Saintess Zhiyue, Please Reconsider

“So, Li Xianchen and the others still weren’t convicted in the end?”

Inside a branch of the Liu Family Cloth Store somewhere in the Nine Provinces of Huaxia, He Ange was casually inquiring with the local shopkeepers about the recent hot news circulating throughout the Dragon Dynasty.

Across the table from He Ange weren’t just a few shopkeepers, but also several passing customers – young cultivators from nearby immortal sects. About five or six people gathered around He Ange’s table, chatting about everything under the sun. They all seemed like well-informed types, quite knowledgeable about the gossip within the Dragon Dynasty.

Within half an hour of conversation, He Ange had gathered most of the interesting recent news from the Dynasty.

Currently, regarding the matter of An Luo Yi’s ‘betrayal’ on the northern border, although the Empress was furious, she ultimately only handed out symbolic punishments to a few immortal generals present at the scene for whom there was clear evidence. As for old foxes like Li Nanshan, they were merely reprimanded and sternly warned by the Empress in court. Beyond that, the matter seemed closed.

Due to insufficient evidence, Li Nanshan and his faction naturally avoided actual conviction. `Old foxes really know how to survive.` Apparently, Li Nanshan had fled the scene so quickly that not only did Ye Qingchuan fail to catch him, but his face wasn’t even clearly seen.

Of course, given Li Nanshan’s deep background and influence – capable of mobilizing dozens of second-rank immortal generals – even irrefutable evidence wouldn’t allow the Empress to easily deal with him. If a major figure like Li Nanshan, an ancestral-level immortal sect leader, were convicted of leading a rebellion, it could trigger internal conflict and potentially split the Dragon Dynasty.

Although the Dragon Dynasty was vast and resource-rich, it had only been unified relatively recently, within the last century. Forcing the various major immortal sects, which had feuded for over a thousand years, to unite wholeheartedly was likely beyond the capabilities of just one True Dragon Empress.

The Empress’s achievement in uniting the orthodox immortal sects under the Dragon Dynasty banner was already impressive. Without her authority suppressing them, the major sects would undoubtedly be embroiled in constant power struggles, much like the demonic realms.

And now, with An Luo Yi spirited away by He Ange, the Empress had lost a future cornerstone – a woman blessed by fate capable of suppressing the major sects in the cultivation world. It seemed the Empress’s grand unification project still had a long way to go~~

“Old Man Nanshan is indeed fine, but I heard things haven’t been peaceful in the Fox Clan Secret Realm recently either,” one of the cultivators shared after the topic shifted.

Having discussed Li Nanshan, the shopkeepers and cultivators eagerly moved on to news beyond the Dragon Dynasty. After all, this ‘Young Master He’ had just purchased eight or nine new outfits for his companion – a major customer. They were naturally keen to curry favor with such a wealthy and generous young master.

Seeing their eagerness, He Ange smiled faintly and snapped his fingers. Tap! With a small trick, a dozen or so immortal stones materialized in the hands of the shopkeepers and cultivators.

Their eyes lit up, faces beaming. `Immortal stones as a tip just for some gossip? In a market where silver is still dominant!` This was far easier than risking their necks on dangerous sect missions for a few measly stones! Realizing this, they became even more eager to share information.

“You’re saying… a few days ago, a mysterious Saintess from the Blood Refining Sect teamed up with the treacherous Holy Son of the Ghost Controlling Sect to launch a night raid against the Fox Saintess?” He Ange raised an eyebrow, piecing together the fragmented information they offered.

Two other customers chimed in, “A raid? It was more than that! The Blood Refining Sect and the Ghost Controlling Sect, those two major demonic cults, basically declared war on the Fox Clan! The Fox Saintess is now seriously injured and in seclusion, leaving the Fox Clan leaderless. They couldn’t withstand the two demonic sects and were forced to awaken several ancient ancestors who had slumbered for millennia just to hold the line!”

“Are they planning to wipe out the entire Fox Clan?” He Ange frowned, growing increasingly concerned.

In this cultivation world, alongside the Spirit Phoenix Sect, there were three other major demonic cults. The Blood Refining Sect resided in the West, the Ghost Controlling Sect in the South, and somewhere in the East, there was supposedly a Witch Gu Sect…

He Ange knew little about the Ghost Controlling Sect, only recalling they were infamous for manipulating corpses and ghosts.

But the mysterious Saintess of the Blood Refining Sect? That definitely caught He Ange’s attention.

Because just recently, Feng Yuan had mentioned a potential marriage arrangement involving him, and the prospective fiancée happened to be a talented Saintess from the Blood Refining Sect.

Feng Yuan hadn’t forced him to marry, nor had she refused on his behalf. Following her usual hands-off approach, she intended for He Ange to handle it himself.

