286 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

The Fox Queen remained unconscious, and in her stead, Tushan Hanzhi took charge of the demon tribe. Under her orders, Bai Qingcang set off with Yan Zhao and her companions towards Mist Demon Ravine. Their mission was to head to the demon realm and bring back Bai Jin. Thus, at Mist Demon Ravine, they parted ways with Yan Zhao and her group. During their journey, Yan Zhao and Ren Qingyue did not converse much due to the presence of an outsider. As soon as Bai Qingcang departed, Yan Zhao immediately turned to look at Ren Qingyue. "Senior Sister?" Ren Qingyue, who was carefully determining their direction, replied, "Hmm? What's up?" Yan Zhao asked, "After we rescue the Fox Queen, will you be staying in Qingqiu, Senior Sister?" "Why are you asking this all of a sudden?" Ren Qingyue seemed surprised. Yan Zhao pouted, appearing a bit upset. "The long princess of the demon tribe doesn't want me marrying you." If Ren Qingyue stayed with the demon tribe, would she still have a chance? Yan Zhao didn't want to resort to force unless absolutely necessary; she hoped to resolve this peacefully. Ren Qingyue didn't know whether to laugh or cry at her words. "Why are you thinking about this so much?" Yan Zhao pressed her lips together, her expression stubborn, as if she wouldn't let go of this issue until Ren Qingyue addressed it directly. With a sigh of resignation, Ren Qingyue answered warmly, "You've yet to understand the question I asked you. If you haven't thought it through, even if the Fox Queen awakens and agrees to our union, I still won't bond with you." Yan Zhao's eyes widened with hurt at the harsh truth. Unexpectedly, Ren Qingyue continued, "But if you truly understand what I'm saying, then even if the demon tribe opposes the union, I can renounce my status as their princess." Since she wasn't the empress of Qingqiu, why let imperial responsibilities bind her? Yan Zhao was stunned by Ren Qingyue's words, staring at her speechlessly. Ren Qingyue's cheeks flushed, turning her head to feign nonchalance. "Let's go, don't dawdle." Snapping back to reality, Yan Zhao quickly followed after Ren Qingyue. While crossing through Mist Demon Ravine, they noticed traces of many cultivators. These cultivators, upon crossing paths with Yan Zhao's group, retreated swiftly without uttering a word. Whether they recognized Yan Zhao and Ren Qingyue was unknown. Yan Zhao found this puzzling. The closer they got to the exit leading to the human realm, the more cultivators they encountered. Approaching the area where the Sky Roll could take effect, Yan Zhao's keen ears caught a familiar voice shouting in the distance: “Let go of me! Let go! Release me, help!” They halted, with Yan Zhao tracing the voice to see someone darting among the fog-covered trees. The person was carrying someone on their shoulder who was struggling and yelling, using both hands and feet to fight against their abductor. Upon closer inspection, Yan Zhao recognized both individuals. The one rushing ahead, ignoring the cries, was Zuo Xun from the Huangyin Peak of Fuyun Sect, while the one vigorously shouting and perched on Zuo Xun's shoulder was none other than Wu Yingying. "Zuo Shimei and Wu Shimei?" Ren Qingyue also recognized them, her face full of puzzlement. "Why are they here?" What could have led to this situation? Anyone ignorant of the facts might have taken Zuo Xun for a shameless flower thief fleeing with an innocent girl. Zuo Xun carried Wu Yingying deeper into Mist Demon Ravine, only to be blocked by a sword suddenly swung in front of her. Reacting quickly, she stopped and, with a deft step back, widened the gap between herself and the opponent, preparing to defend herself in case of an attack. However, upon recognizing the newcomers, she exclaimed in surprise, "Ren Shijie? Yan Shimei?" It was indeed Ren Qingyue and Yan Zhao blocking the path! Upon hearing Zuo Xun's cry of recognition, Wu Yingying twisted around to look behind her. Her weak voice immediately turned vigorous, “Yan Shimei! Save me, Yan Shimei! Stop this scoundrel, she’s intending to sell me off to the demon realm!” Yan Zhao and Ren Qingyue exchanged bewildered glances. "Don't listen to her nonsense." Zuo Xun tightened her grip on Wu Yingying to prevent any escape attempts, swiftly explaining to Yan Zhao and Ren Qingyue, "There has been some upheaval at the Yao Sect. Everyone fled to the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace, but