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墨書 Inktalez
The mist slowly rose from the lower slopes of the mountains, appearing from a distance like delicate white ribbons entwined between the green hills and clear waters. The color of the mountains was a vibrant green. That deep emerald hue dripped down, dyeing the winding stream nestled among the peaks into a shade of jade.
The rugged cliffs formed a natural maze, concealing countless deep ravines below, yet from above, the scenery appeared pristine and breathtakingly beautiful.
The air was thick with moisture, carrying the fragrant scent of wood leaves.
This place was quite different from the mountains beyond the borders. It was elegant and charming, yet fraught with danger. Not to mention that the seemingly beautiful mist contained deadly toxins, which is why even the local Indigenous People dared not venture deep into the mountains, only hunting and gathering at the periphery.
Qingqiu Mountain, located in the southwest of Middle-Earth, has been the territory of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan since ancient times. Countless years have passed, but this place has never changed in the slightest. Even cultivators do not dare to enter lightly. Beneath this vast mountain lie countless traps and labyrinths, while the legendary Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox resides in a realm shrouded in clouds, having withdrawn from the world since the great battle between immortals and demons six thousand years ago, nearly vanishing from human sight.
Except for that cross-dressing beauty seen in Lin'an. Li Hong thought of that unparalleled beauty and felt a warmth in his heart; perhaps he would see Li Xiaolou again this time. According to Ling Xuzi, she was indeed the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox.
Li Hong has always had a fondness for this mysterious fox girl who claimed to have a tragic background. Perhaps it was due to that poem "Mountain Flower Child." Although it was criticized for being overly forced at that time, he understood that she could effortlessly compose a poem fitting the scenery in an instant; Li Xiaolou was truly a talented woman who should not be underestimated.
However, finding the reclusive Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan in this vast mountain was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. Where should he even begin?
Standing on the clouds, Li Hong exchanged glances with Ling Yi Zi, both feeling lost.
The map given by Ling Xuzi only indicated that Qingqiu Mountain was home to the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan but did not specify which peak they resided on!
At that moment, a faint and ethereal sound of a flute drifted up from below, crisp and melodious as it echoed through the mountains. Li Hong's eyes lit up as he pointed toward the source of the sound and said, "Let's go check that out."
The flute sound grew closer.
There was a narrow path winding through the mountains where a young girl with braided hair was skipping along. She held a green bamboo flute in one hand while casually playing it and picking dark purple wild fruits growing along the roadside with her other hand. Her slender fingers moved skillfully as she managed both tasks without any confusion; her small basket tucked under her arm grew fuller while her flute melody remained smooth and harmonious without missing a beat.
Li Hong felt a stir in his heart and immediately smiled as he swooped down in front of her. Grinning widely, he clasped his hands together and asked, "Little girl, could you please tell me how to get to the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan?"
The girl looked no more than eleven or twelve but already possessed beauty with her sharp chin and small red lips; her eyes were bright and expressive. Upon hearing Li Hong's question, she immediately put away her flute and pouted in displeasure, saying, "How can this big brother talk nonsense! Huanhuan is clearly human; how could I be some kind of fox! Hmph! I won't talk to you; you can find your way yourself!"
With that, she turned around and walked away past Li Hong.
Li Hong scratched his head but continued to smile. The little girl clearly exuded an aura of demonic power, and he hadn’t even called her a Fox Cultivator—why did she so adamantly deny being a fox? It was almost like an admission by denial.
With a light leap, Little Fox Xiu jumped over Li Hong's head. Just as she exclaimed in surprise, she found Li Hong smiling at her again.
Li Hong clasped his hands and said, "Little girl, I am Elder Chu Hong of the Nine Departures Sect." He pointed to Ling Yi Zi and continued, "He is our Elder Brother Ling Yi Zi from the Nine Li Sect, Nine Beam Peak. We have urgent matters to discuss with the Heavenly Fox Clan Leader, Shooting Jade Fairy. Please introduce us."
