Volume 1, Chapter 90 – Ground to Dust, No Remains Left

The little fox demon… was dead?!

The little fox demon Song Shiyuan had sworn to protect with her life… she was dead?!

She had grasped Song Shiyuan’s Chengxin Sword and used its tip to pierce through her own heart meridian.

Heart meridian severed, breath extinguished, even immortals couldn’t save her.

Until that delicate body softly collapsed against Song Shiyuan…

Until the gushing hot fresh blood splattered onto Song Shiyuan.

She still couldn’t accept this reality.

Her gaze was vacant, lifeless as a dried-up well.

She could only hold the little fox demon’s frail, powerless body rigidly.

She felt ice cold throughout, her heart piercing with pain, as if being torn and gnawed at by some invisible beast.

Holding the little fox demon, her heart felt as if a chunk had been devoured by that beast. Her body trembled involuntarily, her limbs seemed to spasm, and agonized sobs escaped her mouth.

The moisture sliding from the corners of her eyes was faintly stained with dark red.

On a pale, colorless pretty face, it left two shocking wet trails.

The little fox demon… she hadn’t lost her memories.

She remembered everything.

She remembered all that had happened, knew the mistakes Song Shiyuan had made.

Yet even so, even so… she was still willing to forgive Song Shiyuan.

They had imagined their future together.

They had promised to leave the Fox Palace together, to live together afterward.

Song Shiyuan would always take care of the little fox demon and her child.

Song Shiyuan would do everything possible to give the little fox demon the happiness she deserved.

But all of this had now dissipated like bubbles.

The little fox demon had collapsed powerlessly in Song Shiyuan’s arms, heart meridian severed, body temperature gradually fading.

Everything had been destroyed.

Just because she was a fox demon, unable to be with a sword cultivator, she had to die here…

What kind of logic was this…

Song Shiyuan held the little fox demon, collapsing to sit on the ground, as if she had lost her soul.

The surrounding crowd exchanged glances with each other.

They had only wanted Song Shiyuan to see this fox demon’s true face, to get her back on the right track.

No one had expected that in the end, it would be the fox demon who actively threw herself onto Song Shiyuan’s sword.

She wanted to use her own life to wash away Song Shiyuan’s stain.

Qinglan Sect Master Liu Funing’s gaze swept coldly over the little fox demon.

“Final words spoken in vain, putting on airs.”

Jiang Hongliang looked at Song Shiyuan’s utterly dispirited appearance and shook his head in disappointment.

“Mud won’t support a wall.”

“Little Sister Shiyuan, you mustn’t blame your brother.” The corners of Song Shixuan’s mouth held a smile. “Fox demons must die. This is the sword sect’s iron law.”

The large stone in Song Shixuan’s heart temporarily settled.

This fox demon was finally dead.

No one would know what had happened, and no one would leak his secrets anymore.

Although it had taken some effort, the result was indeed satisfying to him.

Of course, Song Shixuan also knew that at times like this, he couldn’t let his guard down.

During his days traveling the world in training and tempering, he had seen and heard of many cases of feigned death and counterattacks.

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Although he didn’t believe this weak fox demon could possess the ability to counterattack from a desperate situation.

But the necessary caution still had to be maintained.

This was the prudence and caution Song Shixuan had developed over many years.

To confirm whether a person was truly dead, the best method was to completely turn even the corpse to ash.

Thinking this, Song Shixuan ignited true fire at his fingertips and slowly walked toward Song Shiyuan.

Huang Shangshang frowned and blocked Song Shixuan’s path. “Young Sect Master Song, what do you intend to do?”

Song Shixuan smiled. “I just want to confirm whether that fox demon is truly dead.”

“After all, fox demons are cunning. Using feigned death to escape isn’t unusual.”

Song Shiyuan raised her head slightly, opening eyes filled with bloodshot color, a vicious gaze sweeping over Song Shixuan.

