CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 89 SUBDUING SPIRIT FOX ISLAND - PART 2 (SEEKING INVESTMENT AND FOLLOWERS)

The environment of Spirit Fox Island was indeed picturesque and unique.

As Hong Yuan stepped from the beach into the forest, he was greeted by a beautiful landscape.

Vines and flowers hung from the trees, and the grassy ground had been neatly maintained, creating a delightful atmosphere.

Spirit Fox Island was truly a place of scenic beauty, like a paradise isolated from the world.

However, as Hong Yuan and the other Demon Beasts passed, the area was ravaged.

The soil churned, trees collapsed, and flowers lay in tatters.

They moved like locusts, leaving devastation in their wake, crushing everything they saw.

RUSTLE RUSTLE~

The Demon Beast Hong Yuan coiled his body and crawled forward.

He slowly flattened the grass and branches. The birds and amphibious Demon Beasts following him also pressed on furiously toward the center of the island.

Upon entering a valley, Hong Yuan heard a charming voice.

"Esteemed guests, please halt!"

The ethereal sound of silver ornaments clinking echoed throughout the valley. As the breeze rustled the leaves, an elegant and distinguished beauty emerged from the waving grass ahead.

Her hair, adorned with sparkling decorations, framed a charming, lovely face filled with smiles. She addressed Hong Yuan in a mellifluous voice, "Sir, I am Huan Yuelong, the Island Master of Spirit Fox Island. We Fox Cultivators have prepared ourselves, awaiting the esteemed messenger’s inspection."

Hong Yuan looked up and was immediately stunned. The Fox Cultivator was breathtakingly beautiful; her every expression exuded a charm that could provoke lustful thoughts.

In particular, her exposed fox ears and tail reminded Hong Yuan of the internet celebrities and superstars he had followed in his past life.

In his past life, when would he ever have had the opportunity to be this close to such a ravishing beauty, one whose allure rivaled flowers under a full moon?

But in an instant, Hong Yuan’s heart calmed. Beauties are but skeletons in rouge, fleeting as passing clouds. Only longevity, only eternal life, truly matters!

GURGLE~ HISS~

Various sounds of swallowing came from behind. Hong Yuan didn’t need to guess; he knew the lesser demons in his retinue had been bewitched by this Illusion Heart Fox.

Suddenly, Hong Yuan thought he heard the voice of the fourth-tier Demon Beast Bai Ge and glanced upward.

Bai Ge, feeling Hong Yuan’s gaze, quickly straightened his posture, signaling he hadn’t forgotten his duties.

Worthless creatures, mesmerized so easily? Hong Yuan’s lips curved slightly downward in disdain.

"Hmph. Let’s inspect the Dragon God Temple first," Hong Yuan said, lifting his head and signaling the beautiful woman to lead the way.

As this group of powerful Demon Beasts followed the beautiful woman toward the Dragon God Temple, several other Fox Cultivators appeared. They were as beautiful as their leader, their movements as graceful as fluttering swallows and orioles.

They gathered around Huan Yuelong, protecting her at the center like stars surrounding the moon.

But Huan Yuelong insisted on staying close to Hong Yuan to explain matters, which resulted in a crowd of beautiful Fox Cultivators surrounding him.

The other powerful Demon Beasts were all envious of Hong Yuan, but he merely furrowed his brow.

Fox demons naturally possess a musky odor. Thus, during their cultivation, they must mask this and develop scent glands to produce fragrances.

A few Fox Cultivators were fine, but surrounded by a multitude of them, the clashing fragrances quickly overwhelmed Hong Yuan.

"Island Master Huan, have them disperse," Hong Yuan said with a frown.

"Yes... Alright." Huan Yuelong complied, leaving only her disciple Huan Shuangmeng and the great elder Qing He by her side.

Qing He was a powerful fourth-tier Fire Tao Demon Beast, but now quite elderly. Currently in her Original Body, she was being held in Huan Shuangmeng’s arms.

Huan Shuangmeng was as beautiful as Huan Yuelong, though she lacked the latter’s mature charm, possessing instead a distinct, almost transparent foolishness.

Seeing her master hold Hong Yuan in such high regard, and the other powerful Demon Beasts defer to him as their leader, Huan Shuangmeng felt a stir in her heart.

This Little White Python is merely a second-tier lesser demon, yet his status is so lofty. If I could successfully enchant him and make him my devoted servant, wouldn’t he dote on me and obey my every command? Then, not only could I reduce the resources the Black Dragon Palace collects from Spirit Fox Island, but we might not even need to pay taxes at all! Perhaps I could even use tax revenue from other islands to subsidize Spirit Fox Island!

