Chapter 226: Unveiling

A moment later, a vast primordial spirit divine sense flowed from deep within the palace.

Yuan Geng also activated his wondrous method, communicating via a special divine sense frequency.

In the depths of the imperial city and palace, dragon qi was especially strong, and the emperor's qi existed there; when hundreds of gods descended, even the vast divine sense of a primordial spirit true person would become sluggish and could not freely extend outward, so communication could only occur through a special wondrous method by matching frequencies.

Moments later, a stream of light flew out from within, heading toward the foothills of South Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, Hongluan transformed into a faint demonic aura that descended, her body's demonic aura severely depleted, her eyes showing alarm, while her jade-like face held more delight.

Upon manifesting her true form, she respectfully bowed down.

"Benefactor, we have succeeded!"

On the rock, Zhang Jian nodded slightly; moments later, he gazed into the depths, his extremely sensitive yin spirit divine sense detecting a faint but untraceable aura approaching, and he said.

"Let's go—I am actually quite interested in your fox clan's dwelling place!"

Upon hearing this, Hongluan's face lit up with joy.

"Your gracious visit, benefactor, is a fortune for our entire fox clan; I only fear our humble abode may neglect you!"

Speaking thus, she and the two white foxes transformed into three strands of demonic aura and swiftly rushed toward the depths of South Mountain.

After just a few breaths, a dark-hued stream of light came from afar and arrived moments later at the place where the three had departed.

He glanced at the mountain hollow, flicked his finger, and a thread of mana flowed, covering the deep void in all directions; countless lingering thoughts in the void were forcibly drawn out by him and merged into the depths of his glabella.

"South Mountain fox demons?"

Chaomu's gaze fluctuated—he knew there was a black-clad guard of fox demons at South Mountain, but this guard had committed no misdeeds and was somehow related to another powerful fox clan in the other realm, so he had not acted against them.

With each step, he seemed to tear open the void directly, arriving at the mountain foothills in an instant.

At this time, residual yin-sha qi lingered at the mountain base, with threads of killing qi rising, but the resentment within had already completely dissipated.

Deep within the yin-sha earth cavern, a green stone lotus could be seen blocking the cavern's exit, continuously drawing in the dispersed dragon resentment from deep in the earth veins; within it lay a vast radiance, blossoming with compassion, vast salvation, and the Dao-intent of purification.

Deep in the earth veins, any resentful soul or vicious ghost approaching this place would be purified by that vast, radiant compassion and salvation, naturally entering the realm of reincarnation.

"What a marvelous Dao of the green lotus purifying the world!"

Just a glance, and Chaomu was somewhat moved, with apprehension also arising deep in his brows.

The Dao within this green lotus is indeed profound, but it is also the bane of his primordial spirit foundation.

This inevitably caused Chaomu's expression to change.

His primordial spirit foundation is none other than a ghost emperor's dharma form from the Nine Underworlds; his primordial spirit has become the ghost emperor governing the netherworld, death, and other domineering authorities.

Yet before him, this green lotus foundation resembles the Holy Sovereign of Ten Directions Salvation from the Pure Land of Redemption manifesting holiness; such a salvation Dao specifically counters ghosts and gods, not to mention it also contains the profound Dao of reincarnation, a core mystery of the Nine Underworlds.

There is still some worry in his eyes—if the other party came merely to save the common people, then undoubtedly it is a blessing for the people of Haojing.

But if they came for him, then he is in great trouble.

However, since this matter concerns the South Mountain fox clan, he ought to investigate it thoroughly.

……

Before him, ancient vines entwined, flowers bloomed in clusters, and Zhang Jian gazed in surprise at this patch of woodland—it lay within an illusion-enveloped area, with a small spirit vein extending outward nearby, spirit energy abundant, and many foxes of various sizes playing in the forest before the ridge.

It seemed their first encounter with strangers; they all ceased their frolicking, pairs of eyes wide with surprise and curiosity as they gazed at Zhang Jian.

Some bolder foxes even tried to approach, but were snapped at by Bai Shi, who bared his teeth, instantly frightening them away.

