Chapter 153: Two Birds Speak of Treasure, Transforming into Fox Spirits (Please Subscribe)

The sea of clouds stretched endlessly, with white cranes weaving gracefully through it. Lu Qian’s aura vanished without a trace, replaced by that of an ordinary white crane.

When tired from soaring high, he would descend to lower altitudes in a swift dive—not too fast, just quietly enough to remain unnoticed. Though this place held no enemies, caution was still prudent.

Ahead loomed a towering forest. Each tree was tall and straight, hundreds of feet high, their bark a deep crimson. The redwood trees bore few branches or leaves, their shade forming an endless canopy, like a floating continent in the sky.

Within this canopy, various birds and beasts thrived, barely a few feet from the clouds. Curious, Lu Qian hovered above the shade, the white crane landing steadily upon the thick foliage. A few sparrows scattered in alarm.

“What a handsome bird! It’s been so long since I’ve seen a white crane.”

“Bah, what’s so special about it? Just plain white, no colors at all.”

A male and female voice argued nearby, their tones hoarse and aged, betraying considerable years. Lu Qian turned to see two parrots standing nearby, chattering incessantly, pointing fingers.

“What are you staring at? Never seen a pretty boy before? Pretty boy!” The red-spotted parrot on the left scoffed.

“That old guy handsome? Pfft! Ignore him, young man,” the mottled parrot on the right said, patting its companion’s head with a tone like a kindly grandmother.

“Hey, young man, can you talk?” The mottled parrot hopped up eagerly, its round eyes fixed on Lu Qian’s crane form.

At that moment, various birds flew in, circling around Lu Qian.

“Can you talk?”

“Hello!” The white crane suddenly spoke, startling the gathering birds.

“So you can talk! Just call me Granny Mottled. How old are you? What’s your name? Can I call you Little White?” The mottled parrot bombarded him with questions, having discovered a new world.

Lu Qian answered sparingly; parrots were truly the most talkative creatures.

He had hoped to ask for directions, but after a long, rambling exchange, no useful information emerged.

Not wanting to waste more time, Lu Qian prepared to leave.

“Oh, by the way, if you’re heading to Yin Mountain Gorge, be careful. There’s a vicious man about who’s eaten many people. Also, don’t enter a big cave nearby—it’s been glowing strangely these past few days,” Granny Mottled warned incessantly.

“Nonsense! That cave holds treasures. It’s worth a fortune!” The red-spotted parrot, clearly holding back for a while, quickly interrupted.

“Treasure or not, your life is more important. No point having riches if you’re dead,” Granny Mottled shot back with a glare.

The two parrots resumed their bickering.

“Huh? Where did he go?” They suddenly realized Lu Qian had vanished.

“The cave?” Lu Qian mused as he flew forward.

The glowing cave was a clear sign of treasure or cultivation. Either way, since he was here, he intended to investigate and see who was behind it.

After flying some distance, the surroundings grew into a deep, secluded forest, rarely trodden by humans. The ground below was invisible.

“Is that really a light?” Lu Qian wondered, eyes fixed ahead.

Under the canopy, faint lights flickered like fireflies at night, almost imperceptible without close inspection.

With a swoosh, the white crane descended, transforming into a three-inch straw doll through the Crane Grass True Form technique, cautiously approaching the glowing spot.

“Ha ha, how powerful are my eighteen azure fire flying knives?” A brash male laugh echoed before Lu Qian had fully arrived.

Peering through the bushes, Lu Qian saw a cave entrance emitting a faint golden light. Hovering nearby was a red-haired man, surrounded by eighteen spheres of blue-green fire, trailing comet-like tails.

Below stood an exquisitely beautiful woman in a white cloak. Her face was pale, blood trickled from her lips, and she looked pitiful.

“Die!” The woman formed hand seals, a white tail floating behind her.

Suddenly, two full moons appeared in the night sky, descending towards the man.

“Huh? A fox demon—interesting! Your body belongs to me, Taoist Peach Blossom,” the man proclaimed.

With a swoosh, the eighteen blue fire spheres traced crescent-shaped paths, forming an impenetrable wall of light. They sliced the descending moons into a rain of sparks.

The unleashed energy tore the surrounding forest into shreds within a hundred feet.

At the center of the azure flames were eighteen flying knives, each blade lacking a handle.

