“Xue’er, I am an Alchemist, not a physician. I’m afraid I can’t help you!” Li Mu said with a bitter smile, looking at the heartbroken Xue’er, and gently refused.
“Lord Li, you are incredibly capable. Senior Jin and the others all say you are omnipotent. You can definitely do it… Oh, right, aren’t you looking for high-tier spiritual materials and high-tier spiritual seeds? Our clan’s treasury has plenty. If you can cure my mother, anything you want can be satisfied. Lord Li, you can definitely do it.” Xue’er looked at Li Mu, pleading bitterly.
The Snow Fox Clan’s treasury was indeed enticing. A high-tier Yao Race’s collection of high-tier Spiritual Plant seeds would certainly be numerous. Li Mu was quite moved, yet, if he were to go to the Snow Fox Clan, any unforeseen circumstances might lead to more harm than good.
Li Mu hesitated slightly, then refused again: “Though I am skilled in Alchemy, I am not an expert in detoxification. I have the will, but not the ability!”
“Lord Li, please save my mother. You can definitely do it. If you don’t act, my mother will surely die.” Xue’er hadn’t expected Li Mu to refuse outright. She immediately panicked, rushed to Li Mu, hugged his leg, and cried, “Lord Li, please be kind. As long as you act and save my mother’s life, I will listen to everything you say from now on. You can definitely do it!”
“Xue’er, get up quickly! There’s no need to beg him like this!” Bai Tianya’s brows furrowed as he reprimanded her.
A royal member of the dignified Snow Fox Clan begging a Human Race Cultivator so humbly was truly disgraceful if the clan members were to find out.
“Third Uncle, Lord Li is incredibly capable. As long as he acts, he can definitely cure my mother. Please help me beg him!” Xue’er, with tear-filled eyes, turned to look at Bai Tianya, signaling him.
Bai Tianya frowned, scrutinizing Li Mu, pondering something with furrowed brows.
“Master, I also beg you, please save Xue’er’s mother.” Just then, Xiao Jin suddenly spoke up, pleading with Li Mu.
“You…” Li Mu was dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected Xiao Jin to speak up for Xue’er at this moment. Could it be that this fellow had fallen for Xue’er?
A cross-species romance?
As soon as Xiao Jin finished speaking, Xiao Wa also stepped forward, looking at Li Mu and chiming in: “Master, please save Xue’er’s mother! Xue’er is so pitiful!”
Xue’er’s eyes were red, and her body trembled. She did indeed look quite pitiful!
Li Mu frowned, looking at Xiao Jin and Xiao Wa’s pleading gazes. They had been with Xue’er for decades, and it was inevitable that some affection would develop between them.
The Double-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon, Xiaobai, and the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix also looked at him. Although they didn’t speak, their eyes also hoped he would act.
Faced with the pleading gazes of his Spirit Beasts, Li Mu found himself unable to utter a refusal.
“Little brother, if you can save Xue’er’s mother, our clan will surely give you a generous reward! High-tier spiritual materials and Spiritual Plants will certainly not be spared.” Bai Tianya looked at Li Mu, solemnly promising.
Li Mu met the gazes of his Spirit Beasts and considered it carefully.
“Alright, I can try, but, Senior, let me be clear, healing is not my specialty. I’m not sure if I can cure the patient. If I truly can’t, you can’t blame me. Also, as a Human Race Cultivator, it might be inconvenient for me to enter your clan’s territory, so I will need your care.” Li Mu looked at Bai Tianya, clarifying the terms first to prevent him from going back on his word later.
“As an Elder of this clan, I will naturally ensure your safety. If you cure Xue’er’s mother, you will certainly not be disappointed then. If the treatment is unsuccessful, we will not hold it against you. You can rest assured of that!” Bai Tianya breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Li Mu and promising.
“Thank you, Lord Li!”
Xue’er was overjoyed and tearful, thanking Li Mu gratefully, and then signaled to Xiao Jin and the others, expressing her gratitude.
