Translator: CinderTL
To Song Wen's delight, the Nether Fox's damaged Demon Soul gradually began to heal after consuming the medicinal pill.
Moments later, the Nether Fox's tightly closed eyes twitched slightly, showing signs of awakening.
Song Wen knew this was the Divine Soul Restoration Pill taking effect.
He immediately sat cross-legged and channeled a stream of spiritual power into the Nether Fox's body to help it refine the pill.
Before long, the Nether Fox stirred awake, slowly opening its eyes. Still weak, it lay sprawled on the ground, gazing up at Song Wen.
"Thank you for saving me, Master," it murmured.
Song Wen nodded slightly and pointed to the nearby monster. "Do you recognize this creature?"
The Nether Fox's eyes shifted to the monster, its expression instantly turning fierce.
"I've never seen it before! Master, why haven't you killed it yet?"
Song Wen shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"This creature, like you, exists within Primordial Qi. I thought you might have some insight into it."
With that, Song Wen rose to his feet and approached the monster.
A long spear materialized in his hand.
Since he couldn't discern the monster's true nature, he had no choice but to follow the Nether Fox's advice and eliminate it to prevent further complications.
Song Wen approached the monster, ready to strike, but discovered it was already awake, its massive, pitch-black eyes fixed intently on him.
"Gree... glah... gree..." the monster uttered a series of strange sounds, its voice rising and falling with a peculiar rhythm.
Song Wen suddenly realized the monster was speaking.
But it was a language he had never heard before, completely incomprehensible.
This monster can speak, and it has its own language? Song Wen thought, astonished.
If the monster had its own language, it meant its species was vast and possessed considerable intelligence. Without a large population and complex communication needs, a language would be meaningless.
Song Wen turned to the Nether Fox.
"Do you understand what it's saying?"
The Nether Fox's eyes were filled with surprise, tinged with confusion.
"I don't understand! We Nether Foxes aren't skilled at communicating with other demon beasts. Besides, the Nether Fox Clan doesn't have its own language; we communicate with each other using the human tongue."
Song Wen turned back to the monster, his gaze icy.
"What are you saying? Do you understand human language?"
"Gree... glah... gree..." The monster's massive jaws opened and closed, emitting another string of sounds.
With a flick of his wrist, Song Wen swung his spear horizontally, aiming directly at the monster's right eye.
"Speak human language!"
A clear look of fear flashed in the monster's eyes as it babbled incoherently, its words tumbling out faster and faster.
Song Wen's patience snapped. He thrust his spear forward, piercing the monster's eye.
The creature's mouth gaped open, emitting a piercing, mournful wail.
But the sound was abruptly cut short.
Blinding Thunderlight erupted from Song Wen's body, surging into the monster's skull and detonating within.
The monster's head shattered instantly, its lifeless body collapsing to the ground.
Song Wen stared at the corpse, pondering how to devour its blood essence and soul.
Yet he detected neither blood essence nor a soul within the remains.
Meanwhile, a fragment of the monster's skull had landed near the Nether Fox's mouth.
Its nose twitched slightly before it suddenly opened its jaws, revealing rows of sharp fangs, and bit down on the skull fragment.
Crunch... The grating sound of chewing echoed through the air.
The Nether Fox crushed the fragment in a few bites and swallowed it whole.
Its eyes suddenly blazed with light.
"Master, may I dispose of this monster's corpse?"
Song Wen, who had witnessed the Nether Fox's consumption of the fragment, asked, "Why?"
The Nether Fox replied, "This monster's corpse can repair my soul and enhance my strength."
Song Wen's expression froze.
This monster's corpse was proving to be an extraordinary boon for the Nether Fox, akin to a miraculous elixir.
If the monster's remains could enhance the Nether Fox's cultivation, what about humans?
Intrigued, Song Wen immediately summoned a fragment of the monster's corpse into his hand.
Examining the fragment closely, he discovered it contained no Spiritual Qi, but rather a dense concentration of Primordial Qi.
Recalling the Divine Blood Gate's obsession with such creatures, Song Wen resolutely tore off a tiny piece and placed it in his mouth.
Instantly, an indescribable stench erupted in his mouth, assaulting his senses and piercing his mind. He felt dizzy and nauseous, nearly vomiting.
The stench was like the condensed essence of the world's deepest resentment and filth, not only assaulting his senses but also seemingly seeping into his divine soul.
Song Wen spat out the fragment immediately, finding some relief.
After a moment to recover, he activated the Black Hole within his Sea of Consciousness and attempted to devour the remaining fragment. The fragment in his hand rapidly dissolved into nothingness.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, a few strands of soul fragments materialized.
Song Wen suddenly felt bored. This monster seemed to offer him little benefit.
"The monster's corpse is all yours," Song Wen said.
"Thank you, Master," the Nether Fox replied, its voice trembling with excitement. It eagerly opened its mouth and inhaled deeply.
The scattered monster fragments and remains detached from the ground and flew toward the Nether Fox.
The Nether Fox began to feast, meticulously chewing each fragment before swallowing it whole.
By the time it finished, its soul injuries had completely healed, and its aura began to surge violently.
"Master, I'm about to break through," the Nether Fox announced.
Song Wen's expression brightened slightly. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Please allow me to enter the Primordial Qi Death Zone," the Nether Fox requested. "The abundant Primordial Qi there will undoubtedly aid my advancement."
Song Wen frowned. "The Primordial Qi Death Zone is far from peaceful. Your breakthrough will inevitably create a significant disturbance, likely attracting other monsters."
"Rest assured, Master," the Nether Fox replied. "My sensory range is vast. If any monsters approach, I can retreat in advance."
"But you didn't detect that monster earlier," Song Wen pointed out.
"That was because I had never encountered a monster before," the Nether Fox explained, "and mistakenly took it for a piece of rotten wood, paying it no heed. After this experience, no monster will ever escape my perception again."
Song Wen pondered briefly before replying, "Even if what you say is true, I need to enter seclusion and won't have time to protect you."
"There's no need for you to protect me, Master," the Nether Fox said. "I can enter the Primordial Qi Death Zone alone."
"You'll enter alone?" Song Wen looked surprised.
"Master, as a human, your aura clashes with Primordial Qi, making it easy to leave traces and attract the attention of creatures within the Death Zone. If I go alone and find a secluded spot, I'll be less likely to draw their notice."
"Then we'll do as you suggest," Song Wen said after careful consideration.
(End of the Chapter)
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