Fuxun lowered his head, wanting to offer some words of thanks, but he remained silent for a long while and merely raised his cup. After an indeterminate amount of time, he sighed. "After this battle, the Great Western Plains now commands Poluoduo from above. There is no going back, and every demonic creature in Poluoduo will soon have cause to weep... I have nowhere left to go either!
"Supporting this entire household of mine requires an enormous amount of food and resources... I still have to pursue the Dao myself, so the outer-sea is out of the question. Whether in the Western Sea or the Northern Sea, where could there possibly be a place for me?"
Liu Changdie fell silent before shaking his head. "Where else can you go now... From what I see, you do not even dare step outside the formation!"
Despite saying this, he still began considering possible ways out for the demon king and asked, "What about the dragons..."
Fuxun looked tempted, but after some hesitation, he shook his head and gritted his teeth. "My bloodline is unusual. I truly fear that some Dragon King might devour me! Before coming here, I specifically used my connections to make inquiries. Otherwise, how would I have dared stroll openly into this place...
"Even setting that aside... Even if I would not be eaten, my prospects would remain uncertain. We demonic creatures are different from you humans. If they have no use for me, how could I dare place myself under their protection so casually?!"
Sensing that he had something more to say, Liu Changdie asked, "It seems senior already has a plan."
Fuxun sighed and replied, "To tell you the truth, I have fallen upon truly desperate times. The Pure Victory Dao has never tolerated my existence. It was only because I kept to myself in the past... and stayed out of their sight...
"They have always repaid the slightest grievance with vengeance. Back then, that friend of my father merely lent a hand to save him, yet later met a horrific death at their hands all the same. It is fortunate that you did not come to rescue us. At least I can still hide here with you..."
He said somewhat awkwardly, "That... That White Qilin... has ties with the dragons. I was hoping that through him... I might find myself a powerful patron..."
Only then did Liu Changdie understand. He remained silent for a long time as he thought, The dragons... As if they are anything good! Li Zhouwei may be known as the White Qilin and appear close to the dragons, but who does not know that this brood of Hornless Dragon descendants is scheming something!
Liu Changdie knew nothing of the various lords' schemes, but he could confidently swear that the dragons were harboring sinister intentions. Unless there was absolutely no other choice, he truly did not want to trouble Li Ximing.
I only hope this does not bring us some great calamity...
Yet Fuxun's plight was important as well, and Liu Changdie could not bring himself to favor one side over the other. After a long silence, he replied, "I will ask on your behalf... but whether it succeeds is not for me to decide."
He selected a cave dwelling for Fuxun to enter seclusion. The demon king's condition seemed to have deteriorated even further after his most recent ordeal. He even staggered as he walked. Worse still, his mind seemed somewhat dazed, clearly indicating that his foundation had been shaken.
Liu Changdie silently shook his head and left. After taking only a few steps, however, he noticed Li Quewan hurrying through the great hall, her face slightly pale.
Liu Changdie hurriedly called out to her and said with a sigh, "Senior's arrival was unexpected. I will write a letter to Ximing, so you need not worry.
"I will prepare what he needs to treat his injuries. However, he still has quite a few subordinates with him, so I will have to trouble you to summon some people and arrange spirit rice and other food for them every day..."
Li Quewan lowered her eyes slightly, quickly composing her expression before answering respectfully, "Yes."
Liu Changdie sighed inwardly, Now we have somehow ended up with a demon king on our hands... This will probably be difficult to explain to Ximing...
————
Within the white jade hall, snow lay piled like jade beneath the combined radiance of the sun and moon. A pale green treasured sword was embedded among the gleaming white stones, with a cup of clear tea resting atop its hilt. No matter how violently the sword trembled, it could not break free.
Fuxun...
A green scroll rested on the table, its mysterious pale golden patterns flickering in and out of sight. The man beside the table was not watching the sword. Instead, he gazed far beyond the realm in silence.
