Seeing the situation finally stabilized, Xiaoxiao finally had time to speak and mediate.

“Everyone, I brought my disciple here out of desperation, only asking for a bowl of spiritual spring water. We didn’t want things to escalate like this. As long as you’re willing to let us leave the mountain, we’ll naturally let the Fox King return safely without harming a single hair on its body.”

The fox being held by Wei Jie spoke then, sounding like a middle-aged woman: “I hope you two can keep your word. Ling’er, let them leave!”

The Fox King knew the heavenly tribulation was approaching and didn’t want complications at this time.

To avoid the heavenly tribulation, she had been staying in her cave dwelling with doors closed. Only today, when her daughter summoned the clan members, did she realize that her daughter Yu Ling’er had secretly brought some Young Pavilion Master from Lingyun Pavilion into the mountain behind her back. Not only had she given him spiritual spring water to drink, but she was also extremely intimate with him, even wanting to follow him down the mountain.

The Fox King was also furious, but with heavenly tribulation approaching, she didn’t want to cause trouble. She planned to turn a blind eye, first muddle through the heavenly tribulation, then slowly deal with the scoundrel who had seduced her daughter.

Unexpectedly, this Qin Lingxiao was truly a troublemaker, actually instigating her daughter and clan members to attack those two intruders.

These two intruders were of unknown origin. If they caused a commotion on Tuyun Mountain, it would inevitably bring unnecessary trouble to the fox clan that had always lived in seclusion.

She was hesitating whether to stop her daughter when, unexpectedly, the two intruders recognized her and captured her.

Wei Jie’s intimidating beast roar just now confirmed her thoughts – this person indeed had great origins, actually seeming like someone from the demon-subduing Wei family!

The talisman that girl produced shocked the Fox King even more.

The Talismonger way had declined for a thousand years. Most in the world were frauds and no longer posed a threat.

She never expected there were still spiritual talismans in this world that could intimidate a dignified Fox King! Could she be a descendant of Jiang Shang, a true immortal descended from heaven?

These two intruders had calculated that she needed to face heavenly tribulation and didn’t dare use true qi to expose her real form. She was no better than an ordinary fox now, which was why they were so fearless.

A dignified Fox King being held by the throat was truly losing all dignity.

The Fox King weighed the pros and cons. She couldn’t tear her face with these rascals at this time and could only send these two away first, then slowly settle accounts with them after she crossed the tribulation!

Since the Fox King spoke, other clan members naturally complied. So the mountain mist completely retreated, finally revealing the mountain path.

Wei Jie carried the old fox, pulled Cui Xiaoxiao, and led Tang Youshu with his bamboo basket, calmly escaping from the fox pack and preparing to quickly descend the mountain.

Unwilling to give up, Qin Lingxiao felt angry looking at Wei Jie’s back. He again gathered qi needles at his fingertips and launched a sneak attack toward Wei Jie.

Yu Ling’er saw this and immediately cried out in alarm, afraid her mother would be hurt.

But the qi needles hadn’t even touched Wei Jie before being blocked by the qi shield that automatically rose from his body.

Cui Xiaoxiao turned her head slightly toward the sneak-attacking Qin Lingxiao and said mockingly: “It seems Young Pavilion Master Qin doesn’t care about the Fox King’s life or death at all… Miss Yu Ling’er, even if you want to repay kindness, you should be more careful. Don’t let the entire fox clan be buried together for your gratitude!”

In a previous life, this Yu Ling’er had sworn loyalty to Wei Jie, charging into battle for him, and later brought immeasurable disaster to the fox clan.

Xiaoxiao could understand repaying kindness, but didn’t understand why repaying kindness meant having to be infatuated with one’s benefactor. This Yu Ling’er seemed not very selective – whoever saved her could win her devotion.

Knowing this fox clan princess’s past, she spoke to remind the little fox.

Yu Ling’er never expected her benefactor to disregard her mother’s life and death like this. She couldn’t help but have tears in her eyes as she helplessly reminded Qin Lingxiao: “Young Pavilion Master, my mother is still in their hands!”

Qin Lingxiao looked at the surrounding fox clan members glaring at him and knew he couldn’t provoke public anger at this time.

