Chapter 372: Shadow of Mending Heaven

"Hum hum~"

"Good luck is coming, wishing you good luck~"

"Fold a paper crane, then tie a red ribbon~"

In the dense forest outside Wentian City, a white fox shook the white snow off its body, hiding itself within the vast, snowy expanse.

"Now, I am an Arctic snow fox."

Ren Yidao's Fox Tail Clone hummed a tune happily, hopping about in the snow and leaving behind pits of varying depths.

After surviving a Heart Demon, Ren Yidao's state of mind had undergone some new changes.

Perhaps he shouldn't suppress his demonic nature too much.

Whether it be human nature or demonic nature, both were his own true nature; there should be no difference between the two.

Humans have human instincts, and demons have demonic instincts.

One's true nature shouldn't consist only of human nature.

One side suppressing the other cannot be called wrong, but it is definitely not a long-term solution.

One should face, accept, and integrate them, and finally find a path for demons and humans to coexist.

"Perhaps this is my path to recreating my true self."

Although he had just stepped into the Void Refining Realm, the direction of Ren Yidao's efforts was already roughly clear.

And as his true body had successfully broken through, the realm of this clone had also risen accordingly, still maintaining eighty percent of the true body's strength as in the past.

But even with only eighty percent strength, that was still a genuine Void Refinement Great Demon.

Who would ever think that this seemingly harmless, cute little fox was actually a terrifying Great Demon capable of easily destroying a city?

Who would believe it?

Even Huhu himself didn't believe it!

Ren Yidao was in no rush to return to Wentian City; he still needed to replenish some Spirit Qi outside the city, as he worried that causing too much of a stir inside would attract the attention of certain people.

The Spirit Transformation Demon Ghost outside the city last time had already caught the attention of Wentian; if a Void Refinement Great Demon popped out inside the city, that would be disastrous!

Wouldn't they skin Huhu and make a fox-fur scarf out of me?

Can't afford to provoke them, definitely can't!

Huhu will just hide outside the city.

While playing in the snow like a real fox, he slowly absorbed Spirit Qi to replenish himself.

And not long after he started playing, he suddenly turned his head to look in the direction of Wentian, seeing a figure moving rapidly in the distance.

"Hmm?"

Although there was already some distance between here and Wentian City, it was not exactly desolate, and one could see hunters out catching foxes from time to time.

The arrival of someone wasn't strange, but the key issue was that this person's getup was truly too strange.

The person was clearly trying to hide their presence, yet they were wearing black clothes and a mask on their face.

Huh?

In this icy, snowy world, in broad daylight, black robes like ink... performance art?

Are you afraid that others won't see you?

The white fox watched in confusion as the person ran quickly past the front, seeing them off as they went further away.

This is Wentian, everyone has their own business to attend to... Ren Yidao had originally thought this, not intending to interfere.

However, when that person was about to walk away, the white fox's nose twitched slightly.

Hmm?

"This scent is?"

Pondering this familiar scent, Ren Yidao quickly recognized the smell on that person.

"This scent... isn't this Junior Martial Nephew Yiyi?"

How did you, kid, end up running all the way out here?

Ren Yidao had been busy with matters at Demon Emperor City and hadn't paid attention to the great "filial piety" affair Li Yiyi had previously orchestrated; otherwise, he would have been even more surprised.

Once the cases of the Shi Family and the Hua Family were revealed, it caused a massive stir in Wentian, not only surprising the world but also shaking the already uneasy noble families once again.

The Song Family, a prominent clan of righteous aura, was slaughtered just like that.

At the time, people were panicked, thinking a major reshuffle was coming, but in the end, it just fizzled out with no further word.

After living in fear for a period of time, the noble families felt slightly at ease, thinking the Song Family was just an unfortunate bird that stuck its head out and got shot, and that the Li Family wouldn't completely tear off the mask.

As a result, how long had it been since things settled down?

The Hua Family was raided without a sound, the Patriarch of the Shi Family committed suicide, and the entire clan was exiled to the frontier.

More importantly, the reputations of these three families in the eyes of the public were actually quite good.

The Song Family cultivated righteous aura, the Hua Family was famous throughout the world for their paintings, and the Shi Family often produced great poets; no one had ever heard of any evil deeds, and their reputation among the noble families was quite good.

They had thought this could count as a layer of protective golden armor, making Li Long consider things more before taking action, so as not to go against the will of the people.

And the result?

Did the Li Family hesitate even half a bit when they took action?

They finally recalled a fact they had deliberately forgotten.

This world was not given to them by others, but was carved out by the Li Family through sheer slaughter, built upon the severed heads of their enemies.