At this moment, Song Shiyuan was pitifully like a desperate, helpless little beast.

Yet the despair and madness in her eyes were fierce like a cornered wolf.

Song Shixuan’s smile remained unchanged, completely disregarding the resentment in Song Shiyuan’s eyes.

“Little sister, you needn’t look at me like that.”

“Since she’s already dead anyway, rather than keeping a corpse and remaining sorrowful, why not let me, your brother, help you completely sever this final attachment.”

Logically speaking, with that damned fox demon’s heart meridian pierced by the sword, there was absolutely no possibility of survival.

But if he couldn’t personally send him on his final journey, Song Shixuan’s heart couldn’t rest easy.

“That’s enough already,” Huang Shangshang said.

“Even if she’s a fox demon, she was willing to use her own life to wash away Song Shiyuan’s innocence. Among all of you present, how many could possess such courage?”

“Just from this alone, after her death, you shouldn’t further defile her corpse.”

The crowd fell silent.

Huang Shangshang frowned. “She’s already dead. As righteous sect members, won’t you even spare a corpse?”

“Just let Miss Song take away her body to bury her properly.”

“Otherwise, to what degree do you still want to push someone?”

Lingxiao Sword Sect Master Jiang Hongliang glanced coldly at the little fox demon’s corpse.

Indeed, there was no longer any breath on this body.

How powerful was an Eighth Realm cultivator’s perception? If it were feigned death, he could tell at a glance.

Unless the other party was also Eighth Realm.

“This fox is dead,” Jiang Hongliang made his judgment.

Liu Funing’s face was hidden behind her veil. She merely glanced briefly at the little fox demon’s corpse before losing interest.

“Whatever.”

Even Eighth Realm Jiang Hongliang had determined this fox was already dead. Then why should she, at Seventh Realm, show off?

Song Shixuan frowned. “Sect masters!”

Jiang Hongliang frowned and said, “Shixuan, why fuss over such a small matter?”

Liu Funing said, “Right now, finding that hidden Fox Monarch is the real priority.”

The life and death of an insignificant little fox demon was truly a trivial matter to both sect masters.

Now that both sect masters had spoken, Song Shixuan couldn’t continue dwelling on this matter. Otherwise, if he annoyed the two sect masters, Song Shixuan would lose more than he gained.

Since Eighth Realm Jiang Hongliang said that fox demon was already dead, then he should truly be dead.

But…

Song Shixuan frowned slightly. He always felt like he had overlooked something.

Overlooked something very important.

“Sect Master Jiang, should we split up to search?” Liu Funing consulted with Jiang Hongliang.

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“Better not. Sect Master Liu, that nine-tailed fox is extremely cunning. Even if her heat period has arrived, it doesn’t mean she has no ability to resist at all,” Jiang Hongliang said. “Sect Master Liu, your cultivation isn’t truly Eighth Realm after all. We’d better be cautious.”

“Alright.” Liu Funing nodded. She naturally understood her own capabilities.

At Seventh Realm, if no one assisted her, in direct combat, she couldn’t possibly be a match for that World-Ending Fox Monarch.

Song Shixuan’s eyes flickered.

World-Ending Fox Monarch…

Song Shixuan felt like he was about to grasp something crucial.

He looked again at that dead fox demon.

At this time, Huang Shangshang also walked to Song Shiyuan’s side.

Huang Shangshang felt somewhat uneasy because just now, the Fox Monarch had given her a small task.

This made her worried about Song Shiyuan’s condition.

“Miss Song, are you alright?” Huang Shangshang asked carefully.

Song Shiyuan didn’t respond, just held the little fox demon in her arms, numbly opening and closing her mouth.

Huang Shangshang thought she was probably trying to express that she was fine.

Though with this appearance, she didn’t look fine at all.

Huang Shangshang became even more worried. This girl, she wouldn’t have qi deviation, would she?

“Stand up first,” Huang Shangshang sighed inwardly. “Earlier I promised you I’d take her away with us.”