The fox clan held the deepest grudges. Wei Jie had held the Fox King hostage and had already offended the entire clan. Perhaps in the future, without him lifting a finger, those fox clan members wouldn’t let Wei Jie go.

In the previous trajectory, he hadn’t become Wei Jie’s disciple at this time, so he hadn’t come to Tuyun Mountain with Wei Jie. Qin Lingxiao wasn’t entirely clear about what had happened on Tuyun Mountain then.

But he had later heard Tang Youshu mention that Tuyun Mountain had suffered a fierce heavenly tribulation, and most of the fox clan had died in the tribulation.

Wei Jie’s arm had been half-severed by heavenly punishment then. Though his constitution was special and he later found a ghost doctor in Luoyi to reattach the arm, severed arm injuries weren’t easy to heal. Whenever it was rainy, he suffered tremendously.

This was also one of the reasons why Demon Lord Wei Jie’s personality became increasingly violent and solitary.

Thinking this, Qin Lingxiao suddenly became alert – Tuyun Mountain would soon face a great disaster! If he continued staying here, he might be implicated…

He had already consumed the spiritual spring and could soon form a Golden Core. He couldn’t have complications and needed to quickly return to Lingyun Pavilion for closed-door cultivation.

With this thought, he didn’t want to delay further and prepared to turn and descend Tuyun Mountain.

But Yu Ling’er grabbed his clothing and asked: “Young Pavilion Master, where are you going?”

Qin Lingxiao knew this little fox demon was the future Fox King, and keeping her would be useful, so he patiently said: “I have urgent matters and cannot delay. I must descend the mountain immediately. If you want to find me, you can go to Lingyun Pavilion. With this, you’ll be able to see me…”

Speaking thus, he gave Yu Ling’er a jade pendant he carried.

After placing this chess piece, he turned and flew away on his sword.

Yu Ling’er was worried about her mother, so she would have wanted to follow her benefactor immediately. Thinking this way, those Talismonger intruders became even more hateful!

If not for them, how would any of this have happened? She only hoped they would keep their promise and quickly release her mother…

As for the Talismonger Sect’s three generations, relying on holding the Fox King hostage, they successfully passed through the fox clan’s maze and descended Tuyun Mountain.

The Fox King hadn’t spoken until they reached the foot of the mountain, when she finally said: “You’ve all descended Tuyun Mountain. Can you honor your promise and release me now?”

Wei Jie raised an eyebrow but didn’t let go, instead looking toward Cui Xiaoxiao.

Xiaoxiao looked at the fox’s eyes, glaring at her, so deep and filled with unresolvable hostility.

The fox clan held the deepest grudges. Holding the Fox King hostage like this was an irreconcilable hatred.

Even if this Fox King died in a disaster, the other fox clan members would probably remember them. These creatures lived long lives. Perhaps two hundred years later, their Lingshan Talismonger Sect would never have peace.

Thinking this, Xiaoxiao sincerely apologized to the Fox King: “I’m truly sorry, Fox King. If I weren’t poisoned with Yin toxin, I would never dare disturb your fox immortals’ cultivation. As they say, ‘we don’t know each other without fighting.’ In the future, if the fox clan needs any help, I will brave fire and water without hesitation to repay the spiritual spring debt!”

Xiaoxiao’s words were diplomatic pleasantries, only hoping everyone could save face. If the Fox King softened and no longer held grudges against them, that would be even better.

However, the fox narrowed its eyes meaningfully: “Rest assured, our fox clan will not make things difficult for you today…”

Xiaoxiao was too sharp! She immediately heard the hidden meaning in the Fox King’s words. It only said “absolutely won’t make things difficult today,” meaning this hatred would continue endlessly in the future.

It seemed she had made an enemy of the fox clan.

Xiaoxiao sighed slightly and said meaningfully, “Very well, let’s part here. I hope the Fox King can safely cross the tribulation and ascend soon…”

Of course, these were also diplomatic pleasantries. Because Xiaoxiao remembered that this Fox King would probably encounter an insurmountable obstacle! But she couldn’t tell anyone, saying too much might bring divine punishment on herself.

Master’s secret manual was detailed, especially this section of his shared experience with master Wei Jie.

In the previous two-hundred-year trajectory, Wei Jie had drunk from the spiritual spring on Tuyun Mountain, coinciding with the Fox King’s tribulation crossing.

