122: Chapter 122: The Nine-Tailed Fox

East of the city, at an Osmanthus Cake Shop.

Xiao Ran put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth.

"Not bad, it's indeed delicious."

Bai Linger looked at him, a flash of joy in her eyes.

It was that feeling of satisfaction when something you recommended is liked by others.

"Let's go."

"Back to the inn."

Xiao Ran stood up and said.

Bai Linger nodded and followed.

The two walked out of the shop; dusk had already deepened.

The lanterns along the street lit up one by one, bathing the entire street in a warm yellow glow.

...

Late at night.

White Emperor City's City Lord Manor, a secret room in the rear hall.

The White Emperor sat alone on a prayer mat, a Recording Jade Slip floating before him.

A phantom image projected from the Jade Slip.

It was Mo Yuan.

This was a recording of their secret talk three days ago.

"Hall Master Mo, how have you considered my conditions?"

The White Emperor's voice came from the recording.

Mo Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.

"City Lord Bai wishes to cooperate with the Eternal Night Demon Sect; I naturally welcome it."

"However... the method of cooperation still needs further discussion."

The White Emperor smiled.

"What brilliant ideas does Hall Master Mo have?"

Mo Yuan looked at him and said slowly.

"White Emperor City is located in the southwest of the Northern Realm, adjacent to the Great Qian Dynasty, making it a natural commercial hub."

"If my Eternal Night Demon Sect can establish a Branch here, transporting resources and gathering intelligence will be much more convenient in the future."

A sharp light flashed in the White Emperor's eyes.

"Does Hall Master Mo mean... you want the Eternal Night Demon Sect's influence to enter White Emperor City?"

"Why? Is City Lord Bai unwilling?"

The White Emperor pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"I am willing, of course I am."

"It's just that... I also have a condition."

"Speak."

"I need the protection of the Eternal Night Demon Sect."

The White Emperor said in a deep voice.

"Although White Emperor City is free, it is ultimately a solitary city."

"If it weren't for the thing underneath, no one would want this mess."

"If the Great Qian Dynasty or some top-tier power wanted to annex this place, I wouldn't be able to stop them alone."

Mo Yuan nodded slightly.

"That is natural."

"Since we are cooperating, the Eternal Night Demon Sect will naturally ensure the safety of White Emperor City."

Upon hearing this, the White Emperor slowly shook his head.

"Hall Master Mo has misunderstood."

"What I want is not the Sect's protection for the city, but... protection for me personally."

Mo Yuan narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean by that, City Lord Bai?"

The White Emperor sighed, a look of exhaustion appearing on his face.

"To tell you the truth, I offended many people in my youth while establishing White Emperor City."

"Although these years have seemed glorious on the surface, in reality, I have been treading on thin ice."

"Now that my Lifespan is running out, I only want to find a backer so those enemies won't dare to act rashly."

He paused and looked at Mo Yuan.

"If the Eternal Night Demon Sect is willing to take me in, I am willing to hand over thirty percent of White Emperor City's annual profits to the Sect."

A flash of surprise crossed Mo Yuan's eyes.

Thirty percent of the profits?

As a famous free city in the Northern Realm, the annual circulation of Spirit Stones in White Emperor City is in the hundreds of millions.

Thirty percent of the profits would be an astronomical figure.

"City Lord Bai is very sincere."

Mo Yuan said slowly.

"However... I still need to consult the Sect Master."

The White Emperor nodded.

"Naturally. I am in no hurry."

The recording ended there.

The White Emperor raised his hand and put away the Jade Slip.

A cold sneer curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Mo Yuan, oh Mo Yuan, do you really think I'm afraid of those enemies?"

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, the night was deep.

"What I want has never been protection."

He muttered to himself in a low voice.

"What I want is for your Eternal Night Demon Sect to... temporarily refrain from acting rashly."

Once he successfully achieved Possession of Xiao Ran, he would use his identity to infiltrate the Eternal Night Demon Sect and climb up step by step.

Eventually, the entire Eternal Night Demon Sect would be his.

"It's been three hundred years..."

The White Emperor sighed softly.

"I've been trapped in this White Emperor City for three hundred years; it's time for a change."

He turned, his gaze falling on a Formation in the corner of the secret room.

That was the entrance to the depths underground.

The Sealing Great Array.

"As for that fox... it's about time it was put to use."

A complex look flashed in the White Emperor's eyes.

...

Deep underground.

A massive Sealing Great Array was operating silently.

Inside the Formation.

A snow-white Nine-Tailed Demon Fox was curled up, its nine fluffy tails swaying gently.