Every generation of the Li Family produced killers, and they never once showed mercy when it came to chopping off heads.

The current Emperor did not move against them before, not because he couldn't, but because the timing wasn't right.

Now... it seems the time to act has come.

His blade has been sharpened.

The noble families were in a constant state of panic, terrified that Li Long would use any excuse to seize the opportunity and have their homes raided as well.

Many people moved out of Wentian entirely, selling off their properties in Wentian and taking their wealth with them, fully intending to return to their own territories and act as honest local tyrants.

Others scattered their family wealth, frantically greasing palms all over Wentian, hoping to use these connections to spend money to avert disaster.

The smartest ones were the few families who brought out large sums of money, taking the initiative to distribute it to Wentian and the local impoverished commoners in the name of gratitude for imperial grace, making them grateful to Li Long.

Regardless, they all bled a significant amount of wealth.

As for Li Yiyi, he was viewed as the catalyst for all of this and was secretly hated by the noble families, though he did not know it.

Worried that some crazed noble families might seek secret revenge, he was forbidden by Ran Yeting from leaving the city during this period.

"What is he doing here?"

A secret tryst?

In this freezing weather, are you trying to find someone for a field rendezvous?

Young man... your body is truly in good shape!

Let me take a look!

Ren Yidao followed silently behind Li Yiyi, clutching a Recording Stone in his paw.

Don't be afraid, Junior Martial Nephew, Senior Uncle has no other intentions.

Senior Uncle is just curious about your taste, I won't do anything else. (Raises Recording Stone)

As long as you are willing to show some sincerity, Senior Uncle will absolutely not copy the contents of the Recording Stone for others.

But if you don't know how to show respect to your elders, then don't blame Senior Uncle for being ruthless!

After Ren Yidao followed for quite a while, he discovered that Li Yiyi did not seem to know the specific location.

He would slow down his pace for a while after walking, look down at the Wooden Token held in his hand, and then change to another direction.

Hmm?

What kind of strange game are you playing?

Hide-and-seek?

Ren Yidao followed in confusion for a long time, finally seeing Li Yiyi stop in his tracks.

Li Yiyi stood still, first scanning his surroundings, then slowly spoke:

"Come out."

His voice had undergone a special transformation, completely devoid of its original youthful quality, carrying a thick sense of vicissitudes.

The white fox remained silent, burying its head in the snow like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

In any case, he is definitely not talking to Huhu.

There was no response in the forest; seeing this, Li Yiyi showed no emotional change and spoke coldly:

"I have already come here as you said."

"I will only wait for you for ten breaths; if you do not come out, I will leave immediately and hand that token over to the Imperial Court. I believe they will be happy to give me some compensation."

The deep forest was silent, save for the sound of whistling wind and snow.

"Ten."

"Nine."

The hoarse voice echoed through the forest, adding a touch of chill under the cold wind.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

Li Yiyi did not deliberately draw out the sounds, nor did he intentionally speed up; he simply counted to ten meticulously, and seeing no one answer, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

That retreating figure was resolute, his movements agile, showing not a hint of hesitation.

If anyone had been testing him with the mindset of playing hard to get, they would surely have been caught off guard.

"..."

But the key problem is, there is no one here either?

There really is no one!

In this freezing weather, besides you, there is only Huhu; are you talking to... oh?

The white fox's ears twitched, and it looked behind Li Yiyi, where a black-robed person dressed exactly the same had emerged from behind a tree without any warning.

!!?

Even I didn't notice him!?

The Fox Tail Clone narrowed its eyes to observe the black-robed person, trying to figure out where he had been hiding just now.

But it failed.

Just now, there really hadn't been a trace of fluctuation; this person had completely appeared out of thin air.

No.

The appearance of this person is definitely not simple!

Ren Yidao put away all his playfulness, desperately suppressing his own Qi fluctuations and erasing his own presence.

And just at this moment, that black-robed person seemed to sense something and turned his head to look in the direction where Ren Yidao was hiding.

He stared for a while, seemingly suspicious, but in the end, he found no evidence and could only slowly retract his gaze.

He watched Li Yiyi's figure as it walked further and further away, and only after confirming that the other party was truly leaving did he speak aloud:

"Fellow Daoist, please stay your steps!"

Li Yiyi:!

Ren Yidao:???

This sentence from the black-robed person was no different from a sudden clap of thunder on flat ground, successfully startling two people.

Ren Yidao thought of many tragic cases from the Investiture of the Gods because of this famous quote from Shen Gongbao.

Li Yiyi simply hadn't expected the other party's concealment technique to be so high; he turned abruptly, his footsteps tapping lightly, carving long footprints into the snow.

