Chapter 36

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Chapter 36

The road raced towards the capital, the horses galloping at an astonishing speed, as swift as wind and lightning, their hooves nearly smoking from the pace.

Along the way, some minor demons attempted to spy, but they were swiftly scattered by the higher-ranking disciples of the sect, ensuring the Fox Ancestor’s tranquility remained undisturbed.

As for the cause of Qin Mianjiu’s death and the fate of the fox’s heart, the Fox Ancestor had not elaborated further.

Yet, Gong Wu felt a lingering concern, and from her memory, she pieced together that Qin Mianjiu must have perished.

At that time, she was still ensnared in the narrow path entangled with sword formation spells, where the two little foxes, young and old, would occasionally recount tales of the past, explaining that the adversary who had set the formations was already dead.

Connecting the dots, Gong Wu could infer some subsequent events.

To keep the borrowed fox’s heart alive, the original soul must remain intact.

Qin Mianjiu, likely consumed by anxiety, bore his gratitude like a grudge, and in a fit of rage against destiny, he directed all his hatred and fear towards Hu Fengyu.

He utilized the old ancestor’s power to set up various obstacles in the narrow path, preventing others from coming to the rescue, while also inflicting torment, desiring to usurp Hu Fengyu’s place.

Since he had died, that living heart must have transferred to another.

Now, journeying to the capital alongside the Fox Ancestor, could it be that… she was also a member of the Satin Red Workshop?

That fox’s heart, imbued with profound cultivation, was no ordinary treasure. Could it be that someone, upon learning its secret, was overcome with greed and managed to pilfer Qin Mianjiu’s heart?

Gong Wu sipped her melon seed tea, deep in thought, and refrained from further inquiries.

Meanwhile, Hu Fengyu, feeling unwell, had slept for a considerable time, but suddenly remarked, "This journey seems unusually calm."

Gong Wu reached out to cover his mouth, "Don’t say such things!"

Hu Fengyu dodged her hand, looking at her with a blank expression, "Have you washed your hands?"

"I just feel that by now, we should have encountered demons attempting to rob us, but this entire trip…"

Before he could finish, the carriage came to an abrupt halt.

In an instant, disciples drew their swords to protect them, shouting sternly, "Who goes there?!"

Gong Wu cursed herself for not covering his mouth sooner.

"Why did you say that?!"

"I didn’t send anyone to rob us," the Fox Ancestor said, feeling aggrieved, "Why are you scolding me?"

In front of the carriage, a swirling black-purple whirlwind blocked the path, leaves suddenly swirling into the air, and the windows rattled loudly.

A Ghost General clad in scaled armor, wielding a fish-scale sword, bellowed, "Kill!"

From all directions, hundreds of soldiers rushed forward swiftly, seemingly intent on breaking through the sword formation of the fox disciples!

Hu Fengyu remained seated inside the four-sided sedan, and though he couldn’t see the scene outside, he issued a cold command.

"Disperse."

The carriage driver trembled in fear, "Celestial Ancestor, do you not wish for your disciples to protect your safety?"

"Disperse the formation."

The foxes exchanged glances, reluctant to move.

But upon hearing the second command, none dared to defy the ancestor’s order, and in an instant, a pungent smoke quickly dissipated.

"An empty city strategy? What are you playing at?" the Ghost General chuckled, "Let me announce my presence."

"In the Bone Abyss, where geese pluck feathers and snakes are hunted for their gall, will you two surrender your Golden Cores, or would you rather expend some effort to spar with me?"

Before he could finish speaking, a young girl pushed open the carriage window and leaned out to look at him.

"Hey, you, do you know who you’re messing with?"

The Ghost General was unfazed, accustomed to such confrontations: "No matter where you come from, there’s no escape today. Even if you call upon the Queen Mother herself, it won’t save you!"

"However, seeing so many little demons guarding you…" The Ghost General scratched his chin, "Could it be…?"

Before he could guess, Hu Fengyu spoke sternly, "I am your fox grandpa!"

"Little Orange," he nudged Gong Wu, "Introduce yourself as well."

Gong Wu, having used the Disguise Technique before setting out, was unafraid and declared boldly, "I am your fox grandma!"

Hu Fengyu chuckled softly, whispering, "Oh, so you’re a generation above me now?"

"Just two little foxes… tsk." The Ghost General had no patience for idle talk and raised his hand to command, "Attack!"

