Shangguan Ce only felt a profound numbness around his back wound, while the icy, chilling aura continuously seeped into his body’s meridians from the shadowy entity. It felt as if he was being devoured by countless ants, causing an unbearable, excruciating pain.
In no time, his forehead was drenched with cold sweat, and his face turned pale. Standing on the rooftop, Little White observed Shangguan Ce’s plight, and her smile grew even more pronounced, tinged with schadenfreude. “I bet you didn’t expect this, old man. You have your day too, huh?”
Gritting his teeth, Shangguan Ce let out a cold snort, forcing himself to stand, and shouted fiercely, “You dare show yourself to me, demoness?”
Little White laughed, finding his words utterly ridiculous. She waved her sleeve, and her form floated lightly from the roof, landing not far in front of Shangguan Ce. She smiled, “I dare not show myself to you? Yes, I’m so timid that I wouldn’t dare. So, I came out and gave you a little gift first, and then I dared to meet you. Old man, you locked me up in the Mystic Fire Altar for so many years. This time, I can’t just let it go without a proper ‘thank you,’ can I?”
Shangguan Ce’s face was twisted with rage, but deep down, he was indeed frightened. Back then, at the Mystic Fire Altar, he relied heavily on the Altar’s inherent fire spirits and the remnants of the Eight Evils Mystic Fire Array to subdue this thousand-year-old fox. Otherwise, with the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox’s cultivation, he wouldn’t have been able to contain her.
But now, times had changed. The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox had broken free, and he, in his moment of carelessness, fell prey to her ambush, suffering a severe injury. He feared he might not be a match for her anymore.
The night wind howled across the wilderness, carrying the wails of ghosts and wolves, as if countless night creatures were weeping in the desolate darkness, amplifying the eerie atmosphere.
Inside the Memorial Hall, Little White and Shangguan Ce still faced each other off.
Although Shangguan Ce was severely injured, Little White did not seem intent on immediately attacking her long-time nemesis. Instead, she appeared to be observing him with keen interest, much like a cat playing with a mouse, wearing a sarcastic smirk.
Shangguan Ce knew that what he needed most was a safe, quiet place to recover, but the presence of this enigmatic, ancient fox before him was infuriating.
In his anger, Shangguan Ce spat, “If you are determined to deal with me, why don’t you just do it instead of standing there? What are you up to?”
Little White smiled faintly, “I have nothing to hide. Unlike you humans, who always feel life is too short, I have all the time in the world. So, I’ll just stand here and watch you, as I am very patient.”
Shangguan Ce’s ears reddened with fury. Clearly, this demoness intended to drag things out, knowing he was gravely wounded, yet refusing to give him a chance to heal. If this continued, Shangguan Ce would eventually succumb to exhaustion, making it easy for the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox to finish him off.
Despite his understanding, Shangguan Ce was at a loss on how to counter such a cunning tactic. Engaging her in combat was futile given his injuries and her formidable cultivation, while doing nothing would only make his condition worse. It seemed his only option was to flee.
However, Little White’s captivating, piercing eyes fixed on him, and he had little confidence in escaping her grasp.
Truly, he was in a dire situation, backed into a corner.
Shangguan Ce’s face turned ashen, a mixture of anger, frustration, fear, and anxiety crossing his features. Little White, watching him, was inwardly delighted.
She had been imprisoned in the Mystic Fire Altar by the Incense Valley people for years, and if not for the accidental release by Ghost Li, she might have spent her entire life in that hellish place. Her hatred for Shangguan Ce and the Incense Valley was profound, even though she had come to some realizations after escaping with Ghost Li and hadn’t deliberately sought revenge. But now, with Shangguan Ce presenting himself, she saw no reason to let him go.
When she was in a good mood, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox might be compassionate, but she was never one to forget past grievances or show mercy.
Her laughter, filled with satisfaction, echoed in the air, venting the pent-up resentment of many years.
Shangguan Ce, on the other hand, was in a much worse state. His injuries seemed to be worsening, and he began to tremble, his back emitting a faint blue glow from the rising ghostly energy.
Little White’s smile broadened, and Shangguan Ce’s breathing grew more labored. Suddenly, he took a few steps towards her. Little White frowned, her guard heightened. Despite his injuries, Shangguan Ce’s cultivation was no trifling matter, and she couldn’t afford to be careless.
But the unexpected happened.
Shangguan Ce’s face contorted in agony, his veins bulging. It looked like he was about to collapse, and his eyes rolled back, showing a hint of fear. With a thud, he knelt before Little White, pleading, “Fox Fairy, spare my life!”
If Shangguan Ce had used a powerful spell, Little White would have countered; even if he suddenly called for backup from the Incense Valley, she could handle it. But the sight of this old man kneeling and begging for his life was entirely unexpected. Even with her millennia of experience, she was momentarily stunned and unsure of how to react.
