Chapter 261: Xu Guo News

The fox burst out laughing, rolling on the ground while holding its belly. It replied, "He's just a pig-brained fool; what kind of plan could he possibly come up with? He took a bunch of demons to a three-day feast, cursed non-stop until he passed out drunk, then woke up shortly after to resume cursing. After they finished everything in the cave, they all went back to their own lairs."

Lee Tong-ya was momentarily stunned, unsure whether to laugh or not. He let out a couple of awkward chuckles, then saw the fox's expression turn serious as it said earnestly, "Your family's foundation is too rigid, too close to the common folk. It always fills me with doubt and disapproval. They are just ordinary people; what does it matter if a few are eaten by these demons? Aren't common folk raised to be utilized? If you don't use them, these people will multiply, eventually oppressing each other, losing land and livelihood, and then they'll still curse and resent you..."

"I've lived by the shore for hundreds of years and seen a lot. Newly risen families, with their limited strength, treat the common people well. But once they reach Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment, who still cares about the lives of these people? Your family, however, hasn't changed in a very long time... You, by all accounts, are perceptive; you shouldn't be like this."

The fox rambled on for a long time before looking up at Lee Tong-ya. Seeing his unpleasant expression, subtly tinged with anger, it slowly fell silent, timidly shaking its head. It seemed to want to apologize but also felt wronged, so it just watched him.

"Sigh..." Lee Tong-ya sighed, suppressing his discomfort. He said wearily, "Daoist friend, you have said too much. My own brother became a blood sacrifice for others. Furthermore, I, Tong-ya, come from a farmer's background and cannot bear to hear such words. My family raises common folk for our own purposes; you need not trouble yourself with it."

The White Banyan Fox was, after all, a demonic creature. Although it considered Lee Tong-ya a close friend, it only ever truly valued him alone. Seeing that Lee Tong-ya would not be persuaded, it merely flicked its tail and replied, "That foolish pig will probably come looking for you to inquire about this matter. You'll have to handle it yourself!"

Lee Tong-ya nodded in thanks. Letting these demons feast on the town was absolutely impossible. Lee Tong-ya already detested the actions of the Golden Core cultivators of the Violet Mansion; if he truly allowed the town to be plundered, how would he be different from those cultivators? Moreover, the Magic Mirror required the blessing of incense and prayers to condense talismans. The more people under his governance, the better. According to the standards of the 'Sacrificial Rites,' the talismans condensed from the incense provided by his current populace were still too few in Lee Tong-ya's opinion, making it even more impossible for him to let them go.

Seeing Lee Tong-ya's conviction, the fox could only nod. Lee Tong-ya then asked, "Daoist friend, do you know about the situation of the demons in Xu State?"

"Xu State..." A hint of fear flashed in the fox's eyes as it whispered, "How could I not know! As Buddhism advances south, we demons fear them even more than you immortal cultivators do!"

Lee Tong-ya raised an eyebrow, and the fox flicked its tail, replying, "Buddhism has spells. They talk about karma and fate, but as soon as they meet you, they'll seize you! Once captured, they'll force you to become vegetarian. And that's not all; they'll make you their lackey, calling you a 'spiritual beast'... Who isn't afraid of that? Who doesn't dread it?"

The fox shook its head, stood up, and replied, "Don't think that we demons are doing so well in Jiangnan. As long as we gain sentience, refine our spiritual bones, and achieve a certain level of cultivation, we can become sworn brothers with immortal cultivators, addressing each other as Daoist friends or seniors. We can even establish the Sixteen Demon Caves, standing alongside the Three Sects and Seven Gates, and Violet Mansion demon cultivators can travel the world, making friends everywhere..."

The fox paused, then continued, "But up north, there's no place for demons to truly belong. For demons, it's either death or becoming human servants. Is there a third path? No, they are all subjected to spells, treated as 'spiritual beasts' to be ordered around, and are destined to be trodden underfoot their entire lives! If a demon dares to fly through the air, regardless of whether it's good or bad, they'll be dragged down and 'civilized'!"

Lee Tong-ya's eyes widened upon hearing this; his heart stirred as he replied, "If that's the case, then the demons in Xu State currently have no backing or protection from any power. My family wishes to capture a demon from Xu State, but I was worried about violating taboos."

The fox laughed heartily, waving its paws repeatedly. It replied, "Nowadays, any demon with a bit of background or insight has already fled Xu State. Only those who became demons alone and are still ignorant would remain there. Buddhism has already devoured more than half of Xu State; who would still want to stay?"

"So that's how it is." Lee Tong-ya immediately formed a plan. Seeing that the ritual demon was accounted for, his mood brightened. He couldn't help but ask one more question: "Why is it that as Buddhism advances south, no great cultivators have appeared to stop them? This is, after all, a struggle between orthodoxies." The fox shook its head, replying, "How would I know about you humans? Most likely, you've lost." Lee Tong-ya remained silent. His own family had never even ventured beyond Moon-Gazing Lake; he was not qualified to contemplate so much. He took out spirit rice as a token of gratitude. The fox gleefully hugged the large bag, then sat down and began to eat. Only then did Lee Tong-ya bid farewell and ride the wind back north.

The fox, meanwhile, sat for a while longer before grunting and getting up. It pulled two spirit stones from a tree hollow, moistened them with saliva, and mixed them with the spirit rice to eat.

***

Lee Tong-ya swiftly landed on Lijing Mountain, troubled in his heart. He thought to himself, "This trip must absolutely not be known by the Yu family. Without a Foundation Establishment cultivator overseeing things, who knows what mischief Yu Mugao might cause? Going and returning quickly will minimize danger." "That Foundation Establishment wolf demon can occupy a mountain as king; its strength must be considerable. If I were to slay this demon, I'd be confident, but if I go alone, I don't know if I can capture it alive..."

Lee Tong-ya pondered for a moment. The matter of capturing a demon alive was indeed strange; he absolutely could not ask for help from any Foundation Establishment cultivator. For a moment, he didn't know what to do. After a moment of thought, he decided, "Perhaps I should invite the Magic Mirror out... to suppress the demon..."

He then stepped through the central courtyard into the back garden, where a white light barrier shimmered into existence. Lee Tong-ya chanted a spell, and only then did an opening just wide enough for one person to pass through appear in the light barrier. This internal formation was connected to the Sun-Observing Profound Light Array on Lijing Mountain and could only be unlocked by a secret technique known to only a handful of people in the Lee family. Lee Tong-ya stepped into the back garden. The ground, paved with bluestone bricks, was covered in moss. Last night's wind had been strong, and being autumn, the courtyard was strewn with withered leaves.

With a mere flick of his sleeve, the withered leaves on the ground instantly piled themselves neatly. Lee Tong-ya took a few steps forward, entered the ancestral hall, added incense, and then proceeded into the secret chamber in the back garden.

He saw a grayish-green mirror, no larger than a palm, resting on a stone platform where magical light flowed. It hovered quietly as pale moonlight streamed down, illuminating the stone chamber with a misty glow, as if it were a fairy realm. Lee Tong-ya gently waved his hand, and several magical oil lamps in the stone chamber lit up. He performed a deep bow, then stood up, collecting his thoughts. With a slightly complex expression, he gazed at the Magic Mirror before him and said respectfully, "Lee family disciple Lee Tong-ya reverently requests the Magic Mirror to eliminate demons and punish evil, to partake in the blood offering..."