105.1 - All Eyes Are On The Peasant Family’ Adorable Baby Girl

Chapter 105: The Fox Clan After escaping Yu Muhan's pursuit, the effect of the Manxing Jade finally wore off. Shen Su clutched the Manxing Jade around her neck, her mind still replaying the recent scene. Suddenly, Wei Nanyi called out to her, "Xiao Su, the person we just encountered, is he the first place winner of the four major sect competitions?" Wei Nanyi was a bit slow to react and only now realized Yu Muhan's identity. Shen Su followed up with a chuckle, "Madam, what do you think of him?" "His strength is indeed impressive, but he’s quite peculiar," Wei Nanyi's eyebrows knitted slightly as if struggling with her words, "He seems rather greedy, it sounds like he wants to marry many women." Wei Nanyi's few words resonated deeply with Shen Su. A gentle breeze lifted Wei Nanyi's face veil, and her voice came through the gauze, "He shouldn’t have that kind of mindset. It’s unfair to each girl who likes him. His words made it seem like those girls were just his possessions, free for him to pick and choose. Even if they were to become Dao companions, it should be by mutual affection, not just his whims." Wei Nanyi's face was half-hidden behind the veil, but the exposed part of her forehead was tightly furrowed, showing clear displeasure. Despite her temper having changed somewhat, becoming more irritable compared to before, this time her anger was solely because Yu Muhan's words were too unpleasant. Shen Su thought more deeply than Wei Nanyi. She had read the original novel, where those women, whether they liked it or not, all had some relationship with the male lead. Even if they weren’t his intimate confidants, they were friends who ultimately sacrificed themselves for him. In the book, the male lead proclaimed he only loved Bai Ruoyi, but numerous women still fell for him, willing to sacrifice themselves and act as tools to aid his romance with the female lead. Yu Muhan's life could be summarized as one with a good fate and many loves. A product of the author's bias. Wei Nanyi was still very tactful; those girls were not even considered possessions. They were merely tools to showcase the male lead's charm, even though he would refuse them to highlight his supposed love for Bai Ruoyi. The female lead was the real possession. Even though Bai Ruoyi, before falling in love with the male lead, was an exceptionally talented fairy admired by many, with superb skills and unparalleled beauty, she eventually turned into the male lead's possession, losing her original social circle and integrating wholly into his. She regarded his friends as her own and even considered his female confidants her own friends. Even Bai Ruoyi's revered master would be arranged to have a tragic end, their original strength weakened so that they always needed the male lead to save the day. The original book was called "Goddess of Love," but reading it felt like a tragic tale for the supporting characters. Shen Su always considered it a melodramatic novel that equally tormented every supporting role, making each a stepping stone for the male lead's success. If Bai Ruoyi were always viewed alongside the male lead, she indeed seemed happy, having the love of the world's most powerful man. Especially since the man resisted all temptations and was solely devoted to her, accommodating her in every way and offering her the best of everything. But if Bai Ruoyi were separated from the male lead, given her own personality, would this formerly exalted woman be content to be merely someone else’s cherished wife? Did Bai Ruoyi have a choice? Shen Su had never pondered this question before. From the reader's perspective, the male and female leads are tied together, neither being an independent individual. Their fates were intertwined. But today’s encounter changed her perspective. Even though she had only heard Bai Ruoyi speak a few words, Shen Su felt that Bai Ruoyi did not wish to be dependent on anyone. She was clear-headed, aware, and even shouldered the responsibility as a senior sister. She had a sufficiently independent personality. For Bai Ruoyi, having the male lead no longer desired solely her might not be a bad thing. Without wholehearted love, the goddess might not bestow her blessings, and the male lead would lose the chance to make the proud woman his accessory. Shen Su abandoned the idea of asking Bai Ruoyi to persuade the male lead. While she desired peace and wished to minimize all possible dangers, she didn't want to see a pure and innocent girl fall into the abyss. Yu Muhan’s rebirth and desire for a harem only arose from his past experiences with Bai Ruoyi, leading to a sort of tiredness and deviant thoughts. If Bai Ruoyi continued