Its eyes were closed, as if it were in a deep sleep.

The White Emperor's figure appeared outside the Formation.

"Since you're awake, stop pretending."

He said indifferently.

The demon fox opened its eyes, a pair of golden vertical pupils shimmering with an eerie light in the darkness.

"White Emperor, what brings you to see me in the middle of the night?"

The demon fox's voice was charming and seductive, with a hint of laziness.

The White Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the demon fox inside the Formation.

"My plan must be moved forward."

A glimmer of interest flashed in the demon fox's eyes.

"Oh? Why? Is there a problem with that kid named Xiao Ran?"

The White Emperor was silent for a moment.

"He disappeared for the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

The demon fox blinked.

"Disappeared? Right under your nose?"

"Yes," the White Emperor said heavily.

"For the duration of an incense stick, his aura completely vanished."

"After he returned, I sent people to investigate and found traces of spatial fluctuations in that alleyway."

A look of solemnity flashed in the demon fox's eyes.

"Spatial fluctuations? Someone who can open a temporary space and hide it from you... is certainly not weak!"

"I know."

Said the White Emperor.

"So I suspect he has a powerful expert protecting him."

The demon fox was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"White Emperor, you aren't scared, are you?"

The White Emperor sneered.

"Scared? Me?"

"Then why are you in such a hurry to move the plan forward?"

"Isn't it just because you're afraid that delays will bring trouble and that expert will ruin your plans?"

The demon fox said leisurely.

The White Emperor did not answer.

The demon fox laughed even more heartily.

"Interesting, truly interesting."

The White Emperor looked at her and suddenly said.

"Do you still want to get out or not?"

The demon fox's smile stiffened.

"What did you say?"

The White Emperor said indifferently.

"We are both grasshoppers on the same string now; my plan failing won't do you any good."

Hearing this, the demon fox stared at him, a cold light flashing in her eyes.

This man actually dared to threaten her.

But to break the Seal and leave this hellhole.

Nine-Tails could only cooperate with the White Emperor.

"So you want to move the plan forward?"

The White Emperor nodded, knowing that was enough.

"Tomorrow at noon, I will undo the Seal."

"At that time, you need to show your true nature as a member of the Yao Race and create chaos to draw the attention of the entire city."

"I will handle the rest."

The White Emperor's figure vanished into the darkness.

The demon fox curled up alone in the Formation, her eyes shimmering with an eerie light.

"White Emperor..."

She whispered to herself.

"Do you think you're the only one scheming?"

Her nine tails swayed gently as a wisp of faint Demonic Qi quietly seeped into the cracks of the Seal.

...

Above ground.

The White Emperor walked out of the underground entrance and returned to the secret room.

"Xiao Ran..."

He muttered to himself softly.

"No matter who you are, no matter what secrets you hold."

"After tomorrow, everything you have will be mine."

His eyes flashed with a glint of greed.

...

Meanwhile, at the Yelaixiang Inn.

Xiao Ran sat cross-legged in his room, eyes closed as he regulated his breathing.

Bai Linger was in the room next door and should have been asleep by now.

But he didn't sleep.

He was waiting.

Waiting for news from Li Changsheng.

Through the Soul link, a ripple came through.

"Xiao Ran, I've found it."

Xiao Ran opened his eyes.

"Speak."

"Regarding what you asked me to look into about the White Emperor, I asked Liu Ruyan to use the Hehuan Sect's intelligence network, and I've found some information."

Li Changsheng's voice came through.

"This White Emperor's history is quite legendary!"

Xiao Ran paused.

"How so?"

"Three hundred years ago, he suddenly appeared in this region. Back then, this was a desolate ancient ruin, and there were only a few scattered small towns around."

"It only took him three years to build White Emperor City."

Xiao Ran: "What's so unusual about that?"

For a Void Refinement Stage expert, wouldn't that be a matter of minutes?

"It's different."

Li Changsheng shook his head.

"This place used to be a dangerous land. Legend has it that a great demon was sealed here."

"Three hundred years ago, the great demon stirred, causing mountains to crumble and tsunamis to rise—a great disaster was imminent."

"At that time, the White Emperor entered the Seal alone, not hesitating to use his Origin energy to forcibly reinforce the Seal here."

"Since then, he established White Emperor City. So in the hearts of the people of White Emperor City, the White Emperor is an extraordinary figure."

Xiao Ran was stunned.

So, this White Emperor really is quite a character!

Not hesitating to use his Origin energy to protect this place.

But the more it was so, the more it showed that this fellow had extremely grand designs.