But she quickly recovered, realizing that Shangguan Ce’s act was a calculated move. In an instant, the seemingly mortally wounded Shangguan Ce transformed, his face full of murderous intent, and the pain vanished. The blue glow on his back was suppressed, and the Nine Cold Ice Spikes shimmered, flying from his hand with a thunderous roar, straight towards Little White’s chest.
With a furious shout, Little White’s body swiftly retreated, her sleeves flying up to form a barrier. However, Shangguan Ce’s attack, fueled by his lifelong cultivation, tore through her defense, shattering her sleeves into ice shards that crumbled to the ground.
The silver light continued towards her, but Little White, still retreating, made a strange gesture with her hands, intertwining them.
A long, mysterious howl reverberated through the air, echoing the loneliness and defiance of a white fox calling to the moon on a night of full splendor.
The next moment, the Nine Cold Ice Spikes’ light intensified, enveloping Little White in a silver glow.
Shangguan Ce’s desperate counterattack succeeded, but he showed no triumph. Instead, he gritted his teeth, clearly dissatisfied. Without delay, he launched himself away, disappearing into the vast wilderness.
The silver light slowly faded, revealing a faint bloodstain on the ground, but Little White was gone. The mysterious howl lingered in the air, gradually fading, and as if by magic, Little White reappeared, gracefully descending from the sky.
She looked at the bloodstain, her face a mask of anger. She had underestimated Shangguan Ce’s desperation and nearly lost her life.
Fortunately, she was no ordinary being—she was the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, and she had nine tails, a fact that should never be forgotten!
※※※
The cold night wind blew, bringing a chill to the skin. Little White stood in the courtyard, composed herself, and then slowly turned towards the dark, small house. She walked inside.
The silence and darkness within seemed to erase any memory of the intense battle. Her figure, illuminated by the dim starlight, appeared ethereal, almost ghostly. But Little White, being a master of such arts, was unafraid. She scanned the room, her gaze lingering on the coffins. Her eyes flickered with confusion, but she eventually focused on the coffin in the corner.
“Come out. I know you’re in there,” she said, standing still.
No response, only silence.
The Wraith, trapped and immobile in the coffin, must have been in a foul mood. His carefully laid plans had failed, and he had been discovered, even by someone who had entered the coffin before him.
Little White frowned, stepping forward, but then paused, looking around with a puzzled expression. The darkness seemed to hold something that even she was wary of.
After a moment, she said, “I know who you are. We met in the Demon Subduing Ancient Cave. Since we have no enmity, I just have one question for you.”
Her voice echoed in the room as the cold wind continued to blow. Through the hole in the wall, more cold air seeped in.
After a while, the Wraith’s voice emerged from the coffin, “Yes, I remember you. What do you want to ask?”
Little White raised her eyebrows, staring at the coffin, “Can’t you come out and talk?”
The Wraith hesitated, then said, “I prefer it this way. Ask your question.”
Little White huffed, “Fine. I won’t waste words. I want to know: what causes the celestial fire?”
The Wraith was taken aback, “Why do you ask?”
Little White replied, “Your master promised me something but died before fulfilling it. Now that I know you’re still around, I need answers.”
The Wraith grunted, “He was not my master. Only the Witch Queen is.”
Little White retorted, “Then what have you been doing all these years?”
The Wraith remained silent for a long time, “My actions are not for the world to understand.”
Impatient, Little White said, “Enough. I don’t care about your reasons. I just want to know if you will tell me.”
After a pause, the Wraith said, “The five tribes of the South are descendants of the Witches. You should know that.”
Little White frowned, “So?”
The Wraith added, “The secrets of the Witches are meant to be inherited by their descendants. That is all I will say.”
Little White repeated the Wraith’s words in her mind, her expression unchanged. She coldly said, “Playing tricks!”
With determination, she strode towards the coffin. As she neared, she suddenly spun, her slender fingers grabbing the massive coffin and lifting it with impossible strength.
With a thunderous boom, she carried the enormous coffin out of the room, its low rumble echoing. The coffin, twice her size, was lifted by her elegant fingers.
Even the Wraith in the corner coffin was shocked by her sudden, bizarre action.
The darkness in the room stirred, and as Little White set the coffin down in the courtyard, she concentrated her energy. A faint white light flashed on her fingers, and with a swift motion, she hurled the coffin against the hard ground.
Another booming sound echoed, and the coffin shattered, sending wooden splinters flying. Little White, already out of the way, watched as the debris scattered, and through the dust, a coughing figure stumbled out, tattered and covered in dirt.
Inside the house, the Wraith felt a chill run down his spine, shocked to find another person in the coffin. He felt surrounded by an eerie, suspicious atmosphere.
As the dust settled, the figure breathed heavily, trying to catch his breath. Little White approached, her hand waving to clear the remaining dust.
The figure, turning, let out a dry laugh.
Little White, recognizing him, gasped, “What are you doing here?”
The figure, somewhat embarrassed, wiped his face and chuckled, “It’s me, the Great Immortal One… Zhou Yixian.”
Appearing before the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, Little White, was none other than the self-proclaimed “Divine Guide, Iron Mouth, and Sage,” Zhou Yixian.
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