At this time, Hongluan also learned from Bai Shi and Bai Shiyi that the two little foxes had been taught a secret technique; after sitting down, she hurriedly brought forth all kinds of fine things from the cave and ordered the two white foxes to transform into human form to personally serve tea.

Zhang Jian unexpectedly discovered that these two white foxes had quite skillful tea-brewing hands.

It seemed Hongluan had taught them well.

"Benefactor, there is nothing special in the mountains—this is our South Mountain fox clan's secretly crafted hundred-flower tea, picked from mountain blossoms; I do not know if you will like it!"

Hongluan then took out a small tea jar; its contents were rich, also carrying medicinal fragrance, with abundant spirit energy.

Zhang Jian was quite interested in this; he slightly raised his teacup, took a sip, and a hint of smile appeared in his eyes.

"Not bad!"

This infused flower tea was not cloyingly sweet as imagined, but instead contained a faint, pure fragrance, distant and secluded, as if natural fragrance seeped into the heart; most rare of all, it also contained a pure strand of spirit energy that could nourish mana.

Drinking it often can enhance one's mana.

Zhang Jian smiled more—these fox folk were quite interesting.

Beside him, seeing Zhang Jian's approval, Hongluan's jade face also blossomed into a charming smile.

Just then, Zhang Jian frowned, his gaze turning toward the outside of the fox clan's dwelling; moments later, he saw a hazy demonic aura swiftly approaching, which instantly transformed into a handsome, moon-faced young noble who hurriedly walked in from outside.

Huyang rushed in from outside, his face beaming with excitement, and from afar he loudly said: "Wife, let me tell you good news—the resentment on the mountain foothills has dissipated; our fox clan no longer needs to relocate!"

Upon hearing this, Hongluan's jade face faintly smiled.

"Husband, I already knew of this..."

At this moment, Huyang also noticed Zhang Jian sitting in the place of honor, golden blade at his side, and could not help but raise his brow.

"Wife, who is this..."

"Husband, you must not be rude to the benefactor!"

Hongluan deeply knew Huyang's nature; she quickly pulled him aside and recounted everything that had happened in the mountains in full detail.

Though half-believing, half-doubting, Huyang still performed a respectful salute.

"Huyang has been remiss; I beg the benefactor's forgiveness!"

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon Huyang; seeing with his spirit eyes that as Huyang entered, an invisible black aura enveloped the couple, his eyes flickered, and he extended a thread of mana to lift them up, smiling.

"Rise, no need for excessive courtesy!"

That invisible mana flow instantly changed Huyang's expression; his inner doubts vanished completely, and a hint of awe appeared in his eyes.

Yet see, Zhang Jian rose at this moment and smiled.

"The tea has been drunk, the wine has been tasted, I have many trivial matters, yet I cannot linger long here!"

Upon hearing this, Hongluan quickly spoke to detain him, but saw Zhang Jian wave his hand and smile.

"No need, we'll meet again!"

He then turned his gaze to the two demons again and said indifferently.

"Remember, if anyone enters your fox clan's territory later, you must not be negligent; receive him as you received me, and if he asks anything, answer accordingly—when necessary, you may tell him my identity, but do not be presumptuous, or else your lives will not be spared!"

Upon hearing this, Red Phoenix's expression changed.

Hu Yang beside him also furrowed his brow.

Yet he still harbored some doubts, his expression uncertain and startled.

But when the two looked up, they saw Zhang Jian's figure had already vanished into thin air.

The two demons were somewhat dazed, their hearts shaken, when a faint, ethereal voice echoed from the void: "If you encounter great peril, cry out once 'Qinglian Heavenly Venerable,' and you shall escape one calamity of death!"

As the words faded, the omen in the void completely disappeared.

And almost simultaneously, a dim light appeared in the distance near the fox clan's vicinity; Mu Ci's form coalesced within the gloomy radiance, and he instantly pierced through the fox clan's outer illusion, stepping into the illusion in just a few strides.

His bold and unrestrained movement immediately alerted many of the fox clan.

"Who dares trespass our clan's forbidden grounds?"