179: A dramatic change in attitude and the true picture of Kunwu

Stony Abyss, valley floor.

The suffocating dead silence in the air was even heavier now than when the Devil Head was rampaging moments ago.

"Gulp."

Someone swallowed hard, the sound exceptionally clear in the silent environment.

Immortal Chi Huo and Poison Granny were currently shrinking behind the pillars of the stone pavilion, looking at Zhou Wannian (Han Li) as if they were looking at a prehistoric Vicious Beast in human skin.

That was an ancient demon's remnant soul comparable to the Nascent Soul Stage!

It wasn't even enough to fill the gaps between their teeth, yet it was eaten as a snack by that big-nosed monkey?

"Elder... Elder Han."

Ye Seven was, after all, a royal steward who had seen much of the world, and was the first to snap out of it. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice trembling slightly with unmistakable respect.

"That Spirit Beast just now..."

"Oh, that thing."

Zhou Wannian casually patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist, that harmless and honest smile still hanging on his face.

"I picked it up on a deserted island overseas in my early years. It's called a 'Soul-Sucking Beast'. This little thing doesn't have any other skills; it can't fight or take a hit. Its only hobby is eating some ghosts and Yin Qi."

"It just happened to counter that Devil Head."

"Luck, it's all luck."

"..."

The corners of the three people's mouths twitched frantically.

No other skills?

It swallowed a Nascent Soul level demon soul in one bite, and you call that having no skills?

"Fellow Daoist Han... oh no, Brother Han, you really are a hidden talent!" Immortal Chi Huo's fat face was instantly covered in a fawning smile, even his way of addressing him had changed. "If Brother Han hadn't stepped in just now, I'm afraid we would have all perished here. Brother Han is truly a role model for our generation!"

"Yes, yes, this old woman was blind. I've offended you before, Elder Han; please don't take it to heart." Poison Granny was also all smiles, terrified that Zhou Wannian would release that monkey to suck her dry as well.

"It's fine, it's fine."

Zhou Wannian waved his hand, not caring about the attitude of these fair-weather friends.

He walked over to the dry well.

"Steward Ye, the Devil Head is gone. Do we still set up the Formation?"

"Set it up! Of course we set it up!"

Ye Seven woke up as if from a dream and hurriedly picked up the Formation Flags from the ground.

"With Elder Han overseeing it, this Seal will surely be as solid as a fortress!"

The subsequent process became exceptionally smooth.

To prove themselves, Immortal Chi Huo and Poison Granny put in twelve-tenths of their effort, scrambling to channel their magic power.

Meanwhile, Zhou Wannian stood to the side to "watch over the proceedings."

Of course, he wasn't idle either.

The Heavenly Secret Dao Disk inside his body was operating frantically. Taking advantage of Ye Seven setting up the Formation, it silently replicated the spiritual energy flow trajectories of this node, as well as the structure of the massive sealing Formation group connected deep underground.

[Deduction Progress: Kunwu Mountain Outer Sealing Map (15%)...]

"It really is a node of Kunwu Mountain."

Zhou Wannian chuckled inwardly.

"The Ye family's claim of repairing the Seal is a lie; their true intention is to find a 'backdoor' to break the Seal through this place."

"Unfortunately, while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole follows behind."

...Three days later, Jin Capital.

When the Ye family's flying boat landed in the Imperial City again, Ye Seven's attitude towards Zhou Wannian was already respectful to the bone.

"Elder Han, please return to the Listening Wave Villa to rest first. As for the remaining twenty thousand Spirit Stones reward, the Young Miss will personally deliver them later."

"Much obliged."

Zhou Wannian took Purple Spirit, who had been maintaining a low profile (but was actually on high alert), back to the courtyard... Ye Family, Core Secret Chamber.

After listening to Ye Seven's report, Grand Elder Ye Rui, who was originally rotating walnuts in his hand, suddenly stopped.

"What did you say?"

"That Guest Elder surnamed Han keeps a Spirit Beast specifically for devouring demon souls? And it swallowed the demonic creature beneath the Stony Abyss in one bite?"

"It is absolutely true!" Ye Seven knelt on the ground, his tone excited. "I saw it with my own eyes! That demonic creature was invincible before Chi Huo and the others, but it didn't even have a chance to escape before that monkey!"

Ye Rui narrowed his eyes, his finger lightly tapping on the table.

"Specifically counters demon souls... an overseas Loose Cultivator... unfathomable strength yet low-key..."

"Grand Elder, could this person be an undercover agent sent by those 'Ten Great Sects'?" an Elder nearby asked worriedly.

"No."

Ye Rui shook his head, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"Those old fogies from the Ten Great Sects are all arrogant. If there were really such a talent, they would have long since enshrined him as a Core Disciple. How could they let him come serve us as a Guest Elder?"

"Furthermore, he offended the Taiyi Sect (the incident where Bai Qifeng was stripped bare), which proves he isn't one of theirs."

"This is a variable."

"A... powerful variable that we can use."

Ye Rui stood up and walked to a huge ancient painting hanging on the wall of the secret chamber.

The painting depicted a giant mountain shrouded in clouds and mist with flying cranes—Kunwu Mountain.

