Blackstone City had four mansions.
The Tiger Clan to the west, the Flood Dragon Clan to the east.
The Fox Clan to the south, the Wolf Clan to the north.
But the Celestial Fox were in decline, and the Flood Dragons and Tigers had been driven here, with no energy to spare for management.
Over time, the Wolf Clan became the rulers of Blackstone City.
“Second Brother, it seems you didn’t get much of an advantage today over at the Celestial Fox Clan.” Sitting in the center of the hall was a one-eyed wolf, holding a blood-colored crystal and staring at the phantom image of a nine-tailed fox within it.
“But a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox with such pure blood… either keep your distance, or crush it in the cradle.”
“You’ve already offended her today. With her bloodline, she’ll easily gain the recognition of His Majesty the Demon Emperor—let alone the fact that the Yao Kingdom was founded by a nine-tailed fox in history.” The one-eyed wolf fixed his gaze on the Wolf Commander sitting to the side.
“Both you and I are in great danger.”
“Take her out, Brother Lang Ya?”
“Mm. Let’s do it tonight.” Lang Ya nodded.
“According to my information, she went to find the Flood Dragon Clan during the heavy rain, and actually managed to subdue them. As for the Tiger Clan, I don’t know what happened, but they somehow smashed the courtyard.”
“No more intelligence?” the Wolf Commander asked. Several guards nearby crouched down and reported in low voices, “Our spies scattered among the other clans haven’t returned yet. The biggest commotion came from the Celestial Fox Clan.”
“It’s fine. It’s only the first day. The Celestial Fox Saint just fought a battle with the Flood Dragon Clan, so she should be exhausted right now.” Lang Ya thought for a moment.
“Let’s go all out while she’s weak.”
“Brother, I’ve been considering another possibility,” the Wolf Commander said after a moment of thought.
“Is there a chance the Celestial Fox Saint and the Flood Dragon Clan are setting a trap?”
“That’s possible, but the cost would be too great.” Lang Ya looked at the rain drifting through the sky, mixed with countless frost.
“A thirty-yard-high water screen—that was the result of Jiao San unleashing all his True Yuan. And the Celestial Fox Saint clearly practices an ice-type cultivation technique to freeze the water wall.”
“Even if it’s a setup, the consumption of True Yuan and spiritual medicine is enormous.”
“But you’re right… ah, this trial set by His Majesty the Demon Emperor is truly difficult.” Lang Ya thought again.
“The Rabbit Clan and Sparrow Clan probably won’t dare attack us. At least tonight we’re safe. In such a cold Blackstone City, the Snake Clan and Scale Clan can’t bring their full strength to bear.”
“Normally, those weaker races will form an alliance in a few days,” the Wolf Commander said.
“Either way, if we don’t act, the Celestial Fox Clan will. The Tiger Clan is the strongest, so we’ll leave them out of consideration for now.”
“Then let’s set out… but I still feel something’s off.” Lang Ya closed his eyes.
“Lie Shan might be brainless, but his second brother, Lie Shi, does think carefully. Why would he suddenly break the ceiling to practice his techniques? Did he buy a magical artifact from the humans? Or did another clan try to ambush the Tiger Clan? That’s impossible.”
“My guess is he might have bought a magical artifact from the humans,” the Wolf Commander said.
“I confiscated a batch from the humans earlier. Their magical artifacts can cause explosions, so I temporarily stored them in the warehouse.”
“Wait—if the Celestial Fox Saint now has a human storage bag, then doesn’t that mean…”
“I only mentioned compensating her with artifacts and spirit stones. How would she know what’s in those cultivators’ storage bags?” The Wolf Commander shook his head.
“Brother, I’m heading out.”
“…Just in case, I’ll hold the fort here.” Lang Ya said.
The Wolf Commander then led a large group of men into the night.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, before Lang Ya could even finish a round of Qi Refining meditation, several guards came rushing in.
“What’s all the commotion about?” Lang Ya opened his one eye and looked at the rain-soaked guard.
“Brother Lang Ya, Lie Shan from the Tiger Clan is here. He says he wants to drink with you.”
“Drink with me… ha ha ha, that brainless Lie Shan. But he does have the strength to back it up.” Lang Ya let out a loud laugh, then his face turned cold.
“Go to the warehouse and get some wine. Tell the brothers not to drink the Tiger Clan’s wine unless I give the order.”
“Also, have the men outside keep an eye on the Celestial Fox Clan and the Flood Dragon Clan. Report immediately if anything happens.”
“Yes, Brother Lang Ya!” The guard immediately saluted and ran to the warehouse.
Soon after, Lie Shan walked into the hall, dripping with water. He shook himself off, flinging the rainwater onto the floor.
