My Celestial Ascension Chapter 883: Purple Frog

"My Lord, the individual in question and his wives have taken residence in one of the city's premier inns. Following your specific commands, our operatives are maintaining a constant vigil over them," the bespectacled butler reported to Lady Hexryn with professional poise.

Lady Hexryn, seated at her desk with a grave expression, gave a firm nod. "Excellent. Instruct them to persist in their surveillance. Every action they take must be reported to me instantly—I will tolerate no delays."

"Those people possess unknown origins and represent a severe threat... we cannot afford anything less than absolute vigilance."

"My Lord, if I may, it seems you might be overestimating these humans and demihumans. From my perspective, they don't seem nearly as formidable as you believe," the butler countered.

A soft laugh escaped Lady Hexryn’s lips upon hearing this. "You are getting on in years, Butler Barton... your intuition isn't as keen as it once was."

"My apologies, My Lord, but though my frame is aging, my intellect is as sharp as ever. Had it failed, you surely would have replaced me long ago," Butler Barton replied with a light chuckle.

"That is true," Lady Hexryn conceded with a smile. "Your value to me remains high. Furthermore, you are my sole confidant. Even my own offspring have turned toward rebellion, conspiring to seize my rank."

"It is a pity for them that they remain unaware of my foresight. Their clumsy schemes are transparent to me; I learned much during my formative years," Lady Hexryn noted, her grin widening.

Her features suddenly turned cold. "Regarding that young human, Yuan, and his wives... their danger cannot be overstated. Despite my lifetime of experience on the field of battle, I doubt I could even draw my blade against a single one of them."

"The Demon Emperor has been notified of their arrival. His Majesty’s decree is for us to keep their presence confidential while continuing our watch—primarily to see if they exhibit any violent tendencies."

"Understood... so this is a mandate directly from His Majesty the Demon Emperor..." Butler Barton sighed quietly.

Under such an imperial directive, Lady Hexryn was bound to track the foreigners and provide direct intelligence to the Demon Emperor.

Additionally, the Undead Race has shown erratic behavior lately, sending thousands of their kind toward the frontier.

The motive behind this mobilization is still a mystery. Even though no high-level undead figures have surfaced yet, the Demon Empire views the situation with deep anxiety.

"The arrival of these humans and demihumans coinciding with the movement of the undead... it all feels like part of a larger pattern," Lady Hexryn whispered, looking troubled.

—

"We should head out and acquire a continental map. We need to identify the locations of ancient ruins—specifically the desolate places people usually avoid," Yuan told his wives as they got ready to depart the inn after breakfast.

"That’s a wise plan. Since our knowledge of this continent is so limited, a map will be an invaluable asset," Vanessa agreed, smiling.

They quickly gathered their gear and exited the inn.

After spending a few minutes questioning the locals about where a map could be purchased, they were directed to a merchant house that carried nearly every imaginable item.

This was the Platinum Merchant Guild—the most prestigious and influential guild on the continent. Its function was comparable to the Hunter Association found in the Human and Beast Continents.

However, the Platinum Merchant Guild operated on a different scale; it served as a massive commercial hub where merchants from all over conducted their business.

Before long, they stood in front of a grand structure dominated by a massive sign reading "Platinum Merchant Guild."

A steady stream of people flowed through the doors, and Yuan’s group entered without hesitation.

"Welcome to the Platinum Merchant Guild, honored guests. Are you visiting us to sell goods or make a purchase?" a staff member asked immediately upon their arrival.

"We are looking to buy," Anna Grace answered with a gracious smile.

"Follow me, please," the worker requested, guiding Yuan and his wives toward a specific wing of the building.

As they walked, he clarified, "We maintain distinct zones for buyers and sellers to ensure maximum efficiency. Separating the two prevents chaos and confusion... and here we are."

Gesturing toward a vast service counter, the worker added, "Provided you have the funds, nearly anything can be acquired here."

After the guide departed, Yuan and his wives stepped up to one of the service points.

"How may I assist you today?" the receptionist inquired, offering a polite smile while failing to hide her astonishment. The striking appearance of Yuan and his wives turned heads, sparking a wave of hushed conversations throughout the hall.

