Immortal Father

Niu Benben threw the Treasure Bead into the air, and it instantly emitted golden light, sealing the entire pavilion, blocking the pink aura outside.

Niu Benben asked in a low voice, "General, why did this phenomenon stop?"

"Commander Niu, what is your cultivation level?"

"This humble one, cough, this general is now in the Great One Golden Immortal Realm, but the level is a bit inflated. Previously, I gained quite a benefit in the Inner Heavenly Dao Illusionary Realm, being hastened by the Heavenly Dao, rather than through arduous cultivation."

Li Ping’an said calmly, "Didn’t you realize that this so-called phenomenon is actually demon possession?"

"Huh?"

Niu Benben was full of confusion, "What demon possession?"

"Go call the person in charge of the Heavenly Fox Clan. If this matter can be handled here, handle it here. If not, report it to the Heavenly Court."

Li Ping’an glanced at Niu Benben and said calmly,

"Focus more on the righteous path, don’t always try to guess the Heavenly Emperor’s intentions.

The Nine-tailed Fox is an ancient exotic beast, the kind that likes to eat people.

Quickly go call someone."

"Yes, I’ll go right away!"

Niu Benben turned and ran, shouting loudly, "All those in charge of the Heavenly Fox Clan, come here! Hurry!"

It was evident that Niu Benben had significant influence among the Hundred Tribes.

Shortly after, dozens of elderly women and men gathered before Li Ping’an, each with lowered eyes and smiles on their lips, afraid of angering Commander Niu.

"General," Niu Benben said, "most of the Heavenly Immortals and above from the Heavenly Fox Clan are here, plus a dozen True Immortals who are usually in charge, this place is almost like a sect of the Human Race, only it’s maintained by blood ties and familial relationships."

Li Ping’an nodded slightly, "Ask them where this pink light comes from."

Niu Benben turned and shouted, but the elders of the Heavenly Fox Clan hemmed and hawed, unable to give a specific reason.

They only knew:

"According to our clan’s records, every time the bloodline of the Clan Leader is born, such a phenomenon occurs."

"This phenomenon usually lasts for a day and a night, and in long cases, it might last for two days and nights. When the phenomenon ends, the new generation of Clan Leader will be born."

"The Clan Leader’s cultivation speed will be incredibly fast, but even if they reach the Golden Immortal Realm, they will pass away at almost ten thousand years old."

"Commander Niu has been urging us to consolidate the Clan Leader’s bloodline for the past hundreds of years. We used all sorts of methods to let the bloodline of the previous Clan Leader continuously proliferate. Unexpectedly, it was this clan member we hadn’t paid attention to that nurtured a new Clan Leader’s bloodline."

Niu Benben cautiously asked, "General, this is roughly all they know, I can vouch for them, none of them are lying."

"If that’s the case, then come with me to the underground, elders."

Li Ping’an said,

"Bring the illuminating magical tools, I’ll show you who your real Clan Leader is."

The elders of the Heavenly Fox Clan looked at each other in astonishment.

Niu Benben, however, took the lead, holding two Luminous Pearls to his chest, and shouted, "I’m ready!"

Seeing this, Li Ping’an chuckled.

This guy is quite a good bully, worth nurturing.

...

Li Ping’an led Niu Benben and the elders of the Heavenly Fox Clan to the rock wall, and the elders were all taken aback.

They had also explored the natural formation but had never found a downward passage.

Some elders had seen records of this place in clan records, stating it was a reclusive retreat for the ancestors of the Heavenly Fox Clan, and later generations should not disturb it lightly.

For this reason, the place had long been abandoned and forgotten by the Heavenly Fox Clan.

Niu Benben was now looking solemn.

He stared at the pink aura for a long while and said softly,

"General, this seems to be a kind of spiritual power related to the soul."

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"Hmm," Li Ping’an replied simply, "This is a mutated power of the Primordial Spirit, and the source of the Primordial Spirit’s power is right behind this rock wall. I asked all of you here to witness, so don’t say I destroyed your ancestors’ relics for no reason."

The elders insisted they did not dare.

Niu Benben said, "Shall I just smash open this rock wall? Alright then! Watch me!"

He let the Illumination Pearl float above the elders’ heads, held a huge axe in his hand, and cautiously tapped it a few times ahead.

Using clever force, the rock wall cracked and turned to powder, revealing a star map faintly glowing with light.

In ancient times, there was a top-tier formation in Heaven and Earth known as the Zhou Tian Star Fighting Formation, controlled by the Ancient Heavenly Court.

This formation was so famous that many skilled individuals and scholars began studying star-related formations, giving rise to a brilliant branch in the Formation Great Dao.