That marriage proposal had already caused quite a bit of jealousy and emotional turmoil for An Luo Yi… which was partly why An Luo Yi was being difficult a few days ago, leading to her being thoroughly ‘disciplined’ by He Ange yesterday.

Could it be that much of a coincidence? Thinking about that strange, sudden marriage proposal, He Ange felt uneasy. The name ‘Blood Refining Sect’ had certainly been popping up frequently around him lately.

Furthermore, the ongoing conflict in the Fox Clan Secret Realm made He Ange worried about Xia Ranyue’s safety.

As for the Fox Saintess, Xia Zhiyue… honestly, He Ange wasn’t overly concerned about her. His connection to her was purely through Xia Ranyue. Besides, the Fox Saintess had severely humiliated He Ange previously with some words or actions. That left a bad taste in his mouth. `Just stay alive and don’t worry Xia Ranyue, that’s enough.`

“What about the Dragon Dynasty? Didn’t the Fox Clan form an alliance with them?” He Ange continued his inquiries.

“Of course, the Dragon Dynasty sent immortal generals!” one replied.

“Right now, if it weren’t for the numerous Dragon Dynasty generals stationed there, the Ghost Controlling Sect and Blood Refining Sect would have already swept through the Fox Clan Secret Realm.”

“Yes, the Fox Clan really owes Her Majesty the Empress a great debt this time. Without her generous aid, they might have actually been annihilated!” The cultivators spoke with pride about the Dragon Dynasty’s accomplishments.

For younger cultivators, sect loyalty wasn’t as ingrained as in the older generation. Their life goal was often to pass the official examinations, become honored Dragon Dynasty Immortal Attendants, and serve the empire. Therefore, hearing about Dragon Dynasty generals acting heroically abroad filled them with pride and strengthened their loyalty to the True Dragon Empress.

In a way, the Empress’s rule and propaganda within the Dragon Dynasty were quite effective. Even someone like An Luo Yi, the woman blessed by fate nurtured by the Sacred Void Sect, was eventually drawn to serve the Empress.

If this trend continued, with the Dragon Dynasty absorbing all the top talent from the major sects each year, the Empress’s rule would become even more entrenched. Disloyal old officials like Li Nanshan would eventually be pushed out by the younger generation.

“Alright, thank you fellow Daoists for sharing these interesting stories. I still have a journey ahead, so I must take my leave for now.” Having gathered enough information, He Ange stood up, clasped his fists, and bowed slightly.

But just as he turned to leave, his gaze inadvertently met that of a gently mannered woman dressed in fine immortal robes.

Simultaneously, the shopkeepers stood up respectfully, rushing forward to greet her. “Mistress Liu, what brings you to inspect our humble shop today?”

“Young… Young Master He?!” The woman addressed as Mistress Liu gasped, covering her mouth, looking at He Ange with disbelief.

“Ah…” He Ange paused, slightly surprised. After a moment’s thought, he chuckled lightly, “Senior Moqing, long time no see.”

***

Fox Clan Secret Realm, Sacred Cherry Blossom Grove.

On the sacrificial altar, a stunningly beautiful snow-white fox fairy sat meditating in seclusion. Her willow-like brows were slightly furrowed, her proud, cold face pale and showing signs of suffering. Her entire being emanated weakness and illness.

After a long while, Xia Zhiyue withdrew her spiritual energy and violently coughed up a large mouthful of black blood, her expression twisting further with pain and hatred. “Mu Yanli… you bitch…!”

A few days prior, Xia Zhiyue, as the current leader of the Fox Clan, had traveled to Huaxia at the invitation of major Dragon Dynasty sects to discuss marriage alliances involving Fox Clan disciples.

Unexpectedly, on her return journey, she was ambushed by the Blood Refining Sect Saintess and the Ghost Controlling Sect Holy Son.

They had superior numbers and attacked from the shadows, catching Xia Zhiyue completely off guard.

In that critical moment, only by using the Fox Clan’s ultimate life-saving treasure did Xia Zhiyue manage to escape the clutches of numerous demonic cultivators. Otherwise, she would have perished at the hands of the Ghost Controlling Sect Holy Son.

Since then, Xia Zhiyue’s vitality had been severely damaged, leaving her near death several times.

It was only upon returning that she discovered the devastating truth: the Blood Refining Sect Saintess’s attack hadn’t killed her outright because its true purpose was to steal Xia Zhiyue’s Source of Moon!

The Source and Spirit Veins are both critical foundations for cultivation.

The Source is the root, the Veins are the pathways.

Losing one’s Spirit Veins means losing the ability to generate spiritual energy, like He Ange originally, forcing one to rely on stealing others’ power.

But losing one’s Source means losing the ability to control spiritual energy!

The saying “injuring the Source” highlighted its absolute importance; the Source was even more precious than Spirit Veins!

