CH 081 Cloudy Sky Hundred Realms, Deviously Tricky Road Ahead

On the third day, the big fox soaking in the water woke up. Qingnu checked it over, nodded, and lifted the fox out, placing it on a table nearby. The liquid in the tank slid off completely, like water droplets on a lotus leaf, leaving behind a smooth and clean big fox.

Guan Yuli simultaneously handed a bill to Feng Qingxiu. Feng Qingxiu glanced at the numbers, remained expressionless, and then placed it in front of the big fox.

The big fox weakly looked at it, closed its eyes, and seemed to want to pass out again.

The little fox darted up to take a look, initially not believing it, but after a second look, it raised its head towards Qingnu: “So expensive?”

“That’s the price. You can ask any disciple in Kun-Lai. The fees are absolutely the same for everyone, regardless of being a spirit demon or human.” Qingnu answered lightly, “Will it be a one-time payment or in installments?”

“But this is a spirit demon you people from Kun-Lai injured!” The fox said incredulously. “Shouldn’t you be responsible?”

“Then you need to find the Kun-Lai cultivator who injured him. Kun-Lai disciples never take responsibility for others’ affairs,” Qingnu said coldly. “It doesn’t matter if you can’t pay. My Qingnu Peak has many ways to settle debts. He can work it off for two hundred years to roughly pay it back.”

“Do you know whose spirit demon he is?” The little fox’s voice carried a hint of coldness.

“If it’s Su Wan, she can use a bottle of spirit demon blood to settle the debt.” Qingnu took out a small bottle. “Give it to your mother; fill it up and you can take the fox back. If you want further treatment, that’s extra.”

The little fox’s divine consciousness swept over the bottle’s volume and felt like biting this woman to death, but remembering the terrifying suppression last night, it thought to itself that there was no rush.

So, it took the bottle and left.

As a vengeful fox, it glared at them as it walked away.

Seeing the little fox leave, Qingnu glanced at the big fox and said calmly, “Speak, you know what we want to ask.”

The big fox was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, “I didn’t see. I was in extreme pain, thinking of returning home, but the one who hurt me was in human form, at least. I didn’t smell anything and didn’t see how they attacked before I was immobilized. It should be someone from one of the three peaks specializing in medicine, poisons, or pills, but it’s also possible that someone else obtained such powerful drugs.”

“Your cultivation is at the Seven-Tail level, equivalent to our Nascent Soul stage,” Qingnu tapped her finger on the table, contemplating the implications. “At that level, there are 271 kinds of drugs that could affect you. These are all regulated in Kun-Lai, but outside, tracking is very difficult. Whoever subdued you clearly knows you well. Do you have any close acquaintances in Kun-Lai?”

“I’ve always kept a low profile in Kun-Lai, with no close ties. I don’t even know how anyone could know my identity. After all, Qingqiu and Kun-Lai are separated by the Ghost Ruins, and few foxes come here. If there is anyone, it might be someone I conflicted with while trying to sell more supplies.” The big fox pondered carefully. “It was on Taiyi Peak. I saw a small talisman that suited my child and wanted to buy it, but I got into a fight with a spirit demon, a snow wolf from Yuntian Domain, who has always been at odds with Qingqiu. We exchanged a few blows.”

“How does it relate to Yuntian Domain?” Qingnu frowned. That place was a sore spot for their peak, often avoided unless necessary for gathering earth materials. Moreover, the situation there was too complex.

“Is there a problem with Yuntian Domain?” Feng Qingxiu asked Qingnu quietly.

“Don’t you remember the Great Xuan’s expulsion of all cultivation sects in the world?” Qingnu explained patiently to Feng Qingxiu, who had been cultivating for a short time and only knew parts of the history. “Ten thousand years ago, the Great Xuan Empire sought to dominate all cultivation sects, killing those who resisted. Among the four great sects in the Central Continent, three saw the Great Xuan as favored by the heavens and chose to relocate to the outer regions rather than resist.”

“You’re saying that the three great sects moved to Yuntian Domain?” Feng Qingxiu quickly grasped her point.

“Yes. The Yuntian Domain is vast. The relocated human race settled in the southern area near Qingqiu, with three Human Immortals guarding them. Over ten thousand years, they grew to a population of millions and established several countries. After the Great Xuan Empire collapsed, they used their resources amassed from the outer regions to return to the Central Continent and re-establish their sects. Other sects that migrated with them also preserved their lineages but did not abandon their influence in Yuntian Domain,” Guan Yuli added, having more knowledge on the matter as his master had studied it.

“So, in addition to the two great sages, there are also branches of the three great sects in Yuntian Domain. When the Qingdi Peak incident occurred, several flying peaks were supposed to assist but were entangled in other matters, nearly being defeated separately. However, Qingdi Peak held out,” Qingnu said bitterly. “So the situation back then was undoubtedly complex. Unfortunately, we have no power here to investigate further.”

“It was someone from Yuntian Domain colluding with a traitor of Kun-Lai back then,” Guan Yuli walked over to comfort Qingnu, massaging her shoulders. “But after the traitor was exposed, he committed suicide out of fear, leaving no clues. Peak Master Bai was severely injured, and Qingdi Peak’s top soul healers were already dead, making it impossible to find out if he had accomplices.”

