Chapter 146: Three-tailed Demon Fox - Xue'er
Li Mu pursued the Three-tailed Demon Fox, arriving at a dense forest outside Qingyun City.
Under the cover of his Divine Sense, the two figures hidden within had nowhere to escape.
Li Mu, a step ahead, emerged from an ancient tree via Wood Escape. The direction the Three-tailed Demon Fox fled was precisely here, and one of the two young Golden Core cultivators should be its owner.
Both Golden Core cultivators wore the style of robes typical of Qingxuan Sect True Disciples. One, a round-faced Cultivator in a golden robe, was at the Early Stage Golden Core cultivation, with an unstable aura, suggesting he must have consumed many high-grade Spirit Medicine to maintain this cultivation, and his Foundation was not solid.
The other white-robed Late Stage Golden Core cultivator next to him was an acquaintance Li Mu vaguely remembered.
If he wasn't mistaken, it was the Golden Core Disciple he had driven out of Yue Qiong Peak before. What was his name again? Right, Wang Jianfeng.
Seeing Li Mu’s method of appearance, both of them showed surprise.
The next moment, the Three-tailed Demon Fox arrived, its gaze timidly falling beside the round-faced Cultivator, letting out a few soft “squeaks.”
“Useless trash! Get lost.” The round-faced Cultivator cursed in a resentful tone, then turned to Li Mu, smiling, “Elder Li, I’m sorry, this Yao Fox’s spiritual intelligence is undeveloped, and it doesn’t know what’s appropriate. I sent it to invite you, but I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Li Mu frowned, glancing at the round-faced Cultivator, then turned to Wang Jianfeng. If there were no accidents, this attack was likely instigated by this fellow.
“I didn’t expect you to have already advanced to Golden Core! You hide yourself really well! Could it be for some ulterior motive?” Wang Jianfeng met Li Mu’s gaze, smiling coldly.
The round-faced Cultivator showed a look of realization and asked with a smile, “Indeed! Elder Li, when did you advance to Golden Core? No wonder my Spiritual Pet failed.”
“Is this how you invite people? Qingyun True Lord is too focused on Cultivating, completely unconcerned about your growth!” Li Mu retorted to the round-faced Cultivator, then looked sideways at the little Three-tailed Demon Fox, suspecting that this little Yao Fox had intentionally used heavy force to cause trouble for its owner.
Damn it!
A Fox Demon is a Fox Demon. It must be thinking of ways to escape!
Li Mu scrutinized the little Three-tailed Demon Fox, as if trying to discern something from its dark, rolling eyes.
“Elder Li, it seems you know my identity. I just don’t know if you’re willing to help Tian refine a Spiritual Artifact!” The round-faced Cultivator’s Face darkened, and he asked Li Mu with a smile.
Li Mu had secretly observed the Qingxuan Sect with his Divine Sense for many years, and he already knew this fellow’s background. He was Tian Wenjie, the eldest grandson of Qingyun True Lord, a core high-level member of the Qingxuan Sect’s Qing generation, a profligate third-generation immortal. His father, Tian Ping, was also a Golden Core cultivator.
The fact that he approached him in this manner today meant, without a doubt, that he was seeking his Artifact Refining services.
Only such a third-generation immortal would use this method to invite someone. Of course, it’s not ruled out that the Three-tailed Demon Fox intentionally intensified its actions.
Just now, the Yao Fox led him into an illusion, with extremely malicious intent, drawing out his deeply hidden memories and even tending to give rise to his Heart Demon.
Li Mu’s gaze was profound, fixed intently on the Three-tailed Demon Fox, completely disregarding the question from the profligate third-generation immortal.
“Elder Li, you’re still as arrogant as ever! Junior Brother Tian is speaking to you! Elder Li, even if you don’t look at the monk’s Face, you should at least look at the Buddha’s! Are you not even giving Elder Qingyun any Face?!” Wang Jianfeng chuckled, looking coldly at Li Mu and gesturing.
Upon hearing this, Tian Wenjie’s expression turned extremely unsightly. He stared at Li Mu with a dark Face, silently awaiting his reply.
