A look of surprise dawned upon their faces.

But their reaction was swift.

A cold, mocking smile settled on Zhuang Yating’s lips, a sight that immediately made their hearts plummet, as they inwardly questioned: Something’s wrong.

What’s happened to Elder Sister Zhuang Yating? The moment the little foxes’ gazes locked with Zhuang Yating’s, they cried out in silent alarm: No, this isn't Elder Sister Zhuang Yating! The Zhuang Yating before them had eyes blazing with hatred, a gaze that seemed to wish the entire Hu-Chan Sect could be quartered a thousand times over! The little foxes watched Zhuang Yating with mingled terror and suspicion.

A chilling realization began to dawn on them, but no one dared voice the answer.

Meanwhile, the cultivators gathered upstairs remained utterly oblivious to the huge upheaval unfolding within the Hu-Chan Sect.

Some, unfamiliar with Zhuang Yating, frowned and snapped, “Who are you? What madness brings you here?” However, those who had participated in the siege against the Hu-Chan Sect at Tianlong Mountain instantly recognized her.

They shouted toward Li Yundong, “True Man Li, how do you manage your subordinates?” Li Yundong’s expression turned frigid as he stared at Zhuang Yating.

He uttered in an icy tone, “She is not my subordinate, nor is she of the Hu-Chan Sect.” Those who had spoken froze, puzzled by the meaning of Li Yundong’s words.

Wan Zhenyuan frowned and addressed Zhuang Yating, “You should be True Person Zhuang of the Hu-Chan Sect? Today, out of respect for True Man Li, I will not press the matter.

Please take a seat at the edge of the gathering.” Zhuang Yating burst into laughter.

“Wan Zhenyuan, by what right do you bark orders at me? Have you forgotten how I beat you senseless back at Gezao Mountain?” Wan Zhenyuan’s eyes widened in sudden realization.

He exclaimed, “You are Yan Fang?!” The crowd erupted in an uproar.

“Yan Fang? Yan Fang of the Ling Gong Sect?! Impossible!!” Some of the younger cultivators, unaware of Yan Fang’s reputation, quickly asked, “Who is Yan Fang? Is she very powerful?” Immediately, an older, more experienced cultivator adopted a condescending tone.

“Hey, kid, listen up! Yan Fang was a legendary female cultivator in her day! Before she vanished without a trace, she was widely hailed as the top female master and the most beautiful woman in the cultivation world.

Only after she disappeared did the title of ‘Number One Female Cultivator’ slowly pass to Zi Yuan.” “Then why did Yan Fang suddenly disappear?” “Hmph, Yan Fang was too proud; no man in the world was good enough for her.

She was secretly infatuated with her senior martial brother, Wang Yuanshan.

But Wang Yuanshan fell deeply in love with Ao Wushuang of the Hu-Chan Sect.

A case of unrequited love! In a fit of rage, Yan Fang exposed their affair to the Celestial Master Zhang, the head of the Zheng Yi Sect, using the sect’s immense power to force Wang Yuanshan to leave Ao Wushuang.

Yan Fang thought this would win her back, but the opposite happened: Wang Yuanshan chose Yuhua—immortality through death—over her.” “What? Yan Fang was so formidable, and hailed as the most beautiful, so why wouldn't Wang Yuanshan choose her over some seductive fox spirit?” “Tsk tsk, kid, that’s where you’re wrong! Look at those fox spirits next to her—aren’t they all stunning beauties? Tsk tsk, if a man could have even one such companion, it would be bliss fit for an immortal.

The pleasure is truly indescribable!” “Elder Sister Martial Aunt, the way you speak is rather… base…” “Ahem, enough nonsense! When Yan Fang saw Wang Yuanshan would not turn back, she believed it was all due to some bewitching spell cast by the fox spirits of the Hu-Chan Sect that had charmed her senior brother and stolen her destiny.

Enraged, Yan Fang infiltrated the Hu-Chan Sect and lay dormant for nine years, only suddenly appearing at Tianlong Mountain recently!” “Ah, I know! So it was that Yan Fang! She orchestrated the attack on Tianlong Mountain last time, didn't she?” “Precisely! You learn quickly! If Li Yundong hadn't suddenly appeared then, the Hu-Chan Sect might have been wiped out by now!” “Wow, Yan Fang is so ruthless, lying in wait for nine years just for revenge?” “Haven’t you heard the saying, the heart of a woman is the most venomous? Heh, this is internal conflict within the Hu-Chan Sect; we just watch the show, yes, watch the show!” The crowd buzzed with discussion.

Those who knew Yan Fang called out greetings, but Yan Fang appeared not to hear, completely ignoring them, her gaze locked solely on Li Yundong.

