The Mountain God's Temple

With his words still hanging in the air, a foul wind suddenly whipped up outside the temple. In an instant, a demon general with wings on his back, red hair, and a sharp beak, leading a horde of lesser demons, surrounded the Mountain God Temple. It was Piyiluo, a cultivator at the Earth Immortal realm.

"Surround them!" Piyiluo roared his command, then personally led several demons to storm into the temple.

As their eyes met, Piyiluo first caught sight of Zhuang Yan, bathed in divine light, and then noticed the limp form of Lan Caihe. He burst into maniacal laughter. "I intended to capture the Mountain God, but I didn't expect such a delightful surprise! Perfect, I'll present you both to the Great King."

He immediately ordered the lesser demons to seize Lan Caihe, while he himself, brandishing his Three-Treasure Silver Pestle, charged straight for Zhuang Yan.

Having been prepared, Zhuang Yan's form shifted. Piyiluo's lunge missed. The Earth Immortal demon general stood stunned – how could a mere Mountain God at the Spirit Refinement and Return to Void realm evade his grasp?

Disbelieving, Piyiluo formed hand seals and cast a spell. The binding power of the Spirit Binding Technique surged towards Zhuang Yan from all directions. However, Zhuang Yan's figure flickered again, and he slipped out of the restraints once more.

"Strange!" Piyiluo's heart pounded as he unleashed his pestle. Three-colored immortal light enveloped Zhuang Yan, and the Silver Pestle, carrying the force of wind and thunder, smashed down directly at him. "Let's see where you run this time!"

The moment the Silver Pestle descended, Zhuang Yan's figure vanished once more within the immortal light.

With a deafening roar, the Three-Treasure Silver Pestle shattered the offering altar, sending splinters of wood flying. As Piyiluo stood in shock, Zhuang Yan's furious roar came from behind him: "My offering table!"

The Silver Pestle flew back into Zhuang Yan's hand. Golden light radiated from his body, and he wielded the pestle with both hands, unleashing a fierce strike. Piyiluo hastily spread his wings to dodge, but an invisible force yanked him back to his original position. The pestle struck him squarely in the face, blood erupting instantly. Piyiluo flew out, crashing through the temple wall like a kite with a broken string.

The lesser demons, terrified, dropped Lan Caihe and scattered in all directions. Zhuang Yan darted out in pursuit, his Silver Pestle a blur as he slew all the demons. Lan Caihe clapped his hands in admiration. "What magnificent skill!"

Outside the temple, the setting sun bled like blood. Piyiluo, supported by his lesser demons, managed to stand. Half his face had caved in and was horribly deformed. He gritted his teeth against the searing pain and declared, "This humble one is acting under the orders of Great King Garuda..."

"Garuda?!" Lan Caihe exclaimed in shock. "Isn't that the Bodhisattva's mount?"

Zhuang Yan, however, stared at the shattered offering table, his fury uncontainable. "Wretch! How dare you destroy the foundation of my incense offerings!" He pointed the Silver Pestle directly at Piyiluo. "Today, I won't let you leave Spirit Platform Mountain!"

Piyiluo frantically ordered his demons to block, while he himself flapped his wings to escape. Suddenly, he stumbled forward after being ambushed by a lesser demon. Zhuang Yan's sharp shout echoed in his ears: the Silver Pestle, carrying the force of wind and thunder, smashed down at him.

Lan Caihe saw only the flashing shadow of the pestle, followed by the splattering of flesh and mud. When the dust settled, only a headless torso remained on the ground, the tip of the Silver Pestle still dripping with red and white matter.

Zhuang Yan calmed his rage, holding the Three-Treasure Silver Pestle. As his gaze turned to Lan Caihe, he noticed the latter staring at him with a look of horror.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Zhuang Yan asked, puzzled.

Lan Caihe snapped back to attention and hastily waved his hands. "Just a bit startled. Give me a moment to recover."

Zhuang Yan remained silent.

Leaning against the dilapidated doorframe of the Mountain God Temple, Lan Caihe panted and said to Zhuang Yan, "If they could find their way here, the Earth God from the village below must have already fallen into Garuda's hands."

Zhuang Yan walked closer and placed his hand on Lan Caihe's shoulder. Lan Caihe looked confused. "What are you doing?"

"Healing you," Zhuang Yan said. Before his words finished, a "Self-Healing" spell was infused into Lan Caihe's body, its effects lasting for an hour.

Any spell he cast on others had a time limit, but his own self-enhancements were eternally permanent.

"What kind of spell is this..." Lan Caihe suddenly felt a warm current surge through his body. The wound on his chest stopped bleeding and began to scab over, his breathing gradually stabilizing. His eyes widened in astonishment. "You possess such divine power?"

