within the earth's core, pondering the mystery of his situation.

As for the crowd that had gathered from all corners, Yu Yuan paid them no mind, gesturing dismissively, "Disperse. There's no need to linger and obstruct my view."

Du Yuan, understanding the cue, nodded and instructed Kong Banbi, "Head beyond Hellfire Mountain."

He, along with Lu Hongpeng, descended onto the sword boat and set off towards the outskirts of Hellfire Mountain.

Kong Banbi, Chen Qingyan, and several young Yang Gods aboard the sword boat cast lingering glances at Yu Yuan as they departed, their expressions tinged with an air of resignation.

They had much to say, yet the current circumstances forced them into silence.

"Your master is alright," Yu Yuan assured, his gaze resting momentarily on Chen Qingyan. "Her descent from the highest realm was a choice of her own making. And in my view, it was the correct one."

Chen Qingyan's eyes brightened, and she nodded gently, a smile of relief gracing her lips.

Knowing Ji Ningshuang was unharmed brought her great comfort.

Yue Mu, bearer of the Heavenly Water Sword, had been frowning all along. Standing by Yu Yuan's side, he finally let out a breath of relief.

Clearly, Yue Mu shared the concern for Ji Ningshuang, fearing for the well-being of his senior sister.

After Yu Yuan had made it clear that it was time to leave, Wu Rann spoke up, "We shall withdraw from Hellfire Mountain."

The departure of Wu Rann and the Skeleton Pagoda left many onlookers taken aback.

The older generation of cultivators was well-acquainted with Wu Rann's exploits. They were aware that he had slain a multitude of formidable Bloodline Warriors in the Outer Star River. His penchant for violence had caused some within the Devil Palace to view him unfavorably. Wu Rann's presence had once elevated the Devil Palace's notoriety to rival that of the Blood God Cult.

Could a notorious fiend like Wu Rann, who had been endorsed by Tan Xiaotian, truly remain docile? Those who expected him to stir up trouble for Yu Yuan were astonished to witness his compliant departure.

Elsewhere, Faang Yao briefly wavered before deciding to leave Zhou Cangmin behind, along with a few Unrestrained Stage and Yang God practitioners from their sect. Soon after, the crowd that had gathered from various regions dispersed from Hellfire Mountain at Yu Yuan's behest. However, they didn't venture far, remaining nearby to keep a watchful eye on the mountain range's activities.

"Who are you? Didn't you hear what I said?" Yu Yuan scanned the area, noting that in addition to Zhou Cangmin, Yu Mu, Yuan Lianyao, and a handful of other acquaintances, there was an unfamiliar elder who had stayed behind. His tone was one of annoyance.

"Spirit Void Sect, Cao Ji," the man declared.

Yu Mu, slightly irritated, added, "He's a newly ascended supreme expert of the Spirit Void Sect. Senior Cao, the time for you to engage in battle has not yet come. Please, take your leave for now."

"I've come to seek knowledge," Cao Ji insisted, lifting an artifact crafted from the roots of a perished divine tree. "I've heard rumors of a nascent divine tree sprouting within the enigmatic Gray Domain. Is that true?"

He was known as Qing Mu, a practitioner of the Dao of flora. Ji Tianyu had once been his guide. When Ji Tianyu ascended to divinity, Qing Mu realized his own prospects for reaching the pinnacle were dim, prompting him to sever ties with the Spirit Void Sect and ignore Han Miaoyuan's directives. He became a wanderer of the cosmos, frequenting the star seas inhabited by the Winged Race and Dark Elfkind, where his knowledge of the Hannya Divine Tree ran deep.

His ambition was to refine the true Hannya Divine Tree. "Indeed, a new divine tree has emerged, and it resides within the Gray Domain."

Yu Yuan offered a tight-lipped smile as he regarded the newly ascended God of Plants and Vegetation, Ji Tianyu. "You're welcome to admire it," he said coolly. "But first, you must strip yourself of your origin and revert to the Unrestrained Stage. Then, publicly declare your allegiance to the Divine Soul Sect."

