Returning to the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, So Many Old Enemies

Xu Mu smiled. Thinking about it carefully, it made sense. As communication throughout the Inner Realm became more convenient, many things had been brought into the open.

Even An Ce knew about this matter, so naturally, those top-tier races knew as well—including the Sanitation Office.

“The Nine-Tailed Fox Clan understands that this matter can’t remain hidden, so what began as a secret operation has now become public.”

An Ce continued, “They’ll select a number of top-tier races to accompany them.”

“I see.”

Xu Mu nodded. No wonder Ji Liang had told him to build a good relationship with Tushan Rui, and had said that the next mission was not yet the right time.

Clearly, this was what Ji Liang wanted him to do.

“Which races do they usually choose?”

Nalan Shisan asked.

“The four supreme divine races of the Inner Realm will definitely be included. Aside from them, the remaining races are chosen more or less at random.”

An Ce smiled. “So, the second mission is to build a good relationship with the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, get onto the list of races they select this time, and then lead us there to search for the treasure.”

“Senior, that’s a bit unfair. These two missions aren’t even on the same level. One sends us directly to search for treasure, while the other requires us to build a relationship and compete with top-tier races.”

Xu Mu shook his head slightly. “Unless the second mission rewards us with a Heaven-grade cultivation technique.”

“You misunderstand me. I didn’t explain it clearly,” An Ce said. “The second mission is for you to build a good relationship with the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan and obtain the location. Then, secretly tell me so that our people from the Sky Demon Clan can enter ahead of them.”

An Ce explained, “You may not know this, but once those major races set out, they’ll guard the entrance and prevent anyone else from entering. That’s why we have to arrive before they do and get inside first.”

“That’s more like it. If all we have to do is build a relationship and obtain the location, then a Earth-grade cultivation technique is a reasonable reward.”

Only then did Xu Mu nod.

“Even so, the second mission is more troublesome than the first. The first sends us straight to search for treasure, while the second requires us to build a relationship and beg the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan to take us along.”

Without even thinking, Nalan Shisan said, “Let’s choose the first mission.”

Fu Jinyu also nodded slightly, then looked at Xu Mu. “What about you? What do you plan to do?”

“If I had to choose, I’d choose the second mission. The reason is simple: the location of the first mission has already been exposed, and most of the treasures have been taken. If we go there now, we’ll probably find nothing but scraps.”

Xu Mu smiled. “But the situation is different with the second mission. The treasure vault hasn’t been opened yet, so we may be able to obtain treasures firsthand.”

Fu Jinyu glanced at Xu Mu. “That makes sense. Then I’ll listen to you.”

“Since both of you have chosen the second mission, I can only follow along.”

Nalan Shisan smiled at Xu Mu. “As for getting closer to the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, I’ll leave that to you.”

“Good! Then it’s settled. Contacting the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan will be up to you three.”

As he spoke, An Ce took three cultivation techniques from his spatial ring. “You can choose one of these three techniques in advance. Each of you may cultivate only one.”

Fu Jinyu and Nalan Shisan picked them up and examined them. In the end, without hesitation, they chose an offensive cultivation technique.

An Ce put the techniques away again. “I’ll await your good news.”

“Senior, we’ll be taking our leave.”

Xu Mu cupped his hands slightly and left the ruins with the other two.

Along the way, Fu Jinyu continued observing the Sky Demon Clan members in this place. He discovered that their numbers were many times greater than those of his own tribe.

Moreover, the Sky Demon Clan under his command had almost no experts left. Yet there were still many powerful figures here. In the future, merging the two clans might not be a bad idea.

But it certainly couldn’t happen now. Fu Jinyu felt that his strength was still insufficient.

If he merged the clans now, they would be like impoverished villagers from some remote mountain valley moving their entire family into the city to seek refuge with wealthy relatives.

They would inevitably be looked down upon, and they would have no status here.

But if he became stronger first, the outcome would be entirely different.

After leaving the ruins, Nalan Shisan took the initiative to ask, “Xu Mu, do you already have a way to get closer to the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan?”

“Why do you ask?” Xu Mu said with a smile.

“It’s simple. How could the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan possibly bring along the Sky Demon Clan, whom everyone wants to see destroyed?”

Nalan Shisan smiled. “Since you chose this mission, you must already have a way.”

“Heh, you guessed correctly.”

Xu Mu gave a faint smile. “Actually, I’ve already established a good relationship with the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan.”

“What?”

Upon hearing this, Fu Jinyu revealed a hint of a smile. “No wonder you had us choose the second mission. This Earth-grade cultivation technique is practically being handed to us for free.”

[Affection +10]

“Not only that. When you called me earlier and I didn’t answer, where did you think I’d gone? I went to the battlefield he mentioned.”

Xu Mu continued explaining, “Almost all the good things had already been taken. If you went there now, you probably wouldn’t even find a spirit stone to pick up.”

“There’s really such a thing?”

Nalan Shisan covered her mouth and laughed. Fortunately, Xu Mu had been with them.

If she had come here alone this time, she would have chosen the first mission without question.

Wouldn’t that have meant going there just to pick through the trash?

[Affection +10]

“Then where are we going now?” Fu Jinyu asked.

“Back to Qingqiu. I’ll secure a spot first.”

Xu Mu spoke to the two beside him.

…

They returned to the Qingqiu Continent.

During the journey, Xu Mu also asked Nalan Shisan about the four divine races mentioned by An Ce.

Simply put, these four races stood above the first-rate races and were currently the ones who set the rules of the Inner Realm.

They were the Holy Light Clan, the Celestial Clan, the Netherworld Clan, and the Black Moon Clan.

The Holy Battlefield, for example, had been jointly constructed by these four races.

No matter how chaotic an Inner Realm continent was, any region with a Holy Battlefield was a safe zone.

Every year, the Holy Battlefields brought the four major races an unknown amount of spirit stones.

These four races were rivals, but they were also partners.

They competed because each wanted to prove itself stronger than the other three.

They cooperated to prevent newcomers from rising up and taking a share of their profits.

After hearing this, Xu Mu couldn’t help sighing. The unwritten rules of the world had always been like this.

…

When they returned to the royal city of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, Xu Mu discovered that there were several times as many people as during his previous visit.

The restaurants and taverns in particular were already packed to capacity.

Using his perception to listen to the conversations around him, Xu Mu learned that these people had all come to attend the coronation ceremony of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan’s new king.

In other words, they were here to offer gifts and convince the clan to take them along.

“So this is the royal city? There are so many people, and many of them are incredibly powerful.”

Fu Jinyu was astonished as he sensed the auras around him.

“Things aren’t normally like this. They’re all here for the ceremony. They’re probably here because of that location.”

As Xu Mu spoke, he suddenly froze.

There were actually so many old acquaintances here—or rather, old enemies.

Someone unfamiliar with the situation might think he had returned to his hometown.

In a weapons shop in the distance, he even spotted Sheng Qiu of the Great Wilderness Clan.

She was the young woman who had risked her life to save him last time.

“Xu Mu.”

Suddenly, a woman in a black robe tapped him on the shoulder from behind.