The moon had long since set behind the mountains, and Hao Ren Town looked particularly quiet in the night.
Only a few lanterns still glowed in the small town, like several fireflies among the myriad grasses.
Old Wangtou was still sitting under the lamplight, picking through new bolts of cloth.
His wrinkled hands gently stroked the fresh fabric over and over.
“The weather’s only going to get colder. I’d best make a few thicker new clothes for Shen Immortal Doctor. Really must thank that child again for today. Tomorrow I’ll make sure to drop by and show my gratitude once more…”
Old Wangtou muttered to himself as he selected the fabric, head bowed.
But just as he’d chosen a piece and reached for the scissors to trim it—
His whole body suddenly convulsed.
Black smoke billowed out from his seven orifices with every shudder.
“Ugh… eh… ehh…”
The black smoke gathered together, slowly forming a human shape.
A raspy, low laughter came from the humanoid cloud drifting in the air.
“Heh heh heh ha, this Shen Immortal Doctor truly lives up to her reputation. She really managed to heal me—hahahaha!”
It laughed wildly, but in the next second, its tone turned abruptly grave.
“However, that woman by her side is quite the nuisance… To think she could expel a parasitic demon seed. She’s a formidable one indeed…”
As it spoke, suddenly, a voice tinged with seduction rang out behind it.
“Heh, I’m not just formidable, I’m beautiful, too!”
“What?! Who’s there?!”
The humanoid black smoke whirled around, only to find nothing behind it.
As it turned back, a Fox Spirit was now perched on Old Wangtou’s shoulder.
Old Wangtou was trembling, his gaze flicking between the humanoid black smoke and the Fox Spirit on his shoulder.
“B-both esteemed immortals… I only have a few scraps of ragged cloth here! Please, spare my life…”
The Fox Spirit cut him off.
“Don’t speak. For Little Shen’s sake, I’ll spare your life!”
Old Wangtou jumped in fright.
Little Shen…?
In his memory, only the woman who had accompanied Shen Immortal Doctor today called her that; everyone else in town respectfully addressed her as Shen Immortal Doctor.
It’s her?
She’s a Fox Demon?!
Good heavens!
How did Shen Immortal Doctor get involved with a Fox Demon?
As Old Wangtou puzzled over this, the Fox Spirit on his shoulder had already leapt off and engaged the humanoid black smoke.
All he could do was shiver as he crawled under the table to hide, not daring to make a sound or even peek out.
He heard the sound of furniture shattering, followed by a stretch of silence.
He thought the Fox Spirit must have chased the black smoke outside, and only then did he dare, trembling, to stick his head out for a look.
But before he could poke his head out, the table he was hiding under shattered first.
A hand seized the few thin strands of hair on his head and yanked him upright.
What came into view was a Black-Clad Man with a hood, face tightly obscured, voice low and raspy.
“Heh heh heh, don’t worry. Since she said she’d spare your life, that makes you my valuable hostage. I won’t kill you just yet!”
Old Wangtou wanted to scream in terror, but found himself suddenly mute—he could only make feeble “yi-yi-ya-ya” noises as the Black-Clad Man dragged him by the hair out of the house.
In the courtyard, he saw a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life.
A woman every bit as stunning as Shen Immortal Doctor stood atop the courtyard wall.
The difference was, this woman’s beauty was alluring, her posture enchanting—and behind her were nine fluffy white tails swaying lightly.
Two white fox ears stood erect atop her head.
Her eyes, foxy and seemingly seductive, actually exuded an unapproachable aura, and she was looking right in his direction.
Or rather, she was looking at the Black-Clad Man holding him by the hair.
A… a real Fox Demon!
How could Old Wangtou ever forget that face?
This woman who suddenly appeared beside Shen Immortal Doctor really was a Fox Demon!
Now Old Wangtou no longer cared about his own life or death.
Nonsense—sandwiched between two immortals, how was he supposed to survive?
Could you trust a Fox Demon’s words?
Now all he worried about was Shen Immortal Doctor’s fate.
Could the Fox Demon have already devoured her?
Too bad—even if he wanted to ask, he couldn’t speak right now.
So just like before, he could only stare blankly at the two immortals before him.
“Heh! So it’s the Fox King Demon Emperor! That explains it!”
The voice that reached his ear gave Old Wangtou another shock.
Oh no! Demon Emperor?!
That’s the end—there’s no way Shen Immortal Doctor can escape this!
“You recognize me and still won’t let the man go? Just a remnant of the Demonic Sect—do you really think you can spar with me?”
Old Wangtou felt another jolt.
Demonic Sect?!
What kind of thing is that?!
Just hearing it, he knew it wasn’t anything good!
Good grief, after hearing all this, how could he expect to survive?
Looks like he could only wait for death now…
But the conversation between the Demon Emperor and the Demonic Sect member continued, and Old Wangtou had no choice but to listen.
“Who would dare? I only wish to say, since even the Demon Emperor is interested in that Shen Immortal Doctor, I’ll gladly hand her over. In fact, our Demonic Sect would be delighted to cooperate with the Demon Emperor. We could join forces to achieve great things!”
The Black-Clad Man spoke steadily and calmly.
“Great things together? What sort of great cause could your Demonic Sect possibly have? Tell me, if it’s too petty, I won’t be interested!”
Seeing Su Qiulian seemed genuinely interested in cooperating, the Black-Clad Man was overjoyed and went on enthusiastically:
“If the Demon Emperor is familiar with history, you’d know that throughout the ages on the Shenzhou Continent, those who reach the Crossing Tribulation Stage are few, and those of the legendary Zhenxian Realm are unheard of. All us cultivators pursue immortality, do we not? Yet, is there any path that leads straight to the Zhenxian Realm?”
“The Heavenly Dao would never allow us to cultivate so easily—it throws countless obstacles in our way, ensuring no cultivator on this land ever reaches true achievement. That’s why our cultivation is called Struggling Against Heaven. But Demon Emperor, have you ever wondered, why must we struggle against heaven?”
“Why?”
Su Qiulian asked, interest piqued.
“Because everything in this world is part of heaven and earth—mountains, rivers, spiritual energy, demonic power, all of it belongs to heaven and earth. When cultivators cultivate by absorbing spiritual energy, are we not struggling against heaven? Seizing a share of heaven and earth! But Demon Emperor, have you ever considered: what if we did not struggle?”
“What would happen? Wouldn’t we just become ordinary mortals?”
“Wrong!”
“Not struggling doesn’t mean we must accept being mere mortals. On the contrary, the ultimate realm of not struggling is to become Heaven itself!”
“Become… Heaven?”
Su Qiulian mused.
“Exactly! What allows immortality? Only this world itself! Only by becoming Heaven can we cultivators truly reach eternal life!”
By the end, the Black-Clad Man grew increasingly agitated—he even raised a hand; if he weren’t still clutching Old Wangtou, he’d probably be raising both arms to the sky, shouting like a madman.
“What does the Demon Emperor think?”
he asked Su Qiulian, full of expectation.
Su Qiulian emerged from her thoughts, glanced at his eager face, and her lips curled in a faint smile.
“Why don’t you tell me how to become Heaven first? Then I’ll consider whether to cooperate with you. Otherwise, mere words mean nothing—it’s hard to be convinced!”
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