Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!

Chapter 1397: Chapter 1024: Unable to Let Go (Part 2)

He worried that at such a critical moment, Du Li would lose control again, and the last asset of the Demon Realm Alliance would be unguarded, taken away by those bastards from the new alliance!

When the two commanders with no soldiers gathered to discuss sending the remaining forty-two alliance members to the small courtyard and sighed over the complete downfall of the Demon Realm Alliance, Jiang Yuan saw his exchange rate change from 1:1000 to 1:2000. Starting today, a day spent in the Wilderness World would increase his health points by two thousand!

"I made sure there was entry but no exit, and this time, we’ve gathered the most complete gathering of cultivators within a thousand-mile radius. You can catch evil cultivators at will, are you satisfied?" Mist Dragon’s shadow was still printed on the stone wall, long and slender, with a bowed posture full of intentions for credit and reward.

Daoist You once said that he had killed all those evil cultivators.

Taking so many away at once, even if the opponent couldn’t resist, it would take a while to kill them all. What’s more, the bodies still had to be dealt with. He guessed that they might have been thrown into a remote corner of the Ice Mountain in the Extreme North, or perhaps fed to Demon Beasts. Anyway, he was a ruthless person, unafraid of being discovered or retaliated against.

Jiang Yuan’s gaze swept over the many cultivators who were imprisoned and swearing, indeed discovering quite a few fallen into the evil path, leaving Elder Scholar busy once more!

To save time and get things done, he summoned three of his dungeon-clearing avatars to help.

Wandering around Qihan Mountain, trapped by an array, with a tense atmosphere, full of demon cultivators everywhere, he clicked to select them and threw them into the Seven-Layered Glazed Treasure Tower. Before the evil cultivators could react, an avatar stepped forward and captured them, instantly refining them!

Mist Dragon followed all the way, watching as the ones Jiang Yuan set his eyes on disappeared instantly, scratching his head without figuring out the mystery behind it.

Unaware, Lu Chongde continued to prattle on, spinning his wheels with big promises. Mist Dragon, watching Jiang Yuan filter the cultivators, responded absent-mindedly with "uh-huh" and "oh," occasionally inserting an "really?" or "oh?" to express doubt.

"What does the Mountain Master think?" Lu Chongde, his mouth dry after speaking for so long, had finished his cup of tea but received no refill, forcing himself to ask patiently.

"Hmm, I must think it over carefully before I can give you an answer. This is no small matter..." Mist Dragon’s voice echoed faintly in the vast cavern, his shadow flickering, adding a ghostly aura.

Somehow, Lu Chongde suddenly felt a chill down his back.

In coming here, he should have brought more people. Even if they only guarded outside, it would be better than facing this alone, but the Right General didn’t get along with him and wasn’t easy to deal with...

It was probably just Qihan Mountain’s eerie nature, he thought, warning himself inwardly while maintaining a gentle smile, "In that case, I shall take my leave. Once the Mountain Master has considered it, we can discuss the details at leisure."

The flower hall was silent, the stone walls illuminated by bright flames, no longer showing any ghostly shadows.

Looking around discreetly, Lu Chongde saw that the stone wall remained unmoving, no hidden passageway opening, nor any small boat rowing in.

"Mountain Master, I, Lu, take my leave!" he raised his voice, cupping his hands in farewell, hearing nothing but the cave’s echoes.

"What does the Mountain Master mean by this?"

"Today I came on behalf of the new alliance to visit, thanking the Mountain Master for his hospitality..."

......

No matter what he said, there was no response. Realizing he was imprisoned, Lu Chongde hesitated over whether to tear down his polite facade.

When it came to combat, he was confident in his abilities. Back in the Law Enforcement Hall, he had been outstanding, so much so that he had been recruited by those wealthy demon cultivators from the Commerce Association. Now, he served as the Left General of the new alliance.

The problem was that tearing down the facade now would bring no benefit!

First of all, this was the Mountain Master’s territory, and Qihan Mountain was famous for its myriad arrays, prohibiting combat;

Secondly, the Mountain Master was crafty, keeping him confined here without taking real action, leaving grounds for criticism if he acted without clear provocation.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his irritation, he stood with his hands behind his back, waiting for an explanation from the other party. If they truly intended to bully others with power, he thought himself quite adept at ruthless techniques, ensuring he wouldn’t suffer losses!

After waiting patiently for a duration of a cup of tea, a hidden door quietly emerged on the stone wall opposite, faint stone steps vanished into it, with faint noises drifting through, suggesting the path led into Qihan Mountain’s interior.

