211 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Compared to not securing the first place in the competition, what angered him more was that Yan Zhao and Zuo Xun colluded, causing him to lose face. Yan Zhao even snatched away his magical treasure! The brush, once his own, was now tucked into Yan Zhao's waist, completely devoid of his soul imprint, clearly having been claimed by her. Ying Xiao gazed at Yan Zhao. Although she wasn't from a major sect and her personal strength was somewhat lacking, luck was on her side, having bonded with the rare nine-tailed fox. Her victory in the competition didn’t entirely disgrace the major sects. He even felt a slight relief that Yan Zhao had defeated Zuo Xun, preventing the Fuyun Sect from taking the top spot, which otherwise could have caused significant upheaval. After the previous chaos, that today’s gathering could conclude smoothly was already a relief for Ying Xiao. He turned his gaze to the eight sect heads beside him and routinely asked, "I believe the final winner of this Immortal Sect disciples' gathering should be Nian Qing. Does anyone object?" The eight sect heads exchanged glances, understanding Ying Xiao's concerns; thus, none spoke up. Ying Xiao sighed in relief and was about to announce the result when a chilling voice floated from behind, "I believe the outcome of this battle needs discussion." Everyone turned to look at the sole objector, Elder Yun Daozi. Medicine Master hesitated in stroking his beard, his brows furrowing as the smile at his lips slowly faded. Ying Xiao's eyes betrayed a hint of anger, yet he kept his composure in front of everyone, giving Yun Daozi due respect: "Master, why do you say this?" Yun Daozi swayed his head serenely. "Can the title of champion be awarded to someone who hides their true self?" Ying Xiao was taken aback and asked with a frown, "What do you mean?" Yun Daozi lifted his eyes and sneered, "Why not check under her mask to see her true face?" This suggestion was like lightning striking on a clear day, startling everyone present. On the Ming Mirror Stage, Kai Le'an and Zuo Xun also swiftly raised their heads. The smile in Yan Zhao's eyes quickly vanished, and she instinctively hugged her little fox tightly. Zuo Xun was shocked, while Kai Le'an reacted immediately, stepping forward to grab the mask on Yan Zhao's face. As Yan Zhao was about to dodge, Yun Daozi cast a freezing spell on her, rendering her immobile. Kai Le'an approached, reached for her earlobe, felt the seam of the human-skin mask, and tore it off violently. The mask dropped, revealing Yan Zhao's true appearance. The little fox bristled instantly, lunging forward to bite Kai Le'an's wrist with its sharp teeth, nearly severing his wrist. Kai Le'an screamed, releasing his grip. The magical mask slipped from his hand to Yan Zhao's feet. A brief silence on the distant viewing platform was followed by an uncontrollable uproar. Wu Yingying gasped, exclaiming, "How could this be…" Before she could finish, Elder Wu placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. Wu Yingying pursed her lips, swallowing back the words she didn't say. The Ming Mirror Stage erupted into chaos; even among the nine Immortal Alliance members, including the leader, none recognized the false identity! Ying Xiao remained stunned, unable to react until one of the sect heads beside him shouted, "What audacity!" Hiding one's identity to participate in the Immortal Sect disciples' gathering was akin to making fools of the many experts of the Immortal Alliance! A forceful pressure bore down on Yan Zhao, whose mere Golden Core cultivation could hardly withstand it. She staggered back several steps, and though freed from the immobilizing spell, vomited a mouthful of blood. The little fox leapt down from her arms, transforming into its nine-tailed form, ready to whisk Yan Zhao away at any sign of trouble from the Immortal Alliance. Zuo Xun looked at Yan Zhao in disbelief, this development was wholly unexpected. Ying Xiao, perceiving gravely, scrutinized Yan Zhao’s face and asked sternly, "Who are you?" Yan Zhao bit her lip in silence, refusing to reveal her identity. Under the gaze of all, Ying Xiao's expression worsened. Just as he seemed ready to apprehend Yan Zhao for questioning, laughter unexpectedly broke the tense atmosphere. Everyone turned towards the laughter, curious. Ying Xiao saw the one laughing was Medicine Master and asked, "Master, what’s so funny?" It was indeed Medicine Master who laughed. Stroking his beard casually, he said with a smile, "To be honest, Nian Qing is my disciple." The other sect heads, and Ying Xiao specifically, were puzzled: "Master, are you serious?" Medicine Master sniffed lightly, "Why would I deceive you?" "But..." Ying Xiao was uncertain where to start. Medicine Master, being a figure of high repute, couldn’t be lying; Yan Zhao being his disciple was highly plausible. Yet, Ying Xiao couldn’t understand why Medicine Master allowed Yan Zhao to participate under the name of the Beast Master Sect. At this point, Yun Daozi interjected, "How do you prove she's your disciple? The disciple you took in recently was not named Nian Qing." Medicine Master's expression didn't change, but his fists clenched tightly within his sleeves. That old fool, he just had to stir the pot. Seeing Medicine Master stumped by Yun Daozi's words, Ying Xiao grew increasingly suspicious, sensing something was amiss. Suddenly, another voice interjected: "I can attest, Miss Nian Qing is indeed Medicine Master's disciple." Ying Xiao turned in surprise to find Su Zijun had returned. Yun Daozi's face darkened swiftly. On the Ming Mirror Stage, Kai Le'an’s face turned pale, and Ying Xiao became even more disheveled. As he tried to speak again, Medicine Master interrupted him: "The Immortal Alliance has no specific rule against concealed identities in the competition. I didn't want my disciple to rely on my reputation to gather followers, so I devised this test for her. What’s wrong with that?" "As for my disciples..." Medicine Master shot a cold glance at Yun Daozi, "I'll take as many as I want. What business is it of yours?" Yun Daozi was left speechless. Tensions thickened suddenly, and Ying Xiao felt his temples throbbing. If a fight broke