This territorial aura served as a warning to all other demons: to enter this place without permission was to make an enemy of the Jade-Eyed Fox clan.
With their Supreme tokens, Yue Tong and Li Shuang entered the territory smoothly, triggering no defensive response.
But the Moon-Patterned Fox settlement was actually located *within* the Jade-Eyed Fox clan's territory.
This could only mean one thing.
Fifty thousand years later, the Moon-Patterned Foxes were no longer strong enough to occupy a territory of their own.
According to the rules of the demon race, they could only choose to align themselves with a powerful clan and become their vassals.
Yue Tong quickly realized this, and her spirits sank.
Li Shuang didn't know how to comfort her and could only look at her with concern.
Yue Tong soon came to terms with it. She smiled. "The rise and fall of a clan is simply the cycle of the Heavenly Dao. For my Moon-Patterned Fox clan to have survived to this day is already a blessing from the heavens. If we must depend on a great clan, then so be it. Having a backer is beneficial for survival. Let's go. We'll meet our kin first, and then we can join this Jade-Eyed Fox clan together."
Li Shuang said obediently, "I'll follow Senior Yue Tong's lead."
Yue Tong chose not to meet the Jade-Eyed Fox clan right away. She led Li Shuang, avoiding the Jade-Eyed Foxes in the territory, and took a detour to the Moon-Patterned Fox settlement first.
The bloodline aura grew denser and denser, and Yue Tong's steps became slower and slower.
Finally, she stopped beside a lake.
Near the lake stood about a dozen tightly packed wooden houses.
A few demons were sitting by the lakeside, resting.
The exposed skin of these demons bore the same moon patterns as Yue Tong's. They were the Moon-Patterned Fox clan.
Yue Tong hid in the shadows, watching quietly for a while.
Fifty thousand years ago.
The Moon-Patterned Fox clan was one of the largest super-grade demon clans. There were over a thousand of them, and experts were numerous.
Now.
She extended her senses.
Besides herself, there were only twenty-five Moon-Patterned Foxes left in this world.
These... were all her kinsmen.
Yue Tong sighed. Just as she was about to reveal herself with Li Shuang…
Suddenly.
A tyrannical voice rang out.
"What are you dawdling here for?! No mistakes will be tolerated at tonight's banquet!"
A squad of Jade-Eyed Foxes emerged. The one in the lead held a long whip, and as he spoke, he lashed out at the Moon-Patterned Foxes.
Before Yue Tong could even react, the long whip had already fallen.
The Moon-Patterned Foxes actually stood rooted to the spot, unmoving, allowing the whip to strike them.
A flash of shock and fury lit up Yue Tong's eyes!
How dare these Jade-Eyed Foxes!
"Sir, we've already practiced many times. We were just taking a short break," one of the Moon-Patterned Foxes said hastily.
"A break? Are you worthy of a break?" The leading Jade-Eyed Fox wore a scornful expression. "Although we are all super-grade demons, there are differences between super-grade demons."
"The only reason my clan allows you to be our vassals is that your dancing is somewhat decent, isn't it?"
"If one day you can't even dance, what use are you? You might as well jump in the lake and drown yourselves."
As he spoke, the Jade-Eyed Fox laughed arrogantly.
The other Jade-Eyed Foxes beside him laughed along.
But the Moon-Patterned Foxes didn't dare to resist in the slightest.
An older Moon-Patterned Fox said in a low voice, "We were just thinking that there can be no mistakes at the banquet tonight. Resting now is to ensure we have ample energy for the evening's performance. We ask for the commander's mercy and permission to rest for a short while."
The Jade-Eyed Fox sneered. "Making a life-or-death fuss over such a small matter. You truly are the most useless super-grade demons. You may rest for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. After that, get back to practice."
He gestured for one of the Jade-Eyed Foxes to stay. "Bi Lang, you stay here and watch them. Don't let them slack off!"
The Jade-Eyed Fox named Bi Lang chuckled and loudly agreed.
Only then did the remaining Jade-Eyed Foxes depart in a clamorous group.
Li Shuang glanced cautiously at Yue Tong.
The initial rage in Yue Tong's eyes was gone.
In its place was an extreme calm.
A cold curve touched the corners of her lips.
So.
This was the kind of life her Moon-Patterned Fox clan was living?
She would watch and see what else she didn't know!
Bi Lang glanced at the Moon-Patterned Foxes and said tyrannically, "Alright, get back to practicing."
A young woman from the Moon-Patterned Fox clan grew anxious. "Didn't you just say we could rest for the time it takes an incense stick to burn?"
Bi Lang sneered. "Did I say that? I don't seem to recall."
"You..." The young woman was furious. She was about to charge forward and fight him to the death but was held back firmly by the person next to her.
The older Moon-Patterned Fox cautiously handed over a storage bag. "Sir, could this perhaps buy us a little more rest?"
Bi Lang took it and glanced inside, a flash of disgust in his eyes. "Pathetically poor. Fine, I grant you the time it takes an incense stick to burn."
He casually lit an incense stick, but as he did, he subtly fanned it with his hand. The speed at which the incense burned instantly increased significantly.
The crowd of Moon-Patterned Foxes watched, furious but not daring to speak.
Naturally, the time it took for the incense stick to burn passed in a flash.
Bi Lang blew away the last bit of ash, then turned to the Moon-Patterned Foxes with a savage grin.
He raised his whip and brought it down toward the young woman who had defied him earlier.
The woman closed her eyes in despair.
But this time.
The whip never fell.
Her eyelashes trembled, and she opened her eyes in a daze.
In front of her, Bi Lang stood frozen as if he had been turned to stone.
The woman instinctively gave him a push.
Bi Lang fell backward, board-straight, and never got up again.
"Wh-what's going on? I didn't do anything!" The woman's first reaction was terror.
That was a Jade-Eyed Fox!
If something happened to him in their settlement, how could they possibly bear the responsibility?
The other Moon-Patterned Foxes panicked as well.
They all looked around. Had... had some expert taken action?!
Before they could process what had happened, moonlight descended in broad daylight. Under the power of the moonlight, Bi Lang's body on the ground instantly turned into a pile of dust.
"Since when has my Moon-Patterned Fox clan become so cowardly!" Yue Tong's face was grim as she slowly emerged.
She had just specifically asked Xue Luo.
The Boss had said it.
Make a scene!
Make it as big as you possibly can!
If the sky falls, she will hold it up!
In that case, they couldn't blame her for being merciless! This Bi Lang could be the first to die!
The crowd of Moon-Patterned Foxes stared at Yue Tong in a daze.
The moon patterns...
The power of moonlight...
How could they not realize that the two women before them were their own kin?
Especially the woman who had spoken—the energy that had burst from her just now was terrifying!
That had to be... the Tribulation Transcending stage!
Their Moon-Patterned Fox clan... actually had such a powerful expert?