Chapter 1110: Chapter 894: Kunlun Jade Ring

The small boat drifted leisurely across the tranquil lake.

Although the surroundings were brimming with spiritual energy, as it ventured deeper into the mountain’s heart, it was filled with jagged rocks, intertwining caves, flickering candlelight, and amidst the clamor, whispers seemed to echo, making the place even more eerie with yin energy.

"Thud!"

The oar lightly tapped a stone step, and the small boat deftly docked.

"Five Spirit Stones for the ferry ride," croaked the boatman. "Just follow this path all the way up; the Yellow Springs Winery is the sixth establishment on the left on the Fourth Layer."

"Thanks!" Ling Di handed over five Spirit Stones to him, jumped ashore, sniffed around to ensure no abnormality, and then hopped and skipped, heading up with Yan Xuan.

As their figures vanished among the myriad shadows, the boat shook slightly, and a tall, slender shadow appeared within.

He extended a hand as shadowy as himself, patted the boatman’s bamboo hat, and laughed, "You spoke excellently just now! My mood is bright today, so I’ll cancel your contract of servitude; you may return."

With that, he casually removed the hat.

The boatman, who originally appeared skeletal, transformed into an elder wearing gray clothes as a whirlwind swept through upon the hat’s removal and the contract’s termination.

"Thank you for your mercy, Mountain Master!" The elder crawled to the ground, fervently prostrating. The shadow nodded slightly and disappeared without a trace.

The small boat drifted back to the starting point; ahead lay a bright cave exit leading to the vast world, while behind was a dim and eerie cave, akin to the underworld.

The elder felt liberated from the boat’s constraints, entirely free! His heart soared with joy, but he also felt an itch.

"So many boats idling, yet these distinguished guests, noticed by the Mountain Master, happened to board mine. They attracted the Mountain Master’s personal conversation, allowing me to break free from the servitude contract and regain my freedom."

He mused inwardly, "Doesn’t that mean my luck is extraordinary today? Wouldn’t it be the perfect time to gamble and turn my life around?!"

Thinking of gambling, the elder felt a surge of excited energy throughout his body, eagerly jumped onto another boat, and hurriedly said, "Take me to Pingkang Gambling House, quick! Hurry up!"

To have some fun first, of course, and learn from past lessons—to never gamble with the Mountain Master again.

After losing, he became a slave, spending days ferrying on this lifeless lake, without touching gambling tools for decades—it was too unbearable!

The boatman rowing heard this and chuckled dryly, "Pingkang Gambling House, that’s a good place. I haven’t been able to go there for nearly a hundred years—I dream about it!"

Far behind Yan Xuan and Ling Di, hidden amongst the jumbled shadows on the rock wall, the Mountain Master sensed the elder’s returning aura and glanced back.

Seeing him eagerly enter the gambling house, shouting to indulge himself, the Mountain Master rolled his eyes helplessly and coldly snorted, "The repentance of a gambler, indeed, is unreliable!"

"I always feel like someone is watching us," Ling Di warily perked up his ears, but with so many demon cultivators around, the chaotic auras made it hard even for him to distinguish.

Yan Xuan nonchalantly said, "Since there’s so many arrays set up, the Mountain Master likely sensed us when we disguised ourselves as ordinary demon beasts and entered. It doesn’t matter; at worst, we can fight him—there’s two of us, what’s there to fear?"

"That’s true, and I don’t think he’s malicious; he seems more curious about what we’re up to."

"Two Tribulation Crossing Realm Great Demon Beasts sneaking in with disguises—anyone would be concerned. Let him watch, as long as it doesn’t interfere with our business."

Casually conversing through Secret Communication, the Yellow Springs Winery had appeared before them.

"Beep beep beep~"

Jiang Yuan’s interface quivered slightly, and a "video call" came through.

He answered, and in his vision appeared Old Dog standing before the Yellow Springs Winery, directing him according to the real-time surveillance of the Eternal Mirror, "From the alley on the right side of the winery, walk straight in; you’ll see a small sign for the Tasteful Tea House. The tea house is small, but once you go up to the second floor, you’ll spot Ye Fan sitting in the corner by the street."

On the Eternal Mirror, Ye Fan, in full gear, was sipping on Spirit Tea, keenly listening to nearby discussions about attacking Wanmang Mountain.

Qing Niao, sharp-eyed, immediately pointed at the corner in the footage, "Isn’t that Senior Yan Xuan? They’re quite fast."

In the tea house’s second-floor corner was indeed Yan Xuan; with just a glance, it found the perfect spot, ready to seal off the entire tea house for a strategic capture.

Meanwhile, Ling Di bounced over to Ye Fan’s side, swiftly deploying a Seven-Layered Exquisite Pagoda and calling out, "Ye Fan!"

The other, thinking they were well-hidden, was startled by the sudden mention of their name, instinctively looked up. In the next instant, a powerful force bound them, and suddenly, golden light flashed—it turned out Ye Fan was now inside a structure guarded by several Golden Body Divine Statues.

"Is that it?" Yan Xuan gaped, dissatisfied, "I thought they’d be formidable—I’d have at least expected a quick fight, but that’s it?"

Having not had a good fight in a long time, it looked around hoping to trigger an array or the Mountain Master for a fight. Yet nothing happened, not even distracting the guests enthusiastically chatting in the tea house.

Jiang Yuan watched the operation go exceptionally smoothly, promptly clicked the summoning on the pet page, and Yan Xuan and Ling Di vanished.

On the rock wall, the Mountain Master’s shadow tilted its head in confusion, "Is that it? Two Tribulation Crossing Realm Great Demon Cultivators made such a grand appearance, only to capture a demon cultivator?

No, my Qihan Mountain clearly prohibits teleportation, and I sensed no energy fluctuations—where did they go?