“Hmm… according to my master’s divination, this Beast Tide indeed has nothing to do with the Fox Clan.”
Liu Qingxi gazed at the Divination Jade Disk in the air.
“And to atone for their sins, the Fox Clan will send us some items… but it will also bring us greater danger. Overall, though, it’s still for the best.”
“It’s fine as long as there’s no overall problem.”
Li Zhengshen was examining the complex symbols on the Jade Disk, but after a moment, he squinted his eyes.
“I received a message from the Heavenly Deduction Sect. They said that members of the Fox Clan will arrive shortly. After we help screen them, the task will be handed over to you.”
“Handed over to us?”
“Yes, that’s what Liu Qingxi’s master said anyway. Those Heavenly Deduction Sect cultivators rarely appear once they reach Golden Core. Truly mysterious. And they said something about providing different plans based on the Fox Clan’s situation.”
Li Zhengshen sighed, then glanced at Lu Li.
“And Holy Maiden Lu, I can understand that you came from the Southern Region and need some concealment, but our Northern Domain doesn’t have as many rules as the Central Continent, so you don’t need to hide everything.”
“Yes…”
Lu Li could only go along with it regarding the matter of her female identity.
While they waited, the sound of two people’s voices came from afar, growing closer.
“Ooh, so this is the Ascending Heavenly Palace of the Heavenly Deduction Sect. It’s much more interesting than our pagoda.”
“Now that you’ve left the Southern Region, you’ve become a lot freer, huh.”
“Of course. No more chanting scriptures and meditating, and I can even eat meat. Aha!”
“Didn’t your master give you any precepts?”
“As long as I don’t kill my fellow disciples.”
Familiar voices came from outside the courtyard. Upon hearing them, Lu Li looked toward the gate with a complicated expression.
Walking slowly in were Liu Qingyun of the Imperial Sword Sect and Yuan He of the Buddhist Light Sect, whom they had encountered in the trial earlier.
“Layman Lu.”
When Yuan He saw Lu Li, a faint Buddhist Light immediately appeared on his body, and he respectfully bowed to Lu Li.
“Holy Maiden Lu.”
Liu Qingyun did the same.
“Oh… Holy Maiden Lu.”
Liu Qingxi put away the Divination Jade Disk and looked at Lu Li with an amused expression.
“Since you’re all here.”
As a Golden Core True Person, Li Zhengshen understood the situation at a glance.
“We have two more guests. If the Heavenly Deduction Sect’s fortune-telling isn’t wrong… but it never is.”
Just as Liu Qingyun and Yuan He sat down, a streak of light flew across the sky, then transformed before everyone into two figures wearing thick hoods.
“I see…”
Li Zhengshen nodded thoughtfully, then shuddered slightly with displeasure.
“Are you from the Fox Clan?”
“Yes… I have heard that the cultivators of the Ascending Heavenly Palace are skilled in the Art of Divination, but I never expected you to be so prescient.”
An old voice came from under the taller hood.
“I have come this time to offer our apologies.”
“Xiao Li, this Ascending Heavenly Palace will be where you study and live from now on.”
Having said that, the old woman and the shorter figure beside her both pulled back their hoods.
Under the hoods were an old woman in her sixties or seventies and a girl of five or six.
At first glance, their features were no different from ordinary humans.
Only their ears were softer and more elongated.
The fabric at their waists was slightly raised.
This sight made Lu Li and the others show doubtful expressions.
“Honored Immortal Masters, there is no need to doubt. The Yao Race and the Human Race depended on each other ten million years ago. If one’s bloodline power is thin, they will appear like me.”
The old woman spoke, gently stroking Xiao Li’s hair.
“I have come this time to seek the protection of the Ascending Heavenly Palace.”
Liu Qingxi turned her head slightly to look at Li Zhengshen. The Golden Core True Person nodded, so she stepped forward and began to ask.
“The Fox Clan has had dealings with the Heavenly Deduction Sect before, and we ourselves have promised to provide protection.”
Liu Qingxi spoke in a manner devoid of the relaxed atmosphere Lu Li usually saw.
“But you have come again, and you have brought this…”
“Our clan’s Saintess,” the old woman added. “Temporarily residing in your Ascending Heavenly Palace.”
“Understood.”
Liu Qingxi nodded slightly. Beside her, Lu Li, Liu Qingyun, and Yuan He sighed softly.
This was the Fox Clan’s way of humbling themselves.
Placing their clan’s most important Saintess among the Human Race as a hostage.
But for the Yao Race, this was also a gamble.
If a weak tribe had no competitiveness, they would eventually be eliminated.
