Having gotten Li Xiaoyu's promise, the huge stone weighing on the Three-Tailed Demon Fox's heart finally fell.
She looked at Li Xiaoyu, her eyes filled with gratitude and trust.
Just then, a weak voice came from the cave entrance.
"Xiao San, help me inside."
The Six-Tailed Demon Fox came in, supported by the Three-Tailed Demon Fox.
His aura was still weak, but he was much better than before. His fur had regained its luster, and his eyes were clear again.
"Senior, your health..." Seeing him, Li Xiaoyu hurried forward.
"It's all right." The Six-Tailed Demon Fox waved a paw at him to show he was fine.
His gaze fell on the Mystic Fire Mirror in Li Xiaoyu's hand, and his expression grew complicated.
"Thank you, young friend, for being willing to take on the karmic ties between my wife and me," the Six-Tailed Demon Fox said warmly as he looked at Li Xiaoyu.
"Still, Incense Burning Valley is powerful, and Shangguan Ce is an old fox. Your journey there will surely be fraught with danger, so you must be careful."
"Don't worry, Senior. I know what I'm doing," Li Xiaoyu said with a nod.
The Six-Tailed Demon Fox nodded in satisfaction. He had lived for several thousand years and seen much of the world; at a glance, he could tell Li Xiaoyu was no ordinary person.
In particular, the Wine Gourd at Li Xiaoyu's waist gave off an aura that made his heart tremble—one that had come from the ancient, primeval chaos.
"Young friend, that magical treasure on you has quite an extraordinary origin, doesn't it?"
The Six-Tailed Demon Fox looked at Li Xiaoyu and asked with a knowing air.
Li Xiaoyu's heart tightened. He knew this thousand-year-old fox probably wouldn't be fooled by his secrets.
He neither admitted nor denied it, simply remaining silent.
Seeing this, the Six-Tailed Demon Fox smiled and did not press him.
"I only want to offer you a word of advice," he said slowly.
"That magical treasure of yours has limitless potential, but for it to grow, it will probably need to devour vast quantities of rare natural treasures."
"Ordinary spiritual energy is just a drop in the ocean to it."
"Your path of cultivation from here on will probably be a hundred times harder than anyone else's."
The Six-Tailed Demon Fox's words stirred Li Xiaoyu. They matched his own suspicions exactly.
The Immortal-Slaying Gourd really was like a bottomless pit. No matter how much spiritual energy he fed it, it was never enough.
It seemed that if he wanted it to grow, he would have to find more treasures like the Red Flame Crystal, imbued with the power of the origin.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior."
Li Xiaoyu gave the Six-Tailed Demon Fox a solemn bow.
The senior's advice had given him a much clearer idea of the path ahead.
"Don't mention it." The Six-Tailed Demon Fox smiled.
"You saved my life. It's only right that I offer you some guidance."
He paused, then continued, "The Mystic Fire Mirror in your hand is a supreme treasure of yang energy, but the Green Cloud Sect's teachings you practice emphasize stillness and non-action. Their attributes don't quite align."
"If you want to draw out its full power, you'll probably need a special method."
"I have a crude secret art from my Fox Clan for controlling flames. Would you be interested in learning it?"
Li Xiaoyu's eyes lit up at these words.
This was just what he needed.
He had been at a loss as to how to control the Mystic Fire Mirror. He hadn't expected the Six-Tailed Demon Fox to offer to teach him a secret art of the demon race.
"I'd be grateful for the chance!" Li Xiaoyu quickly bowed again.
"Very well." The Six-Tailed Demon Fox nodded, then reached out a paw and lightly touched Li Xiaoyu between the brows.
Buzz!
A stream of information surged into Li Xiaoyu's mind.
It was a profound method for controlling flames.
Unlike the cultivation arts of human cultivators, this secret art of the demon race placed greater emphasis on connecting with and mastering the source of flame. It taught the practitioner to become one with the fire and command it at will.