“When did you start targeting me?” Li Mu glanced at Wang Jianfeng, ignoring his provocation and focusing on another question.
After leaving Yue Qiong Peak, Li Mu had always been mindful of any disturbances around him, being very cautious. However, he hadn't noticed anyone secretly following him, nor did he expect to fall into an illusion.
“That’s simple. We have people in Wanbao Pavilion, and Elder Li’s position as an Artifact Refining Guest Elder in Wanbao Pavilion is no secret.” Tian Wenjie chuckled, introducing with a proud tone.
“Elder Li, since you’re willing to refine artifacts for Wanbao Pavilion, accepting Junior Brother Tian’s Artifact Refining commission shouldn’t be difficult, right!” Wang Jianfeng glanced at Tian Wenjie, secretly cursing him as an idiot in his heart. Why tell him that?
Li Mu suddenly understood; the problem wasn’t with him.
“If you want Artifact Refining, go find Elder Yin. I only accept Artifact Refining commissions from the Sect through him.” Li Mu said indifferently, not bothering to waste any more time with them, and turned to leave.
“Heh, Junior Brother Tian, I told you long ago that Elder Li wouldn’t give Face. Was I right?!” Upon hearing Li Mu’s response, Wang Jianfeng was not surprised but rather pleased, looking at Tian Wenjie with a sneer and gesturing.
Tian Wenjie was furious. A mere Artifact Crafting Elder dared to show him such an attitude.
“Stop, don’t leave.” Tian Wenjie glared at Li Mu, scolding him.
Li Mu stopped, turned to look at Tian Wenjie, and then stared at Wang Jianfeng, his brows tightly furrowed as he pondered a countermeasure.
This Tian Wenjie was an idiot, and with Wang nearby inciting him and adding fuel to the fire, this trouble was truly difficult to resolve.
Perceiving Li Mu’s gaze, Wang Jianfeng gave a cold smile, his Face full of chill. He intended to use Tian Wenjie to exact his revenge.
Wang Jianfeng regarded being driven out of Yue Qiong Peak as the greatest humiliation of his life, almost becoming his Heart Demon. Having finally seized this opportunity, he had to vent his anger no matter what; otherwise, this matter might become a Heart Demon that could appear during his Nascent Soul Tribulation.
“What, have I not made myself clear enough? If you want Artifact Refining, go to Hundred Refinements Peak and commission Elder Yin.” Li Mu frowned, reiterating to Tian Wenjie.
He was quite curious about what kind of methods this third-generation immortal could use to pressure him.
After so many years, Li Mu had refined quite a few Spiritual Artifacts for the Qingxuan Sect. His daily behavior was low-key, but his standing among the Sect’s high-level members was not comparable to that of ordinary Elders.
Moreover, the Qingxuan Sect’s rules had always been strict. Even facing Qingyun True Lord, Li Mu was not afraid of him, let alone a third-generation immortal.
Meeting Li Mu’s fearless gaze, Tian Wenjie suddenly felt uncomfortable. The Elders and Disciples he had faced before, out of fear of his identity, never dared to show him any attitude.
However, against an Elder like Li Mu, who was impervious to both soft and hard tactics and relied on his own abilities, unafraid of his grandfather’s prestige, he truly had no means to deal with him.
Tian Wenjie’s mind raced, and he immediately thought of something, chuckling as he threatened, “Elder Li, why are you hiding your cultivation? You clearly have Golden Core cultivation, but you’ve been impersonating a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? Do you have other motives?”
“Oh, you just used Five Elements Wood Escape, right! Our Sect has quite a few bounties posted. Golden Core cultivator, Five Elements, got it! I suspect you’re the Cultivator being tracked by the Shanhe Sect’s Venerable.” Tian Wenjie said incessantly, pouring his Divine Sense into his Disciple token.
As soon as Tian Wenjie said this, Li Mu’s expression changed drastically. He never expected that this fellow, by mistake, would actually hit the mark.
Wang Jianfeng, who was observing Li Mu’s expression, was slightly stunned.
It couldn’t be that coincidental, could it!
