898: Chapter 899 The Various Tribes of Central China

After seven days of continuous meditation, supplemented by the nourishment of the remaining medicinal power of the great void spirit nurturing pill, Xue Shushu's injuries had recovered by eighty to ninety percent. Although her Origin still suffered from slight depletion, the aura of a mid-stage Demon Sovereign had already reconsolidated. She wore an elegant yet luxurious moon-white palace dress, her figure exquisite, and her cold temperament carried a trace of indescribable nobility.

She came to the door of the quiet room and knocked gently: "Fellow Daoist Long, the Ten Thousand Fox Banquet is about to begin. My father has sent me to invite you."

The quiet room's Restriction silently dissipated, and the door opened. Yao Delong's figure slowly walked out.

After seven days of secluded cultivation, his injuries were basically healed. His aura was steady and restrained, his eyes shone with divine light, and he even appeared more profound and confident than before. Clearly, the insights gained from refining the Ninth-Grade Divine Pill had benefited him greatly. At this moment, dressed in a green robe without much decoration but holding the fox emperor token, he naturally possessed a steady and imposing bearing.

"Thank you for the trouble, Fellow Daoist Shushu," Yao Delong said with a slight smile.

The two walked side by side toward the plaza at the Peak, where ten thousand rays of dawn light shone and immortal music drifted. Along the way, every member of the Fox Clan they encountered, whether an Elder or an ordinary clansman, bowed respectfully to Yao Delong, their eyes filled with awe, curiosity, and deep gratitude.

The moment Yao Delong, accompanied by Xue Shushu, stepped onto the Peak's plaza—

"Welcome, Venerable Long De!"

"Welcome, Feather-Clad Demon Sovereign!"

Respectful shouts like crashing waves and mountain echoes resounded through the clouds! Countless burning, reverent gazes focused on Yao Delong—the Grandmaster of Alchemy who had saved the future of Qingqiu, a noble existence holding the fox emperor token!

Yao Delong's expression was as calm as an ancient well, but deep within, waves were also stirring. Below, the powerful experts of the Fox Clan with various forms and overwhelming auras, as well as the representatives from various royal clans of the central Demon Domain who had come to observe, were all figures who could shake a region with a single stomp. At this moment, their awe was all due to his name, "Long De."

Xue Shushu swayed gracefully, like the coldest and most secluded snow lotus under the moon, leading Yao Delong toward the main seating area at the highest point. Her injuries were mostly healed, and the bone-chilling coldness that kept people away had slightly diminished, but the doubt in her deep fox-like eyes grew even stronger. The aura of the Great Sun Sacred Body and the rumors of the Human Race Prodigy Yao Delong were entangled in her heart. She lagged half a step behind, her gaze sweeping over Yao Delong's back as if trying to pierce through that layer of mist.

"Young Friend Long, please, take a seat quickly!" Mo Jue's Face was flushed with joy, clearly in high spirits as he hurriedly invited Yao Delong to sit in the distinguished seat specially reserved next to his own.

Right next to Yao Delong sat another elderly man. This person had hair and a beard as white as snow, appearing to be of similar age to Mo Jue, but the sharp lines of his brows and eyes seemed carved from ten-thousand-year-old ice, exuding a bone-deep sharpness and pressure.

He stood as straight as an ancient pine, wearing a simple deep cyan robe embroidered with continuous and majestic mountain patterns that seemed to have the momentum of rivers and mountains flowing within. Especially his eyes, which contained an inner brilliance when they opened and closed, as if they could pierce through human hearts while scrutinizing this suddenly risen "Long De."

"Haha, Young Friend Long, this is the old Clan Chief of my Heavenly Fox Clan's Tu Shan lineage, Tushan Yunting," Mo Jue introduced with a smile, his tone carrying the respect he had for a powerful peer.

Tushan Yunting's gaze lingered on Yao Delong for a moment, a scrutinizing smile appearing on his Face as his voice boomed like a bell: "Brother Mo Jue's words are indeed true. Young Friend Long De? I heard from Brother Mo Jue that at such a young age, you can already refine a Ninth-Grade Divine Pill and stand at the Peak of the Alchemy Dao? This is truly a rare fortune for our Yao Race in ten thousand years! I am Tushan Yunting." Although his words were full of praise, that trace of pressure followed like a shadow, as if he were weighing the young man's worth.