with him under these circumstances, she might not even retain her primary position. Why bother? He was merely a lucky man, not some divine artifact. For now, Shen Su felt it was more reliable to snatch the male lead's pearls and cut off some of his cultivation resources. Yet she truly couldn’t go into the secret realm. And once the secret realm opens, Jiang Ruiping will come to Yanbi Mountain. By then, they wouldn’t even be able to stay in Yanbi Mountain, let alone enter the secret realm, unless she could restore Wei Nanyi's spiritual roots completely, then there might be a chance. Wait, even if she couldn’t go, Lin Shuiyan and the others could. Among them, although only Ruan Tong, Leng Ru, Lin Shuiyan, and A Ling had reached the Golden Core stage, as half-demons, their methods were more diverse than ordinary cultivators and they possessed exceptional healing abilities. They might not lose in the bid for the top two hundred names under the Nascent Soul stage, but once they made a move, their half-demon identities would be exposed, inevitably drawing attention from various forces. Moreover, even if they entered the secret realm, how could they defeat the male lead, who had memories of his past life and knew the location of every Lipo Pearl? Is there really no way? The more Shen Su thought, the more her head throbbed. Suddenly, her mind buzzed loudly. Oh no, she needs to warn A Ling and Ruan Tong not to use the Lipo Pearls in front of Yu Muhan. That man seemed so petty; if he discovered traces of the two Lipo Pearls, who knows what desperate measures he might take to snatch them. "Madam, we need to find A Ling and the others quickly," Shen Su lowered her voice slightly, her urgency impossible to hide. Wei Nanyi was of the same mind. A Ling and the others were already beyond the age where they needed worry, but this was Yanbi Mountain, filled with many extraordinarily talented individuals undergoing trials, making it very dangerous. With Wei Nanyi's regained cultivation, things had become much more convenient for them. While searching for people, Shen Su no longer had to wander around aimlessly, hoping to hear familiar voices within earshot. Now, Wei Nanyi could use some small tracking spells to find others. Moreover, Yanbi Mountain was full of powerful monsters. Shen Su couldn’t casually eavesdrop on Yanbi Mountain. As for the blood energy needed for tracking spells, they had plenty of contact with Lin Shuiyan and the others before, so they had some residual energy on them. Sitting on the Black Fox's back, Shen Su watched Wei Nanyi draw a faint golden butterfly. The butterfly’s back was inscribed with a complicated and obscure text written in a bloodline, a spell Shen Su couldn’t comprehend. But she knew the spell had likely succeeded. Just as she was about to praise Wei Nanyi, the golden butterfly fluttered its wings and took off. As its wings trembled, they left a trail of golden powder, marking their path. However, when eight golden trails appeared before her, Shen Su felt momentarily confused. "Madam, this means..." Wei Nanyi pointed at the golden lines, explaining softly, "Xiao Su, this means A Ling and the others are in eight different directions. Which should we go to first?" Wei Nanyi left the choice to Shen Su, but she couldn’t decide. She rubbed her hands together bashfully, "I’ll listen to Madam." A Ling and the others’ auras were mixed, making it hard for Wei Nanyi to distinguish who was where. She lightly touched each of the eight golden lines and then pointed to the dimmest one. "Let’s start here." Shen Su had no objections. As the Black Fox carried them toward the golden butterfly, Shen Su sat on its back, looking at Wei Nanyi with admiration. "Madam, you know so many spells. Did you learn them all by yourself?" Wei Nanyi focused on the golden butterfly, her eyes showing a bit of nostalgia. "Some I learned on my own, but most were taught by my master." Shen Su couldn’t fathom how deeply Shen Yinxue must have cared for Wei Nanyi for her to think of her with such longing every time. Wei Nanyi rarely expressed her feelings for Shen Yinxue directly, but her words and demeanor were filled with deep yearning. Imagination can sometimes be overly abundant and other times insufficient. She could only think that if Master Shen hadn’t died, Wei Nanyi would have been much happier. Wei Nanyi’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed a bit. She seemed to be smiling, but her eyes reflected the fallen red leaves of autumn, full of sorrow. "Master often said her talents were lacking. Unable to improve her cultivation, she spent more time on spells. Knowing more powerful spells could make life less troublesome for others." Less troublesome for others? Who