Chapter 357: The Poisonous Youth

The Fox God's face turned pale, his eyes twitched, and he stared fixedly at the two people in front of him.

One was a graceful young man in white, and the other was a child carved from pink jade, both looking so harmless.

But in stark contrast to their appearance, their hearts were too black and too dirty!

"Meeting you two, I suppose it was my destiny to suffer this calamity." After a long silence, the Fox God smiled miserably and said in a heartbreaking voice, "Spirit Hidden Willow, a Golden Core-level Spirit Hidden Willow!"

Sun Lingtong stared.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's expression could not be concealed, revealing a look of surprise.

Spirit Hidden Willow!

And a Golden Core-level Spirit Hidden Willow?

"Did I hear that right?!" Sun and Ning looked at each other.

*The spirit willow hides its form to avoid disaster, and the mystery of enlightenment is between the leaves. *

The Spirit Hidden Willow grows in a blessed land with rich spiritual energy and possesses the ability to hide and avoid disaster. This ability is even stronger than the Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon.

The Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon can only be invisible, not hidden; even if you can't see it, you can still touch it.

The Spirit Hidden Willow can not only be invisible but also hidden. Even if you walk to where it is rooted and wander back and forth, you cannot touch it.

The hiding ability of the Spirit Hidden Willow is just a means of survival. It has two truly precious aspects.

One is avoiding disaster.

It is said that it can change luck and avoid disaster.

The other is enlightenment.

Under the Spirit Hidden Willow, when a cultivator practices, their comprehension can be significantly improved, making it twice the result with half the effort to understand cultivation methods, study the hundred arts of cultivation, etc.

Even a Qi Refining-level Spirit Hidden Willow is something Golden Core cultivators would fight over.

Yet the Fox God directly took out a Golden Core-level one!

This was too shocking.

Even though Unlike Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong had the intention of extortion—no, out of a warm heart to help the Fox God atone for his sins and survive—they had never thought they would harvest a Golden Core-level Spirit Hidden Willow!

This was a good thing they couldn't even imagine.

Unexpectedly, it really happened in reality, and it happened to the two of them.

"Big profit! Big profit!" Sun Lingtong shouted in his heart.

The Fox God stood up straight and stopped talking.

Taking out a Golden Core-level Spirit Hidden Willow, he was sure the two would definitely agree.

This price was too big and too heavy!

The Fox God looked cold: "I have taken out so many things, how can you two make me sure that you can atone for my sins?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo reached into his bosom and, in front of the Fox God, took out an imperial decree.

He unfolded the decree and read: "By the order of the monarch, the Fox God of Mount Wuyin is loyal and brave, enduring humiliation to carry out a mission, throwing himself into the demon thieves, lurking among them, collecting intelligence, and exposing conspiracies."

"Because of your merits here, you are specially granted the title of 'Righteous Mountain God of Mount Wuyin'. You are ordered to actively cooperate with royal family members to jointly suppress bandits, protect the peace of the people, and enjoy the glory of incense forever."

"Respect this!"

The Fox God was full of solemnity and bowed down: "Subject, receive the decree, thank you for the monarch's grace!"

As soon as the words fell, the decree erupted with brilliance, fell on the Fox God, and directly concluded the contract.

The Fox God closed his eyes slightly, feeling that the contract was genuine, then looked at Unlike Ning Zhuo, his eyes full of surprise.

Unlike Ning Zhuo directly took out the imperial decree, which was far beyond his expectations.

He really didn't expect that the young man in front of him could reach the ears of the heavens, and in just these few days, he had done such a big thing. Not only did he uncover a major case, but he also obtained an imperial decree!

He didn't know that this decree came from Zhu Xuanji.

Zhu Xuanji is the Jin Dan signature of the Zhu family, possessing several divine abilities, with Nascent Soul potential that is incomparably strong, and he is deeply trusted by the monarch.

He investigates cases everywhere and often carries a blank imperial decree, filling in the content himself when necessary.

The blank imperial decree bears the seal of the Nandou monarch; as long as the content is filled in and the format is correct, it can take effect!

