Little White Fox instantly understood, her cheeks flushing crimson as she shot Ye Autumn a glare and huffed, “You haven’t even tried, so how do you know I’m worse than Yun Xi?”
Ye Autumn said, “How about we try it now?”
“In your dreams.” Little White Fox replied, “Unless you obtain the Demon Emperor’s inheritance, I’ll let you experience it. Otherwise, don’t even think about it.”
Ye Autumn sighed, “It seems I absolutely must obtain the Demon Emperor’s inheritance then.”
Little White Fox asked, “What, you lack confidence?”
“To be honest, I truly don’t have much confidence.” Ye Autumn said, “The Demon Emperor passed away in meditation a million years ago. Over such a long period, the demon race has produced generations of talents, yet no one has obtained the inheritance. This shows how extremely difficult it is to acquire the Demon Emperor’s inheritance.”
“Even so, I will give it my all.”
Ye Autumn continued, “The Demon Emperor’s inheritance isn’t that important to me. I just want to give you a chance to demonstrate your oral skills.”
Little White Fox, her face red, huffed, “Naughty scoundrel.”
Ye Autumn chuckled and asked, “When do we go to the forbidden area? I can’t wait much longer.”
“Right now.” Little White Fox said, then took Ye Autumn’s hand and left the national ruler’s sleeping palace.
A moment later.
They arrived at a vast open land. Looking out, it stretched endlessly, like a great grassland.
“Is this the demon race’s forbidden area?” Ye Autumn asked, his face full of surprise.
“Yes.” Little White Fox nodded.
“It doesn’t look like it!” Ye Autumn surveyed the surroundings but saw no sign of the Demon Emperor’s engraving that Little Eight had mentioned.
“You’ll find out soon.” Little White Fox smiled mysteriously, then gazed into the distance and said, “The elders have arrived.”
Swish, swish, swish.
In the blink of an eye, the ten great elders appeared before them and bowed in salute.
“We pay respects to the national ruler!”
Then, the ten great elders greeted Ye Autumn.
“We pay respects to the master.”
“Greetings to Young Master Ye…”
The forms of address varied.
Ye Autumn noticed that today the ten great elders were all dressed in their finest attire. Each one was impeccably clothed, with neatly combed hair, appearing energetic and spirited, utterly different from their usual unkempt and dishevelled appearance.
Especially Rabbit Elder and Chicken Elder, who had wrapped themselves up tightly, looking very dignified.
“Master, why is there a red mark on your face?”
Suddenly, Ox Elder spotted a red mark on Ye Autumn’s face and asked in puzzlement.
The other elders also noticed the red mark on Ye Autumn’s face. Unlike Ox Elder, their gazes shifted back and forth between Ye Autumn and Little White Fox, their smiles carrying deep meaning.
Little White Fox’s expression became very unnatural. She inwardly cursed herself, “Damn it, how could I forget to wipe it off for Changsheng? Now I’ve lost face completely.”
Ye Autumn, thinking quickly, said, “This morning, I wasn’t careful and got bitten by a mosquito.”
Monkey Elder saw Little White Fox’s embarrassment and quickly stepped forward, saying, “Master, it’s my fault. I forgot to remind you that the mosquitoes in the demon race are very fierce. In future, you must take extra care.”
“Alright…” Before Ye Autumn could finish.
Ox Elder spoke again, “A mosquito? That can’t be right. Our demon race has never had mosquitoes.”
Instantly, the scene fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Little White Fox’s expression grew even more unnatural. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Ox Elder still hadn’t realised he had said something wrong and continued, “Master, our demon race truly has no mosquitoes. You must have been bitten by some other flying insect. I think we must investigate this thoroughly…”
“Investigate my foot!” Monkey Elder interrupted, “Old Ox, don’t you know what day it is today?”
“Master has no time to investigate such a trivial matter.”
“Besides, it’s just a minor injury. With Master’s cultivation, it can heal in an instant, right, Master?”
“Yes, Old Monkey is correct.” Ye Autumn reached up and touched his face. The red mark vanished completely. He said, “We’re about to enter the forbidden area, so let’s not waste time on such a small matter.”
“How can this be a small matter?” Ox Elder said, “I’ve never seen that kind of wound on Master’s face before. It must be from some flying insect I don’t know about. I think it’s better to investigate clearly and exterminate those insects soon, to prevent them from harming the clansmen…”
“Bear Elder! Sheep Elder!” Little White Fox suddenly spoke, asking, “Have you prepared the things I asked for?”
“Reporting to the national ruler, they are prepared.” Bear Elder replied.
Then, with a flick of his sleeve, Sheep Elder made a square wooden table appear on the ground.
The square wooden table was several metres long. In the very centre was an incense burner, and on either side of it were five beast heads, one from each of the ten demon clans.
Moreover, Ye Autumn noticed that these beast heads were dripping with fresh blood, clearly from recent slaughter.
Sheep Elder then took out some incense paper and said, “National ruler, the sacrificial items are fully prepared.”
“Are they complete? I think it’s not enough.” Little White Fox’s voice was icy, “Add one more ox head.”
Sheep Elder immediately understood Little White Fox’s intent and said to Ox Elder, “Old Ox, the national ruler says to add one more ox head. How about lending yours for a bit?”
The other elders sniggered quietly.
Ox Elder instantly cowered, trembling as he said, “National ruler, I…”
You talk too much. Now you’re scared, aren’t you?
Ye Autumn also found it amusing and changed the subject, asking, “Sheep Elder, when do we enter the forbidden area?”
“In a quarter of an hour.” Sheep Elder added, “Young Master Ye, the national ruler said to add an ox head. What do you think…”
Ox Elder immediately sent pleading looks to Ye Autumn, as if saying, Master, you can’t just stand by and watch me die!
“I know very little about the demon race’s rules, but in my view, this is already sufficient.” Ye Autumn asked Little White Fox, “What do you say?”
“As you wish.” Little White Fox said, then glared fiercely at Ox Elder.
Ox Elder quickly lowered his head, puzzled in his heart. Why is the national ruler suddenly displeased with me? Did I say something wrong?
Time passed minute by minute.
Soon, the quarter of an hour arrived.
“National ruler, the time has come.” Bear Elder reminded.
“Begin!” Little White Fox pulled Ye Autumn to stand at her side.
The other nine great elders lined up in a row behind them, their expressions solemn.
Bear Elder acted as the sacrificial officiant. He first took out a sacrificial text and recited it with rising and falling intonation.
Once the recitation was complete, Bear Elder burned it on the spot. Then came the offering of incense and paper money to pay respects to the demon race’s ancestral forebears.
As national ruler, Little White Fox naturally offered incense first.
Ye Autumn followed closely behind, and finally the ten great elders.
After this process ended, Little White Fox had Ye Autumn step back, then stood shoulder to shoulder with the ten great elders.
“Strike!”
At Little White Fox’s command, she struck a palm forward first, and the ten great elders followed suit.
Immediately, rumbling sounds echoed endlessly. The ground trembled violently, as if an earthquake had occurred.
In the next second, the scene before their eyes abruptly changed.