“This incident is very similar to the previous one, aiming to incite hostility between the Great Sages of the spirit demon clans and Kun-Lai. This person won’t stop at one attempt. We must inform the other peak masters,” Qingnu frowned, feeling her cultivation level was still too low to handle the situation involving great sages, which only the Sect Leader could counter.

“I’ll go,” Feng Qingxiu nodded, then thought of another question. “You mentioned three great sects migrated, but weren’t there four back then?”

“One sect supposedly joined the Great Xuan Empire. There are no records of it anywhere. Maybe the three great sects know, but I’ve never heard anyone mention it,” Guan Yuli said after searching his memory for any related information.

***

Feng Qingxiu quickly spread the news, and Qiu Yuansheng, as the master of Danding Peak, naturally received it. 

It didn’t surprise him that the big fox wasn't dead. But one piece of information from Feng Qingxiu caught his attention. A little fox was guarding the big fox on the flying peak. This didn't fit Su Wan's character, who loved her offspring too much to let them take such risks. Given his methods, when she came to her senses, she would definitely retaliate twice as hard. Celestial Fox Su Wan was never one to swallow her pride—except when dealing with the Sect Leader.

"Su Wan, this spirit demon, has the nine tails and nine lives divine power, making her extremely hard to kill. Her transformations are endless, and without revealing her demonic essence, even peers at the Human Immortal level find it hard to see through her disguises. She can endure anything. When she entered the Great Xuan's harem, she didn't see the emperor for the first ten years, and despite her status as a great sage, she endured all kinds of insults from the palace maids. If you meet her, be prepared for her to appear by your side," Qiu Yuansheng thought about what the High Priest had told him about Su Wan's ways, pondering her next move.

"As for plans, it's best to respond to all changes with no change," he considered the key points. "If the fox she sent disguised itself as the little fox, it would make sense."

So, she had a weakness. But there was no rush; it would be better to make plans when the flying peaks left. There was plenty of time.

He thought this and then met with the black snake and nightingale who had come to buy discounted pills from him. Out of friendship, they were very willing to trade with him. Qiu Yuansheng felt the same.

"Today's earnings are good," the black snake picked a few pills and casually chatted about the day's events, "That little fox, it should be from Su Wan's family. It looks just like her."

Qiu Yuansheng had never seen Su Wan, but he had the information he needed and was satisfied, sending them off with some nearly expired pills and chatting a bit more. Of course, knowing everything that happened on the flying peak was just a side benefit. He wasn't worried about being found out; he wasn't one to leave loose ends.

"By the way, you two know a lot about Great Xuan's history. Do you know what the fourth great sect was back then?" Qiu Yuansheng remembered Feng Qingxiu asking Bai Shuixian and asked.

"That was ten thousand years ago. We're not too clear on that. Do you remember, brother?" the black snake turned to ask the nightingale.

"Dumb," the nightingale sneered, "The last great sect was the one with the High Priest's inheritance. The story is carved on the Great Ancestor Stele. That sect split into two due to internal strife. One branch was captured by the Great Ancestor of that time, set with a soul-binding curse, and used by the royal family. The remaining members scattered and were hunted down, with the sect's name erased."

"I see." Qiu Yuansheng nodded, understanding more about the High Priest's subsequent plans. But this was a reconcilable conflict; why didn't the High Priest just go to the Sect Leader? What a hassle.

***

In the following days, the big fox's fur and wounds healed. The little fox came to play with the big fox daily, the two of them adorably curling up together.

Qingnu received a bottle of a great sage's blood and excitedly went back to her room to research its uses.

As the big fox's fur grew back, its looks returned. Senior Sister Tu often came to see it, only to sigh and leave after everytime.

A month passed quickly, and it was time for the flying peaks to leave. The trades had mostly stopped, and Qingqiu's century-long accumulation was nearly exhausted.

When Feng Qingxiu returned in the evening, he saw a man draped in fur, with hair as white as snow, gentle as a poem, sitting under a tree, tenderly gazing at the little fox sleeping on his lap. 

Feng Qingxiu instantly felt that Senior Sister Tu's taste was indeed exceptional. Even he felt a bit strange seeing such a man.

"You’re here. Thank you for saving us." The man looked up, carrying the little fox in his arms as he approached Feng Qingxiu, his gentle eyes looking at him. "I have nothing to repay you with. This is my child; let it stay with you as a spiritual pet."

Feng Qingxiu shook his head, refusing, "It was Qingnu who saved you. Besides, this child is too young."

"Do you want me then?" the man joked.

Feng Qingxiu frowned, about to speak, when the fox in the man's arms suddenly jumped up like it had its tail set on fire and bolted like lightning.

The man was startled, apologized, and hurried after the fox.

Feng Qingxiu shook his head, returned to his room, and resumed his routine of writing to his master, rubbing against his master’s paper figure, and then meditating.

Tomorrow they would leave Qingqiu and head to the Yuntian Domain. His master would awaken from the paper figure, and he could see him again.

Just the thought made Feng Qingxiu's heart race. It took him half a day to calm down enough to meditate.

After he began his meditation, the paper figure on his chest shook. That fox ran too fast. Earlier, he had intended to strike it down with a sword.

You little demons, don’t even think about getting close to my apprentice!