“Although we couldn’t save her, at least you can take her away, bury her, and let her rest in peace.”

Song Shiyuan remained dazed for a good while before nodding at Huang Shangshang.

“Let me help you. First let’s lift her up,” Huang Shangshang said, helping to lift the little fox demon’s corpse.

Song Shiyuan stood up, saying hoarsely, “Thank you.”

“No need.” As Huang Shangshang spoke, she looked at the mask on the little fox demon’s face.

“This mask is dirty with blood. Should we take it off to wipe it clean?”

As Huang Shangshang spoke, she reached her hand over.

The mask was gently lifted at one corner.

Then Huang Shangshang suddenly thought of something and hurriedly said, “Ah! Sorry! This mask, is it better not to remove it for now?”

Mission complete.

Huang Shangshang thought to herself.

Song Shiyuan remained silent for a long moment before saying, “Let her keep wearing this mask.”

Though she didn’t know why the little fox demon had always worn this mask.

However, now Song Shiyuan also had a small selfish thought.

She didn’t want anyone else to see the little fox demon’s face anymore.

Even as a corpse, it was the same.

“Then let’s go,” Huang Shangshang said, preparing to leave with Song Shiyuan. “Leave this place to the Lingxiao Sword Sect people. The remaining matters have nothing to do with us.”

However, at this moment, all of Huang Shangshang’s earlier movements had been seen by Song Shixuan.

That face, though not fully visible, was clearly very clean.

Even the snowy neck below covered by the collar was clean, without any marks.

This wasn’t right!

He had clearly earlier…

Song Shixuan’s eyes widened slightly.

At this moment, he finally understood what he had been overlooking all along.

The mask! That fox demon’s mask!

Why had that male fox, after escaping, inexplicably put on a mask?

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What was the purpose of wearing a mask?

To conceal one’s face!

Why conceal one’s face?

Song Shixuan had seen his face before.

He had even contacted him at close range.

Unless…

At this moment, Song Shixuan thought of a very terrifying possibility.

When he first saw that male fox demon, Song Shixuan had felt that aside from that slightly heroic face, that male fox was very similar to the Fox Monarch Lu Zhuxin in other aspects.

If that male fox wore a mask, judging by physique alone, it would be very difficult to distinguish between the two.

A very terrifying thought emerged from Song Shixuan’s mind.

Perhaps after leaving the bridal chamber, the “Ming Zhaoxi” before them was no longer “Ming Zhaoxi.”

The Fox Monarch Lu Zhuxin and “Ming Zhaoxi” had exchanged identities.

The purpose was to use Song Shiyuan to escape the Fox Palace.

Committing suicide in front of everyone, feigning death, disguising as a corpse, was to deceive both sect masters’ eyes.

Because Lu Zhuxin knew that Song Shiyuan would definitely take “Ming Zhaoxi’s” corpse away from the Fox Palace.

This was Lu Zhuxin’s plan. The cicada sheds its shell!

Thinking of this, Song Shixuan felt his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

Just a little!

Just a little more!

He had almost become part of the Fox Monarch Lu Zhuxin’s feigned death escape plan.

The harder he worked to force Song Shiyuan to kill that male fox, the more he was helping Lu Zhuxin push forward her feigned death escape plan!

Fox Monarch Lu Zhuxin! What a schemer!

Song Shixuan looked toward the two sect masters, Jiang Hongliang and Liu Funing, who were about to leave.

“Sect masters!”

“That fox demon! She is the Fox Monarch Lu Zhuxin!”

“I saw the face beneath her mask!”

“She’s feigning death! Trying to use Song Shiyuan’s hand in a cicada-shedding-shell scheme!”

“Don’t let her escape!!”

Song Shixuan’s voice was shouted out at the fastest possible speed!

Afraid that if he spoke a moment slower, he’d let that Eighth Realm fox demon escape!

