socalfunplaces Chapter 829 The Cave Behind
Chapter 829 The Cave Behind
Ye Xue nodded, his fingertips subtly tightening around the stack of yellow talismans at his waist. The edges of the talismans gleamed faintly with a pale golden light in the dim light filtering through the trees, and wisps of spiritual energy seeped through his fingers, carrying an undeniable sense of pressure. "Brother is right. This fox demon looks to be only a hundred years old, barely even fully grown, yet its demonic aura is so concentrated and persistent. It's clearly obtained some fortuitous encounter, and its cultivation is probably stronger than we anticipated. But that's perfect—if we can tame it and take it as a servant, it'll be a handy asset for scouting and guarding. More importantly, we came here to find the Dragon Pearl. Capturing it and torturing it might yield some clues. If we can achieve such a feat, not only will becoming a true disciple be possible, but even receiving personal instruction from an elder wouldn't be out of the question."
The two were twin brothers from the Ye family. Although they were considered among the best inner disciples in the clan, possessing considerable skill in talismanic arts and with a higher purity of spiritual energy flowing from their brushes when drawing talismans, they were ultimately inferior to the true disciples. They rarely received the sect's top resources or the exclusive guidance of their elders; however, they were always assigned the thankless and arduous tasks of exorcising demons and guarding forbidden areas. This time, they volunteered to go down the mountain to find the Dragon Pearl, hoping to take a gamble. If they could actually find traces of the Dragon Pearl, they might be able to completely break free from the shackles of inner disciples and ascend to the highest levels. Now, encountering this fox demon blocking their path was like a godsend; they were not about to let it go easily.
Ye He took a step forward, the hem of his black Taoist robe brushing against the pebbles on the ground with a soft rustling sound. His tone carried an innate arrogance, his voice like ice shards: "You demon, do you know that this place is a forbidden area designated by our human race? Trespassing is a serious crime! If you know what's good for you, surrender quickly and come back with us to face the law. Perhaps we can spare your life and give you a chance to serve us; otherwise, don't blame us for not showing any consideration for 'fellowship'!" He emphasized the last three words, clearly a deliberate display of contempt, like a cat toying with a mouse.
Xiao Shuai's heart sank. The human aura surrounding him was thick with hostility, burning like a red-hot iron. He knew the newcomers meant no good, but he didn't back down. Instead, he took another half step forward, completely blocking the cave entrance behind him. The nine fluffy fox tails tightened silently in the shadows, the white hairs at the tips standing on end like drawn swords. They replied coldly, "This road is blocked, and this is not a place for you to run wild. I advise you to leave quickly, or don't blame me for being impolite!" Although he could sense that the two people's spiritual power was several times stronger than his own, and that they might not be able to defeat him in actual combat, he absolutely could not allow anyone to disturb his master who was healing inside the cave—even if it cost him his life, he would protect this place.
The air seemed to freeze instantly. The mountain wind whipped up withered leaves that swirled around their feet, carrying a chilling, desolate air. Even the chirping of insects in the forest fell silent. A conflict was imminent, ready to erupt at any moment.
Ye Xue's cultivation was already several levels higher than Ye He's, and his perception of aura was also more acute. He frowned slightly, subtly tugged at Ye He's sleeve, and said in a low voice, "Brother, something's not right."
Ye He was eager to establish his authority in front of his younger brother, but being interrupted like this, he turned around impatiently: "What's wrong? This fox demon doesn't look like anything special, he's very impulsive, dealing with him is a piece of cake."
Ye Xue didn't look at him, but his gaze was like two hooks, fixed on the cave behind Xiao Shuai. His voice was even lower: "Think about it, in this desolate wilderness, the cave is sheltered from the wind and rain, much more comfortable than outside. Why would he insist on guarding the cave entrance? And..." He took a deep breath, his nostrils twitching slightly, as if searching for any trace in the air, "I also smelled an extremely faint yet extremely pure aura of a powerful demon, hidden deep within the cave. That aura carries the unique pressure of the dragon race. Although it's weak, it can't be wrong! Do you think... it might be the dragon race we're looking for?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Xue's eyes lit up, and his face instantly lit up with barely suppressed excitement, his lips curling into a wide grin: "That's right! Maybe there's a dragon clan hidden inside, or even traces of a dragon pearl! What's catching a fox demon? If we can find a dragon clan, that would be a huge achievement! Let's go take a look, maybe this time we can really rise to the top in one step!"
Ye He was persuaded, and his arrogance grew even stronger, as if he could already see the glory of being promoted to a true disciple. He nodded hurriedly, "Let's go! Let's go take a look!" As he spoke, he stepped aside and walked past Xiao Shuai, taking big and hurried steps, heading straight towards the cave. He didn't even glance at Xiao Shuai again, as if he were just a rock blocking his way.
Seeing that they were ignoring him and trying to force their way into the cave, Xiao Shuai became anxious. His nine fox tails suddenly spread out, like a furry barrier, blocking the two men's way. He shouted angrily, "Who are you? How dare you trespass on my master's secluded place of cultivation in broad daylight? What do you want?!" The white fur at the tips of his tails trembled with rage, and his demonic aura surged, carrying a chilling killing intent.
The fox demon Xiao Shuai's back was taut like a bow about to break, his silvery fur stood on end, and his sharp claws dug deep into the cracks of the bluestone slab, leaving five crescent-shaped claw marks. In the shadows of the cave behind him, the dragon clan's Long Si's aura was so faint as to be almost imperceptible—last night, to protect him from the raging flames tempered with demonic energy, most of the dragon scales on Long Si's chest had burst open, and scarlet blood had soaked through the dark scales. At this moment, even maintaining human form was exhausting, and he absolutely could not be allowed to become agitated or disturbed.
Xiao Shuai flicked the bushy nine-tailed fox behind him, his amber pupils shining brightly in the morning light, clearly reflecting two rapidly approaching figures. They were the Ye brothers, Ye He and Ye Xue, notoriously violent and dedicated to exorcising demons; their faces now wore undisguised killing intent. Xiao Shuai let out a low warning, as fierce as a lion cub protecting its territory.
Ye He and Ye Xue didn't bother with any words. The two brothers, one on the left and one on the right, moved as fast as the wind, sweeping past the treetops, the air currents they created ruffling the fine hairs on Xiao Shuai's forehead. Ye He's iron ruler was a full three feet long, its blade gleaming with a cold silver light as if it had been quenched with talisman water. With a sharp whooshing sound, it aimed straight at Xiao Shuai's face, the wind carrying the aura of talismans that suppressed demonic power. Ye Xue, on the other hand, crouched down and swept his leg, the sole of his black boots grinding against the gravel on the ground with a crisp "crunch," the force carrying a ruthless strength that seemed intent on dislocating his bones, clearly aiming to cripple his mobility first.