5: Chapter 5 The Old Fox Demon Arrives

One hundred descendants of the fox clan.

All together, this entire brood of fox descendants only numbered just over three or four hundred.

The Old Fox Demon raised its head and looked in the direction where the Vulture Demon had disappeared, a trace of hatred flashing in its cloudy, old eyes.

But it quickly lowered its head.

What was the use of hatred?

It was only a Tier One Early Stage old fox; on Wanhui Mountain, it wasn't even worthy of carrying the Vulture Demon's shoes.

The Old Fox Demon turned around and limped into the cave.

Behind it.

In the shadows of the Thousand Fox Cave, those little foxes huddled together, shivering.

The Old Fox Demon limped deep into the cave.

The cave was dim and damp, the air thick with the distinct musky odor of the fox clan, and a few glowing fluorites embedded in the stone walls barely illuminated the winding passage.

After walking about dozens of steps, the cave suddenly opened up.

This was a fairly large stone chamber, the place where the Old Fox Demon gathered its fox cubs.

In the center of the stone chamber was a flat bluestone, covered with straw and the fur of some unknown Yao Beast.

In the surrounding corners, a dozen or so foxes crouched or lay prone, their fur of various colors. These were all intelligent fox spirits, but they possessed no cultivation.

Seeing the Old Fox Demon enter, several fox spirits quickly went forward to greet it.

"Old Ancestor, Old Ancestor!"

A crimson fox spirit was the first to speak, its voice high-pitched and filled with obvious worry.

"Are you alright?"

The Old Fox Demon shook its head, not answering.

It slowly walked over to the bluestone, climbed up with effort, and lay down.

Its fur was covered in dirt and dried blood, making it look extremely wretched.

Several fox spirits gathered around, some licking the Old Fox Demon's wounds, others using their tails to gently brush away the dust on its fur.

Their movements were affectionate and submissive, clearly holding this Old Ancestor in extreme awe.

The Old Fox Demon closed its eyes, letting them tend to it.

There was a long silence.

Suddenly...

It opened its eyes, a sharp gleam flashing in its cloudy, old eyes.

"That Old Vulture Demon is cruel and murderous. Tell me... why would it spare that old crow's life for seven days?"

The Old Fox Demon's voice was hoarse and deep, carrying a barely perceptible sharpness.

As soon as these words were spoken.

The fox spirits in the stone chamber all froze.

They looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.

Indeed.

What kind of temperament did the Vulture Demon have?

In the eastern part of Wanhui Mountain, who didn't know that the bald beast was decisive in slaughter and completely heartless?

It always took what it wanted on the spot, and the demons it wanted to kill, it always tore to pieces on the spot.

Sparing someone for seven days was unlike its usual style.

The stone chamber was quiet for a moment.

The fox spirit with blue-gray fur all over its body slowly spoke.

Its body was a size smaller than the other fox spirits, its fur as smooth as satin, and a pair of blue eyes shone with a wisdom that did not match its age.

It was the junior that the Old Fox Demon valued the most, and also the smartest among this group of fox spirits.

"Old Ancestor."

"Could it be... that old crow brought out something to make an exchange with the Vulture Demon?"

A trace of approval flashed in the Old Fox Demon's eyes. "Then tell me... why seven days?"

The Green Fox blanked for a moment, then quickly realized.

"Because that thing... hasn't been obtained yet?"

"Exactly."

The Old Fox Demon nodded, the sharp light in its eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"That old crow couldn't produce the item, so it could only promise to offer it up seven days later. The Old Vulture Demon believed it—or rather, believed in that item."

Inside the stone chamber.

The eyes of the fox spirits lit up.

The Old Fox Demon slowly raised its head, scanning every junior present, its voice lowered very quietly, as if afraid of being overheard by the wind outside the cave:

"In that case... if we were to obtain that thing..."

It did not finish.

But all the fox spirits understood.

Obtaining that thing would give them a new bargaining chip, perhaps allowing them to avoid the blood debt of those fifty descendants of the fox clan.

