Chapter 107: Fox Demon Secrets

Seeing the big fox's indignant expression, Li Tongya's heart stirred. He patted his storage bag, took out a bag of spirit rice, and said with a smile, "Big fox, take a look at this."

The big fox's crimson fur twitched. It lowered its head to sniff, its eyes blinking slightly, and stuttered, "It smells quite good... Is this spirit grain or spirit rice? It's rare in these mountains. I hear you cultivators love to eat this!"

It continued, "If you want me to do some work for you, I won't lift a paw for anything less than a hundred to a hundred eighty jin!"

Li Tongya chuckled softly, mentally calculating in an instant. A hundred to a hundred eighty jin was only about one spirit stone. If it could secure the help of a Qi Condensation level being, it would be a huge gain. He immediately took note of this and replied with a smile, "Answer some questions, and this bag of spirit rice is yours."

The big fox immediately perked up, yelping in approval. Li Tongya tossed the spirit rice, then asked, "Do you know the specific details about that demon general?"

"Of course, I do," the big fox yelped, then eagerly explained, "That boar demon has Foundation Establishment cultivation. Under his command are eight minor demons, all at the Qi Condensation stage. They collect spirit items for him and live in a demon cave two hundred li to the south. All the Qi Condensation level demons that have formed here were captured, had a speck of their spiritual essence imprinted between their brows, and then sent back to guard."

After speaking, it sniffed the rice bag, then cautiously looked up at Li Tongya, its words becoming smoother. "Is there such a good thing? You haven't poisoned it, have you?"

Li Tongya, who had been listening intently, quickly asked, "What's the use of the imprinted spiritual essence? Were you also imprinted by the boar demon?"

"Hmph!" The big fox defiantly raised its head and retorted, "One of the cave masters in the Six Caves of Mount Dali is our fox demon matriarch. How would that boar demon dare to take our spiritual essence? He'd be asking for death."

"As for this spiritual essence," the fox demon sighed, speaking in a low voice, "After we demons absorb the essence of the sun and moon and condense six inner wheels, a speck of spiritual essence naturally appears between our brows. Once it's damaged, our cultivation is greatly reduced, and our vital energy dissipates. It's merely a handle left in the boar demon's hand..."

"I see," Li Tongya nodded, now understanding the demon's methods. Seeing the big fox circling the spirit rice, he softly asked, "Are there any uncaptured Qi Condensation level demons in this area that you know of, fellow daoist?"

"There are six more in this area. As for their locations, you'll have to give me more spirit rice for that!" The big fox blinked cunningly.

Li Tongya just smiled and asked, "How long have you been alive, you fox?"

"Around three hundred years, I suppose," the big fox said, leaning against the roots of a large tree. "For the first sixty years, I was ignorant and muddled. I only cultivated my fifth inner wheel and gained some memories after sixty. Then, at two hundred seventy-seven years old, I condensed a trace of spiritual energy in my belly, broke through to Qi Condensation, and only then gained human-like intelligence. I've cultivated alone for another hundred years and am barely at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation."

"Nearly four hundred years?!" Li Tongya was instantly envious, muttering, "You demons really can live long. We cultivators, even after breaking through to Qi Condensation, only have a lifespan of two hundred years."

"What's there to envy!" the big fox squeaked mournfully. "Our fox species only lives for about five hundred years at the Qi Condensation stage, and I'm almost at my limit. The time I've had sentience is only the last hundred-plus years. The first few centuries were muddled and indistinct. In that sense, we're not as good as you immortals!"

Li Tongya nodded in agreement. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he said in a low voice, "Three hundred years ago, there was a great battle at the northern foot of the mountain. Do you have any recollection of it?"

"A great battle?" The big fox seemed startled, then murmured, "There might have been a battle..."

"That night, I was curled up in my cave. The ground shook incessantly, and the voices of those immortals were like thunder. They were talking about handing over something..." Seeing Li Tongya's anxious expression, the big fox's speech became slightly hesitant. It stammered, "They were talking about some... records... secret decrees. I was just a minor demon in the Fetus Breath stage back then. How could I... remember so much..."

Li Tongya questioned it thoroughly for a while but couldn't glean any more information, so he reluctantly gave up, shaking his head in disappointment. The fox, still looking rather guilty, lowered its head and added, "About the northern foot, I did hear a rumor."

Li Tongya raised his head with interest. The big fox opened its mouth and began, "I once heard a passing fox big brother talk about our matriarch in the cave. When she was just over three hundred years old, she was making her home here at the northern foot. She was sound asleep in a tree hole when a white-haired immortal suddenly pulled her out."

