Legend of the Great Sage

n could not help but think of the smile under the umbrella in the golden fields of wheat.
He clearly had not seen her entire appearance, yet that sight happened to be so clear.
Had he really been bewitched? He shook his head and discarded these thoughts.

“Speaking of which, why would the Clam King of Mirage Sea ever assist Si Long against me?”

Rāhu Xiaoming said, “Hold on, I have a question.
Is the Nine-tailed Fox Empress you speak of a regular fox daemon blowing her own horn or an actual nine-tailed fox from the Kingdom of Green Hills?”

Li Qingshan said, “What’s… the difference? They’re all fox daemons anyway!”

“There’s a great difference alright, like a snake to a dragon.
If she’s a true nine-tailed fox, then it would not be strange at all if you were bewitched.
Even the Clam King of Mirage Sea you speak of might very well be bewitched.”

Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow.
“They’re that impressive?”

“Nine-tailed foxes are a species even rarer than dragons and phoenixes.
They’re born with the delicate beauty of the world, blessed with great beauty among all.
Even gods and immortals struggle to resist their charms.
It can even affect far more than just sentient living creatures.
Legend has it that the techniques nine-tailed foxes cast are through their charms, not their powers.”

“The wife of king Yu the Great, Tushan, was a nine-tailed fox.
This Si Long claims to be a descendant of Yu the Great, which might just be a farfetched conclusion.
However, he’s definitely been bewitched as well.
It’s no wonder that he has split this world into nine provinces and established some Great Xia.
He must be trying to please her.”

TL: Yu the Great is a legendary king in Chinese mythology who split the land into nine provinces.
You can read more about him here.

Gu Yanying said, “That’s exactly what I’m worried about.
How can a regular fox daemon leave Si Long so enamoured? If the two of them strike together, I don’t think anyone can stand a chance.
Why don’t we just go and slaughter the living instead?”

Rāhu Xiaoming said, “Though, if she really is a nine-tailed fox, it would be far too strange.
They are different from dragons and phoenixes.
Most of their species gather in the Kingdom of Green Hills.
They rarely wander outside.
And according to what you said, she already underwent the third heavenly tribulation five thousand years ago, so how has she still not ascended even now?”

There were originally many divine and exotic beasts in the world.
The world had even been ruled by the Dragon clan for a very long time.
However, these clans and species of great talent all cultivated extremely quickly.
Whether they ascended or perished in the tribulation lightning, none of them could remain in a world like this.
Nine-tailed foxes were no different.

Gu Yanying said, “Probably because she doesn’t want to ascend to the Daemonic Beast realm, so she’s been waiting the entire time for Si Long to return.”

“Nine-tailed foxes can proactively choose their partners, but they aren’t known for their loyalty.
Will she really waste five thousand years in a place like this just for the sake of a measly Si Long?”

Whether it was a trap or an opportunity, all of the mysteries gathered on the Nine-tailed Fox Empress, affecting the end result of this battle.
Even with Gu Yanying’s insight and Rāhu Xiaoming’s knowledge, they struggled to make an immediate judgement.

Li Qingshan’s eyes lit up.
“Very well then! The Nine-tailed Fox Empress is mine!”

Gu Yanying shook her head in disbelief and sighed.
“Oi, little bro Qingshan, did you hear what we said or not?”

“Of course I did.
Looks like the Nine-tailed Fox Empress really is the greatest beauty in the nine provinces! Hmph, how dare that measly Si Long provoke me! He better watch as I eat his dog, butcher his family, and fuck his wife!”

It was clear from Li Qingshan’s expression that he was up to no good.
He had already begun fantasising the taste of victory.

“Xiao An, this bastard must have been bewitched, right? He must have been bewitched!”

“Yeah!” Xiao An nodded seriously.

The east lit up slightly.
Li Qingshan stood up and gazed over.
“Thank you for your fascinating analysis, everyone.
You’ve given me a whole new perspective on the situation, but I still have to make a choice in the end.
Either I retreat out of fear and slaughter the living, or I give it my all in an attempt to kill Si Long.
I choose the latter.
So what if I’m bewitched? So what if it’s a trap? Si Long would have never just sat there and waited for me to kill him in the first place! Anyway, I feel like a battle is possible!”

Rāhu Xiaoming lifted up the cauldron and drank all the soup in one stroke.
“Then let’s battle!”

“Alright.
I really have no idea how you got to where you are right now.”

Gu Yanying was powerless.
As someone who thought long and deep about everything, she had only ever acted on impulse for the sake of the kunpeng’s feather.
She really was unaccustomed to his brainless charges.

“Xiao An has always been coming up with plans for me.
Of course, I have my sharp instincts as well—here he comes!”

Li Qingshan’s eyes lit up.
The sun rose up in the east, and a colossal dragon leapt out from the horizon, splitting open the clouds with its head.

At a closer glance, that was not a true dragon, but a fleet of ships.
The ship in the lead was far larger than any one he had ever seen.

Si Long stood on the nose of the ship, shining brilliantly.

“It’s Great Xia’s Sovereign Dragon King!”