The more Huan Shuangmeng pondered, the more she felt this was a golden opportunity.

She was, after all, a cultivation genius of the Illusion Heart Fox clan, one seen only once every three hundred years. Even the Qingqiu Superior Clan had shown interest in recruiting her. With her skills, wouldn’t this mere second-tier Little White Python obediently submit to her charms and follow her every command?

HEH HEH~ A smile touched Huan Shuangmeng’s lips.

Hong Yuan sensed the subtle shift and glanced at Huan Shuangmeng, who had the air of a young student. He quickly averted his gaze. Such a foolish vixen, not worth a second thought.

Soon, they arrived at the Dragon God Temple of Spirit Fox Island.

It was a large Taoist Temple, clean and unadorned, built high on a mountain strictly according to specifications.

Hong Yuan stood at the foot of the mountain, observing foxes of all sizes worshipping the Dragon God.

"Sir Guangqiao," Huan Yuelong began respectfully, clasping her hands in a salute towards the Taoist Temple, "ever since I received the Demon Saint’s instructions, I have dedicated myself fully to constructing the Dragon God Temple. I’ve commanded my kin to worship day and night. Whenever I have a moment, busy or not, I also come to offer my worship."

"Mm-hmm," Hong Yuan replied perfunctorily.

Then, from beneath his Python Shield, Hong Yuan retrieved a dark red jade stone by biting it. This stone, a gift from his godfather, the Flood Dragon, could verify if the Island Master had been diligent.

CLICK.

Activating his Innate Ability, Hong Yuan solidified a patch of ice on the ground. He then solemnly placed the dark red jade stone upon it and watched quietly.

The other Demon Cultivators, sensing Hong Yuan’s solemn demeanor, fell silent and watched the dark red jade stone for any changes.

THUMP-THUMP, THUMP-THUMP~

The beautiful Huan Yuelong’s heart pounded wildly. She hadn’t anticipated Hong Yuan possessing such a treasure. Fortunately, upon receiving the directive, she had immediately quelled all dissent within her clan and devoted all efforts to constructing the Dragon God Temple.

Huan Shuangmeng, standing to the side with eyes gleaming, watched Hong Yuan in silent astonishment.

She hadn’t expected this Little White Python, Hong Yuan, to wield such astonishing influence.

Hong Yuan’s every move seemed to captivate all the Demon Cultivators present!

Soon, the dark red jade stone began to glow and grow warm, gradually turning a deeper red.

Seeing this, Huan Yuelong finally breathed a sigh of relief. They had achieved an ’Excellent’ rating, meaning they only needed to submit the standard amount of resources to the Black Dragon Palace.

However, unexpectedly, the fourth-tier Demon Beast Hei Jiang, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke. His words made her expression change drastically.

"Oh dear, Island Master Huan Yuelong," Hei Jiang said, his eyes narrowing into a smile. "It seems you’ve only just managed an ’Ordinary’ rating. That hardly befits a prominent Demon Beast island like yours. You shouldn’t assume that just because our Taoist Zhenyi is young, he’s easily deceived~"

Hong Yuan collected the jade stone unhurriedly, an almost imperceptible smile touching his lips.

Before Huan Yuelong could respond, Huan Shuangmeng immediately jumped forward, glaring furiously at Hei Jiang. "What are you talking about?!" she rebuked. "It was clearly ’Excellent’!"

This is bad! Huan Yuelong’s heart sank.

HEH HEH~ Hei Jiang chuckled softly, ignoring Huan Shuangmeng’s outburst.

He turned to Hong Yuan and Bai Ge, inquiring, "Taoist Bai Ge, you saw an ’Ordinary’ rating just now, correct?"

"Yes, I saw an ’Ordinary’ rating," Bai Ge answered decisively.

Huan Yuelong and Huan Shuangmeng looked at Hong Yuan expectantly, hoping he wouldn’t be swayed by the two fourth-tier Demon Beasts.

Hong Yuan didn’t respond immediately. He took out the dark red jade stone again, examining it repeatedly. Then, feigning uncertainty, he said, "Taoist Hei Jiang is right. This... this color does indeed indicate an ’Ordinary’ rating..."

By then, the jade stone had already dimmed due to the lack of Demon Essence activating it, its glow having faded back to the ’Ordinary’ level!

Huan Shuangmeng was furious. With her limited understanding, she could only see the two fourth-tier Demon Beasts as utterly detestable.

Huan Yuelong, too, was deeply distressed. In that brief moment, she couldn’t discern whether the two Demon Beasts were coercing Hong Yuan, or if Hong Yuan himself was complicit in this scheme to pressure Spirit Fox Island.