The hesitant soldiers surged forward, crashing against the Invisible Barrier like flies and mosquitoes, some even losing their front teeth on impact.

With their commander watching, they dared not hesitate and swung their weapons relentlessly at the barrier, yet they couldn’t break through.

Inside the carriage, the Fox Ancestor spoke softly, "My power is not yet restored, and my cultivation is weak; the barrier relies on your magic to hold for a while."

Gong Wu formed a spell with her fingers and raised an eyebrow, "And then?"

Hu Fengyu pulled a pure white goose feather from the cushion and gently blew it into his palm.

The goose feather rose with the wind, fluttering out the window before suddenly halting mid-air.

With a pinch of his fingers, as if pulling invisible strings, he squinted and drew swiftly in the air.

In an instant, the goose feather shot like a steel dagger, piercing through the chest of an attacking demon soldier with a sharp sound. Dozens of feathery strands exploded, blooming like deadly flowers, tearing through the demon’s heart!

The beauty on the palace couch flicked her fingers slightly; the goose feather had already circled the carriage three times in the blink of an eye, splattering blood everywhere like spilled ink!

It tore through organs and shattered Spiritual Orifices, and in mere moments, even the corpses were finished off with precision!

The gang of demons hadn’t even seen the feather clearly; one by one, they spewed blood and collapsed, dying with blood streaming from their seven orifices.

The speed was breathtaking, the technique ruthless, leaving everyone present with their hair standing on end.

Finished killing?

Was it really over just like that??

Gong Wu allowed the magical talisman between her fingers to crumble into ashes, then turned her head and remarked, "And you call this low cultivation?"

"Killing is different," the Fox Ancestor replied modestly, "It has nothing to do with one’s level of cultivation."

The demon general, feeling a chill of fear but bolstered by the protection of his robe, declared sharply, "Slaughtering a few minor soldiers is no feat. Come, face your death!"

Gong Wu stepped out through the door, saying, "Let me give it a try."

As she spoke, a long sword came slashing towards her face, which she effortlessly blocked with just two fingers.

Gong Wu chuckled, "Oh, it seems it can’t cut through."

Enraged, the demon general cursed and swung his sword again, "I don’t care what sorcery you’re using!"

This time, Gong Wu simply lowered her hands, watching him charge at her.

The fish-scale sword gleamed dangerously; once it pierced flesh, extracting it would tear through skin and spill blood!

The peril was so intense that even Hu Fengyu narrowed his eyes, ready to step in.

But the sword stopped just beside Gong Wu’s neck.

It couldn’t cut through.

Using a sharp sword against her was as futile as trying to slice a bun with a hammer—there was hardly any difference.

Gong Wu tried once more, laughing heartily, and continued to flaunt her assumed identity with arrogance.

Today, she hadn’t even bothered to use her magical umbrella, relying solely on the Path of Reincarnation to defend herself and repel the enemy.

"Little Fei, how’s your fox grandma’s power?"

"Hey, hey," Hu Fengyu tapped the wall with his knuckles, "Can you not take advantage of me regarding seniority?"

The demon general’s eyes turned blood-red as he realized he had encountered a secluded master, and his heart sank.

What a formidable fox demon! The Diamond Skill had indeed been cultivated to such an extraordinary level!!

He no longer wished to fight and turned to flee into the ground.

Hu Fengyu grabbed the demon’s collar and hoisted the burly man into the air.

"What are you doing?! What are you doing?!"

"Kill me if you must, but a gentleman can be killed, not insulted!!"

It was the first time the demon general had been lifted into the air, kicking helplessly and cursing incessantly.

Gong Wu’s heart lit up as if she had guessed Hu Fengyu’s intention.

"Feel free to ask, benefactor," the fox yawned, "I’m not afraid of offending the southern side; ask away, and then you can kill or release me."

"Are you afraid of the northern side?"

"Soul Cliff?"

Hu Fengyu pondered carefully.

"After all this time, I still don’t know who is in charge of Soul Cliff now."

"If it’s that aunt, who is just putting on a show of strength, that’s fine."

"But if it’s that niece, then I should steer clear of her and show her some respect."

Gong Wu listened, only half-understanding, but her concerns grew more serious.

“Hey, I’m asking you. Have you seen a Daoist of the Path of Emotionless in his twenties in the Bone Abyss?”

The demon general, hanging in the air, felt uneasy. He thought for a long time and shook his head.

