C904 Collapsing Gold Mountain

The dragon scales initially soared towards Yu Yuan with incredible speed, but at a certain moment, they slowed down dramatically. In contrast, the green stars materializing in his Mindscape were expanding wildly, their momentum akin to thunderbolts. There was a strange, miraculous inversion between the external and internal dynamics.

As the external green stars, hurtling towards the Crucible of Evil, decelerated, the one within Yu Yuan's Mindscape accelerated. The slowing of the outer seemed to fuel the hastening of the inner. Even more astonishingly, the luminous green dragon scales didn't just slow down; they also began to shrink rapidly. In a brief moment, what was once the size of a door panel was reduced to the size of a fingernail.

Meanwhile, the green star within Yu Yuan's mind had grown as immense as a towering mountain. This colossal star streaked across the sky, causing a slight pain in Yu Yuan's head, with his temples pulsating as if on the verge of bursting. He had the sensation that if the green star kept swelling, his head might indeed burst.

With a mere thought, his Lunar Spirit detached from his dominant soul and heaven soul, darting through his Mindscape. "It's targeting my Lunar Spirit!" he realized. The massive green star pursued the Lunar Spirit relentlessly.

Yu Yuan sensed that this newly emerged green star harbored a covert psionic power, resembling an active prison intent on capturing its chosen quarry. "Why does it feel like it's modeled after the Sword Prison?" he wondered. His remnant soul could observe the green star from various perspectives within his Mindscape, noting that this entity bore no resemblance to the external dragon scale.

The dragon scale was merely a facade, a spell designed to complement the true object. The green star that had infiltrated his mind appeared to be Chong Xiao's most treasured possession, an artifact he had painstakingly refined.

While the dominant soul and heaven soul continued to wield their swords, the Lunar Spirit engaged in a tactical dance with the spontaneously appearing green star within his mind. Moments later, Yu Yuan's consciousness blurred abruptly. The once agile Lunar Spirit now seemed stupefied, apparently at a loss for how to flee. The green star underwent transformations, its surface riddled with holes, becoming increasingly reminiscent of the Sword Prison.

As the Lunar Spirit came to a halt, the green star released by Chong Xiao finally caught up.

The star emanated a powerful suction, tugging at his Lunar Spirit, seemingly intent on dragging it into captivity.

Whoosh!

A petite figure silently emerged in Yu Yuan's Mindscape, gently landing on the green star.

The instant she touched down, the star began to tremble violently as though crushed under the weight of a cosmic giant beast.

With the tremors, the "soil" on the star's surface and the green algae in the rivers burst apart violently.

"Die."

Her lips tightened, and her eyes were icy cold.

Infinite demonic light poured from her into the green star, like countless swords piercing through the star's surface and reaching its core.

Clusters of phantoms within the star were instantly annihilated.

In the Mindscape, the green star contorted, transforming into an emerald emblem that flickered twice before vanishing silently.

Boom!

In the external world, the dragon scale, now the size of a rice grain, burst apart.

The emerald emblem that had just appeared in Yu Yuan's Mindscape suddenly emerged.

Chong Xiao, standing atop Loong Qi's forehead, grunted, his expression darkening as he quickly secured the green emblem, fearing Yu Yuan might destroy it with a single strike.

At that moment,

Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit in the Mindscape regained clarity. "Yu Yiyi?"

The cauldron spirit, adrift in his Mindscape, offered a gentle smile and said, "Master, the gathered Bane is sufficient, and I've regained some of my combat strength. Now, I can enter your Mindscape to aid you in warding off malevolent intrusions."

"The green star that manifested is a Horcrux."

"What astonishes me is that the Horcrux's forging technique likely originates from the Devil Palace in the Land of Quiescence. The Devil Palace boasts its own forgers, who craft Divine Weapons specifically for practitioners of the dark arts. Inside the Horcrux, there were also several Terra Fiend phantoms, seemingly imprisoned for years."

"This Chong Xiao of the Ethereal Void Sect has evidently practiced a form of the dark arts in secret to wield such an artifact."

Yu Yiyi described the oddity she had witnessed.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sword light concealed at the base of the scabbard, empowered by a series of relentless Moonfall Strikes, grew stronger with each blow. Like water carving through stone, it successfully shattered the suspended golden mountains.

Suddenly, the golden mountains hanging overhead fractured into chunks of gold and stone, crumbling away.

The numerous golden dragon scales, formed from Shadowgold, disintegrated.

Yu Yuan, battered and bruised, seized the opportunity to catch his breath as the oppressive weight above him was lifted. Just as he was about to inquire further, he saw Yu Yiyi return to the cauldron's inner world from his Mindscape.

Beside him, Wen Lu cradled a leaf-shaped necklace, continuing to channel her bloodline talent to draw in plant essence and nourish his corporeal body.

With the golden mountain no longer wreaking havoc, his robust form, nourished by two types of life essence, rapidly healed its wounds.

"Horcruxes, Devil Palace techniques..."

He furrowed his brow, casting a penetrating gaze at Chong Xiao, the Ethereal Void Sage, who stood upon Loong Qi. He reflected on Qu Jing's earlier actions and now Chong Xiao's, both seemingly entangled with the Devil Palace to some degree.

Qu Jing had professed to be Mo Yan's comrade, aiming to seize the Crucible of Evil on his behalf, while also scheming within the Crimson Sun Empire.

Chong Xiao possessed a Horcrux crafted by the Devil Palace and was clandestinely practicing the dark arts.

"The Ethereal Void, the foremost of the seven lower sects of Euwrea, prides itself as an honorable sect, yet they tolerate Qu Jing's close association with Mo Yan. This Sage, Chong Xiao, practices the dark arts in secret, harboring a Devil Palace Horcrux. I wonder if their Sect Master is aware of the intrigue."

With these thoughts, he directed a tendril of his consciousness into the base of the scabbard.

The sword's will within the scabbard was nearly depleted from the battle, and there was scarcely any sword light left. Should Chong Xiao or Tianjing strike again, he would find it difficult to defend himself.

Thud!

Wen Lu suddenly collapsed, her vitality thrown into disarray, apparently due to the overextension of her Shadowkin bloodline. Her small face was ashen.

As she collapsed, the plant essence that once flowed from the Serpent Spine Mountains ceased to converge and infuse into Yu Yuan's body.

"You..."

Yu Yuan began to speak, intending to inquire about her well-being, but realized she had lost consciousness.

"Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve? Bring them out now."

Chong Xiao's eyes narrowed, a swirl of murderous intent enveloping his thoughts. Yu Yuan had discerned the secret concealed within the green emblem, prompting Chong Xiao to reconsider his strategy for capturing the Lunar Spirit.

However, before Chong Xiao could act, geysers erupted from the valley floor like a series of fountains.

It was akin to a magnificent fountain display.

The fountains bursting from the earth resembled the dazzling and wondrous Milky Way, deep within the extraterrestrial Star River.

Xinshang, who had been observing impassively amidst the arc light, saw the valley's fountains and his face, usually so stern, creased with concern.

"This..."

Xinshang, sensing the presence of the Otherkin from the underground fountains, double-checked his perception. His demeanor abruptly turned grave as he called out, "Chong Xiao, Tianjing! We must leave!"

"Leave? And go where?"

The melodious voice of Green Willow echoed from the fountains, "Xinshang, you've remained uninvolved, so you're free to go. But as for the two Sages who have drawn their weapons, they should not expect to leave so easily."

With those words, the formidable leader of the Evilkind, marked by a vertical pupil, made a dramatic entrance.

​