292 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Between heaven and earth, only the Xuan Ji Immortal King remained, his face a mask of shock. After a long time, he stammered out, "What?!" How could this be?! How was it possible? He had used all his power in one strike, yet he hadn't even grazed Yan Yuanqing's fur. Yan Yuanqing glanced at him with amusement and kindly explained, "You're using your weakness to attack my strength. Did you really think you'd be able to harm me? Isn’t that a bit of wishful thinking?" "…" The Xuan Ji Immortal King was at a loss for words. Repeatedly attacked verbally by Yan Yuanqing, his face twisted with rage, he managed, "Yan Yuanqing, you're truly formidable!" He quickly regained his composure, recognizing the situation. With Yan Yuanqing present, there was no hope of taking Wanbao Palace today, nor of acquiring the Divine Source Fruit. This person truly was the top expert of the Three Realms. Dealing with Yan Yuanqing would require long-term planning. Nonetheless, with the Immortal Emperor's days numbered, as long as Yan Yuanqing was kept outside the Immortal Palace, upon the Emperor's demise, the throne would naturally be his. "I won't let this go!" the Xuan Ji Immortal King threatened before turning to leave. Whoosh— A sword light pierced through his shoulder, bringing the Xuan Ji Immortal King crashing from the sky. His body fell uncontrollably, his mind blank, as a soft laugh wafted from behind, "Did I say you could leave?" "Yan Yuanqing!" A cold chill climbed his spine, and fear clung to him like a shadow. The Xuan Ji Immortal King shouted, "Do you dare to kill me?! I am the Emperor's kin, next in line, you shall never covet the Immortal Emperor's position!" "When did I ever say I wanted to be the Immortal Emperor?" Yan Yuanqing displayed an incredulous expression. "That dreary, stale place of yours—I'd refuse if you begged me to take it! But if you insist on pushing me, I have no choice." Yan Yuanqing shrugged, his demeanor innocent and helpless: "A great Immortal Palace without a suitable ruler, allowing pests like you to seize power, how can the Three Realms ever find peace?" "If that is the case, I'll reluctantly accept the Immortal Emperor's position." Chapter 319 "Yan Yuanqing!!! You usurp the throne, I shall not—" The Xuan Ji Immortal King's protests were cut off as Yan Yuanqing slapped a silent spell on his face, sealing his voice. "Usurpation? Who's usurping?" Yan Yuanqing pulled out a glistening golden Immortal Binding Rope, deftly tying the Xuan Ji Immortal King into a tight bundle as she continued, "No need to admit guilt, but look at this scene—who else could boast of such audacity?" With the Xuan Ji Immortal King securely bound, Yan Yuanqing retrieved a golden seal, waving it before his eyes, "Do you see this? Do you know what this is?" The Xuan Ji Immortal King's pupils contracted suddenly. It was the Imperial Seal of the Immortal Emperor! Realization struck him—earlier, the mischief must have come from the exiled Jingyang Immortal who had descended. He had thought Jingyang Immortal merely descended for help, perhaps with a forged imperial edict at most. If it were just an edict, he could deny its authenticity. But now, with the Imperial Seal in Yan Yuanqing's hands, and his own voice sealed by Yan Yuanqing, he had no counterarguments! The Immortal Emperor was resolute in passing the throne to Yan Yuanqing, even if it meant pinning hopes on a seemingly dead person, rather than passing the title to him! Severely struggling yielded no results, the Xuan Ji Immortal King could only cast desperate glances for help toward the surrounding Immortal soldiers. However, those who had been aligned with him a moment ago took a step back as they saw the golden seal in Yan Yuanqing's hands. The Immortal soldiers of the Immortal Realm were renowned for strict discipline, acknowledging symbols of authority over individuals. They were loyal to the Immortal Emperor's position, not to the Xuan Ji Immortal King as an individual. Even if they took a step back, anyone with a bit of sense knew where the victory lay. The events before them were testimony to that victory. Yan Yuanqing beckoned two stern-looking Immortal generals to come over: "Come here." After exchanging a glance, the two chose to follow Yan