Song Shixuan had considered secretly transmitting his voice to the two sect masters.

But an Eighth Realm powerhouse’s spiritual sense was incredibly powerful. A Fourth Realm Nascent Soul stage cultivator’s spiritual voice transmission beside Lu Zhuxin was no different from loudly plotting right next to her.

Better to shout it out openly, letting everyone know that the great merit of exposing the Fox Monarch’s identity was established by Song Shixuan at the risk of death!

Song Shiyuan heard Song Shixuan’s voice.

Shock and fury appeared in her eyes. “Song Shixuan, what madness are you spouting?!”

The little fox demon couldn’t possibly be that nine-tailed Fox Monarch. This was something Song Shiyuan had personally confirmed!

What did this man mean by saying this now?

Forcing the little fox demon to death wasn’t enough. Why couldn’t he even spare the little fox demon’s corpse?!

The moment Song Shixuan shouted, both sect masters had already reacted.

And they had struck almost immediately without any hesitation.

Because for such an Eighth Realm super powerhouse, a moment’s hesitation could bring the outcome of defeat and death.

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Liu Funing raised her delicate finger, pointing from afar at the little fox demon in Song Shiyuan’s arms.

Thick cyan-blue chains instantly appeared, binding the little fox demon’s corpse tightly.

Even Song Shiyuan, who had been tightly holding the little fox demon, was directly knocked away by these cyan-blue chains.

“I’ve caught her!” Liu Funing said.

“No!!” Song Shiyuan’s eyes nearly split with rage.

Why?!

Could she not only fail to protect the little fox demon’s life, but couldn’t even protect the little fox demon’s final corpse?!

“Song Shixuan has gone mad! Axi couldn’t possibly be Lu Zhuxin. You can’t do this!”

Song Shiyuan’s eyes were bloodshot. She wanted to rush forward and snatch back the little fox demon’s corpse.

But she was tightly held by Huang Shangshang beside her.

Huang Shangshang said urgently, “Song Shiyuan, don’t be rash! If you rush forward now, you’ll die!”

Song Shiyuan saw that Jiang Hongliang in the distance had already summoned his natal sword.

He struck from afar with one sword at the little fox demon bound by chains.

Perhaps they weren’t certain whether this was truly Lu Zhuxin, but as long as there was even a shred of possibility, they had to strike with full force.

Countless invisible, formless strands of sword qi exploded on the little fox demon’s body.

At this moment, Song Shiyuan could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.

How could a little fox demon unable to cultivate withstand an Eighth Realm’s absolute sword qi?

In just an instant, the little fox demon’s slender body exploded into a cloud of blood mist before Song Shiyuan’s eyes.

No remains left.

“Song Shixuan!!!”

A roar tore from Song Shiyuan’s throat!

Song Shixuan’s face still held a trace of surprise as he looked at that cloud of blood mist. “How could this be? Did I guess wrong?!”

“She’s not Lu Zhuxin?”

Suddenly, he felt a strange dull pain in his body, as if something had been drawn out from within him.

Then he saw Song Shiyuan’s pretty face twisted in madness.

Song Shiyuan held her sword, her entire body trembling with fury.

Her aura was chaotic, her entire person seemed shrouded in murderous aura, a pair of blood-red eyes dimmed.

The silvery-white Chengxin Sword now seemed covered with a layer of dark shadow.

That murderous aura, that killing intent, was almost tangible.

The aura on her body was also climbing steadily.

Peak Nascent Soul stage… Early Deity Transformation stage!

And it was still continuing upward!

She held her sword and charged directly at Song Shixuan.

“Not good! Song Shiyuan has qi deviation!!”

…

On the other side, outside the Fox Palace.

Within the newly constructed formation, Lu Zhuxin revealed her form.

Her small hands cupped her face, the corners of her mouth curved in a satisfied smile.

“The plan succeeded!”

She heard the System’s notification sound.

[Ding—!]