After Wanlin Heaven descended, Lu Jiangxian had been dividing his attention between monitoring the situation and devising a method for Chi Buzi to attain the Golden Core Realm. At the same time, he also had to suppress the Sword Dao inheritance within Li Jiangchun. He was truly being run ragged...
What consumed the most mental effort was still the method of attaining the Golden Core Realm. Such methods were inherently difficult to devise, and Chi Buzi's method would be entirely unique. The idea was indeed feasible, but there was a world of difference between discussing it in theory and actually writing out the method.
Its profundity and difficulty were so high that the nine secret techniques from back then, which had drawn upon Metallic Essence for reference, seemed like child's play in comparison.
In truth, Li Zhouwei's method of attaining the Golden Core Realm was equally important, yet Lu Jiangxian had yet to begin writing it. He was confident about Li Zhouwei's cultivation progress and thus still had time. Chi Buzi, however, was a rare uncommitted piece on the board. His thoughts were unpredictable, and he was entangled with numerous factions. Under the indirect influence of the various Dao Embryos' schemes, his future course had instead become somewhat difficult to predict.
Thus, Lu Jiangxian had immediately begun working on his method of attaining the Golden Core Realm, lest the situation suddenly change and Chi Buzi recover his memories only to find himself standing at the forefront of the age staring blankly at Du Qing.
It was precisely because his attention was divided among too many matters that Lu Jiangxian's perception of the Eastern Sea was not particularly keen. Fortunately, Li Quewan was both vigilant and cautious. Upon seeing a demon king descend into the formation, she had naturally scanned him with the Immortal Mirror. That single scan immediately jolted Lu Jiangxian to attention.
Something is wrong...
Illuminated by divine sense, a bright golden thread as fine as a hair hung above Fuxun's head, extending toward some vast and unseen place. Another face was faintly visible on the back of his head, bearing sharp teeth, golden lips, a low nose bridge, and pure white pupils. Its features twisted and transformed as it wandered ceaselessly across the back of his skull.
At first glance, Lu Jiangxian knew this entity was not at the Purple Mansion Realm, and his heart trembled. Looking again, he detected a trace of Metallic Essence... After searching his memories carefully, he suddenly recalled that strange True Essence bird from years ago!
Liu Changdie, oh Liu Changdie. You have invited an untouchable terror into your home!
A Metallic Essence demonic entity! It was a world-destroying monster, exceedingly rare in the present age!
Upon closer consideration, this demonic entity had clearly cultivated a mystic. It had concealed itself so thoroughly that it was almost completely cut off from all information about the outside world. It even needed to simulate a flare-up of Fuxun's injuries merely to observe its surroundings. This alone demonstrated the sophistication of its methods... Yet demonic entities were cunning by nature, and none of this made it any less dangerous!
Fuxun believed he had been injured and that Yang Worms left behind by the Pure Victory Dao Master had yet to be expelled... In truth, it was merely this demonic entity occasionally stirring and attempting to use his body to observe the world!
It is perfectly understandable that Li Quewan was frightened pale... In fact, ignorance is what spared her from even greater fear. She merely thought it looked horrifying. If she truly knew what this thing was, then forget her, even Chi Buzi would be drenched in cold sweat if he were standing here... This is a demonic entity... something involving a Golden Core existence...
If this demonic entity went berserk, whether a Purple Mansion Realm grand formation could contain it would be the least of their concerns. The entire island would become a living hell. Monarch Fire, Ministerial Fire, Dawn Fire... all manner of spiritual flames would emerge alongside the radiance of Lesser Yang, and in the next moment, the Northern Sea Dragon King's true form would descend!
Lu Jiangxian watched with a frown for quite some time. Although Fuxun appeared perfectly normal, he did not dare look away. As he watched Fuxun crush the Yang Worm on his face, unease crept into his heart, and he muttered inwardly, Where is the Underworld's judiciary? Two Dragon Monarchs are in the Eastern Sea... Yet neither of them has shown the slightest reaction?