CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 88: SUBDUING SPIRIT FOX ISLAND - PART ONE (SEEKING INVESTMENT AND FOLLOWERS)

Human Hong Yuan was engrossed in his training, the situation tranquil and calm.

Elsewhere, the Demon Beast Hong Yuan followed the commands of his Flood Dragon Godfather and began to sweep across the islands of the Zero Desolate Sea Area. He was patrolling the sea area on behalf of his Flood Dragon Godfather, subduing the grand demons of the islands and demanding that they build Dragon God Temples and worship the Dragon God day and night.

The Demon Beast Hong Yuan was already able to enter the next Bloodline Dream Realm, but he was not in a hurry to do so. His current strength was insufficient to defeat the towering python, which had a body length of hundreds of meters, while his own form in the Bloodline Dream Realm had only just reached a hundred meters. The difference was vast. Therefore, Hong Yuan had recently been focusing on the Divine Power of Ten Thousand Heavy Water, studying its ninefold restriction in the hope of using it to topple the towering python.

In front of the Black Dragon Palace, the water shimmered. A few Mysterious Water Snakes swam beneath the surface, looking up as the fearsome Demon Beast Hong Yuan led a mighty army of shrimp soldiers and crab generals off to a magnificent start. These Mysterious Water Snakes, having defected from the nearby Chenye Sea Area and Huiyao Sea Area, enjoyed a relatively high status in the heart of the Flood Dragon Xuan Qi. However, compared to Hong Yuan, the gap was enormous.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A thunderous rumbling echoed over the sea as a motley crew of aquatic and avian demon beasts followed the frost-white giant python, charging forward in a disorderly manner. The lowest-ranking among this group of demon beasts were of the second order, a force powerful enough to annihilate any unruly island demon beast race within the Zero Desolate Sea Area.

The frost-white giant python, Hong Yuan, pushed through the waves, using the power of Frost to naturally glide swiftly forward. Ahead of him, two fourth-order grand demons cleared the way. They were the fourth-order Poison Tao grand demon, Black Carp Hei Jiang, and the fourth-order Wind Tao grand demon, Bai Gull Bai Ge.

He faced the dry, salty sea breeze. Ahead was nothing but a vast blue emptiness where even birds were rarely seen. The journey to their destination seemed endless, and Hong Yuan grew impatient.

"Taoists, how much farther do we have to go to reach Spirit Fox Island? We haven’t taken the wrong path, have we?" Hong Yuan asked, looking up.

Black Carp Hei Jiang replied, "Taoist Zhenyi, please don’t worry. Although Spirit Fox Island is secluded, it is extremely prosperous. Once we arrive there, we can rest well."

"Taoist Hei Jiang speaks truly," Bai Gull Bai Ge said with a chuckle, quickening the beating of his wings. "The enchantment of the demon foxes there is unparalleled, and even the grand demons from other sea areas covet them. The treasures possessed by these demon foxes will certainly meet our needs."

Oh? Many treasures... Hong Yuan’s eyes lit up instantly.

With a quick thought, strategies such as "coercion and inducement," "redirecting trouble," and "passing the buck to subordinates" surfaced in Hong Yuan’s mind.

After a short contemplation, Hong Yuan began discussing important matters with Black Carp Hei Jiang and Bai Gull Bai Ge.

Within Black Dragon Palace, the rank assessment stipulated that fourth-order demons were Taoists, while fifth-order demons were Taoist Zhenyis. Because of his Flood Dragon Godfather’s deep affection, Demon Beast Hong Yuan had preemptively occupied the position of a Taoist Zhenyi. This gave him the natural lawful right to command Black Carp Hei Jiang and Bai Ge.

Under Hong Yuan’s lead, things went smoothly, as both Hei Jiang and Bai Ge were grand demons who revered the law of the jungle—the survival of the fittest. They felt no remorse whatsoever about plundering Spirit Fox Island.

Before long, loud laughter resonated through the air.

The Tao Soldiers and other Taoists of Black Dragon Palace positioned behind the main force glanced at each other, puzzled about what schemes the Taoists and Taoist Zhenyi were concocting.

Spirit Fox Island was situated at the southern end of the Zero Desolate Sea Area. It boasted clear mountains, beautiful waters, picturesque scenery, and spring-like weather all year round. Its remoteness from the central islands of the Zero Desolate Sea Area also kept it away from various conflicts in the region.