“I keep records of all comings and goings in the Southern Realm, checking daily to prevent outside spies from causing trouble.”

“That Daoist you mentioned… is definitely not in the Bone Abyss.”

“Answer me well, and I might spare your life.”

“Yes, thank you, Fox Ancestor! Thank you, Fox Ancestor!”

Hu Fengyu found this amusing and rested his chin in his hand with a scoff.

Gong Wu asked again, “Is the Eye Serpent Plague your Abyss Master’s doing?”

She recalled this name was given by the villagers along the mountain based on the symptoms, and just as she was about to describe the illness, the demon general readily admitted,

“Yes, it is.”

Gong Wu and Hu Fengyu exchanged glances, the latter coldly remarked, “You have quite a backbone…”

“Can you spare my life?” The demon general, who had acted overbearing for many years, did not wish to suffer, “Even if you are going to kill me, make it quick and painless, no tortures.”

“Calm down. I’ll ask, and you’ll answer.” Gong Wu remembered many things she had heard earlier in front of the Rebirth Temple and wanted to clarify everything today, “Is your Abyss Master using the Eye Serpent Plague to absorb essence and blood for cultivation?”

“Uh, I’ve seen it from a distance once, and it didn’t seem like that.”

“What do you mean, ‘didn’t seem like that’?”

“It seemed that he used a Magical Formation with some kind of furnace to send the absorbed essence inside,” the demon general answered honestly, “I hold a sixth-rank position in the Abyss and can’t get too close.”

Hu Fengyu found this strange, leaning against a feather pillow, pondering without speaking.

This placement is one for offerings.

That old thief took the essence for himself, but who else could he supply it to? Did he have an even higher figure above him?

The demon general, fearing for his life, even swore an oath.

“I really only know this much; I can’t even see what color the furnace is—it’s too dark inside!”

“Last question.” Gong Wu paused for a few seconds before finally asking, “Have you heard the name Tu Xuixin?”

“Did you get the name wrong?” the demon general hesitated, “Shouldn’t it be Tu Xuisheng?”

“Does he have a mole on his face?”

“I’ve never seen his face; he always wore a hooded robe, so I couldn’t tell his weight or build.”

“Tu… Xuisheng,” Gong Wu felt a chill run through her teeth as she spoke this name for the first time, “Is this person real? What rank does he hold?”

“The Abyss Master treats him very well,” the demon general spoke with a hint of jealousy, “At least a third rank or even possibly a first rank.”

“This person seldom attends court meetings, appearing and disappearing mysteriously, making his whereabouts hard to trace, and he only interacts with a handful of high-ranking officials.”

After posing several questions, Hu Fengyu added a few more, and when he could extract no further clues, he finally let the man go, who then fled in a state of panic.

The sudden resolution of many mysteries allowed Gong Wu to exhale a long sigh of relief, though it also deepened her frown.

The Eye Serpent Plague was indeed a strategy from the Southern Demon Realm… What could they possibly intend by extracting and gathering so much spiritual energy and essence and blood?

As the fox smoke cleared, the coachman adeptly urged the horse forward, resuming their journey.

The little girl belatedly noticed something unusual.

“By the way, you actually let him go?”

“Of course,” Hu Fengyu replied nonchalantly, “Next year, when the Southern Abyss returns for revenge at Rainbow Ridge, it will be the perfect opportunity for my disciples to hone their skills.”

…Indeed, you are always calculating.

The coachman shouted, and the Fox Ancestor lifted the curtain to inquire, “How much longer until we reach the capital?”

“Once we pass Yin Mountain, it’s just another two hours at a gallop!”

Gong Wu, clutching another round pillow, felt a vague sense of familiarity.

Yin Mountain?

Yin Mountain… Why does it sound so familiar?

Before the collapsed ruins, the young man stood on guard, secretly clutching a talisman.

The old woman, clad in a purple robe with white hair, though nearly two heads shorter, exuded a stable aura that hinted at her extraordinary origins.

“Son, come with your mother.”

“Don’t joke like that,” Ji Yang replied firmly, “I have no intention of meddling in the old affairs of Soul Cliff; let us part ways here.”

The old woman looked on with regret.

Such excellent roots and a fine character; raising him as her own son would surely lead to great achievements.

“Since you refuse to accompany me, I shall send you off to forge a magical item, as compensation for your squandered wealth.”

