The Lord of Void and Real-Chapter 1699 - 1695: What is a Demon?

Outside a courtyard in Qingqiu City, a figure silently leapt over the wall. Without taking to the skies, a flash of flowing light shimmered across his body, and he transformed into the appearance of Su Xiao, striding purposefully toward the City Gate, his demeanor and actions identical to Su Xiao’s.

Along the way, he passed several patrol units of fox soldiers. No one dared check his identity, allowing him to swagger out Outside the City unhindered.

After sneaking through the Valley for a while, the flowing light on "Su Xiao" shimmered again, revealing his true form—Hu Bugui. He turned back to glance at Qingqiu City deeper in the Valley, a layer of ash-gray light enveloping him. Without hesitation, he headed out of the Valley.

...

Tu Shanxue leapt to the summit, where she found only wild grass and scattered stones, with no sign of the altar.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she flipped her palm to produce the Jade Tag given by Chief Strategist You Su, preparing to activate it.

Suddenly, a glow erupted from the Jade Tag and, in an instant, it flew from her hand, transforming into a streak of flowing light that shot toward a specific point at the peak.

Seeing this, Tu Shanxue immediately followed the light. After flying a little over ten zhang, her vision suddenly blurred, and the scenery before her shifted. She had inexplicably appeared atop a Huge Altar of pure White Jade.

Around the altar stood towering, thick White Jade Stone Pillars, each carved with intricate Spiral charm patterns. Atop every Stone Pillar burned a Ten Thousand Year Lamp, its fire faint yet unwavering.

On the Ground of the altar was an engraved relief of a massive nine-tailed celestial fox.

The nine-tailed celestial fox crouched low, poised to strike, its nine disproportionately large fox tails intertwining behind it. The aura it emitted was imposing, no less intimidating than a tiger descending a Mountain.

On the wall at the far end of the altar was another engraved relief mural. Tu Shanxue observed it briefly and recognized it as depicting the Fox Ancestor joining the Yellow Emperor in the campaign against Chiyou during That Year.

After studying it for a few Moments, Tu Shanxue solemnly approached the altar. She produced three pieces of Fox Spirit Jade and located three grooves on the Ground, placing them in one by one.

Once the Fox Spirit Jades were in position, Tu Shanxue retreated from the altar and waited for a while, but there was no visible reaction.

As she hesitated, the central area of the altar’s Ground suddenly Split apart. Amid rumbling sounds, a fox statue, as tall as a grown person, slowly rose from Underground.

At that moment, the three pieces of Fox Spirit Jade immediately emitted white Spiritual Light, converging upon the celestial fox statue.

Soon after, the charm patterns on the surrounding dozen or so White Jade Stone Pillars lit up one after another, and the Ten Thousand Year Lamps atop them flared brilliantly, illuminating the entire altar.

The celestial fox statue’s eyes flashed with Spiritual Light, and its surface became shrouded in a haze.

At a single glance, Tu Shanxue discerned the emergence of a larger, ethereal celestial fox outside the statue. She instinctively recognized it as the Spirit of the Fox Ancestor and immediately knelt in reverence.

"Junior Tu Shanxue humbly pleads for the Ancestor to return to life," Tu Shanxue said respectfully.

"You dare disturb the ancestral spirit? Do you know your guilt?" the ethereal celestial fox asked accusingly.

"Ancestor, please forgive this unworthy descendant. The Qingqiu Fox Clan now faces the peril of extinction. I earnestly beseech the Ancestor to return to life and rescue the clan," Tu Shanxue said fervently.

As her words fell, a beam of light suddenly sprang from the brow of the ethereal celestial fox, enveloping Tu Shanxue.

Tu Shanxue’s heart trembled. An inexplicable sensation washed over her, as though every part of her being had been laid bare.

"You seek revenge?" the ethereal celestial fox quickly inquired.

"Yes." Tu Shanxue did not hesitate, replying through gritted teeth.

All pretense of acting for the survival of the Fox Clan was gone. Perhaps in the past, she had sought the Fox Spirit Jade for the sake of grander plans, but now it had all changed. After the forced, tragic disintegration of the Lord of Qingqiu Kingdom, her sole purpose became revenge.

The ethereal celestial fox spoke again: "Bringing me back to life may not be possible, but aiding you in vengeance is within reach. The question is, what are you willing to sacrifice for it?"

"I am willing to give everything," Tu Shanxue said, looking up, her eyes filled with unwavering hatred.

"Your resolve is commendable. Your emotions, untainted. I can assist you," the ethereal celestial fox said approvingly, fixing its gaze firmly on hers.

"Thank you, Ancestor," Tu Shanxue said immediately with gratitude.

"Do not be so hasty to thank me. I have a question for you: What is a demon?"

"A demon is a branch of the wicked," Tu Shanxue answered.

"That is a falsehood. A demon is the transformation of a beast. Compared to humans and spirits, beasts possess immense, raw power—and it is uncontrollable. Their strength originates from the purity of their essence—emotion. No living being can transcend emotion, making this power unrivaled. Yet beasts lack reason, driven by the emotions they embody, their actions dictated by instinct. The Ancestors of Beasts were formed from the myriad emotions of Pangu. Each beast tribe embodies a distinct and pure emotion, absorbing spiritual energy between Heaven and Earth to take form, thus becoming demons," the ethereal celestial fox explained.

Tu Shanxue was deeply shocked. She had never before heard of such origins.

"Since demons stem from beasts and ultimately from Pangu, they carry unparalleled power within them. However, most of this power has been sealed away or severed through the ages, leaving only fragments," the ethereal celestial fox continued.

"What kind of power? Does it relate to emotions?" Tu Shanxue immediately asked.

"This power is the might of intense emotion—what surviving demon clans call the ’Revert Ancestry power,’" the ethereal celestial fox said.

"Please bestow this power upon me, Ancestor," Tu Shanxue said without hesitation.

"Once you accept the Revert Ancestry inheritance, your reason will be overwhelmed by emotions, potentially consumed entirely. What replaces it is immense power, but you will grow increasingly beast-like, displaying more animalistic traits," the ethereal celestial fox said.

"As long as I can exact my revenge, I will give anything—even my life!" Tu Shanxue was nearly unhinged in her determination for vengeance.

"The essence of our fox clan’s emotion is ’jealousy,’ which gives rise to dissatisfaction, greed, hatred, and other feelings. The purer the emotion, the greater the power you obtain, yet the faster you will lose yourself. Are you truly willing to embrace this?" the ethereal celestial fox asked for the final time. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"I am willing."

As Tu Shanxue’s words fell, the ethereal celestial fox radiated a red glow. It detached from the stone statue and poured directly into her head from above.

"Boom!"

It was as though a clap of thunder had erupted in Tu Shanxue’s Sea of Knowledge. Her vision turned blood-red as an obsessive "jealousy" sprouted within her heart like a seed, quickly taking root and growing into a towering tree that all but consumed her reason.

Tu Shanxue tilted her head back, her slender, jade-like neck gleaming under the Moonlight. Her eyes became suffused with crimson, and her elongated ears doubled in size as fine fur began to sprout from her face and body.

Her expression twisted with mania—sharp canine teeth emerged in her mouth, yet her lips curved into a satisfied smile. She could feel an endless surge of energy within her, surging violently as though it would explode from her Dantian.