Originally, the Fox King’s molting and using clay fox decoys was an ancient method used for thousands of years and should have been perfectly safe.

However, on the night of the tribulation crossing, the wild wind wouldn’t stop, and the fox skin on the decoy was blown away by the wind!

The fox clan’s trick to deceive heaven was completely exposed. Heaven was furious and brought down unprecedented thunderous wrath. Myriad lightning bolts punished the entire fox clan, striking Tuyun Mountain and shaving off ten zhang from the mountain peak.

By rights, the Fox King should have been doomed. But because Wei Jie was on Tuyun Mountain at the time, perhaps grateful that the fox clan had given him spiritual spring water, he grabbed the wind-blown fox skin, put it on himself, and ran all over the mountain to draw away the heavenly thunder and lightning.

Running here and there, he stumbled and was tripped by a withered locust tree at the northern foothills.

Originally, myriad thunderbolts should have struck and killed him instantly, but when the thunder struck that withered locust tree, an ancient old sword was revealed beneath the tree roots. The sword body was covered in rust and stuck in the withered wood stump, but like a lightning rod, it drew bolt after bolt of lightning to strike the precious sword.

The sword was struck by thunder to become increasingly tough and sharp. Finally, it rose from the ground, flew into mid-air, and under the thunder strikes, shed its rusty spots to reveal a sword body inlaid with black obsidian.

Wei Jie was also audaciously bold. Seeing that old sword wasn’t afraid of heavenly punishment, he leaped up in that situation and grasped the sword.

As a result, when seizing the sword, a lightning bolt struck his left arm, severing his arm on the spot. That sword that safely survived the heavenly tribulation became Wei Jie’s handy weapon.

Strangely enough, after Wei Jie’s arm was severed, the thunderous wrath subsided. Wei Jie had blocked the great disaster for the fox clan.

But this heavenly punishment implicated most of the fox clan. The Fox King failed to cross the tribulation and lost her fox skin, unable to transform back into human form.

From then on, the fox clan leader position was passed to Yu Ling’er, who led the remaining clan members to follow Wei Jie, becoming his right-hand support for future territorial expansion and widespread killing…

Watching the Fox King disappear into the mountain forest with a swishing tail, Xiaoxiao sighed slightly, then led Wei Jie and Tang Youshu down the mountain.

She knew what would happen to Tuyun Mountain next and naturally needed to walk faster to avoid being struck by lightning.

But just then, a voice she hadn’t heard for a long time sounded in her body again: “You’re something! You dare to change Wei Jie’s fate line like this! Are you truly tired of living?”

Xiaoxiao knew this was the Demon Pearl speaking. She thought the spiritual spring’s effect could at least suppress it for a while, but unexpectedly, it was speaking again.

Xiaoxiao could only respond mentally to the Demon Pearl: “What do you want to do? When will you leave my body?”

“You think I don’t want to leave? You’re not a good host for me. When the time comes, I’ll naturally go! But I don’t want to perish together with you, struck dead by heavenly thunder! You’re an outsider from two hundred years later. Originally, being just an observer would be fine, but you insisted on tampering with Wei Jie’s fate. If Wei Jie were an ordinary person, it would be fine, but he happens to be the future Demon Lord. If you change his fate, you’ll suffer divine punishment – your soul will be destroyed!”

Xiaoxiao sneered: “Are you trying to scare me again? I changed his fate long ago. Why haven’t I seen heaven punish me?”

The Demon Pearl laughed coldly with deep meaning: “That’s because someone bore his fate! Think carefully – since you came to this two hundred years ago, haven’t you experienced every one of Wei Jie’s tribulations? It’s because you maintained the balance that divine punishment hasn’t come. But Wei Jie was destined to lose his arm on Tuyun Mountain. You’re taking Wei Jie away like this – you’ll probably have the same fate as the fox clan! If you’re not stupid, quickly go back up the mountain. Either you or Wei Jie must bear this tribulation! Don’t implicate me, getting struck by lightning along with you two. You dead girl, get your head straight…”

The remaining words were unclear, but seemed to be curses. The Demon Pearl’s accumulated energy seemed exhausted again as it fell back into deep sleep.

Xiaoxiao silently pondered the Demon Pearl’s words, feeling it was probably trying to scare her. Knowing there was heavenly tribulation on Tuyun Mountain, but staying to cross it would be truly muddled thinking.

