As the sun began to set, a massive flying ship could be seen slowly approaching from the direction of Spirit Venerate Mountain.
"Elder of the Zhao clan, I greet the Ancestor You Su."
Bai Suyin bowed and saluted towards the ship.
Soon after, an aged voice sounded from above: "Is that Suyin? Come aboard quickly."
With permission granted, Bai Suyin led Chen Sansi onto the ship.
Waiting on the deck was an old acquaintance, Su Xun of the Fox Clan.
He glanced over at Tian Wu: "Is this your second disciple?"
"Exactly."
Bai Suyin commanded: "Disciple, quickly pay your respects to Elder You Su!"
Chen Sansi stepped forward and mimicked the Fox Clanâs method of salute: "Junior pays respects to the Elder."
"Hehe~"
Su Xun ignored him, smirking, "Bai Suyin, this time going to the Great Demon Gathering, our Fox Clan can compete for the Bai Ze True Disciple quota, but there are only two in total. The sole quota given to your Bai family should remind you of the ancestorâs painstaking intentions."
"Suyin remembers the great kindness and virtue of the ancestor."
Bai Suyin saluted towards the direction of the cabin again.
"Being grateful isnât just about words."
Su Xun said sternly: "In recent years, your Bai family has repeatedly declined, now only having you alone in Transformation. If not for the ancestorâs insistence to protect your Demon Vein and Cave Heaven Blessed Land, the Bai family might have vanished by now. Such a great favor, how do you plan to repay it?"
Bai Suyin hung her head: "The ancestor only needs to instruct, whatever the Bai family can provide, theyâre willing to offer in gratitude."
"Good."
Su Xun said: "Then hand over the Jade Ruyi. This item is one of our Fox Clanâs treasures, but only when in the Divinity Transformation Realm can its power be truly utilized. Itâs of little use in your hand, better to give it to the ancestor to procure better resources for Qingqiuâs people."
"Elder You Su."
Bai Suyin lowered her voice: "About the Ruyi, Iâve explained before, Ancestor Bai Ze needs it for recent alchemical concoctions, and it wonât be returned for an estimated hundred years..."
Su Xun angrily said: "Bai Suyin, youâre using Ancestor Bai Ze to suppress our clanâs protecting ancestor?!"
"Suyin dares not."
Bai Suyin knelt on the ground: "Every word is true. Once itâs returned from Ancestor Bai Ze, Iâll immediately offer the Ruyi to the Elder!"
"You insolent thing!"
Su Xun glared with fury, demonic power surging, ready to act against the Fox Demon before him.
"Stop!"
That aged voice sounded again, imbued with profound authority.
A breeze passed, and soon an immortal robed cultivator with crane-like white hair and a childlike face appeared before everyone.
This person was none other than the current ancestor of Qingqiu, You Su Cangming.
With just a glance, Chen Sansi sensed the overwhelming force from him.
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
Su Xun hastily bowed in salute.
"Suyin."
You Su Cangming managed a slight smile on his stern face: "Are your words just now true?"
Bai Suyin replied: "Every word is genuine."
"I believe you."
You Su Cangming said: "Iâve heard about Bai Zeâs refining of spirit pills, though it shouldnât take a full hundred years.
"That Jade Ruyi, being our Fox Clanâs treasure, cannot remain in outsidersâ hands forever.
"How about this.
"Once the Great Demon Gathering ends, I shall accompany you to see Daoist Bai Ze. By then, his spirit pills should be nearly complete.
"I will personally speak to reclaim it for you, how about that?"
"..."
Bai Suyinâs brow slightly furrowed, but she still respectfully said: "That would be best, Suyin thanks Ancestor You Su greatly."
"Rest assured."
You Su Cangming spoke calmly: "Once the item is retrieved, you will be a hero of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, and the least I will ensure is to cultivate at least two Transformation level practitioners for your Bai family."
And with that, he vanished from sight.
Nearing the late Nascent Soul stage and mastering the Void Technique, cultivators come and go unpredictably.
"This is the ancestorâs last chance for your Bai family, cherish it well."
Su Xun swept away with a flick of his sleeves.
Bai Suyin knelt on one knee, and only after they all departed did she slowly rise, a murderous glint flashing in her pupils.
Chen Sansi observed everything quietly.
After years at Qingqiu, aside from secluding himself, he gained a clearer understanding of the Fox Clanâs internal affairs.
The mentioned "Ruyi" throughout was the "True Spirit Jade Ruyi," a sixth-tier innate spiritual treasure and the Fox Clanâs prized clan treasure.
Within Qingqiuâs Four Clans, the Bai family originally led the Fox Clan until an incident 500 years ago when their ancestor was mysteriously attacked and perished.
In the ensuing centuries, the Bai familyâs talents died under mysterious circumstances, transferring leadership to the You Su Clan.
Now it seemed.
After the Bai familyâs decline, they hadnât relinquished the Jade Ruyi, souring relations with Spirit Venerate Mountain.
Yet under such conditions...
Why would Bai Suyin say she could soon cultivate in Spirit Venerate Mountainâs Cave Heaven Blessed Land?
Could it be, she intends to exchange the Jade Ruyi?
"Disciple."
Bai Suyinâs voice interrupted his thoughts: "Come rest with me in the cabin, approximately sixty days until we reach the Great Demon Gathering."
Chen Sansi remained as a disguised Fox Demon, staying on the ship with peace of mind.
For cultivators, sixty days pass in the blink of a finger snap.
Soon they reached their destinationâHaiyue City.
Within Ten Thousand Demon Country, there are countless cities filled not only with Demons but with Humans and cultivators from various realms; apart from Demons leading, they seem no different from Heavenly Water cities.
Moreover, Demons decree that visitors to these cities, whether Demon or Human, as long as they pay admission and follow rules, are absolutely safe within ten thousand miles of the cities.
This arrangement allows Demon cultivators a private trading place for the exchange of elixir pills and magic artifacts.
As the Great Demon Gathering nears, Haiyue City should be bustling, yet the scene was quite the opposite.
The city perimeter was heavily guarded.
In the sky, Winged Clan Demon Cultivators patrolled everywhere, while thousands of Demon Soldiers on the ground conducted blockades and interrogations.
Su Xun found out it was due to recent rampant robbery cultivators causing chaos, with numerous Demon Cultivators going missing near the city.
There were rumors of Human cultivators capturing Demons for alchemical ingredients.
It sounded rather rebellious.
In Sky Water Continent, people heard of Demons consuming Human cultivators to advance cultivation, yet in Ten Thousand Demon Country, Humans were known to kill Demons for artifact refining and alchemy.
The hatred between Humans and Demons had long reached an irreconcilable level.
After understanding the situation, Su Xun scoffed, "What blind Human cultivators dare to stir trouble during the Great Demon Gathering!"
"Indeed."
Elder Tushan from the Fox Clan nodding, his demeanor fitting the image of a handsome young lord one would expect of a Fox Demon.
He gazed down upon the city below: "I wonder if itâs the Demon Path, Evil God Path, or people from Sky Water Continent?"
"I guess itâs most likely the Demon Path."
Elder Zhao, a middle-aged man, remarked: "Those guys from Chaotic Void Continent would do anything to advance, worse than savage beasts!"
"Not necessarily!"
Su Xun interjected, "If we talk about using Demon bones and essences for craft refining, more people from Sky Water are involved."
"In any case, if itâs a Human, they are doomed!"
Elder Tushanâs eyes were menacing: "Iâve heard that during this Great Demon Gathering, many Human captives from frontier wars are to be used for a blood feast, when we should savor and let those Human cultivators experience what itâs like to be skinned and boned!"