out between Yun Daozi and Medicine Master here, the Immortal Alliance would inevitably suffer, dragging him down too. Choosing the lesser of two evils, avoiding further aggravation with Medicine Master seemed more prudent. He quickly concluded it was better to de-escalate the situation. As the disciple of Medicine Master, Yan Zhao's status inherently elevated. Winning the championship lent credibility compared to an obscure disciple from the Beast Master Sect. Moreover, Su Zijun had returned to testify despite having matters at hand, suggesting a close relationship with Medicine Master. Yielding to this would curry favor with Su Zijun, who might then overlook the unexpected incident during the competition today. Additionally, the trouble stirred by Fuyun Sect's old hand indicated ulterior motives deserving caution. Weighing the declining Fuyun Sect against Medicine Master’s sect and Wanbao Palace, the choice was clear. Ying Xiao swiftly reached a conclusion, disregarding Yun Daozi’s displeasure, and aligned with Medicine Master’s stance, saying, "Master's affection for his disciple is touching. This misunderstanding stems from incomplete regulations by the Immortal Alliance. Let’s move past it." He then performed a separate spell to heal Yan Zhao's injuries. As the pain in her chest subsided, Ying Xiao announced loudly, "The winner of this Immortal Sect disciples' competition is Medicine Master's Nian Qing!" --- Medicine Master’s Sect? Upon hearing this announcement, a tide of discussions surged among the spectators on the distant platform. What was initially thought to be some audacious imposter in the Immortal Sect disciples' competition unexpectedly turned out to be Medicine Master's disciple! No wonder Yan Zhao's combat prowess seemed weak; she was actually an Alchemist. Furthermore, she hailed from a prestigious lineage. Such a transformation silenced many who previously criticized Yan Zhao for opportunism, calming the discontented audience. Ying Xiao announced "Nian Qing" as the champion, prompting Wu Yingying to jump for joy, clapping enthusiastically, more thrilled than if she had won herself. Ordinarily, the competition would end at this stage, but no spectators departed from the platform. For there remained one vital event: the awarding ceremony. The Immortal Alliance intended to present Yan Yuanqing's former sword as the prize for this competition's winner, a fact that had been known for years, stirring excitement across realms. Everyone eagerly anticipated this moment, longing to see what the sword of the once-world's greatest swordsman looked like. Yan Zhao had just narrowly avoided exposure, with her identity nearly laid bare. Fortunately, her master shielded her just in time, and her godmother played along skillfully, leaving Ying Xiao unsuspecting of her "Medicine Master’s disciple" identity. In short, she was exposed, but not fully. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience," Ying Xiao said, producing a rectangular box from behind him. "This is the prize promised by the Immortal Alliance, well-deserved by Miss Nian Qing!" The box had a dark golden hue, neither gold nor jade, its material unknown. The contents were completely sealed, revealing nothing on the surface. Yet, the moment it appeared, it captured Yan Zhao's attention. The golden bead on her chest began to heat subtly. No doubt, the item inside was her goal for this journey. All eyes focused simultaneously on the box. Zuo Xun looked regretful, Kai Le’an’s eyes flickered, and the spectators held their breath. Even Medicine Master and Su Zijun, among other powerful figures, observed with furrowed brows and focused eyes. Ying Xiao tossed the box gently into the air, where it hovered above the Ming Mirror Stage. Simultaneously, the eight sect heads infused the box with strands of magical power. Only after their combined effort, topped with Ying Xiao’s leader's seal, did the box open. The box scintillated with golden light, followed by a crisp click, then suddenly burst into an intense, bright beam shooting into the sky. The divine sword, possessing a spirit, shot from the box like lightning. Ying Xiao personally intervened, casting a spell to bind the sword. The sword resisted, circling the Ming Mirror Stage, unable to break free. Yan Zhao looked up at the sword in the air. The blade gleamed a beautiful bright silver, the water-blue hilt wrapped in gold thread—a perfect blend of sharpness and elegance with a carefree, airy grace. Indeed, it was a masterpiece by Yan Yuanqing. Not just Yan Zhao, everyone was entranced by the sword. The spectators’ eyes burned with desire; some could barely conceal their greed. If not for the many powerful figures present making any snatch attempt unrealistic, they might have risked everything heedlessly. Yet this didn’t stop the darkness in their hearts from growing, their eyes darting back and forth between Yan Zhao and the divine sword. Medicine Master raised an eyebrow, murmuring to himself that the Immortal Alliance was truly generous, willing to display such a precious treasure. Whom were they trying to lure? Su Zijun’s eyes darkened, a sharp glint briefly flashing within. As the divine sword clashed with Ying Xiao, the eight Protectors on the surrounding towering stone pillars covertly gathered strength. After about ten breaths, nothing happened. The divine sword, long constrained by the seal and depleted of its energy, soon showed signs of defeat. With a pull of magic, it returned to the box. Ying Xiao released his grip, instinctively scanning the surroundings, but found nothing. As the box lid closed again, it fell from the air. Yan Zhao reached out, catching it precisely in her arms. As the box made contact with her chest, the golden bead hidden inside her clothes gave a sudden shiver. Simultaneously, she felt a warm flow on the box's surface, resonating with the Condensed Soul Pearl. She tightened her grip, securely holding the box. Feeling others’ curious glances, Yan Zhao swiftly tucked the box into her spatial pouch, not taking any chances to look around. Only then did she express her gratitude to Ying Xiao: “Thank you.” Ying Xiao raised his hand, and two elders monitoring the competition approached, each receiving a slightly smaller jade box.