Marriage Wager, Pawned Flesh

What was a fief? A fiefdom!

The Heaven-Gazing Sect was a great Immortal Cult sect, and thus one principle within its lineage was this—immortal cultivation valued life.

The many foreign races and Spirit Monsters within the mountain gates were likewise born and nurtured by heaven and earth, so they would not be wantonly slaughtered. Instead, many territories had been demarcated for them, allowing the various foreign races and Spirit Monsters to live freely within them and enjoy peace.

Naturally, all remained under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Cult.

Thus, every thousand years, the Immortal Cult issued an edict to appoint fief lords. Other than the fief lord, the Immortal Cult no longer concerned itself with any affairs within the fief, so long as the fief submitted the requisite "spirit tax" on schedule.

The living beings within a fief were equivalent to disciples of the Immortal Cult. Even true disciples of the Immortal Cult could not kill them at will, or the sect rules would show no mercy.

There were twelve such fiefs within the Heaven-Gazing Sect, and the Red Pine Fief was the one nearest Jade Court Mountain.

Beyond the boundary stele lay a steep canyon, its cliffs on either side dropping like a heavenly curtain. Even birds found it hard to cross; only the valley path before them allowed passage.

As Lu Xuan gazed into the demon fief from afar, a deep, booming voice questioned him from before the canyon:

"Who comes to Red Pine Fief? Do you possess Jade Disc documents?!"

Lu Xuan looked up to see two monsters beyond the boundary stele. Each stood several zhang tall, their bodies seemingly cast from rock, with rhinoceros heads and human forms, both watching him.

Their auras were more than a level stronger than his own, with a heavy presence like mountain stone stirring around them.

Qi Refining rhinoceros demons.

Yet Lu Xuan was not afraid. He merely raised the jade talisman at his waist and said to the two demons, "A disciple of Hibernation Academy, here to tour Red Pine."

"A Hibernation Academy disciple?"

The rhinoceros demon's emerald eyes fell upon Lu Xuan, revealing a trace of surprise. Yet after seeing the jade talisman at his waist, it ultimately did not stop him, merely saying:

"You may tour for no more than seven days. Otherwise, if you lose your jade talisman and become trapped within the fief, calamity may befall you."

"Also, the Little Azure Rainbow Cloud cannot be used within the fief. If you wish to travel farther, spirit cranes may be hired within the fief—but do not hire the black-feathered ones."

"It is not easy for someone in the Embryonic Breath Realm to save up Spirit Stones."

Red Pine Fief was not far from Jade Court Mountain, so the Spirit Monsters within the fief were no strangers to Hibernation Academy disciples. Seeing that Gu Yuan still wore the Dormant Academy Jade Talisman yet had failed to enter Qi Refining, the rhinoceros demon understood everything.

But Hibernation Academy disciples could still cultivate the Golden Armor Jade Body Method, so he kindly offered a few reminders, hoping to forge a good bond.

"Thank you, Rhinoceros Gentleman."

Lu Xuan bowed in thanks. The rhinoceros demon then waved a hand and cleared the way.

Whoosh!

But at that moment, another ball of azure light descended from the heavens and landed before the canyon.

Lu Xuan raised his head and saw a familiar figure.

That figure saw Lu Xuan as well and immediately revealed a surprised expression. "Junior Brother Lu..."

"Senior Brother Lin."

Lu Xuan turned and offered a salute.

The man before him was also a Hibernation Academy disciple and, like him, a failure of the Qi-Absorption Grand Rite.

"Junior Brother Lu, why are you here?"

Seeing Lu Xuan's towering frame, standing rugged and solitary like a lone pine, Senior Brother Lin narrowed his eyes. He seemed to think of something and could not help asking.

"Stillness had bred a desire for movement. I came out to wander."

Lu Xuan looked at Senior Brother Lin, who wore a brand-new dharma robe and new cloud-treading boots, and formed a guess of his own. He only replied blandly.

"Then I wish Junior Brother good fortune."

Senior Brother Lin had not expected to encounter a "fellow traveler" here... But this was hardly anything honorable. He immediately strode forward, passed Lu Xuan, and entered the canyon first, vanishing from sight.

The rhinoceros demons did not stop him either.

Lu Xuan deliberately slowed his pace as well, widening the distance between himself and Senior Brother Lin before entering the canyon after him and stepping into Red Pine Fief.

