Chapter 346: Poisonous Young Strategist

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The Fox God's face turned pale, the corner of her eye twitched, as she stared fixedly at the two figures before her.

One was a handsome young man in white, the other a child sculpted from pink jade, both seemingly harmless.

Yet, in stark contrast to their appearances, their hearts were too dark, too foul!

"To meet you two, perhaps it is my fate to suffer this tribulation," the Fox God sighed after a long silence, a heartbroken smile on her face, saying in a voice filled with sorrow, "A Spirit Concealing Willow, a Spirit Concealing Willow of the Golden Core level!"

Sun Lingtong's eyes widened.

Ning Zhuo's expression was also uncovered, revealing a look of astonishment.

Spirit Concealing Willow!

And of the Golden Core level?

"Did I hear correctly?!" Sun Ning exchanged bewildered glances.

Spirit Willow conceals form and avoids disaster, grasping the profound mystery between leaf shadows.

Spirit Concealing Willows grow in lands rich with spiritual energy and possess the ability to conceal themselves. This ability is even stronger than the Thousand Mile Dragon.

The Thousand Mile Dragon can only become invisible, not concealed; even if one cannot see it, they can still touch it.

The Spirit Concealing Willow can not only become invisible but also conceal itself. Even if one walks to where it is rooted and wanders back and forth, they cannot touch it.

The Spirit Concealing Willow's ability to conceal is merely a means of survival. Its true value lies in two aspects.

One is avoiding disaster.

It is said that it can change one's luck and evade catastrophe.

The other is enlightenment.

Under a Spirit Concealing Willow, when cultivators practice, their comprehension ability is significantly enhanced, allowing them to grasp cultivation techniques, study the myriad arts of cultivation, and achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Even a Spirit Concealing Willow of the Qi Refining level is sought after by Golden Core cultivators.

Yet, the Fox God directly presented a Golden Core level one!

This was truly astonishing.

Even Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong, though they intended to extort, no, driven by warm hearts to help the Fox God atone for her sins and survive, never imagined they would obtain a Golden Core level Spirit Concealing Willow!

This was a blessing beyond imagination.

Unexpectedly, it had truly happened in reality, to them both.

"We've hit the jackpot! Hit the jackpot!" Sun Lingtong cheered in his heart.

The Fox God stood straighter, no longer speaking.

Having presented a Golden Core level Spirit Concealing Willow, she was confident the two would agree.

This price was too high, too heavy!

The Fox God's face was cold: "Having offered so many things, how can you two assure this deity that you can atone for this deity's sins?"

Ning Zhuo reached into his bosom, and before the Fox God, took out an imperial decree.

He unfolded the decree and read from it: "By the grace of Heaven, the Monarch's Decree: Today, in Misty Concealed Mountain, the Fox God is loyal and brave, enduring humiliation and heavy burdens, casting herself among demonic evildoers, deeply hidden within, collecting intelligence and exposing conspiracies."

"For your merit herein, a title is specially bestowed, sealing you as the 'True Mountain God of Misty Concealed Mountain'. You are ordered to actively cooperate with members of the royal family, jointly suppress bandits, protect the peace of the people, and eternally enjoy the glory of incense."

"By Imperial Order!"

The Fox God's face was solemn as she bowed low: "Your servant accepts the decree and thanks the Monarch for this great favor!"

As her words fell, the decree erupted with a brilliance that fell upon the Fox God, directly forming a contract.

The Fox God slightly closed her eyes, feeling the contract was genuine, then looked at Ning Zhuo, her eyes filled with astonishment.

That Ning Zhuo would directly produce an imperial decree was far beyond her expectations.

She truly had not imagined that this young man before her could reach the heavens, and in these short days, accomplish such a significant feat. Not only had he uncovered a major case, but he had also obtained an imperial decree!

Little did she know, this decree came from Zhu Xuanji.

Zhu Xuanji was the Golden Core emblem of the Zhu family, possessing numerous divine abilities, with immense potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage, and deeply trusted by the Monarch.

