86: Deadly body odor

A moment later.

Inside the pink Crystal Palace, an ambiguous, sweet fragrance permeated like mist.

Lin Chen finally met the legendary master of Ten Thousand Fox Mountain—the Snow Fox Empress, Su Daji!

On a huge soft couch made of Thousand-Year-Old Fox Fur, a slender figure lay lazily on her side.

She was dressed in a snow-white gown.

The fabric of the white gown seemed not to be an earthly weave, but a piece of cloud cut from the extreme northern sky. It was sacred and ethereal, yet it could not conceal the graceful undulations beneath the clothing, which mortals could not imagine, or even dare to imagine.

Her posture, lying on her side, was so casual, yet it seemed to have been calculated millions of times.

The sacred white gown, following the curves of her body, outlined an arc that would drive all painters in the world mad.

From her impossibly slender waist to her suddenly full, rounded, and perky buttocks... it was a perfect 'S' curve, full of endless tension and ultimate temptation.

A long silver hair, as brilliant as the Milky Way, was not bound by any hairpin, but casually draped behind her, like a silver waterfall, covering the snow-white fox fur.

Hair and fox fur, two extremes of 'white' and 'silver,' shimmered against each other, yet remained distinctly separate.

The long hair was so thick and smooth, as if every strand flowed with moonlight.

They slid down the curves of her graceful back, falling between her perky waist and hips, silver light flowing, dazzling to the extreme.

She was barefoot, her jade feet a truly crystal-clear, flawless masterpiece.

Her skin was so fair it was almost transparent, as if one could see the faint blue veins beneath. Ten round, lovely toes were slightly curled, like ten plump pearls touched with morning dew.

At the tips of her toes were naturally formed, pale pink nails, like the freshest buds of early spring, exuding a mesmerizing, almost suffocating primal urge.

Lin Chen's Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

He felt an absurd, yet incredibly strong desire—

He wanted to reach out and hold those jade feet in his palms.

He wanted to use his fingertips to feel that ultimate smoothness and warmth.

He wanted to lower his head and, with the most reverent posture, kiss the perfect instep.

This was the most primitive, purest craving for 'beauty.'

This... this was humanity's most beautiful desire.

And when Lin Chen forced himself to avert his gaze from those jade feet, capable of toying with hearts, and looked at her face.

He was stunned again.

Her pretty face was unadorned, yet she possessed an innate, delicate vulnerability; that 'frailty' and 'melancholy' seemed to emanate from her very bones.

Especially her eyes, like a startled fawn, filled with timidity and innocence, as if any harsh word in the world would shatter her.

She lay there quietly, like a peerless beauty imprisoned in a deep palace, washing her face with tears all day long.

Just one glance was enough to evoke endless pity in a man, and that desire to fiercely embrace her and shield her from all the world's storms... a protective instinct!

This... this was the Snow Fox Empress, who could stand in a three-way confrontation with the domineering Fierce Lion Queen and the sinister Medusa Queen?!

Even Lin Chen had to admit that this woman had cultivated the art of 'manipulating hearts' to a state of returning to simplicity, almost reaching the Dao Heart!

There wasn't a trace of seductiveness about her!

But she herself was the embodiment of 'temptation'!

And just then, the 'peerless beauty' on the soft couch, who seemed like she could be blown over by a gust of wind, slowly spoke.

Her voice was soft, ethereal, with a slight tremor that seemed to naturally evoke pity.

'Are... are you Lin Chen?'

Lin Chen composed himself and cupped his fist slightly towards her.

'It is I.'

'I came today to...'

However, his proposal for an 'alliance' had not yet been spoken.

Su Daji's eyes on the soft couch unexpectedly... reddened.

A crystal tear, seemingly containing endless grievances, slowly slid down her flawless white cheek.

Drip.

The tear fell onto the snow-white fox fur, instantly spreading into a splash of sorrow.

The atmosphere of the entire hall was instantly enveloped by an endless sense of grief and desolation!

Immediately after, this legendary Snow Fox Empress began her 'actress-level' performance!

'Wuwuwu...'

She gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her white sleeve, and with a tearful voice filled with endless 'grief' and 'wrongdoing,' she 'cried out'!

'Young Master Lin... I... I already know your intentions.'

