Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The palace was eerily quiet.

Chen Xuan pressed himself against a huge leg bone pillar, suppressing his breathing to a minimum.

Thirty feet ahead, there was an altar made of piled bones.

At the top of the altar, the bright red bead bobbed up and down, emitting an alluring fragrance.

That was a demon core formed from the remnant soul of a nine-tailed celestial fox.

It was also Su Chang'an's lifeline.

But Chen Xuan didn't move.

Because there was a big thing lying under the bead.

A giant lizard covered in bone spurs, over ten zhang long, could smash the bones on the ground into powder with a casual flick of its tail.

The realm of casting tripods.

It's a whole head higher than his current level.

This thing is thick-skinned and tough; ordinary swords and knives can't even leave a white mark when they cut into it.

"My son."

Su Chang'an huddled in his arms, her voice trembling, "This thing is a bit too strong, should we retreat? As long as we're alive, we can always make a comeback."

She was genuinely afraid.

The aura emanating from this lizard is too fierce; if she were to touch it even slightly, her clone would probably disintegrate.

Chen Xuan ignored her.

He stared at the lizard, his fingers tightening around the broken sword.

withdraw?

How to withdraw?

The bead is right in front of them, but if they can't get it, the fox will just be a ball.

He didn't want her to be the target.

He wanted to see her turn into a human, wear a beautiful dress, stand in front of him, and scold him for being a rebellious son.

"Stay put and don't move."

Chen Xuan said in a low voice.

He pulled out a piece of broken bone he had just picked up from his storage bag and flicked his wrist.

"Whoosh—"

The bone flew out and hit the wall in the distance with a crisp "crack".

The lizard's cloudy yellow eyes suddenly snapped open.

It turned its head and looked in the direction from which the sound came.

It's now!

Chen Xuan pushed off with his feet, and like an arrow released from a bow, he shot out, skimming the ground.

The speed was extremely fast.

In the blink of an eye, half of the thirty-zhang distance had been covered.

If he were just a little closer, he could…

"roar!"

The lizard suddenly turned its head.

It wasn't fooled by that bone at all!

A cunning glint flashed in its yellow eyes, and its thick tail, accompanied by a whistling sound, lashed out fiercely at Chen Xuan.

That attack was too fast and too ruthless.

The air was sucked up and exploded, producing a piercing sonic boom.

Chen Xuan had nowhere to run.

He could only hold the broken sword across his chest, curl up, and desperately protect the fox in his arms.

"Bang!"

A loud bang.

Chen Xuan felt as if he had been hit by a mountain.

He was sent flying backward and crashed hard into the stone pillar behind him.

"puff--"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his clothes red.

His internal organs were shifting, and the pain made his vision go black.

"Chen Xuan!"

Su Chang'an screamed.

Just as Chen Xuan was about to crash into the stone pillar, a faint white light shone from his chest.

That was Su Chang'an's last bit of spiritual power.

The white light, like an eggshell, blocked most of the impact for him before shattering instantly.

Su Chang'an let out a muffled groan and then fell completely silent.

Chen Xuan didn't have time to look at her; he got up from the ground.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes as cold as ice.

The lizard became somewhat agitated when it realized it hadn't killed the little insect with its first attack.

It gripped the ground with all four limbs, its massive body like a heavy tank, and crashed into us with a thunderous roar.

The ground is shaking.

Bones flew everywhere.

Chen Xuan stood still, without dodging.

He watched the gaping maw draw ever closer, saw its sharp fangs, and could even smell its nauseating stench.

Nearly.

closer.

Just as the lizard opened its mouth to bite down.

Chen Xuan made a move.

Instead of retreating, he charged towards the lizard.

He ducked down and slid directly into the lizard's lower abdomen.

That is its only weakness.

He gripped the broken sword in a reverse grip, with the tip pointing upwards.

"die!"

With a roar, Chen Xuan used all his strength to stab the broken sword deep inside.

"Pfft—"

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh.

The lizard let out a piercing scream and frantically twisted its body, trying to shake off the insect beneath it.

Chen Xuan gripped its scales tightly, refusing to let go no matter how much it shook.

The broken sword churned inside its belly, slicing upwards.

Blood cascaded over him like a waterfall.