The island mainly harbored fox demons. These included the Illusion Heart Fox clan, proficient in bewitching illusions, and the cool, aloof Moonlight Fox clan. According to rumors, descendants of the Nine-tailed Fox had even been lost here.

At that time, the master of Spirit Fox Island was the Illusion Heart Fox Clan Leader, a fourth-order great demon named Huan Yuelong. The junior master was Huan Yuelong’s proud disciple, Huan Shuangmeng, a third-order demon practitioner.

At that very moment, the clan leaders and elders of the various fox demon clans had all gathered at the center of the island, all wearing worried expressions as they regarded a command written on a cowhide letter. At the bottom of the cowhide letter, the signature that caught the eye was none other than the Monarch of the Black Dragon Palace, Flood Dragon Xuan Qi!

"A Demon Saint... Why would a Demon Saint choose to settle in our dilapidated sea area?!"

"Alas, it would be one thing if a Demon Saint merely settled here, but he actually comes from the Dragon God Sacred Land. Even seeking help from the Qingqiu Superior Clan would be useless."

"My uncles and elders, if the Demon Saint doesn’t demand much for tribute, why are we so afraid?"

"Little Meng, you’re inexperienced. You don’t understand the saying that it’s easier to deal with the King of Hell than his troublesome underlings."

The contemplative Spirit Fox Island Master, Huan Yuelong, furrowed her brows. Transformed into her human form, she stood tall and voluptuous, exuding an air of nobility, like a queen among mortals. But now, because of this matter, Huan Yuelong’s delicate brows were deeply knitted, adding a touch of melancholy to her usual elegance. She was acutely aware of what a Demon Saint represented, let alone one from the Dragon God Sacred Land.

Huan Yuelong bit her red lip, her gaze fixed on her proud disciple, Shuangmeng, who was forcefully rebutting the clan elders.

I hope the envoy won’t be too demanding, allowing us to get through this year’s obeisance with as little cost as possible, Huan Yuelong sighed softly to herself.

Huan Yuelong was accustomed to a life of freedom and independence. The thought of suddenly being subjugated by a Demon Saint made her deeply reluctant. But the weak do not have the right to resist; they can only obey the commands of the strong. Faced with a hegemon like Flood Dragon Xuan Qi, she had no choice but to submit.

Meanwhile, Huan Shuangmeng snorted coldly, clearly unwilling to accept the proposals of the clan elders. Spirit Fox Island was a formidable demon island, even home to two fifth-order big shots. Huan Shuangmeng did not believe for a second that some mere messenger would dare to use the Black Dragon Demon Saint’s name to line his own pockets here. However, since her own master had not spoken out against it, she didn’t persist in her opposition.

Half a day later, the emergency meeting hastily adjourned.

Demon Beast Hong Yuan and the two fourth-order great demons had already led a large group of demon beasts ashore. They crawled up the beach and were heading through the forest into the interior of Spirit Fox Island. Hong Yuan had already spotted several small green foxes.

Upon landing, the aquatic great demons all transformed into human-like forms, though their appearances were quite peculiar, much like the demons from "Journey to the West." There was a demon cultivator with a turtle shell on his back, another whose hands were still crab pincers, and one whose lower body remained that of a snake. It was truly a chaotic dance of demons, enough to make children stop crying.

As for Hong Yuan, since his cultivation was still only at the peak of the second order, he lacked sufficient Demon Essence to form a human Taoist body. He remained a frost-white giant python, nearly twenty meters in length. His appearance no longer held the ferocity of the Mysterious Water Snake; instead, it exuded a sense of resilient toughness. By Hong Yuan’s side were also many second-order flying and amphibious demon beasts.

"Follow me, my minions!" Hong Yuan swaggered forward, aggressively knocking down trees in his path, earning fearful glances from the foxes hiding in the shadows.

He was indeed haughty and domineering, acting as if no one else mattered, almost hoping a fox would provoke him so he could demand a hefty sum for "medical expenses."

Of course, Hong Yuan was secretly ready to activate his Divine Power of Ten Thousand Heavy Water at any moment, prepared to use one charge of his near-Saint level attack if anything went awry.

CLATTER! RUMBLE!

The motley army set out, their advance shaking the earth and mountains. Their imposing might stirred the northern part of Spirit Fox Island, causing countless foxes to screech in alarm.