exactly? For Wei Nanyi, Sheng Qing Ning, Jiang Ruiping, or perhaps others? Wei Nanyi, Sheng Qing Ning, and Jiang Ruiping were all of the younger generation, so it was likely Jiang Ruiping. Shen Su did not speculate much about Shen Yinxue’s thoughts, but she knew very little about her. Among those close to Shen Yinxue who willingly stayed burdened for years, Jiang Ruiping was the only one Shen Su could think of. But to Jiang Ruiping, that probably wasn’t even a burden. Wei Nanyi was oblivious and had never noticed her uncle master's feelings for her master. Yet, the meticulously thoughtful Shen Sect Master constantly mentioned by Wei Nanyi surely must have noticed something. Jiang Ruiping's decisiveness was evident even if she was involved in an emotional entanglement. Shen Su knew that Jiang Ruiping was not dead, but that twenty years ago she had already been in a state of dilapidation. So what condition would she be in now, even if she were still alive? Jiang Ruiping certainly wasn’t a delicate flower; she was merely nearing the end of her bloom. No matter how sharp and resilient her branches and leaves, they wouldn’t be able to cling to the branches much longer. Shen Su furtively glanced at the plants and trees of Yanbi Mountain, feeling that it deserved its reputation as the top of the three sacred grounds. They had just passed through a wasteland and already encountered groups of minor demons. Not wishing to cause trouble, the minor demons, realizing they were outmatched, pretended not to see them, which was an unspoken understanding. They followed the golden line for some distance, gradually entering a dark, dense forest. The trees were thick as bowls, with dark, wrinkled bark and deep black leaves. Had they not known they were in Yanbi Mountain, Shen Su might have thought they had fallen into some abyss. The trees were lush, yet devoid of life. The light wind blowing on them grew more bitterly cold. Wei Nanyi shivered, and even her veil rustled wildly in the breeze. Wei Nanyi, still controlling the golden butterfly, had no time to deal with this. Shen Su quickly wrapped Wei Nanyi in her arms, one hand holding down her veil. She controlled the delicate flame of her red blade to create warmth around them. Her fox ears perked up, attentively listening to the sounds within the black forest. But just as her ears emerged, she heard an angry voice say, "Who dares to eavesdrop on our Fox Clan’s secrets?" The voice was low and gravelly, sounding like sand filling one's ears, making it extremely uncomfortable. Shen Su covered her ears and shook her head. It seemed the spirits of Pi You Valley were indeed more vigilant than the evils in the forbidden area, always catching her in the act of eavesdropping. The spirit’s power was also hidden; the speaker’s cultivation level was at least in the Divided Spirit stage. Otherwise, how could he easily detect her presence? In the forbidden area, she encountered two Divided Spirit stage beings in a row but never naively thought they were ubiquitous. After all, Yanbi Mountain had deep foundations. They walked a bit further and suddenly encountered a black barrier, densely populated with crawling black insects. Almost the entire barrier was covered. The golden butterfly passed through the barrier and vanished. Wei Nanyi furrowed her brows and suddenly said, "Xiao Su, I’ve never been here before." Shen Su understood Wei Nanyi’s meaning. As her past self, Wei Nanyi had often trained at Yanbi Mountain and had been there multiple times. If even Wei Nanyi had not ventured into this place, then it must be both hidden and dangerous. No wonder this particular golden line was the dimmest; there was a barrier blocking it. Since that’s the case, they had to go in. Whoever was behind that barrier, it wouldn’t be good if something happened. Those children had crawled through fifteen years of hardship to find them in Pi You Valley. Even a heart of stone would be moved, let alone Shen Su, whose heart wasn’t that hard. Before they could proceed, a sharp female voice suddenly came from within the barrier, "I’d like to see who’s so blind." This was immediately followed by a more coquettish female voice, mumbling, "Sister Yu, today is strange. First one and now another, offending our Fox Clan’s holy ground." "If they’re blind, they should be killed." As the sharp voice fell silent, two women walked out from behind the barrier. One was dressed in pink, the other in blue. Despite their mean faces, they weren't unattractive. Their upturned eyes carried an inherent allure, while their fair faces were sparsely dotted with long hairs. They had furry ears and long, bushy tails, without a trace of human blood—purebred fox demons. The two fox demons had just been