“Lie Shan, long time no see.” Lang Ya watched as the guard brought up a pot of wine and put on a smile.
“What brings you here today?”
“I saw the Celestial Fox Saint fighting the Flood Dragon Clan, and it got me a bit excited.” Lie Shan placed his own wine on the table.
“I didn’t get enough of a show, so I was thinking of having a friendly spar with you again. But just jumping into a fight isn’t quite right. Since I happen to have a fine wine here, why don’t we…”
“I appreciate your kindness, Brother Lie Shan. But since you’re the guest, why don’t I drink some of our Wolf Clan’s Cold Bone Wine?” Lang Ya pointed, and the wine pot jumped up on its own, pouring two cups of white, frost-like liquid.
“It nourishes the cold bones and tempers the tendons and blood. But drink too much, and it damages the body.”
“Bah, I won’t drink that stuff—it’s not exciting enough.” Lie Shan shook his head and sloshed his own wine around.
“This is looted from the humans. It’s called Thousand Day Drunk. The humans boast that one drop can get you drunk for a thousand days.”
“How could such a wine exist? Lie Shan, don’t let those human sweet talk fool you.” Lang Ya shook his head.
“Blackstone City is the same. With the humans…”
“Pop!”
Lie Shan interrupted Lang Ya mid-sentence and pried open the lid.
In an instant, a faint floral fragrance permeated the air, then turned into the scent of grass and trees, followed by a rich aroma of alcohol.
When it fully spread, it carried the pure smell of barley.
Lang Ya instinctively held his breath, but the fragrance seemed to bypass his nose and land directly in his throat.
“Brother Lang Ya…” The guard who had brought the Cold Bone Wine was drooling as the aroma spread.
“This wine… indeed…” Lang Ya’s nose was naturally sensitive, and the fragrance seemed to want to burrow into his lungs.
“…You drink first.”
“Hehe, thank you, Brother Lang Ya!” The guard immediately beamed.
Lang Ya wanted to say more, but upon second thought, he silently acquiesced.
Lie Shan didn’t care at all.
He scooped out a cup and said, “Lang Ya, I may not be smart, but you’re worried I put something in the wine, aren’t you? Having a guard test it—how petty.”
As he spoke, Lie Shan drank directly from the cup.
“I can’t help it. My second brother went to the Celestial Fox Clan, so since I’m responsible for guarding the Wolf Clan’s territory, naturally I can’t drink your wine.” Lang Ya shook his head, picked up the cup of Cold Bone Wine, and downed it in one gulp.
But his gaze kept falling on the Thousand Day Drunk.
“Brother Lang Ya, won’t you have a little?” The guard was already on his third cup but still walked toward Lie Shan.
“Great King Lie Shan, could I have…”
“No more.” Lie Shan hugged the wine pot.
“You’re just a guard—you’ve had enough. But Brother Lang Ya, are you sure you won’t have any?”
“No. I’ll wait until my second brother brings news of the Celestial Fox Saint’s death before I drink.” Lang Ya shook his head.
“Clatter.”
The cup in Lie Shan’s hand fell to the ground.
The guard immediately went on alert and looked at Lang Ya.
“Brother Lie Shan, you’re drunk.” Lang Ya shook his head and gave the guard a look.
“What’s wrong? Have you been in Blackstone City too long? Forgot how the Tiger Clan usually treats other yao?”
“I haven’t forgotten, but our Tiger Clan only hunts other yao when we’re hungry.” Lie Shan picked up his cup, and the guard silently stepped back.
“We don’t kill indiscriminately in peacetime.”
“This isn’t indiscriminate killing. His Majesty the Demon Emperor has decreed that this trial is a life-or-death match regardless.” Lang Ya poured another cup.
“Brother Lie Shan, I think you could join us in taking care of the Celestial Fox Saint.”
“A Tiger-Wolf alliance—we won’t lose this Blackstone City trial.” Lang Ya poured another cup.
“And since the Wolf Clan already controls Blackstone City, we don’t need to build a city. We’re sure to survive the second trial. We’ll meet the Demon Emperor, then…”
“Then raise the purity of our Holy Blood.” Lang Ya smiled.
“Brother Lie Shan, you know who the current Demon Emperor is, don’t you?”
“Tianlang Wang.” Lie Shan nodded.
“But…”
“Because of these special circumstances, we don’t like that fox either.” Lang Ya reached for his wine again but found his hand trembling uncontrollably.
“Ha, talking too much—I’ve had too much Cold Bone Wine.”
“It’s not from drinking too much Cold Bone Wine.”
The guard standing behind Lang Ya spoke, his voice gradually turning cold and sharp.
“It’s that you, Lang Ya, are about to die.”