The little white fox nodded. “He is very likely a former Demon Sovereign, but…”
“But what?” Ye Qiu pressed.
The little white fox explained, “According to what I know, the last Demon Sovereign of the demon race died tens of thousands of years ago. Since then, the position has remained vacant.”
It turned to look at Hu Zi. “This kid is the demon race’s young master and has now received the first layer of the Heavenly Demon Canon. In the future, he might actually become the Demon Sovereign.”
“Kid, I have high hopes for you.”
“Work hard!”
Then it changed the subject. “By the way, Ye Changsheng, why does that demon senior only have a single severed arm?”
Ye Qiu answered, “According to Old Ninth himself, the top experts of the cultivation world joined forces against him. Because he was immortal and indestructible, they dismembered and suppressed him in pieces.”
“I once promised Old Ninth I would help him recover his full body.”
“Logically, an event like that, the dismemberment of Old Ninth by the combined might of the cultivation world’s strongest, should be widely known throughout the cultivation world. Little fox, have you ever heard of it?”
The little white fox shook its head. “Never.”
“If the strongest experts of the cultivation world truly joined forces to dismember a demon senior, a world-shaking war would have erupted. Countless people would have known about it. Yet I have never heard even a whisper.”
Ye Qiu was surprised. “Could it be that it happened too long ago, so you never heard?”
“Impossible,” the little white fox said. “Our demon race ancient records document every major event in the cultivation world for millions of years, including many secret stories. Something like this would absolutely be recorded.”
“I have read every ancient text in the demon race collection. I am certain: none of them mention this demon senior.”
“Ye Changsheng, I have two theories.”
“First, the event never happened. That demon senior is lying to you.”
“Second, the matter is so momentous and involves beings far beyond our comprehension that no record of it exists anywhere.”
Ye Qiu replied, “I don’t think Old Ninth is lying to me, and he has no reason to.”
The little white fox said, “Then it must be the second theory.”
“Yet even events involving Great Emperors are recorded in our ancient texts.”
“In other words, even if that demon senior was a Great Emperor in life, there should still be records in the demon race archives. But there are none.”
A sudden thought struck Ye Qiu. “Could Old Ninth have been stronger than a Great Emperor when he was alive?”
“Impossible!” the little white fox declared. “Great Emperors are the strongest existences in the cultivation world.”
“Every Great Emperor is a heaven-defying genius who gathers supreme destiny, willpower, and cultivation.”
“No matter how many years pass, merely mentioning their names commands awe and reverence.”
“Ye Changsheng, I have another theory.”
The little white fox continued, “That demon senior’s memories are incomplete. Perhaps his memories themselves are mistaken.”
Ye Qiu paused. That was indeed possible.
Otherwise, if Old Ninth’s story were true, that the top experts of the cultivation world had united to dismember and suppress him, the event would have shaken the entire cultivation world. No matter how much time passed, written records and oral legends would remain.
Yet the little white fox had never heard of it. It really was possible that Old Ninth’s memories were flawed.
“Once I help Old Ninth recover his full body and his memories return, the truth will come to light.”
Thinking this, Ye Qiu said seriously, “There might be another possibility.”
“What?” the little white fox asked.
Ye Qiu said, “Maybe you’re simply too ignorant and ill-informed to know about it.”
“Ye Changsheng, you dare doubt this… fox? Hmph, you’ve made me furious!” the little white fox huffed. “I told you, I have read every ancient text in the demon race collection. None mention this event.”
Ye Qiu asked, “Tell me, exactly how many ancient texts does the demon race have?”
Without thinking, the little white fox answered, “Eleven million volumes.”
Ye Qiu asked again, “How long did it take you to read all of them?”
“One thousand years,” the little white fox blurted out.
Ye Qiu laughed.
“What are you laughing at?” the little white fox demanded, annoyed.
Ye Qiu said, “Let’s set aside whether you actually read all eleven million volumes. Even if you did, that means you are at least a thousand years old.”
“Even a pig that cultivated for a thousand years would have higher cultivation than you currently do.”
“Is your talent really worse than a pig’s?”
You dare think this princess is inferior to a pig? Just you wait, Ye Changsheng.
“Hmph. Believe me or not, that’s up to you.” The little white fox gave a cold snort and fell silent.
Ye Qiu couldn’t be bothered with it. He turned to Hu Zi. “Don’t keep the old fellow and the others waiting too long. Let’s head back!”
“Alright.” Hu Zi nodded.
Soon they returned to the group.
Before Long-Browed Daoist could ask what they had been doing, Hu Zi spoke first. “Master, I have to go back.”
“Back to the demon race?” Long-Browed Daoist said. “Hu Zi, we finally reunited, and now you’re leaving again? That’s cold!”
Hu Zi explained, “When I came, the elders told me to return immediately after finding my opportunity and not to linger in Immortality Mountain.”
“I haven’t known them long, but they treated me well.”
“I have to follow their instructions.”
Long-Browed Daoist was displeased. “For the sake of those demon folks, you’re abandoning us? Is the little brat still your master? Am I still your martial grand-uncle?”
Damn it, this old thing never misses a chance to take verbal advantage.
Ye Qiu glared at Long-Browed Daoist and said, “Hu Zi, if that’s the case, return to the demon race for now.”
Long-Browed Daoist looked shocked. “Little brat, why…”
Ye Qiu said, “I’m thinking of what’s best for Hu Zi. He belongs to the demon race. Staying with them is safer than following me.”
Long-Browed Daoist suddenly understood.
Human cultivators had hated demons and monsters for countless years. If they saw Hu Zi, they would hunt him in droves.
Moreover, Ye Qiu had killed so many geniuses and made enemies everywhere. Following him would put Hu Zi in mortal danger.
Returning to the demon race truly was the safest choice.
“Hu Zi, go back for now. When the chance comes, the old fellow and I will visit you in the demon race,” Ye Qiu said.
Hu Zi nodded, then knelt and kowtowed to Ye Qiu and Yun Xi. With reluctance written across his face, he said, “Master, take care! Master’s wife, take care!”
Yun Xi reminded him, “Hu Zi, there are many human cultivators outside Immortality Mountain. If you leave, they will surely hunt you. Be careful.”
“Thank you for the warning, Master’s wife. I don’t need to leave the mountain to return to the demon race.” With that, Hu Zi leapt onto the fire lion’s back and took out a pitch-black jade slip, gripping it tightly.
“Master, Master’s wife, old thing, I’m off.”
“You must come find me in the demon race.”
“I’ll be waiting there, always.”
With those words, Hu Zi crushed the jade slip. In an instant, thick demonic qi enveloped him.
The next second, Hu Zi vanished into thin air.
