Volume 1, Chapter 79 – The Time Approaches

No! Not just that.

Although the intensity of the aura was still that of a single tail, the essence of the qi had changed.

It was like transforming from a harmless sweet bamboo into a thorny rose.

As if the little fox demon before her had stopped resembling the little fox demon.

So this mask could change one’s essence, change the perception of a person?

This thing was a treasure used for disguise.

But if it were only this, it shouldn’t make the little fox demon this excited, right?

Any fox demon who had learned illusion arts could create those phantom nine tails, couldn’t they?

Or was there some other mystery to this?

Thinking this, Song Shiyuan stepped forward. She reached out and gently touched one of the nine fluffy tails the little fox demon had manifested.

That addictively fluffy texture came through.

These nine tails were actually solid! Not phantom illusions.

“How is it, Shiyuan? Now you understand, right?” The little fox demon broke into a smile. She knew Song Shiyuan could now see the mask’s mysterious qualities.

Song Shiyuan was silent for a moment, then said, “This mask can actually give you a nine-tailed body?”

“Of course.” The little fox demon smiled. “By borrowing the True Nine-Tail Spirit on the mask, it can allow a fox demon like me without much cultivation to temporarily obtain the attachment of the Fox Monarch’s aura.”

“This way, to this Fox Palace, I become the Fox Monarch.”

Everything stated above was lies.

The mask was just an ordinary mask. Its only function was to cover one’s face.

As for the ability to change auras, that was entirely Lu Zhuxin’s own effort.

In the days since transmigrating to become the Fox Monarch, she hadn’t learned a single combat technique. Instead, these unconventional tricks for controlling auras, she was becoming increasingly adept at.

“To this Fox Palace, you become the Fox Monarch?” Song Shiyuan pondered this once, and quickly understood the key point in the little fox demon’s words.

“Yes…” The little fox demon said. “Most of the restrictions in the Fox Palace don’t guard against the fox clan, since no fox demon in the fox clan would betray the Fox Monarch.”

When she said this, the little fox demon smiled self-deprecatingly.

She continued speaking.

“However, for some lower-ranking fox clan maidservants, some important places still cannot be accessed.”

“But if I, in terms of identity recognition, become the Fox Monarch herself.”

Song Shiyuan picked up what the little fox demon was saying. “Then you, within the entire Fox Palace, can move freely without obstruction.”

The little fox demon smiled lightly. “Correct.”

Song Shiyuan finally understood why the little fox demon had been so happy earlier.

If she could move freely throughout the entire Fox Palace, then she could leave this place at any time.

This was a good thing.

“Such an amazing mask, and Hu Xian’er just casually placed it here?” Song Shiyuan furrowed her brows.

“It’s not that amazing.” The little fox demon shook her head and said, “The True Fox Spirit on the mask is actually very weak. A light surge of demonic power could disperse it.”

“So for fox demons with two or more tails, this mask is just an ordinary mask.”

“And right now, in the entire Fox Palace, I’m the only single-tailed fox demon.”

“Only I can use it.”

“Moreover, there’s more than just this one similar mask.”

Song Shiyuan understood.

This fox mask actually wasn’t very important. It just happened that the little fox demon had found a loophole.

“In a bit, I’ll find an identical mask to put back. Steward Xian’er won’t notice anything unusual.”

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“With this mask, we can do many things.” The little fox demon said. “For example, the dungeon holding your fellow disciples. I can freely enter and exit it too.”

“Axi…” Song Shiyuan looked at the little fox demon before her in a daze, not expecting that the first thought the little fox demon had upon obtaining this mask was actually to help her.

“Why so moved?” The little fox demon smiled. “When I stood here, I already had no way back. So anything I can help you with, I’ll try my best to help you.”

“Thank you… Axi.” Song Shiyuan reached out to pull the little fox demon into her embrace, holding her tightly. “Axi, I don’t even know how to thank you.”

“Thank me for what?” The little fox demon leaned by Song Shiyuan’s ear, speaking softly. “We’re dao companions, aren’t we?”

“Yes… we’re dao companions…” Song Shiyuan murmured to herself. “From now on, I’ll always take care of you…”

“For all my life.”

The little fox demon smiled lightly. It wasn’t until much later that Song Shiyuan finally released her.

The little fox demon’s gaze fell on the scroll Song Shiyuan had been holding earlier.

“Then Shiyuan… what will you do with the things in your hands?”