"That white-haired immortal's cultivation was unfathomable. He opened his mouth and asked, 'Little fox, have you ever eaten a human?' At that time, the northern foot had just experienced a great battle and was uninhabited, so our matriarch said, 'Never.'"

The big fox was engrossed in its storytelling, and Li Tongya was just as captivated. The big fox mimicked the voices perfectly—the immortal's voice ethereal and otherworldly, the fox's voice hesitant and stammering. Li Tongya almost applauded.

"The white-haired immortal said, 'There's a group of villagers down this mountain. You watch over them for two hundred years and protect them, and I will grant you a great fortune.' Our matriarch nodded repeatedly, and that white-haired immortal touched her brow, leaving behind a fortune, then drifted away."

Li Tongya quickly asked, "What fortune?"

"How should I know!" The big fox rolled its eyes and continued, "That's why our fox tribe of Mount Dali never eats humans. Although two hundred years have passed, our matriarch still keeps the Mount Dali demons in check. Just a few years ago, a large bird ate a human down the mountain, which displeased our matriarch greatly. She drove it out of the mountain and forbade it from approaching Mount Dali for a thousand li, or she would eat it."

"Oh," Li Tongya nodded, thinking to himself, "My Li family has also been farming at this northern foot for three hundred years, and I've never heard of any immortal ancestors in any family. I don't know if this story is true or false, but I'll listen for now."

He glanced at the fox and inquired, "Do you have a name, fellow daoist?"

The big fox pouted and squeaked, "I live under this big banyan tree all year round, so they all call me White Banyan Fox. As for surnames, we demons don't bother with such things."

Li Tongya nodded, cupped his hands, and said, "My name is Li Tongya. Your guidance today has been most enlightening. I shall return to visit you in a few months."

Watching Li Tongya ride the wind away, the big fox let out a long breath and plopped down onto the ground. It picked up a grain of spirit rice, carefully licked it, and murmured, "It smells so good..."

One year had passed in the blink of an eye since Li Xuanxuan succeeded as patriarch. Although the main branch of the Li family still wore white mourning clothes, they had gradually grown accustomed to Li Xuanxuan managing the household.

Li Tongya spent most of his time in seclusion after returning to the mountain, while Li Xuanfeng dedicated himself entirely to slaying demons and cultivation. Li Xuanxuan, in his early twenties, had become the nominal and actual controller of the Li family. He acted cautiously and managed the family affairs meticulously.

Sitting at the head of the main courtyard, with Li Xiewen standing beside him, Li Xuanxuan smiled at Chen Donghe, who was seated below him, and said softly, "What have you decided?"

Chen Donghe frowned, clasped his fists, and said gravely, "Marrying into the family is a matter of great importance. This one cannot make a hasty decision. I must return home and consult my father before discussing it further."

Li Xuanxuan set down his teacup and said gently, "That is only proper. Winter River, you must not have any reservations. After all, it is a family rule that only the main branch of the Li family can cultivate the 'River Unity Art.' Even I had to earnestly beg my paternal uncle for this opportunity..."

Chen Donghe hurriedly nodded, bowing repeatedly in gratitude. He clasped his hands and withdrew. Li Xiewen called for someone to remove the tea from Chen Donghe's table and respectfully said, "Patriarch, Xuanfeng is also fourteen now. His marriage should also be put on the agenda."

"Indeed," Li Xuanxuan nodded slightly, unfolded the wooden slip in his hand, calculated for a few breaths, and asked, "How many talismans did Paternal Uncle send down the mountain this month?"

"Reporting to the Patriarch, five."

"Our talisman ink and paper are almost depleted. Xuanfeng will need to make a trip to the market this month." Li Xuanxuan gave the order. As the family's manpower slowly increased, the spirit fields on their territory were mostly developed. Each year, after paying tribute to the Qingchi Sect and supporting the family's cultivators, there was a considerable surplus.

"After the tribute, we still produce three hundred jin of spirit rice annually. Main branch cultivators receive ten jin of annual family stipend, minor branches five jin, and side branches one jin, totaling eighty-six jin. This leaves a surplus of two spirit stones." Originally, the Li family didn't have so many direct family cultivators. However, now, those with spiritual apertures from the four towns had integrated into the Li family through marriage and other means, mostly becoming minor branch cultivators, which led to the spirit rice allocation.

"Paternal Uncle can draw about sixty talismans a year, which sell for twenty spirit stones. After deducting costs, we can earn two or three spirit stones. Adding the demon beasts slain by Xuanfeng and Winter River in the mountains, the total annual income can reach seven spirit stones, which is roughly the price of a Qi Condensation level magic tool." The family's spirit stone reserves were still over seventy. The Li family had been accumulating them to set up a grand array on Mount Lijing, and every incoming spirit stone brought Li Xuanxuan joy.