Did he really hit the mark?
No way!
“Oh! What do you want?” Li Mu fully unleashed his Divine Sense. This matter could no longer be simply resolved.
If Fire Tian Venerable of the Shanhe Sect knew his hiding place, then what followed would be an endless pursuit.
Li Mu was still waiting for the Five Elements Spirit Plant to mature and for him to advance to Nascent Soul. He didn’t want to fail at such a critical moment.
So, the only thing he could do now was to silence them.
“It’s simple. Do as I say. Help me refine one Spiritual Artifact, no, two, and I’ll consider not reporting you.” Tian Wenjie’s eyes lit up, and he said confidently.
“Young Master Tian, run!” Wang Jianfeng had already sensed the dangerous aura from Li Mu, blurted out a sentence, and turned to flee.
However, Li Mu would not let him escape so easily. His figure vanished into the earth. The next moment, sounds of a struggle came, and in no time, a scream echoed.
Tian Wenjie shivered, watching with wide eyes as Elder Li, holding the unconscious Wang Jianfeng, slowly flew before him, emanating Killing Intent.
“Elder Li, you, you, I, I…” Tian Wenjie looked at the murderous Li Mu, too scared to speak, his limbs not obeying him.
Run, how could he run!
Wang Jianfeng’s reaction was quick enough, right! Yet, he hadn’t run far at all! He was caught back in an instant.
This efficiency, even his grandfather, Qingyun True Lord, probably couldn’t achieve it!
“What kind of trash did Qingyun True Lord give birth to!” Li Mu glanced at Tian Wenjie with disdain, then a swift strike.
Tian Wenjie only felt his Divine Soul darken and a pain in his neck. His vision immediately went black, and he completely lost consciousness.
Looking at Tian Wenjie, who lay limp on the ground, Li Mu casually tossed Wang Jianfeng aside, and with a flash of his figure, he once again vanished through Earth Escape.
When he returned, Li Mu was holding a small fox with three tails, struggling with “caws” in his hand.
“Behave yourself, or I’ll kill you.” Li Mu cursed angrily, then released the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship, lifted Wang Jianfeng and Tian Wenjie with his Divine Thought, and entered the Spirit Ship together.
With a “whoosh,” the Celestial Shuttle Spirit Ship soared into the sky, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
——
Yue Qiong Peak, inside a sealed stone chamber.
“So much pain, so much pain!” Tian Wenjie clutched his head, waking from his stupor with cries of agony.
“Senior Brother Wang, you’re not dead? Where are we?” Tian Wenjie endured the pain, looking around, and saw Wang Jianfeng staring at him with a complicated expression.
“We should be in the prison of Yue Qiong Peak.” Wang Jianfeng guessed coldly.
“Why? Why would Elder Li imprison us?” Tian Wenjie’s expression changed drastically, immediately forgetting his headache.
“Junior Brother Tian, how could you be so clever as to guess Elder Li’s true identity and dare to speak it in front of him?” Wang Jianfeng sarcastically taunted Tian Wenjie.
Thanks to Tian Wenjie, who exposed ‘Elder Li’s’ true identity, he also suffered misfortune.
He never expected this Elder Li to be connected to Fire Tian Venerable of the Shanhe Sect, a Transformation God cultivator! Someone whom a Transformation God cultivator couldn’t even track, could he be a simple person?
However, someone whom even a Transformation God cultivator couldn’t track was simply exposed by Tian Wenjie’s words.
He actually went and provoked such a person.
Wang Jianfeng didn’t know whether to thank Tian Wenjie or blame him.
“I just said it casually, how was I to know that Elder Li’s identity was really that? What do we do, will Elder Li kill us to silence us?” Tian Wenjie asked with a tearful Face, concerned.
“Probably not. If we die, our Soul Lamps placed in the Ancestral Master Hall will extinguish. At that time, the Sect will definitely investigate thoroughly, which is why ‘Elder Li’ didn’t kill us.” Wang Jianfeng thought seriously for a moment and guessed.