“Thank me for what? We’re friends!” Xiao Jin grinned.
“Exactly, we’ve been together for so long, don’t be so formal. Your business is our business. Besides, Master has always been soft-hearted, how could he stand by and do nothing?” Xiao Wa looked at Xue’er, comforting her warmly.
“Without further ado, Senior, let’s depart. Please lead the way!” Li Mu glanced at Xiao Jin and the others, then looked at Bai Tianya, signaling him.
Bai Tianya nodded, leading Xue’er, and flew ahead to guide the way.
Li Mu flew onto the Double-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon, following closely behind.
Time flew by. In less than an hour, Li Mu and his group flew to the peak of ‘Snow Cloud Ridge’, arriving at the territory of the Snow Fox Clan.
It is said that the Snow Fox Clan is skilled at imitating humans, naturally possesses charm, and is highly intelligent. Even before transforming into human form, their intelligence is no different from that of humans, and some even surpass it.
Therefore, when Li Mu and the others arrived at the Snow Fox Clan’s territory, it was not the expected scene of mountains surrounded by lush vegetation, with mountains as their home, the sky as their curtain, and caves as their dwellings.
Instead, Li Mu saw a magnificent city standing before him, with bustling streets and various fox Yao Beast figures moving through them. Some still maintained their fox Yao Beast form, while others had transformed into human form.
The Snow Fox Clan had opened up a Secret Realm on the peak of Snow Cloud Ridge and built a city. This city was not only inhabited by the Snow Fox Clan but also by other Yao Race members.
The massive city was fully equipped with shops, inns, and other buildings. In the center of the city, a giant statue of a Nine-Tailed Fox Yao Beast was carved, lifelike, as if it had a Soul. Its nine tails were curled into a lotus shape, beautiful yet elegant, grand yet refined.
“Master, did we come to the wrong place?” Looking at the scenery of the giant city, Xiao Jin couldn’t help but be stunned, and quietly asked Li Mu.
Li Mu’s eyes flickered, and he discovered the high-tier city-protecting formations scattered around the city within the Secret Realm.
At the city gate, there were even dozens of human guards who showed no Demonic Qi and whose true Qi fluctuations were not weak. These guards looked dull, and iron chains were still tied around their necks, but it could be discerned that they were strictly questioning the Yao Race members entering and exiting.
Entering this Yao City were not only members of the Snow Fox Clan but also many other Yao Races, making it appear quite prosperous.
“Twenty-five Golden Core cultivators, five Nascent Soul cultivators!” Li Mu’s expression was somewhat grim. The Snow Fox Clan had actually turned captured Human Race Cultivators into Puppet guards.
“Let’s enter the city! Remember to stick close to me and don’t wander off. If you don’t have my command, don’t act rashly, otherwise, if you’re treated as an intruder and hunted down, don’t blame me for not warning you!” Bai Tianya gave Li Mu a cold glance, warning him.
Hearing this, Xiao Jin frowned slightly and said somewhat indignantly, “What kind of attitude is that? Is that how you ask for help?”
Bai Tianya snorted coldly: “Hmph, I’m already being very polite. Don’t you know how many evil deeds Human Race Cultivators have done to the Yao Race? This is our clan’s Yao City. If I don’t watch over him, who can guarantee his safety?”
“Having lost one Soul and one spirit, like walking corpses, possessing cultivation and combat power, but having lost consciousness.” Li Mu’s mind was entirely on those Human Race Cultivator Puppet guards. He extended his Divine Sense to investigate the results, and murmured distractedly.
“Lord Li, don’t worry, with me here, I can absolutely guarantee your safety!” Xue’er, seeing this, quickly comforted Li Mu, saying solemnly.
After speaking, Xue’er turned to look at Bai Tianya, and said anxiously: “Third Uncle, please don’t treat Lord Li like this. He is truly a good person, different from other Human Race Cultivators!”
“You are still too naive. Alright, let’s go in!”