Hot.

It smells fishy.

Chen Xuan was covered in blood, looking like a demon crawling out of hell.

He slashed his way down to the lizard's chin, then suddenly pulled out his sword, stepped on its bone spikes, and jumped onto its head.

The lizard shook its head frantically.

Chen Xuan clamped his legs tightly around its neck, gripped the sword hilt with both hands, and aimed at the hardest crevice in its skull.

It plunged in hard.

"Snap!"

The bones were broken.

The blade sank in all the way to the hilt.

The lizard froze instantly.

The massive body collapsed with a crash, sending up a cloud of bone dust.

Chen Xuan, panting heavily, slid off the lizard's head.

He was shaking all over.

That was exhaustion, and it was also pain.

But ignoring his injuries, he immediately reached into his clothes to touch his chest.

Although her breath was weak, she was still breathing.

Chen Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, plopped down on the ground, and grinned.

He rested for a moment, then stood up, leaning on his sword, and staggered toward the altar.

The demon core is right there.

At your fingertips.

Just as his hand was about to touch the bead.

Everything around suddenly stopped.

Bone meal floated in the air and hovered in mid-air.

The blood flowing from the lizard has stopped flowing.

Even Su Chang'an's breathing in his arms disappeared.

The whole world seemed to have been put on pause.

Only Chen Xuan could still move.

"Who?"

Chen Xuan turned around abruptly, his broken sword held horizontally in front of his chest.

There was another person standing next to the altar, someone I didn't know had appeared at some point.

A young girl.

He looked to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a long black robe with a hood covering most of his face, revealing only a pale chin.

A few strands of white hair hung down from the hood.

Those eyes were red.

It wasn't the alluring red of Su Chang'an, but rather a blood-like, cold red, devoid of any warmth.

"You shouldn't have taken this."

The girl spoke.

The voice was very soft, yet it seemed to resonate directly in Chen Xuan's mind.

Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes.

This person is very strong.

He was so powerful that he couldn't even muster the thought of drawing his sword.

"Who are you?" Chen Xuan asked.

"I am the guardian."

The girl raised her hand and pointed to the fox in Chen Xuan's arms. "I am here on the orders of the Ancestor to guard this place. I am also here to prevent the disciples of the sect from being bewitched by evil spirits."

Ancestor?

The patriarch of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect?

Chen Xuan's heart sank.

That legendary being who is still close to the peak of the Quasi-Emperor realm?

"Put the beads down and leave."

The girl spoke in a flat tone, as if shooing away a fly, "Considering you are also a disciple of a sect, I'll spare your life by leaving this fox here."

Chen Xuan did not move.

Instead, he grabbed the bead and stuffed it into Su Chang'an's arms.

"On what grounds?" Chen Xuan sneered.

The girl tilted her head, seemingly surprised by his reaction.

"You'd risk your life for her?"

The girl pointed at Su Chang'an, "Do you know what she is?"

"A fox," Chen Xuan said.

"She's a liar."

The girl's voice carried a hint of sarcasm, "A complete liar, utterly hypocritical. All the kindness she showed you was an act."

Chen Xuan frowned.

"What are you trying to say?"

The girl floated forward a short distance and stopped three feet in front of Chen Xuan.

Those red eyes were fixed intently on Chen Xuan's eyes.

"She approached you, raised you, and even saved you, all just to achieve her own goals."

"In her eyes, you are not a person, but just a tool, a prop that allows her to live."

"Once you're no longer useful, or she gets what she wants, she won't hesitate to kick you aside, or even kill you."

The girl's voice was incredibly alluring.

"Like now, she sent you to get this demon core, completely disregarding whether you live or die."

"You think she loves you? Protects you?"

"Don't be silly."

"She is a nine-tailed celestial fox, born to manipulate people's hearts."

"She is a ruthless conqueror, and you are merely her prey."

Chen Xuan listened.

His face was expressionless.

Only after the girl finished speaking did he reach out and pick at his ear.

"Are you done talking?"

The girl was taken aback.

This reaction is wrong.

"Get out of the way once you've finished speaking."

Chen Xuan walked past her, preparing to leave.

The girl flashed and blocked his way again.

You don't believe me?