"We require a map covering the entire continent," Yuan stated.

"A complete map of the Demonic Continent? We do stock them. But..." the receptionist hesitated.

"But what?" Yuan asked, looking confused.

"The cost is exceptionally high because there are only five such comprehensive maps in existence. It details every region—dangerous zones included."

She added, "Of course, if you prefer, we have more affordable versions available."

"The price is not a concern," Yuan said, smiling.

"I understand. I will go retrieve it immediately. Please wait just a moment," the receptionist replied with a beaming smile before hurrying away.

She returned shortly, carrying the map in her arms.

Placing it on the counter, she unrolled it to prove to Yuan and his wives that it was the high-quality item they requested.

"This is the map. You are free to inspect it," the receptionist told Yuan.

"What is the total for this?" Yuan asked after a brief examination of the details.

"The price is 10,000 gold coins. It is, after all, a unique and rare item."

"That's quite reasonable..." Yuan whispered to himself. He then pulled a small magic pouch from his system storage.

'10,000 gold coins is reasonable?! Just how deep are this man's pockets?!' the receptionist thought, her mind reeling in shock.

"Here is the payment. Please check the amount." Yuan set the pouch on the counter, took the map, and immediately stored it in his system storage.

The receptionist stared, her eyes bulging as the map simply evaporated into thin air.

'Who is this person? How did he just make the map vanish?!' she screamed internally, completely stunned.

Recovering her composure, she confirmed the gold coins. Once satisfied, she beamed at Yuan and his wives.

"We appreciate your business, honored guests. Is there anything else you require?"

"No, that will be all," Yuan replied, and the group headed for the exit.

After departing the Platinum Merchant Guild, Yuan and his wives left the city limits, setting their sights on Mount Rhel.

This mountain range was known to house ancient monuments and was the nearest site containing the remnants of a lost civilization, including old structures and artifacts.

After an hour of travel, they spotted a vast swamp in the distance, which was releasing a thick purple haze into the sky.

Suddenly, Yuan felt a powerful aura near the wetlands. It wasn't a human signature, but something vastly different.

"A Spirit Beast... there's one lurking near that swamp," Yuan noted to his wives, looking surprised.

However, considering the inhabitants of the Demonic Continent lacked mana, the presence of a Spirit Beast wasn't entirely illogical.

"Its aura isn't particularly overwhelming... likely a Spirit Beast at the Spirit Master-realm," Fang Xiaoyan remarked with a dismissive snort.

Moments later, they caught sight of the creature at the swamp's edge.

It was a massive, purple-skinned frog. Its hide appeared slick and oily, covered in dark, irregular spots.

Yuan and his wives landed several meters away, observing the creature from a safe vantage point.

"That is a Purple Frog. It's a lethal predator... its skin carries a potent toxin that keeps other Spirit Beasts at bay. One touch is usually fatal," Fang Xiaoyan warned the group.

"A Purple Frog, then? At that Cultivation level, it must have a monster core," Yuan whispered, careful not to startle the beast.

"I'll handle this," Yuan said with a grin, unsheathing the Empyreal Oblivion.

"We'll stay back and watch," Angela said, her eyes showing a hint of worry as Yuan stepped toward the monster.

The Purple Frog tracked Yuan’s approach with its eyes, though it remained still for a moment.

Whoosh! With a sudden burst of power, it launched itself into the air, aiming to crush Yuan under its massive weight.

Yuan didn't flinch. He remained perfectly composed, a wide smile on his face as if the outcome was already decided.

"Now... one strike is all I need," Yuan murmured, his grip tightening on his sword.

A violent surge of Sword Aura flared from his body, wrapping the blade in a brilliant, glowing layer.

Just as the frog was about to land on him, Yuan lashed out, sending a devastating crescent of Sword Aura upward.

Slash! The sound of a clean cut rang out. The frog’s eyes went wide in shock, unable to grasp its fate.

Mid-air, before it could even reach the ground, the massive creature was sliced perfectly in half. The two pieces of the carcass slammed into the earth on either side of Yuan.

Thud! As the remains hit the ground, blood and viscera sprayed the area, accompanied by a rising, pungent odor.