Vol 5 Chapter 9: The Savior

Run! Run! Run!

Gu Youran fled with all her might, refusing to believe the Heavenly Demon Sect cultivator's lies.

Though he claimed he'd let her go if she surrendered the dragon veins, Gu Youran didn't trust him.

Records stated the Heavenly Demon Scripture cultivated by these practitioners allowed perfect body possession.

With sufficient power, not only would possession never fail, but practitioners could even seize bodies of different genders and races.

Though she only possessed a Postnatal Immortal Physique, it was still an immortal-grade constitution. This demonic cultivator might covet her body for possession.

The thought of a strange male cultivator occupying her body made Gu Youran sick. She'd rather die than be captured.

"This is—"

After fleeing some distance, Gu Youran suddenly sensed an extraordinarily powerful dragon vein pulse ahead. Its quality seemed several times superior to the Fortune Dragon her brother had awakened!

The Tianyuan Ancient Kingdom had specialized methods for nurturing dragon veins, making theirs exceptionally potent—precisely why this demonic cultivator pursued her relentlessly.

Gu Youran marveled at the Origin Realm's excellent feng shui.

"If I reach that dragon vein, even without practicing the True Dragon Secret Arts, I have methods to utilize its power for counterattack!" she decided, simultaneously noticing the pursuing cultivator accelerating.

She barely had time to wonder why when an overwhelming spiritual power froze her completely, filling her with terror.

Then an ancient, resonant voice echoed:

"This tree I planted, this road I paved, to enter my mountain, tribute you must save!"

"Little lass, since you're being chased, offer me one supreme dragon vein, and I'll grant sanctuary. This Mountain God will block your foe!"

"What?!"

Shocked, Gu Youran realized the entire mountain range ahead possessed sentience—the dragon vein she'd sensed was merely part of it.

Incredible power!

Cold sweat drenched her. This Mountain God's strength dwarfed even her pursuer's, instantly immobilizing her. It might surpass even her brother or the Holy Son of the Demon Court.

The Origin Realm truly hid dragons among common snakes.

But compared to the demonic cultivator, the Mountain God seemed reasonable. With no alternatives, Gu Youran tossed a storage ring: "Take it!"

She sprinted deeper, but the voice followed:

"Swift little lass! Rest assured, I'll stop your enemy. But remember—entering requires tribute, and leaving demands more. Ten supreme dragon veins! Fail to pay, and you'll stay to condense spiritual stones for me!!"

"You!"

Gu Youran nearly cursed. With such power, the Mountain God could simply rob her! How shameless!

"Take all my dragon veins—just eliminate him."

Resigned, she reasoned that facing this greedy deity was preferable to body-snatching by the demonic cultivator. At worst, the Mountain God might possess her too.

"One guest, enter... But heed this, girl: avoid the forbidden zone marked ahead. If the filth there kills you, even I cannot intervene." The Mountain God indicated the danger area just as the Heavenly Demon Sect cultivator arrived at the mountain's edge.

"Leave." The Mountain God's calm command shook heaven and earth.

"Damn it, too late..." The demonic cultivator scowled but called out: "Mountain God, I serve Sacred Son Sheng Kun of the Heavenly Demon Sect. That woman... is vital to our sect. Hand her over."

"Whether Sacred Rooster or Sacred Kun, my rules stand firm," the Mountain God retorted, unafraid. If pressed, it could always seek refuge with the Meteor Spirit Beast.

"Fine!" The cultivator fumed, yet coveted Gu Youran's dragon veins. Among countless veins harvested across worlds by the Heavenly Demon Sect, few matched the quality nurtured by Tianyuan's national fortune.

"I'm entering too!" Finally, he gritted his teeth, deciding to brave the Mountain of Lewd Sacrifices.

His persistence gave the Mountain God pause.

"Well? Your rules apply equally. State your terms—once inside, how I handle her is none of your concern."

"True enough," the Mountain God grumbled, unused to such determination. Most pursuers abandoned chases after targets entered its domain.

But it understood—for fortune-devouring demonic cultivators, those dragon veins were irresistible.

After extorting several supreme magical treasures, the Mountain God permitted his entry.

Meanwhile, Gu Youran had barely relaxed inside the mountain when she sensed the demonic cultivator's approach. Cursing vehemently, she resumed fleeing.

"Damned Mountain God! You promised protection for one dragon vein, yet let him in!"

"Nowhere left to run!" The cultivator sneered, watching her scramble. "If this deity were reliable, outsiders wouldn't call this the 'Mountain of Lewd Sacrifices.'"

Lewd sacrifices—improper rites. What could one expect from such a wilderness god?

"Damn it!" Panicking as her sanctuary failed, Gu Youran suddenly detected another dragon vein pulse.

The mountain housed two veins—one belonging to the Mountain God, the other seemingly severed.

More astonishingly, this vein's resonance closely resembled Tianyuan's dragon veins.

As a princess, Gu Youran's sensitivity to her homeland's veins was acute.

"Brother?!" she gasped joyfully. Before their journey, the Second Ancient Emperor had given both her and the Ancient Imperial Prince dragon veins. Besides her, only he would carry Tianyuan veins.

Imagining fighting alongside him, Gu Youran accelerated—only to realize the pulse came from the forbidden zone!

"Halt!"

As she hesitated, a cultivator materialized, glaring coldly: "Unauthorized personnel, withdraw! This is my lord's cultivation territory. Advance further, and Fang will strike."