yelling about killing Shen Su’s group but shrank back instantly seeing them clearly. Trembling, they greeted respectfully, "Master, you’ve returned." Master? Shen Su had no idea and looked closer, realizing the fox demons were looking past her and Wei Nanyi, focusing on the Black Fox carrying them. The fox demons seemed to fear the Black Fox, losing their arrogance instantly. They stammered, "M-master, where have you been all these years? We’ve been searching for you this whole time." The Black Fox seemed to recognize them, and whatever memories it stirred led it to headbutt them, sending them flying before leaping past the barrier with Shen Su and Wei Nanyi. Inside the barrier was an entirely different world. The dark, terrifying forest transformed into a sea of flowers, featuring numerous varieties. Shen Su couldn’t identify many of them but found them all in their prime bloom. She hadn’t had time to appreciate the view before the Black Fox walked over them, crushing some flowers. Shen Su felt a pang of regret. But as the Black Fox passed, the flattened flowers quickly sprang back, as if untouched. Surprised by what she saw, Shen Su appreciated Wei Nanyi's patient explanation, "Xiao Su, we’ve entered a boundary now. The bloom you see is formed from the boundary’s spiritual power. As long as the boundary remains, so will the flowers." "I see," Shen Su understood. The Black Fox seemed familiar with this place yet treated it with some wariness. Its steps slowed, giving the other two fox demons a chance to catch up. The pink and blue fox demons exchanged anxious glances and then said, "You all have great audacity, turning our master into a demon puppet. If our Elder finds out, you won’t live." Shen Su sensed something was off. She hadn’t yet figured out the Black Fox's identity but had always suspected its noble bloodline. Now it seemed her hunch was correct. These two fox demons appeared to be subordinates of the Black Fox, and their Elder was undoubtedly a prestigious figure among the foxes. Discovering the Black Fox turned into a demon puppet angered them, but they were more frightened. Their threats sounded more like they were urging Shen Su’s group to leave. Before Shen Su could piece it all together, a clear, timid voice rang out, “Stay back, stay away from me.” That soft, trembling voice belonged to A Ling. Shen Su recognized it, and so did Wei Nanyi. She shook the bell in her hand, and the Black Fox charged towards the voice. Shen Su glanced back at the two fox demons, seeing their ashen faces. Something was wrong. It seemed the entire world of the cultivation realm was filled with endless mysteries. Everyone and every demon was not simple. "Stay back, stay away from me," came the panicked voice again. A Ling felt extraordinarily unlucky. Not only had she been teleported to an unfamiliar place, but she was also separated from Ruan Tong and the others. With her extreme killing capabilities and the root and bloodline constantly targeted by cultivators, Ruan Tong and the others never left A Ling to fend for herself during their years on the run. Fifteen years of escape made A Ling much stronger. She had never been alone before, always relying on Lin Shuiyan and Ruan Tong, those elder siblings for support. Though her appearance changed and her power was more refined, deep down, she remained a timid and cowardly girl. She needed direction and encouragement for all her decisiveness and fierceness, and most importantly, she needed companionship. A companion in danger would elevate her strength. Without anyone by her side, she instantly became fearful and anxious. The swamp seemed almost malicious. It had left her alone in this place. Completely clueless and innocent, she was scolded by a group of fox demons for trespassing in their sacred grounds. A Ling felt both wronged and desperate. Seeing the approaching high-level demons, her pupils turned an icy blue. She gripped the Icebreaking Pearl tightly. “Stay away from me!” A Ling could feel herself losing control. An evil intent sprouted in her heart, making her want to see all the fox demons before her dead. They were wicked demons, all pushing her to the edge. Behind her extreme timidity lay suppressed malice. She didn’t know why she became so obsessed, but at that moment, she truly wanted to attack. Without her companions, A Ling was on the verge of losing control. Seeing her foreign pupils turn cold and icy mist seeping out, the leading fox demon urgently said, "She has grown into a Nine-Kill Severed Spirit Root and has some attack capability. Approach slowly, don't provoke her." This was the same voice that had interrupted Shen Su’s eavesdropping earlier. He wore a gray-black robe, his face as attractive and charming