Little Fox Xiu remained silent, her eyes darting back and forth between Li Hong and Ling Yi Zi. After a moment, she huffed, "If there's something in it for me, I'll tell you. If not, my grandmother is still waiting for my fruits!"
A breakthrough! Li Hong laughed heartily and took out a small jade bottle from his Cosmic Bag, tossing it to her. Inside were three Supplementary Spirit Pills. "Here you go!"
Huanhuan caught it and immediately showed delight upon smelling it. However, she quickly tucked it away and extended her hand again. Li Hong had no choice but to bribe her with another bottle. He thought to himself that this should be enough for her, but he saw Little Fox Xiu put it into her sleeve and extend her hand once more.
He widened his eyes in disbelief. This little one was too greedy! He had already given her nine Supplementary Spirit Pills; how much more did she want?
Huanhuan's face showed a cunning expression as she cheerfully said, "Is our Nine-Tailed Fox Clan worth only nine Elixirs? Come on," she counted on her fingers and mumbled something under her breath before extending her hand again with a bold request: "How about one hundred? I can't count properly, so let's start with one hundred!"
Li Hong's face instantly turned sour.
Ling Yi Zi observed the situation without showing any emotion. Seeing Li Hong at a loss, he walked over to Little Fox Xiu with a cold expression and stood before her like an iron tower.
Little Fox Xiu realized that the sunlight was blocked out, and her little nose was almost touching Ling Yi Zi's belt. Looking up, she met Ling Yi Zi's cold gaze filled with warning and his extremely handsome yet stern face.
She quickly stepped back two paces, initially showing fear on her face before suddenly turning her eyes and calling out, "Horse-faced brother, what are you trying to do? No robbing me of my beauty now!"
Horse-faced brother robbing beauty! Li Hong burst into laughter; this Little Fox Xiu was truly amusing.
Ling Yi Zi was taken aback for a moment. Seeing Li Hong laughing so heartily made him feel even more annoyed. He frowned and shouted, "Little Fox Xiu, stop talking nonsense..."
Before he could finish speaking, Little Fox Xiu suddenly threw down her small basket, sat on the ground, and began to cry while patting her thighs vigorously. "Help! Horse-faced brother is bullying Huanhuan; he wants to do bad things!"
After shouting this, Little Fox Xiu rolled around on the ground, getting covered in grass leaves until her little face looked like that of a calico cat.
Ling Yi Zi was momentarily stunned, staring helplessly at Little Fox Xiu.
Li Hong had never seen Ling Yi Zi in such a predicament before. Looking closely at Little Fox Xiu, although she was rolling around, it was clear that her eyes sparkled mischievously and her face wore a proud expression. The sight made him laugh uncontrollably while pointing at Ling Yi Zi, unable to find words to respond.
"Alright, Huanhuan, stop messing around. You only know how to tease people!" A few people appeared silently above, and the leading woman looked down at the scene with a mix of amusement and exasperation, unable to suppress her laughter.
Li Hong looked up and felt as if struck by lightning. What a beautiful woman!
A stunning beauty stood on the clouds, her garments fluttering, enveloped in a faint white glow, resembling a celestial being. Her delicate face was enchanting, with gentle eyes like water; just one glance made the surrounding mountains and rivers pale in comparison.
Suddenly, Li Hong felt as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer; his heart raced inexplicably, almost making it hard for him to breathe. His legs trembled uncontrollably, and he instinctively wanted to kneel and worship her, absurdly thinking that he would do anything for her...
At that moment, the Golden Core Group began to spin rapidly, clearing his mind in an instant. Li Hong straightened his back. That was close; he almost embarrassed himself! This must be the renowned Fox Cultivator's charm technique.
Li Hong dared not look at her any longer and bowed his fists in greeting. "I have met the esteemed fairy."