'But... but I really don't dare to trust anyone anymore!'

'You simply don't know! How... how difficult and humiliating our Ten Thousand Fox Mountain has been these past years!'

She began to recount her 'tragic story'!

'That Fierce Lion Queen of Raging Lion City! Unreasonable! Every year she forcibly invades my Ten Thousand Fox Mountain under the guise of 'sparring'! Each time, she injures dozens of my clansmen!'

'And that Medusa Queen of Black Python City! Even more sinister and vicious! She has coveted my Ten Thousand Fox Mountain's Ice Heart Snow Lotus for a long time! To force me to hand over the Snow Lotus, she secretly poisoned the water source of my Ten Thousand Fox Mountain! She killed hundreds of my young fox demons who had not yet reached adulthood!'

'Wuwuwu... They... they were still children!'

She cried with tears streaming down her face, heartbroken!

As if she truly were a poor queen who had suffered endless bullying and humiliation to protect her people!

'To protect my remaining few thousand clansmen from being slaughtered by them!'

'I can only swallow my pride! I can only maneuver between their two major forces!'

'They want spirit stones, I give them! They want heavenly materials and earthly treasures, I give them too!'

'I even... I even have to force a smile to please them! Just to gain a sliver of desperate survival space for my clansmen!'

'I... I am truly too difficult...'

She portrayed herself as the most helpless, most pitiful, most sympathetic... perfect victim!

Finally.

After finishing her 'tragic' lament.

She slowly raised her pitiful eyes, which were already red and swollen from crying.

She looked at Lin Chen with eyes full of 'sympathy' and 'infinite care.'

Then she began her most fatal 'PUA' test!

'Young Master Lin...'

Her voice was soft, yet it possessed a magical power that could directly strike the softest spot deep within a man's heart!

'Only after hearing your story did I realize...'

'How similar you and I are?'

'We are both just helpless, pitiful beings in this cruel, man-eating world.'

'Although you are powerful, you are ultimately alone.'

'And although I appear to be the master of a mountain, I am constantly worried about the safety of my clansmen.'

'The matter of alliance... the risk is simply too great.'

'I cannot let my clansmen risk their lives for another 'wrong' decision of mine.'

She first reasonably rejected Lin Chen's proposal.

Immediately after, she threw out that 'tempting'... sugar-coated bullet at Lin Chen!

'How about...'

Her eyes became even more delicate, filled with an irresistible 'dependence.'

'...you stay here with me.'

'No matter how overbearing Raging Lion City and Black Python City are, they wouldn't dare to easily act wildly in my Ten Thousand Fox Mountain.'

'You'll be safe here.'

She looked at Lin Chen, her voice so soft it could drip water.

'...I... I'll protect you.'

...What a brilliant move of feigned retreat!

What a brilliant 'weakness-showing' sugar-coated bullet!

She tried to use this gentlest, most considerate, most 'thoughtful-of-you' method to completely dismantle Lin Chen's defenses!

To turn this 'fierce tiger' who had strayed into her territory into a captive she could casually keep in her backyard... an easy prey!

However.

She calculated everything, but she miscalculated one point.

The man before her came from a world she could never understand.

A world where 'female competition' was thousands, tens of thousands of times more intense than this world... Blue Star!

Lin Chen looked at the thousand-year-old demoness before him, whose acting was worthy of a hundred 'Oscar Statuettes.'

He sneered in his heart.

(Heh... a thousand-year-old fox playing ghost stories with me?)

(In front of the top 'Tea Masters' in my world, you're not even fit to carry their shoes!)

But.

Not a trace of disdain or aversion showed on his face.

Instead, he 'just right' displayed a complex expression filled with 'endless sympathy' and 'intense struggle,' as if deeply moved by her 'tragic' story and 'gentle' proposal!

He looked at her.

His eyes even revealed a trace of... an emotion called 'heartache'!

---

Inside the pink Crystal Palace, the atmosphere was so ambiguous it could drip water.

Lin Chen looked at the thousand-year-old demoness before him, who perfectly embodied 'delicate vulnerability' and 'compassion for all beings,' and sneered in his heart.

But on his face, he still maintained that complex expression filled with 'sympathy,' 'struggle,' and a perfectly timed hint of 'heartache.'

