Under the round moon, Xu Qi’an first saw nine magnificent, beautiful fox tails, spread like a peacock’s display.
Pure white and fluffy, they emanated an otherworldly beauty.
Then came their owner—a woman whose beauty defied immediate description.
She had fluffy fox ears and frost-like silver hair that cascaded down her head.
Her features were both delicate and bewitching, with the signature fox-like eyes characteristic of her clan.
She wore gauzy robes, with a strip of beast hide wrapping her ample bosom, below which showed a pale, taut midriff.
Around her waist was a white fox fur that hung like a cape behind her, yet did not conceal her long legs that resembled white pythons.
On her right ankle was a brass bell that chimed “ding-ling” with each step.
In the vast, profound night sky hung a cool round moon, and she approached with a smile playing on her lips.
Below, the gathered demon folk, both male and female, gazed at her in fascination.
Xu Qi’an had to admit that the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox was among the most captivating women he had ever seen.
A devastating beauty, truly a demon enchantress of her age.
“Her Majesty is so beautiful! Her Majesty is mine, and Auntie is mine too!” Bai Ji said dreamily.
Beast ears, fox tails, enchantress—not good, the heart parasite is acting up… Xu Qi’an felt his body grow hot, seized by an overwhelming mating urge.
This was a desire he hadn’t felt even when first meeting Mu Nanchi.
The next moment, an iron sword pressed against his neck, its sword qi surging. Xu Qi’an shuddered and instantly sobered.
“Across the Nine Provinces, none can match the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox in the power of enchantment,” Luo Yuhen licked her lips and narrowed her beautiful eyes, breathing into his ear as she softly said:
“If my dear Xu likes her so much, I could capture her to be your concubine, to serve you day and night. How about that?”
The captive Xu Qi’an blinked.
He took a deep breath to steady himself, and once free from the enchantment’s influence, clicked his tongue: “With such terrifying charm, who would dare raise a hand against her? The ancient Myriad Demons Sovereign probably felt the same way—the Buddhist sect truly is a bunch of wooden blocks that don’t know how to cherish beauty. As for taking her as a concubine, forget it. In this life, I love only the State Preceptor.”
He reluctantly shifted his gaze and turned to look at Luo Yuhen: “How powerful is the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox?”
Luo Yuhen studied her intently for a moment before shaking her head: “I can’t tell, but demon folk are like martial artists, primarily relying on physical prowess and combat ability. If your would-be concubine were First Rank, she wouldn’t need your help.”
At the First Rank, martial artists had a very high baseline—the kind where you’d better not let them catch you, or it’s certain death.
When other systems’ First Rank faced a First Rank martial artist, it was a case of “you may be formidable, but you’re still just a crude warrior.”
The former, under normal circumstances, stood undefeated.
The latter couldn’t win, but also couldn’t be defeated.
In other words, if the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox were a First Rank demon, the Buddhist sect would need to deploy two Bodhisattvas to suppress her. But now, with Liu Li recovering from injuries and Kalavrka in Cloud Province, only Guangxian could act.
The demon folk seemed assured of victory, with no need to request Xu Qi’an’s help.
“State Preceptor, between you and her, who’s stronger?” Xu Qi’an suddenly asked.
In the night wind, Luo Yuhen brushed aside a strand of hair and smiled: “Why do you ask?”
Only a shark can deal with another shark… Xu Qi’an mused internally.
As they spoke, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox swayed her hips, taking delicate steps with graceful bearing. To the “ding-ling” of her ankle bell, she arrived at the cliff top.
The veiled woman in blue respectfully stepped aside.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox stood atop the cliff, backdropped by the deep night sky and the moon like a white jade plate. The wind stirred her silver hair and her otherworldly beautiful fox tails.
She gazed down at the gathered demons below, spread her arms, and called out:
“Children of the Myriad Demons Nation!
Five hundred years ago, the Buddhist sect slaughtered our people, destroyed our homeland, and drove us from our ancestral lands.
These five hundred years, we have wandered, searching for a place to call home. Whether hiding in mountains and forests or concealed in towns and cities living among humans, we never dared reveal our true forms.
Some of our people even serve as slaves in the Buddhist sect’s twenty-seven cities, suffering generations of humiliation and oppression from the Western Region people.
We have wandered for five hundred years and drifted for five hundred years. Today, we shall reclaim our homeland, drive the Buddhist sect from our home, and rebuild the Myriad Demons Nation!”
The gathered demons’ blood boiled as they howled in response:
“Reclaim our homeland!”
“Rebuild the Myriad Demons Nation!”
Tens of thousands of demon folk raised their voices, filled with anger, excitement, and hatred, crying out in unison.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox lowered her hands, and the tsunami of voices instantly ceased.
What a queen… Xu Qi’an clicked his tongue internally. This small detail alone revealed the Nine-Tailed Fox’s transcendent status among the demon folk.
Unlike human soldiers with their strict discipline, demon folk were more like jianghu martial artists—proud and untamed, most resistant to discipline.