"Since he has strength and is greedy for wealth (asking for geng essence), then things are easy to handle."

"Chuchu."

"Present." Ye Chuchu, who had been standing in the shadows, stepped forward.

"Take that item and go see him."

Ye Rui turned around, his voice low and full of ambition.

"Tell him that if he is willing to help us with that 'great matter'."

"I don't mind... letting him have a share of the spoils."

"After all, there are too many things in Kunwu Mountain; our Ye family alone... cannot swallow it all."

...Listening Wave Villa, quiet room.

Zhou Wannian was fiddling with that piece of geng essence.

"Husband, this geng essence is quite substantial. If it's to be fused into the Flying Swords, I'm afraid it will take quite some time." Purple Spirit was protecting him from the side.

"Refining it slowly with Nascent Soul Fire is too slow."

Zhou Wannian directly summoned the void heaven cauldron.

"Use the extreme cold power of the Azure Blue Ice Flame to embrittle the geng essence first, then use the nurturing power of the Qingmu Demonic Fire to fuse it."

"With the duality of ice and fire, it can be done in three days at most."

Just then.

The Restriction outside the courtyard was triggered.

"Elder Han, Ye Chuchu requests an audience."

The young girl's crisp voice drifted in.

Zhou Wannian and Purple Spirit exchanged a glance.

"She's here."

Zhou Wannian put away the void heaven cauldron and withdrew the sound-isolating Formation.

"Please come in."

A moment later, Ye Chuchu entered the quiet room. Today, she had changed into a more formal palace dress. She dismissed her attendants and even personally activated the highest-level Restriction of the quiet room.

"Young Miss Ye is being so solemn; it seems there is a major matter?" Zhou Wannian asked, knowing the answer full well.

"Elder Han."

Ye Chuchu did not sit down but instead performed a deep bow to Zhou Wannian.

"Honest people don't use double-talk."

"Seventh Uncle has already reported everything regarding the Stony Abyss. Elder Han's Divine Ability far exceeds my Ye family's expectations."

"Therefore, the Grand Elder specifically asked me to invite Elder Han to participate in the 'Seal-Breaking Plan' that my Ye family has been preparing for a hundred years."

"Seal-breaking?" Zhou Wannian raised an eyebrow. "Breaking what Seal?"

Ye Chuchu took a deep breath, took out a yellowed, ancient scroll from her Storage Pouch, and presented it with both hands.

"This is..."

Zhou Wannian took the scroll and slowly unfurled it.

As the scroll opened, a vast aura of ancient times rushed toward him.

It was a map.

A [Kunwu Mountain · Panoramic Restriction-Breaking Map] so detailed that it marked every Formation node, every secret passage, and even the strength of every Restriction.

"This is the map of Kunwu Mountain, the number one divine mountain of ancient times."

Ye Chuchu's words were startling.

"Elder Han should have heard that Kunwu Mountain has been sealed for tens of thousands of years. Inside, there are heaven-reaching spirit treasures, Soul Transformation opportunities, and even a passage to ascend to the Spirit Realm."

"Our Ye family holds the key to unlocking the Seal."

"But we also know that once the Seal is opened, the commotion will be too great and will inevitably attract the competition of the Righteous and Demonic Ten Great Sects."

"We need helpers."

"True powerhouses."

Ye Chuchu looked directly into Zhou Wannian's eyes.

"Elder Han, as long as you are willing to help my Ye family seize two of the key treasures (the Mountain Leveling Seal and a heaven-reaching spirit treasure imitation)."

"The rest... whether it be Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, or ancient treasures."

"You can take whatever you want."

Zhou Wannian looked at the map in his hand, then at the seemingly delicate yet ambitious royal girl before him.

He smiled.

"Whatever I want?"

"Young Miss Ye, those are your words."

Zhou Wannian closed the scroll and tucked it into his sleeve.

"I'll take this job."

"However, I have a condition."

"What condition?" Ye Chuchu was delighted.

"After entering Kunwu Mountain, I want to act alone."

A flash of cunning crossed Zhou Wannian's eyes.

"I don't like traveling with a large group."

"And..."

"I have a feeling that my 'luck' is usually better in places with fewer people."

Ye Chuchu was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

"Deal."

...After seeing off Ye Chuchu.

Purple Spirit asked with some concern, "Husband, the opening of Kunwu Mountain will definitely attract Soul Transformation Stage old monsters (like Xiang Zhili and the others). Do we really want to get involved?"

"Wealth is found in danger."

Zhou Wannian took out that piece of geng essence, as well as the [black void meteoric iron] (remaining part) he had snatched from the Taiyi Sect Young Lord.

"Besides, if I don't go to Kunwu Mountain, I won't be able to find the node leading to the Spirit Realm."

"Three days."

Zhou Wannian's eyes were firm.

"I have three days."

"I want to thoroughly refine this geng essence into the seventy-two green bamboo bee cloud swords."

"And I need to install the final 'restriction-breaking module' on Tie Zhu."

"When the day Kunwu Mountain opens comes..."

Zhou Wannian looked out at the seemingly calm night sky of the Jin Capital.

"I will give those high and mighty Ten Great Sects..."

"A big surprise."