200: Nine-tailed Fox Jiuyao

The excruciating pain burned from his very bone marrow.

The golden light threads that had drilled into his blood vessels were like red-hot iron skewers, piercing inch by inch into Blood Moon's muscles, scorching his nerve endings.

Each heartbeat pumped scalding magma, flushing through his already overwhelmed body.

"Ugh ah—!"

The venomous resentment of the Azure Wolf's dying moments, the frigid curse of the Black Serpent, the tyrannical hatred of the Iron-backed Bear... these essences, once considered sources of his power, now, under the scorching of the sacred and overbearing Incense Power, transformed into the most malevolent fangs of a backlash, savagely tearing at his internal organs and assaulting his crumbling will.

The golden Incense Power was like the most intense furnace, boiling and churning this "poisonous porridge" of conflicting and resentful vital Blood.

"Kill... me..."

"Kill me!... If you have the guts, kill me!"

Blood Moon felt himself being slowly boiled and roasted from within, every inch of his flesh emitting a silent wail.

This pain transcended the limits of the body, reaching deep into his Soul, almost completely erasing his existence.

"Ugh ah—!"

The piercing wail was no longer a display of defiance or provocation, but pure, inexpressible, extreme agony.

Saliva and bloody foam mixed as they dripped from the corners of his mouth, his eyes unfocused, like shattered glass beads.

"Please... give me a quick death..."

Death had never been so tempting.

"The answer."

Lin Hu's voice was cold, without the slightest fluctuation.

Lord Chuping, as a deity, might grant release out of a sliver of compassion in his divinity.

But Lin Hu was different.

He was an Incarnation of a demon that had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, with sparse divinity. What was tempered in his bones was the cruelty of the Law of the jungle and a hint of deep-seated evil.

He sought results, the truth. As for whether the process was painful?

That was the price the enemy had to pay.

"Who is your 'My Lord'? Speak the name, or... the traces of its existence."

Lin Hu took a step closer, his shadow enveloping Blood Moon, who hung suspended in mid-air, bringing an undeniable sense of oppression.

"Cough... cough cough!"

Blood Moon coughed violently, the extreme pain and the immense shadow of death finally crushing his reverence for that ethereal "My Lord" and his fear of the Restriction in his Sea of Consciousness.

His mental defenses collapsed like a dam overwhelmed by a flood.

He just wanted to end this purgatorial torment.

"I... I don't know..."

He gasped with difficulty, his eyes hollow as he stared at the darkness of the dungeon ceiling.

"It... It has no name... no form... and even... no fixed will..."

His voice was filled with bewilderment and a strange sense of confusion that even he himself felt.

"Explain yourself!"

Seeing Blood Moon speak, Lin Hu quickly questioned him.

This fellow's condition wasn't right; he shouldn't die before finishing his statement.

"It... is like a shadow... appearing directly... in my Sea of Consciousness..."

Blood Moon's body convulsed uncontrollably from intense pain and fear, describing the incomprehensible experience in disjointed fragments.

"No warning... no process... it just... 'existed'... granted me the Blood Devouring Spirit Transformation Art... commanded me... to devour... to grow stronger... to sow Chaos in the Ten Thousand Mountains... to harvest fear and disorder for It..."

As Blood Moon spoke, he suddenly convulsed violently again, as if he had inadvertently touched a deeply forbidden imprint in the depths of his Sea of Consciousness. An instant flash of extreme pain and bone-deep fear crossed his face, and his pupils contracted to pinpricks.

"It... It is everywhere... yet nowhere to be found... I... I am just a seed It casually... sowed... a grain... of dust..."

"A shadow? Appearing directly in the Sea of Consciousness?"

Lin Hu's brows furrowed even tighter, and an alarm bell rang in his heart.

Such methods were unheard of, definitely not the work of ordinary demons or Cultivators!

This was more like the projection of a higher being's will, or even... the concretization of some Law?

Just as Lin Hu tried to press further, Blood Moon's pupils contracted to the extreme!

As if a bolt of lightning had split through the chaotic mists of memory, a crucial fragment, deliberately forgotten and sealed by deep Restrictions, suddenly flashed!