“If this scroll is taken away, it will be very easily noticed by Steward Hu Xian’er.”

Song Shiyuan pressed her lips slightly. Her hand holding the scroll tightened slightly.

This thing was too important.

It concerned the entire Lingxiao Sword Sect.

It was also the answer Song Shiyuan had been searching for a long time.

She felt that as a disciple of Lingxiao Sword Sect, she had an obligation to bring this evidence out.

But she also understood this thing shouldn’t be carelessly moved.

From the handwriting on the scroll, this scroll was something Hu Xian’er would often take out to record in.

So this scroll couldn’t be touched.

Unless she copied or made a rubbing of it.

But where was the time for her to copy it?

The little fox demon saw Song Shiyuan’s hesitation. She said, “That letter might be able to be taken away.”

“Steward Xian’er has never liked sword cultivators… I think she’d probably wish she could just burn this letter directly.”

“She also wouldn’t possibly open it to look at all the time.”

“Take the letter, leave the envelope. She won’t notice for a while.”

Song Shiyuan pondered for a moment. She picked up that letter.

“You’re right. Even without specific evidence, with this letter… it can prove he once colluded with fox demons…”

Song Shiyuan’s eyes dimmed.

If possible, she also didn’t want to personally ruin her elder brother’s future.

But this time, her elder brother had gone too far.

Examining her conscience, Song Shiyuan could also give everything for the little fox demon.

But if this cost meant making her betray her fellow disciples, betray Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Then she would rather the cost be paid by herself.

So Song Shiyuan and Song Shixuan were completely different kinds of people.

Even for her beloved, Song Shiyuan couldn’t be as utterly deranged as him.

Not to mention, this person Song Shixuan, having clearly already expressed his feelings for the Fox Monarch in one letter, why could he still easily accept the female consort gifted by the Fox Monarch? Simply shameless to the extreme.

“Then this time… let’s just take this letter first.” Song Shiyuan pondered for a while, then sighed.

“Mm.” The little fox demon nodded.

Lu Zhuxin also didn’t expect to bring down Song Shixuan just with what Song Shiyuan held in her hands.

No matter how perfectly fabricated evidence mimicked reality, it ultimately wasn’t true evidence.

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Moreover, the heaven-fated male protagonist Song Shixuan had the Heavenly Dao backing him.

Before completely severing Song Shixuan’s foundation of heavenly fortune, she didn’t expect to be able to do anything to that man.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhuxin was also angry at herself. Back when she designed that Bliss Sect cheat for Song Shixuan, why did she have to write “the Bliss Sect secret arts are not cultivation methods. As long as he doesn’t use the secret arts, Song Shixuan’s entire power remains that of Lingxiao Sword Sect’s orthodox transmission, so Song Shixuan’s secret won’t be discovered.”

Now, unless Song Shixuan was caught red-handed using the secret arts, no one could discover his secret.

However, thinking carefully, in the original text Lu Zhuxin had written, settings that could anger her to death weren’t just this one alone.

Song Shiyuan put the scroll and envelope back in their original place. The little fox demon also found a new mask and hung it back.

Song Shiyuan put away that important letter.

Then the two left Hu Xian’er’s study together.

“Those two fox demons, they didn’t suspect you, right?” Song Shiyuan asked.

Earlier, those two fox demons had seen the little fox demon and knew she had come to Hu Xian’er’s study.

Song Shiyuan was somewhat worried about this.

The little fox demon smiled and said, “Don’t worry… those two fox demon sisters are familiar with me. They won’t say anything unless necessary.”

“As long as Steward Hu Xian’er doesn’t notice anything unusual, if she doesn’t ask, they won’t say anything.”

Song Shiyuan understood.

They were still racing against time.

“Let’s go back first… we’ve delayed too long today.”

“Mm.” The little fox demon nodded.

…

On the other side, Hu Xian’er had already received news from those two three-tailed fox demons.

According to Lu Zhuxin’s orders, these past few days, Hu Xian’er should stay as far away from her as possible.

Although Hu Xian’er couldn’t understand the meaning behind this order, she still followed Lu Zhuxin’s command.

“Song Shiyuan has already obtained that letter. Her Majesty’s plan is proceeding very smoothly.”

Hu Xian’er looked toward Huang Shangshang. “Young Sect Master Huang, how is your situation?”

Huang Shangshang responded, “My mother has already successfully arrived at Mingzhao City. The transformation of the Fox Palace’s formations has already begun since last night.”