The people and events of two hundred years ago had nothing to do with her. She only wanted to quickly find the statue and return to two hundred years later.

But the Demon Pearl’s words kept circling in her ears, making her think again and again.

With things on her mind, she walked in silence like this, but as she walked, she couldn’t help sighing melancholically.

Her sigh made Wei Jie turn to look at her, tugging their connecting chains and asking: “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again? Do you want me to carry you?”

After speaking, he squatted down, waiting for Xiaoxiao to climb on.

Xiaoxiao was about to refuse when Wei Jie tugged the chain, pulling the delicate girl onto his back in one motion. Then he stood up steadily, carrying Xiaoxiao, and continued striding forward.

He was tall and strong-armed. Even carrying a girl while walking was effortless, forcing the short Tang Youshu to trot behind them to keep up.

Xiaoxiao had never been carried like this in her entire life.

She was a posthumous child – her father had died before she was born. Her adoptive father wasn’t the kind of loving father who looked after children, raising her like a boy since childhood.

Now lying on a man’s back, the feeling of her chest being warmed was truly panic-inducing and uncomfortable. Xiaoxiao couldn’t help wanting to jump down.

But Wei Jie bounced again, making her stay obediently on his back as he strode quickly forward. Finally, he glanced at Tang Youshu falling behind, running breathlessly.

Seeing that Tang Youshu couldn’t keep up, Wei Jie wore a nonchalant smile and turned his head close to Xiaoxiao’s cheek to ask: “How about it? Who’s more like your father – me or that skinny chick?”

He was too close. Xiaoxiao was momentarily dazed before realizing what nonsense he was saying. The slight warmth that had just risen in Xiaoxiao was immediately shattered…

This guy still remembered her saying Tang Youshu was like a loving father and wanted to skip ranks to be her dad!

Where was the master’s dignity?

Xiaoxiao knocked Wei Jie’s head with her knuckles, then struggled down from his back, patting his solid back: “Have you forgotten the Talismonger Sect rules? You’re punished to recite them a hundred more times!”

Actually, as sect leader, Cui Xiaoxiao didn’t remember what the Talismonger Sect’s rules were.

But because the Talismonger Sect was developing too vigorously two hundred years ago, with disciples branching out everywhere!

So, Sect Leader Cui improvised a few rules. The first was: Respect the sect leader above all, listen to the sect leader!

Grand-disciple Tang Youshu kept this in mind, but disciple Wei Jie remained casual and showed no proper disciple behavior.

Wei Jie saw that she hit people with great force and seemed energetic, not like someone having a poison attack, so he stopped insisting on carrying her.

He wouldn’t recite any sect rules, only shook a tree branch he’d broken from the roadside like a whip, casually striking roadside flowers and grass while contentedly humming mountain songs.

He was born evilly handsome, with full black hair flowing loose, only held by a leather band at his forehead. His long sideburns and loose robes swaying in the wind showed indescribable carefree elegance.

Tang Youshu finally caught up then, looking adoringly at his tall, handsome master walking ahead.

Hearing Wei Jie call out asking if he had bought wine, Tang Youshu quickly offered his wine gourd, letting his master drink while walking.

Xiaoxiao discovered she still needed to learn from master Tang Youshu about respecting teachers.

He had not only prepared wine but also produced a paper packet of spiced broad beans, trotting along and holding them high for his master to enjoy with wine anytime.

With wine and appetizers, Wei Jie finally experienced the benefits of having a filial disciple.

Looking at his skinny chick disciple being so thoughtful and filial, emboldened by wine, he rewarded his disciple with something good.

That was a corpse flea that had drunk its fill of Qin Lingxiao’s blood.

Tang Youshu knew this was good stuff. Despite the disgusting appearance of the large insect, he quickly bit through the insect’s belly and began sucking eagerly.

However, unlike Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie’s refreshed condition after drinking insect blood, Tang Youshu’s face changed dramatically not long after drinking the insect blood. Bean-sized sweat beads streamed down his forehead as he clutched his stomach and staggered into nearby bushes.

Seeing master’s wrong complexion, Xiaoxiao urgently wanted to follow. Wei Jie grabbed her wrist: “He’s taking a shit – you want to go too? Afraid his ass won’t get wiped clean?”