It was better to send her to the territory of the Human Race to survive for now, perhaps with unique opportunities.
“Additionally, given the special circumstances, I have a presumptuous request.”
The old woman gently pushed Xiao Li’s back, signaling her to go to Li Zhengshen’s position.
“But of course, I have also brought our clan’s most important… Xiao Li?”
The Fox Clan girl, around five or six years old, did not walk toward Li Zhengshen. Instead, she came to Lu Li’s side.
Her nose twitched slightly, as if she smelled something familiar, and her eyes instantly reddened.
“Huh?”
Lu Li looked at the girl who was now blushing and mumbling, then tugging at Lu Li’s clothes.
“Mom…”
Xiao Li lowered her voice, her eyes already moist.
“What?!”
Lu Li felt as if a Heavenly Tribulation had struck her mind.
Being called Senior Sister, Junior Sister, or Holy Maiden was one thing.
But why was a little girl addressing her like this?
“Pfft…”
Yuan He quickly covered his mouth, but a flash of golden light passed through his eyes, then he lowered his head, struggling to hold back his laughter.
“It seems Holy Maiden Lu is quite popular with children.”
Liu Qingyun closed his eyes, trying to speak in a calm tone.
Liu Qingxi silently nodded, a smile on her face as if she knew everything.
“Well… uh…”
Lu Li really didn’t know how to comfort a girl younger than herself. She could only imitate the old woman and gently stroke Xiao Li’s hair.
Unexpectedly, this action made Xiao Li cry even louder, and then she leaned her entire body against Lu Li.
“Alright… don’t cry, don’t cry…”
Lu Li could only comfort Xiao Li softly. Then she raised her delicate hand and took out some pastries she had bought earlier from her Storage Bracelet.
“These are… big sister… I… for you…”
Though her words were halting, Xiao Li listened and carefully took the pastries, nibbling on them in small bites.
“Delicious.”
“Delicious… that’s good.”
Lu Li’s heart was mixed with many emotions, and she could only gently stroke the girl’s hair.
Amid the soft sounds of chewing, a fox tail lightly wagged beneath Xiao Li’s skirt.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Xiao Li get so close to a human woman… but then again…”
The old woman caught sight of the bracelet on Lu Li’s wrist, then looked back at Li Zhengshen.
“Please forgive me, True Master. This child has left the Fox Clan for the first time and is still a bit shy.”
“No matter.”
Li Zhengshen also looked at Lu Li with a puzzled expression, eventually muttering something about Charm Technique and bloodlines.
“As for the thanks I spoke of earlier, they are our clan’s Celestial Fox Sacred Blood and the Stabilizing Heart Pills needed by Golden Core True Persons to pass the Heavenly Tribulation.”
The old woman turned her wrist, and four Porcelain Bottles appeared on the table, followed by three small wooden boxes.
“As a gift for Xiao Li’s temporary stay at the Ascending Heavenly Palace.”
“We’ll accept these items.”
Liu Qingxi nodded.
“But you mentioned earlier that you had a presumptuous request?”
“Yes. The Yao Race is about to hold the Ten Thousand Demons Conference, but the Fox Clan’s Saintess is still a child and cannot participate… We wish to invite a human cultivator to temporarily take her place.”
“I see. I was wondering why there were four bottles of Celestial Fox Sacred Blood.”
After scanning with his Divine Sense, Li Zhengshen nodded.
“I’ve checked them for you. It’s pure sacred blood with no hidden tricks.”
“Thank you, Golden Core True Person.”
The old woman nodded again.
“This Celestial Fox Sacred Blood is a necessary item for Human Race Foundation Establishment cultivators to reach the Seeing Dragon Realm. It can temper bones and meridians, and contains the special might of the Celestial Fox Lineage. If one is gifted, they can even absorb it for their own use.”
“This is indeed a great gift… but the probability of being discovered at the Ten Thousand Demons Conference is not low, is it?”
While Li Zhengshen was asking, Liu Qingxi stepped back a few paces and also came to Xiao Li’s side. However, as soon as the girl saw Liu Qingxi approaching, she hugged Lu Li even tighter.
“Please rest assured, fellow Human Race Daoists. By drinking the Celestial Fox Sacred Blood, one will temporarily carry our clan’s aura, ensuring they won’t be recognized.”
As the old woman said this, Lu Li let out a soft “Oh.”
“Holy Maiden Lu, do you have any insights?”
Li Zhengshen asked.
“I do have a few, True Master Li.”
Lu Li looked at the four bottles of Celestial Fox Sacred Blood on the table.
“If I’m not mistaken, this Ten Thousand Demons Conference will be extremely dangerous.”