now even that is in danger. Yao Shenzi and Elder Wu have entrusted me to take Wu Yingying to the demon realm for refuge." Both Yan Zhao and Ren Qingyue's faces turned grim. "An incident at the Yao Sect and Ten Thousand Treasures Palace?!" "Yes," Zuo Xun replied, glancing helplessly at Yan Zhao, "Not long ago, a rumor spread that the Divine Origin Fruit was hidden by the Yao Sect and the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace." Because of this, cultivators from all over targeted these places, driven by greed. Regardless of whether the Divine Origin Fruit was actually kept at these locations, Su Zijun and Yao Shenzi indeed knew its whereabouts. Just this fact was enough to cause an uproar, attracting all cultivators towards the source. The Divine Origin Fruit, a celestial treasure, was rumored to have been stolen by Yan Yuanqing and brought to the mortal realm. If someone could consume it before the celestial beings found it, they would gain ten thousand years of life, eliminating worries of a short lifespan obstructing their path to immortality. Many were willing to risk everything for such a chance. Yan Zhao harbored doubts. She had left the jade lion under the celestial alliance's watch over Ying Xiao. He shouldn’t dare make these moves. Unless another celestial lord had descended and seen through her tactics. Wu Yingying cried, “But I can't abandon ship! With my grandfather and sect leader still in the human realm, how can I just preserve my life alone if something happens to them?” "Your opinion doesn’t concern me," Zuo Xun said flatly. "My duty is to Yao Shenzi, and unless you can beat me and run, you'll have no chance of escaping from me." Wu Yingying: "…" After a brief silence, she began to sob loudly, “Waaaah! You’re bullying me!” Zuo Xun calmly pulled out two cotton balls and plugged them into her ears. It didn't matter; she was used to it. With her explanation finished, Zuo Xun cupped her fists to Yan Zhao and Ren Qingyue. “I have urgent matters; I must proceed immediately.” Without waiting for a response from Yan Zhao and Ren Qingyue, Zuo Xun swiftly moved past them, carrying Wu Yingying away. Wu Yingying's cries faded into the distance, leaving Yan Zhao and Ren Qingyue in silent contemplation. With a grave expression after a long pause, Ren Qingyue finally spoke, “Yan Zhao, let’s head to the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace!” · The jade lion, battered and bruised, lay at Su Zijun's feet. Su Zijun looked down in deep thought. In the great hall, a few individuals stood on either side: Yao Shenzi, some elders from Yao Sect, and Dongfang Cixin from Fuyun Sect. Beside Su Zijun, to her left, Ye Yanran, with a concerned look, asked, “Sect Leader, how did the jade lion end up like this? What news did it bring?” “Ying Xiao has been killed.” Su Zijun’s expression was stern. “A Celestial King has descended, sent by the Celestial Emperor to search for the Divine Origin Fruit. It’s likely that soon, they’ll lead an attack on the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace.” The announcement shocked everyone, leaving Yao Shenzi frowning deeply. “For them to send a Celestial King, it seems the old Celestial Emperor truly is at death's door.” The emperor must be on the brink, counting his days, hence the urgency to retrieve the Divine Origin Fruit. Ye Yanran's face turned pale. In the present world, everyone seemed bent on destroying the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace. Despite its wealth and resources, it was, after all, just a sect focused on artifact crafting and could hardly withstand the collective might of all cultivators. The arrival of a Celestial King, leading forces, hinted at deeper motives. Besides attacking the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace for show, it likely aimed to intimidate other sects influenced by the palace to break free from celestial control. Moreover, capturing Su Zijun and Yao Shenzi, both closely linked to Yan Zhao, would provide leverage, with essential hostages compelling Yan Zhao to reveal herself. The people in the grand hall were distressed as if a giant boulder pressed on each heart. Neither Yao Shenzi's group, who fled from Yao Sect, nor the elders of the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace could devise a strategy against a Celestial King. The palace was precariously close to collapse, but fortunately, Su Zijun had prepared for such an eventuality. She