Everyone gathered in the main hall.
The flying boat gradually descended from the heights, assembling at the city gate alongside other flying boats and behemoths arriving from all directions.
“The next matter is of utmost importance.” Xiu Popo took out three red pills and placed them on her palm.
“These are Imitation Demon Pills. They can resonate with the Celestial Fox Sacred Blood you’ve taken, making your appearances more similar to yao and avoiding detection.”
“As for dispelling the medicinal power, you can return to Li Zhenren on the human side and take a Transformation Pill, or estimate… three to four months, and the medicine will dissipate on its own.” As Xiu Popo spoke, faint fur began to grow on her wrinkled skin.
Her ears gradually elongated, and at the same time, a withered fox tail slowly grew from her coccyx.
“Such peculiar pills.” Liu Qingyun was the first to pick one up. After scanning it with his Divine Sense, he swallowed the red pill. S
hortly after, he also unbuttoned his robe to reveal the short fox tail.
“Truly amazing. It feels like I’ve gained an extra limb.”
“Historically, the yao race has indeed been connected to humans.” Seeing Liu Qingyun so carefree, Yuan He also picked up a pill, and Liu Qingxi followed suit by swallowing hers.
Within a few seconds, the four people in the hall hardly differed from some yao who had initially transformed.
“What about me?” Lu Li looked at the others who had already divided the pills, while Xiu Popo was slowly guiding the flying boat to line up at the back of the queue.
“Lu Daoyou’s bloodline is thicker than that of ordinary cultivators, so there’s no need for this medicine.” Xiu Popo looked out the window at other yao guards soaring toward them.
“Just use the Bewitch Heart technique from the Nine Forms of the Heavenly Fox.”
“Is that so?” Lu Li focused his mind, and nine fox tails easily extended from his waist. “But I’m still mostly—”
“Blackstone City inspection!”
A rough voice sounded outside the flying boat, accompanied by violent knocking on the hull.
“Let this old woman handle it.”
Xiu Popo looked at everyone. Liu Qingyun instinctively pressed his wrist on his sword hilt, and Yuan He tightened his grip on his prayer beads.
“Understood.” Lu Li recalled his time as a Saintess at the Yin Yang Sect and sat down in the center of the hall.
Liu Qingxi, after a faint smile, pretended to be a maid and stood to the side.
“What, do you not recognize a flying boat of our Heavenly Fox Clan?” When Xiu Popo opened the door, her previously frail expression changed instantly.
“If you disturb the Saintess of our Heavenly Fox Clan—”
“That’s how it is…” The two yao guards holding long spears swept their Divine Sense, caught sight of the nine tails swaying behind Lu Li, and their faces changed in shock.
They immediately knelt on one knee.
“Please forgive us, Saintess. We merely heard that many humans have infiltrated Blackstone City recently and wanted to conduct a thorough inspection…”
“Then feel free to inspect.” Lu Li opened his eyes and swept his gaze over the two.
“But don’t delay us too long.”
“Yes!”
The two guards simply alternated their Divine Sense sweeps, then respectfully backed away a few steps. Under Xiu Popo’s cold expression, they left the flying boat.
“Huff…” After confirming the flying boat was completely closed, Xiu Popo leaned against the wall and let out a long sigh.
Liu Qingyun and Yuan He, who had been disguised as guards on either side, also relaxed their grip on their weapons.
“Something seems wrong, Xiu Popo.” Liu Qingxi tapped the jade disk, and several hexagram symbols appeared on it.
“I recall that Blackstone City used to allow some humans to trade here, didn’t it?”
“Indeed… In principle, humans can enter, but some inner areas require thorough inspection.” Xiu Popo pondered for a moment.
“Could it be because of the recent Ten Thousand Demons Conference…”
“I remember from history that even the Ten Thousand Demons Conference had human helpers, right? The Imitation Demon Pills you gave us are the best proof.” Lu Li had seen records of peaceful coexistence with yao when searching for the Yin Yang Sect’s inheritance.
“Has something changed this year?”
“Yes, it should have changed.” Xiu Popo steered the flying boat.
“Let’s land and talk first.”
As the ground gradually approached, Lu Li absorbed relevant knowledge about Blackstone City from his inherited memories.
Blackstone City was located further north than the human Northern Domain. But for the yao race, it belonged to the Southern Demon Nation.
Because it was close to human territory, it was heavily influenced by human culture and lifestyle. Thus, some yao criticized and despised the yao of the Southern Nation.
Over time, this place gathered yao who were more friendly toward humans.
There was even a beautiful tale of both sides fighting the Beast Tide together.
“Rabbit clan, fox clan, horse, cow, sheep…” Yuan He looked through the glass window at the yao walking on the streets below.
“So this is what the yao kingdom is like.”
“To be precise, this is what the Southern Demon Nation is like. I heard from my master that the yao kingdom further north is completely different from the human race.” Liu Qingyun’s gaze swept over the peculiar shops, where amidst the guttural yao language, a word or two of human speech occasionally appeared.
“Hmm…” Unlike the two who were sightseeing, Liu Qingxi suspended the jade disk in front of her, from which countless hexagram symbols flew out.
“Xiu Popo, the Heavenly Fox Clan does have a residence here, right?”