“No need.”

“Truly no need?” The old lady chuckled, “Then the fallen star in your pocket is likely to go to waste.”

She extended her palm, holding it up to Ji Yang, “Give me two.”

Ji Yang, already prepared for a confrontation, was further startled by her request.

“I know you still have eight spiritual plums in your bag,” the old lady clapped her hands and laughed, “But you cannot cultivate them; I can.”

“Of the eight plums you possess, six are female fruits, and two are male fruits.”

“Even your Master Ancestor from Moonfire Valley might not discern the difference.”

Ji Yang held his breath, silent, aware that the person before him, though seemingly playful and erratic, was in truth profoundly deep.

He knew his options were limited and promptly opened his bag to reveal the eight jade plums.

The old lady kept her promise, selecting one male and one female plum, casually consuming them and spitting out the pits, which she then tucked into her sleeve to take back and plant.

Ji Yang slightly cupped his hands and said, “Senior’s cultivation is profound, and as a denizen of the Demon Realm, may I ask a question or two?”

He understood that the other party was of a celestial demon level, so hiding things seemed childish to him, and he simply clarified the reasons.

From accidentally entering the Demon Realm to killing the giant bug, he summarized the story in just a few sentences, and the old lady pondered thoughtfully.

“You strayed into the Northern Cliff; it’s unlikely you’ll find your Junior Sister there.”

“Forget about where she is for now; I want to ask you, did you really end up in the Demon Realm by accident?”

Ji Yang paused for a moment, surprised: “Does the senior worry that I’m lying?”

“Child,” the old lady said as she walked along the underground path with him, taking her time, “I can see that what you say is true.”

“I’m asking, doesn’t your Master see the problem in this note?”

She paused for a moment and turned to look at him.

“Since he has traveled far and wide, he should know that the Keys of the Monster Realm and the Demon Realm are clearly different in style.”

“Demons are crude and good at fighting, while fairies are secretive in their ways. Could it be that your Master is so careless as to send his disciple into the Demon Realm himself?”

Ji Yang leaned against the rock wall and took a deep breath.

He had thought about it, but he didn’t dare to delve deeper.

With the warnings from the Rebirth Temple and the strange occurrences in Master Ancestor’s cauldron, all signs pointed to his Master.

“But… why would he want to harm me?”

“Well, that is another matter.”

The old lady insisted on calling him son, her words imbued with a certain arrogance, as if her own happiness was the most important.

“Child, if you don’t want to return to the Northern Cliff with your mother today, I won’t force you.”

“I’ll accompany you to reforge a magical item, and we can discuss the rest when fate allows.”

“Senior…” Ji Yang rarely felt awkward when being called that, “Please don’t joke like this.”

The old lady waved her sleeve: “I don’t care.”

She was familiar with the secret passage and had already found her way out of the underground several times. At the split in the mountain cliff, she deftly made an effort.

Fog took shape as they journeyed through the abyss between the north and south cliffs, traveling westward.

As they rode on the fog, which shimmered with colors like clouds at sunset, the old lady casually shared some old stories.

Her name was Kan Jixuan, the only daughter of the previous Demon Lord of the Northern Soul Cliff, born with extraordinary talents and precious qualities.

But the trouble lay in her aunt, Kan Ronggeng, who harbored ambitions of usurping power.

Cultivating immortality was difficult, and so was practicing demonic arts.

By the age of three hundred, Kan Jixuan had risen seven levels, hinting at a trend towards becoming a celestial demon.

The old Demon Lord valued her abilities and character highly, and entrusted her to her respected teacher, who was also her maternal aunt, for extra care.

“My aunt loved to joke; she was always very close to us, never arousing anyone’s suspicion.”

The old lady looked ahead and said slowly, “So, when my power truly reached great success, and I became a celestial demon, she invited me to the side hall for a drink, and I immediately went.”

Ji Yang instantly recalled the strange cage that trapped her, frowning as he asked, “Was there a cage disguised as a chair in the side hall?!”

“Hmm.”

As soon as she sat down, she was instantly trapped within the cage, watching helplessly as the glowing seals above suppressed all of her Demonic Energy.

“Aunt—what are you doing!!”

The woman smiled sweetly and stepped back, as if examining a caged bird.

“It’s hard to bear plucking a fruit from a tree you’ve nurtured with your own eyes.”

Moreover, she intended to chop down the entire tree and burn it to ashes.