"Sorry to keep General Lu waiting." Before he could make a move, Mist Dragon’s shadow wandered along the stone wall, chuckling, "Earlier, you spoke of benefits and developments for those joining. Weren’t they rather vague? Mr. Jiang and I still want to hear more about the current situation of the new alliance. Please General Lu, speak without reservation."

Lu Chongde happened to catch a glimpse of the man’s appearance, his expression slightly stiff. Mr. Jiang? A few months ago, during the Demon Realm Alliance’s public execution, if he wasn’t mistaken, he had stood right beside Qu Luming, wearing the Vice Alliance Hierarch token!

Du Li’s men, when did they become entangled with the master of Qihan Mountain?

"I’ve seen you, didn’t expect you’d betray, too." Jiang Yuan didn’t actually recognize him, having seen too many people and considered unrelated ones as mere background.

But he couldn’t ignore the system’s clear appraisal—the day of the Demon Realm Alliance’s public execution, the deputy next to Execution Officer Gao Yi was him! It was indeed someone familiar.

"Heh, Mr. Jiang..." Lu Chongde didn’t know the depth of the other’s character, feigning a smile just as he was about to probe further, only to find himself suddenly unable to move! Looking down, he saw an array or two appear at his feet, binding him in place!

Jiang Yuan wasted no time with him, "If you don’t wish to speak, then so be it. There will be a time when you do."

With those words, Lu Chongde, bound by the array, was sent directly into the Seven-Layered Exquisite Pagoda. Waiting for him was indeed a well-oiled process of draining lifespan, transferring to the mysterious army-based dungeon, and exchanging intelligence for merit.

"Is it over, just like that?" Mist Dragon was bewildered, thinking to himself, if you want information, with me, a mountain master holding him captive, there are countless ways to pry open his mouth. How come you didn’t even ask, just got rid of him?

Jiang Yuan nodded with a smile, "I also filtered through the demons inside, all who practiced evil techniques and committed grave sins have been dealt with. Release the people and seal up Qihan Mountain, come with me."

Having to leave the cave dwelling he had meticulously cultivated over the years, Mist Dragon felt somewhat reluctant.

Yet, faced with the world’s unpredictable changes, he knew preserving his life was more important.

With a thought, the array restraining the mountain was unlocked and opened, a dominant voice reverberated through the caves, "Apologies for locking you all up these past few days. It was genuine necessity, not my intention to deceive. It was all because of that so-called new alliance forcing my hand.

As you leave Qihan Mountain, you will receive a gift as compensation.

Since the eruption of spiritual energy in the Extreme North Realm, nearby demon beasts and cultivators have overrun the place like locusts. It will no longer provide safety. Best to leave this place of turmoil before things get truly chaotic."

On the stone walls of the cave appeared dozens of small pathways leading outside; the lake at the entrance had dried up; the cursed and bound ferryman on the boat regained his freedom.

One by one, gifts wrapped in light flew into the hands of each demon cultivator. Startled, they glanced at one another, afraid of being tricked again.

Soon after, some tried to use a Teleportation Talisman, and sure enough, they weren’t hindered by an array, instantly teleporting away.

Seeing this, some teleported away, others headed towards the exit, and in just a moment, Qihan Mountain was deserted, void of life.

"Sealing it is merely for peace of mind, after all, this treasure land will certainly attract a swarm of pests, especially that new alliance..." Mist Dragon muttered softly, yet went on to collect the arrays and set a seal.

Only now did Jiang Yuan observe his true appearance—a plump, fair middle-aged man, wearing a luxurious golden dragon robe, leisurely playing with a pair of dice in his hand.

His overall appearance bore no resemblance to the silhouette on the stone wall.

"Alas! The world today grows ever more chaotic." Mist Dragon sighed, looking back at Qihan Mountain, "I dare not speak on other matters, but surely the cycle of reincarnation is faulty! Who knows what’s happening in the Netherworld, whether it still functions? When even reincarnation is flawed, can good days still be expected?"

Originally a ghost god, to return to cultivation upon reincarnation, he must first enter a human womb.

After death, becoming a ghost in the Netherworld, cultivating the Great Way as a ghost, ultimately achieving the position of a ghost god. But the first step of reincarnation went wrong, the dignified ghost god ended up with the body of a demon cultivator!

When a demon cultivator dies, their path ends, leaving no chance to become a ghost, leading to soul dispersion and the disappearance of Gambling God, Mist Dragon.

Ignorant of his past life’s body was fine, living blissfully for years; but when past memories suddenly awakened, Mist Dragon was completely dumbfounded. The original self, heavily wounded, returned for another life, hoping to recuperate and ascend again to Outer Heaven. How did he become a demon?

And what’s more, he wasn’t even a successful demon! The Way of the Gambling God didn’t suit this body at all!