“Today, I have invited a renowned figure from across the Nine Provinces to join us in opposing the Buddhist sect.”
Hearing this, the gathered demons buzzed with discussion, heads together in whispered conversation.
“Who is it? Which great figure has Her Majesty invited?”
“Must be Zhu Jiu—among our demon folk, besides Her Majesty and the Bear King, only Zhu Jiu is Transcendent.”
“Lord Zhu Jiu’s cultivation is supreme. With his help, we’ll be like a tiger given wings.”
“I don’t think it’s Zhu Jiu. I heard from the lesser demons guarding the Ten Thousand Mountains that Great Dao’s Xu Yinluo visited recently and helped the demon folk recover a sealed artifact.”
“Is that reliable?”
Some demon folk grew excited at the mention.
The demon folk were scattered across various regions—some had heard rumors of Xu Qi’an, others knew nothing of him, but those living in the Central Plains deeply understood what the name “Xu Yinluo” meant there.
A demon with two ram horns on his head excitedly said: “If we could invite him, that would be amazing. He’s a human powerhouse even stronger than the Bear King.”
“What? Stronger than the Bear King? You stupid sheep, have you eaten too much grass?” Nearby demons responded in disbelief.
The Bear King was a great demon who had reached the Transcendent realm five hundred years ago. Among the Southern demons, he was the strongest after Her Majesty.
To ordinary demon folk, he was like a deity.
The sheep demon snorted: “Herbivores are wise. You carnivores have nothing but sheep dung in your heads.”
After this retort, he continued: “I’ve heard his great name countless times in the Central Plains. He’s a martial artist who can even kill a Second Rank emperor. Recently, the court even issued an announcement claiming Xu Qi’an slew two Vajra in Sword Province.
Whether it’s true or not is unknown, but there’s no denying his strength. However, I haven’t heard of him having any connections with our demon folk, and with the Central Plains in chaos, how could he travel thousands of li to the Southern Frontier to help us?
Forget it, we can’t secure such an ally.”
A nearby demon who lived in the Southern Frontier shook his head: “As far as I know, Xu Yinluo was indeed in the Southern Frontier ten days ago.”
The Myriad Demons Nation’s folk were scattered across various regions, causing severe gaps in information flow. Southern demons were unclear about Central Plains affairs, while those living in the Central Plains knew little of Southern happenings.
Of course, the demon folk’s upper echelons wouldn’t suffer from such information discrepancies.
Similar discussions occurred among various small groups.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox lifted her gaze slightly, her smile alluring: “Xu Yinluo, why not show yourself?”
The gathered demons turned back in shock, looking up to follow her gaze toward the night sky behind them.
My cue to appear… Xu Qi’an released the Heart Parasite’s “Star-Shifting” ability, allowing himself to be “exposed” before the audience.
All eyes focused on him.
Xu Qi’an took a step forward, walking as if on solid ground, expressionless as he strode above the gathered demons toward the cliff top.
As he moved, the golden paint on his brow began to glow. After seven steps, the golden paint covered his entire body, forging into the supremely rigid and yang-attributed Vajra body.
“Whoosh!”
The fire ring behind his head suddenly burst open, burning fiercely.
“A Buddhist Vajra?!”
The demon folk were shocked.
“It is Great Dao’s Yinluo, Xu Qi’an?!”
Those familiar with his background called out excitedly.
At this moment, the demons below saw the human powerhouse in the sky suddenly raise his hand and grab the fire ring from behind his head.
The scorching bright light instantly vanished, leaving only a brilliant golden body.
What is he doing… As the demon folk wondered, Xu Qi’an suddenly flung out his right hand, throwing the flame from his palm.
“Boom!”
The intense firelight exploded, spreading through the air to form an imposing cloak of flames.
Wielding flame as a robe.
The domineering flame cloak, paired with the gleaming golden Vajra body, made Xu Qi’an appear as a deity descended from heaven, radiating divine authority.
The demon folk stared in awe, seeing only this figure of golden radiance wearing a cloak of flames.
Gold and red became the only colors in their eyes.
This isn’t showing off, it’s the proper bearing for my current cultivation level… Xu Qi’an silently told himself as he finally stepped onto the cliff top, standing beside the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox.
Her earlier entrance had inspired him.
Transcendent powerhouses naturally came with special effects—if only there was background music to go with it.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox gave him a sidelong glance with a smile. Though she said nothing, Xu Qi’an seemed to read four words in her eyes:
“You’re quite the showoff~”
Xu Qi’an nodded expressionlessly, his gaze lingering briefly on her beautiful face before glancing at the blue-robed woman at her side.
Qing Ji happened to be stealing a look at him too. Their eyes met, and she smiled politely before looking away.
The occasion wasn’t right for pleasantries with Qing Ji or the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox. Xu Qi’an turned to face the gathered demons below and spoke in a clear voice:
“The Western Region, relying on its strength, acts with arrogance and tyranny. Five hundred years ago, they occupied the Myriad Demons Nation’s territory, and now they attempt to encroach upon the Central Plains. Those who suppress others with force shall themselves be suppressed by force.
