CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 177: ANOTHER ENEMY, IMPERIAL SEAL (5K)_3

At this moment, the mountain beneath his feet began to shift like dunes in the desert, rolling in the wind, pushing Wen Yan toward that mountain.

In his eyes, that mountain seemed to gradually change form, as if it were piled high with countless skeletons, transforming into a colossal skull as vast as a mountain range.

The enormous skull, grinning strangely, opened its massive mouth and swallowed him whole.

Wen Yan feigned resistance, but in fact dropped down with the momentum, landing in the mountain’s belly; Scorching Sun spurred the Scorching Sun Jade to its utmost, blessing himself, then swapped to the Jade Pivot Fire Mansion Authentic Talisman, pressing one hand against the mountainside.

Wen Yan unleashed the full force of Scorching Sun, using the Yang Energy from the Scorching Sun Jade to their limit to bless himself. His Yang Energy transformed directly into flames, driving back the yin evil energy all around, seeping into the mountain itself.

Continuous output—the flames turned into surging waves, flooding through the mountain’s body.

Howls of agony echoed through the mountain; not only did the other party not spit him out, it instead forcibly controlled the mountain, dragging him deeper into its belly.

"Just this bit of Yang Energy, and you think you’ll burn me to death? Utter delusion!

I’ve been roasted by the scorching sun every day—this paltry Yang Energy is nothing.

Back in the days of Fuyu Mountain’s Scorching Sun Ancestor, his Yang Energy was like the blazing Great Sun itself.

How terrifying, how dazzling.

He could even set up altars and cast spells, summoning falling stars, harnessing the Great Sun’s True Fire.

Even he couldn’t burn me to death—what makes you think you can? Pure wishful thinking!"

The Mountain’s Demon roared furiously, wailing as it went, determined to trap Wen Yan to death inside the mountain.

Wen Yan said not a word, setting the entire mountain ablaze, concluding only that even so, it would not burn the Mountain’s Demon to death.

This creature’s true body was simply too vast. In the Netherworld it was like a fish in water—killing it with fire was even harder.

Wen Yan knew: a Natural Enemy Profession’s temporary ability couldn’t be useless, but he also knew, it couldn’t possibly be a straight-up curb stomp.

He was not a cultivator. The Jade Pivot Fire Mansion Authentic Talisman—even if it worked—was like giving a wild beast cub to him; incapable of wielding its peak power.

Yet he could be sure this Natural Enemy Profession’s temporary ability was something usable to his current circumstances.

As he kept falling, air grew scarce, the mountains around him squeezed inward.

The Yang Energy around him kept back the yin evil energy, but the protective space shrank, until it was barely three meters across.

Wen Yan closed his eyes to ponder, one palm pressed to the stone wall, then suddenly switched away from the Jade Pivot Fire Mansion Authentic Talisman.

The flames that had been extending from his palm vanished. But the mountain, already ignited by Yang Energy, kept burning. Wen Yan could even feel the heat—even though it was his own Yang Energy fueling it.

In the instant he switched out the Jade Pivot Fire Mansion Authentic Talisman, he sensed something instantly shoot up his arm and burrow into his body.

Soon after, that thing called out in shock.

"A man without a soul?! You have no soul, yet why are you still alive?"

"Since you can’t possess me, why not talk things over?"

"Nothing to discuss! If I can’t possess you, swallowing your flesh may finally let my true body manifest here in the Netherworld."

That power invaded Wen Yan’s body through the stone wall, circled around, found it truly couldn’t take him, then retreated, increasing the pressure, as if intent on grinding Wen Yan into meat paste and digesting him inside the mountain.

Seeing Wen Yan’s desperate struggle, his Yang Energy waning, unable even to ignite the flames of Yang Energy, the Mountain’s Demon pressed harder and harder.

Pain gradually surfaced on Wen Yan’s face; his bones began to creak—he was on the verge of collapse. Just then, Wen Yan suddenly spoke.

"We can negotiate—I can grant you an Imperial Decree. What do you say?"

"And what virtue or ability do you have, to be fit to grant me an Imperial Decree?"

"I grant you an Imperial Decree, and you let me go. How about it?"

Wen Yan stretched out his hand. A unique rune appeared on the back of his hand, which he pressed to the stone wall, bracing against the crushing pressure.

Sensing that power, the Mountain’s Demon was taken aback.

Where did this person get such power?

Upon closer inspection, it was clearly not a Heavenly Dao Imperial Decree, nor a Heavenly Treasure Talisman—merely the lowest grade of Decree, issued only by one’s own power, luck, and so on, bestowed to other nonhuman existences.

But for demon ghosts and monsters who received the Decree, even so, it let them pass the hardest threshold, open up nine orifices, and step onto the righteous path.

As a Mountain’s Demon, he was fated in this life never to take form; but if he could gain a body truly his own, his prospects would indeed be limitless.

That was far better than the petty gain of devouring this soulless fellow’s flesh.

The Mountain’s Demon was full of suspicion, but still agreed. It figured Wen Yan, now suppressed in the mountain’s belly, had no chance for tricks—if he lost more power, he’d only grow weaker.

Wen Yan managed a feeble smile.

"I can’t hold on—if this goes on, I’ll have no strength left for an Imperial Decree."

"Fine," the Mountain’s Demon agreed at once.

It thought fast: maybe Wen Yan felt its true body was too enormous, powerless to bestow a new body and wanted an easier route; but that was just Wen Yan’s wishful thinking.

Wen Yan stretched out his arm, pressing it to the stone wall.

"Let’s be clear: Imperial Decrees aren’t something just anyone can give. My ability’s never been much use, and I can’t grant you a human body—only another naturally nine-orificed species. After that, you’ll cultivate on your own."

"What kind of species?"

"Anything with nine orifices other than humans—you pick the mightiest, the most compatible with you. But think carefully: once chosen, there’s no going back."

Hearing this, the Mountain’s Demon was much calmer—seemed Wen Yan truly was at the end of his rope, about to cut off a limb to save himself.

"As a Mountain’s Demon, you know what’s the fiercest creature in the mountains better than I do," Wen Yan offered weakly.

Truthfully, he didn’t even need to hint—given the nature of the Mountain’s Demon, it had only one choice; and there was an especially famous precedent for that choice.

"I’m ready."

"Once you’ve decided, just come to me and ask for the Decree," Wen Yan allowed the Mountain’s Demon to choose freely—he wouldn’t interfere a bit.

The Mountain’s Demon hesitated long and hard, then finally recited the Decree-soliciting words.

"Do I look like the Fierce Tiger Mountain Lord to you?"

Wen Yan grinned broadly, voice ringing like stone on the ground.

"You do!"