After quickly putting some distance between them, he half-crouched, vigilantly observing the person who had come up behind him.

"Who!!?"

The black-robed person raised both hands to show goodwill, demonstrating that he was not carrying any weapons, and laughed:

"Fellow Daoist, don't be nervous; it was I who led you here earlier."

Li Yiyi's brows furrowed beneath his mask; he straightened his back and said unhappily:

"You are late."

The black-robed person laughed heartily, pointed at the sun in the sky, and shook his head:

"Haha, it is not that I broke our appointment, but that you, Fellow Daoist, arrived too early."

"Besides, since you were willing to come, why be in such a hurry to leave?"

Li Yiyi was silent, then said coldly: "I waited for you for ten breaths."

"Sigh."

The black-robed person sighed, shrugged helplessly, bowed in greeting, and said with a chuckle: "Then allow me to offer you an apology, Fellow Daoist, how about that?"

Li Yiyi was silent, but he did not bring up the previous matter again, nor did he turn and leave.

"What is your intention in leading me to this place?"

"Intention? Fellow Daoist, let us have no more jokes."

The black-robed person seemed to have seen many people like Li Yiyi and sneered: "Since you have obtained the token of the Di Envoy and learned the techniques within it to contact us, can you not guess the purpose for which I invited you here today?"

"That would naturally be to invite you to join our Butian Alliance and become a part of those who save this world."

"……"

Li Yiyi's silence said it all.

Butian Alliance?

The white fox eavesdropping from the side blinked its eyes, not knowing what kind of organization this Butian Alliance that Li Yiyi and the others were talking about was.

What is that?

A fan club for the Goddess Nüwa?

And, "a part of those who save the world," is it?

Honestly, such a claim only made Ren Yidao think of some unsavory organizations.

How many people who call themselves saviors are actually good people!

"Hehe, it seems you are very eager to understand us."

Li Yiyi let out a cold snort: "Hmph, playing god and acting like a ghost."

"The feeling is mutual; aren't you also dressed in a way that hides your head and shows your tail, Fellow Daoist? Hahaha." The black-robed person reached out to Li Yiyi and sincerely invited him:

"Fellow Daoist, please come with me; I will take you to witness the power of the Butian Alliance with your own eyes."

"Believe me, once you go to Wandao City and see all of that, you will certainly not be disappointed."

"Once you join us, cultivation techniques, wealth, resources, Daoist companions... whatever you want, as long as you can provide corresponding value, the Butian Alliance can provide it to you."

Li Yiyi took a step forward, but quickly pulled his foot back, shook his head, and said firmly: "No, speak here. I will not go anywhere with you."

This unexpected refusal made the black-robed person narrow his eyes and examine Li Yiyi carefully.

His body swayed slightly, his Qi was chaotic; his Daoist Art had clearly taken effect, and this person was obviously tempted, so why did he wake up at the last moment?

A flash of doubt crossed his mind, but the black-robed person showed no abnormality on the surface and nodded understandingly: "Very well, since you insist, then let us talk here."

Li Yiyi shook his head forcefully to shake off the dizziness in his mind and spoke while bracing himself, his tone unfriendly: "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't need you to do anything special. Since you are from Wentian City, I don't care by what means you obtained this Di Constellation Token; from the moment you learned the techniques within it, you became a subordinate of the Di Envoy."

The black-robed person spoke eloquently, clearing up his confusion: "When there is a mission, I will relay it to you. If you execute it well, you will receive rewards from the Di Envoy and the Butian Alliance."

Li Yiyi's brows furrowed, and he interrupted: "Why must it be through you? Can I not contact the Di Envoy directly?"

"You? With your status?"

The black-robed person sneered in disdain, mocking his overestimation of himself: "The Di Envoy is a mighty expert of the Wuxiang Realm! One of the Twenty-Eight Constellation Envoys! With such noble status and so many affairs to attend to, how could you possibly disturb them?"

"Not to mention you, even I do not have the qualifications to contact the Di Envoy directly."

Li Yiyi narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice:

"Aren't you afraid of being exposed one day by doing this kind of thing? Aren't you afraid of being raided and having your families wiped out for doing this within the borders of Beigan?"

Hmph!

"Hahahaha! Fellow Daoist, you are truly cautious in your actions!" The black-robed person mocked him with a sour tone and laughed: "Fellow Daoist, do not worry! The Beigan Imperial family cannot find us."

"Why?"

The black-robed person's laughter was filled with absolute confidence as he roared with laughter:

"Because, inside the Imperial Palace, we also have our own people!"