The Green Fox's eyes narrowed, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in its blue pupils.

"Old Ancestor, do you mean... to intercept it?"

The Old Fox Demon did not speak, only nodding slowly.

Just then, the Green Fox stood forward.

"Old Ancestor, how about I go and investigate?"

Hearing this, the Old Fox Demon shook its head. "There isn't enough time. I, your Old Ancestor, will go personally."

The Thousand Fox Den and Desolate Ridge were not far apart. Although the old crow's cultivation had previously been inferior to the Old Fox Demon's, crows were naturally intelligent creatures with high wisdom. It feared that sending these juniors would only waste time.

...

Desolate Ridge was not far from the Thousand Fox Cave; at the Old Fox Demon's pace, it would take only half an hour to arrive.

But it was in no hurry to rush, calculating in its mind as it walked.

At this moment.

Desolate Ridge.

The twilight was like blood, dyeing half of the sky red.

Wu Li squatted in his nest, carefully preening the feathers on his chest with his beak. The patch of feathers on his head that had been torn off by the Vulture Demon had already stopped bleeding, revealing a bald patch of scalp that looked somewhat comical.

But he didn't care.

He was waiting.

In the distance, a faint rustling sound came from the bushes.

Wu Li's ears twitched slightly, a red glow flashing in his pupils before quickly fading away.

He did not raise his head, continuing to preen his feathers as if completely unaware.

The rustling sound drew closer and closer.

A greyish-white figure emerged from the bushes, its movements light and cautious, making almost no sound.

But Desolate Ridge was too quiet, so quiet that even the sound of a falling leaf was clearly audible.

The Old Fox Demon.

The corners of Wu Li's mouth curled up slightly—if a crow could be said to have corners of its mouth.

'As expected, it came.'

In the old crow's memory, there was a detail that Wu Li had always found intriguing.

His predecessor, the old crow, had snatched those two Vermilion Fruits from the Old Fox Demon on the way to Hanshui Ridge.

What kind of place was Hanshui Ridge?

It was the territory of the Vulture Demon's mortal enemy, the Cold Python Demon...

In that case...

It was hard to say who this old fox's Vermilion Fruits were actually meant to be delivered to.

"Since you're here, come on out."

Wu Li did not pretend, his hoarse voice squeezing out of the crow's throat.

Behind the bushes, the Old Fox Demon's figure paused.

It hadn't expected to be discovered.

Although its stealth technique was not exceptionally brilliant, it was still top-tier among Yao Beasts of the same rank. When had this old crow become so sharp?

The Old Fox Demon stepped out from behind the bushes.

Its greyish-white fur gleamed dimly in the twilight, and its triangular eyes stared intently at Wu Li on the dead branch, its gaze filled with scrutiny and vigilance.

"Old thing, you certainly have a tough life."

"The Old Fox Demon's voice was high-pitched and gloomy, carrying an unconcealed malice."

Only then did Wu Li raise his head, tilting it to glance at the Old Fox Demon, his black eyes as calm as a pool of stagnant water.

"Aren't you the same?"

Wu Li's voice was flat, showing no emotion.

The Old Fox Demon's pupils contracted slightly. It could clearly feel that this old crow...

...was different from before.

The former old crow of Desolate Ridge had cloudy eyes, a withered aura, and couldn't even caw properly.

Yet the crow perched on the dead branch now had black feathers like iron, eyes gleaming with an eerie light, and emitted an aura that made even the Old Fox Demon feel uneasy.

This was...

A Breakthrough?

The Old Fox Demon's heart skipped a beat.

'It must be those two Vermilion Fruits.'

A flash of anger crossed the Old Fox Demon's eyes, but it was quickly suppressed.

It took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto its face.

But to Wu Li, who possessed a human Soul, the way a fox smiled looked uglier than crying.

"Old thing, let's not beat around the bush."

"What deal did you make with that Old Vulture Demon?"