The girl was somewhat annoyed. "I can use soul searching to let you see her memories! I'll show you how she secretly mocked you for being an idiot!"

Chen Xuan stopped in his tracks.

He raised his head and looked at the mysterious girl who stood high above him.

Suddenly I laughed.

His smile had a roguish air about it, and a hint of disdain.

I believe you.

Chen Xuan said.

The girl was stunned: "You believe that? Then why did you..."

"I believed she was a liar, that she was acting, and that she was using me as a tool."

Chen Xuan interrupted her.

He reached out and patted the bulge in his chest.

"So what?"

Girl: "..."

"The fact that she lied to me means I'm still worth being lied to."

Chen Xuan took a step closer, his eyes even colder and wilder than the girl's.

"She's been acting for thirteen years."

"She cooked for me, sewed my clothes, and worked herself to the bone to keep me alive."

"If this is also acting."

"Then I'd be happy to watch."

"Even if she's faking it, if she keeps faking it her whole life, then it's real."

Chen Xuan stretched out a finger and poked the girl's shoulder.

"As for your assessment that she was a cruel conqueror?"

Chen Xuan chuckled.

"She even makes me pluck the feathers from a chicken before she eats it, and she steals my blanket at night."

"this one?"

"conqueror?"

"I think he's more like a good-for-nothing."

The girl was speechless after being rebuked.

In all her years of life, she had seen countless lovesick men and women, but she had never seen anyone with such a unique way of thinking.

Knowing it's a trap, why jump in?

What kind of idiot is this?

"You...you'll regret this."

The girl gritted her teeth, "Once she regains her strength, the first person she'll kill will be you!"

"Then you don't need to worry about it."

Chen Xuan waved his hand, looking impatient. "That's a matter between the two of us."

"besides."

Chen Xuan suddenly stopped smiling, and his eyes became extremely sharp.

The broken sword in his hand hummed.

"Don't speak ill of her in front of me."

"Let me hear one more sentence."

"Even if you are one of the patriarch's men, I will still cut you down without hesitation."

The girl looked at the blood-soaked, murderous-looking boy in front of her.

Suddenly it feels a bit absurd.

The Supreme Forgetfulness Sect cultivates the Way of Emotionlessness.

How did such a romantic come about?

Moreover, he's an unreasonable romantic.

The frozen time around us began to loosen.

The girl's figure began to fade.

She gave Chen Xuan a deep look, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was pity, mockery, and a hint of envy that was hard to define.

"Su Chang'an..."

The girl murmured the name to herself.

"I hope you won't overdo it this time."

The words fell.

The girl has completely disappeared.

Everything around us returned to normal.

The wind picked up again, and the stench of blood filled the air.

Su Chang'an in his arms stirred and let out a soft groan.

"Hmm... what's wrong?"

Su Chang'an woke up groggily, "Was someone talking just now?"

Chen Xuan looked down at her.

His gaze softened instantly.

"no."

He said, "You misheard me."

"Oh……"

Su Chang'an didn't think much of it, scratched at the bead with his paw, and immediately grinned, "Got it? Hehe, I knew you could do it! Good job, lad!"

Chen Xuan remained silent.

He just held her a little tighter.

Is it a scam?

It doesn't matter anymore.

In any case, this fox can only fool one person in his life.

If you dare to lie to others...

Chen Xuan glanced at the broken sword in his hand.

Then break her legs, lock her in the house, and make her only able to deceive herself.

"Let's go."

Chen Xuan stepped over the lizard's corpse and headed towards the exit.

His back view was aloof, yet it exuded a stubbornness that was unwavering.

"go home."

Su Chang'an snuggled against him, finding a comfortable position.

I had no idea that I had just been on the verge of death.

I have no idea.

Her obedient and well-behaved "good son".

He was already plotting how to lock her in a dark room.

Partridge Sky: A Heart Imprisoned in the Bone Palace

White bones piled high like mountains to suppress the netherworld, broken swords bathed in blood to slay the hideous.

All the red-eyed ravings are mere farts; only the scriptures in one's bosom are true.

The wind and snow are fierce, my heart is restless, and the foolish child still ventures into the tiger's den.

Even if this world is all illusion, I am willing to be a nail in the palm of the fox spirit.