Bai Tianya sighed, waved his hand, and a demonic wind enveloped Xue’er, carrying Li Mu and his Spirit Beasts into the inner city’s imperial palace.
The Yao City’s imperial palace was vastly different from the outer city’s scenery. The outer city focused on commercial development, with various Yao Races congregating in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. The inner city, however, was inhabited only by the Snow Fox Clan, in small numbers. Fox Yao Beast statues could be seen everywhere, exuding a heart-pounding Aura.
Inside some pavilions and houses, fox Yao Beasts that had already transformed into human form could be vaguely seen. They were exceptionally beautiful, exuding a night-enchanting charm, and were extremely captivating.
All the Snow Fox guards and maids respectfully bowed and greeted Bai Tianya and his group.
Whenever Li Mu’s gaze met theirs, those beautiful maids would cover their mouths and chuckle softly, their eyes alluring, involuntarily exuding an astonishingly charming Aura.
Despite this, Li Mu remained unmoved. His willpower was not something these fox Yao Beasts could shake.
Bai Tianya led the group on foot. After walking for half an incense stick’s time, a huge ancient castle came into view. The ancient castle was magnificent, with a giant Nine-Tailed Fox Yao Beast carved on its back.
The nine tails of the Nine-Tailed Fox Yao Beast trailed long on the ground, appearing sacred and solemn.
“So beautiful, Master! The Snow Fox Clan’s territory is so much better than the Infernal Tyrant Bear’s!” Xiao Jin was dumbfounded, leaning close to Li Mu, murmuring involuntarily.
Li Mu nodded. He had once heard Tianshang Honored One say that the Snow Fox Clan held a prominent position in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, possessed immense strength, and was one of the major Yao Race forces, having stood for tens of thousands of years.
Seeing the Snow Fox Clan’s imperial palace, Li Mu immediately understood that Tianshang Honored One’s words were true.
“Just watch, don’t say too much!” Li Mu lowered his voice, signaling to his Spirit Beasts.
All the Spirit Beasts nodded, not daring to discuss anything about the Snow Fox Clan anymore.
Under Bai Tianya’s guidance, they passed through the imperial palace courtyard and corridors, through heavily guarded passages, heading towards a secret chamber built underground.
“What is this?”
When Li Mu entered the underground stone chamber, as he got closer, he frowned.
He saw that from a stone chamber at the end of the underground passage, a terrifying Demonic Qi and resentment emanated.
This Demonic Qi and resentment, containing a bloody scent and accompanied by a strong Death Qi, was extremely similar to the Demonic Qi and resentment attached to the Double-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon’s seventh ancestor, the seventh-tier Resentful Dragon, that Li Mu encountered in Wangxing Sea previously.
This Demonic Qi and resentment was not as strong as that of the seventh-tier Resentful Dragon, but it was enough to affect the minds of surrounding living beings. If one accidentally fell into it, they might become frenzied like the Double-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon.
“Is that your mother’s residence? She doesn’t seem to be merely injured, does she?” Li Mu looked at Xue’er and Bai Tianya beside him, indicating the condition of Xue’er’s mother ahead.
“Yes! Lord Li!” Xue’er confirmed with a nod, her face full of worry.
“You saw it? Is there a way to cure it?” Bai Tianya showed surprise, looking at Li Mu and asking with concern.
“I need to examine her condition first to determine!” Li Mu looked at Bai Tianya, indicating.
“Hmm! I’ll take you in, all of you wait outside!” Bai Tianya looked at Xue’er and the Spirit Beasts, instructing them.
“You all stay here with Xue’er. I’ll call you if I need you!” Li Mu instructed his Spirit Beasts, then followed Bai Tianya towards the stone chamber at the end of the passage.
The condition of Xue’er’s mother made Li Mu somewhat curious. If there was a way to resolve the Demonic Qi and resentment attached to Xue’er’s mother, perhaps the seventh-tier Yao Dragon in Wangxing Sea could also be subdued.
