[Wake up, Renxian.]
[Wake up, Siuxa is in danger!]
"Charles."
The voice made Renxian's eyes snap open with a startled breath. It was a deep and unmistakably familiar voice. Still in a dazed state, he murmured, "Mom?"
The sound of shattering objects from outside diverted his attention and he hurriedly arose to his feet. "What the hell, what happened to my clothes!" He tugged on his oversized trousers and rushed out to find a completely unexpected scene.
Not only had the once beautiful flower-filled courtyard vanished, but an amount of the old house was laid in ruins. Siuxa was doing her utmost to evade the relentless attacks of an unknown creature that did not tread the earth at all.
"Is that Saomei?"
[Name: Fox Demon
Race: Yaomo
Background: Underworld Realm
Level: High Tier S
Cultivation: Gate 5]
Renxian furrowed his brow as he read the information. "How can't you detect all this time?"
[She hails from the Underworld Realm, which is not within my reach. Moreover, the Fox Demon is not a normal Mystical Beast; she's a full-fledged Demon with such immense power that I could not even sense her disguise.]
[You should flee with Siuxa or die.]
The overwhelmed Siuxa was unable to withstand the impact of the wind blow that the raven-black-haired woman who was floating in the air exerted. She tumbled and rolled a few steps, coming to a stop face down. She turned her head to look before the Fox Demon.
"Die now!" She unleashed something from the palm of her hand, sending an incredibly sharp feather hurtling toward the defenseless Siuxa. Renxian swiftly intervened, using his Blinding Slash skill to save her from harm.
Siuxa was shocked to find herself in the arms of the sculptured man. She whispered, "Renxian... I'm sorry."
He turned his face towards her. "Are you alright?" He quickly checked on Siuxa, who had once again sustained cuts on several parts of her body, marring her blue robe. "I'm the one who should apologize for being late!"
"B-but... your attire," she whimpered, her expression still showing indications of pain.
"Don't mention it," Renxian refocused on the figure that had now landed on the ground. "We have to find a way to get out of here!"
"Sanxiu, why would you choose to be with such a weak woman?" Fox Demon exclaimed, her voice suddenly taking on a sweet tone. "Wouldn't being with me make you stronger?"
[Fox Demon is renowned for her ability to absorb the life force of others and use it to fuel her transformation. However, she was clever not to make them run out of the flow themselves. Hence the chief in that condition.]
"I know what you want from me," Renxian declared as he stood himself in front of Siuxa, who remained on her knees. "You seek my power through Dual Cultivation!"
The woman in front of them burst into laughter, her voice echoing throughout the area. "Foolish human. Do you think you have strength beyond me?"
Approaching them, she took a few steps and her tails began to sprout from her back, multiplying as she got closer. She wore a wide, ominous smile and continued, "It's a shame you behave like this, Sanxiu. I was on the verge of making you my vessel."
"With me, I will grant you immortality in return."
Renxian remained steadfast, extending his arms protectively as if shielding Siuxa from any sudden assault. His intense gaze, filled with determination, never wavered. "I will reach that elevation on my own!"
"Arrogant human, did you believe you would live long enough to attain it?" After uttering those words, Saomei transformed into a fox, a fox adorned with exquisite fur.
Completely white, its fur seemed to radiate in the moonlight, adorned with intricate reddish patterns that covered its body. As it darted on its four delicate legs, several necklace-like decorations clinked, and its nine tails unfurled like a peacock's plumes.
What Renxian was unaware of was the mesmerizing effect of the eye-like symbol on each tail. Anyone who looked at them would instantly lose consciousness, including Siuxa, who was still at Gate 1. Renxian, being immune to the hypnosis, quickly pulled Siuxa out of harm's way when the Fox Demon's claws were aimed at her.
A cloud of dust billowed up as the attack struck the ground, completely missing Sanxiu, who was thrown into the house. He swiftly made his escape, carrying the black-haired woman, all the while glancing back and forth intermittently, searching for an exit.