Yuanqing's command, flying to her side. Yan Yuanqing lifted the Xuan Ji Immortal King and tossed him to them: "Keep an eye on him, I have a big use for him." The Immortal generals saluted Yan Yuanqing, then each pressed down on one of the Xuan Ji Immortal King's shoulders, forcing him to kneel on the ground. His eyes seethed with rage, he could not contain the muffled sounds, his gaze was full of hatred as if wishing to tear Yan Yuanqing apart. He had arrived in grandeur, only to suddenly become a prisoner, his subordinates all turned against him—could there be a more disgraced Immortal King? Yan Yuanqing, however, paid him no mind, not even sparing an extra thought for him. She turned to Nangong Yin, smiling, "Doesn't this solve it? Am I impressive or what?" "Impressive." Nangong Yin praised, though her face remained expressionless. She then brushed Yan Yuanqing aside, studying the Xuan Ji Immortal King attentively. That Immortal Binding Rope was a magical artifact personally crafted by Yan Yuanqing; without her consent, no one could untie it. "You're looking at others and not at me." Yan Yuanqing tugged at Nangong Yin’s sleeve, feigning a tearful expression, "I'm so heartbroken!" Uncomfortably, Nangong Yin averted her eyes, feeling the many gazes around her, she cleared her throat awkwardly: "Don’t cause a scene, your disciple seems severely injured. What about Zhao'er, aren't you going to check?" If it were others, Yan Yuanqing might genuinely not care. But Nangong Yin understood her so well, pitching her appeal perfectly. Upon mention of Yan Zhao, Yan Yuanqing immediately dropped her lighthearted antics and turned toward the formation of Wanbao Palace. Yan Zhao held Ren Qingyue's hand, focusing intently on infusing her with vital energy. The vital energy coursed through Ren Qingyue's meridians, quickly repairing damaged muscles and bones, and restoring her injured internal organs. Yet, Ren Qingyue remained unconscious. No matter how long she persisted, the vital energy healed Ren Qingyue completely, yet she continued to rest limply against Yan Zhao's shoulder, showing no signs of awakening. Yan Zhao felt Ren Qingyue's warmth slipping away between her fingers, and, disregarding any upheaval in the world outside, she desperately channeled her own vital energy into Ren Qingyue’s body. Until a gentle voice called from behind: "Zhao'er." At first, Yan Zhao was unresponsive, prompting Yan Yuanqing to call again, "Yan Zhao!" Yan Zhao snapped out of her trance, turning to see who had called her. Someone she had only seen in dreams was now swiftly approaching her. Upon seeing Yan Yuanqing, Yan Zhao felt as if she were dreaming, her mind blurred, she stared blankly at Yan Yuanqing, speechless. Yan Yuanqing shifted her gaze to Ren Qingyue, frowning: "What's wrong with her?" Using divine sense to assess, Ren Qingyue appeared physically unharmed, though her clothing was tattered, with no apparent internal or external injuries. Yan Zhao regained her senses and shook her head: "I don’t know." She had done her utmost to save her sister, but it seemed futile—her sister didn’t awaken. Yan Yuanqing contemplated briefly before speaking, "Zhao'er, let me take a look." Hearing this, a sliver of hope arose in Yan Zhao’s heart. In her mind, her mother was capable of anything. She helped Ren Qingyue sit upright, allowing Yan Yuanqing to check her pulse. However, Yan Yuanqing's frown only deepened. "Mother, what happened to my sister?" Yan Zhao asked anxiously, "Is she dead?" Yan Yuanqing released Ren Qingyue's hand: "No, she won’t die, don’t worry." Yan Zhao let out a breath of relief but promptly asked, still worried, "Then what is wrong with her? Why won't she wake up?" Yan Yuanqing thoughtfully knocked her brow, choosing her words, "The force of righteousness can suppress all evil. She withstood forty-nine swords, her primordial spirit wounded. Recovery will take time." As her words fell, a soft luminescence enveloped Ren Qingyue, and she transformed into a small fox nestled quietly in Yan Zhao's arms. "Her primordial spirit is wounded…" Yan Zhao muttered softly. She recalled how several years ago, when she and her sister had just left Yun Sect, there were moments when the little fox's spirit suffered injuries, utterly weakening her. But never had the damage to