Yuexian's fox eyes glared, her expression twisted between rage and terror as she saw Yun Xiao's power materialize in full. Her illusions, her countless years of manipulation, all unraveled in the face of his unyielding blade. "This is my domain," she spat, though her voice wavered. "You are nothing here!"
But Yun Xiao met her words with an icy stare. "Stubborn till the end?" He raised his sword, and with a swift motion, thrust it forward. His Azure Dragon Sword technique, fierce and relentless, surged forth in a storm of sword energy. Twenty-nine Sword Gangs, like azure dragon scales, spun and pierced, tearing through the fog, homing in on the core of her monstrous form.
Though the illusions masked her, Yun Xiao's spirit beasts, Lanxing and Chiyue, sensed her true form amidst the haze and guided him to strike with precise accuracy. His unwavering aura was reminiscent of Zhao Jianxing's legendary might three years ago, when he faced down the endless horde of the northern wastelands. But now, Yuexian stood alone against Yun Xiao, whose power had only grown to new heights.
Yuexian barely parried his relentless assault, her monstrous tails and claws struggling against the overwhelming force of his Sword Soul. Every strike chipped away at her strength, eroding her confidence with each clash. Her illusions and sorcery faltered; her power, once boundless, now felt desperately thin against Yun Xiao's righteous fury.
The young sword cultivator let out a derisive laugh. "A mere phantom of a monster—what right do you have to stand against a true swordsman?"
The cold resolve in Yun Xiao's voice cut through Yuexian, deeper than any wound. His next strike was imbued with an indomitable will, an aura of the heavens, as if a celestial dragon had descended to enact justice. His sword slashed forward with the might of a thunderstorm, and in that instant, his presence was that of an ancient dragon. The azure light in his blade intensified, a spiraling tempest that closed in on the fox with relentless force.
"Insignificant fox, you dare defy the heavens?" His voice boomed, a declaration of superiority and justice. His sword gleamed with his unshakeable conviction, the essence of swordsmanship manifesting as a crushing force that bore down on Yuexian.
The illusion shattered. The three foxes stumbled, unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure, their bodies shrinking in fear, instinctively recoiling as a dreadful realization hit them. In a voice of despair, Yuexian screeched, "No!"
With a final, bone-crushing impact, Yun Xiao's blade connected with her head, cracking it open. The fox's monstrous form collapsed, her blood staining the battlefield. The fog, the illusions, the remnants of her sorcery—all vanished, leaving her lifeless body sprawled at his feet.
In that moment, the battlefield fell silent. The once-unbreakable monster sovereign lay defeated, Yun Xiao's blade the arbiter of her demise.
Yun Xiao felt a wave of shock and disbelief. His face froze as he stared at the lifeless fox on the ground, his mind struggling to process what Lanxing had just revealed.
"It… it's actually male?" He muttered, bewildered. This monstrous fox, who had been a cunning adversary and a symbol of northern wild terror, now lay before him with an entirely unexpected twist.
For a moment, Yun Xiao was at a loss. How could he have been so mistaken? All along, he had seen Yuexian as a fearsome female sovereign. He shook his head, feeling an odd combination of relief and embarrassment.
Lanxing snickered, "Dao, you had the wrong idea all along. Turns out, your new 'clone' can be put to use without any of the concerns you were thinking about!"
"That's… well, unexpected." Yun Xiao muttered, recovering quickly. He brushed aside his previous worries and focused on the advantages. With the male fox's corpse as a potential vessel, he could indeed cultivate a powerful clone, one that could aid him in ways his main body couldn't. The clone would serve as an invaluable ally in his fight against future foes and an essential asset for infiltration or misdirection.
Chiyue chimed in with a smug grin, "See? You're just gaining an extra hand, nothing to worry about. And a male hand, at that!"
With a slight smile, Yun Xiao nodded, embracing the possibilities. "Fine, then. This fox's body will serve me well. I'll make good use of it as a clone."
The battlefield, which had been filled with dread moments before, now felt strangely lighter. The northern wilderness had lost its fearsome ruler, and Yun Xiao had gained a new ally in his relentless pursuit of justice.
Yun Xiao's mind was spinning. The beautiful, delicate figure of Yuexian that had deceived him with charm and elegance—how could he now reconcile that with this truth? All along, he'd mistaken Yuexian for a seductive female sovereign, only to find out that this monster had been nothing of the sort.
"Unbelievable," he muttered, feeling both incredulous and frustrated. "A male fox in disguise, using sorcery to create that illusion… It's almost impressive how well it worked."
Lanxing snickered, nudging him. "So, are you still going to turn it into a clone? Just imagine the looks on your enemies' faces if they see this 'male fox' charging at them with your powers."
Yun Xiao gave a determined nod. Despite his discomfort, the practicality of having a clone—especially one capable of infiltrating enemy lines—was undeniable. No matter how strange it felt, the advantages were too compelling to ignore.
"Yes," he said, steeling himself. "I'll refine it. Male or not, it's a powerful vessel that will serve my cause."
Lanxing cackled with approval, as Yun Xiao began the ritual to bind the soul essence of the fox's body to his own. This male fox, strange as it was, would become his clone, a hidden weapon in the war to protect the thousand lands and exact his vengeance.
"Fine then," Yun Xiao said with finality. "Let's give this monster's deceptive form a true purpose—one it could never have achieved on its own."