Chapter 661: True Old Fox

Yunxia, caught in Jiang Fan’s questioning gaze, felt both ashamed and annoyed.

"Chieftain!" she exclaimed. "Why would you tell him these things?"

This matter was known only to the chieftain and the Demon Emperor's concubines. She absolutely did not want Jiang Fan to know, yet the chieftain had casually revealed it to him.

Jiuyin Zhu tapped her staff, signaling Yunxia to be quiet. She calmly regarded Jiang Fan.

"Suspicion is natural," she said. "Given the Demon Emperor's possessiveness, it's hard for anyone to believe that he hasn't had his way with Yunxia."

Jiang Fan nodded slightly. He had personally experienced the Demon Emperor’s possessiveness, especially towards his women. The emperor had even openly declared that if any of his women betrayed him, he would exterminate their entire clan.

Jiuyin Zhu spoke to Jiang Fan without reservation. "The reason Yunxia can protect herself is because she once consumed a drop of the refined blood of a silver fox ancestor. That was essence blood from a Spirit Transformation realm being. It dissolved into her bloodline. If anyone forcefully attempts to engage with her, she can activate the power of that drop of refined blood. Even the Demon Emperor, if not killed, would be severely wounded. Therefore, if Yunxia is unwilling, the Demon Emperor would not dare to use force."

Jiang Fan believed about seventy to eighty percent of it. He had personally witnessed the Demon Emperor's attempts to get close to Yunxia, and her merciless rejections, leaving the emperor secretly enraged.

"So, is there anything else you're dissatisfied with regarding Yunxia?" Jiuyin Zhu asked hoarsely.

Jiang Fan rubbed his nose. "Even so," he said, "she's still the Demon Emperor's concubine. I wouldn't dare touch her."

Jiuyin Zhu slowly nodded. "Then just kill the Demon Emperor, wouldn't that solve it?"

Kill the Demon Emperor? Jiang Fan’s eyelid twitched. For a moment, he didn't know where to begin to express his exasperation. Having witnessed battles between Nascent Soul realm experts, he didn't believe he could withstand a single serious blow from the Demon Emperor. Moreover, to kill the Demon Emperor for a woman he had no connection to? Did he look like someone whose head was filled with thoughts of women? And for such a suggestion to come from a tribal chieftain of the demon race—it truly sounded absurd.

After a long moment of thought, Jiang Fan said, "If I don't agree, will I not be able to leave this place?" Having learned the Silver Fox clan's secret, how could they easily let him go?

"Heh heh," Jiuyin Zhu chuckled hoarsely. "It won't come to that. You saved my clansmen; this old woman would not betray such kindness."

Jiang Fan looked at her suspiciously. "Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the Demon Emperor?"

"Naturally, I am afraid," Jiuyin Zhu replied. "However, I would still have a chance to explain. But you, after spending a night with the empress's concubine whom he desires but cannot obtain—I imagine you wouldn't have the slightest room for argument."

Jiang Fan's eyes widened. No wonder she had sat by and watched Yunxia enter his cave by mistake without stopping her. So, this was her plan all along! If the Demon Emperor learned of this, he would hunt Jiang Fan down even if he hid in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. As for a chance to explain, if the Demon Emperor was in a good mood, he might allow Jiang Fan to explain in the underworld.

"Truly an old fox," Jiang Fan muttered under his breath.

Jiuyin Zhu was not offended, and a faint smile appeared on her withered old face. "So, would you like to give it a try? If you really kill the Demon Emperor, Yunxia will be yours."

Jiang Fan pouted. "Senior, please don't use Yunxia as a talking point anymore. Even the Demon Emperor couldn't obtain her, what can I do to her?" This kind of unobtainable prize, even a dog wouldn't want.

"If there's an opportunity to kill the Demon Emperor, I will attempt it," he continued. "But it won't be for your Silver Fox clan, and certainly not for Concubine Yunxia. It will be for my human race." The fallen members of the Nine Sects on Mount Jie were vividly etched in Jiang Fan's memory. The Demon Emperor was inextricably linked to that blood debt!