The blades were fierce, effective both offensively and defensively, swirling tightly like a blazing fireball.

The fox woman was driven back relentlessly, soon losing the will to resist.

Taoist Peach Blossom descended, brandishing a white jade folding fan painted with peach blossoms.

Whether by magic or some other art, every wave of the fan released a captivating fragrance.

“I, Taoist Peach Blossom, love to collect beauties. But I’ve never encountered a fox demon before. Lucky girl,” he chuckled arrogantly.

Stepping forward—

A sudden roaring sound filled the air.

“What—?”

Taoist Peach Blossom instinctively looked up, chills running down his spine.

Before him was a three-meter-wide white wind, composed of countless slender needles sharper than ice.

Though not particularly fast, it appeared suddenly, making it impossible to react in time.

Ten feet beside him, a black-robed Taoist silently emerged.

Taoist Peach Blossom summoned his azure fire flying knives, their ghostly flame barely managing to shield his vital points.

Swish!

The white bone needles drained most of his flesh and vitality, leaving his skin shriveled.

“Ah!!!”

He acted decisively, abandoning his physical form as his spirit fled into the void.

“Don’t let me find out who you are!” Taoist Peach Blossom cursed venomously.

He hadn’t expected anyone to lurk in these desolate woods, hidden so deeply.

“Can you run?” Lu Qian’s calm voice whispered in his ears.

“So cold…”

In his final moments, this thought consumed Taoist Peach Blossom’s mind.

Snap!

His soul shattered.

From the ghostly green fragments flew a blood-red talisman, hovering and glowing with red light.

A majestic voice echoed from the talisman:

“Who are you? Why did you kill a disciple of the Venerable Spirit Light? Heaven and earth, none shall—”

Snap!

Before he could finish, Lu Qian shattered the talisman with a single finger.

Who knew who this Venerable Spirit Light was? If a single word could scare someone, Lu Qian might as well kill himself.

Turning to the fox demon surrounded by dozens of fearsome guardians, he said, “Don’t move.”

Then he darted into the cave.

Upon entering, a wave of warmth enveloped him, bathing his body in soothing heat.

Before him lay a corpse, slumped against the ground, face unrecognizable, dark crimson blood congealed on white clothes.

Above it floated a pure golden talisman, the source of the dazzling light. Though bright, it bore no hostility.

The talisman tried to escape upon seeing Lu Qian, but was restrained by his true qi, struggling helplessly above his palm.

“Looks like a valuable treasure,” Lu Qian thought.

Cautiously, he searched the corpse but found no ritual to activate or refine the talisman.

Only a few worthless trinkets were found.

As the master of this mountain, Lu Qian looked down on such trivialities, even reluctant to carry them in his sword pouch.

Still, he kept them—just in case something was overlooked.

He then drew out his sword pouch and sealed the talisman inside, its golden energy suppressed.

This place was no place to linger—if that so-called Venerable Spirit Light came searching, trouble would follow.

Lu Qian flew out of the cave, ignoring the barely clothed fox demon in torn garments, and said, “Take me to your lair!”

A streak of azure cut across the sky, vanishing beyond the horizon.

An hour later, a light flashed across the sky, revealing a human figure within.

The figure glanced coldly at the now empty ground, snorted, and disappeared.

Elsewhere, guided by the fox demon, Lu Qian reached the hidden lair nestled behind a massive blue stone at the foot of the mountain.

Without focus, it was nearly impossible to detect.

Inside was a different world: spacious, brightly lit, with curling smoke and lingering fragrances.

Contrary to expectations, there was no foul odor typical of fox demon dens.

“This place is fine. I’ll take it. For now, I’ll stay here,” Lu Qian nodded in satisfaction.

The fox demon’s torn clothes barely concealed her modest curves, her small but alluring bosom evident.

She looked pitiful and said, “Thank you, Daoist, for saving my life. My primordial yin remains. I am willing to serve you loyally.”

“Everyone here is male. What are you pretending for?” Lu Qian’s words startled the fox demon, who quickly recovered and flicked a cold star from her sleeve.

“Prepare to die!” Her voice was deep and fierce, nothing like the earlier coquettish tone.

Lu Qian reacted faster, a black spike piercing her skull.

The fox demon collapsed instantly, revealing her true form.