"Fellow Daoist, I'm not threatening you. I'm just afraid you'll get yourselves into trouble. The Fox Clan has nothing to do with you, so why stand up for them? They're just a bunch of seductive foxes."
The Bear Clan Leader helplessly explained himself to Xuan Qing, afraid that Xuan Qing would see him as an enemy.
"Master, could you save them? I'll behave from now on and stop running around. Please, save them."
Qing Ling pitifully grabbed Xuan Qing's hand and shook it back and forth.
Seeing Qing Ling like this, Xuan Qing could only sigh helplessly. How had she run into something like this after he let her out? If he did not save them today, Qing Ling's Dao Heart might suffer in the future. He might as well indulge her this once.
"Fine, fine! Stop shaking me. If you keep it up, I'll fall apart. I'll listen to you this time, but once we get back, you'd better listen to your sister properly."
The lesson she had received this time was already enough. Saving them was no trouble anyway.
Hearing Xuan Qing's promise, the Fox Clan Woman was ecstatic.
They had actually survived this time. She immediately spoke in gratitude.
"Thank you, Senior, and thank you as well, Fellow Daoist Qing Ling. The Fox Clan owes both you and Senior a great debt. Should you ever have any orders, the Fox Clan will certainly spare no effort."
"It's nothing, nothing. Just thank Qing Ling. I have no orders for you. Save the favor for Qing Ling."
Xuan Qing then turned to the Bear Clan Leader. "Fellow Daoist of the Bear Clan, I'm protecting these Fox Clan members. Do you have any objections?"
Hearing this, the Bear Clan Leader looked deeply conflicted, unsure whether it was worth becoming enemies with Xuan Qing.
"Clan Leader, Clan Leader, you have to avenge me! I won't be able to cultivate ever again!"
That Earth Bear hurriedly spoke up, unwilling to let the Fox Clan off so easily.
Seeing him like this, the Bear Clan Leader could not simply do nothing. Would that not damage his dignity as Clan Leader? He then said to Xuan Qing,
"Fellow Daoist, how about this? Since the Fox Clan destroyed my clansman's Path of Dao, I'll return the favor once. Then neither side loses out, and we can put this matter to rest."
"You're courting death!"
Xuan Qing immediately flew into a rage upon hearing that. He did not care about the circumstances between them.
Besides, by reason, That Earth Bear was in the wrong. By force, Xuan Qing's fists were harder.
In an instant, he flew before the Bear Clan Leader and stomped him into the ground. Staring down at him, he said,
"Do you still want to cripple them? I'll give you one chance. Defeat me."
"No need. We'll leave right away."
The Bear Clan Leader sensed the pressure coming from Xuan Qing and immediately backed down. Rather than make an enemy of Xuan Qing for the sake of the clan, he chose to give up and left directly with that ball of Primordial Spirit.
Xuan Qing then turned to Qing Ling and asked, "How was this experience? Without strength, you don't even have the right to watch the show. Will you still act so recklessly in the future?"
"Master, I was wrong. I'll definitely cultivate diligently from now on. I won't make you act for me again."
Sigh, it seemed this had not truly frightened her. Still, it had stirred up her motivation to cultivate. It looked like watching drama could improve one's cultivation too.
"Two Seniors, and several Fellow Daoists, would you be willing to visit the Fox Clan? It isn't far from here. We can properly show our gratitude for saving our lives."
The Fox Clan Woman sincerely invited Xuan Qing and the others. If they had not encountered Qing Ling's group this time, the Fox Clan truly would have been finished.
Hearing the invitation, Xuan Qing turned to look at several people. Qing Ya and Han Xi both seemed curious, so Xuan Qing nodded.
Qing Ya was also curious about That Earth Bear's actions. A bear should have been eating honey instead of stealing foxes.
"Fellow Daoist of the Fox Clan, what should we call you? I'm Qing Ling's sister. Could you tell us why That Earth Bear came to abduct the Fox Clan Women?"
"Fellow Daoist Qing Ya, this little fox is Su Mei. As for why he captured the women of my clan, it is because other living beings can increase their cultivation through dual cultivation with Fox Clan Women."
"However, doing so causes the Origin of our clan's women to plummet, leaving their cultivation unable to advance. Once they are used up, they are simply killed.
"That Earth Bear repeatedly came to our clan to steal women in order to increase his cultivation quickly. He was only at the Middle Stage of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal before, but after abducting so many over the years, he was already close to completion."
Su Mei's face was filled with grief and indignation. She wished she could tear that bastard to pieces.
"Ah, there's actually a cultivation method like that?" Several people were dumbfounded. If cultivation could be raised so quickly, who would still cultivate seriously?
"Don't envy that kind of cultivation method. Taking shortcuts comes at a price," Xuan Qing kindly explained.
Although it could raise one's cultivation quickly, it only increased Magic Power, and that Magic Power came from devouring the Origin of others.
The Magic Power would be impure, its control weak, and it could not raise one's realm. Its effects were not even as good as the fruit of a High-Grade Innate Spiritual Root.
Once Heavenly Dao emerged, all those who did such things would be judged by Heavenly Dao. Karmic Sin would bind them, their cultivation would stop at Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and they would never break through to Daluo in this lifetime. Without a steadfast Dao Heart, one could never become a great power.
