Ch. 1231 - Northern Hills Declares War, Descending Upon White Emperor City

“How can we explore it again? The White Emperor’s Mausoleum has already closed. We’d have to perform another sacrifice, and even then, who would go?” Chu Feiyang’s series of sharp questions silenced everyone.

“In my opinion, we should leave White Emperor Mountain alone for now. Perhaps in a few years, that demon will depart on its own.”

“Even so,” said the abbot of the Desolate Temple grimly, “our Wrathful Emperor was a once-in-a-generation genius. To die by that monster’s hand, we cannot simply let it go.”

“That’s your concern,” Chu Feiyang replied flatly. “The Chu Heavenly Clan will not involve itself in this matter.”

The group exchanged heated words, but in the end, they could only disperse in frustration.

“Chancellor Jiang, are you leaving as well?” Xu Zimo asked, turning to Jiang Mozi.

“There’s no reason to stay,” Jiang Mozi said with a light smile. “Though this White Emperor expedition was disappointing, no one else gained anything either, so I can live with that.”

“What about you, Lord Xu? What are your plans?”

“I’m leaving too, might wander around, enjoy the scenery a bit,” Xu Zimo replied with a faint grin.

“If fate allows, and we meet again, please visit me anytime at Seven Gods Collegium,” Jiang Mozi said with a laugh.

After parting ways with Jiang Mozi, Xu Zimo found Chu Feiyang and said with a polite smile, “Patriarch Chu, would you allow me to see Miss Ji’s body?”

“When we arrived, the body was already gone,” Chu Feiyang replied. “Only this patch of blood remains.”

“I see. Then I won’t trouble you,” Xu Zimo said with a nod.

He took a few steps away, then stopped and added casually, “And what about the corpse of the Northern Hills patriarch? Is it still here?”

Chu Feiyang hesitated for a moment before answering, “It’s still here, but it must be returned to the Northern Hills Fox Clan. I’m afraid it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to see it.”

Xu Zimo didn’t insist. He simply turned and walked away, though his expression had grown cold.

“I might not be certain about the Northern Hills patriarch’s death,” Xu Zimo thought, “but Ji Jiuning’s death is definitely tied to the Chu Heavenly Clan.”

At that moment, far away in the lands of Northern Hills.

Several massive statues of white foxes stood tall here, their stone eyes gazing toward the northwest, where the Northern Hills star shimmered in the distance.

A layer of fog shrouded the high plateau. Strangely, though it was broad daylight, Northern Hills was forever cloaked in night. No matter the wind or rain, the stars always glimmered above.

Beneath the slope knelt countless foxes.

At the front stood one whose body was strong and majestic, its fur thick and lustrous, and its eyes a deep azure blue, like the color of the sky itself. Its nose was damp, glistening faintly under the starlight.

“Elder, another message has come from the Chu Heavenly Clan,” said one of the foxes below, its voice trembling. “Sister Ji is dead as well.”

The lead fox said nothing. But the violent aura rolling from its body made it clear how furious it was.

The gathered foxes dared not utter another word. They knelt in silence for an entire day before the great stone doors at the top of the slope finally opened.

The lead fox rose first, stumbling slightly as it hurried up the slope and into the inner mountain.

Inside, clouds and mist swirled like a dream.

Looking upward, the stars seemed close enough to touch. Their light poured down, forming a glowing pentagram on the ground.

Ahead stood countless statues of white foxes, each lifelike, carved from stone, lined up in solemn rows.

This was the Fox Clan’s Forbidden Lands. Even as a clan elder, he had never been permitted to enter before.

Before he could take in much of his surroundings, an ancient voice echoed softly from the mist.

“Yunfei, you’ve come.”

“Ancestor!” Ji Yunfei turned and immediately dropped to his knees.

Seeing the figure before him, his face filled with both awe and dread.

He had known this matter would alarm the ancestors, but he never imagined it would awaken this one, the oldest of all the Northern Hills patriarchs.

The old man before him was one of Northern Hills’s founders, revered by every fox of the clan. Without him, Northern Hills as it was today might never have existed.

“Rise,” said the ancient voice.

“I dare not,” Ji Yunfei replied, pressing his forehead to the ground.

“I am a dying man, what is there to fear?” the old voice chuckled softly. “I already know of Northern Hills’s calamity.”

“Please, Ancestor, tell me,” Ji Yunfei said earnestly.

“The Chu patriarch’s daughter was born with a hidden illness,” the voice said slowly. “To cure her, they required the spirit of a white fox as the main ingredient. The deaths of those two were because of this.”

“So it was the Chu Heavenly Clan,” Ji Yunfei said coldly, his fists clenching.

“Ancestor, what should we do? Shall we demand an explanation from them, or declare war directly?”

He waited, but there was no reply.

When he finally raised his head, he saw that the “ancestor” sat peacefully, a faint smile on his face, already lifeless.

“D-dead,” Ji Yunfei whispered, his voice trembling.

“The ancestor knew his life was near its end,” came another voice from within the mist. “He used the last of his vitality to break the laws of fate and uncover the truth.”

“The heavens have taken his years. Let him rest now. He was born Northern Hills, and dies Northern Hills. Mourn him, and honor his sacrifice.”

“The ancestor’s righteousness shall never be forgotten,” Ji Yunfei said, bowing deeply three times before rising.

Then he declared solemnly, “The deaths of Northern Hills’s kin will not be in vain.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the forbidden ground, each step firm and deliberate.

Morning dawned over White Emperor City as usual.

The leaders of the great sects were preparing to depart. Having lost their most talented disciples in the expedition, none were in good spirits.

At the entrance of the Chu estate, Chu Feiyang stood to see them off.

“Brother Chu, until next time.”

“Chancellor Wu, you must visit Primal Monastery sometime.”

Everyone exchanged farewells. But then, as if sensing something, they all looked up toward the heavens.

The once-calm sky began to churn violently.

In the swirling storm clouds, the enormous phantom of a white fox appeared, its presence casting a shadow over the entire city.

“The Northern Hills Fox Clan has come,” someone whispered.

The next moment, countless fox cries echoed from the sky, piercing, mournful, and thunderous.

Billions of white foxes appeared among the clouds, filling the heavens with their howls.

“It’s been a long time, Patriarch Yunfei,” Chu Feiyang called out first, forcing a smile. “Good to see you again.”

“Patriarch Chu,” Ji Yunfei’s voice boomed like thunder, “you truly are a man whose heart cannot be known by his face. Your daughter’s illness, and you dare to cure it by sacrificing the lives of my white fox kin!”

His words left the crowd in shock. Chu Feiyang’s face turned pale.

“Today, the Northern Hills Fox Clan declares war upon the Chu Heavenly Clan, until death, without end!”

Within the Chu estate, in a quiet courtyard, a little girl sat on a swing strung between two trees, giggling with delight.

Xu Zimo leaned casually against one of the trees, watching her.

“Big brother, where did you come from?” the girl asked.

“A very faraway place,” Xu Zimo replied.

“When will you leave?” she asked again, her voice innocent and curious.

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