Chapter 92: The Predicament of Azure Radiance Grotto-Heaven

Wu Yuan tried to focus on the panoramic view of the mountain peak, but the world blurred. His consciousness plummeted, eventually stabilizing on a relatively gentle slope near the base.

He adjusted to the sensation quickly. Right now, I’m just a manifestation of consciousness. I can’t enter this place physically yet.

He looked down. This mountain is the core of the Azure Radiance Grotto-Heaven. The closer one gets to the summit, the closer they are to claiming the throne of this world.

However, as the Grotto-Heaven’s intent flooded his mind, Wu Yuan’s brow furrowed.

“You want me to defeat every single outsider to buy you an opening?” Wu Yuan’s voice echoed in the void. “Are you sure you aren’t just trying to get me killed because I’m technically an outsider too?”

He recalled the fleeting glimpse he’d caught during his descent. On the other faces of the peak, the beasts holding the highest positions were terrifying. He had seen a Horned Flood-Serpent, a lion clad in scales of shimmering gold, a peacock radiating a prismatic halo, and a Great-Stag with antlers like a dense forest.

One look told him these were “tourists”—outsider demon beasts with extraordinary auras. They were no weaker than him. Behind them marched legions of followers: wolves, badgers, Peng Birds, and venomous serpents, all radiating murderous intent.

Worst of all, there wasn’t a single local in sight. Wu Yuan was isolated.

The local demon beasts had been systematically purged during the night the Emperor Fluid descended. Those lucky enough to survive the initial slaughter had been hunted down by the vanguard of these invading forces. Even if a few newborns had stumbled upon a Fated Chance, they were far too weak to compete.

The beings projected onto this mountain were the elite of the elite—the “Young Masters” of the demon world, boasting prestigious bloodlines and deep backgrounds. At the very least, they were all at the mid-stage of Qi Condensation. They were the chosen pieces of various factions, sent here specifically to seize the Azure Radiance Grotto-Heaven.

“You’ve been suppressing the Spiritual Qi of this place to keep things under control,” Wu Yuan accused, his eyes narrowing. “You limited entry to the early stage of Qi Condensation and tried to stop outsiders from breaking through to the mid-stage. But now that I’ve broken through, you can’t hold the seal anymore. And now I’m the one who has to deal with the fallout?”

Wu Yuan sighed heavily and looked behind him. The only familiar figure there was Bibo.

Wu Yuan slapped his forehead in exasperation. “In a place like this, if you aren’t at the mid-stage of Qi Condensation, you aren’t even worth a mention. You want me to take one old beaver and fight an entire army of geniuses? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.”

He waved his paws dismissively.

Deep down, he felt a sense of gratitude toward Little Green Mountain. It was the place of his rebirth, the site where he had cultivated in peace for so long. But he was a pragmatist. Even if he slaughtered this entire batch of outsiders, more would come. If he made too much noise, some high-level entity might simply reach down and erase him like a smudge on a map.

To the great powers outside, this was just internal squabbling over the spoils of a dying world. They were waiting for the Grotto-Heaven to collapse so they could scavenge the remains. Powerful Demon Kings were likely watching this very moment from the void.

“You can’t win this,” Wu Yuan said, his tone turning uncharacteristically sincere. “You should stop resisting and focus on finding a way to escape.”

The Grotto-Heaven fell silent. For the first time, a voice echoed through the space—not a mental transmission, but a physical sound that vibrated in the air.

“The moment I revived, I was pinned into the void by the seals of the Demon King who struck me down eras ago,” the voice vibrated with a weary, ancient resonance. “I am tethered to this coordinate. There is no escape.”

The voice continued, “He left laws in the surrounding void, forcing me to watch as these mongrels hunt for my core. Once one of them seizes the position of Grotto-Heaven Master, I will be dragged into the present world. The living Demon Kings will pinpoint my location instantly. I don’t even know where my physical anchors are anymore. The power I can exert is… negligible.”

Wu Yuan went quiet for a moment. “Can’t you just surrender?”

Another long silence. “The fall of this Grotto-Heaven was orchestrated by the ancestors of that very same Demon King. There is no mercy to be found there.”

Wu Yuan rubbed his face with a paw, feeling the weight of a corporate merger gone horribly wrong. “So, you’re backed into a corner with a hit out on your life. Great.”

Suddenly, he straightened his back. His eyes sharpened, and his aura flared.

“I don’t know what your plan is, but if you’re willing to gamble, I’ll give you a hand,” Wu Yuan declared, his voice ringing with a surprising, heroic bravado. “At worst, I’ll bet half my rat life to carve a path out for you! Besides, I’ve been itching to see if these ‘elites’ actually live up to their titles!”

For a second, the tiny rat looked like a sovereign of the heavens, radiating a magnificent, indomitable spirit.

Then, as soon as the words were out, he hunched over again. The heroic light vanished, replaced by a shifty-eyed, calculating look.

“But let’s get one thing straight,” Wu Yuan muttered, glancing around suspiciously. “If things go south, I’m bailing immediately. Don’t go catching a grudge.”

“…”

Sensing the Grotto-Heaven’s speechless disbelief, Wu Yuan puffed out his chest righteously. “What? Has this Grotto-Heaven ever seen a real war? It’s called a ‘Strategic Redeployment.’ Look it up.”

Before the entity could respond, Wu Yuan rubbed his paws together greedily.

“Now, let’s talk about the ‘Support Package.’ Those outsiders have clans backing them. Even that little tiger probably has a life-saving treasure from some Great Demon tucked under its tail. You can’t expect a lone rat to go in there empty-handed. I have a brand to maintain.”

He paused, then his eyes lit up. “Oh? Benefits? What kind of benefits?”

“I will continue to bestow massive amounts of Providence upon you,” the Grotto-Heaven offered tentatively.

Wu Yuan immediately shook his head. “Look around the Azure Spirit Mountain Range. I’m the only local who’s reached the mid-stage of Qi Condensation. If you don’t give me the luck, who are you going to give it to? Our fates are already tied together. That’s not a benefit; that’s basic maintenance. Not enough!”

“In this space, only you possess true consciousness and freedom of movement,” the Grotto-Heaven replied. “The others are mere projections. I can provide you with perfect intelligence on every enemy.”

Wu Yuan hesitated. In war, information was life. This was a solid start.

However, he quickly resumed his “heartbroken” expression. “Still not enough! Intelligence is great, but eventually, we’re going to have to trade blows. These guys are wolves and lions; I’m a rat! And if I kill them, how am I supposed to survive the retaliation from the demon world? I’m putting my neck on the line here!”

The Grotto-Heaven went silent for a very long time.

Wu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. He was pushing his luck, but he wasn’t actually planning to refuse. The mission was a death trap, and he needed every advantage he could squeeze out of this dying world.

“Little Qing,” Wu Yuan said, his voice dripping with faux-sympathy as he used a pet name. “Think about it. You just woke up, and you’re already looking at being shattered into pieces. After this, you might truly cease to exist. Who else is going to help you? Who else can?”

He leaned in, his tone becoming “sincere.”

“After all, we’re family. We’re in this together.”

This wasn’t entirely a lie. The local demon beasts of the Azure Spirit Mountain Range were the descendants of those left behind when the Grotto-Heaven first fell. Wu Yuan hadn’t been sure if his transmigration made him a “local,” but after this connection, he felt it in his blood. He was the son of this mountain, and he was the only hope it had left.