C624 A Hindrance!

"Steady now!"

Zhu Peining of the Babel Chamber of Commerce, standing near the dilapidated Jade Tower, urgently called out to Old Cash to prevent his excitement from causing the structure to crumble.

"Crack! Crack!"

The brittle sounds echoed from the Jade Tower as fissures began to spread across the metal-forged earth.

The Divine Mount, a creation of the Tenth Level Demon God known as the Golden Elephant Ancient God, was the result of a millennium of devoted refinement, bringing it to the brink of being a Divine Artifact.

This Divine Mount had the power to transform all known gold mines and iron mountains in the Boundless Land, including the hidden vein patterns deep within the earth.

Constructed of gold and jade, the Jade Tower was inherently overpowered by the Divine Mount. As it drew near, it reacted like a lower-tier demon god in the presence of a mighty Eighth or Ninth Level demon god—instinctively filled with terror, trembling, and unrest.

Already critically damaged, the Jade Tower was particularly vulnerable, its fear of the Divine Mount intensifying.

Old Cash's expression swiftly shifted from delight to alarm. Heeding Zhu Peining's caution, he began to hastily consolidate the Jade Tower.

As the Jade Tower shrank, Zhu Peining, Chiang Yurong, and Gao Qin made their escape. Approaching the Gold Mountain, Zhu Peining called out, "Zhu Peining of the Babel Chamber of Commerce pays respects to the Raven Lord and the Python Queen."

The Raven Lord offered a wry smile and a nod, remaining silent.

As an Eighth Level Great Demon, equivalent to a human Yang cultivator, and a member of the Demon Palace, he felt a natural sense of superiority over Zhu Peining, who was at the Soul Wandering Stage.

Only the other three Yang Gods stationed on Babel Island were his equals.

In both power and status, Zhu Peining was a notch below him.

Xu Zixi responded with a smile and a nod, then furrowed her brow, asking, "Are you also here to thwart Liang Jingyin's ascension to Yang God?"

"Indeed, that was the intention, but alas... within the Absence Relic, we lack the means," Zhu Peining admitted openly, not bothering to conceal his motives. "Liang Jingyin and our Chamber have a history of enmity. We've made attempts on him more than once."

She let out a wistful sigh, her tone shifting dramatically, "If he actually manages to condense the Yang God, it'll be even more difficult."

"Yu Yuan!"

Old Cash, having stowed the Jade Tower in his sleeve, approached with a beaming smile, calling out excitedly.

Zhan Tianxiang gave Yu Yuan a look, and Yu Yuan gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Whoosh!

Old Cash's plump figure seemed to pierce through an unseen ripple, landing on the Divine Mount as he exclaimed, "Liang Jingyin is in the midst of condensing the Yang God. I..."

Yu Yuan responded crisply, "Rest assured, he won't succeed!"

Old Cash was ecstatic. "I knew it! My decision to head to the Crack Archipelago couldn't have been wrong!"

"Save me, Master!"

Yellow Mountain trembled violently like a swaying tower. With a series of cracks, boulders tumbled down. Invisible to the naked eye, a golden radiance flowed like liquid gold from the peak, trickling down to the gold metal vein at the mountain's base.

Zhan Tianxiang's grin was laced with malice as he laughed, "Did you really think you could use the underground gold metal vein to forge the Yang God's bones without the consent of this Gold Mountain?"

His words hung in the air, and to everyone's amazement, a stunning golden aura burst forth from the fissures below.

Raven, with narrowed eyes, peered through his Eighth Level Demon Soul, discerning what seemed like countless golden, silver, and dark lines, woven from gold dust, iron filings, and silver essence. They resembled myriad golden dragons, iron serpents, and silver snakes, writhing through the subterranean realm, forcibly altering the gold metal array's rules.

Had Liang Jingyin not been in the midst of a boundary breakthrough, Zhan Tianxiang, even with the Divine Mount at his command, would have been powerless against him.

But fatefully, at the pivotal moment of his ascension, not only did Zhan Tianxiang arrive, but he also brought with him the Golden Elephant Ancient God's Gold Mountain!

"Ah!"

The anguished screams of Rogue Cultivator Liang Jingyin were piercing, sending shivers down one's spine.

Within the mountain, invisible to the eye, Liang Jingyin's Yang God, yet to fully take shape within the five-tiered pagoda, began to disintegrate.

A golden spine, bridging head to tail, snapped abruptly.

Should the breakthrough to Yang God fail, the Yang God would shatter, and the Heavenly Soul might either be gravely wounded or vanish altogether.

For Liang Jingyin, failing to ascend was the least of his worries. Bereft of his Yang God, he was missing one of the three essential souls, rendering any further progress in his lifetime impossible and extinguishing any hope of ever refining a Yang God again.

This would spell utter ruin for Liang Jingyin!

"Save me! Save me, please!"

Liang Jingyin's cries escalated into heart-wrenching sobs that reverberated across the heavens and earth.

Every sentient creature within a hundred miles could hear his distress clearly.

"What a thrill!"

Old Cash roared with laughter, recalling Liang Jingyin's recent haughtiness. His laughter was deep and satisfying, a release of all the pent-up frustration since his return to the Absence Relic.

