Chapter 265: Xùyán vs. Húwáng
The temperature in the clearing raised several degrees as Húwáng stepped into view, his nine tails flowing behind him.
Blue flames wreathed his hands, and his eyes carried a cold fury.
"Xùyán," the Fox King said with deceptive calm, "step away from Lord Ambrose immediately."
"Your Majesty," Xùyán replied with a mocking bow that never took his attention off Grim. "How good of you to join us. I was just dealing with the human problem you’ve been too weak to address."
The insult to royal authority sent ripples of shock through the forest itself. Even corrupted by dark mana, openly defying the Fox King was tantamount to declaring war on the entire realm.
"Last warning," Húwáng said, blue flames intensifying around his hands. "Stand down."
"Or what?" Xùyán laughed, dark energy crackling around his body. "You’ll fight me? The old king against the new power?"
"If necessary," Húwáng replied with deadly calm.
More figures emerged from the forest as palace guards and elders responded to the magical disturbance. Princess Ruxi arrived first, her face showing horror at Grim’s condition, followed by the nine-tailed elders whose expressions ranged from concern to barely contained fury.
But it was the final arrival that changed everything. Húxiān materialized in the center of the clearing like a star descending to earth.
The corrupted energy around Xùyán actually recoiled from her proximity, his dark flames flickering uncertainly.
"This has gone far enough," the fox deity said, her voice carrying absolute authority that made the earth itself tremble. "Xùyán, you will release the corrupted power immediately and submit to judgment."