He laboriously squeezed out half a hoarse, broken syllable from his throat:

"Night—"

—The sound abruptly ceased.

"Crack."

An extremely subtle, yet chillingly clear, crisp sound.

The next second—

"Puff!"

There was no earth-shattering explosion, no gruesome scene of flesh and blood flying.

Blood Moon's head, right before Lin Hu's eyes, collapsed in a horrifying way that defied physical Laws.

It was as if an invisible giant hand had seized it, instantly squeezing, twisting, and annihilating it inwards, turning into a dense, unresolvable black-red blood mist.

There were no bone fragments, no splattered brains; all the matter and energy that constituted the "head" were completely "erased" by some higher-level power in an instant.

His headless corpse still hung suspended by heavy iron chains, his tattered bat wings twitching nervously a few times.

The severed neck was smooth as a mirror, not a single drop of fresh blood gushing out.

The entire dungeon fell into absolute silence.

Only the crackling of burning torches and Lin Hu's own heavy heartbeat boomed in his ears.

Lin Hu's reaction was swift. His vast Divine Thought, like an invisible tide, instantly swept every inch of the dungeon, even frantically spreading outwards to search the periphery of White Tiger Cliff—to no avail!

There was not the slightest trace of external force intrusion!

No residual spell fluctuations!

Even the defensive Restrictions of the dungeon itself had not been triggered in the slightest!

Blood Moon's death was clean, swift, and ruthless, as if a pre-set, unchangeable "rule" had directly executed a wipeout procedure.

"Night? Night what?!"

Lin Hu murmured softly.

The beginning of a name? A forbidden code name? Or a designation for some unspeakable existence symbolizing destruction?

Lin Hu suddenly waved his hand, and pure golden Incense Power surged out, transforming into countless sacred flames that enveloped Blood Moon's remains and the eerie blood mist, violently twisting and purifying them!

Until the last trace of residue and aura were completely annihilated in the golden light, ensuring no potential hidden dangers remained.

Only scorched marks and a suffocating silence remained in the dungeon.

* * *

The next day.

On the majestic White Tiger Cliff peak, ancient, weathered rocks were solemnly leveled, and a new bluestone temple rose from the ground, solemn and majestic.

Inside the temple, Incense Power swirled.

In the very center, a three-zhang tall black divine statue stood majestically.

The statue's face was stern, its features sharp as if carved by knife and axe, and its eyes were deep, seemingly able to pierce through the Nine Netherworlds.

On the huge plaza in front of the temple, a dense crowd of White Tiger Clan elites knelt.

The Clan Chief, Bai Lie, leading them, had transformed into an old man with white hair and beard, yet as sturdy as an iron tower.

His expression was incredibly devout, his voice like a booming bell, echoing through the sky with the hopes of the entire clan:

"The White Tiger Clan, with devout hearts, kowtows! Respectfully inviting Lord Chuping—to descend and bestow Blessing!!!"

"Respectfully inviting Lord Chuping to descend!"

Hundreds of White Tiger Clan elites behind him shouted in unison, their voices rolling like thunder, soaring to the heavens.

The moment their voices fell—

"Boom!"

The originally clear sky suddenly changed color!

Thick clouds, as if stirred by an invisible giant hand, rolled and gathered frantically.

A golden pillar of light, utterly pure and imbued with majestic Divine Might, pierced through the sky without warning, like a spear of divine retribution, descending with unparalleled precision, directly injecting into the brow of the black divine statue in the center of the temple!

Om—!

The statue's eyes suddenly burst forth with golden light even more brilliant than the sun!

Two golden beams of light, solid as substance, swept across the entire scene, carrying supreme majesty that saw through everything and overlooked all beings.

A vast, sacred, yet infinitely powerful aura instantly enveloped the entire White Tiger Cliff peak. All living beings felt a tremor and submission deep within their Souls.

"White Tiger Clan, your hearts are sincere and resolute, your devotion evident."

The divine statue spoke!

The voice did not emanate from the stone statue but resonated directly in the Sea of Consciousness of every living being, like a grand bell, carrying a Soul-shaking power that echoed between heaven and earth.