Ren Qingyue's spirit reached such depths. In distress, she asked Yan Yuanqing, "Mother, what should I do?" Before Yan Yuanqing could respond, Nangong Yin's voice reached them first. "Didn't I teach you a technique? It’s particularly effective for those with damaged spirits. Treat her twice daily, supplement with Soul Nourishing Pills, she should wake in ten to fifteen days." Thinking carefully, Yan Zhao seemed to recall such a lesson. Just as she was about to speak, Yan Yuanqing cut her off: "Zhao'er, don’t listen to her!" Yan Zhao paused, puzzled: "Eh?" Yan Yuanqing suddenly stood up, glaring daggers at Nangong Yin, "Nangong Yin, is this how you teach your daughter?!" Nangong Yin, under Yan Yuanqing's fierce gaze, felt a bit confused, "What did I do?" "You know exactly what you did!" Yan Yuanqing fumed, "Zhao'er is only three hundred years old, and you're teaching her this stuff. You're spoiling her!" Nangong Yin protested, "Can you honestly say it's not the quickest method? Besides, Zhao'er and Miss Ren are in love, what's wrong with that?" "You dare speak more!" Yan Yuanqing's eyes widened in disbelief, "How can you say such things?!" Nangong Yin murmured quietly, "…But when you flirt with me, you don't have this attitude." Someone so unrestrained in front of others would suddenly turn conservative in front of their daughter. Her voice was so soft that Yan Yuanqing, overwhelmed with anger, didn't catch it, only noticing her lips moving. He demanded, "What did you say?" Nangong Yin shifted her wandering gaze away, "I said you're right, it's my fault. I shouldn't have taught Zhao'er those things. You handle it." "That's more like it!" Yan Yuanqing was satisfied with Nangong Yin's change in attitude. Yan Zhao was left bewildered. Moments ago, Yan Yuanqing and Nangong Yin seemed to be on the same page, and now they were having a loud argument—it was truly perplexing. Before she could grasp the situation, Yan Yuanqing had turned to her, saying, "Yue'er’s primordial spirit is weak now. First, use the Soul Nourishing Pill to protect her, and the Soul Condensing Pearl will also nurture her spirit. Let her wear it to keep her primordial spirit intact." Feeling reassured, Yan Zhao nodded obediently, "Okay." Having witnessed Yan Yuanqing's return from death, a once-dead person could come back to life—why wouldn’t her senior sister recover from a spiritual injury? Once everything was settled, Yan Yuanqing turned her attention to the many cultivators before Wanbao Palace's gates, "Why haven't you left yet? Do you want to continue fighting with me?" The cultivators snapped back to reality. Startled by Yan Yuanqing's indifferent gaze, they scrambled away in fear, scattering like frightened animals. They had no time to ponder the true nature of the two realms' conflict. Though many among them were sycophantic by nature, at this moment, who dared cozy up to Yan Yuanqing? However, whether it was Yan Yuanqing's revival, Xuan Ji Immortal King's defeat, or Yan Yuanqing's receipt of the throne with the imperial seal all ensured that her becoming the next Immortal Emperor would be an earth-shattering event across the Three Realms. As the cultivators retreated, tens of thousands of immortal soldiers followed Yan Yuanqing's command to camp in the deep mountains, leaving Wanbao Palace instantly quiet. The golden radiance over Wanbao Palace dispersed, the great formation dissolved, and the formation spirit turned to gray smoke. Su Zijun approached them, her expression a mix of delight and complexity as she faced Yan Yuanqing, "You've finally returned." Her words carried a heartfelt tone; countless people had wished for Yan Yuanqing's return to ensure justice in the human realm. Yan Yuanqing suddenly brightened into a smile, "Oh my, I know you all admire me, but let’s not get too sentimental, a little sincerity will do." With that, she extended her hand, "My daughter is all grown up now, you should make up for the missed gifts." Nangong Yin facepalmed helplessly. Su Zijun: “…” How could someone be so shameless? Su Zijun's initial emotional reunion with Yan Yuanqing instantly evaporated, and she gave Yan Yuanqing a pointed look, "Zhao'er has already acknowledged me as a godmother, and I've given her every gift I owe. If you want more, you'll have to get it from Zhao’er!"