C622 Make a Name for Yourself

Gold Mountain soared through the void, emanating an ancient and awe-inspiring aura. The formidable demon energy within was like a herd of colossal elephants thundering across the heavens and earth.

Atop the peak, one stood as if on solid ground, unshakable.

Dusk Raven invoked the clan's mystique and soon, from the depths of the Marsh, located the chatty little gray crow that had been escorting Zhan Tianxiang and Zhao Yafu. Together, they were brought to Gold Mountain.

From there, Gold Mountain, under Zhan Tianxiang's command, made a beeline for the Forgotten Ruins.

The once towering Gold Mountain began to shrink, its brilliance dimming.

"How are you?"

Zhao Yafu approached, concern etched on her face as she offered a bottle of vitality-rich pills to Yu Yuan. "Chen Qingyan's master is so heartless! She knew full well you entered the Sword Prison in the Marsh for the sake of her disciple's life. You had no choice."

Yu Yuan gently pushed the bottle back towards her and shook his head with a smile. "I don't need them."

While seated on the Gold Mountain, refined by the Golden Elephant God, he had already consumed a pill to restore his vitality. He had lightly triggered the Evil Body Refining technique, drawing forth a whisper of essence from the Blood Altar. His once gruesome wound now seemed stitched together, and in mere moments, the bleeding had ceased.

The wound was healing rapidly.

"Tsk tsk."

Having taken human form, the gaunt Dusk Raven marveled, "The Terror Claws' Evil Body Refining technique is truly remarkable. Your wound looks almost healed already."

"Ancestor, are you blind?"

The little gray crow perched on Dusk Raven's shoulder spoke in a piercing tone, "The Evil Body Refining and the Ancient Echoes of the Void mantra couldn't possibly have him recover so swiftly. Are you saying you didn't catch the scent of his vitality's little world?"

"Silence, you impudent child!"

Lord Dusk Raven huffed and swung a hand at the crow.

The little Dusk Raven, quick on the wing, took flight from his shoulder to Zhao Yafu's, unabashed and squawking, "That cursed old dragon and Zhongli Dapan are both deeply intrigued by him. I knew there was something extraordinary about him."

Zhao Yafu nodded in agreement. "Dusk Raven wouldn't make a mistake."

As she spoke, her gaze was fixed on the area of Yu Yuan's chest where the Profound Gate acupoint was located. "The vitality healing you has a scent reminiscent of amber pine. I can sense that there's something extraordinary about the little world within your vitality."

Yu Yuan offered a wry smile but chose not to elaborate further.

In the Sword Prison, a malevolent demon from the Colddeath Sect had recognized the exceptional origin of the Blood Altar, which had sparked his greed.

That demon, having drawn too much power from the Sword Prison, found himself trapped by the Crucible of Evil and was transformed into the Second Bane.

Before Yu Yuan's departure from the Godsblight Marsh, he had intended to inquire about the origins of the Blood Altar from the Second Bane during a conversation with the cauldron spirit. However, the Crucible of Evil, along with the scabbard and sword spirit, were all stripped away.

Loong Jie, Zhongli Dapan, Ji Ningshuang, and even Zhao Yafu herself had either perceived or fully grasped the marvels of the Blood Altar.

This convinced Yu Yuan that the Blood Altar, forged from the Sunsorrow of the Abyssal Leviathan, must indeed have a significant history.

The passage of time at Gold Mountain seemed to accelerate.

Facing the Godsblight Marsh, Yu Yuan's brow was tightly knit as he pondered deeply.

Yan Qiling was supposed to have left with him, but just as they were about to leave the marsh, only Yu Yuan was expelled, having been separated from the Crucible of Evil, the scabbard, and the sword spirit.

Yan Qiling must still be in the marsh. The Untamed, due to their longstanding ties with the Boulderdawn, knew of his origins and did not allow him to leave. This was surely for Yan Qiling's benefit.

Ji Ningshuang, Tang Zheng, the Golden Elephant God, and the two cultivators from the Ebon Star and Devil Palace stood watch outside the Godsblight Marsh. Their presence likely served a dual purpose: to prevent any more evil magnates from escaping and to await the decisions of the Abyssal Leviathan, Lin Zhuyun, and President Lyi regarding their departure from the marsh.