as any fox demon's, with a red and black-tipped tail behind him. His eyes shone as he watched A Ling’s changes. A group of fox demons stood behind him, and on either side, many foxes had already revealed their true forms, turning into ice sculptures under the frost. A middle-aged fox behind him let out a deep, resentful wail, "Elder, we have moved slowly enough. At this rate, more of our kin will be frozen by her." "Evil fate, evil fate." The black-robed fox wailed mournfully to the sky, memories resurfacing. "The last time a Nine-Kill Severed Spirit Root entered our sacred ground, half of our ten-thousand-year-old foundation was destroyed, and our demon clan fell from the top rank. Now, another one has come. Can we still maintain our position in Yanbi Mountain's top eight?" The middle-aged fox leaned his head over, puzzled, "Elder, it can't be that serious, right? She's just in the Golden Core stage; you should be able to subdue her easily." "You understand nothing. We cannot anger her now," the black-robed fox glared at the middle-aged fox. With his power, he certainly could subdue A Ling, but he feared A Ling was hiding her true strength, just like the last Nine-Kill Severed Spirit Root. The black-robed fox, having suffered before, didn’t dare be flippant with this bloodline. Without waiting for A Ling to negotiate, he wearily convinced himself, "Girl, we won't hold you accountable for trespassing. Let these frozen foxes go, and we'll let you leave." He wasn’t unable to defeat her—he was simply too afraid to act. The middle-aged fox’s mouth twitched disdainfully, eyeing the black-robed fox with disdain. "Elder, fearing a child damages our clan’s reputation." "You haven’t studied the Fox Chronicles well," the black-robed fox grunted. “Do you think those ancient ones still living in our clan haven’t noticed her causing trouble? The last Nine-Kill Severed Spirit Root to enter our sacred grounds was Jiang Ruiping.” At the mention of Jiang Ruiping, the middle-aged fox’s face changed drastically, "The demon clan’s nightmare, the demon clan’s nightmare indeed." His attitude shifted immediately, obviously fearing A Ling, as he implored, "Please, young lady, you must leave quickly." Shen Su and Wei Nanyi hurried over, worried for A Ling’s safety. But upon arrival, they saw dozens of fox elders and juniors standing in silence, staring at A Ling. Many foxes were frozen nearby. The black-robed fox looked troubled, and another middle-aged fox appeared ready to kowtow to A Ling, repeating, "Please leave." Shen Su distinctly remembered they came because they heard A Ling’s cry for help. So, who was bullying whom here? Everyone’s attention was on A Ling, so no one noticed Shen Su and Wei Nanyi's approach. Except for the distressed A Ling, clutching her Icebreaking Pearl. She excitedly called out, “Master, Sect Master!” The foxes turned to look. The middle-aged fox’s pleading face turned icy. He roared at the pink and blue foxes, "Fox Jade, Fox Cloud!" His voice was low and thunderous, startling the two foxes, who scrambled in front of him, paws forward, not daring to assume human form. They respectfully replied, "At your service.” The middle-aged fox exerted his powerful demon energy over them, angrily questioning, "How did they get in?" Intent on blaming them for failing to guard the entrance, the black-robed fox waved him off, gesturing for silence. He looked at Wei Nanyi with radiant eyes and a wide grin, "You’re her master; take her away. We're not hospitable to Nine-Kill Severed Spirit Roots. I remember the Tiger and Bear clans welcome such roots. You should go there instead." Shen Su recognized his voice as the Divided Spirit cultivator who had detected her eavesdropping earlier. He seemed overly wary of A Ling, his eyes filled with anxiety. This seemed odd. Jumping off the Black Fox’s back, Shen Su took two steps toward A Ling, who rushed to her, clutching her Icebreaking Pearl tightly. She plunged into Shen Su's arms, feeling aggrieved. "Sect Master, they bullied me, I almost lost control and killed them." Her mention of killing made the black-robed fox tremble, his eyes nearly avoiding contact. Shen Su saw no signs A Ling had been bullied, yet tears still flowed. Could this be a case of extreme fear? A Ling’s words did sound alarming. Lost in thought, Shen Su felt a chill seeping through her clothes, invading her senses. "A Ling, I’m cold," she finally said. Clearly, A Ling was terrified, her emotions out of control, affecting her body temperature. Hearing Shen Su's complaint, A Ling hurriedly let go, pleading, “Sect Master, I didn't do it on purpose.” Shen Su knew it wasn’t intentional. If it were, she’d be complaining to Wei Nanyi about A Ling bullying her. Holding A