As he investigated cases throughout the land, he often carried a blank imperial decree, filling in the contents himself when necessary.

The blank imperial decree bore the seal of the Monarch of the Southern Bean Kingdom; as long as the content was filled in and the format was correct, it could take effect!

The contract was concluded, and the exchange took place.

The Fox God received the decree from Ning Zhuo, while Ning Zhuo obtained many cultivation treasures.

He longed to study them carefully, especially the Golden Core level Spirit Concealing Willow. But the time was not right, so he could only first place these into the Thousand Mile Dragon.

Seeing the Thousand Mile Dragon manifest, the Fox God sighed softly: "Thousand Mile Dragon?"

She immediately recognized this classic Nascent Soul level mechanism creation.

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet possessing so many valuable treasures. This further confirmed her belief that Sun Ning had extremely deep backgrounds, and she dared not offend them in the slightest.

Even the heartache she felt from revealing her entire fortune just now was somewhat alleviated and dissipated because of this.

The Fox God respectfully inquired how she should cooperate with the upcoming actions.

Ning Zhuo told her to wait here until the time was right, and then act upon his command.

The Fox God suppressed her doubts and obediently followed orders.

Having completed this task, Ning Zhuo couldn't help but recall his previous conversation with Zhu Xuanji.

Ning Zhuo directly asked Zhu Xuanji: "How should that Fox God be dealt with?"

Zhu Xuanji pondered for a moment, then sighed: "It's better to utilize those who have erred than those who have served."

Ning Zhuo immediately understood his meaning.

The True Mountain God of Misty Concealed Mountain was already in grave danger; if the Deputy Mountain God were also killed, how would Misty Concealed Mountain be governed and managed?

Relying on those villagers?

Rather than relying on human cultivators, it was better to rely on a divine spirit.

Although the Fox God had aligned herself with demons, she had ultimately revealed the truth and had been useful and meritorious.

Moreover, divine spirits were far better at governing mountains and rivers, lakes, and the like, than human cultivators.

The Zhu family of the Southern Bean Royal House was facing a decline in talent, and governing the Southern Bean Kingdom was a struggle. This was evident from the Magistrate of Suspended Magnet City.

The Monarch of Southern Bean even had to cherish such outsiders exceptionally, showing how shallow the royal family's influence was in the local areas.

The Fox God having a weakness exposed to the Zhu family was something the royal family was most pleased to see.

Zhu Xuanji's reaction was also within Ning Zhuo's expectations.

As early as in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, Ning Zhuo had gained a deep understanding of Zhu Xuanji, knowing that the latter worried for his country and prioritized the interests of the royal family in his plans.

Ning Zhuo then said: "Lord Zhu, Magistrate, should not act lightly, lest you alert the enemy. Allow the two of us to handle this and force the Fox God to comply."

Zhu Xuanji took a deep look at Ning Zhuo: "If you voluntarily take on this task, your share of the spoils will be reduced."

He was well aware of Ning Zhuo's intentions.

After all, he had seen too much during the investigation.

Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, then immediately agreed, and asked for proof.

Zhu Xuanji pondered for a moment, then handed over the imperial decree and, under the astonished gaze of the three of them, personally wrote the content of the decree.

At the foot of the mountain, the light of transmission suddenly appeared, dazzling the eyes.

Immediately, a large number of cultivators appeared out of thin air.

This scene immediately attracted the attention of the Fox God.

"He actually mobilized an army to deal with the Black Wind Tiger Demon?"

"Wait, this army's grade is not high."

The Fox God gazed into the distance and gradually realized that this was a local garrison.

"The Black Wind Tiger Demon cultivates the demonic art of flesh and blood swallowing. No matter how many cannon fodder surround it, they are merely its sustenance, or just living pills," the Fox God couldn't help but remind.

Sun Lingtong giggled: "Fox God, just keep watching."

The light of transmission continued to surge.

The cultivators who appeared next were significantly more elite. There were several leaders of the Foundation Establishment level, exuding a fierce and majestic aura.