Zhang Ling, who had engaged in a fierce battle with Yan Fang at Gezao Mountain, also felt a sharp glint of surprise in his eyes, staring intently at this woman who was obsessed with annihilating the Hu-Chan Sect.

Zou Ping whispered to Zhang Ling, “Master, there is internal strife in the Hu-Chan Sect.

Yan Fang is technically one of ours from the Zheng Yi Sect.

Should we intervene?” Zhang Ling sharply hissed, “Silence.

Yan Fang is deeply calculating.

Since she dares to show herself now, it means she has contingency plans, a foolproof strategy! The wisest course now is to observe quietly!” Li Yundong stared at the figure of “Zhuang Yating” in utter shock.

“So you are Yan Fang!” Yan Fang laughed heartily.

“Indeed! Li Yundong, Li Yundong, you never expected this, did you?” Li Yundong’s voice was chillingly cold.

“Then what about Cao Yi? What have you done to her?” Yan Fang snorted.

“You should worry about yourself first!” Du Fei of the Quan Zhen Longmen Sect, fully aware of the deep enmity between Yan Fang and the Hu-Chan Sect, stood up and addressed Yan Fang.

“True Person Yan, as the saying goes, it is better to resolve enmity than to deepen it! Your grievances with the Hu-Chan Sect have accumulated to this point, and both sides have suffered heavy losses.

The Ling Gong Sect is now dwindling, and True Person Zi Yuan cannot hold things together alone.

The Hu-Chan Sect is displaced, suffering countless casualties.

Enough revenge has been exacted, hasn't it? Why can’t you let it go?” Yan Fang suddenly whipped her head around, glaring fiercely at Du Fei.

She hissed, “Du Fei, what benefit did Li Yundong give you that makes you plead his case so earnestly?” Du Fei became visibly displeased.

“True Person Yan, I think you are focusing on a speck and missing the mountain! Your eyes are completely clouded by hatred! True Man Li is open and upright, selfless, magnanimous, and of noble character—the finest I have ever met! And you, True Person Yan, are also one of the oddities of our cultivation world.

I am merely speaking the truth out of righteousness, wishing to preserve the strength of our cultivation community.

To dismiss my words like that is an insult to me!” Yan Fang stared at Du Fei with icy eyes, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“You fool, you’ve been deceived and don’t even know it! Furthermore, do you truly believe my only goal is revenge? You underestimate me too greatly!” Du Fei frowned.

“Then what is your purpose, True Person Yan?” Yan Fang suddenly pointed directly at Li Yundong and declared loudly, “Fellow Daoists, today I will reveal the true face of this Li Yundong to you all.” Zhou Qin saw Yan Fang pointing accusingly at Li Yundong and trembled with rage, her eyes blazing with fury and hatred.

In her view, anyone who offended Li Yundong was her enemy, and she swore inwardly to make Yan Fang pay the price! Su Chan and the little foxes were also filled with shock and anger.

They had no idea what fresh scheme Yan Fang was plotting this time, nor what price they would have to pay in consequence! Li Yundong regarded Yan Fang with icy eyes and said gravely, “Yan Fang, say what you must.

I’d like to see what trick you are pulling this time!” Yan Fang sneered, “It’s not certain who’s playing tricks!” She then turned to the assembled company and stated, “Fellow Daoists, I admit that when I infiltrated the Hu-Chan Sect nine years ago, I was indeed consumed by vengeance, seeking to destroy them.

That was born of personal grievance!” The crowd fell silent, murmuring with a sense of pity.

Because of this enmity, two sects had been brought to the brink of ruin.

Seeing that everyone was listening intently, Yan Fang continued, “But in my third year hidden within the Hu-Chan Sect, I accidentally discovered the secret treasury of the sect on Tianlong Mountain.

During one stealthy entry, I stumbled upon the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art carved into the rock wall by the Heavenly Mechanism Black Fox!” A wave of gasps swept through the crowd.

Zou Ping and Zhang Ling exchanged glances, and Zou Ping immediately pressed, “Martial Aunt Yan Fang, did you copy down the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art?” Yan Fang glanced swiftly at her, a hint of mockery hidden in her eyes, and replied bluntly, “No!” Zou Ping, annoyed by Yan Fang’s look, exclaimed, “Impossible! A cultivator like you could recite it verbatim after seeing it once! Even if you didn't write it down then, you could have transcribed it later.

How could you not remember it?” Yan Fang coldly sneered, “Fellow Daoists, if the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art were laid before you, would you not cultivate it?” The cultivators from all sects exchanged glances, none speaking.