He seemed truly moved by Su Daji's 'tearful' lament and her gentle words of 'shared suffering.'

He fell silent.

A long silence.

That hesitant, conflicted look, in Su Daji's eyes, caused a subtle, almost imperceptible trace of smugness and disdain to flash in the depths of her seemingly innocent beautiful eyes.

(...Heh, men.)

(Whether they are boors from the Eastern Wilderness or heroes from the Northern Realm.)

(Ultimately, they are nothing more than foolish creatures dominated by their lower bodies and that ridiculous 'protective instinct.')

(It seems, yet another excellent Cauldron that can be easily taken.)

She thought disdainfully in her heart.

But on her face, she still maintained that delicate expression filled with 'worry' and 'concern.'

She even thoughtfully did not rush Lin Chen.

She just looked at him silently with her watery, seemingly speaking eyes.

Giving him enough time for 'thought' and 'choice.'

Finally.

After what seemed like an eternity of 'struggle.'

Lin Chen slowly raised his head.

The intense 'struggle' in his eyes gradually faded.

It was replaced by a kind of determination, as if he had made some decision, and a faint hint of 'emotion.'

He looked at Su Daji and slowly spoke in a somewhat 'hoarse' and complex tone.

'...You're right.'

'Perhaps...'

'Staying here is my best choice.'

It's done!

The moment she heard these words!

A cheer of victory instantly erupted in Su Daji's heart!

She knew!

This big fish, who seemed smarter than any 'fish' before, had finally bitten her bait, meticulously woven with 'gentleness' and 'feigned weakness'!

However.

Not a trace of joy appeared on her face.

Instead, she let out a long sigh of relief.

Immediately, her beautiful eyes once again filled with 'tears' of emotion.

She looked at Lin Chen and said in a trembling voice full of 'relief' and 'gratitude':

'Too... too good...'

'Young Master Lin, it's truly wonderful that you've come to this realization!'

'Don't worry! As long as you stay in my Ten Thousand Fox Mountain! I, Su Daji, swear to heaven! I will absolutely not let anyone harm you in the slightest!'

What a sincere posture of a guardian!

'Mm.'

Lin Chen also 'just right' showed her a pure smile filled with 'gratitude' and 'trust.'

That evening.

Within the most central and private imperial sleeping chambers of Ten Thousand Fox Mountain.

An intimate banquet, attended only by Lin Chen and Su Daji, officially began.

No lights were lit in the sleeping chambers.

The only light source was the dozens of enormous Moonstone Orbs embedded in the dome.

Soft, moonlight-like radiance cascaded down, enveloping the entire exotic-scented sleeping chambers in a hazy and ambiguous veil.

On a low table made of Thousand-Year-Old Warm Jade, various rare Spirit Fruits unique to the Northern Realm were laid out.

And a pot of already warmed Peach Blossom Wine, exuding an enticing fragrance.

Su Daji had already changed out of her simple white gown.

Now, she was only wearing a pink, translucent gauze skirt, thin as cicada's wings.

The gauze skirt was almost transparent!

The soft moonlight penetrated the thin veil, exquisitely outlining her perfectly proportioned, flawless, snow-white delicate body!

Her impossibly slender waist, her full and perky Saintess Peak, and her rounded, long legs... every curve seemed to have been precisely calculated by the heavens, perfectly fitting humanity's ultimate fantasy of 'beauty' and 'desire.'

Beneath the light gauze, her snow-white skin was so delicate it seemed one could pinch water from it, gleaming with a dazzling, alluring luster in the moonlight.

With her movements, the thin gauze occasionally clung and occasionally swayed, revealing glimpses of ultimate allure that were far more blood-stirring than complete nudity!

This sight was enough to make any cultivator with a firm Dao Heart instantly lose control of their mind and completely fall!

She was still barefoot, her crystal-clear jade feet slowly walking towards Lin Chen, and she knelt beside him.

In an instant, a faint fragrance, even more intoxicating and sweeter than the Peach Blossom Wine, instantly enveloped Lin Chen like the gentlest vines.

This fragrance was not from any cosmetics or incense.

It was the most primal, virgin body fragrance emanating from the deepest part of her body... unique to a thousand-year-old fox demon!