Chapter 129: Encountering the Enchantress Again

Having thoroughly digested the information provided, Yin sought out the four elders to gain a deeper understanding of spirit items. After all, no matter how comprehensive written records might be, they could never surpass the value of practical experience. Since all four elders had searched for spirit items in the past, their accumulated wisdom would undoubtedly be a great asset to her.

Li Su had officially been reunited with his clan, and his outstanding talent had indisputably earned him the title of the family’s number one prodigy. Word of his existence gradually spread; now, most of the inhabitants of the Void Continent knew that the reclusive Li family had welcomed a genius of unparalleled caliber.

Five days later, it was time for Yin to depart, and naturally, Li Su would accompany her. After all, during the day, Yin would transform into a white fox, causing her strength to diminish significantly; it would be unfortunate to encounter any unforeseen danger in such a state.

In the ancestral hall:

"Yin thanks the four elders for your guidance! I am also deeply grateful for what you have told me about my father. If I can successfully break the soul-binding forbidden spell and find him, I will certainly return to the reclusive Li family with him to thank you all in person!" Joy, impossible to ignore, shone in Yin's eyes.

"Very well, Miss Yin. We await your good news. We hope you succeed, and of course, that you find your father soon! We truly miss that eccentric genius, Qin Mo!" the First Elder said with a hearty laugh.

"Li Su pays his respects to the four elders! Once I have accompanied Yin in completing her task, I shall return immediately!" Li Su bowed to the elders. What he left unsaid was that when he returned, he would surely transform the current predicament facing the Li family.

"Stay safe! Should any trouble arise, seek out the Li family members residing outside; I have already sent word to them, and they will provide you with assistance," the Fourth Elder said, always the most meticulous of them all.

Yin and Li Su stood side by side and bowed deeply to the four elders.

Leaving the reclusive Li family behind, they set off for their first destination: the location of the Water Spirit, which lay within the territory of the Dragon Clan.

...

Through relentless day-and-night cultivation, Yin Yao’s strength had neared the peak of the Void Emperor realm. However, the opportunity for a breakthrough had not yet arrived. Ji Xuanyu, naturally unwilling to fall behind, had surpassed Yin Yao, breaking through to the mid-stage of the Void Emperor realm and now sitting firmly at the peak. Meanwhile, the White Fox clan’s top prodigy, Bai Ziye, had also become a mid-stage Void Emperor through hard work, though he remained slightly inferior to Yin Yao, who was also at the mid-stage.

Surprisingly, Bai Yun, who usually appeared the laziest and most averse to cultivation, had entered a state of deep meditation and had yet to awaken. This was a good sign; perhaps, after emerging from this meditation, her strength would surge dramatically. After all, she was the daughter of the clan leader; how could her talent be anything less than extraordinary?

One day, Yin Yao suddenly heard news that the reclusive Li family had produced a prodigy of unparalleled talent who had seized the title of the number one genius. The man's name was Li Su.

Yin Yao was certain that this was the Li Su she knew. By now, her strength allowed her to match the mysterious woman in terms of physical endurance, giving her more time to search for Li Su, Gu Shenyu, and Yin Su.

Upon hearing news of Li Su, Yin Yao decided to leave the White Fox clan and head out. She could not remain there forever. She still had to find her mother, her father, and that unknown, mysterious woman.

After bidding farewell to Bai Ling, Yin Yao and Ji Xuanyu set off on the road to the reclusive Li family.

"Xuanyu, tell me: I was sent back to the White Fox clan, Li Su was sent to the reclusive Li family, and you came to me due to special circumstances. Could it be that Gu Shenyu is in the Tiger King clan’s territory, and Yin Su is in the Phoenix clan’s territory?" Yin Yao could only make rough deductions based on these fragments of information. Ji Xuanyu had once mentioned that, had it not been for an accident, he would have returned directly to the Dragon clan.

Ji Xuanyu nodded; he had already considered this. Of course, the reason he had followed Yin Yao to the White Fox clan was because of the Silver Fox. After the Silver Fox saved him, a trace of her essence remained in his body, and due to other special reasons, he had ended up following Yin Yao.

"To reach the reclusive Li family, we must pass through the territory of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan. Yao'er, have you thought about what we should do?" Ji Xuanyu looked at their surroundings—they were currently at the border between the White Fox clan and the Nine-Tailed Fox clan.

Speaking of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, Yin Yao could not help but recall the civil war Bai Ling had described to her. It was a disgrace to their lineage as the Spirit Fox clan. Furthermore, that civil war was deeply intertwined with the Silver Fox. If the Silver Fox, the Spirit Maiden of the Spirit Fox clan, had not vanished but had instead emerged to preside over the situation, the current division would never have come to pass.

Her father had told her to atone, and Aunt Bai Ling had urged her to do her utmost to reconcile the two clans. They were originally one family! Why should they be divided? Was it not just giving outsiders a reason to laugh?

"Let’s use a disguise! We can’t just walk through there brazenly, can we?" Yin Yao smiled.