Like that Earth Bear's Clan Leader just now. Though he was also at the Middle Stage of Grand Luo Golden Immortal, his foundation was surely poor. Otherwise, he would not have indulged his clansmen in cultivating this way. He was cutting off their futures.
Han Xi's displayed strength this time also made Xuan Qing look at her in a new light. Three Flowers Twelve Grades—her regular combat strength was likely close to Late Daluo. His younger sister would also become a top-tier great power in the future.
"Master, will That Earth Bear take revenge on us later? Should we kill him in advance?"
Bai Yu suddenly spoke up. His words even stunned Xuan Qing. This fellow had completely absorbed the stories Xuan Qing told and was already starting to resemble those protagonists from novels. He even knew to nip danger in the bud.
"Is that really so? That Earth Bear doesn't look like anything good. Killing him would be fine too. Bai Yu is absolutely right. This suits my taste perfectly. I'll protect you from now on."
Han Xi also thought Bai Yu made sense. He actually had such careful thoughts. From now on, she would treat Bai Yu as her little follower.
"Don't think about such things. That bear's Dao Heart was too poor. Even if he had not been injured, he would have had no future. Su Mei, on the other hand, is quite good. She may have the chance to take revenge herself in the future."
Su Mei's Dao Heart was steadfast, and her foundation was not bad either. She was a good leader. After this incident, she might soon break through to Grand Luo Golden Immortal. That Earth Bear would likely suffer in the future.
"Thank you for your praise, Senior. This little fox will certainly break through early as Senior said, then personally take revenge."
Su Mei bowed to Xuan Qing. She had not expected to receive the recognition of such a great figure.
"Don't rush it. That Earth Bear won't dare attack you now. If you want to defeat him, you cannot break through hastily. The worse your foundation, the worse your Three Flowers will be. Just look at that bear; his future is obvious."
Xuan Qing did not want the Little Fox to ruin her future for revenge. Judging by her Root Origin, she might have a chance at Three Flowers Nine Grades in the future, just like Bai Yu.
"I heard this place is called Qing Qiu. It's a fine name and suits your Fox Clan well. Let's go. I'm curious what Qing Qiu looks like."
After Xuan Qing spoke, Su Mei hurriedly led the way, bringing everyone toward Qing Qiu.
Aside from Qing Yue, Bai Yu and the others had often heard Xuan Qing tell stories about the Qing Qiu Tushan Fox Clan. They were also curious whether the Fox Clan truly possessed the ability to connect marriage fates.
Qing Qiu was indeed very close. With the cultivation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, they arrived after a few hundred years. Seeing groups of foxes playing on the mountains, Qing Ling felt that the Fox Clan was truly interesting.
Upon arriving at Qing Qiu, Xuan Qing discovered that Auspicious Qi was gathering there. The Fox Clan's recent misfortune had greatly damaged the clan's Auspicious Qi, yet there was no sign that it had completely dispersed.
It seemed that even without him, the Fox Clan would not have been exterminated. After all, he had encountered two groups of Earth Bears.
Qing Qiu was truly remarkable. It could suppress the Fox Clan's Auspicious Qi. It seemed to be the Fox Clan's natural place of origin. As long as they did not lose Qing Qiu, the Fox Clan's future would be promising.
Thinking of the Fox Clan in the Prehistoric Era of his previous life, only a few had become famous, and all of them had bad reputations. Xuan Qing felt that perhaps they had lost Qing Qiu.
"Senior, this is Qing Qiu. An Innate Spiritual Root called the Marriage Fruit Tree grows here, but I have no way to give it to you. This Spiritual Root is too closely connected to the Earth Veins and cannot be taken away."
"Take us to see it. I do not care much about a High-Grade Innate Spiritual Root, but its name does make me curious."
Xuan Qing had not expected the Marriage Fruit Tree to appear in Qing Qiu. It seemed there was indeed a traceable reason why the Fox Clan was connected to marriage. He had told Qing Ya and the others far too many stories about the Fox Clan and marriage.
Soon, several people arrived at the location of the Marriage Fruit Tree. A small pink tree grew steadily at the center of Qing Qiu's Earth Veins.
"Eh, this tree has no fruit?"
Qing Ling was immediately disappointed when she saw the bare tree. Had Master not said there was something called Marriage Fruit?
Xuan Qing also felt that something was wrong. He extended his Divine Sense into the Marriage Fruit Tree and examined it carefully. Only after a long while did he understand.
It was not that the Marriage Fruit Tree could not bear fruit. Rather, Heavenly Marriage had not yet appeared in the Prehistoric Era, and the Marriage Dao had not manifested. The Marriage Fruit Tree could not sense the corresponding Law, so naturally it could not bear fruit.
It truly was marvelous. The leaves of the Marriage Fruit Tree could connect the Auspicious Qi between two living beings. It seemed Old Man Under the Moon's red thread was made from the leaves of the Marriage Fruit Tree. Xuan Qing had even been curious about that in his previous life.
"Guard Qing Qiu well. Your Fox Clan will have a fortunate opportunity in the future."
Xuan Qing turned back and told the Little Fox this. Once the Marriage Dao emerged, anyone in the Prehistoric Era with descendants would likely not dare offend the Little Fox easily.
"Thank you for informing us, Senior. This little fox will keep it firmly in mind."
Su Mei was also intelligent and perceptive. As soon as Xuan Qing said this, she understood the importance this tree would hold for the Fox Clan in the future.
Before you continue