The birth of Dzi beads

In a dark forest somewhere in the Tianyun Mountain Range.

Xiao Ming took out a rag and quietly wiped the bloodstains from the Nu Lei Sword.

Around him lay the corpses of Gale Wind Wolves.

Every Gale Wind Wolf had its pelt stripped, and all had died from a single sword thrust to the throat!

This was, of course, Xiao Ming's doing.

Three minutes earlier, Xiao Ming, on his way to the Cloud Fox Clan, passed through this forest and happened to discover a large pack of Gale Wind Wolves.

Without a word, Xiao Ming immediately wielded his Nu Lei Sword and slew all the Gale Wind Wolves.

He also took the opportunity to strip a hundred Gale Wind Wolf pelts.

The Gale Wind Wolf is one of the most common demonic beasts in the Tianyun Mountain Range, and its Cultivation Level is low. For example, the pack of wolves Xiao Ming encountered were all in the Body Tempering Realm.

Not even one was in the Xiantian Realm.

Therefore, in just three minutes, Xiao Ming completed his sect mission.

After wiping the Nu Lei Sword clean, Xiao Ming took out a large backpack from his embrace and packed all hundred wolf pelts into it.

He had brought this backpack from the sect specifically for carrying wolf pelts.

Just as he finished packing the wolf pelts, suddenly, a powerful aura, like a storm, swept over from a great distance.

Xiao Ming instinctively took a defensive stance and looked up.

He saw a massive pillar of light, as thick as a millstone, suddenly shoot up from the distant horizon. The pillar of light was pale green and soared straight into the sky!

The commotion caused by this pillar of light was astonishing; at this moment, cultivators within a radius of dozens of miles had probably all witnessed this spectacular sight.

And the location where the pillar of light appeared was none other than the Cloud Fox Clan's encampment!

The pale green pillar of light did not last long; it slowly dissipated, but its aura had spread.

Next, it was bound to trigger a bloody struggle for the treasure!

"In this situation, could it be that a treasure has appeared from the Cloud Fox Clan?" Xiao Ming was both surprised and doubtful. "It seems I need to hurry over!"

With that said.

Xiao Ming slung the backpack over his shoulder, gripping the Nu Lei Sword, and like a nimble demonic leopard, he sped towards the location of the pillar of light... At the same time.

Other cultivators nearby also looked up in astonishment, staring in surprise at the location where the pillar of light appeared.

"A pillar of light piercing the sky, a treasure has appeared!" Someone shouted in pleasant surprise.

"Not necessarily; it might be a certain demonic creature cultivating a powerful secret technique," someone nearby said hesitantly.

"Whether it's a treasure or not, let's go check it out first!"

"Exactly, exactly! If it's a treasure appearing, that would be an incredible opportunity."

"Let's go together, let's hurry!"

The cultivators nearby who noticed the anomaly of the pillar of light immediately gathered in groups of three to five and rushed towards the Cloud Fox Clan's encampment.

Meanwhile.

The people of Lei Family Fortress had already arrived at the outskirts of the Cloud Fox Clan's territory.

They were the closest and the first to discover the pillar of light piercing the sky.

Lei Fang, who was leading them, looked at the slowly dissipating pillar of light, a smile appearing on his face.

"This pillar of light was caused by the Cloud Fox Celestial Pearl. It seems the intelligence was correct; the Celestial Pearl has indeed appeared," Lei Fang said, then turned to his subordinates and lightly ordered,

"Our Lei Family Fortress is determined to obtain the Celestial Pearl! You all immediately clear the area; anyone who dares to covet the Cloud Fox Celestial Pearl shall be killed without mercy!"

"Yes!" Lei Li responded, immediately spreading out with his subordinates.

"Big Brother, don't worry. With us here, not even a fly will get in," Lei Li said confidently, holding a long spear.

"Good, you all guard outside, I will go get the Celestial Pearl." Lei Fang nodded.

Then he drew a long saber that flashed with lightning from his waist and, with a sinister grin, strode towards the depths of the Cloud Fox Clan's encampment... In the depths of the Cloud Fox Clan's encampment.

Hundreds of Cloud Foxes were currently gathered around a pale silver altar, looking excitedly at the low-lying area above the altar.

There, a pale green pearl, the size of a walnut, floated quietly.

Most of these hundreds of Cloud Foxes were still in their fox forms, a small number had cultivated into half-human, half-fox forms, and only a handful had cultivated into complete human forms.