Now, having lost her Source of Moon, Xia Zhiyue had become virtually crippled overnight. No matter how high her cultivation realm, she couldn’t effectively utilize her power.

As for who stole her Source, Xia Zhiyue had no doubt.

The white-haired Saintess wielding moon blades and a blood sword was unquestionably the Moon Sect demoness, Mu Yanli! Xia Zhiyue would recognize her even if she were reduced to ashes!

What Xia Zhiyue hadn’t anticipated was that Mu Yanli wasn’t just a Moon Sect demoness but also a high-ranking Saintess in the Blood Refining Sect. Such a dual background was truly terrifying.

Xia Zhiyue now harbored immense hatred for Mu Yanli.

She had painstakingly cultivated to the peak of the Deity Transformation realm, already preparing for her breakthrough to Void Refining, only for Mu Yanli to intervene. Losing a fair duel would have been one thing, but Mu Yanli colluded with the Ghost Controlling Sect, bringing over a dozen Deity Transformation experts to ambush her. Even with her talent, Xia Zhiyue couldn’t fight so many opponents. She was severely backstabbed by Mu Yanli and her forces, nearly dying at the hands of the Ghost Controlling Sect Holy Son.

And then, after ambushing her and stealing her Source, these demonic maniacs weren’t satisfied. The very next day, they seized the opportunity of Xia Zhiyue’s crippled state to rally numerous demonic cultivators and invade the Fox Clan!

Watching her people being slaughtered and resources plundered, Xia Zhiyue was powerless. The Fox Clan urgently awakened several ancient ancestors, but the demonic sects naturally had their own powerful elders. The outnumbered Fox Clan couldn’t hold out long against the ferocious assault of two major demonic sects…

During that period, the Fox Clan struggled desperately, losing vast amounts of resources and territory.

If not for the Dragon Dynasty’s reinforcements, led by the Immortal Attendant Ye Qingchuan, arriving just before total collapse, the combined forces of the two demonic sects would have likely already breached the Sacred Cherry Blossom Grove and sacked it.

Xia Zhiyue was filled with bitter regret.

Powerlessly watching her homeland invaded, forced to humbly beg the Dragon Dynasty Empress for aid, was utter humiliation.

“Saintess Zhiyue! How is your recovery progressing during your recent seclusion?” Outside the altar, a young man from the Azure Dragon race stood with his hands behind his back, accompanied by several Dragon Dynasty immortal generals. He approached the Saintess’s seclusion spot with a smile.

Seeing the Dragon Dynasty visitors, Xia Zhiyue felt resentment but could only lower her head slightly, biting her lip. “…My Source was injured. Recovery won’t be quick…”

“Is that so? How unfortunate.” Looking at the desolate Fox Saintess, the Azure Dragon man shook his head, feigning regret. His cold eyes held a mixture of pity (30%) and amusement (70%). He clenched his fist, expressing mock anger, “Aigh, the Blood Refining Sect and Ghost Controlling Sect are truly abominable! Saintess Zhiyue need not worry about the Fox Clan’s safety. With me, Ye Qingchuan, present, the demonic sects’ plot to swallow the Fox Clan will never succeed!” He stood proudly, radiating heroic confidence.

But Xia Zhiyue looked at him without gratitude, her charming eyes lowered, feeling only irritation.

If the Dragon Dynasty generals had arrived sooner, the Fox Clan wouldn’t have suffered such devastating losses. Now, with the clan nearly wiped out, the Dragon Dynasty ‘support’ finally arrived, effectively taking control of their territory. Countless Dragon Dynasty Immortal Attendants were now stationed throughout the Fox Clan lands…

This smooth takeover made Xia Zhiyue suspicious. The Dragon Dynasty constantly expanded its territory; she knew the Empress’s ambitions well.

Most likely (90% probability), the Dragon Dynasty had allowed the demonic sects to cripple the Fox Clan’s strength, then sent Ye Qingchuan and others under the guise of ‘aid’. Ostensibly stationed to defend against invaders, they were actually beginning to usurp sovereignty over the Fox Clan’s three major secret realms from Xia Zhiyue.

The hateful part was that with her cultivation crippled, Xia Zhiyue’s influence within the Fox Clan might now be less than Ye Qingchuan’s, an outsider. She couldn’t resist this situation, forced to watch helplessly as the Dragon Dynasty and the demonic sects carved up her clan’s resources.

The demonic sects invaded openly, a blatant attack.
The Dragon Dynasty occupied from within, subtly eroding sovereignty.

Now, even if the Fox Clan managed to repel the demonic sects with the Dragon Dynasty’s help and reclaim their territory, Xia Zhiyue’s authority would be purely nominal. The Fox Clan lands would effectively be under Dragon Dynasty control.

