"What? The Red Flame Fox?!"

Zhenlian City, City Lord’s Mansion.

City Lord Xu Jiangxing, who was resting, was awakened by his subordinates. The guard team captain on duty atop the city wall reported that they had just sighted a Seventh Grade Demonic Beast, the Red Flame Fox.

A bit intoxicated, Xu Jiangxing snapped into clarity and sprang up from the side of his bed:

"Did you see it clearly?"

The team captain promptly replied, "All fifteen of us saw it. That Red Flame Fox is exactly as recorded in the ancient texts. The demonic aura was overwhelming and terrifying; there’s no mistake!"

Xu Jiangxing immediately summoned everyone from the guard team, and indeed, everyone’s story was consistent.

Xu Jiangxing’s expression turned extremely grim, and he quickly ordered that all the immortals of the Zhenyang Sect be summoned to the conference hall.

Soon, Jian Yue, Su Xin, Chun Ningzhi, and several disciple stewards all arrived.

He Zhiqiu, Ruo Mei, He Su, and Lan Yin were also called to discuss because they had reached the Golden Core Realm and were bound to become stewards upon returning to their sect.

Qin Gengyun entered with Liu Su and Mo Xiaolan. The three sat at the far end, and Qin Gengyun glanced around, then whispered to Liu Su:

"Where is Junior Sister Ruo?"

Liu Su rolled her eyes at him, meaning: How should I know if you don’t?

Just then, Qiu Zhihe entered from outside, and calmly took a seat.

After waiting for a while, Zheng Shengmo still hadn’t appeared, and those sent to fetch him reported that he wasn’t in his room.

Xu Jiangxing had no choice but to ask Chun Ningzhi, "Immortal Master Chun, do you know where Elder Zheng is?"

Chun Ningzhi shook his head blankly, "After the feast, I returned to my room. Master instructed me to rest early and prepare to depart for Zhenyang Sect tomorrow."

Xu Jiangxing then inquired of Jian Yue, but Jian Yue too shook his head, not knowing. Xu Jiangxing was quite puzzled.

The appearance of a Seventh Grade Demonic Beast was no trivial matter; among them, only Nascent Soul Realm Zheng Shengmo could contend with it. The Red Flame Fox might attack at any moment, so Zheng Shengmo’s absence was troubling.

At this moment, the guard captain hesitated briefly but suddenly spoke:

"City Lord Xu, Elder Zheng... has likely left the city."

"What? Elder Zheng left the city?!"

"Junior Uncle Zheng left the city?"

Xu Jiangxing and the Zhenyang Sect people were all very surprised. Chun Ningzhi was elated and said:

"Could it be that Master already knew of the Red Flame Fox’s appearance and went out to hunt that fiend himself?"

Su Xin doubted somewhat, "Didn’t Martial Uncle say he already killed the Red Flame Fox? Why has this demonic beast appeared again?"

The Zhenyang Sect disciples looked at each other in confusion, while the corners of Jian Yue’s mouth curved slightly in a mocking smile.

Xu Jiangxing and Zhou Shinen exchanged glances but said nothing.

The guard captain looked at the notable figures and, after Xu Jiangxing nodded in approval, said meekly:

"Elder Zheng left the city with a female immortal master."

The crowd was astonished, "Went out with a woman?"

Xu Jiangxing promptly asked, "Who was it? Did you see clearly?"

The guard captain said, "Only caught a glimpse of the side profile; it was a rather aloof female immortal master wearing a Purple Sun Brocade Robe, but I don’t know who she is."

Jian Yue looked around and suddenly spoke, "Where’s Lin Qingchou?"

Only then did everyone realize Lin Qingchou was also absent.

"Why isn’t Lin Qingchou here either?"

"Could she have left the city with Junior Uncle Zheng?"

Many instinctively turned their gaze to Chun Ningzhi.

Lin Qingchou liked Chun Ningzhi, and Chun Ningzhi admired Ye Xiyue; this was no secret within the Zhenyang Sect.

Now, with Lin Qingchou gone in the night with Chun Ningzhi’s master and not yet returned, it naturally associated her disappearance with Chun Ningzhi.

Chun Ningzhi looked innocent, "Don’t look at me; I have no idea what’s going on."

Boom!!

Suddenly, a massive explosion echoed from afar.

The sound seemed the result of two enormous spiritual energy forces colliding, causing the ground to tremble as if heaven and earth were shaking.

Everyone stood up instantly, their faces full of shock:

"What’s going on?!"

Su Xin’s usually gentle and serene face also showed a hint of surprise:

"Li Fire?"

Wei Wan and Chun Ningzhi felt the strong vibration from afar mixed with a fiery aura, and Jian Yue discreetly glanced at Ruo Mei, showing an appropriately shocked expression:

"The Red Flame Fox controls Li Fire; it seems the texts are true after all!"

"If that’s Li Fire it’s battling, it must be Master! I must go and lend him my strength!"

Chun Ningzhi swiftly dashed outward, and the others followed suit, leaving through the city gates.

Following the sound of collision and the scorching aura, they rushed south of Qilian Mountain.

Each person’s expression was exceedingly grave.

Zheng Shengmo had previously claimed to have killed the Red Flame Fox, but its reappearance rendered his words contradictory.

Why had Zheng Shengmo taken Lin Qingchou out of the city at night?

It couldn’t have been to help kill the Red Flame Fox, as Lin Qingchou’s cultivation level wasn’t enough; in finding help, Jian Yue or Su Xin would have been more appropriate.

A surge of speculation arose in everyone’s mind.

Only Chun Ningzhi still believed his master truly went to slay the demonic beast.

Soon, they arrived at a mountain forest which should have been scenic, but now the trees had vanished, and towering peaks flattened.

The ground was riddled with pits of varying sizes, filled with an intense heat.

Clearly, a fierce battle had just taken place here.

"There’s red fur here!"

Chun Ningzhi searched frantically for his master’s traces and discovered several strands of demonic beast fur in a pit. Su Xin said gravely:

"It should be from the Red Flame Fox!"

"Where is Elder Zheng?" Xu Jiangxing looked around, and the others searched the surroundings when suddenly someone exclaimed:

"Junior Sister Lin?!"

Beneath a pile of rocks, Lin Qingchou lay curled on the ground, her face pale and body trembling.

Her hairpin was askew, her clothes disheveled—not as if she’d just been in battle, but as if she’d just... been with a man.

"Junior Sister Lin, why are you here?"

Su Xin took a robe from her Storage Bag and draped it over Lin Qingchou, covering much of her bare skin, and asked with concern.

The others gathered around, looking at Lin Qingchou in shock and suspicion.

Lin Qingchou sat on the ground, hugging her knees and trembling incessantly, as if having suffered a great blow.

Chun Ningzhi couldn’t help but step forward and urgently asked: "Junior Sister Lin, where is my master?!"

Upon hearing Zheng Shengmo’s name, Lin Qingchou shuddered, slowly raised her head to look at Chun Ningzhi, and tears flowed endlessly:

"Senior Brother Chun, why did you come only now?"

Chun Ningzhi grew anxious and demanded loudly, "What exactly happened? Where is my master?"

Lin Qingchou’s eyes were hollow, like a living corpse, as she murmured:

"Zheng Shengmo raped me, and was then killed by the Red Flame Fox."

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