The star map before them was a popular seal-type formation in ancient times.

Through the semi-transparent star map, they could already see the scene within.

This is a spacious underground stone hall.

In the four corners lie piles of white bones;

At the center stands a square high platform, atop which lies a nine-tailed fox with petrified skin, pierced by a giant stone sword that serves as the core of an internal sealing formation.

The nine-tailed fox’s forehead glints with a faint light, continuously releasing a pink aura.

Niu Benben looked in doubt: "What is this?"

"An ancient ferocious demon," Li Ping’an said calmly, "At the peak of the Great One Golden Immortal Realm, laden with karmic hindrances, and among the white bones here are many Hundred Clans’ creatures who have taken form, the weakest at least True Immortal Realm, likely collected as trophies."

"Is it not dead yet?"

"It’s sealed."

Li Ping’an looked towards the elders of the Heavenly Fox Clan, seriously stating:

"This fierce demon is likely the origin of the Heavenly Fox Clan.

"As they say, heroes do not question their origins; judging ancient beings with modern moral standards would certainly be biased.

"Today I wish to detain this ferocious demon, which should also remove potential threats to your Heavenly Fox Clan; what do you think?"

Li Ping’an had expected that these Heavenly Fox Clan elders might cry out: ’This is our ancestor!’

But in reality:

"Thank you, General! Thank you for coming to our rescue! Otherwise, we’re afraid we would have been devoured by this demon!"

"It was our Heavenly Fox Clan’s ancestor who sealed this demon!"

"Indeed, General, please do not misunderstand, this is a ferocious beast, how could it be our ancestor?"

Li Ping’an’s mouth twitched a few times, but he said nothing, gesturing for Niu Benben to step forward.

Niu Benben dared not be careless, holding a large axe, approaching slowly, a layer of black-gold flames igniting, his overwhelming aura covering the scene.

The elders of the Heavenly Fox Clan instinctively backed away.

The ferocious beast, the nine-tailed fox, had no reaction.

Niu Benben raised his large axe and swung it from afar towards the nine-tailed fox. The giant sword on the fox’s back suddenly gleamed with golden light, enveloping both the fox and the platform.

Buzz, boom!

The axe blade clashed with the formation’s light barrier, causing the stone hall to shake violently.

The ferocious giant fox on the stone platform let out a painful whimper, its petrified layer rapidly shedding, revealing its snowy white fur underneath.

Though Niu Benben had no weighty treasures, his innate cultivation base was genuinely not weak, and the weapon in his hand was refined with Heavenly Dao merits.

He slowly swung his axe again, the blade moving towards the formation’s light barrier.

The nine-tailed fox had already opened its eyes, its gaze swiftly transitioned from confusion to understanding to resignation.

It lay there quietly, watching as the slowly advancing axe blade breached the formation’s light barrier and struck the giant sword.

The great sword shivered continuously, cracks appearing across its surface.

Niu Benben leaped back a large step, opening his arms like a mother hen protecting Li Ping’an, shouting: "Everyone back! The fierce demon is about to awaken!"

The nine-tailed fox immediately cast a look of idiocy at the demon bull.

Hadn’t it already opened its eyes?

Are the Hundred Clans’ masters now so foolish?

—The nine-tailed fox naturally didn’t know the administrative style of Chief Niu.

The nine-tailed fox gently shook its body, the spiritual light on the giant sword completely dissipated, and the sword, which had survived countless years, directly shattered into powder, which was swept aside by the fox’s tail.

It seemed to like cleanliness.

"Fierce demon, do not act recklessly!"

Niu Benben shouted, ready to charge with his axe, but was halted by Li Ping’an’s hand on his shoulder.

"Don’t be hasty," Li Ping’an said, "Commander, perhaps you should negotiate with it, inquire about its origins; such a high-level expert could be worth enlisting."

"Ah, alright, General’s advice is very wise, truly enlightening, making Niu’s ears ring with understanding!"

Niu Benben responded, throwing in some flattery, then exuding his own authority, he called out to the nine-tailed fox:

"Hey! You ferocious demon! What is your name and why are you sealed here!

"This commander is the chief of the Heavenly Fury Guards, serving under the current Heavenly Emperor, dedicating to the New Heavenly Court that has brought new vigor to heaven and earth.

"Speak considered words, if you dare to speak ill of the Heavenly Court, don’t blame Niu for being merciless with my axe!"

The nine-tailed fox:...

It spoke with a slightly hoarse female voice, somewhat lazy, somewhat bored, indifferent: "Where does this idiot come from."