Without sovereignty, the Fox Clan’s fate would rest entirely in the Dragon Dynasty’s hands.

“Saintess Zhiyue, speaking of which…” On the altar, Ye Qingchuan stood with hands clasped behind him, a mysterious smile appearing as if recalling something amusing. He leaned down, bringing his face close to the snow-white fox fairy’s ear, and whispered with interest, “Recently, quite a few of your Fox Clan elders, even those ancient ancestors, have privately approached me, insisting on arranging a marriage between us young folk…”

“Aiya, what a situation!” Ye Qingchuan clucked, feigning indignation. “I immediately rebuked them, of course! I told them I am here solely under Her Majesty the Empress’s command to aid the Fox Clan. Even if Saintess Zhiyue doesn’t offer herself in gratitude, I will dutifully defend your territory…”

“Besides,” he continued, his tone dripping with false concern, “Saintess Zhiyue’s cultivation is currently crippled. If you were to marry me now, wouldn’t outsiders misunderstand and think I took advantage of your situation?”

“Wouldn’t you agree, Saintess Zhiyue?”

Pfft—!!!

Rage surged through her, blood rushing to her head. Xia Zhiyue violently coughed up another mouthful of black blood. She gasped for breath, clenching her teeth, blood trickling from the corner of her lip. Staring blankly at the ground, listening to Ye Qingchuan’s shameless monologue, she desperately wanted to leap up and tear him to shreds.

`Beast… A pack of beasts!` The demonic sects, the Dragon Dynasty, even members of her own Fox Clan – all despicable, shameless beasts!

`My Source stolen, my cultivation ruined… Once I lost my value to the Fox Clan, they immediately set their sights on my Nine-Tailed bloodline, using my future happiness to curry favor with the Dragon Dynasty, and they have the audacity to call it a marriage alliance!` The thought filled Xia Zhiyue with fury, making her teeth ache.

The most talented Saintess the Fox Clan had seen in a thousand years, yet when had Xia Zhiyue ever suffered the indignity of being betrayed by her own kin?

At this moment, Xia Zhiyue finally understood the sickening feeling of being forced into a marriage alliance. Born into the Fox Clan, born with the Nine-Tailed bloodline, her very existence was a diplomatic bargaining chip.

Even crippled, her Nine-Tailed bloodline remained a genuine treasure. Even the Azure Dragon race of the Nine Heavens would covet the legendary Nine Tails.

For the Fox Clan as a whole, marrying Xia Zhiyue to a renowned Dragon Dynasty general meant latching onto the Dynasty, gaining more protection and support.

Correspondingly, this Ye Qingchuan was almost certainly eyeing her bloodline.

As long as Xia Zhiyue didn’t marry him, Ye Qingchuan wouldn’t fully commit to protecting the Fox Clan. In recent days, the Dragon Dynasty generals on the front lines had mostly just held their positions, rarely taking offensive action to drive out the invaders. They remained locked in stalemates with the demonic cultivators, while behind the lines, the Fox Clan had to treat these Dragon Dynasty ‘allies’ like lords, providing lavish hospitality…

As long as the two demonic sects besieged the Fox Clan, the Dragon Dynasty generals had an excuse to collect ‘protection fees’ daily.

Everything, from start to finish, was about profit and calculation!

Now, Xia Zhiyue finally grasped why Xia Ranyue, who had nearly been sold into a marriage alliance as a child, grew up to harbor such resentment towards her homeland. Xia Zhiyue had always been a genius; she had never experienced the treatment reserved for ‘trash’ within the clan. This fundamental difference created a deep, unbridgeable gap in understanding between her and Xia Ranyue.

“Saintess Zhiyue, I am in no rush regarding this matter. Please consider it at your own pace,” Ye Qingchuan said smoothly. “However, I’ve also heard recently that quite a few elders are also considering offering the other Nine-Tailed bloodline inheritor of the Fox Clan, Princess Ranyue, to me…” His final words held a deeply suggestive, meaningful tone.

Instantly, Xia Zhiyue’s snowy, charming eyes froze, as if the deepest taboo in her heart had been violated. Fierce killing intent flared, but it held no power to intimidate.

Ye Qingchuan looked at the devastated, beautiful fox fairy, completely unfazed. He let out a cold chuckle and sighed with feigned regret, “Ai, it makes no difference to me. These are internal matters for your Fox Clan to decide amongst yourselves.”

Shaking his head, Ye Qingchuan led his men away.

On the altar, only the snow-white fox fairy remained, sitting desolate. Her nine tails bristled violently, fur standing on end with rage. Her body trembled uncontrollably, yet she only coughed up more blood pitifully.

Snowflakes drifted down. Two lines of hateful tears traced paths down the white fox Saintess’s cheeks. “Ranyue…”

“Sister… couldn’t protect you… or the Fox Clan…”