For a cultivator, seeing the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art within reach would make refusing to cultivate it an impossibility.

No cultivator in the world could control such a desire.

Seeing their silence, Yan Fang continued with a cold laugh.

“Oh, and yes, we cultivators would naturally seek to practice such a supreme technique if we saw it.

But if I cultivated the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art, could the old fox Liu Ye fail to notice, given his skill? Therefore, I dared not look too closely.

I read only two lines before forcing myself to stop!” The crowd was deeply moved.

They stared at Yan Fang in awe, thinking: Even with the temptation of the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art right there, Yan Fang managed to restrain herself! This shows the incredible strength of her willpower, and the firmness of her resolve for revenge! Terrifying, truly terrifying! Anyone facing such an opponent would find no peace day or night! Du Fei interjected, “True Person Yan, you claim you found the secret cave and the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art in the Hu-Chan Sect, but what has this to do with True Man Li? Or the Hu-Chan Sect? Everyone knows the Heavenly Mechanism Black Fox dominated the world in her time, unmatched by any foe.

She lived during the era of Mr.

Chen Pu, the creator of the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art.

Why would it be strange for her to acquire it and carve it onto the sect’s stone walls?” Yan Fang looked at him and scoffed.

“True Person Du, you are ever defending Li Yundong! Hmph! Fine, when I first saw the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art, I was shocked and immediately stopped myself from reading further.

But I saw two final lines that the Heavenly Mechanism Black Fox had written on the wall herself.” The curiosity of the crowd was instantly piqued.

They urged, “What were they? Quick, tell us!” Yan Fang announced loudly, “The first line states: In the fifteenth year of Emperor Xizong of Tang, Master Niwan Chen Pu created the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art.

This technique seizes the creation of Heaven and Earth; it is an unparalleled secret treasure for cultivation.

I yearned for it but could not obtain it.

However, after exhausting my efforts and traveling across the Divine Land for over a decade, I fully transcribed it here in the third year of Qianhua of the Later Liang!” The crowd murmured in amazement.

Some whispered, “They say there were several great demon lords in cultivation history, and the Heavenly Mechanism Black Fox was one of them.

To think this lost Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art was preserved by her! An anomaly, truly an anomaly!” Li Yundong nodded slightly, then stated gravely to Yan Fang, “There is indeed such a line, but so what? What does it prove?” Yan Fang sneered.

“I haven’t finished.

There is another line!” Li Yundong frowned.

“What other line? I did not see another line when I looked!” Yan Fang scoffed.

“Are you blind? There is clearly another line below it!” The crowd shouted in unison, “True Person Yan, tell us quickly, what is the second line?” Yan Fang declared coldly and loudly, “This line states: Although I cultivated the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art to the Ninth Level, I consequently incurred a Heavenly Tribulation.

I expect to face the tribulation soon.

If the tribulation is unsuccessful, my soul will shatter into countless pieces! Therefore, I leave the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir Art here, hoping that the future successor of my Hu-Chan Sect may achieve perfection and gather my scattered soul fragments throughout the heavens and earth, allowing me to reappear in the mortal realm!” This statement detonated like an atomic bomb in the assembly! The crowd’s faces contorted in horror.

Everyone shot to their feet, and the venue devolved into a chaotic din like a boiling pot! “What? The Heavenly Mechanism Black Fox wants to reappear in the mortal realm?” “The Hu-Chan Sect harbors such schemes?” “True Man Li, speak clearly! Is this true or not!” Even with his immense composure, Li Yundong was stunned where he stood.

But he quickly countered in anger, “Impossible! There is no such line below that one! If you don’t believe me, let’s return to Tianlong Mountain right now and check!” Yan Fang sneered, “You didn’t see it? I think you pretended not to see it! Li Yundong, stop equivocating! You are clearly Liu Ye’s accomplice! He is dead, and now it is your turn to inherit his will.

You intend to resurrect the Heavenly Mechanism Black Fox, don’t you!” Without waiting for Li Yundong to respond, she demanded fiercely, “Since antiquity, whenever a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox descends upon the world, has it ever brought anything but immense disaster to the human realm? Because of Daji, there was the chaos of the Shang Dynasty; because of the Heavenly Mechanism Black Fox, there were the tragic massacres of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms and the brutal warfare between Buddhism and Daoism! We cultivators sealed the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox away, yet you refuse to give up, still trying by any means necessary to release her.

Are you attempting to confuse the world and bring suffering to all living beings!” Yan Fang’s accusation was devastatingly effective, like a dagger or a javelin, immediately causing the cultivators of every sect to turn icy gazes toward the Hu-Chan Sect members.

Updating yesterday’s chapter… E