321: Chapter 321 Jiu'er's Past, Plot Against the Bear Clan

After leaving the ruins of Qingqiu, the two traveled westward, heading in the direction of the Bear Clan's territory.

On the way, Jiuer recounted the events of those years in fragments.

Her voice was calm, as if she were telling someone else's story.

"My brother was three hundred years older than me. His Aptitude was a bit worse than mine, but he treated me very well. When we were little, he would always sneak me to the back mountain to catch spirit rabbits. If Father found out, he would take all the punishment on himself."

"My uncle... he was Father's own younger brother. His cultivation was inferior to Father's, but his ambition was great. He always felt he should be the Clan Chief and was always plotting in the shadows."

"That day, I will never forget."

"Uncle suddenly erupted, launching indiscriminate attacks. He didn't kill outsiders; he only slaughtered our own clansmen. His eyes were red, as if he were being controlled by something."

"My father rushed up to stop him, but halfway through their fight, Father suddenly lost control as well."

"His eyes turned red too, like a beast that had been provoked."

"Then, flames soared into the sky."

"The entire Qingqiu was burning."

"Uncle and Father slaughtered each other. The clansmen fled in all directions; some were burned to death, some were trampled to death, and some were killed by their own kin."

"Later, all the major clans learned the news and began sending people to investigate."

"They weren't there to rescue us; they were there to carve us up."

"The Fox Clan was close to the Phoenix territory, and we originally thought the Phoenix would reach out to help. But they didn't; they just watched from afar."

"Then, the Old Dragon and his subordinates made their move."

"Under the guise of 'quelling the rebellion,' they entered Qingqiu and slaughtered all the remaining clansmen."

"I was in the Holy Land at the time. Great-Grandmother used her last bit of strength to send me away."

"By the time I woke up, I was already ten thousand miles away."

"I didn't dare to look back. I could only keep running forward until I ran into the Boundless Sea."

After hearing this, Chu Sheng remained silent for a long time.

He had not expected the destruction of the Fox Clan to be more complex than he had imagined.

It wasn't just an invasion by external enemies; there was also internal loss of control.

"Were your uncle and father being controlled?" he asked.

Jiuer nodded. "I wasn't sure at the time, but looking back now, their eyes didn't look like their own."

"The Old Dragon has a secret technique that can forcibly stimulate the ferocity within the Yao Race Bloodline, causing people to lose their reason and fall into madness."

"He used this trick when he annihilated the Python Clan back then."

Chu Sheng said, "So, the Old Dragon first controlled your uncle, made him start an internal conflict, and then took the opportunity to strike."

Jiuer did not deny it. "Logically speaking, that is the most reasonable explanation."

"But what I can't understand is, why would the Old Dragon do this? Could it be for pure amusement?"

Chu Sheng responded, "Maybe it's a psychological issue? Many powerhouses have peculiar habits that no one knows about."

The two flew for a long time until a continuous mountain range appeared ahead.

The mountains were not high but were very dense, like a natural barrier.

Jiuer pointed at the mountain range and said, "That is the Bear Clan's territory."

"The Bear Clan's Clan Chief is an old bear at the Peak of Dao Completion. His cultivation isn't very high, but he has the backing of King Peng."

"Let's start with the Bear Clan to prove our value."

Chu Sheng nodded. "How shall we fight?"

Jiuer said, "No need to rush the fight. Let's first test their true strength."

The two did not break directly into the Bear Clan's territory but instead lurked on the periphery.

Chu Sheng sensed several auras—all Bear Clan members—with cultivation between the Spirit Sea Realm and Sea Opening, scattered throughout the mountains like sentries.

He did not alert them; he simply followed Jiuer, bypassed the sentries, and crept deeper into the mountains.

After walking for about half an hour, a huge stone city appeared ahead.

The city walls were built from massive black stones, about ten zhang high, and were covered in defensive runes.

At the city gate stood two rows of Bear Clan guards, all at the Spirit Sea Realm, with burly figures and holding giant axes.

Jiuer watched for a moment and then said, "They are weaker than I imagined."

Chu Sheng said, "Shall we make a move?"

Jiuer shook her head. "Not yet. Let's go back first; don't alert the enemy."

The two returned the way they came and left the Bear Clan's territory.

On the way back, Jiuer suddenly said, "Have you ever thought about why the Old Dragon has been able to remain the Yao Race Sovereign for so many years?"

Chu Sheng said, "Because he is strong?"

Jiuer shook her head. "Strength is only part of it. More importantly, he knows how to make others help him maintain order."

"He doesn't rule the clans directly; instead, he lets the clans keep each other in check. Whoever gets strong, he suppresses. Whoever gets weak, he supports."

"In this way, he is always the one standing at the top."

Chu Sheng nodded. "Using another's hand to kill."

"Correct." Jiuer glanced at him. "Therefore, we cannot be reckless. Recklessness would play right into his hands."

Chu Sheng said, "Then what do you plan to do?"

Jiuer was silent for a moment, then said, "First, let King Peng see our value, and then we will discuss cooperation."

When the two returned to Guanyue Abyss, it was already the night of the third day.

Chu Sheng sensed that something was wrong from a distance.

From the direction of Guanyue Abyss, there was a faint smell of blood, scattered by the night wind, lingering yet elusive.

His footsteps came to a sudden halt.

Jiuer also stopped.

Her expression changed.

"Go." Her figure flashed, and she darted toward Guanyue Abyss.

Chu Sheng followed closely behind her, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his Fuyao Ninety Thousand Miles Divine Ability pushed to the limit.

The two landed at the entrance of Guanyue Abyss, and the scene before them made Chu Sheng's heart sink.

The stone gate at the entrance had been smashed to pieces, with rubble scattered all over the ground.

There were bloodstains on the ground, not yet dry, as if a battle had just taken place.

A few corpses of Fox Clan members lay by the roadside, their wounds deep, as if torn by sharp claws.

Jiuer's face turned pale.

She walked quickly into the depths of Guanyue Abyss, with Chu Sheng following closely behind.

Many of the buildings in the valley had been destroyed, and several houses were still burning; the firelight reflected on Jiuer's face, flickering on and off.

Some Fox Clan members were fighting the fire. Seeing Jiuer return, they stopped what they were doing and bowed to her.

"Master..."

"Master, you have returned..."

Jiuer looked at the injured clansmen and the burning houses, her voice filled with suppressed rage.

"Who did this?"

An elderly Fox Clan member hurried over; it was Elder Bai.

His arm was wrapped in bandages, and his face was also somewhat pale.

"Master, it was the Bear Clan."

His voice carried anger. "This afternoon, that Big Dumb Bear brought a squad of Bear Clan warriors and barged in, saying they wanted to talk to you about protection. Since you weren't here, they started smashing things and killing people."

"Elder Hu and I led people to try and stop them, but they had too many people, and we couldn't hold them back..."

Jiuer did not explode in anger, but her eyes were as cold as ice.

"Did they leave?"

"They left. Before leaving, they said that you must go to the Bear Clan's territory within three days to talk to them in person. Otherwise, next time they come, it won't just be smashing things."

Chu Sheng walked to her side and said in a low voice, "They are testing you."

Jiuer nodded. "I know."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

Jiuer turned her head, looked at Chu Sheng, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

The smile was cold, carrying a heart-stopping murderous intent.

"Since they want to talk, then we shall go and talk."