Recalling Zhuang Yan's previous feats of snatching treasures, dodging attacks, and subduing an Earth Immortal, Lan Caihe couldn't help but press further, "Your skills are comparable to a True Immortal, so why are you still only an eighth-rank Mountain God?"

"That's a question for the Jade Emperor," Zhuang Yan replied calmly, then asked with concern, "Are you feeling better?"

Lan Caihe felt his wounds gradually healing and nodded. "It's definitely improved."

"Then lead the way," Zhuang Yan commanded.

Lan Caihe was taken aback. "Lead the way?"

Zhuang Yan's gaze turned sharp. "If demons dare to attack today, Garuda will surely come in person tomorrow. If this threat isn't eliminated, I cannot rest easy."

Lan Caihe quickly advised, "Garuda is a Celestial Immortal, peerless in martial arts. Though your magic power is immense, you haven't yet achieved immortality. You are by no means his match."

"I have my plans. Just point the way," Zhuang Yan said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He summoned the Thousand Light Cloud Talisman and lifted into the air with Lan Caihe.

"Direction?" Zhuang Yan asked in a deep voice.

Seeing his resolve, Lan Caihe pointed to the west. "Dacang Mountain, seventeen hundred li away."

The cloud light surged, transforming into a blue rainbow that pierced the sky. After a day and night of rapid travel, they arrived at Dacang Mountain at dawn. As the morning sun rose, amidst ten thousand rays of golden light, a beam of dawn shone upon a deep, dark cave entrance.

Lan Caihe suddenly pointed to the Dark Gold Cave below and shouted, "Look, they've indeed been captured."

Zhuang Yan looked down and saw four Earth Gods hanging from the stone cliffs on either side of the Dark Gold Cave. One of them was the Earth God from Xiaotian Village who had come to the Mountain God Temple for help the day before. They were currently bound by demonic vines, suspended on the cliff face, their bodies covered in hideous whip marks.

Zhuang Yan turned and lightly patted Lan Caihe's shoulder. "Wait here. I'll go down first."

Lan Caihe offered, "Do you need my help?"

"Do you still have the strength to fight?" Zhuang Yan retorted.

Lan Caihe chuckled. "How about I beat the drums and cheer you on?"

Zhuang Yan teased, "Why not put on some makeup and dress as a woman to sing and dance?"

Lan Caihe glared and shouted angrily.

Zhuang Yan leaped from the cloud, the gentle breeze beneath his feet carrying him in an instant to the entrance of the Dark Gold Cave. The lesser demons guarding the entrance immediately drew their weapons and charged, shouting sternly, "Who goes there? State your name!"

Zhuang Yan announced loudly, "Your Grandpa, the Mountain God of Spirit Platform Mountain, has arrived!"

"What?!" The two demons were struck with great fear. "The Mountain God of Spirit Platform Mountain?!"

Before their words had finished, Zhuang Yan had already flashed forward, swinging his Three-Treasure Silver Pestle through the air. With two dull thuds, the lesser demons were instantly reduced to a bloody pulp.

The four Earth Gods hanging on the cliff heard the commotion and woke up. The Earth God from Xiaotian Village cried out in delight, "Mountain God of Spirit Platform Mountain! Are you here to save us?"

The other three deities echoed: "We've heard so much about you!"

Zhuang Yan cupped his fists and chuckled, "A pleasure to meet you all. Are you enjoying the swings?"

The Earth God of Xiaotian Village gave a wry smile, "Mountain Lord, please don't tease us. Hurry and save us."

Zhuang Yan rose into the air, his Silver Pestle streaking like a beam of light, and the demonic vines shattered in response. After landing, the four Earth Gods repeatedly expressed their thanks. Suddenly, the cave rumbled, and the Earth Gods' faces turned pale. They grabbed Zhuang Yan and urged him, "Mountain God, leave quickly! The demons have awakened!"

Zhuang Yan said calmly, "I came for him. You should leave first." The four deities exchanged glances and transformed into wisps of smoke, disappearing into the earth.

Deep within the Dark Gold Cave, Garuda awoke, patting his belly. His demon generals immediately presented him with bloody food. He chewed on a piece of meat and drank human blood, then asked with satisfaction, "Has Piyiluo not returned yet?"

The demon generals on either side exchanged glances. The one on the left replied cautiously, "Great King, a lesser demon who accompanied Piyiluo on his campaign this morning reported... General Piyiluo was robbed by the Mountain God of Lingtai... and died on the spot."

"Preposterous!" Garuda slammed his hand on the table, crushing the armrest of his throne. "Piyiluo carried the Silver Pestle, one of the three divine artifacts personally bestowed by this king. Even a Profound Immortal would struggle against him, so how could he fall to some insignificant mountain god?"

The demon general on the left cupped his fists and reported, "Great King, please hear this. Not only did that Mountain God of Lingtai kill General Pi, but he also stole the Silver Pestle, one of the three divine artifacts."