"He got what he deserved!"

Zhu Peining of the Babel Chamber of Commerce watched the turmoil at Yellow Mountain with an icy demeanor, her spirits lifted by Liang Jingyin's desperate wails.

Pillaging the Chamber's resources was one thing, but Liang Jingyin had gone too far, murdering the Chamber's stewards and leaders, not sparing even women and children.

Liang Jingyin's deeds were beyond redemption. The Chamber was resolute in its quest for vengeance.

One party that pursued him was brutally counterattacked by Liang Jingyin and other rogue cultivators. A loyal steward of the Chamber was flayed by Liang Jingyin and grotesquely displayed on the wrecked merchant vessel as an affront to the Chamber.

"Master, Master, save me!"

Liang Jingyin's pleas continued unabated.

Whoosh!

A reluctant Yin God shadow drifted from the darkness hundreds of miles away, swiftly materializing in the wavering shadows of Yellow Mountain.

Though the visitor's form was obscured by shadow, the presence of their soul was unmistakably potent.

"Raven Lord, might you grant the Spirit Void Sect a favor and spare this man's life?"

The unseen Taoist Chongxiao, hidden within the shadows, implored the Raven Lord seated upon the Divine Mount of gold metal, "I oversee the Absence Relic, tending to the teleportation array and facilitating all conveniences for the Demon Palace. The revenues from Spider City and the space teleportation array will be dutifully delivered to Lord Yu Zhu as per our arrangement."

"The Spirit Void Sect has not acted against the Demon Palace's wishes in the Absence Relic."

"Raven Lord, the rogue cultivator in question is indeed favored by the Spirit Void Sect. His Yang God cultivation may be somewhat excessive, but I implore you to show leniency."

In the entire Absence Relic, the Spirit Void Sect's power is second only to the Demon Palace, largely due to their possession of a space teleportation array within the relic.

The Demon Palace's edicts prohibit outsider demons of Seventh Level or higher and cultivators at or beyond the Soul Wandering Stage from entering the Absence Relic.

Taoist Chongxiao is likely the sole exception, as the Demon Palace has entrusted him with overseeing the space teleportation array.

Besides the Demon Palace, Taoist Chongxiao is another privileged figure within the Absence Relic.

"Raven Lord!"

Zhan Tianxiang's expression grew stern as he glared and bellowed, "This Liang Jingyin, having incurred Yu Yuan's enmity, must not attempt to ascend to the Yang God within the relic! By the rules, his successful Yang God cultivation would be a direct violation of the Demon Palace's laws!"

Zhan Tianxiang was unconcerned with Liang Jingyin's identity or his ties to the Spirit Void Sect; his loyalty lay resolutely with Yu Yuan.

Zhao Yafu added, "Raven Lord, Yellow Mountain is part of the Absence Relic and the private domain of Lord Yu Zhu! Should this individual achieve Yang God status, Yellow Mountain will be ruined. His success would be predicated on the destruction of Yellow Mountain and the relic itself, and therefore should not be permitted!"

"The young ones make a valid point," concurred Xu Zixi.

The Demon Palace has commissioned the Raven Lord to oversee the Absence Relic temporarily, stepping in for Yu Zhu. As an Eighth Level Great Demon, he now holds sway over the relic.

Present in his true form, the Raven Lord is the mightiest here, and Taoist Chongxiao, merely a Yin God, is no match for him.

The opinions, attitudes, and words of the Raven Lord were the unbreakable laws of the Absence Relic.

Old Cash gazed anxiously at the gaunt elder from the Demon Palace, his heart filled with trepidation.

Yu Yuan's voice was gentle, "If Liang Jingyin can succeed in condensing the Yang God at Yellow Mountain, upon Yu Zhu's return, I'll make an attempt to convince her to part ways with the Demon Palace."

A flash of malice sparked in the Raven Lord's eyes. He inhaled sharply, his gaze upon Yu Yuan icy and unforgiving.

Unshaken, Yu Yuan declared, "I've laid my words before you today. Act as you deem fit."

"You insolent boy, you dare to threaten me, your elder!" The lower-ranked little crow was livid, ready to launch at Yu Yuan and claw at his eyes.

Zhao Yafu swiftly caught its claws, yanking it down from the air.

"Well done, you have the audacity to haggle with the Demon Palace! Without the protection of the Golden Elephant, Tang Zheng's assault would have shattered your soul. Ungrateful as you are, you still dare to speak to me in such a manner!" The Raven retorted icily.

"I undertook the mission to the Great Swamp at the behest of the Demon Palace. The Evil Cauldron I wield and the scabbard were lost there," Yu Yuan countered, his expression stern. "I haven't sought recompense from the Demon Palace. Having risked my life for their cause, is it not only right that they offer me protection?"

"You are not one of us!" The Raven cried out once more.

Yu Yuan's lips curled into an odd smile, yet he chose to remain silent.

The Raven inhaled deeply, his anger simmering, "A rogue cultivator who has not ascended to the Yang God Stage is worthless, easily slain and forgotten!"

From the Raven's palm, a palace of bones took flight, its eerie presence descending slowly upon Yellow Mountain.

The wails of Liang Jingyin, filled with despair, rose in a haunting crescendo.

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