instructed Ye Yanran, “Yanran, relay my orders: let the sect's disciples change clothes, gather valuables, and leave the palace through the back mountain's secret path. They must remain hidden, not returning until the palace can rise again.” Ye Yanran was aghast. “Sect Leader!” The Ten Thousand Treasures Palace had reached such dire straits that dispersing its disciples and going into hiding seemed necessary to weather the storm? "Do as I instructed," Su Zijun's expression was icy and impassive. "This is merely a temporary retreat, not a permanent exile." If the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace could successfully endure this calamity, prosperity would naturally follow. If not, then this was simply the fate of the palace. Ever since Yan Yuanqing's demise, the relationship between the mortal and celestial realms had been extremely delicate. Even without the Divine Origin Fruit as a catalyst, the celestial realm would find another excuse to invade. They were a bunch of voracious and hypocritical lunatics. Ye Yanran closed her eyes in grief, reluctantly accepting her orders. Even if it meant clenching her teeth hard enough to draw blood, she would have to swallow her indignation and orderly execute the sect leader's commands. After Ye Yanran left the hall, Su Zijun wearily massaged her temples, casting her gaze over the gathered individuals before finally settling on the deeply furrowed face of Yao Shenzi. "Senior Yao Shenzi, within three days, the forces led by the Celestial King are expected to reach the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace," Su Zijun stated calmly. "The palace is overwhelmed with its own troubles. How do you plan on handling the affairs of the Yao Sect?" Stroking the sparse beard on his chin, Yao Shenzi replied nonchalantly, "This old life of mine has lived long enough. At my age, I don’t fancy making a fuss. Whatever happens is fine by me. It wouldn't be so bad to get some exercise before the end." He turned to look at the elders of Yao Sect behind him, "You younger folks, if you want to leave, best do it quickly." However, not a single elder moved upon hearing this. Su Zijun sighed with an unspoken sentiment, "In the end, it seems I owe you, old geezer, a favor after all." "An owed favor from Palace Master Su is worth a lot," Yao Shenzi chuckled heartily. "How about this—let the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace provide all the medicinal ingredients needed by the Yao Sect in the future. I won't take advantage; I'll pay one-tenth of the market price for each item. What do you think, Palace Master Su?" "...Why don’t you just leave after all, old gentleman?" Su Zijun's touched heart turned cold, and she rolled her eyes. --- "Master, something terrible has happened at the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace!" Chen Er hurried to the mountain peak with a worried expression, shouting from afar. The Real Person Yuanhai, sitting atop the peak, remained indifferent, paying no heed to Chen Er's frantic calls. As Chen Er drew closer, her clamor became unbearably loud, like a demonic screech in Yuanhai's ears, causing a slight furrow of her brow. Waving her whisk lightly, a vast wave of snow descended from the mountain top. The snow wave swiftly engulfed Chen Er, accompanying a rumbling that shook the mountain's summit, rolling into the ravine. It would take Chen Er at least two hours to get back. As the foremost magical practitioner of the mortal realm, she wasn't a fool. Previously fooled by Su Zijun, she had been played like a puppet. To coax her into leaving the mountain to aid the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace would be akin to daydreaming. Chen Er, as her disciple, with such an unstable temperament, became unglued over something so trivial, clearly needing more tempering. Real Person Yuanhai exhaled deeply before resuming her meditation, channeling the mountain's snowy energy for practice. About two hours later, Chen Er's calls echoed from below once more, "Master! I beg you to take me to the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace!" Again with the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace—clearly, Chen Er hadn’t learned her lesson. Yuanhai was reluctant to acknowledge this, remaining unmoved, eyes shut. Chen Er clambered up the slope on hands and feet, calling as she went, "Master, please! Just take me to the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace!"