Furthermore, they seemed intent on entering into negotiations with the Untamed.

Ji Ningshuang and the five eminent cultivators represented the pinnacle forces of the Everlands. Their presence here, with such a display, was a statement in itself.

Even Untamed, a tenth-level Dark Deity, should provide an explanation for the chaos he has caused.

Otherwise, Untamed might remain unscathed in his Marsh.

However, those who left Godsblight Marsh, the archdemons of the seventh, eighth, and ninth levels, would likely fare poorly if the five great sects joined forces to attack them.

Untamed, concerned for his followers, would have to account for his actions to Ji Ningshuang and the others.

"If Untamed assists from the shadows, the Abyssal Leviathan, Lin Zhuyun, President Lyi, and the rest should manage to escape," Yu Yuan mused. He figured that beings like the Abyssal Leviathan could delve deep into the Marsh's underground and travel undetected beneath Ji Ningshuang and her group's watchful eyes.

It all depended on Untamed's next move.

"For now, this matter is closed. Once the situation in the Marsh stabilizes, I'll return to claim what's mine," Yu Yuan resolved. Upon returning to the Forgotten Ruins, he planned to look after the archdemons that had flooded in from Godsblight Marsh and offer them some assistance.

In the Marsh, Untamed hadn't attacked him as he had anticipated.

Instead, due to his covert alliance with Boulderdawn, he had received considerable support.

The Gold Mountain, transmuted by the Golden Elephant God, had moved with astonishing speed. In just half a day, it had traversed the Sunblessed Empire's domain and materialized above the Forgotten Ruins.

"Zhou, his real body has returned to the Land of Quiescence, while his Solar Spirit Body is on a campaign in the extraterrestrial Star River."

Upon entering the Forgotten Ruins, Python Queen Xu Zixi spoke with a touch of bitterness, "He left without even saying goodbye, that cold-hearted man!"

Yu Yuan instantly recognized that the 'Zhou' she referred to was none other than the High Oracle, Zhou Cangmin.

"What's the rush?" inquired Yu Yuan.

"The situation outside is quite chaotic," responded Lord Dusk Raven. "And it's not just external turmoil; the Everlands have been far from peaceful lately. Oh, and Yu Zhu hasn't returned yet; it'll be a while longer. Lord Golden Elephant sent me a message to tell you not to leave the Forgotten Ruins until he arrives."

Yu Yuan's expression darkened. "Does the Shadow's Keep intend to imprison me?"

"It's for your protection," Xu Zixi interjected. "You've been at the center of many events: the Moonfall Sanctuary, the Embers Sea, and the Godsblight Marsh. You've been threading the needle, stirring up significant turmoil. Your moniker as the God of Plagues isn't just circulating within the Chamber of Commerce; it's now spreading through numerous sects."

A look of distress crossed Yu Yuan's face. "They were all coincidences."

"Regardless, you've caught the attention of many, including Tang Zheng," Xu Zixi said gravely. "The Forgotten Ruins are under the Shadow's Keep's domain. As long as you're there, the Shadow's Keep can offer you protection. Lord Dusk Raven will be overseeing the area to avoid any mishaps."

"Does someone want me dead?" Yu Yuan asked gravely.

"Some may wish for your death, or to capture you alive to subject you to Mindflay," Xu Zixi revealed. "In any case, stay within the Forgotten Ruins for now."

"And what of Asvetaesi?"

"Should you need to return to Asvetaesi, inform me first. I will accompany you," Xu Zixi offered.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Gold Mountain that Zhan Tianxiang was aboard began to tremble violently midair.

He glanced downward and remarked, "Someone below is attempting to ascend to the Solar Spirit Realm! The arcane power they're cultivating is tied to metal magic!"

Yu Yuan peered down and exclaimed, "It's the Rogue Cultivator Liang Jingyin!"

"Liang Jingyin?" Xu Zixi scoffed.

"Tianxiang, don't let your mischief ruin his chances," Yu Yuan commanded.

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