The Little Fox's Immortal Cultivation Encyclopedia

Chapter 126 Dead Space

As night fell, the streets, which had been bustling with people during the day, fell silent. A few lanterns swayed in the wind, casting the shadows of the two people under the tree that appeared to grow longer and shorter.

The fox was dressed up completely, covering its face except for its eyes. Hu Nianshuang, who was next to it, was dressed in the same way. Even the red fish's tank was covered with a black cloth.

"Little fox, we haven't even arrived at the Ghost Market yet, is it really necessary to act like this?"

"Shh, hiding your identity in the Ghost Market is of utmost importance." The fox wrapped the black cloth tighter to ensure that not a single ray of light could get in.

As Hu Nianshuang watched them bicker, her tension subsided considerably. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly saw a wisp of mist flash past her eyes.

The fog seemed to be seeping up from underground, enveloping everything around without warning. Hu Nianshuang subconsciously moved closer to the fox, and then saw a figure emerge from the fog.

The man, dressed in a black robe and carrying a lantern, had an extremely serious expression. He walked straight up to the fox and said in a cold tone, "Seal."

The fox handed it over, and the man examined it carefully before bowing to the fox: "Greetings, Qing Xingxing."

"Where's Su Yinchai? Why didn't he come?"

"Su Yinchai has other important matters to attend to. I will report to Qingxing on official business."

The fox exclaimed in surprise, "Such a perfect opportunity to slack off, and he didn't come?"

The underworld official remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard, and continued, "The matter of the turtle demon reported by Qing Xing has been handed over to me by Su Yinchai, and I am in charge of investigating it."

"The Turtle Mansion has been sealed off, most of the turtle demons and shrimp soldiers have been captured, the fugitive judge of Yunxi County has been captured, and the Turtle General has temporarily escaped and is still at large."

"Puff puff!" A jet of water shot out of the fish tank, washing away the black cloth and revealing a pair of fish eyes that gleamed with an eerie light.

"You guys couldn't beat him?"

The underworld messenger continued, "No. That turtle general was very alert. After sensing something was wrong, he scattered his demon soldiers and fled south. The underworld messenger Su deliberately revealed a flaw, disguised himself as a judge beside it, and broke through the encirclement with it."

"Did Su Yinchai go to be a spy?"

"Exactly."

The two foxes and the fish were all taken aback, their expressions turning grave.

Although Hu Nianshuang was afraid of the underworld messengers, she was still worried: "What if these underworld messengers enter such a dangerous place alone and are discovered?"

Red Fish couldn't contain herself: "This Su Yinchai is just asking for death by giving up his good official position. No, I have to go help him!"

The fox pondered to himself, "If a ghost messenger is used as a spy, wouldn't that count as a dead spy?"

After pausing for a few breaths, the underworld messenger continued, "General Bie still has powerful backers in the south. Although Su Yinchai's journey is risky, it is something he has no choice but to do."

"What kind of backing?"

"Based on the current assessment of the Underworld, it should be a tiger-dragon with profound cultivation, occupying the area south of the Five Ridges, with thousands of demon soldiers under its command, and demon generals like the turtle demon numbering in the top five."

The fox then showed a slight change in expression: "Even so, they're no match for the Underworld, are they?"

The underworld official shook his head: "Beyond the Five Ridges, there is nothing the mansion can do."

"Are there places in the underworld that are beyond our reach?" Hu Nianshuang asked in surprise.

"Gods are established by the prayers and wishes of the people; their power depends entirely on the abundance or scarcity of these prayers. When they are abundant, their divine might is manifest; when they are depleted, their divine authority diminishes." The fox suddenly remembered the voice's words and asked, "They no longer believe in the Taishan Temple over there?"

The underworld official said coldly, "Of the ten prefectures in the Southern Frontier, the imperial court can now only control one city. The court is no longer able to effectively address the devastation in the south."