Ling's hand, Shen Su led her back to the Black Fox. Wei Nanyi had also dismounted. The two fox women, who had threatened to bring the Elder, now hid their heads, hoping Shen Su’s group would vanish. "A Ling, they seem very afraid of you,” Wei Nanyi said, referring to the black-robed fox. Wei Nanyi’s observation mirrored Shen Su’s. A Divided Spirit cultivator scared of a Golden Core stage seemed beyond belief. A Ling, having just been in a frenzy, recalled the foxes’ murmurs and shook her head, "Master, they don’t fear me. They fear the previous Nine-Kill Severed Spirit Root who entered the sacred grounds." A Ling recalled the name, "It seems to be Jiang Ruiping." Hearing the name Jiang Ruiping, Shen Su and Wei Nanyi exchanged glances. When Wei Nanyi traveled under the title of Senior Sister of Liming Immortal Mountain, her reputation alone was enough to deter trouble. Few mentioned Jiang Ruiping in her presence. She knew Jiang Ruiping had a bad reputation but hadn’t realized she could terrify a whole clan. How many nightmares had Jiang Ruiping caused? But their fear of Jiang Ruiping benefiting them was fortunate. Shen Su doubted they could fight the Fox Clan of Yanbi Mountain. She glanced at the Black Fox. Suspecting the Black Fox had a notable status within the Fox Clan, it was the only explanation for why, even before she fed it blood, it had an inherent respect for her bloodline, why the two fox women called her ‘Master.’ Yet, after so long, no one explicitly addressed her identity. Shen Su intended to find the Black Fox’s home. But besides those two fox women, no one seemed to recognize her. Shen Su cast a suspicious glance at the two fox women still kneeling on the ground, too terrified to move, brimming with questions, as she guided the Black Fox and her group to retrace their steps. As they were about to leave, the middle-aged fox beside the black-robed one suddenly pointed at the Black Fox urgently. "Elder, look at that Black Fox beside them." The black-robed elder, who had been fixated on A Ling, fearing she might go berserk and cause mutual destruction, finally noticed the Black Fox. The Black Fox’s eyes were vacant, and it barely acknowledged them, quite different from the enthusiasm it had shown upon first entering the Fox Clan’s sacred ground. The elder, however, could not conceal his excitement. Rushing forward, he embraced the Black Fox’s foreleg. "Xiao Rou, where have you been all these years?" The Black Fox didn’t recognize him. It slightly lifted its paw and kicked him in the chest, sending the elder flying. Yet, he wasn’t angry. He got up and, feigning severity, approached the Black Fox again. "Xiao Rou, I’m glad you’re back, but we must account for your and your sister’s unauthorized departure from the Fox Clan’s sacred ground, vanishing for years and leaving the clan’s affairs to an old fox like me." Despite his words, the Black Fox remained blank-eyed. Noticing something was amiss, the elder’s body was suddenly covered in spiritual mist, and his demon energy pressed down on the Black Fox. Glancing at the bell in Wei Nanyi’s hand, he leapt at her with grief-stricken fury. "Audacious thief, how dare you turn our sacred maiden into a demon puppet? Today, I'll take your life, even if it costs me mine!" His speed was incredible, but suddenly he slowed down, as if something had restrained his movements. Before the black-robed elder could determine the source of the suppression, Shen Su stepped in front of Wei Nanyi and pursed her lips. "They say foxes are clever. As an elder, you should be wiser. Elder, I’ll ask just one question: how could a Golden Core and a Qi Refinement Stage level five cultivator possibly turn your holy maiden into a demon puppet?" The elder’s moment of clarity was brief, followed by a cold snort. "Who’s to say it wasn’t a vile deed done by your sect?" Shen Su pulled A Ling close. "Elder, didn’t you hear this child call me Sect Master? I am the strongest in our sect." Eyeballing Shen Su’s young face and then A Ling by her side, the elder hesitated but eventually ceased his advance. "Then tell me how this demon puppet came to be." From the beginning, Shen Su knew the Black Fox was special. Bringing it here wasn’t a death wish. She felt a voice inside her directing her to seek the truth, a truth that lay with the Fox Clan of Yanbi Mountain. She wasn’t worried about escaping. Through her experiences with the Black Bear and the Black Fox, she knew that anything that had been imbued with the water from Mirror Lake would recognize her bloodline as authoritative—if not obedient, at least controllable. Since this was Yanbi Mountain, many of the powerful creatures here had likely been in contact with Mirror Lake’s water. Dealing with these