"I am Sister Sheyu," Shooting Jade replied, her gaze suddenly becoming very clear as she fixed her eyes on Li Hong, seemingly deep in thought.
Li Hong immediately felt the deadly attraction emanating from her fade away. Regaining his composure this time, he said more calmly, "Elder Chu Hong of the Nine Li Sect pays respects to the Shooting Jade Clan Leader."
Shooting Jade smiled slightly. "Your composure is quite good; however, he seems to be struggling." With that, she floated down from the clouds and playfully twisted Little Fox Xiu's ear with her snowy white hand, teasingly saying, "Grandma asked you to welcome guests, yet you embarrassed her instead. Go back and see how she punishes you!"
Now returning to a more mortal demeanor, although every smile and frown remained extremely charming, the breathtaking feeling was no longer present.
Ling Yi Zi shook his head, waking from his dazed state with a shy expression on his face.
Li Hong secretly laughed within himself but chose not to point it out. He glanced at the few Fox Cultivators behind Sister Sheyu and couldn't help but be astonished.
These Nine-Tailed Celestial Foxes also possessed unfathomable cultivation levels and were already Demon Babies. Even more remarkable was that each one was as stunning as described in legends—extremely handsome or beautiful—with every gesture exuding endless charm. It was impossible to find even a hint of flaw among them. Each had their own unique allure.
Shooting Jade addressed Li Hong and Ling Yi Zi: "I have already received letters from Du Yizi and Jiang Xuanzi; you two are starting to gain fame among our demon clan! Especially you, Elder Chu Hongzi!" She smiled alluringly at Li Hong while her jade-white hand never left Little Fox Xiu's ear.
As Little Fox Xiu squeaked in pain, Shooting Jade soared into the clouds with everyone, heading towards the depths of Qingqiu Mountain.
********
In a place unknown amidst deep clouds lay a gorge resembling a peach blossom paradise, surrounded by sheer cliffs where monkeys could hardly leap across. The area was vast and filled with blooming flowers and rows of fruit trees. Elegant small pavilions adorned with intricate carvings were nestled among the flowering trees.
Shooting Jade smiled lightly without waiting for Li Hong to explain her intentions and said, "You probably don't know, but Du Yizi and Jiang Xuanzi have become your Nine Li Sect's advocates, spreading letters everywhere to persuade us to come out and assist. Their influence is quite significant. So," she rolled her eyes playfully, looking extremely mischievous and charming, and continued with a smile, "I suppose I am now also an elder of your Nine Li Sect."
Li Hong was both surprised and delighted, feeling a warmth in his heart. His brother was quick to act. It seemed he had been busy these past few days persuading the demon clan on his behalf. Once they returned to the mountain, he would definitely spend some quality time together, enjoying drinks until they were completely inebriated. Perhaps they could even continue their chess games!
However, Shooting Jade changed the subject, "But I do have a small request."
"Please, go ahead," Li Hong said with a smile.
"How many Elixirs did you bring?" Shooting Jade covered her mouth with a smile, her eyes narrowing into crescent shapes, exuding an indescribable charm.
Li Hong suddenly realized that the Nine-Tailed Celestial Foxes loved this. Ling Xuzi had indeed spoken correctly. Since it was all about doing favors, he readily pulled out a large pile of Elixirs and piled them on the table, saying with a grin, "Fairy can take as many as you like; after all, our Nine Li Sect can refine pills now. These are all gifts for you; please accept them without hesitation."
Shooting Jade's Flower Beauty shone brightly: "So your Nine Li Sect can refine pills now? That's truly wonderful news. In that case, I won't be polite. Our Nine-Tailed Fox Clan has collected many Thousand-Year Ganoderma and other celestial herbs over the years; let's use them as an exchange. The elders can take them back for pill refining. If there's ever a need in the future, I won't hesitate to directly ask your Nine Li Sect!"