Yao Delong felt a sense of gravity in his heart; the pressure this old Tu Shan Clan Chief gave him was even greater than that of an ordinary Demon Sovereign! He immediately bowed, his posture neither humble nor arrogant: "Senior Yunting overpraises me. This Junior was merely lucky. Being able to complete the Divine Pill this time was entirely thanks to Senior Mo Jue's full support in providing the spiritual materials and acting as my Protector. Otherwise, even if this Junior had heaven-reaching abilities, it would have been hard to cook a meal without rice." In one sentence, he acknowledged the credit while skillfully returning the favor to Mo Jue, giving him plenty of Face.

"Haha, good! What a composed young man!" Tushan Yunting laughed heartily while stroking his beard, the scrutiny in his eyes lessening slightly.

Just then, a burning, majestic aura, heavy with the dignity of the earth, approached. A very tall, burly man in a magnificent red-gold robe strode forward with a powerful gait.

Most striking were the small, crystal-clear golden dragon horns on his forehead, which were not fully human-like but seemed formed from condensed lava! Mysterious runes naturally flowed over the horns, and auspicious clouds and mist faintly swirled around his body—the signature characteristics of a top expert of the Qilin clan.

"Mo Jue!" the man shouted in a booming, metallic voice. "Your Heavenly Fox Clan has truly struck gold this time! The Ten Thousand Fox Banquet is so lively! I heard that your son, Demon Emperor Xue Wuya, has not only awakened but is about to knock on the door of the supreme Demon Emperor with the help of a Ninth-Grade Divine Pill?" His gaze swept over Yao Delong with unhidden curiosity and appreciation.

Seeing this person, the smile on Mo Jue's Face grew even wider. He laughed and said, "Brother Patriarch Cang Lü, you are well-informed! That child Wu Ya was blessed by misfortune, but his success this time truly relies entirely on this Young Friend Long De's Heaven-Defying alchemy skills!" He then turned and solemnly introduced to Yao Delong: "Young Friend Long, this is the younger brother of the current Demon Emperor Xuan Jing of the Qilin clan, Demon Sovereign Patriarch Cang Lü! He is a top expert in our Demon Domain."

Yao Delong was deeply shocked! The Qilin clan! The younger brother of Demon Emperor Xuan Jing! A Peak Demon Sovereign! Any one of these identities was enough to intimidate an entire region. He immediately bowed again, his posture even more respectful: "Junior Long De greets Senior Patriarch Cang Lü!"

Patriarch Cang Lü waved his hand, and a gentle but majestic force lifted Yao Delong. He laughed and said, "No need for such formalities! Young Friend Long, that you possess such heaven-reaching alchemy attainments at such a young age truly amazes me! After the Ten Thousand Fox Banquet, if you have time, you must come to my Qilin clan's territory as a guest! I'm not bragging, but the treasures in my Qilin clan's vault, whether they be Heaven And Earth Treasures or ancient Pill Formulas, are not necessarily inferior to those of the Heavenly Fox Clan!" His words were blunt, and his intent to recruit him was plain to see.

"Patriarch Cang Lü! You old rascal!" Mo Jue suddenly grew anxious, his beard bristling. He pulled Yao Delong closer to himself and glared at Patriarch Cang Lü. "Young Friend Long De is the savior of my Qingqiu and a guest of honor of my Heavenly Fox Clan! A distinguished guest! Do you understand?" His protective stance made his meaning clear—trying to poach him? Not a chance!

Patriarch Cang Lü wasn't annoyed at having his intentions exposed. Instead, he laughed heroically, "Hahaha, you old fox, what's the rush? Who wouldn't cherish such a talent? I'm merely expressing the goodwill of my Qilin clan!" A sharp light flashed in his eyes as he said no more, but his gaze toward Yao Delong clearly showed he hadn't given up.

Mo Jue snorted and then led Yao Delong to meet several other heavyweight figures. There was an Elder from the [Bai Ze Clan] who had an ethereal and wise aura, as if he knew the principles of all things; there were also several experts from the [Di Ting Clan] whose auras were obscure and deep, their ears twitching slightly differently from normal people, as if they were constantly listening to the sounds of heaven and earth.