Sensing Ye Xiu's summons, Su Su slowly floated out, winding upwards as she already detected the soul energy within that pool of black water: "Master, although this fellow's power is unstable, that soul energy cannot be absorbed. I am also at a loss."

Ye Xiu looked at the pool of black water. The shadow within the black water was gradually standing up; it was a pair of legs, half-human and half-beast: "Indeed, it's one of those unstable things. I hope it can be killed."

"Pfft..." A gust of air suddenly surged from between the black water, rushing toward Ye Xiu. As it spun, a lot of mist billowed out.

Ye Xiu ducked to avoid it. At this moment, the Tianmiao Sword was already in his hand. He intended to use a sword move to pass through those standing legs, but who knew that when he thrust, it was like piercing ordinary running water, completely failing to strike any physical entity.

"Waaah!" Jun Bugu, standing behind Ye Xiu, didn't manage to evade the black water's attack in time. The black water splashed directly onto his face. When it retreated like a caterpillar, it caused no harm to Jun Bugu. "Hmm, what did it do?"

Ye Xiu was also puzzled by the movement of the black water. He stared intently as the black water that had shot toward Jun Bugu flowed back. The droplets crawled up those standing legs like insects, and soon they formed a complete human shape. The appearance of this human figure was clearly sculpted using Jun Bugu as the template: "Scary... This thing hasn't somehow possessed you, has it?"

"What!" Jun Bugu's eyes widened. Suddenly, flames ignited in the hands of the black humanoid. As soon as the flames appeared, they rushed straight toward him. "Waaah, it really is like that!"

Hearing the Priestess's words, Ye Xiu's task now was to protect this fellow Jun Bugu as much as possible. He lunged forward with his sword, bringing the Black Flame with him. However, when the Black Flame struck the black humanoid, it caused no damage. His Tianmiao Sword was blocked by the thing's sudden turn and grab: "What? Is this thing more than just imitation?"

Jun Bugu held the Juedao and, while the figure was distracted, he spun out hard and sliced at the silhouette. At that moment, black water splashed out again, hitting Ye Xiu in the face: "How can this be? Can't we kill it after all?"

"It's over!" Ye Xiu felt a cool sensation sliding down his cheek. By the time he completely shook off the spray and stood firm, a shadow almost exactly his size was already standing behind him. "Damn it, now this is great, I have to fight myself."

Instantly, the narrow corridor was engulfed in roaring flames, but these flames served no substantive purpose other than destroying the walkway.

After sparring with his double several times, Jun Bugu felt that his shadow far surpassed him in both strength and speed. He retreated while running: "We should think of a way to escape. This guy is all water, there’s no way to kill him."

"How can fire play with fire?" Ye Xiu could barely defend himself. His shadow also wielded the power of the Tianmiao Sword. Every time he thrust into the thing's chest, it felt like entering running water. "Retreat to the end of the corridor, I'll block them. You go check if that door has any secrets first."

Jun Bugu immediately obeyed this instruction. His figure shifted, flashing instantly to the door at the end. This door had no handle and clearly displayed three different colored jewel sockets. Three gems seemed fixed beneath the sockets, appearing indestructible: "Looks like I'll have to try fire on this."

"How is it?" Ye Xiu barely managed to fend off the sword and blade attacks from the two figures. Their movement techniques were mediocre, but they couldn't be attacked, so all he could do was back away. "Hurry up, they'll be at the door soon too."

"Flames!" Jun Bugu unleashed flames to strike the door. The door body suddenly shone brightly, and a burst of flame shot out from within. "Waaah, this thing won't open!"

Ye Xiu activated the Hundred Insect Soul and leaped onto the ceiling. He and the two figures were battling chaotically, unable to break free: "See if there’s any other way. If we can't open it soon, I won't last much longer."

"Wait a moment, wait!" Jun Bugu anxiously scrutinized the jewel sockets. He touched one and suddenly discovered a small disc inlaid on the socket. He carefully turned the disc, and unexpectedly, the thing actually rotated. "Hahaha, I found it, Ye Xiu! This thing can turn. There are three colored jewels beneath it; which one should we choose?"

"Damn it, choose whichever one opens the door!" Ye Xiu clearly couldn't hold on any longer. The Juedao in the shadow's hand moved with abnormal speed and had already injured his limbs. "Just pick one randomly!"

"Alright, you said it!" Jun Bugu twisted the disc and selected the yellow gem. The sturdy door immediately radiated yellow light. With a kacha, the door opened, and Jun Bugu was sucked inside. "Go!"

"Whoosh..." Ye Xiu used the Black Flame to propel himself and killed his way inside the door as well. The door seemed prepared for the two of them; it closed immediately after they entered, leaving the two shadows standing there blankly.

