Inside the luxurious carriage, Zong Shou remained completely oblivious to the seismic unrest stirring across the entire East Lin Cloud Continent, all because he had forced Feng Nu Xiong Ba to sever his arm in apology. Even the central Cloud Continent, that behemoth of power, had been shaken by the news.

Upon first passing through the gates of Qiantian City, he was startled by the ensuing roar like a tidal wave outside, only to quickly feel a surge of satisfaction thereafter.

Evidently, the populace of Mount Qiantian knew where true governance lay, recognizing him as a wise sovereign. Though he had no personal desire for kingship, seeing his prestige within Mount Qiantian soar so high brought him considerable gratification; his efforts had not been in vain.

He had certainly contemplated stepping out of the carriage to accept the cheers of the masses. Recalling figures from his past life—national leaders greeted by adulation along every road—it seemed quite the spectacle. He yearned for it, yet the present circumstances forbade it.

The mere thought knotted his feelings in an agonizing tangle.

Suddenly, his head trembled, and an intensely thrilling, bone-deep sensation shot through his mind, causing Zong Shou’s body to flush faintly.

It was Xuanyuan Yiren, who had caught hold of the pair of fox ears atop his head and was playfully examining them with immense curiosity.

“No wonder there was a period when we traveled together that you insisted on hiding in the Cloud-Flipping Cart and wouldn't let me see you. So, you had awakened your Celestial Fox Demon Body! Hee hee, these ears are so cute—”

Zong Shou heard this and was instantly furious, which swiftly morphed into profound dejection. Ever since his spiritual cultivation had broken through to the Huan Yang Realm, his demon form had begun to manifest again. This time, it included a tail—his previous three fox tails had jumped directly to five. Consequently, for several days running, he had been unable to fully subdue this monstrous aspect.

If he had known this would happen, he should have waited until returning to Mount Qiantian before entering seclusion for intensive cultivation.

As it turned out, his return today had allowed Xuanyuan Yiren to seize his weakness.

These fox ears were truly an infuriatingly sensitive spot. Being pinched by Xuanyuan Yiren made his entire body feel weak and soft, simultaneously igniting a fierce, contradictory lust. If not for the consideration that they were in broad daylight, with hundreds of thousands surrounding the carriage, he would have nearly lost control of the desires raging within him.

Seeing that Xuanyuan Yiren had no intention of letting go and was growing bolder, taking an inch and demanding an ell—she began to pinch his five snow-white fox tails, her interest unabated.

Zong Shou instantly ground his teeth in impotent rage: “Little Miss Yiren, you are playing with fire! Taking advantage of someone’s vulnerability does not align with the way of benevolence and righteousness!”

“Benevolence and righteousness? What are those?”

Xuanyuan Yiren looked utterly perplexed, leaning close to Zong Shou’s snow-white fox ears and gently exhaling a breath. “That’s for bullying me before. That time in the Pill Chamber was quite satisfying, wasn’t it? Will you dare to do it again?”

Zong Shou felt himself utterly lose control! He absolutely had to assert his authority!

With a sudden flip, he pinned the pale and startled Xuanyuan Yiren beneath him. One hand snaked like a spirit serpent beneath her robes, grasping the soft, tender flesh there. With a slight provocation at the tip, Xuanyuan Yiren involuntarily let out a soft moan.

The very next instant, that maddeningly tantalizing sound was completely smothered by Zong Shou. His tongue plunged in like a viper, stirring wildly within her mouth; every brush of his tongue sent shivers through his body and stoked the heat between them.

His other hand delved even deeper beneath her dress, caressing her snow-white thighs, inching slowly toward the most private and hidden core of her femininity.

Xuanyuan Yiren flushed deeply with shame. There were so many people outside the carriage! Zong Shou was utterly shameless; how could he behave this way?

Yet, an undercurrent of intense excitement and anticipation began to bubble up. When Zong Shou’s large hand finally brushed against her core, Xuanyuan Yiren felt her body go rigid, as if electric currents were surging wildly within her.

Her delicate hands gripped the bedsheets tightly. A pleasure unlike any she had known before suddenly struck her heart, robbing her limbs of all strength.

Zong Shou’s hands seemed imbued with sorcery, driving pleasure in tidal waves through her while simultaneously leaving her feeling incredibly hollow. The shameful desires buried in her heart were being teased out, bit by bit.

Beside them, Chu Xue was already too embarrassed to watch, her face flushed crimson as she turned away. Finally unable to bear it, she exclaimed, “Young Master, what are you doing?”

Ruoshui blinked, then looked puzzled. “Is the Mistress also poisoned?”

Zong Shou still retained a sliver of reason. Though he desperately wanted to consummate their union right then and there, the setting was entirely inappropriate. This girl would eventually fall into his hands, just not on this carriage ride.

Finally, panting heavily, he scrambled up from the bed. Xuanyuan Yiren was now completely limp, collapsed on the sheets, unable to move.

When Zong Shou withdrew his right hand from beneath her disheveled garments, it emerged slick and wet, covered in Xuanyuan Yiren’s essence. This time, it had been a veritable flood, far more intense than their previous encounter in the Pill Chamber.

Indeed, this woman’s body was unusually receptive.

Zong Shou grinned, shaking his hand toward Xuanyuan Yiren. “Do you know who is stronger now? If you dare to fool around again, I’ll certainly discipline you!”

