The crowd followed the fox demon guards into the palace of the Afflicted Fox, Ye Xiu hadn't expected that beyond the castle lay a vast forest of indigo trees while within the walls thrived every color of flower imaginable. If outside was winter then this place must be spring incarnate.

"The Afflicted Fox royal family truly understands indulgence - an unassuming fortress that blooms like paradise." With Qier's support, Ye Xiu entered the gilded corridor.

The demon insect sect members had never set foot in such a place before. The architectural ingenuity and optical design surpassed their entire sect's craftsmanship by leaps and bounds. The royal residence indeed lived up to its reputation.

As Empress led the way, the procession stopped at an enigmatic pavilion after traversing the palace corridors for some time. Though not grandiose in scale, the building's opulence shone through - just the two doors bore a dazzling array of pearls and diamonds that gleamed with obvious value.

Green Bao slowly pulled open one door to reveal a screen carved with intricate patterns. Spider Queen and Snake Beauty gasped at the images of beautiful fox demons on display: "Too exquisite!"

Ye Xiu noticed certain details on the screen. While depicting various fox demons, one particular figure dominated the mountain peak - its nine tails unmistakably marking it as royalty, crowned by an emblem etched onto its brow.

"Others, please wait in the side hall," Green Bao intercepted them after Empress gave a subtle glance. "The Empress wishes to speak with these two alone."

Spider Queen and Snake Beauty protested against being separated from Ye Xiu but obeyed the palace's authority reluctantly. Ant King simply shrugged and followed the attendants to the side chamber.

"Ye Xiu! Take me in too!" Jin Busigu pouted defiantly, tugging at Ye Xiu's sleeve. "I demand entrance!"

Knowing Empress had business with him, Ye Xiu waved off his companion: "What's there to see? Just an old ruin."

"Hmph," Green Bao scoffed, insulted by Ye Xiu's description of the palace. "Truly uncultured."

With doors sealed shut behind them, Ye Xiu and Qier stepped past the screen into a chamber radiating golden magnificence. The imperial authority was palpable as Empress sat in state, her golden silk robes shimmering from where they stood.

"Ye Xiu formally greets the Empress," Ye Xiu kept his head bowed, only glimpsing the ornate gold on Empress' feet through his peripheral vision. "The promise to Death God Bafang Jin is fulfilled - Qier has been safely delivered."

"Who cares?" Qier pouted stubbornly, refusing even a glance at her mother.

Empress descended slowly from her dais, each step echoing with regal rhythm from the jeweled slippers on polished stone. Up close she stood before them: "The Empress offers thanks once more. As you know, Qier is indeed my daughter and Bafang Jin's."

Qier erupted at the mention of her father: "You remember him now? He's dead! Killed by your kind!"

Silent tears welled in Empress' eyes as she clenched her lips - this was a wound no words could heal.

Ye Xiu gently pulled Qier upward, and their faces met. At that moment he felt an electric shock through his entire being - the Empress shared Qier's exact features but radiated regal poise instead of childish charm: "Bafang Jin died in a cross-tribe massacre. I don't think this is what you'd want."

"He saved me when Death Gods invaded," Empress recounted, her voice distant with old pain. "The King of the Dead withdrew his army without explanation. At that time...I was already carrying Qier."

Ye Xiu glanced at Qier's defiant stance but said nothing - how could he judge a mother who'd sacrificed both love and child for the throne?

"Do you find me cruel?" Empress turned slightly, her jasmine fragrance drifting through the chamber. "When must one choose between family and empire?"

Qier collapsed into sobs: "Father always spoke of you! But look what you became - my father is dead because of you!"

Tears glistened in Empress' eyes but she held them back: "A sin I must atone for."

Emotions were irrelevant to Ye Xiu, yet he had other questions about Bafang Jin's legacy: "Might the Empress know why Death Gods withdrew from the Netherworld? Why did King of the Dead order a sudden retreat?"

Empress stiffened at this inquiry: "When Death Army occupied our lands they clashed with Bone Sect in Haigu City. After several days of standoff, King of the Dead vanished without reason. That is why Haigu became the 'City of Hope'."

"These political matters don't concern me!" Qier stormed off to a seat. "I only know those monsters killed my father - I'll have revenge!"

"Qier..." Ye Xiu wasn't skilled in emotional reconciliation.

"My Afflicted Fox Eye can heal you," Empress ignored her daughter, extending emerald light from her palm that enveloped Ye Xiu like living moss. "Later I will speak with Qier, but first tell me about the power in your body."

The warmth of Empress' touch eased Ye Xiu's pain as he revealed: "A fox demon named Shadow Fox Millennium gifted this power to me before his death in the Heaven Rank Holy War against Sky Dao Yi."

"Of course," Empress nodded solemnly. "He was my mentor, now missing after that conflict. Why does his cultivation energy reside within you? Where is he?"

"It's complicated," Ye Xiu explained. "Shadow Fox Millennium and Sky Dao Yi perished in their battle, but before dying they both passed me their legacies."

"Then you are his inheritor!" Empress' expression brightened with newfound hope. "Though Shadow Fox is gone, his strength still lies dormant within Shadow Concealment Valley - perhaps it can help you master this power."

"Shadow Concealment Valley?" Ye Xiu mused as the fox demon's energy stirred in his meridians.

Empress walked beside him: "That was where Shadow Fox trained. After his disappearance he sealed the valley with a mystical barrier, leaving me alone to bear the burden of our Afflicted Fox Eye."

"What is this 'Afflicted Fox Eye'?" Ye Xiu asked, having seen both crimson and cerulean eyes.

Empress brushed her eyelashes: "It's the essence of fox demon cultivation. This eye can perceive energy flow in real time, allowing predictive combat responses."

Ye Xiu nodded eagerly: "Though Shadow Fox's power resides within me, I cannot control it freely."

"That is because you lack the Afflicted Fox Eye," Empress glanced at Qier before directing Ye Xiu forward. "Since Shadow Fox chose you, his legacy must be yours as well."

As their footsteps echoed through the corridors, a heavy floral perfume lingered in the air.

"You can use this power to open the gate to Shadow Concealment Valley," Empress led him deeper into the palace where darkness reigned. "May you grasp that strength - Shadow Fox was our dynasty's greatest pride."

Ye Xiu adjusted his sword and followed her through a small ornate door down spiral stone stairs. Moss-covered walls lined the path until they reached a circular chamber with only an archway.

"This is the gateway," Empress extended a finger toward the bare rock wall where no visible door existed. "If Shadow Concealment Valley rejects you, destruction awaits. Still willing to try?"

Ye Xiu stared at the empty stone: "Empress, how exactly does this work? Do I just walk through?"