Xiaoxiao stopped awkwardly, but after thinking briefly, she immediately understood – things from the Underworld all carried Yin energy that mortals couldn’t withstand.

Just like when the Wei family grandmother had used fish and shrimp from the Forget River to test her, these corpse fleas from the Corpse-eating Beast also came from the Underworld with extremely cold properties.

Wei Jie had grown up in the Wei family and was long accustomed to such cold things. Xiaoxiao did not react due to carrying the Demon Pearl.

But Tang Youshu was currently just a mortal with no cultivation foundation. How could he withstand eating such cold things? He’d probably shit out his entire intestines.

Thinking this, Xiaoxiao said urgently: “How could you give him that to eat! How could he handle it!”

Wei Jie meant no harm and truly wanted to help his filial disciple improve his cultivation.

He just hadn’t expected his disciple to be so weak that even with spiritual spring enhancement in the blood, he couldn’t resist the cold Yin energy.

It seemed the spiritual spring’s effect was expelled in one bout of diarrhea.

This showed that forcing Tang Youshu to cultivate was forcing premature growth.

When Tang Youshu emerged from behind the bushes with a pale face and hunched body, Wei Jie handed him a water flask to wash his hands, then said calmly: “Your foundation isn’t suitable for cultivation. If you force it, it might harm your body. Better to go home now and live peacefully as a physician.”

After saying this, he turned and continued walking forward.

Tang Youshu hadn’t recovered from his weakness when his master Wei Jie struck such a blow. His eyes immediately reddened as he knelt on the spot, pitifully calling “Master.”

Xiaoxiao pulled back Wei Jie, who was about to leave, and helped up Tang Youshu, gently comforting: “Your master isn’t good at judging people. You’re not as bad as he says! As they say, diligence can make up for a lack of talent. I believe you’ll become a great master who establishes a sect!”

Tang Youshu never expected his grandmaster to think so highly of him and couldn’t help being moved: “Really? Grandmaster, do you think I can do it?”

Xiaoxiao nodded firmly: “The Talismonger way is originally different from other sects. It doesn’t require a high foundation-building true qi. Once you grasp the key points, the future cultivation path will be smooth… I won’t say you’ll ascend to immortality, but you’ll certainly live longer than mortals!”

The thin scholar was greatly encouraged: “Grand-master! Now I have confidence!”

But just then, another bucket of cold water was poured over him: “You clearly know he’s unsuitable but still encourage him to cultivate… Has our Talismonger Sect become unable to recruit disciples?”

It turned out Wei Jie had heard Cui Xiaoxiao’s “fortune telling” for Tang Youshu and felt she was fooling an idiot into spending money for them, so he couldn’t help but mock.

Before he finished speaking, the sky suddenly filled with dark clouds. What had been a sunny afternoon suddenly became as dark as night.

Hearing the rumbling thunder, Tang Youshu checked his backpack and said quietly: “Oh no, I dropped my umbrella on the mountain…”

Wei Jie frowned at the lightning and thunder rolling and tangling over distant Tuyun Mountain, saying gravely: “An umbrella probably wouldn’t help…”

That tangled mass of lightning constantly circled above Tuyun Mountain, gathering more and more densely. The wind began to swirl. Lightning in the clouds seemed like countless giant dragons writhing in mid-air…

Xiaoxiao had never seen such eerie thunderstorms. She knew the Fox King’s heavenly tribulation had come!

The few casual sentences in the master’s secret manual couldn’t convey such a shocking scene.

Only being there in person, truly standing in this vast heaven and earth, could one deeply feel the terrifying oppression of world-destroying infinite tribulation pressing overhead.

If cultivators experienced the violence of heavenly tribulation rolling overhead earlier, perhaps most would be intimidated and no longer dare to coexist with heaven or challenge the heavenly way and reincarnation.

The wind was strong. Even though they were far from Tuyun Mountain, they were blown almost unable to stand steady.

Just as Xiaoxiao stood dazed with mixed emotions, the wild wind suddenly stopped, but the dark clouds became even thicker. Looking up at those dense cloud layers, it seemed an angry, fierce face had appeared.

The distant circling thunder seemed enraged, or perhaps had gathered enough power, suddenly striking down toward Tuyun Mountain with thunderous crashes.