"Useless wretches!" Garuda's rage erupted, and he kicked over a gilded table, spilling nectar and ambrosia mixed with crimson blood all over the floor.

He roared, "Assemble the troops at once! I will personally go to Spirit Platform Mountain to demand an explanation. To dare kill my general and steal my treasure, let's see if this mountain god's neck has enough head to chop off!"

Just as the two demon generals were about to receive the order and mobilize the troops, a world-shattering explosion echoed from outside the cave, shaking the entire Dark Gold Cave. A small bat-like demon stumbled into the cave, trembling as it shouted, "Great King, disaster! A scourge calling himself the Mountain God of Lingtai has smashed through the cave entrance and declared... declared..."

"Speak!" Garuda's golden eyes blazed with fire.

The little demon shrunk its neck and said, "He told the Great King to come out... and die."

"How dare he!" Garuda laughed in extreme anger, his golden wings rustling behind him. "I intended to seek you out to hold you accountable, but you've come to my doorstep to seek death!"

"Today, no matter how great your abilities, I will turn your flesh and bones into mud!"

Before his words fell, the Heavenly King's Golden Halberd was already in his hand. With a beat of his golden wings, he transformed into a beam of light and charged out of the cave.

--Zhuang Yan swung the three divine artifact Silver Pestle, smashing the cave entrance. Suddenly, a golden light pierced the sky. His figure flickered into a blur, his true form instantly shifting ten feet away--it was his spiritual sense evading and automatically activating.

The golden light landed and coalesced into human form. Behold: Golden wings like clouds that obscured the sun, a twelve-foot physique clad in divine armor. A raven's beak-like nose, gleaming with cold light, and a golden war halberd radiating soul-capturing might.

Zhuang Yan pointed his pestle at the approaching figure, "Wicked creature, do you recognize this Mountain God?"

Garuda looked down his nose, his gaze fixed on the Silver Pestle, and sneered, "I meditate with Bodhisattva Akasagarbha, and all I encounter are Golden Immortals and Arhats. How would I recognize you, a wild, unkempt god?"

"A fine demon king who practices Buddhism," Zhuang Yan clapped his hands mockingly. "You're quite skilled at sneak attacks and ambushes. Did the Bodhisattva teach you to strike from behind?"

The tip of Garuda's halberd erupted with three feet of cold light. "That was just a warm-up. Now, I'll let you taste the flavor of soul extraction and spirit refinement!"

His golden wings spread wide, and the demon king's form instantly became ethereal. Zhuang Yan's feet stirred up wind, and he dodged again. The spot where he had been was now a ten-foot-deep crater blasted by the golden halberd.

"Take this!" A clear shout came from behind. Garuda urgently urged the demonic wind to flee, but an invisible force pulled him back to his original position. A dull thud was heard, and the demon king stumbled forward before flapping his wings and soaring into the sky.

Garuda steadied himself, feeling a stinging pain in his back. He circulated his magic power, quickly repairing the injury.

Zhuang Yan observed from below, pondering, "The power of the three divine artifact Silver Pestle is insufficient. Even with a critical hit, it couldn't seriously wound Garuda."

Garuda was secretly vigilant. He had clearly dodged the attack just now, yet he was pulled back to his original position by an invisible force. He noticed Zhuang Yan holding the Silver Pestle like an ordinary weapon, inferring that the other party was not skilled in using divine artifacts.

Garuda put away the Heavenly King's Golden Halberd, formed a hand seal, and spat out a purplish-blue flame. The flames were mixed with purple lightning, scorching the air with astonishing power.

Lan Caihe's voice reached Zhuang Yan's ears, "Be careful, that's Aerial Fire."

Zhuang Yan's eyes flashed, and he let out a soft shout, "Collect!" He used a single thought to gather the purplish-blue flames, which instantly turned into a ball and fell into his palm.

Garuda's expression changed drastically, "What a powerful collection ability!"

Zhuang Yan immediately activated Instantaneous Refinement, transforming the Aerial Fire for his own use and throwing it back at Garuda, "Return to owner!"

The raging flames roared towards him. Garuda flapped his wings, stirring up a gale that blew the flames away. He continued to flap his wings, the strong wind churning dark clouds, forming countless violent tornadoes that swept towards Zhuang Yan from all directions.

Where the fierce winds passed, gold and stone shattered, turning to dust. Zhuang Yan's figure flickered, leaving behind trails of afterimages as he dodged the attacks.

Garuda sneered, summoning the Heavenly King's Golden Halberd. His divine sense locked onto the area within a thousand feet around Zhuang Yan, predicting the trajectory of his next hundred evasive maneuvers. He formed a hand seal and shouted, "Divide!"

The Heavenly King's Golden Halberd split into over a hundred golden halberd shadows, shooting down towards all of Zhuang Yan's possible landing spots.