“That’s good, that’s good!” Upon hearing that he wouldn’t die, Tian Wenjie immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
“Junior Brother Tian, don’t be too optimistic. We can’t die, but we can’t escape either!” Wang Jianfeng wanted to cry but had no tears, reminding him.
Upon hearing this, Tian Wenjie immediately looked around, only to see that they were imprisoned in a deep hole, dozens of feet deep, surrounded by hard, iron-like green steel rock, incredibly steep. Ordinary people certainly couldn’t escape.
Tian Wenjie silently circulated his True Qi. His Dantian had a Restriction placed on it, preventing him from connecting with the Golden Core inside his body, and his entire True Qi could not be mobilized. His Divine Soul was also the same, and his Divine Sense could not be released.
“Junior Brother Tian, it’s useless. The Restriction methods placed by ‘Elder Li’ are extremely profound; you can’t break free.” Wang Jianfeng sighed, reminding him.
“How dare he do this?” Tian Wenjie immediately became anxious. Having lived a pampered life for half his life, he couldn’t imagine what a terrifying scene it would be to be trapped in this dark, sunless underground hole forever.
“‘Elder Li’ even dared to offend Fire Tian Venerable of the Shanhe Sect, what else can he not do? Junior Brother Tian, just accept it!” Wang Jianfeng sighed, feeling utterly depressed.
On the ground, in the stone courtyard.
A table laden with delicious food. A small, snow-white Three-tailed Demon Fox sat at the dining table, taking big bites, gnawing on a roasted Spiritual Chicken.
Watching the Three-tailed Demon Fox devour its food, Li Mu couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.
This little fellow’s background was unusual; how to deal with it was a problem.
Killing it directly was definitely not an option, and contracting it using the Spirit Control Contract Seal was also not an option. If the Fox Yao Race discovered it, he would be in deep trouble.
The safest method was to send it back to the Fox Race territory in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range.
Soon, Li Mu made a decision: after advancing to Nascent Soul, he would personally make a trip to send this little Yao Fox back to the Fox Race territory.
“Little one, how about I send you back to your old home? I’ve met your mother, you know!” Li Mu looked at the Three-tailed Demon Fox, asking tentatively.
Upon hearing this, the Three-tailed Demon Fox looked up at Li Mu, its dark eyes swirled, then it turned its back, ignoring Li Mu, and continued to bury its head in the roasted chicken.
“What I said is true. Your mother is a Seven-tailed Snow Fox, right? After transforming, she has a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth, a fair melon-seed Face, curved eyebrows, and a pair of bright, limpid eyes. She wears a three-colored floral skirt. To find you, she almost fought with Qingfeng Shangren last time.” Li Mu persevered, continuing to describe.
The Three-tailed Demon Fox suddenly turned around, and a young girl’s Divine Sense voice entered Li Mu’s Sea of Consciousness, asking concernedly, “You really saw my mother? Did they fight? What happened afterward? Where did my mother go?”
“You can speak?” Li Mu’s spirits lifted, and he asked the Three-tailed Demon Fox in surprise.
“No, Xue’er hasn’t transformed yet, so I can’t speak. I can only transmit my voice to you through Divine Sense.” The Three-tailed Demon Fox stared at Li Mu, gesturing.
“That works too, as long as we can communicate.” Li Mu couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. After all, it had the potential of a high-grade Yao Beast, unlike Little Gold and Little Tile, who only listened to him speak and never communicated with him through telepathy. Little White was the same.
“You haven’t told Xue’er where my mother went yet!” The Three-tailed Demon Fox stared at Li Mu, pressing on.
“I don’t know that. That was decades ago. If I send you back to Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, wouldn’t you just go home and see for yourself!” Li Mu quickly replied.
“No, Xue’er doesn’t want to go back! If I go home, I’ll be forced to Cultivate every day. I don’t want to go home!” The Three-tailed Demon Fox refused without thinking, then continued to bury its head in the roasted chicken, no longer paying attention to Li Mu.
…
Li Mu couldn’t help but be dumbfounded. The voice he heard from the Three-tailed Demon Fox’s telepathy sounded just like a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, right in her rebellious phase.