Once he emerged from the canyon, spiritual energy surged forth. Spirit cranes cried in unison, countless beasts roared, and human voices rose in a clamorous din—a bustling scene.

"Immortal Master, Immortal Master, do you need a flying beast for transport? Half a Spirit Stone! Half a Spirit Stone to fly a thousand li!"

"Immortal Master, choose me, choose me! I am the fastest Embryonic Breath spirit crane at the entire entrance to Red Pine Fief!"

"My ancestors carried the bloodline of the Crimson Sky Immortal Crane! Immortal Master, choose me, choose me!"

Before Lu Xuan could even take a proper look around, more than ten immortal cranes flocked around him. All spoke human language, shoving and jostling as they frantically "promoted" themselves.

Nor were they alone. Spirit monkeys carrying bamboo baskets clamored as they sold "spirit wine," while spirit rats holding "pinecones" chattered away. In an instant, it felt as though he had arrived at the noisy marketplace of his previous life.

But this was not Lu Xuan's first visit. He knew the "marketplace" at the entrance to Red Pine Fief was always this chaotic. Without wasting words, he selected one crane from among the dozen that lacked mottled black feathers, then rose into the air and headed deeper into Red Pine Fief.

About half an hour later, the spirit crane stopped before a forest of crimson pine trees.

Lu Xuan paid half a Spirit Stone, then leaped down and gave the spirit crane an instruction.

The spirit crane soared into the sky and circled overhead, but did not leave. Instead, it waited for Lu Xuan.

Before this pine forest ran a small path of broken stones. Lu Xuan followed it all the way toward the depths of the woods.

Squeak, squeak, squeak!

Flame-red foxes occasionally sprang through the forest, their scarlet eyes fixed on Lu Xuan with curiosity flashing within them.

Lu Xuan paid them no mind and simply strode onward.

As the pine forest deepened, the foxes leaping along behind him grew increasingly robust, nearly half a person tall. These foxes possessed greater spirituality and could already speak human language.

One fox with hair as red as fire saw Lu Xuan, its eyes lighting up as if it had remembered something. It immediately cried in a clear voice, "The young master is here! The young master is here!"

"Quick, quick, quick! Tell Granny—the young master is here!"

"The young master? What is a young master?!"

A fox in the forest asked curiously.

"Idiot! The young master is the groom. He can help you make little foxes!"

"Ah? He is so big. How can he help me?"

The voices in the woods drifted into Lu Xuan's ears on the wind, but he remained unmoved. He simply continued along the stone path. Before long, a stone cave appeared before him.

The cave was deep, yet not dim. On the contrary, dazzling treasure light spilled from within, glowing softly and carrying a faint fragrance.

"How did Young Master Lu find the time to visit my humble dwelling today? Could it be that you have truly thought through what we discussed before?"

A soft, seductive voice came from inside the cave. A wisp of green vapor then flowed out and transformed into a cloud beneath Lu Xuan's feet, carrying him over the cave and into its depths, where it stopped at a stone pavilion.

Though the pavilion stood within the cave, a treasure pearl overhead shone like a great sun, casting down a halo of light that dispelled the darkness and filled one with warmth.

Within the stone pavilion sat a plump woman, smiling as she watched Lu Xuan.

"Greetings, Scarlet Flame Madam!"

Lu Xuan cupped his hands and bowed.

Scarlet Flame Madam was the person he had come to find—a six-layer Qi Refining old fox who had cultivated for one hundred and sixty years.

He had come today for no other reason than to exchange this fleshly body of his for a stalk of Four-Aspect Divination Herb.

"Young Master need not stand on ceremony. Have you come today because of the marriage matter?"

Scarlet Flame Madam stared at Lu Xuan's handsome face, as though carved by frost blades, her eyes brimming with satisfaction.

Fox maidens loved beauty. Unless one possessed a visage fit to face the world, with bones clear and spirit lofty, they would not marry.

There were many Hibernation Academy disciples, yet not many whom fox maidens favored.

For this, she was willing to offer a greater dowry and bring this match to fruition.

However, Lu Xuan had previously been a Hibernation Academy disciple, with a future still bright ahead of him. Her proposal of marriage had failed—but today...

Her eyes shifted as she sensed Lu Xuan's Embryonic Breath Realm cultivation, and amusement rose within her heart.

Yet Lu Xuan bowed deeply and said to Scarlet Flame Madam, "In reply to Madam, Lu Xuan has come today to ask Madam for a marriage wager."