Jiuyin Zhu smiled. "Regardless of your original intention, we are now walking different paths to the same destination; we are allies. As allies, I'll give you a small gift." She glanced at Concubine Yunxia.

Jiang Fan's mouth twitched, and he quickly interjected, "I have no interest in that violent woman. Please don't try to use her to manipulate me again."

Concubine Yunxia could no longer tolerate it. Gritting her silver teeth, she retorted, "Who else have I been violent towards besides you? You should reflect on why you're so annoying!"

Jiang Fan shrugged. "How am I annoying? Your chieftain, the first time she met me, confided in me and discussed the great undertaking of overthrowing the Demon Emperor. You're the one who needs to reflect."

"You!" Concubine Yunxia was so enraged her eyebrows shot up. If not for the chieftain's presence, she would have certainly made Jiang Fan taste her iron fist.

Jiuyin Zhu gave a meaningful look at Concubine Yunxia, who was acting quite differently from her usual self, as if she sensed something. She hoarsely interrupted their quarrel. "Young Master Jiang, you've heard everything I said about the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave. There's no need for me to introduce it further. As a welcoming gift between allies, I will allow you to enter the inner sanctum with Yunxia once. The Silver Scroll of Elixir allows two people to enter. Taking just you is sufficient."

Jiang Fan frowned. "The Tiger Demon Emperor's cave isn't very useful for my human race, is it?"

Jiuyin Zhu said calmly, "It's useless for you, but what about Hai Mei? What, you're going to refuse to own a Demon Emperor slave?"

Jiang Fan was speechless. This old fox was truly a master at dangling carrots! If the opportunity to achieve Demon Emperor status were so easy to obtain, there wouldn't be only one Demon Emperor in the demon race. However, this did remind him. Hai Mei was already at the peak of the Core Formation realm. If she had the opportunity, she could attempt to break through to the Demon Emperor realm. Plus, he himself also had a Silver Scroll of Elixir hidden away. Perhaps he could gain even more opportunities. Why not go?

"Then I thank Senior for your kindness."

"Chieftain! I don't want to go with him!" Concubine Yunxia immediately objected. She was desperate to escape Jiang Fan; how could she possibly enter the Tiger Demon Emperor's inner sanctum with him?

Jiuyin Zhu extended her hand. "Then return the Silver Scroll of Elixir. I will arrange for other clan members to go with Young Master Jiang."

Concubine Yunxia grudgingly fell silent, glaring fiercely at Jiang Fan.

Their hostile state made Jiuyin Zhu somewhat worried. "The Tiger Demon Emperor's inner sanctum is quite dangerous. If you two are so at odds, you might end up dragging each other down once inside. I think it would be best for you two to get along first."

"Get along? How should we get along?"

Jiuyin Zhu said, "You two go clean up the battlefield on the surface. A melee between Nascent Soul cultivators will inevitably drop some items. If you're lucky enough to collect some ancient giant blood, that would be even better."

Jiang Fan then realized that the fighting on the ground had stopped at some point. He felt a slight joy in his heart. "When did the battle end?"

"Late last night," Jiuyin Zhu replied.

"How was the battle?" Jiang Fan asked again.

"Naturally, the ancient giants were defeated," Jiuyin Zhu said calmly. "The experts from Tai Cang Prefecture came prepared. The ancient giants were isolated and outnumbered. The outcome was already predetermined."

Jiang Fan breathed a long sigh of relief. He knew how formidable the ancient giants were; if they were allowed to rampage across the continent, the consequences would be unimaginable! However, to go clean up the battlefield now? Thinking of the young monk who was searching the world for him to convert him to Buddhism, he got goosebumps all over. "Those foreign Nascent Soul experts are not to be trifled with. They might even be cleaning up the battlefield themselves. If we go up now, we'd truly be taking food from a tiger's mouth."

Jiuyin Zhu leaned on her staff and slowly stood up. She smiled mysteriously. "If, at this moment, you can still encounter a foreign Nascent Soul cultivator, then this old woman should congratulate you. Your great opportunity has arrived."