“Yes, they do.”
“Then choose that one. It’s the safest. After that, something quite dangerous will happen. At that time, we must not act rashly.” After speaking, Liu Qingxi looked back at Lu Li.
But this time, the several hexagram symbols on the jade disk instantly became chaotic.
“Still can’t calculate it?” Lu Li looked at the scene and could only shake his head.
“No. If something really happens, we can only use the technique I gave you earlier.” Liu Qingxi gently placed her hand on Lu Li’s shoulder.
“This time, you will be in great danger.”
“Danger is nothing. After all, the path of immortal cultivation is never a smooth road.” Lu Li gave a smile instead.
“Alright, everyone, disembark.” Xiu Popo opened the flying boat’s door and let the people file out onto the ground.
“Saying it’s a yao clan, but in many places… ahem… many places aren’t all that different?” Yuan He extended his somewhat furry hand to touch the building’s pillar.
“It just seems a bit crude.”
“This place could use some… modification.” Liu Qingxi looked at the cracked blue bricks.
“Lu Li, any ideas?”
“Yes, but I’d probably tear this whole place down.” Lu Li stepped on the ground, already forming a plan in his mind.
“Tearing it all down would be a bit wasteful. The materials here are very old.” Liu Qingyun closed his eyes and sensed the pillars supporting the hall, as well as the slightly adjusted tables and chairs.
They were all a size larger than human furniture. The backs of the chairs were also hollowed out so that tails wouldn’t be pressed against the cushions.
As for the seats at the head of the table, they even had platforms specially made for placing tails.
“What are these small tables and chairs in the back for?” After entering the Foundation Establishment stage and consuming the Celestial Fox Sacred Blood, Lu Li’s tails had become physical entities.
As he walked, they brushed against these pillars and furniture.
“They’re for servants to groom tails.” Xiu Popo explained.
“In the yao race, the fluffier and bigger the tail and ears, the greater your status and position. Naturally, there are people dedicated to that task.”
“I see…” As Liu Qingxi stroked the slightly dusty furniture, the jade disk at her waist suddenly vibrated.
“Everyone, be careful. Someone—no, something is coming.”
Before the words faded, the closed door was suddenly kicked open.
Several wolf-headed, human-bodied guards wearing uniform attire strode in and looked at the people in the main hall.
“Wolf Commander! How dare you! This is the residence of the Heavenly Fox Saintess.” Xiu Popo immediately stepped in front of everyone, and Liu Qingyun and Yuan He flanked the sides again.
“Is that so? I’m not so sure.” The leading wolf guard narrowed his eyes.
“Today, Blackstone City has apprehended thirteen tribes colluding with humans. And as the Heavenly Fox Saintess, you have far too few guards… Their cultivation is at Foundation Establishment, but one has his hand on a sword and the other holds prayer beads. These are clearly not our yao techniques.”
“It was I who sent them to human territory to learn.” Lu Li took a step forward, looking at the lead wolf.
But with each step, the nine tails behind him trembled slightly.
“Though our yao claws are sharp, what’s wrong with having another blade?” Lu Li stared at the wolf before him, the cherry-pink color in his eyes becoming exceptionally dazzling.
“Though our yao carapaces are thick, what’s wrong with having an extra layer of protective magic arts?”
“Your expulsion of other humans has nothing to do with me. But why break into this residence? Could it be that His Majesty the Demon Emperor personally granted you the authority to allow a lowly guard like you to stand above us saintesses and saint sons?” As Lu Li spoke, the Alluring Sound Spirit Pattern in his throat gradually revealed itself.
“In my view… perhaps it’s you, this petty guard, who wants to use the name of the Ten Thousand Demons Conference to eliminate dissenters and stir up conflict between humans and yao.” Lu Li lowered his voice here.
“And then fish in troubled waters, kill a few saintesses and saint sons to earn merits, isn’t that right, Wolf Commander?”
“This subordinate would not dare!” Upon hearing this, the Wolf Commander immediately knelt on one knee.
The wolves behind him, in fear, glanced at Lu Li’s nine tails and prostrated themselves as well.
“It’s just that this subordinate was too successful in capturing humans earlier, so for a moment…”
“For a moment, you felt you were riding high.” Lu Li finished his sentence.
“No… Regarding this matter, please forgive me, Heavenly Fox Saintess.” The Wolf Commander unfastened the storage pouch at his waist.
“These are the possessions of the thirteen humans we confiscated earlier, as an apology.”
“Xiao Xi, take it.” Lu Li waved to Liu Qingxi.
“Yes, Saintess.” Liu Qingxi lowered her voice, bowed her head, and picked up the storage pouch from the ground.
“Furthermore, while human things may be useful for some of my subordinates, they are of little use to me and my servants.” Lu Li looked at the Wolf Commander.
“Fix the door and bring some wondrous flowers and herbs as well.”
“Yes… but this subordinate still has one more matter…”
“Your actions were sanctioned by His Majesty the Demon Emperor, right?” Lu Li smiled faintly and watched as the Wolf Commander’s head snapped up, a glint of fear flashing in his eyes.
“How could I not know?”
Damn, our boy can act. He must have a third spirit root for Acting