“Representing the Great Dao imperial court of the Central Plains, I ally with the Myriad Demons Nation. From this day forward, we advance and retreat together in opposition to the Buddhist sect.”
After a pause, he secretly channeled the power of the Heart Parasite and called out: “Brothers of the demon folk, can you endure this?”
Suddenly, intense anger and hatred welled up from within. Even the calmest demons ignited with bitter hatred toward the Buddhist sect, remembering the shame of their homeland’s five-hundred-year subjugation.
“No!”
The demon folk roared, and the atmosphere below instantly exploded. Every demon was gnashing their teeth, veins bulging with rage.
Xu Qi’an shouted: “Then let’s fuck them up!”
The wave of voices below instantly surged skyward. The demons’ emotions ran high, and their spirit and fighting were even more intense than during the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox’s “speech.”
In the distance, Bai Ji, held in Luo Yuhen’s arms, raised her right paw and shouted in a childish voice:
“Fuck them up, fuck them up…”
She appeared entranced.
In this atmosphere, four fox women carried two boxes to the edge of the great pit. After unlocking them, they quickly retreated.
Bang!
The lids flew off—from the left box flew two legs, and from the right box a torso, automatically plunging into the deep pit.
Simultaneously, the Pagoda of Gathering Treasures flew from Xu Qi’an’s embrace. The first level’s door opened, and a jet-black arm flew out, diving into the great pit.
Before coming to the Ten Thousand Mountains, Xu Qi’an had a deep conversation with the pagoda’s spirit, the old monk, causing Mu Nanchi to be moved to the second level.
Apart from the two participants, no one knew what was said or where.
However, when Mu Nanchi returned to the pagoda’s third level after their talk, she found the old monk spirit had become extremely silent, never speaking another word.
In the great pit, tens of thousands of animals rapidly withered, becoming desiccated corpses.
Blood light rose from the pit, visible even miles away as it dyed half the night sky red.
…
At another stronghold, in a hidden mountain cave.
Night Lady, wearing a black gauze dress, finished her impassioned speech, stirring up the fighting spirit of the gathered demons in the cave.
She nodded in satisfaction and turned to look at the enormous figure beside her.
This was a huge iron-eating beast, its fur black and white, with particularly dark fur around its eyes.
Standing one zhang tall, its size wasn’t exceptional among demon folk, though compared to Night Lady beside it, it could be called a giant.
“Bear King, do you have anything to say?” Night Lady asked softly.
The iron-eating beast made two delayed “ah ah” sounds as if just returning from a daydream or being woken from a doze. He looked at the gathered demons and slowly said:
“The Buddhist sect… is hateful… They… took away… our territory… We… we must…”
His voice grew increasingly quiet, his eyes gradually closing.
The previously spirited demon folk suddenly felt drowsy, their eyelids closing uncontrollably. They swayed back and forth, seeming ready to lie down for a long sleep at any moment.
“Bear King, you must hold on…” Night Lady slid a steel needle from her sleeve and jabbed it hard into the iron-eating beast’s waist.
“We must have revenge!!!”
The iron-eating beast’s whole body shook as he suddenly roared.
“Revenge! Revenge!!”
The demon folk broke free from their drowsiness and shouted in agreement, their spirits soaring.
…
Under the moonlight, the Myriad Demons Mountain lay like a reclining giant, its slopes gentle but extending for hundreds of li.
As the core of the Southern Frontier’s earth veins, the Myriad Demons Mountain was blessed with spiritual energy. Since ancient times, it has given birth to many great demons and nurtured numerous powerful clans.
Now it was Buddhist territory. After more than five hundred years of migration, the Western Region people had established a nation here—the Southern Nation!
With South City at its center, radiating out to twenty-six cities.
On South City’s towering walls, a guard in armor chewed on locally produced stimulant dried fruit and said to his colleague:
“Are the demon folk going to rebel?”
The Western Region had dispatched a hundred thousand troops to strengthen the Southern Frontier’s defenses, while also gathering and buying up medicinal herbs, and destroying mountain paths except for official roads.
They gathered Western Region residents from various mountain towns, fortifying their positions and clearing the countryside.
His colleague, also chewing dried fruit, snorted derisively:
“Who knows where these beasts get their confidence? Five hundred years ago, the Southern demons were so powerful, yet our Western Region still destroyed them.
“After barely surviving five hundred years, they think they can restore their nation?
“Though, I heard from the officers that the demon folk would rebel sooner or later. Once we snuff out this uprising, they’ll never cause trouble again.”
The first guard suddenly chuckled:
“Half an hour until our shift change. Let’s go have some fun together. I found some pretty demon women at the ‘Dog House’ in the east city recently, and they’re cheap too.”
Several nearby guards laughed together.
“And take some Golden Spear Pills while we’re at it,” the colleagues laughed.
The guard spat out fruit pulp and cursed:
“Every time I get those demon women in bed…”
He suddenly froze, his eyes fixed straight ahead, raising a trembling right hand to point at the sky:
“What… what is that?!”
On the distant horizon, a massive “dark cloud” surged toward them.