The contract is concluded, and both parties complete the handover.

The Fox God received the dharma decree from Unlike Ning Zhuo's hands, while Unlike Ning Zhuo obtained numerous cultivation treasures.

He very much wanted to study them thoroughly, especially that Jin Dan-level Spirit-Hiding Willow. But the timing was wrong, so he had to stuff them all into the Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon first.

Seeing the Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon manifest, the Fox God sighed softly: "Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon?"

He immediately recognized this classic Nascent Soul-level mechanical creation.

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators actually possessed so many heavy treasures. This made him even more certain that the backgrounds of Sun and Ning were extremely deep, and he dared not offend them in the slightest.

Even the heartache of having just emptied his life's savings was eased and dissipated somewhat because of this.

The Fox God respectfully asked how he should cooperate with their actions next.

Unlike Ning Zhuo then told him to wait right here, and when the time came, he only needed to act upon hearing his order.

The Fox God suppressed his doubts and obediently obeyed.

Having handled this errand, Unlike Ning Zhuo could not help but recall his previous conversation with Zhu Xuanji.

Unlike Ning Zhuo asked Zhu Xuanji directly: "How should that Fox God be dealt with?"

Zhu Xuanji thought for a moment and sighed: "Using merit is not as good as using a fault."

Unlike Ning Zhuo immediately understood his meaning.

The main Mountain God of Mount Wuyin was already in dire straits; if the deputy Mountain God were also killed, then who would govern and manage Mount Wuyin?

Relying on those villagers?

Rather than relying on human cultivators, it would be better to rely on a deity.

Although the Fox God had surrendered to demons, he had ultimately exposed the dark curtain and was still useful and meritorious.

Besides, deities are far more skilled at governing mountains, rivers, lakes, and the like than human cultivators.

The Zhu family of the Nandou royal house is lacking in talent, and their governance of the Nandou kingdom is stretched thin. This can be seen from the Prefect of Xuan Magnetic.

The Nandou monarch even has to cherish such outsiders, which shows that the Nandou royal house's influence in the local area is quite shallow.

The Fox God having leverage fall into the hands of the Zhu family is exactly what the royal house is most happy to see.

Zhu Xuanji's reaction was also within Unlike Ning Zhuo's expectations.

As early as in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, Unlike Ning Zhuo already knew Zhu Xuanji deeply, knowing that the latter was worried about his country and family, and took the interests of the royal house as the primary point of his planning.

Unlike Ning Zhuo then said: "Lord Zhu and the Prefect must not act lightly, lest you startle the snake. Let the two of us go out and force that Fox God to submit."

Zhu Xuanji looked deeply at Unlike Ning Zhuo: "If you take the initiative to accept this order, then the subsequent share of the spoils will be reduced."

He was very clear about Unlike Ning Zhuo's intentions.

After all, he had seen too much when investigating cases.

Unlike Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, agreed immediately, and asked for proof.

Zhu Xuanji pondered for a moment, then handed over the imperial decree, and under the astonished gaze of the three, personally wrote the content of the decree.

At the foot of the mountain, the radiance of teleportation suddenly appeared, stinging the eyes.

Immediately, a large number of cultivators appeared out of thin air.

This scene immediately drew the Fox God's attention.

"He actually mobilized an army to deal with the Black Wind Tiger Demon?"

"Wait, the grade of this army is not high."

The Fox God looked into the distance and gradually discovered that this was a local garrison.

"The Black Wind Tiger Demon practices the demonic Flesh-Swallowing Art; no matter how many cannon fodder surround it, they are just its rations or mobile elixirs," the Fox God could not help but remind him.

Sun Lingtong chuckled: "Fox God, just keep watching."

The radiance of teleportation continued to surge.

The cultivators who appeared next were obviously much more elite. Several Foundation Establishment-level leaders exuded an aura of toughness and might.

The Fox God evaluated: "If this army is proficient in battle formations, perhaps they still have the strength to fight. But the formation is huge, and the more people there are, the more difficult it is to coordinate. If a flaw is found and the formation is broken, the Tiger Demon will slaughter everyone and massacre countless people."