An old woman in a white robe was the leader of all the Cloud Foxes.

However.

The overall strength of the Cloud Fox Clan was not strong; even the old woman, who had the strongest cultivation, was only at the Great Perfection of the Acquired Realm.

The white-robed old woman reached out and grabbed the pale green pearl floating in mid-air.

Looking at the pale green pearl, all the surrounding Cloud Foxes became excited.

"The Celestial Pearl has appeared!" a young fox exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes, after absorbing the essence of the sun and moon for countless years, our Cloud Fox Celestial Pearl has finally emerged."

"The Celestial Pearl has the effect of Defying Heaven and Changing Fate and enhancing one's fortune. I wonder which fortunate member of our clan will be able to consume the Celestial Pearl and improve their fortune?"

"No matter who eats it, our clan will definitely give birth to a powerful genius. If given time to grow, she will undoubtedly lead our Cloud Fox Clan to glory!"

A cacophony of chattering discussions erupted around them.

However.

The white-robed old woman's face was filled with worry.

"Grandma, aren't you happy?" a small fox asked, puzzled, seeing the white-robed old woman's troubled expression.

"I am naturally happy that the Celestial Pearl has appeared," the old woman sighed and said, "It's just that humans have a saying, 'an innocent man is guilty for possessing a treasure.' Our clan is not strong enough, yet we possess a treasure like the Celestial Pearl. I fear it will invite disaster."

"Then what should we do?" The foxes were instantly alarmed.

The old woman pondered for a moment and said, "We must quickly select a clan member with strong enough talent to consume the Celestial Pearl as quickly as possible. Only then can we eliminate the hidden danger."

"Grandma! I am strong, let me eat it!" a yellow-furred little fox volunteered.

"Nonsense! I am the strongest!"

"Both of you move aside, I am the most qualified to consume the Celestial Pearl!"

When it came to the Celestial Pearl, a group of young foxes immediately started arguing.

The scene became chaotic.

The old woman ignored them, instead casting her gaze upon a young fox nearby.

This little fox clearly had no energy fluctuations and had not yet begun to cultivate, but she had already cultivated into a half-human, half-fox form.

A so-called half-human, half-fox is generally human-shaped but has a fox tail growing behind her and a pair of fox ears.

This little fox, named Hu Yunxi, was not a member of the Cloud Fox Clan.

The old woman had encountered Hu Yunxi by chance in the mountains many years ago and, seeing her pitiful state, brought her back to the clan.

'Although Hu Yunxi is an outsider and not a member of our clan, she has shown remarkable abilities. If she consumes the Celestial Pearl, it might have an astonishing effect...' the old woman mused.

Just as she was thinking.

Suddenly.

A hearty laugh came from a distance, "You all don't need to argue over who eats the Celestial Pearl anymore, because the Celestial Pearl is mine!"

"Who? Who's speaking?!"

The foxes instinctively turned their heads and saw Lei Fang, holding a saber in one hand, charging fiercely towards them.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Human cultivators are attacking!"

"He wants to steal our Celestial Pearl!" The foxes cried out in alarm.

"Hahaha!" Lei Fang laughed heartily, "The Celestial Pearl is mine. Today, all of you must die!"

...Fifteen minutes later.

Xiao Ming arrived at the outskirts of the Cloud Fox Clan's territory.

His gaze swept across the scene, revealing a large crowd gathered here, divided into two factions.

One consisted of family guards wearing unified uniforms with the character 'Lei' embroidered on their chests.

The other was a disorganized, chaotic group of rogue cultivators.

The two factions were in a standoff, and several corpses already lay on the ground.

Seeing this, Xiao Ming frowned.

The cultivators with the character 'Lei' embroidered on their chests were likely from Lei Family Fortress, as within a thousand-mile radius, only Lei Family Fortress would do this; it was practically their symbol.

At this moment.

A rogue cultivator couldn't help but step forward and angrily shouted, "What do you Lei Family Fortress mean! Do you intend to monopolize the treasure inside?!"

His answer was a powerful spear shadow.

Whoosh!

The spear shadow flashed, instantly piercing through the rogue cultivator's chest!

The remaining rogue cultivators were immediately alarmed, retreating one by one, simultaneously daring not to speak their anger.

"That's right! Our Lei Family Fortress intends to monopolize the treasure!" Lei Li said proudly, holding a long spear, "If anyone else dares to be so foolish as to continue provoking our Lei Family Fortress, the corpses on the ground will be the fate of the provocateur!"