In the Realm of No Separation, amidst countless towering trees, the Fox Palace had recovered from its former ruin. The day for Sha Jun Tianxia to break the ice had arrived, and the Fox Queen needed to gradually enhance her strength to once again win the right to survival.

"Mother, don't worry. Even if everyone leaves, I will protect you." Qi'er remained obedient. In just a few short days, she had experienced too much life and death; these experiences were too sudden and severe for her.

The Fox Queen was greatly relieved, but she understood that besides the Thousand-Year Fox Shadow, the Fox Palace retained little strength. "The Fox Palace's ability to stand in the Corpse Demon Forest certainly has its unique value. The Eye of the Fox can indeed enhance one's strength in a certain aspect, but it has its true purpose."

"True purpose?" Qi'er looked puzzled. She glanced around; the eyes of the beautiful fox attendants were flashing with different lights. "Mother, I don't understand what you are talking about."

The Fox Queen spread her hands, and the entire grand hall was bathed in a warm glow: "The cultivation origin of the Eye of the Fox stems from the number of tails each fox possesses. It allows those of our Fox Palace to become completely demonic! And the power of demonization depends on the number of tails in one's cultivation."

"Demonization?" Qi'er couldn't believe her ears, and she gasped in surprise, "We can possess the extremely strong vitality and combat ability like those divine beasts?"

The Fox Queen nodded. Her eyes glowed now, and behind her, eight beautiful tails had appeared: "In the final battle at Mount Sumeru, I will stake the honor of the entire Fox Palace. At that time, I will let the other clans of the Corpse Demon Forest witness the true power of the foxes."

"Eight tails!" Qi'er counted the elegant tails rising behind the Fox Queen. She then looked around at the three-tailed and four-tailed auras radiating from the attendants—they were just as imposing. "Mother, what about you? What about my cultivation and power?"

The Fox Queen moderated her power, gently cupping Qi'er's head and smiling: "This battle will be my last, Mother's last battle. Your task is to inherit the position of the Fox Palace Master. This was also Mother's duty in ancient times, but now it is your turn."

"Mother..." Qi'er certainly understood the implication of those words. She clung tightly to the Fox Queen, weeping, "Nothing will happen to you. You are the strongest pillar of the Fox Palace."

The Fox Queen shook her head and smiled lightly: "The strongest fox should possess nine spiritual tails. Only the Ancient Fox God and the Thousand-Year Fox Shadow could achieve that level of power. I have never managed to break through that level of cultivation."

"Rumble..." Before the Fox Queen could finish her sentence, killing intent in the form of maple-red sword energy suddenly radiated from the surroundings. The attendants were completely unprepared and were instantly shredded into dust by streaks of sword energy.

The Fox Queen whipped her tails, tightly shielding Qi'er. Killing intent filled her eyes, and even fangs showed on her lips: "What is that familiar scent? Who are you!"

A maple-colored figure, a maple-colored longsword, and violet-blue eyes—this person was the tyrannical Jun Bugu, the man endlessly connected to the Demon World Primal Fetus of Sha Jun Tianxia. "The scent is familiar because I also possess a Fox Eye. As for who I am, surely you won't ask that, right?"

"It's you?" The Fox Queen had seen this person with Ye Xiu before, but now, with this oppressive feeling, she couldn't be certain. "You say you possess a Fox Eye?"

Jun Bugu gave a cold smile, and the violet-blue brilliance in his eyes became even more striking: "Can you still not recognize the ultimate technique of the Fox Palace?"

"Ghostly Aware Blue Eyes!" The Fox Queen sucked in a sharp breath. She immediately pulled Qi'er behind her. "Who exactly are you, and why are you connected to the Fox Palace?"

Jun Bugu scratched his head, appearing troubled. He shook his head, "I don't know why I am connected to the Fox Palace either. I think my survival from ancient times until today must be due to too many favors from the Fox Palace, so I am merely here to repay a debt of gratitude."

"A debt of gratitude? You call this a debt of gratitude?" The Fox Queen pointed at her fallen kin, showing no regard for Jun Bugu's words. "If you have anything else to say, hurry up, or don't blame the Fox Palace for being inhospitable."

Jun Bugu used one hand forcefully and suddenly stabbed his own right eye. At that moment, all the violet-blue light from his right eye gathered entirely in his palm, leaving only the hollow outline of an eye socket. "Although I don't know the name of this Fox Eye, nor how I obtained it, I feel now is the time to return it to its rightful owner."

"Ghostly Aware Blue Eyes..." The Fox Queen cautiously walked toward Jun Bugu. She lightly touched the violet-blue glow, and suddenly a surge of power flowed through her slender hand into her entire body. A powerful current lifted the hem of her dress, and finally, the ninth spiritual tail materialized behind her. "Hooah... This is the power I needed!"