Li Xiaoyu compared the method with the teachings he had gleaned from the Heavenly Tome General Outline. Suddenly, everything became clear, and many of his questions about fire were answered.
He was confident that, given some time, he could master this secret art and fully control the Mystic Fire Mirror in his hand.
"Thank you for passing on your art, Senior!" Li Xiaoyu bowed deeply to the Six-Tailed Demon Fox once more.
This time, his gratitude came from the heart.
The senior had not only given him a priceless treasure but also taught him a secret art. He owed him a great debt.
"All right, you don't need to keep thanking me."
The Six-Tailed Demon Fox smiled weakly.
"This is all I can do for you."
"The road ahead is yours to walk alone."
After resting in Black Stone Cave for two days, Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi bid farewell to the two fox demons.
Their journey to the Abyss of the Dead had taken too long. They had to return to the Green Cloud Sect and report as soon as possible.
As they parted, the Three-Tailed Demon Fox was reluctant to let them go.
She held Lu Xueqi's hand and gave her all sorts of advice about the wild spirits and monsters of the mountains, treating her like a younger sister.
The Six-Tailed Demon Fox drew Li Xiaoyu aside and spoke with him privately for a long time.
He told Li Xiaoyu everything he knew about Incense Burning Valley and the secrets of the Mystic Fire Altar, holding nothing back.
"Young friend, remember this: Shangguan Ce is cunning and ruthless. If you ever face him, you must never let your guard down," he warned at last.
"Don't worry, Senior. I'll remember," Li Xiaoyu replied with a solemn nod.
"Go on." The Six-Tailed Demon Fox waved a paw.
"Xiao San and I should find a secluded paradise and focus on recovering."
"I hope we meet again someday."
"We will," Li Xiaoyu said with a smile as he looked at them.
He and Lu Xueqi bowed deeply to the two fox demons once more.
Then, without lingering, they turned and walked out of the cave.
When they emerged from Black Stone Cave and stepped into the sunlight again, they both felt as if they had returned from another world.
Their journey away from the mountain had been full of twists and turns.
They had faced life and death, witnessed love, found unexpected opportunities, and taken on a promise.
Both of them had grown through this experience.
"Let's head back." Li Xiaoyu turned to Lu Xueqi beside him and smiled warmly.
"Mm." Lu Xueqi nodded softly, his figure reflected in her eyes.
They smiled at each other, mounted their flying swords, and streaked toward Green Cloud Mountain side by side.
The journey back was entirely different from the one there.
There was no more Qi Hao's sarcastic taunts or Zhang Xiaofan's awkward unease. There was only the two of them beneath the vast sky.
They flew slowly, enjoying this rare time alone together.
The two would walk side by side above the clouds, watching the sun rise and set, and the clouds gather and drift.
They would descend into the mountains to watch streams babble and listen to birdsong.
They would also visit bustling towns, savoring delicious food and soaking in the warmth of everyday life.
Li Xiaoyu told Lu Xueqi amusing stories from his childhood and spoke of how he had felt during his six years of hardship.
Lu Xueqi listened quietly and sometimes told him about her cultivation at Small Bamboo Peak.
Li Xiaoyu listened with rapt attention.
Their feelings deepened quickly with each conversation and each moment spent together.
Their hazy affection had grown into a bond forged through life and death in the Abyss of the Dead, and now into a closeness born of understanding and companionship. Everything had fallen naturally into place.
One day, they passed by a great river.
Along the riverbank, many common folk were making offerings to the River God, praying for favorable weather and bountiful harvests.
Watching the devout people, a flicker of emotion crossed Lu Xueqi's eyes.
"Do you think gods really exist?" she asked softly.
Li Xiaoyu looked at her and smiled.
"I didn't used to believe, but now I do."
"Oh?" Lu Xueqi looked at him curiously.
"Because," Li Xiaoyu said, his gaze turning tender, "my god is right here beside me."
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