“That’s good then.” Hu Xian’er rubbed her temples.

These past few days, the Fox Monarch had placed almost all the burden on her shoulders. No matter who bore this heavy responsibility, they would feel the pressure was immense.

Huang Shangshang continued, “Our contact with Lingxiao Sword Sect’s people also has results.”

“To create the key to open the Fox Palace dungeon, Lingxiao Sword Sect’s people shared with us part of the formation diagrams they obtained.”

As she spoke, Huang Shangshang took out a diagram and placed it on the desk.

“However, this diagram is somewhat strange.” Huang Shangshang said. “Only the parts involving the dungeon formations are real…”

“The other parts are vastly different from the Fox Palace’s original formations.”

Hu Xian’er glanced at it. Although she didn’t understand formations, she was fairly familiar with the Fox Palace’s formations.

With just one glance, she understood how large the discrepancy was between the formations on the diagram and reality.

“Lingxiao Sword Sect’s people have never truly trusted you.” Hu Xian’er said.

Huang Shangshang frowned. “The matter between Lingxu Sword Sect and the Fox Palace has been exposed?”

“That’s impossible, right?”

Huang Shangshang herself knew clearly that Lingxu Sword Sect’s secret dealings with the Fox Palace were very covert. These matters were known only to some of Lingxu Sword Sect’s upper echelon.

The remaining ordinary disciples had no opportunity to learn of them.

Moreover, all these years, Lingxu Sword Sect had been very cautious in their actions. They wouldn’t easily make moves, nor would they easily let anyone catch them with evidence.

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Most of the time, Lingxu Sword Sect, like the other sword sects, conscientiously did their assigned duties, charging at the forefront against the demon race.

“It’s not necessarily exposed.” Hu Xian’er said. “Perhaps they’re just simply guarding against you.”

“And taking advantage of the fact you don’t have formation masters and don’t understand formations.”

Huang Shangshang fell silent.

This explanation was also reasonable. After all, although the Seven Great Sword Sects claimed to be allied, they had never truly trusted each other.

If they really obtained the Fox Palace’s formation defense diagram, they wouldn’t so easily share such important intelligence.

“This might also be good news.” Hu Xian’er said. “The parts about the dungeon are real, so they probably haven’t truly suspected Lingxu Sword Sect.”

“Mm.” Huang Shangshang nodded. “Then do we need to do anything with it?”

“No need.” Hu Xian’er said. “Do what you should do.”

“This should also be part of Her Majesty’s plan.”

She said this, but Hu Xian’er still felt a headache.

Even she had never encountered such a situation before.

The Fox Monarch’s heat period timing was suspected to have been leaked, the mole unknown.

The Fox Palace’s formation defense diagram was suspected to have been leaked, the channel equally unknown.

Even the fox clan’s most deeply buried nail, Lingxu Sword Sect, also had the possibility of exposure…

The fox clan at this moment might be facing the greatest crisis in a thousand years.

Yet precisely at this most critical moment, Fox Monarch Lu Zhuxin had handed everything over to Hu Xian’er to handle.

If she hadn’t already guessed that the Fox Monarch might have her own plan, Hu Xian’er would already want to curse at this moment.

“Do these matters need to be reported to Her Majesty?” Huang Shangshang asked.

“No.” Hu Xian’er shook her head. “Her Majesty has already said that before reaching the final moment, our arrangements and plans cannot let Her Majesty know even the slightest bit.”

“So we also cannot tell Her Majesty about these matters.”

“The things that require Her Majesty’s arrangement, Her Majesty has already made arrangements beforehand.”

…

After returning to her room, the first thing Song Shiyuan did was report today’s obtained intelligence to the senior brothers of Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Escaping the Fox Palace was extremely dangerous. Song Shiyuan clearly knew that with just herself alone, she couldn’t accomplish this.

Not to mention, she also had to rescue the little fox demon together.

“Senior Brother Lu Guan, the thing Young Sect Master Huang asked me to find earlier, I’ve already found it.” Song Shiyuan said. “Moreover, I’ve also determined the location of the dungeon holding the other Lingxu Sword Sect disciples.”

“This is truly good news.” Lu Guan said. “The key to breaking the Fox Palace dungeon, we’re also almost finished.”

“Everything is going smoothly.”

“There’s also another matter…” Song Shiyuan said. “I’ve already obtained evidence of that traitor.”

“Really? That’s wonderful!” Lu Guan’s excited voice came. “Junior Sister Song! You’ve accomplished a great deed!”