“And then… she wanted to cut open my Golden Core and consume it herself.”

“But she couldn’t cut it open, couldn’t extract it, and didn’t dare to release me again.”

“Your Master… is her power inferior to yours?”

“She is like a stunted pine, while I am a towering cypress. Watching the saplings grow taller and taller, how could she possibly tolerate it?” The old lady glanced at him. “Your Master might just be the same.”

Ji Yang didn’t immediately retort, feeling his heart sink.

“After that, she simply threw the cage into the abyss, leaving me to live or die as I pleased.”

As the cage crashed and rattled, the seals weakened, allowing Kan Jixuan to gather a wisp of Demonic Energy to alter her form, attempting to deceive outsiders into opening the door for her.

Later, she was sold off repeatedly, and the cage suffered further damage, but the seals still held her Demonic Energy captive, preventing her from breaking free.

The blood of celestial demons was like nectar to lowly monsters.

Those who drank it perished only because they couldn’t handle such a precious treasure.

In the end, it was Ji Yang who rescued her from the cage, finally granting her freedom.

“There have been many twists and turns in this story, spanning nearly a hundred years,” Kan Jixuan said coldly. “My father probably didn’t die a good death either, killed by his sister in the middle of the night.”

“Speaking of which, son, lend me half of your fallen star; I need it to forge a magical item and seek revenge.”

“Though I can’t repay you for this now, I’ll find some treasure in the future to compensate you. How about that?”

“Senior, please adjust how you address me.”

“I won’t.”

“…”

In less than half an hour, they rode the fog to the far west of the abyss cliff, suddenly descending beside the Waterfall Cave, and soon entered the underground rock passage.

Deep underground, they could see the dark red glow of lava seeping through the cracks in the rocks, and after winding through for a while, they gradually heard the resonant sound of iron being forged.

This was Ji Yang’s first exploration into such a wondrous realm; he used the dim light from the lava pool to glimpse deeper into the scene.

There were countless swords and daggers embedded in the giant cave’s rock walls, arranged like a mysterious hexagram filling the entire room—truly first-rate treasures.

Moreover, hundreds of half-naked monsters toiled away relentlessly, hammering their work.

The weapons and magical treasures of the Demon Realm likely originated from this place!

A beautiful female craftsman approached gracefully, smiling as she asked the guests what they needed.

The old lady carefully assessed her.

“She looks good, but her skills aren’t up to par; otherwise, I would have taken her as my daughter.”

The female master smiled shyly and said, “Noble one, please don’t jest. May I ask what brings you here today?”

“Forge two magical items for me and my son,” Kan Jixuan declared, raising her hand. “Bring them here.”

Ji Yang silently produced the fallen star, choosing not to argue with the old lady.

“Oh, what a treasure, what a treasure!” The female master took the fallen star, her face lighting up with delight as she inspected it. “Where did this come from? Do you have more? We’d be willing to pay generously for additional pieces!”

Meanwhile, the old lady stood with her hands clasped behind her back, surveying the hundreds of magical items displayed on the rock wall. She turned and said, “Make me a pair of hooks.”

“Son, what do you desire?”

Ji Yang took a deep breath, swallowing his competitive retort and forcing a calm tone. “I’d like a fan.”

“Very well, what grade of magical item are you two seeking?”

“Naturally, the Heavenly Grade,” the old lady replied, still circling and examining the quality of the weapons. “Your hooks are indeed finely crafted.”

“If you’re aiming for the Heavenly Grade, it will require a significant amount of soul essence and flesh. Let’s see what you can offer as payment.”

The master craftsman hesitated mid-sentence. “As you mentioned, for hooks, halberds, axes, and spears, we at Seven-Weapon Cave are unmatched across the Three Realms.”

“But as for the fan this young gentleman desires… we can craft it. However, once it’s completed, it’s best to take it elsewhere to sharpen the blade, temper it, and inlay it with spirit jade to create a truly exceptional treasure.”

“Ah, that’s to be expected,” Kan Jixuan said casually. “I’ll pay with soul essence. I have it all stored in my sleeve.”

Ji Yang immediately recalled the horde of monsters that had been crushed earlier, realizing she had already accounted for everything.

“According to your suggestion, where should I take the fan for sharpening?”

“The Capital City,” the master craftsman replied apologetically. “The Bamboo Theatre in the capital is located right across from the Satin Red Workshop.”