"The current emperor neglects state affairs, and the Crown Prince and the Second Prince's factions are vying for power. No one cares about the lives of the people in the southern borderlands. Nowadays, the people of the southern borderlands don't even know where the capital is or who the emperor is. The imperial decrees there are worthless. That place is no longer part of Da Xuan's territory."

"The Five Ridges are the last line of defense. If they are all lost, the Houmu Cult can advance unimpeded. Su Yinchai's mission is to plant a thorn in the side of the Underworld in the south. As for how deep it can be planted, that depends entirely on his ability."

Yinchai paused, his expression finally changing: "Not to mention, the Houmu Cult is located in the Southern Frontier."

The fox raised its eyes: "Is it the force behind Master Changsheng?"

"Exactly." Whether it was the fox's position that made the difference, or the fact that this underworld messenger and Su underworld messenger had different personalities, the underworld messenger answered every question. "The Hou Kongmu sect used evil magic to bewitch the people, destroy city god temples, and kill officials. Wherever its sect went, city god temples were destroyed, and the underworld system has been eradicated."

The fox gasped, then pressed, "Do they kill birds?"

"Hmm? So we shouldn't kill them?"

The fox felt slightly relieved: "Doesn't the Lord care?"

"The Lord is busy with countless affairs of state, and evil spirits are rising up everywhere. Which one of them doesn't require the underworld to clean up the mess? Besides, matters of the human world are ultimately still up to humans."

Perhaps seeing the three's silence, the underworld official coldly comforted them, "Don't worry, everyone. Although the Southern Frontier is in chaos, the Five Ridges are still there. No matter how indifferent the imperial court is, they're not just for show within the ridges. The Houmu Cult has been causing trouble for years, but they haven't even crossed the Five Ridges, have they?"

"Besides, Da Xuan has only been established for a little over two hundred years, while Taishan Prefecture has stood for a thousand years. What storms haven't they weathered? This little thing in the south won't cause any major upheavals."

"Your expression is not convincing at all! Besides, the temple leader has already gone to Tao County!"

The fox suddenly realized that knowing too much was not good, as it could easily make it unhappy. It couldn't be the only one who was unhappy, so the fox recounted the story of the Battle of Lanjiang in detail.

"Thank you for your report, Qing Xingxing. I will report this matter to the government immediately. Please also keep a close eye on Guancun."

"Hmm, aren't you going to send someone to investigate?"

"I will make the arrangements. However, when it comes to gathering information, only the Feng Zhi Si in the manor is truly skilled. I will trouble you, Qing."

The fox remained silent. Fortunately, this wasn't a difficult matter for the fox, so it changed the subject: "What are those people from the capital doing here?"

"This place is not like the southern border. Such a serious matter that tramples on the dignity of the imperial court would not be tolerated even if the current emperor is negligent in his duties. He would naturally send someone here to investigate."

"I'll have to trouble Qing Xing then."

"Hmm? Why do I have to trouble Fox again!"

"Since Qing Xing is an official of the underworld and also moves around in the mortal world, he will inevitably have to deal with some things. Of course, if Qing Xing is unwilling, he can avoid it in advance."

"The records of those trapped women have been verified, and I will take them away and make proper arrangements for them." The underworld official suddenly forced a smile. "The Lord of the Underworld asked me to convey a message."

"Well done."

Having said that, the underworld messenger, carrying a lantern, disappeared into the mist, vanishing along with it.

"You're always using foxes!" The fox gritted its teeth.

"Little sister thought brother was just playing around before, but she never expected brother to be so powerful. Even the dignified underworld officials have to obey brother's orders." Hu Nianshuang said, half comforting and half sincerely, seeing the fox's angry look. "And brother has even won the favor of the legendary Lord of Mount Tai."

Red Fish muttered, "What's the big deal? He's just a gofer."

The fox wrapped the fish tank in the black cloth again: "Strange, why do I hear the fish tank talking? Could it have become a spirit too?"

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