“When you return to the sword sect, the sect elders will surely reward you.”

“So who is that traitor?”

Hearing this, Song Shiyuan froze slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Guan’s questioning voice came. “That traitor, is there some problem?”

Should Song Shiyuan really personally send her own elder brother to the judgment platform?

“Shiyuan…” The little fox demon’s quiet voice came. “Do you really think that just a Young Sect Master alone could accomplish so many things?”

“What do you mean?” Song Shiyuan didn’t understand.

“Song Shixuan handed over a lot of intelligence to the fox clan. His achievements even filled an entire ledger.”

“Even the Fox Monarch regards him differently.”

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“That’s why Steward Hu Xian’er values him so highly.”

“She even went so far as to make me… try to win him over.”

“Because the intelligence in his hands is too important to the fox clan.”

“But could he accomplish so many things with just a Young Sect Master’s status? Could so much classified intelligence truly be accessible to just a Young Sect Master?”

Song Shiyuan felt her heart pounding wildly.

These things the little fox demon was saying were all things she hadn’t considered before.

That ledger recorded too many things.

Because of her anger, Song Shiyuan hadn’t thought more carefully.

Thinking carefully, if it was truly only Song Shixuan, how could he have such confidence to dominate the struggle between the fox clan and the sword sects?

So there was very likely someone else behind him. And very likely, it was also someone from the sword sect’s upper echelon.

When this thought emerged from Song Shiyuan’s mind, she felt her entire body covered by cold intent.

Lu Guan’s voice continued to come from the talisman. “What’s wrong? Junior Sister Song, are you talking with someone?”

Just now the little fox demon had deliberately lowered her voice. Her conversation with Song Shiyuan hadn’t been heard by the Lingxiao Sword Sect people.

Song Shiyuan took a slight breath, calmed the shock in her heart, and then said, “Senior Brother Lu, the person speaking just now was my friend. She’ll escape the Fox Palace together with me.”

“So you have other helpers in the Fox Palace?” Lu Guan said in surprise. “Why haven’t you mentioned this before?”

Song Shiyuan pondered for a while. She looked toward the little fox demon.

But she saw the latter gently shake her head.

Song Shiyuan’s eyes dimmed. The little fox demon indeed still didn’t trust these senior brothers from Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Having her temporarily not reveal Song Shixuan’s intelligence was also because she suspected among these senior brothers, there might be eyes of that mole, right?

Song Shiyuan thought for a moment, then continued, “Her matter, I’ll explain slowly later. I can guarantee she’s trustworthy.”

“This time, things could proceed so smoothly entirely because of her help.”

“I can move freely in the Fox Palace also relying on her to accomplish it.”

“Oh?” Lu Guan laughed lightly. “Since she’s someone Junior Sister Song trusts, we naturally welcome her too.”

“Anyway, Junior Sister Song’s friend couldn’t possibly be a fox demon, right?”

Song Shiyuan felt her breath catch.

Lu Guan didn’t notice Song Shiyuan’s abnormality. He continued asking, “Where were we earlier?”

“Lingxiao Sword Sect’s traitor, Junior Sister Song, you know who it is?”

“Yes.” Song Shiyuan nodded. “But this matter, I want to wait until after returning to Lingxiao Sword Sect to discuss.”

“Junior Sister Song, you don’t trust us?” Lu Guan said.

“That’s not it.” Song Shiyuan hastily said. “It’s just that this matter involves too much. Right now, the fewer people who know, the better, to avoid alerting the enemy.”

“Since that’s the case… then we’ll do as Junior Sister Song says.” Lu Guan knew Song Shiyuan didn’t wish to say more at this time and didn’t ask further.

“Our cooperation with Lingxu Sword Sect is going smoothly. Moreover, since Junior Sister Song has already made contact with Lingxu Sword Sect’s Young Sect Master, then the rescue plan can officially begin seven days from now.”

“So soon?” Song Shiyuan was speechless. “Wouldn’t that be too hasty?”

“The timing is indeed a bit tight.” Lu Guan’s voice continued. “But just now, we confirmed something.”

“What?” Song Shiyuan asked.

Lu Guan continued speaking. “Soon, there will be a good opportunity we cannot miss.”

“Just a moment ago, news was spread from the Fox Palace.”

“The Fox Monarch’s adopted daughter Ming Zhaoxi will marry a Lingxiao sword cultivator.”

“The time is seven days from now.”