"No, we might actually be able to walk through brazenly," Ji Xuanyu said with a mysterious smile.

Yin Yao looked at him, puzzled. Ji Xuanyu gestured toward her and said, "Don't forget, the power you possess now is not that of a White Fox, but a Nine-Tailed Fox! The energy swirling around you during your cultivation is that of a Nine-Tailed Fox. And as for me, a traveler who belongs to neither the White Fox nor the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, I suspect they won't give me any trouble."

"That may be true, but I can still feel the power of the White Fox within me! It’s quite strange; I feel as though I possess two types of power now." Yin Yao frowned, not fully understanding why these two forces coexisted within her. Such a situation seemed unprecedented.

Ji Xuanyu stopped walking. Ahead lay the territory of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan. They could not act rashly. He turned to Yin Yao and said, "You should be able to control the two forces within you now. Try it—hide the White Fox power and reveal the power that belongs to the Nine-Tailed Fox clan."

Nodding, Yin Yao closed her eyes and began to circulate the spiritual energy within her.

"Who's there?!" Ji Xuanyu let out a fierce shout toward the front left.

"Don't be so hasty; I'm no villain," a voice dripping with allure rang out. A man stepped out from behind the trees. Of course, if one looked only at his face, they might mistake him for a woman—and a breathtakingly beautiful one at that.

"You are Mei, the number one genius of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan." Ji Xuanyu could sense that this bewitching man's strength was not far from his own. Having caught a glimpse of Mei’s face when he first met Yin Yao, he was able to identify the newcomer quickly.

Mei chuckled and looked at Yin Yao. He could clearly sense the aura exclusive to the Nine-Tailed Fox clan emanating from her. Yet, the last time he saw her, she had possessed the pure aura of a White Fox. What was going on?

When Yin Yao opened her eyes, she was met with that bewitching face. It was a face Yin Yao would never forget—a rare memory of defeat. The person who had defeated her was none other than this man, who was more beautiful than any woman.

Yin Yao raised an eyebrow, her tone not particularly friendly. "What is the great genius Mei doing out on patrol again?"

"Indeed, I am out on patrol again. I just didn't expect to be so lucky as to run into Miss Yin Yao once more. Hmm, let me think—is this also Bai Yao, who returned to the White Fox clan not long ago?" Mei was not intimidated by the two of them; he smiled wantonly, a hint of charm dancing at the corners of his eyes.

If Mei were a woman, he would surely enchant a sea of men. Of course, as a man, he could just as easily bewitch a crowd of infatuated women. Yin Yao looked at his face, her mind wandering...

"Master Mei, are you going to block our way?" Yin Yao moved to step past him, but Mei did not grant her wish.

"No, no, I'm just curious whether Miss Yin Yao is a member of the White Fox clan or the Nine-Tailed Fox clan," Mei said, waving his hands while maintaining his radiant smile.

Hearing this, Yin Yao suddenly curled her lips into a smile. "What if I told you I am a member of the Spirit Fox clan?"

Mei’s expression faltered, sparking Yin Yao's curiosity. She suddenly wanted to know what attitude Mei held toward that ancient civil war—was he a supporter, an opponent, or neutral?

"Heh, the Spirit Fox clan. It has been a long time since I heard those three words. Does Miss Yin Yao not know that on the Void Continent today, there is no Spirit Fox clan, only the Nine-Tailed Fox and White Fox clans?" Mei replied with a smile, having regained his composure.

Yin Yao was not angered by his words, nor did she act rashly. Instead, her calm reaction caused a flicker of an unreadable emotion in Mei’s eyes. "Heh, then don't forget how the Nine-Tailed Fox clan came to be! Without the Spirit Fox clan, the Nine-Tailed Fox would be nothing more than one of many foxes! Without the Spirit Fox clan, how would your Nine-Tailed Fox clan have grown so powerful?"

Yin Yao’s sudden display of strength left Mei stunned for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Fine, you are right! So, may I be curious as to what you and your friend are planning to do?"

Ji Xuanyu, who had been ignored until now, was finally acknowledged.

"We need to pass through your Nine-Tailed Fox clan’s territory." Yin Yao did not deign to lie; she stated her purpose directly, believing that Mei was likely not a malicious person.

"Are you not afraid I will report you?"

"I believe you won't."

"Very well, I indeed won't. Come, I will lead the way. With my help, you can pass through the Nine-Tailed Fox territory without a hitch." Mei offered his assistance.

This caught Yin Yao by surprise; Ji Xuanyu was equally astonished. That Mei would proactively offer help suggested that he perhaps did not fully approve of the original split of the Spirit Fox clan.

"Then thank you, Mei."

"Yes? What is it?"

"I am curious."

"Speak, what is it?"

"Can you tell me your attitude toward the split of the Spirit Fox clan back then? Your actions make me think you might actually wish for the Spirit Fox clan to be reunited." Yin Yao smiled, trying to keep her tone light.

"Heh, perhaps." Mei simply offered a faint smile and said nothing more.