Chapter 3487: Trade

A tranquil manor, nestled within the Nine-tailed Mountain Range, boasted a stone bridge garden, elegant pavilions, and lush green bamboo.

From a three-story white pavilion, Bai Ling'er stood by the window, gazing out at the distant horizon.

Feng Tianya had pleaded with Hu Qing, who subsequently arranged Hu Mei'er's marriage to Feng Wuying. To elevate Hu Mei'er's status, Hu Qing stripped Bai Ling'er of her title as Saintess.

Hu Qing's intention was for Bai Ling'er to advance to the Mahayana stage and safeguard the Nine-tailed tribe. Hu Mei'er, on the other hand, already harbored affection for Feng Wuying, and her marriage to him would also foster closer ties between the two tribes, serving multiple purposes.

With Hu Mei'er married, there was no one left to help Bai Ling'er contact Wang Qingshan.

Bai Ling'er sensed something. She retrieved a communication disk, which glowed with white light, and activated a spell. A low female voice then spoke, "Come to my residence."

"Yes, Grandmother," Bai Ling'er replied.

Bai Ling'er assented and quickly exited the pavilion.

Soon after, Bai Ling'er met Hu Qing in a manor filled with the scent of flowers and the chirping of birds.

Hu Qing was seated in a stone pavilion, her expression grim.

"Grandmother, why have you returned so quickly?" Bai Ling'er asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

"Wang Qingshan has already advanced to the Mahayana stage," Hu Qing began. "He heard that the Saintess of the Nine-tailed tribe had become Feng Wuying's dual cultivation partner. In response, he stormed the Skyhawk Mountain Range, creating a disturbance at the dual cultivation ceremony. He was then besieged by multiple Mahayana cultivators but fought desperately to break through the encirclement. His whereabouts are now unknown, and Fellow Daoist Feng is currently hunting him."

Bai Ling'er was torn between shock and delight. She had never imagined Wang Qingshan would cause such a commotion for her sake.

"Now, Fellow Daoist Feng demands that our Nine-tailed tribe locate him, or he will deal with us as well," Hu Qing continued. "I want you to lure him out. What do you say?" Hu Qing's gaze was fixed intently on Bai Ling'er.

She wanted to observe how Bai Ling'er would choose between her beloved and the Nine-tailed tribe. If Bai Ling'er were to completely disregard the tribe's interests, it would deeply disappoint Hu Qing.

"Ling'er is willing to lure out Fellow Daoist Wang," Bai Ling'er replied cautiously. "However, might I ask Grandmother to show leniency and simply make a pretense? If you let Fellow Daoist Wang go, Ling'er promises to cultivate diligently and advance to the Mahayana stage as soon as possible." Bai Ling'er spoke cautiously. She knew that if she didn't help lure out Wang Qingshan, the Nine-tailed tribe would face disaster, and she couldn't bear that. The tribe had treated her kindly, and she refused to be ungrateful. However, she also didn't want Wang Qingshan to be captured. A staged act, if Hu Qing agreed, could both protect the Nine-tailed tribe and save Wang Qingshan.

"'An act?' Hu Qing scoffed, her face clouding with displeasure. 'If this matter is exposed, the entire Nine-tailed tribe will suffer. You would place the Nine-tailed tribe in peril for the sake of an outsider? You must choose only one: the Nine-tailed tribe or Wang Qingshan.'"

Bai Ling'er's face was clouded with uncertainty. After a long moment of contemplation, she finally spoke: "If I absolutely must choose, Ling'er chooses the Nine-tailed tribe. However, if Grandmother were to act with slight leniency, perhaps he could escape. If that's truly impossible, then so be it. Ling'er will devote herself to cultivation and advance to the Mahayana stage as soon as possible." The Nine-tailed tribe had shown her immense kindness, and if forced to choose, she could only prioritize them.

"'Oh, it appears that without Wang Qingshan, you would instead be spurred to greater effort,' Hu Qing remarked, a hint of satisfaction crossing her face.

"'When my cultivation greatly advances,' Bai Ling'er added, her voice laced with killing intent, 'all tribes involved in this matter, except for the Nine-tailed tribe, will be annihilated.'" Bai Ling'er's face was etched with murderous intent. Her choice of the Nine-tailed tribe was motivated by gratitude, while her resolve to eliminate other tribes stemmed from her emotions.

