Encountering Zhang Que Again

Tushan Rui stood before Xu Mu and said, “Ever since the contract scroll of our clan became known to the various races, we began to consider whether it would be better to stop operating in secret and act openly instead. That way, all the races could keep an eye on one another.”

Xu Mu stroked his chin thoughtfully. “That makes sense. With the four major races keeping each other in check, it would actually benefit your clan.”

“Exactly. So we decided to cooperate with the four major races. But how to enter, and whom to send, became a difficult problem.”

Tushan Rui explained, “At first, the other races proposed that each major race could send one ninth-tier expert along with a few young people. We agreed, but then something unpleasant happened.”

“What happened?” Xu Mu asked, puzzled.

“Let me explain.” Tushan Ju’s eyes gradually darkened. “When it comes to ninth-tier experts, the four major races possess overwhelming strength. If they led the expedition, what treasures would be left for our king to obtain? We would only be wasting our contract scroll to provide them with the location.”

She paused, her expression growing colder.

“It would have been bad enough if they had simply taken the treasures. But they went too far and even attacked and killed our king.”

Xu Mu’s brows furrowed tightly. He then said in a deep voice, “Their goal was to force a new king to ascend and make you provide the location again.”

“That’s right.” Tushan Ju nodded. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. They really thought our Nine-Tailed Fox Clan was an easy target.”

She went on to recount everything that had happened afterward.

To put it simply, they had chosen to fight back at the cost of everything.

When the enthronement ceremony began once more, Tushan Ju became the Old Ancestor.

The first thing she announced was that the existing rules had to be changed. Aside from the four major races, more races would be allowed to participate, and ninth-tier experts would be prohibited from entering.

The four major races naturally refused. Without ninth-tier experts to suppress the others, if they only sent eighth-tier experts, the powerhouses of other first-rate races might also have a chance to seize the treasure.

There was no way the four major races would agree to let other races take a share of their pie.

But at that time, Tushan Ju was young and hot-blooded, and she began threatening the four major races in return.

She said that if they refused, she would randomly select one of the four major races.

Then she would take the contract scroll of the myriad races to that race’s territory and release all the experts sealed within it.

Tushan Ju had to be given credit for her intelligence. Instead of challenging all four major races at once, she targeted only one.

Even if she truly released everyone sealed in the contract scroll, she would not be able to completely destroy any one of the four races.

But she could certainly inflict severe damage on it.

Everyone knew what would happen after that. The weakened race would inevitably be devoured by the other three.

None of the four major races wanted to become the loser, so in the end, they had no choice but to agree.

When Xu Mu heard this, he gave Tushan Ju a thumbs-up. “As expected of a senior. That’s some impressive courage.”

In his eyes, this old woman was far more calculating than Tushan Rui.

“Courage? I traded my life for it. Who do you think broke my neck?” Tushan Ju gave a faint smile.

“The four major races?” Xu Mu asked.

“Who else could it have been?” Tushan Ju continued, “So during the last enthronement ceremony, I added another condition. They could fight over the treasures, but they were not allowed to harm anyone from our Nine-Tailed Fox Clan. Otherwise, I would scatter the contract scroll, and no one would ever obtain the treasures again.”

“They knew what I was capable of, so they agreed immediately.”

“As expected of you, senior. You really are formidable.”

Xu Mu walked behind Tushan Ju. “Let me treat your injuries first. It’ll be quick this time.”

As he spoke, Xu Mu took out silver needles and covered the back of her neck with them.

This time, his main purpose was to retrieve his little parasitic insects. She had discovered them the last time.

Before long, Tushan Ju’s face began to flush, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Xu Mu activated the little parasitic insects inside her body. They flew out through her nostrils and landed in his palm.

“That should do it.”

Xu Mu waited a little longer before removing all the silver needles.

Without the stimulation of the needles, Tushan Ju’s complexion gradually returned to normal. She clenched her fists, and qi erupted from her body, sending a storm swirling around them.

“I’m… really healed?” she asked.

“You are. Unless someone breaks your neck again.”

Xu Mu nodded and put away the silver needles.

[Favorability +10]

Tushan Ju laughed several times. “I thought our Nine-Tailed Fox Clan was headed for extinction. I never expected us to find a way out when all seemed lost.”

“Xu Mu! Thank you! I truly don’t know how to repay you.”

Tushan Rui was so excited that she could hardly contain herself. She immediately fell to her knees before Xu Mu.

“There’s no need for that.”

Xu Mu quickly pulled Tushan Rui to her feet. “I treated senior’s injuries, and in return, you’re providing me with the locations of the treasures. You don’t owe me anything.”

“How could the treasures possibly compare to my grandmother’s life?”

Tushan Rui wiped away her tears.

“You’re right. Your grandmother’s life is indeed the most important thing.”

Xu Mu nodded with complete seriousness.

…

Xu Mu stayed and chatted with them for a while longer. He learned that the expedition to the location would begin the following day.

Many people would be bringing gifts. Since all the gifts would be sealed so that no one else could see them, the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan would have room to manipulate the arrangements.

Before leaving, Xu Mu reported seven names for the available spots. Three were for his own group, and another was for An Linghui.

He planned to give two of the remaining three spots to the Sky Demon Clan. The final spot would be decided later.

If he could not find a suitable candidate, he would give all three spots to the Sky Demon Clan.

…

The next day.

The ruins of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan were sealed off in the morning, and outsiders were not permitted to attend the enthronement ceremony.

It was not until noon that the ruins opened to outsiders again.

Xu Mu brought Fu Jinyu, Nalan Shisan, and An Linghui into the ruins.

The surrounding guests could only be described as an endless sea of people.

On the surface, they were all there to offer congratulations. In reality, everyone knew exactly what their true purpose was.

Just as Xu Mu and the others had taken their seats, a little girl in a princess dress ran up to Nalan Shisan.

“Mommy!”

Nalan Shisan turned around and saw that it was Xiao Qiao.

This time, she could not even be bothered to acknowledge her and simply ignored her.

When Xiao Qiao noticed that Nalan Shisan was ignoring her, she looked at Fu Jinyu instead.

“Such a big mommy! Can you be my mommy?”

“Girl!”

Xiao Gui immediately appeared behind Xiao Qiao and picked her up. “Can’t you stop running around?”

“Hat… No, Xiao Gui, you actually have the nerve to show your face here?”

Xu Mu said flatly, “I already thought my skin was thick, but I never imagined yours could be even thicker.”

“Xu Mu, if you can enter the Godslayer Battlefield as well, you’d better be careful. I have a feeling you may not make it out.”

The moment Xiao Gui finished speaking, Fu Jinyu was about to stand up.

But Xu Mu, who was seated beside her, immediately grabbed her hand.

Xiao Gui let out a cold snort and carried Xiao Qiao away.

“This man really is troublesome, but there are still ways to deal with him.”

Xu Mu’s tone remained calm. He then used the Divine Eye to scan the surroundings.

With so many spots in his hands, he refused to believe he could not find a few reliable allies.

“What the hell?”

Xu Mu suddenly widened his eyes.

In a corner of the crowd, he saw a one-armed man.

The man was dressed in black robes, but because he was smoking, most of his face was exposed.

It was Zhang Que.

Boom!

Just then, a thunderous rumble erupted from the sky above, and Tushan Ju’s figure slowly descended onto the high platform.

“Welcome, everyone.”

Tushan Ju swept her gaze across the crowd with a smile. “Let’s keep this brief. This time, I applied to the Four Great Divine Clans for forty spots.”