Sun Lingtong and Unlike Ning Zhuo both remained silent.

The final wave of teleportation!

As the radiance dissipated, Meng Zizhong appeared in the Fox God's field of vision, holding a long-handled war hammer.

The Fox God was stunned: "Meng Zizhong?!"

His breath hitched, and at first, he thought Meng Zizhong had brought an army of cultivators to level the mountain and destroy his temple to eradicate him.

The Fox God's mind was agile, and after a second thought, he suddenly understood.

At the foot of the mountain, the cultivator army began to form a formation rapidly.

The Black Wind Tiger Demon received the battle report, and knowing it could not let the human cultivators form their formation smoothly, it immediately led all its forces to charge down the mountain.

It wanted to take advantage of the opponent's unstable footing to kill and rout them, and then leave triumphantly!

"It's starting!" Sun Lingtong chuckled, watching the battle with great interest.

The Fox God looked sharply at Unlike Ning Zhuo: "Did you specifically mobilize Meng Zizhong to eradicate the Black Wind Tiger Demon?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo glanced at him, then turned to the battlefield at the foot of the mountain, his tone flat: "I just spread a few rumors."

The Fox God's eyes narrowed; Unlike Ning Zhuo's flat and monotonous tone made him feel a chill.

"What a poisonous scheme!" the Fox God exclaimed inwardly, his vigilance and guardedness toward Unlike Ning Zhuo skyrocketing several times over.

The demons charged down from the mountain!

The Black Wind Tiger Demon charged at the very front, its eyes blood-red, its killing intent chilling, and its roar like a thunderclap: "Meng Zizhong, I will chew you up and swallow you alive!"

Meng Zizhong snorted coldly, holding a long-handled war hammer, and stepped forward.

He ran out of the army formation and headed straight for the Black Wind Tiger Demon.

Bang!

The two collided fiercely.

Meng Zizhong retreated four steps, while the Black Wind Tiger Demon only retreated one.

But Meng Zizhong had already achieved his goal; he had intercepted the Black Wind Tiger Demon.

The Black Wind Tiger Demon shook its tiger claws to disperse the numbness.

Meng Zizhong gripped his war hammer even tighter.

He pondered inwardly: "This evil tiger has great strength; I am not its match, so I will first attack from a distance with spells to weaken it!"

Thinking of this, Meng Zizhong shouted: "Sand, cover its eyes."

As soon as the words fell, earth-element magic power surged, turning into countless yellow sands, covering the Black Wind Tiger Demon.

The Black Wind Tiger Demon's vision was obscured, and its hearing was interfered with.

Meng Zizhong shouted again: "Stone, hit its waist!"

Earth-element magic power condensed into stone balls, rolling rapidly with a rumbling sound, hitting the Black Wind Tiger Demon's body.

The Black Wind Tiger Demon closed its eyes and covered its ears, being hit by the stone balls and retreating repeatedly, its body swaying, its lumbar spine aching faintly.

It roared and unleashed a technique of its Flesh-Swallowing demonic art—

Foul Wind!

A violent wind arose, and the bloody stench spread rapidly across the entire battlefield.

Clouds follow dragons, winds follow tigers. Tiger species are naturally good at wind; the Black Wind Tiger Demon's nickname contains the word "wind," which from the side highlights its power in wind techniques.

The violent wind swept everywhere, blowing the yellow sand backward, and the speed of the rolling stones plummeted, with many almost stalling in place, unable to roll anymore.

Meng Zizhong snorted coldly: "It's not over yet. Watch this General's Flying Sand and Rolling Stones!"

The yellow sand and rolling stones were originally two separate spells, but now, under Meng Zizhong's manipulation, they merged into one, mutually enhancing each other, and their power increased greatly.

For a time, yellow sand danced across the sky, and rolling stones rushed rapidly, breaking through the obstruction of the foul wind and hitting the Tiger Demon's body.

Bang, bang, bang...

The Tiger Demon was knocked down.

The rolling stones then crushed it, piling up one by one, suppressing it into the ground.