Nonetheless, the Fox Demon's deafening howl was so strong that it obliterated the dilapidated old building, prompting Renxian to urgently free himself from the wreckage after locating the path to the front yard. With agile steps, he expanded his stride and propelled himself at astonishing speed, narrowly avoiding being buried along with the house.
They made it out but the landing was not smooth, even Siuxa was now detached from Renxian's grasp and thrown into the corner of the area, right next to the lone tree. The sprawled man staggered on his feet and saw the Fox Demon perched atop the ruined house, radiating her eerie elegance right under the full moon.
Renxian cautiously retreated as the Fox Demon descended and instantly transformed into a woman upon touching the ground, emitting a plume of smoke during her metamorphosis. However, this time, she bore no resemblance to Saomei; she had assumed an entirely different form.
Her silver hair cascaded down, tied at the end with a crimson ribbon. She wore hanfu robes in the same shade as her hair, adorned with intricate symbols that made her attire exude an enchanting aura. As Renxian fixed his gaze on her complexion, he found it difficult to look away, captivated by her beauty.
Her allure far exceeded Renxian's wildest expectations. He had never encountered a woman with such charm in his life. She resembled the jade beauties he had come across in the novels he had read, and he could hardly believe that she embodied such a mesmerizing sight.
Renxian rose and rushed out of the dead house area, causing a sly grin on the Fox Demon's face. "Oh? Do you believe you can escape from me?" She effortlessly glided after Renxian.
He turned on his heel, his hands clenched, and released a mighty blast of wind in the direction of the approaching woman. The destructive force was so potent that it sent nearby buildings flying into the air, shrouding the area in a cloud of dust that obscured his vision.
Nevertheless, it proved to be a daunting task to land a blow on the Fox Demon, who showcased agility that exceeded Renxian's abilities. She materialized beside Sanxiu in the blink of an eye, her claws poised for attack, which left Renxian wide-eyed in astonishment. "Got you!" she exclaimed.
Renxian was pushed backward several paces, groaning in agony as the assault inflicted three fresh wounds upon his body. The attacks tore through his clothing and allowed red fluid to seep from the damages. He lay there, struggling to muster the strength to stand, confronting the Fox Demon.
"Why continue to resist when you could thrive alongside me?" the alluring figure halted in her tracks, her seductive expression still intact.
"You already know the answer," Renxian retorted, panting and in pain. "I live for adventure! That's what 'Sanxiu' stands for."
She cleared her throat, releasing a somewhat sultry sigh. "Ah, so you're saying that you'd be willing to be with me as long as I join you on your adventures, is that it?"
Renxian arched an eyebrow, taken aback by her response. Furthermore, he understood that his attempts to escape the village were likely in vain, especially with Siuxa still unconscious. The Fox Demon's incredible speed meant that she could catch Renxian at any moment.
[Name: Meagu
Age: Unknown
Gender: Female
Race: Yaomo
Background: Fox Demon
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 60 kg
Cultivation: Gate 5]
"What in the world, are you planning to do that with her?" Renxian retorted amidst his dilemma.
[I see no other choice. You will die if you choose a harmful method toward her. I sense that she is interested in you, no, she was already interested in you when she was still Saomei.]
"Don't make decisions on your own!" He considered all the consequences. "What about Siuxa?"
[Do you think that doing Dual Cultivation once will break your limitation?]
"Isn't it?"
[It is not! You need to perform the ritual multiple times to reach a higher level and break through Gate 5.]
"Okay, couldn't I do it with Siuxa then?" Renxian asked.
[Performing Dual Cultivation multiple times with the same individual could work. But, it's not about sex; it's about sharing knowledge and revelation between both parties. If you do it with the same person, the level of experience you earn might be slower.]
"Well, so that's how it works," Renxian refocused on Meagu. "Do you believe it will work with her?"
[You should convince her to avoid your demise.]
Even though he had read many cultivation novels, he had never imagined that Sanxiu's mission would be like this. This is maybe another reason why the last Renxian refused to do this kind of ritual. However, the challenge before him was not easy. He needed to convince the Fox Demon to agree to this scheme.
"Y-Yes... I would not mind if you accompanied me."