"Sounds good!" Li Hong immediately agreed. He felt this deal was incredibly advantageous. In fact, the batch of Elixirs he brought out were all Supplementary Spirit Pills, Fire Origin Pills, and Pill of Starvation types; exchanging them for the strong support of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan while also obtaining plenty of celestial herbs was undeniably a great bargain.
Unexpectedly, Sister Sheyu's words made him even more ecstatic. He heard Sister Sheyu say with a smile, "Elders need not go elsewhere. By the time you return to the Nine Li Sect, there will likely be at least one hundred or eighty elders waiting for you! This time I've also been tempted; I might as well become an elder of the Nine Li Sect myself and come out to play. Hmm, I still have some people under me who want to go out as well; let’s all go together! I believe this time your Nine Li Sect will surely become the most prominent sect among the Nine Major Sects of the Immortal Sect; those minor demons are nothing to worry about. Why not stay a few more days until we get everything ready before heading out?"
Li Hong couldn't stop smiling and bowed deeply, exclaiming, "Thank you, Fairy Clan Leader!"
This unusual title made Shooting Jade laugh heartily, her features becoming even more lively and vivid; she hardly resembled a fox at all. Li Hong genuinely felt she looked like a beautiful older sister.
This trip could be described as extremely smooth; it was so successful that just thinking about it made Li Hong beam with joy. However, one strange thing puzzled him: there was no one named Li Xiaolou or any Fox Cultivator in the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan. Moreover, after hearing Li Hong's description of Li Xiaolou, Shooting Jade mysteriously said, "You might have been deceived; that girl is clearly not Beast Cultivation. What she truly is will be revealed to you later!"
After that, she refused to say anything further and would not disclose her thoughts. Li Hong was filled with confusion.
A small incident occurred before they left.
Huanhuan heard that all the elites from their clan were going to assist the Nine Li Sect and even her grandmother had gone, but she was left out entirely. She immediately became upset and clung to Shooting Jade like taffy, ultimately resorting to her old tricks... lying on the ground throwing a tantrum with tears and snot flowing freely while hugging Shooting Jade's ankle and refusing to let go.
Shooting Jade found it difficult to deal with her antics and was almost angry but felt reluctant to punish her.
Li Hong found it amusing and stepped forward to plead on Huanhuan's behalf.
Sister Sheyu could only say, "For the sake of Elder Chu Hongzi, I will agree this time. However, you must remember that this is not our Qingqiu Mountain. You must not cause any trouble and stay close to your grandmother without straying even a step."
Huanhuan nodded like a chick pecking at rice, got up, and wiped her face with her hand, instantly making her cat-like face clean. It seemed she had some minor skills.
During the journey, Li Hong discovered that Huanhuan appeared to be around eleven or twelve years old, but in reality, she had a thousand years of cultivation. This surprised him, leaving him unsure of how to address Huanhuan. Calling her "senior" made him roll his eyes at himself, while calling her "little girl" or using her name seemed disrespectful.
In the end, Shooting Jade said, "With a thousand years of cultivation, yet still with the heart of a little girl. Call her however you like; it won't matter if you twist her ear like I do. Just don't be fooled by Huanhuan; this little girl is clever and loves to play, making her quite the troublemaker!"
Huanhuan achieved her goal and pretended not to hear.
Li Hong became more cautious and firmly remembered this advice. He thought to secretly inform the people at the Disciplinary Hall when he returned to Nine Li Sect, urging them to keep a close watch on this Little Fox Xiu troublemaker. He then pondered a question: since Huanhuan was already a thousand years old yet still called Sister Sheyu "grandmother," could it be that Sister Sheyu was also as ancient as Brother Du Yizi?
The thought sent shivers down his spine; these Beast Cultivation practitioners all looked young and beautiful, yet their ages were unfathomably old.
From today onwards, unless there are special circumstances, there will be two updates from Monday to Friday and one update on Saturday and Sunday.
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