The Fox God commented: "If this army is proficient in battle formations, perhaps they can put up a fight. But large military formations with more people are harder to coordinate. If a flaw is found and the formation is broken, the Tiger Demon will wreak havoc and slaughter countless lives."

Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo remained silent.

The final wave of transmission!

As the light dissipated, Meng Zizhong, holding a long-handled war hammer, appeared in the Fox God's field of vision.

The Fox God was stunned: "Meng Zizhong?!"

Her breath caught in her throat. At first, she thought Meng Zizhong had brought a cultivator army to attack the mountain and temple, to eliminate her.

The Fox God's mind was quick, and after a moment's thought, she suddenly understood.

At the foot of the mountain, the cultivator army began to quickly form a formation.

The Black Wind Tiger Demon received the battle report, and it also knew that it could not allow the human cultivators to successfully form their formation, so it immediately led all its forces down the mountain.

It wanted to take advantage of the instability of the enemy's formation to first crush them, and then leave!

"It's about to begin!" Sun Lingtong giggled, watching the battle with great interest.

The Fox God suddenly looked at Ning Zhuo: "Did you specifically assign Meng Zizhong to eliminate the Black Wind Tiger Demon?"

Ning Zhuo glanced at her, then turned his gaze to the battlefield at the foot of the mountain, his tone flat: "I merely spread some rumors."

The Fox God's eyes narrowed slightly. Ning Zhuo's calm and monotonous tone, however, sent a chill down her spine.

"What a poisonous plan!" the Fox God exclaimed in her heart, her vigilance and wariness towards Ning Zhuo skyrocketing several times.

The demons charged down the mountain!

The Black Wind Tiger Demon charged at the very front. Its eyes were blood red, its killing intent bone-chilling, and it roared like thunder: "Meng Zizhong, I'm going to chew and swallow you alive!"

Meng Zizhong snorted coldly, holding a long-handled war hammer, and stepped forward.

He ran out of the army formation and directly met the Black Wind Tiger Demon.

The two collided fiercely.

Meng Zizhong retreated four steps, while the Black Wind Tiger Demon only retreated one step.

But Meng Zizhong had achieved his goal; he had intercepted the Black Wind Tiger Demon.

The Black Wind Tiger Demon shook its tiger claws, dispersing the numbness.

Meng Zizhong gripped his war hammer even tighter.

He pondered: "This evil tiger has great strength. I am not its match. I should first use spells from a distance to weaken it!"

Thinking this, Meng Zizhong roared: "Sand cover its eyes!"

As his words fell, earth element magic power surged, turning into countless yellow sand, covering the Black Wind Tiger Demon.

The Black Wind Tiger Demon's vision was obscured, and its hearing was interfered with.

Meng Zizhong shouted again: "Stone strike its waist!"

Earth element magic power condensed into stone balls, which rolled rapidly with a rumbling sound, striking the Black Wind Tiger Demon.

The Black Wind Tiger Demon closed its eyes and covered its ears, being struck by the stone balls and retreating repeatedly, its body swaying, its lumbar spine faintly aching.

It roared, casting a spell of flesh and blood demonic art—

Foul Wind!

A strong wind arose, and the smell of blood quickly spread throughout the battlefield.

Clouds follow dragons, and wind follows tigers. Tiger species are naturally adept at wind, and the nickname of the Black Wind Tiger Demon having the word "wind" indirectly demonstrated its power in wind techniques.

The strong wind swept everywhere, blowing the yellow sand backward, and the rolling stones' speed plummeted, many almost stopping in place, unable to roll.

Meng Zizhong snorted coldly: "It's not over yet. Behold my flying sand and rolling stones!"

Yellow sand and rolling stones were originally two spells, but now under Meng Zizhong's control, they merged into one, supporting each other and greatly increasing their power.

In an instant, yellow sand flew everywhere, and rolling stones charged forward, breaking through the resistance of the foul wind, and struck the Tiger Demon's body.

Bang bang bang...

The Tiger Demon was knocked down.

The rolling stones immediately rolled over it, piling on top of each other, suppressing it underground.

(End of this chapter)