"I've made it clear that those with the vast ocean origin are strictly prohibited from entering the Gray Domain. That's my rule."

At these words, the expression of the Spirit Void Sect's Master of Plants and Vegetation turned rigid.

Yu Yuan, disinterested in further discussion, waved his hand dismissively. "Leave through Hellfire Mountain!"

Cao Ji attempted to interject.

Yu Yuan's expression darkened, and the Dragon Slash Platform soared out, transforming into a purple-gold Divine Sword.

The sword light, resplendent like a celestial river of converging divine rainbows, plummeted from the heavens.

The essence of his sword spell, intertwined with the Dao he had comprehended and the secrets of his bloodline, surged directly toward Cao Ji.

Cao Ji's face paled.

The old tree root he had refined, thanks to his infusion of wood energy and his understanding of the Dao of plants, blossomed into an ancient divine tree teeming with foliage.

His Aspect, Primordial Spirit, and the divine tree became one in an instant.

The divine tree bore a semblance to the Hannya Divine Tree in its heyday, its branches piercing the Outer Star River and nearly obscuring Hellfire Mountain.

Crack!

The purple-gold divine rainbow cleaved through, reducing the ancient divine tree, Cao Ji's most potent creation since his ascension, into countless withered branches.

Cao Ji grunted, and when he reemerged, his chest was drenched in blood.

The artifact he had crafted from the Fallen Divine Tree's root was now ruined.

With a somber look, Cao Ji held back any bitter words, turned, and soared away.

He stood no chance against Yu Yuan's Unrestrained Stage form, let alone when the Yang God—feared by Lin Daoke and Tan Xiaotian—returned. The Cao Family, sensing disaster, wisely cut their losses in time.

"You're playing with fire."

Within the skeletal tower hovering outside Hellfire Mountain, Wu Rann, a fellow supreme being of the Devil Palace, chuckled with malicious glee. "Before our Palace Master departed, he advised me that no matter the time or place, I should steer clear of Yu Yuan. Hehe, I took the Palace Master's advice to heart, and it certainly paid off."

He had heeded the continuous warnings from the Unrestrained Stage cultivators of the Devil Palace.

Upon his return from the Outer Star River, instead of striving for the highest echelon, he sought an audience with Tan Xiaotian first. From the Devil Lord, he learned who was untouchable.

Tan Xiaotian had made it clear that if he valued his life, upon ascending to the Supreme Realm, there were three individuals he should never challenge: Lin Daoke, the Demon Phoenix, and Yu Yuan.

He took Tan Xiaotian's words seriously, which is why he tactfully made his exit when Yu Yuan started to drive people away.

"Ugh!"

Yuan Lianyao's brows quivered.

Out of nowhere, she perceived a summons emanating from the core of the earth.

In a daze, she and the Red Demon Bell plunged into a volcanic crater.

She plummeted down.

Hiss! Sizzle!

Beams of fire, more refined than she could ever fathom, were forcibly infused into her body from the magma, purging her of impurities.

In her mind, the esoteric mysteries of flame were kindled by a trail of firelight, unfolding in an accessible way.

It was as if a scholarly celestial teacher was meticulously guiding her through the intricate principles of fire, instructing her on their application.

Meanwhile.

A stream of green-black essence, originating from the heart of the vast expanse, wafted upwards, soon materializing beneath her in the pool of lava.

It seemed to bide its time, waiting for her to gain sufficient insight and fortify her Unrestrained Stage foundation before pulling her toward an assault on the Primordial Spirit.

Yuan Lianyao was dumbfounded.

She could never have dreamed of receiving such attentive care, of being propelled by the will beneath her. Despite not yet possessing the qualifications for divinity, her essence was already being primed in anticipation.

Unbeknownst to her, this was the Geocentric Fire of the vast expanse, extending an olive branch to Yu Yuan through her.

Regardless of whether her talents were sufficient, she was determined to gain Yu Yuan's favor and thus propelled herself to the highest echelons.

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