It was precisely Lin Chuping's Divine Thought, traversing endless space, descending upon this place!

"It's done."

"Lord Chuping has manifested!"

"The Holy Lord has returned!"

Someone excitedly shouted, and the entire White Tiger Clan instantly erupted, trembling with excitement, tears streaming down their faces.

Bai Lie was even more agitated, his hair standing on end. He prostrated deeply, his forehead hitting the cold rock ground with a dull thud, and loudly proclaimed:

"We beg Lord Chuping's grace, to bestow Blessing upon our clan and protect our Legacy!!!"

The divine statue's right hand, held in a gesture of offering, slowly lifted. The movement seemed slow, yet it drew upon the invisible forces between heaven and earth.

A point of pure, ultimate golden light condensed at its fingertip, as if nurturing a miniature star.

The divine statue gently flicked its fingertip—

"Swish—!"

That point of golden light suddenly exploded, transforming into a sky full of dazzling golden rain, sparkling like stars, imbued with boundless vitality and sacred power, accurately sprinkling upon every devoutly kneeling White Tiger Clan demon.

"Roar—!!!"

Bathed in the golden rain, Bai Lie could no longer suppress the Bloodline Power within him, letting out a tiger's roar that shook the mountains!

His robust body visibly swelled by a size. His fur, originally mixed with gray, instantly became as dazzlingly silver-white as fresh snow, each strand shimmering with a metallic luster.

The 'King' character pattern on his forehead, symbolizing royalty, burst forth with blinding golden light, and an awe-inspiring demonic power, several times stronger than before, surged into the sky!

"My injuries... healed?!"

"I broke through!"

"I can shapeshift now!"

Exclamations of surprise rose one after another.

Other White Tiger Clan members also felt the long-stagnant Bottlenecks within them loosen, their Bloodline boiling and purifying under the divine grace, their cultivation soaring.

Furthermore, several young, strong, and exceptionally talented White Tigers, under the baptism of the golden light, underwent drastic bodily changes. Their muscles and bones resonated, and they instantly shed their beast forms, transforming into lithe human youths, their faces filled with ecstasy and disbelief.

The divine statue nodded slightly, golden light flowing, seemingly quite pleased with the White Tiger Clan's reaction. It was about to speak words of encouragement and bestow some divine oracle.

Suddenly—

"Hehe, what a lively celebration~ This concubine rushed as fast as she could, but it seems I'm still a step late."

A lazy, alluring voice, as if carrying hooks, like the gentlest warm breeze in spring, yet clearly piercing through the thunderous tiger roars and cheers, drifted from the distant horizon.

The appearance of this voice was so sudden, yet so natural, instantly drawing all eyes.

Everyone looked in astonishment in the direction of the sound.

Only to see a pink auspicious cloud leisurely drifting from the horizon, wreathed in mist, with a faint, exotic fragrance. Standing gracefully atop the cloud was a woman.

She wore an immaculate snow-white fox fur coat, which made her skin appear even fairer than snow, and her figure was graceful and captivating, like the most perfect curve in heaven and earth.

Most astonishing were the nine fluffy, soft, and lustrous giant fox tails behind her, gracefully swaying like a peacock fanning its feathers.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

She moved with light,Lotus steps lightly, her tiptoes touching the pink cloud, each step carrying an enchanting charm that could captivate all beings.

The newcomer was none other than the contemporary emissary of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan—Hu Jiutian!

"Nine-tailed Fox?!"

"Hu Jiutian! What is she doing here?"

The White Tiger Clan demons instantly awoke from their ecstasy, their eyes becoming wary and hostile.

Although the two clans both belonged to the Ten Thousand Mountains, their territories were adjacent, leading to constant friction, and their relationship had always been delicate.

Bai Lie's expression darkened even further. His sturdy body stepped forward, blocking the front of the temple, his voice like muffled thunder, as he growled impolitely:

"Hu Jiutian! This is the Holy Land of my White Tiger Clan, the grand ceremony of Lord Chuping's divine descent! You come alone, what is your intention?!"