creatures would be comparatively easier for Shen Su, not necessarily to defeat them, but to buy enough time to flee. Explaining to the elder might not convince him. But running, he might not be able to prevent. While Shen Su contemplated her words, Wei Nanyi stepped forward. She employed a faint green mist through her fingertips, directing it into the bell. The bell rang sharply, emitting two green beams that entered the Black Fox, forming a green lotus mark on its forehead. "Elder Fox should recognize this mark." "Sheng Lian Sect," the elder's eyes gleamed with intense pressure as he cursed, "Damn Sheng Lian Sect." After spending time with Shen Su, Wei Nanyi had adopted some of her methods—speaking cryptically and letting others deduce the rest. Everyone is skeptical of what they hear but believes what they discover for themselves, and that includes fox demons. Shen Su seized the opportunity, "Elder Fox, we took this Black Fox from Sheng Lian Sect disciple Xing Yu. Think about it: if it were our doing, would we boldly bring the Black Fox here?” She avoided mentioning Lin Qinghuai by name. It wasn’t about fearing Sheng Lian Sect but more about her suspicion of who was impersonating Lin Qinghuai now. Lin Qinghuai’s face wasn’t originally hers; it belonged to her cousin, Lin Qing Qi. Though Lin Qinghuai had been manipulated by Lin Yanghui, she hadn’t been treated as a mere vessel but had held the respectable title of Sheng Lian Sect’s Young Sect Master for over a century. Lin Qing Qi wasn’t as fortunate. Discovered to be a more effective vessel due to her blood relation to Lin Yanghui, she was born to serve as his energy conduit, wholly confined and exploited, with her right to cultivate only to enhance her value as a conduit. Her good looks had even been stolen for someone else’s use. Living in the shadows, she had never seen daylight. Only because Lin Qinghuai was trapped for twenty years by Shen Su did Lin Qing Qi get the chance to appear as the Young Sect Master during the four major sect competitions. The opportunity was rare. Not being Lin Qinghuai, she didn’t have to bear the consequences of Lin Qinghuai’s mistakes. If Shen Su insisted the fox was taken from Xing Yu, that meant Xing Yu would take the blame. Although Lin Qinghuai as the Young Sect Master might be implicated, it was better than bearing the full brunt. Shen Su didn’t sympathize with Lin Qing Qi. In the original book, Lin Qinghuai’s highlight was ultimately sacrificing herself, leading the elders to confront the demonized Jiang Xu, creating an escape opportunity for younger disciples, a heroic death that might have been Lin Qing Qi’s. It was more about admiration for Lin Qing Qi. Living in the dark, her flesh rotted from the corrosive environment, yet when the sect was in peril, she resolutely stood up. Despite her dire circumstances, she neither turned to evil nor succumbed to despair, still willing to exchange her life for others’ survival. Lin Qing Qi hid all her life, and her final grand stand gifted Lin Qinghuai a moment of glory. Such a person, in such a situation, deserving of no resentment or hatred, earned Shen Su’s respect. She didn’t want the already unfortunate Lin Qing Qi targeted by a Divided Spirit cultivator. The black-robed elder didn’t doubt Shen Su on this. He only questioned coldly, "Where is Xing Yu now?" "Xing Yu is dead." The elder’s eyes darkened. “Convenient, isn’t it? Dead without proof.” His pressure increased, but without the bell’s intervention, the Black Fox shielded them, displeased with the elder. A Ling, even more displeased, glared at him. “You unreasonable old man! My master already said we took her from Xing Yu. Without them, this Black Fox might still be suffering under Sheng Lian Sect. Even if she is dead, the mark still remains. How is that dead without proof?” Perplexed by the Black Fox’s proactive stance and A Ling’s rush, the elder’s resolve wavered yet quickly firmed up. “How do I know you’re not from Sheng Lian Sect? Little girl, though I fear your bloodline, you haven’t matured. You humiliated our sacred maiden, and I’ll exact vengeance, even if it costs our whole clan.” A rather decent-looking elder turning unreasonable. To prevent the elder from going berserk, Shen Su didn’t dare direct, transforming herself into a red fox, wrapping Wei Nanyi and A Ling in her tail and sprinting off. Yet she couldn’t outrun the elder, who quickly blocked her path. Just as Shen Su planned to use her bloodline to suppress the elder momentarily, he knelt before her, tears streaming down his face. “I, Hu Sanbai, pay my respects to the clan leader.” --- At the moment, the plot provided by the installment ends. The last portion was evidently cut off in the middle of a paragraph.