Xuanyuan Yiren’s delicate features were now stained crimson like snow. Mimicking an ostrich burying its head in the sand, she covered her face with a pillow, refusing to look at Zong Shou’s smug expression.

She gasped for breath until the lingering echoes within her body subsided, but a sense of discontent still lingered. Her jade arms wrapped around Zong Shou from behind. Breathing softly near his ear, she whispered, “Actually, Yiren has a demon body too! It’s the Nuwa Body. Do you want to see it, Ah Shou?”

Zong Shou felt the flames of desire surge in his heart again, his lower body hardening like steel. This damned girl had learned bad habits too; she was too provocative.

The so-called Nuwa were an ancient race where men were normal, but women possessed human torsos and dragon tails, breathtakingly beautiful, said to be one of the origins of humanity.

In the Cloud Wasteland era, some had integrated Nuwa bloodlines. However, this lineage also only manifested in females.

It wouldn't produce a serpentine tail, but when their body transformed into the demon form, it would become exceptionally supple, capable of assuming any posture. According to ancient records, the Nuwa demon form possessed an inherent allure, the dream of every man—a profound, ineffable exquisiteness that could only be understood, not described.

He knew the Xuanyuan family carried a half-demon bloodline, but he never imagined that what Xuanyuan had inherited was this specific lineage.

This girl was clearly out for revenge!

He abruptly seized Xuanyuan Yiren and delivered a sharp slap to her fragrant hip as punishment, forcefully suppressing his surging desires once more.

The carriage only reached the foot of Mount Qiantian before the celebratory cheers outside gradually subsided.

Zong Shou felt a measure of relief mixed with lingering shame. The carriage did not proceed toward the main peak’s palace; instead, it headed directly for Zhenqian Peak.

Reaching the summit of this peak, he saw that where there had once been nothing but barren flatland, a massive Iron Gang Hall had now been erected.

Zong Shou extended his right hand, formed a mudra, and cast an illusionary spell upon himself, obscuring his features, completely hiding his fox ears and tail.

Only then did he step down from the carriage. He then noticed the plaque above the entrance of the Iron Gang Hall, inscribed with three characters: ‘Council Hall,’ rendered in a bold, vigorous script that was quite extraordinary.

Zong Shou paused, then heard Ren Bo approaching to explain: “The term Elder implies virtue and seniority. Those selected this time from the cities directly governed by Mount Qiantian are mostly young men. What virtue or qualification do they possess to bear the title of Elder? Therefore, Ren Bo dared to change it to Council Hall, and those selected will all be addressed as ‘Councilor.’”

Frowning slightly, Zong Shou instantly understood Ren Bo’s concern: he feared that the title of Elder might cause these men to become complacent, truly believing themselves to be city elders.

Thinking it over carefully, Zong Shou nodded. He himself had felt the term ‘Elder’ was somewhat inappropriate, preferring ‘Venerable Elder.’ However, Ren Bo’s suggestion was clearly more suitable.

Just as he was about to step inside, in the next instant, Zong Shou’s pupils contracted as he looked toward another direction.

There, a familiar-faced elder stood gazing over, his expression complex.

“Clan Uncle?”

At first glance, Zong Shou recognized the old man as Zong Zheng, an Elder Uncle from the former Celestial Fox Clan, the strongest figure within that lineage.

He was one of those who had held control of the Qiantian Kingly position within the Celestial Fox Clan after Zong Weiran disappeared. Zong Shou distinctly felt that this man was different from when they met at the sacrificial altar. Zong Zheng’s aura had shifted, elevating an entire tier!

In just these short few dozen days, this man had crossed that half-step barrier and charged into the Sun Roaming Realm!

Zong Zheng walked over, but unexpectedly, there was little trace of hostility. Instead, he regarded Zong Shou from head to toe with a look of deep emotion, though the sliver of disgust had not entirely vanished.

“Years ago, your father was dissatisfied with the injustice of our Clan and broke away, building the foundation of Mount Qiantian almost from scratch. Later, he returned and drove out nearly all the direct descendants of our Celestial Fox Clan. Zong Zheng was pleased that your father could strengthen our Clan, yet I deeply resented that he killed more than ten blood kin from our main family line. Yet, ten years ago, I underestimated your father; ten years later, I misjudged you. In the months since ascending the throne, you have recovered all lost lands and expanded the borders by ten thousand miles. Zong Shou, in terms of martial talent and the path of warfare, you are no lesser than your sire!”

Zong Shou was utterly bewildered, unsure why Zong Zheng was telling him all this or what the point was.

In the next moment, he heard Zong Zheng continue: “I have reached the Sun Roaming Realm and will not linger in Qiantian. Under your hand, the Zong Clan is certain to flourish, and Zong Zheng can leave with peace of mind. I only ask that when I return one day, I can see the Celestial Fox Clan restored to the glory of ten thousand years ago. I entrust this to you!”

Seeing Zong Zheng suddenly bow deeply, Zong Shou became flustered and moved to step aside, but Zong Zheng spoke again, this time his tone turning cold: “However, if our Clan suffers any misfortune because of you, then Zong Zheng will stake this very life to drag you down into the Nine Nether Abyss! Do you believe me, Your Highness?”

Zong Shou’s eyebrow arched, then he let out a cold laugh, no longer dodging the bow, and accepted the deep reverence with grand composure. Indeed, this old fellow was not one to be trifled with.

Then, in the next instant, Zong Zheng let out an exclamation of surprise: “Is this a Star Pattern?” (To be continued)