Soon, Bai Tianya led Li Mu, under the gaze of the beasts, into the secret chamber exuding terrifying Demonic Qi and resentment.
“Xue’er, what is your identity? You can live in such a magnificent imperial palace!” Xiao Jin looked at the worried Xue’er, asking with emotion.
Xue’er did not hide it, responding: “I am the Fifth Princess of the Snow Fox Clan. My mother is the current Fox Yao Clan Chief, leading the entire Fox Clan!”
“What?!”
“So you’re royalty!”
All the Spirit Beasts were startled, looking at Xue’er in astonishment.
Xue’er was indifferent to this identity. Instead, she pouted and said helplessly: “What’s so great about being the Fifth Princess? It’s just Cultivating, Cultivating, and more Cultivating all day long. It’s dry, boring, and utterly joyless. It’s not as interesting as being with Lord Li!”
All the Spirit Beasts were stunned, all showing expressions of deep agreement.
Following Li Mu, they had no worries about food and drink, an abundance of cultivation resources, various Spirit Pills and Spiritual Plants to enjoy to their heart’s content, and even a six-tier spirit treasure to use. Meeting such a Master was indeed much more comfortable than being royalty.
Even royalty probably couldn’t ensure every person had a six-tier spirit treasure!
In the sealed stone chamber at the other end of the passage, Bai Tianya led Li Mu into the secret chamber’s barrier.
Immediately, an overwhelming tide of Demonic Qi and resentment surged forth like ocean waves, cold, terrifying, filling the mind, and infiltrating the Divine Soul through every pore.
Ordinary low-tier Yao Beasts and Human Race Cultivators entering this place would surely be immediately affected, becoming incredibly violent, or directly having their Divine Souls torn apart by the Demonic Qi and resentment, becoming walking corpses.
Arriving at the entrance, through a stone door, Li Mu sensed from the monstrous Demonic Qi and resentment that there were two other extremely powerful Demonic Qi within the room.
These two Demonic Qi were on par with the one beside him, truly seventh-tier True Yao Beasts, with one of the Auras being extremely weak.
With a total of three seventh-tier True Yao Beasts, Li Mu couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
“Please!”
Bai Tianya stepped forward and pushed open the stone chamber door, looking at Li Mu and inviting him in.
The stone door opened with a rumbling sound, and the situation inside immediately came into Li Mu’s view.
On a circular stone platform, a huge, white-furred seven-tailed fox Yao Beast lay prostrate. Its eyes were tightly shut, its face filled with pain, and it whimpered, as if enduring indescribable agony.
The chest of the giant seven-tailed fox was black and purple, its face was extremely haggard, and its vitality was dim. Beside the giant seven-tailed fox Yao Beast, an old man with white hair and beard rested a hand on its body, continuously Lose Lose Demonic Qi to suppress the spread of the Demonic Qi and resentment within its body.
“Who is it?!”
The white-haired old man, dressed in white and with a gaunt face, turned his head to look at the Human Race Cultivator Bai Tianya had brought in.
“Big Brother, this is the Great Master Alchemist who brought Xue’er back to the clan. We specifically invited him to examine Senior Jin Ling’s condition.” Bai Tianya introduced Li Mu, indicating.
“Oh! So you are the Human Race Cultivator who saved Xue’er?” The white-haired old man’s expression immediately softened considerably.
“That would be me!” Li Mu nodded in response.
“Given her condition, can you cure her?” The white-haired old man looked directly at Li Mu, asking with concern.
“Whether I can cure her is uncertain for now. I need to observe her first.”
Li Mu replied and walked towards the stone platform.
The closer he got to the seven-tailed fox Yao Beast, the heavier the Demonic Qi and resentment it released became, forcing Li Mu to fully activate the Star Cloud Contemplation Method to counteract the erosion of the Demonic Qi and resentment.
Li Mu pretended to examine the illness, but in reality, he used his Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, to ascertain the condition of the giant seven-tailed fox.
