The Fox King was not angered by their agreement. He only smiled, apparently unconcerned.
Once Yun Lie agreed, he acted without hesitation.
“You must have a plan,” he said. “How do we remove these chains?”
The fox smiled. “They are rare Demon-Sealing Chains. While bound by them, I cannot even use the true essence in my flesh. Ordinarily they would be very troublesome, but for someone who has comprehended sword intent, removing them is easy.”
The Ninefold Profound Alluring Fox was so eager because these two cultivators were a rare opportunity.
Ordinarily no human cultivator could penetrate the demon beasts’ lair, yet Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie had reached him. That alone was extraordinary.
The chains absorbed magical power used against them; without the proper unbinding spell, an attacker would simply exhaust their strength. Sword intent, however, was intangible intent rather than magical power. If sufficiently refined, it could sever the chains silently.
The fox had already recognized the solidity of Yun Lie’s sword intent and was overjoyed.
Xu Ziqing’s escape art was also exceptional, having fooled so many high-rank demon beasts. His Wood attribute made it particularly effective in a grassy plain. Its complete concealment of aura increased the Fox King’s confidence.
Xu Ziqing considered the explanation.
Yun Lie nodded. “Before I cut the chains, you must let me implant a strand of sword intent. Otherwise, our bargain is void.”
The fox’s expression changed before he resumed smiling. “Who would willingly accept that? Could you not choose another condition, Fellow Daoist?”
Yun Lie snorted. “Your rank is seven, and your abilities are unpredictable. You are cunning and untrustworthy. Without precautions, you might turn on us.”
“I am a Fox King. Would I really break my word?”
“Enough,” Yun Lie said. “I have slain many demons. Those most insistent on defending themselves often hide malicious designs, especially fox demons. If you refuse, I shall assume you are concealing something.”
At last, the Fox King stopped smiling.
He wanted his freedom, not another form of control. Accepting sword intent would seem to exchange a tiger’s mouth for a wolf’s jaws. But Yun Lie’s frozen emotions made his decisions immovable; persuasion would be useless.
The fox hesitated.
Xu Ziqing smiled at the sight.
Yun Lie had tempered his sword throughout the world and slain countless demons. Though his cultivation was lower than this fox’s, he was experienced with their schemes and far more thorough in his methods than the inexperienced Xu Ziqing.
With dawn approaching, Xu Ziqing said, “Fox King, my senior brother always honors his word. Once your seventh-rank strength returns, you should be able to expel a single strand of sword intent. But you are so much stronger than we are. Without some safeguard, how could we deal with you? This will merely give us a chance to escape if you attack. It should do you little harm.”
For humans and demons to collaborate when one side was stronger, neither could simply trust the other. They had to agree upon conditions.
At full strength the Fox King could evade Yun Lie’s sword intent, and Yun Lie would be fortunate simply to escape.
Thus planting sword intent was a precaution for survival, given the fox’s unknown hidden techniques.
The Fox King knew that dawn would make escape more difficult. His thoughts raced.
After roughly seven or eight minutes, he answered, “I agree. But if you break your promise, I, too, possess desperate trump cards.”
Xu Ziqing smiled gently. “Had we intended to harm you, we would not have spent so long bargaining.”
“Then act quickly, before anything changes.”
He did not bother covering his half-bare body, but spread his limbs to expose his wrists and ankles. Bruises mottled his pale skin, and traces of cloudy fluid from earlier still clung between his thighs. So openly exposed, his posture was undeniably alluring.
Yun Lie was utterly unmoved. He extended one finger.
An invisible strand of sword intent flew from his fingertip into the fox’s dantian and circled his inner core. Another strand emerged, split into four, and sped toward the four chains.
With a series of clangs, all four chains broke in neat cuts.
The Fox King stood joyfully, covered his face, and laughed silently. “Finally, I am free!” He soon grew serious. “Use your spell at once. Panshan will know the chains have broken.”
Xu Ziqing immediately activated the Wood-Escape Aura-Concealment Art, and the Fox King stepped within its range.
The three quickly left the chamber. The fox breathed out pink mist that seeped through the door. It opened moments later, the guards staring vacantly under a spell of enchantment.
Xu Ziqing recognized the innate technique and said nothing. He exchanged a glance with Yun Lie and leaped onto his back.
“My art can just about conceal one extra person, but two are a strain. Fox King, you must keep up yourself.”
The fox answered decisively, “Go ahead. I can make use of your art.”
Xu Ziqing formed hand seals and circulated his true essence faster.
Soon all three were concealed without trace.
Deep within the cave, someone sensed the breaking of the chains and immediately summoned a treasure to perform calculations. His face darkened, and he struck the table before rushing out.
Within several breaths, he reached the prison.
Guards lay unconscious outside. The stone door stood open, and the room was empty.
·
Meanwhile, Xuan Li and the Sovereign King had concluded their agreement. Both would send elite fighters to the Tianlan Secret Trove, combining their respective map fragments.
Human-use treasures would go to the humans, demon-use treasures to the demons, and both sides would rely on fortune. Treasures useful to both would be valued and split equally, or exchanged for goods of equal worth.
After several shichen of negotiation, both parties were satisfied.
To obtain the Fox King’s map, Xuan Li called forward an expert from among his followers.
The man emanated surging demonic qi. A black robe hid him from head to toe, making his appearance impossible to discern. Called Daoist Corpsebone, and also the Bone Demon, he was a notoriously troublesome Nascent Soul old monster of the evil demonic Dao.
His secret technique was the method Xuan Li had proposed for discovering the fox’s map.
The Bone Demon demonstrated it, astonishing the Sovereign King and helping seal the agreement.
Xuan Li suggested, “We should act without delay. Why not witness my retainer’s abilities now?”
The Sovereign King leaped down and became a towering, muscular man nine chi tall, seemingly made of steel. “Very well.”
The group invoked their arts and headed for the mountain containing Panshan’s lair.
As they reached the cave, Panshan hurried out. The Sovereign King had a bad premonition and demanded, “Panshan, what happened?”
Disheveled, Panshan fell to his knees. “Just now, the Ninefold Profound Alluring Fox somehow… escaped!”
The Sovereign King roared, “Useless fool! You could not even guard a fox with his core sealed? Were you seduced into freeing him?”
“I would never dare, Sovereign King! Please calm your anger!”
Xuan Li was disappointed but quickly suggested, “He has only just escaped and cannot be far away. I have capable men who can help search.”
The Sovereign King realized punishment could wait. “Panshan, summon the demon soldiers. Find him, or answer for your failure!”
Panshan bowed. “Thank you, Sovereign King. I shall make amends by bringing him back!”
He immediately went to muster his troops.
Five or six Nascent Soul old monsters following Xuan Li shot away as streaks of light.
The Bone Demon was among them.
·
Out on the plains, Xu Ziqing and the others left the fog, became streaks of light, and raced onward without stopping.
Though his inner core was sealed, the fox somehow moved fast enough to keep pace without their help.
After traveling several hundred li, they finally stopped.
Yun Lie gave the fox a talisman. “This will temporarily conceal your aura.”
The fox pressed it onto himself. “At last, I’ve escaped alive.”
Xu Ziqing ignored his sigh of relief and asked, “What of the restriction inside you? Escaping the prison won’t be the end of it.”