The White Fox Queen

Tap, tap, tap...

The light, unhurried footsteps echoed like the death knell of a reaper, each step bringing the onlookers closer to their demise.

Suddenly, Gu Qingfeng stopped before the Azure Demon Emperor.

By now, the demon emperor's strength was nearly depleted. Crushed under the immense pressure of spiritual might, he lay sprawled on the ground like a lifeless dog.

He heard Gu Qingfeng's footsteps but, unable to move, could only shift his bloodshot eyes upward in desperation. His limited view revealed nothing but a pair of shoes.

Those shoes halted less than ten centimeters from his face, kicking up dust that even settled into his unblinking eyes.

Then, abruptly, the pressure on the Azure Demon Emperor lessened slightly—just enough for him to speak.

"What do you want, human?! If you kill me, the Sacred Clan will never let you go!"

Thud!

Gu Qingfeng kicked him square in the face, sending the demon emperor reeling, blood gushing from his nose.

"Stop flattering yourself. You're nothing but a dog the Sacred Clan keeps on a leash. Now, I’m giving you a chance to live. You can contact them, can’t you? Call them down. Now."

"What?!" The Azure Demon Emperor forgot his pain, shock twisting his features.

He never expected that after invoking the Sacred Clan’s name, not only was this human unafraid—he actually wanted him to summon them?!

"Hmph, you fool. The Sacred Clan’s power is beyond your comprehension."

Thud!

Another kick.

This one caved in the demon’s face, his skull denting inward grotesquely. Yet, thanks to the tenacious vitality of a divine-realm demon, the injuries—though ghastly—were not fatal.

"Enough chatter. Just call them."

Gu Qingfeng planted his foot on the Azure Demon Emperor’s head, grinding it into the dirt as he spoke.

Pain and humiliation ignited the demon’s fury. "You’ll never get what you want! I’d rather die than obey you!"

Though he didn’t know his enemy’s motives, thwarting them seemed the wisest course.

Truthfully, the Azure Demon Emperor had his own reasons.

Since when did a dog summon its master?

As the leader of the "sheepdogs," if his masters learned he’d been bested by mere sheep, their cruelty would ensure his death—even if they crushed this human afterward.

Moreover, the Azure Demon Emperor harbored a burning ambition: to be taken to the Upper Realm by his masters.

Only there could he break through his limits, grow stronger, live longer.

If they discovered this failure, all his years of servitude would mean nothing. His dreams—and his life—would end.

Better to stay defiant. The method to contact the Sacred Clan was his alone. He gambled that his enemy wouldn’t dare kill him.

If he survived, he still had one last card to play—a divine weapon bestowed by his masters.

All he needed was a chance to recharge it, and victory would be his.

The might of an Upper Realm artifact was beyond this human’s comprehension.

He hadn’t used it earlier because the cost was too great, and Gu Qingfeng’s overwhelming strength left no opening.

Gu Qingfeng was taken aback by the demon’s stubbornness. This guy had a spine of steel!

Logically, after being beaten and with powerful backers, shouldn’t he call for help?

Yet here he was, refusing.

Was it sheer spite? Or something more?

"Last chance. Call the Sacred Clan," Gu Qingfeng said coldly.

"Hmph! I am the ruler of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom! I will never yield to a human! Go ahead, kill me—only I know how to contact my masters!"

The Azure Demon Emperor emphasized that the method was his alone, fearing Gu Qingfeng might kill him and extract the information from another.

Torture didn’t frighten him. What he truly feared was dying before realizing his ambitions.

"Good. I admire your courage. But death isn’t the worst fate."

"Hahaha! You may defeat me, human, but you’ll never break me! Do your worst—if I so much as flinch, I’m your slave!"

"Oh? Then let’s start by borrowing your queen."

With a wave of his hand, Gu Qingfeng summoned the unconscious White Fox Queen from nearby.

A few rough squeezes jolted her awake.

Her eyes flew open in terror as she realized she was once again in his grasp. She tried to scream, but he muffled her mouth, leaving only stifled whimpers.

The Azure Demon Emperor’s eyes bulged with rage. "You bastard! Face me! Targeting a woman is cowardly!"

"Keh keh keh... Oh, I’ll do more than target her. Today, I’ll see what the so-called ‘Number One Beauty of the Fox Clan’ truly tastes like!"

"Let her go! Release her now!" the Azure Demon Emperor screamed furiously, yet he still refused to contact the sacred clan from the upper realm.

Gu Qingfeng, however, had no patience for his antics. Without hesitation, he took the White Fox Queen away, entering a relatively intact palace nearby.

Before long, the sounds of a passionate symphony began echoing from within the palace.

The assembled demons and monsters were all divine-realm experts, each possessing keen senses. Even at a distance, the noises reached them as clearly as if they were listening right outside the walls.

Their expressions grew increasingly peculiar.

As for the Azure Demon Emperor, veins bulged across his face, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. The demon was on the verge of exploding with rage, his head practically glowing green with humiliation.

Yet he still wouldn't yield. He knew what truly mattered—whether a woman was more important, or ascending to the upper realm.

Compromising would mean certain death at his master's hands. Only by holding firm did he stand a chance to turn the tables.

For the sake of his future, even his most cherished love could be discarded!