Hu Qing paused, slightly taken aback, then asked, "If you were to shed your demonic form and leave the Heavenly Demon Realm with him, would you be willing?"

"'Ling'er would never allow the Nine-tailed tribe to face the calamity of annihilation,' Bai Ling'er stated earnestly."

"'Everything I said earlier was a fabrication,' Hu Qing stated slowly. 'He did indeed go to the Skyhawk Mountain Range, but he didn't act recklessly, nor did he anger Fellow Daoist Feng. I merely wanted to observe your choice between him and the Nine-tailed tribe. Now, I offer you an opportunity: you may leave with him, but you must enter the Demon Cleansing Pond to shed your demonic form. Do you dare?'" Shedding her demonic form would essentially strip Bai Ling'er of her bloodline, transforming her completely into a human. However, the process was incredibly painful, carrying a significant risk of death. If she survived, a tribesperson with a powerful bloodline could then be cultivated from hers. Bai Ling'er herself would no longer be able to utilize any of the Nine-tailed tribe's innate divine abilities, becoming a pure human, provided she survived the ordeal.

"'Grandmother, are you joking?' Bai Ling'er asked, blinking in disbelief.

"'Why would I joke about such a thing?' Hu Qing's expression grew serious. 'I'm merely asking if you dare. Failure means your death; you will have to rely solely on yourself. You may leave, but your bloodline must remain here.'" By extracting Bai Ling'er's bloodline, they could cultivate a more exceptional successor, ensuring the Nine-tailed tribe wouldn't incur too great a loss.

"'Ling'er is willing,' Bai Ling'er confirmed. 'Is Fellow Daoist Wang also here in the Nine-tailed Mountain Range?'" Bai Ling'er readily agreed. Her keen mind immediately detected a catch: Hu Qing would not offer such a choice without reason. Wang Qingshan must have struck some kind of deal with Hu Qing.

"'Come out, Fellow Daoist Wang!' Hu Qing called out.

No sooner had she spoken than Wang Qingshan emerged from a nearby side courtyard. He had indeed struck a deal with Hu Qing, though she had not directly consented to his terms, opting instead to first ascertain Bai Ling'er's stance.

"'You have a quarter of an hour,' Hu Qing announced. 'After that, I will await you in the Demon Cleansing Hall. Fellow Daoist Wang, do not forget our agreement.'" With that, Hu Qing stood up and departed.

"'What deal did you make with Grandmother,' Bai Ling'er asked, 'that made her willing to let me leave?'"

"'I gave her a Seven-Flame Golden Peach,' Wang Qingshan explained, his face softening with tenderness, 'and promised to perform three tasks for the Nine-tailed tribe, provided they were within my capabilities.'"

"'Just that?'" Bai Ling'er found it somewhat incredulous that Hu Qing would release her so readily.

"'Not entirely,' Wang Qingshan replied gravely. 'She had some questions for you, and your answers clearly satisfied her. I'm not entirely clear on the specifics myself. Ling'er, I really don't think you should shed your demonic form. Let me go talk to her again.'" Wang Qingshan was still uneasy. Bai Ling'er was inherently a demon, and stripping her of her bloodline would not only be incredibly painful but also carried the genuine risk of death.

"'No, it's not necessary,' Bai Ling'er refused. 'I understand Grandmother's predicament. Over the years, I've consumed many of the Nine-tailed tribe's resources to reach this stage. My bloodline is very pure; this way, it's also good, and I can leave with a clear conscience.'" Bai Ling'er refused. She understood that once she entered the Demon Cleansing Pond, her bloodline could be extracted for the Nine-tailed tribe to nurture other members, regardless of her survival. Without her demonic bloodline, she would no longer have any ties to the Nine-tailed tribe. The tribe could then cultivate another exceptional member, allowing her to depart with a clear conscience.

"'But what if—' Wang Qingshan began, still hesitant.

"'There are no 'what ifs',' Bai Ling'er said with a smile. 'Grandmother has already made a significant concession. Let me try! If I survive, I will cultivate the Way of the Sword alongside you.'"

"'Good,' Wang Qingshan said, embracing Bai Ling'er. 'It's settled then. You will cultivate the Way of the Sword with me, and you *must* survive.'" Wang Qingshan lowered his head and kissed Bai Ling'er.

A moment later, their lips parted. Bai Ling'er then walked out, making her way to the Demon Cleansing Hall.