When the fox clan leader heard that Xia Li had come to ask about Sunscorch Valley, she covered her mouth and laughed softly.

  "Then you've come to the wrong place."

  "The areas around Sunscorch Valley are easy enough to reach. But as for entering its deepest core, neither humanity nor demonkind has managed to uncover any truly valuable information. According to the ancient records, only someone with the bloodline of the Martial World might have a chance to explore it."

  The fox clan leader had not expected Xia Li to ask about Sunscorch Valley so directly.

  That place was no secret. Why come all the way to demon territory just to ask about it?

  "I never said I was going to the deepest core. I want the detailed terrain and basic information. Especially the areas where the fighting is heaviest."

  What Xia Li wanted was to avoid meaningless clashes and slaughter as much as possible and find a route by which he could slip inside unnoticed.

  Which made intelligence critical.

  "That, at least, is no problem. I'll contact people from other tribes and ask around. I'll help you compile as detailed an information summary as I can."

  "Then many thanks, Clan Leader."

  Xia Li dipped his head in thanks.

  On the road over, he had already asked Qiu Fu about Sunscorch Valley.

  The valley produced various fire-aspect spiritual treasures and spiritual herbs. From time to time, even sparks of Golden Crow Spirit Flame appeared there.

  Humans and demons fought over those resources with exceptional ferocity, both hoping to monopolize the treasure land.

  Of course, Sunscorch Valley also held countless death zones.

  Step into one, and you would die without even bones left behind.

  So Xia Li needed much more detailed information before setting out.

  "As I should. In the meantime, stay here as an honored guest of the fox clan. There's also something I'd like to ask you."

  "Please, go ahead."

  "As for little Hu Ling's puppet heart, I can see that it is exquisitely made, but insufficient in spirit. May I ask whether it can support her future cultivation?"

  The fox clan leader looked down with concern at the playful young fox in her arms.

  After Hu Ling's mother had been captured by humans, the child had always wanted to go into human territory and search for family.

  But was that remotely possible?

  Among the demons kidnapped into human lands, how many ever met a good end?

  The younger members of the tribe were ignorant as well. They bullied and mocked Hu Ling, which was what had driven her to run away in anger.

  And Qiu Fu had always been the one caring for her.

  So after Qiu Fu learned Hu Ling had fled the tribe, she had immediately left to search for her, worrying herself sick all the while.

  "If possible, she should avoid cultivating for now."

  What Xia Li had made was only an emergency prosthetic.

  Keeping her alive was no problem, but using it for cultivation was impossible. An emergency prosthetic could not withstand the impact of spiritual energy and powerful qi-blood circulation.

  "Then could the benefactor make another puppet heart, one fit for Hu Ling's cultivation? Even if we wish to regrow flesh and blood, unless she reaches Golden Core, she likely won't be able to endure the medicinal force of the treasure required."

  The fox clan leader naturally had methods to help Hu Ling grow a new heart.

  But the prerequisite was that Hu Ling's cultivation be high enough to endure the backlash of such treasures.

  Everything under heaven carried backlash.

  The only difference lay in degree.

  If one met the conditions for refinement, that backlash could be ignored.

  If one did not, serious consequences followed.

  "I can. But not now. You'll have to wait until I return from Sunscorch Valley."

  After obtaining the Golden Crow legacy treasure in Sunscorch Valley, Xia Li intended to return to Earth immediately and prepare a pseudo-stellar Golden Core in advance so he could cross tribulation and condense it there.

  While he was at it, he could also bring back a cultivation prosthetic for pet use.

  Assuming Earth actually manufactured such a niche item.

  If it did not, then he would have to place a custom order at great expense, which would be troublesome.

  "Then many thanks, benefactor. It's just that little Hu Ling is still young and likely can't repay you herself. So if you don't mind..."

  The fox clan leader lifted her brows slightly, the corners of her mouth drawing into a curious smile.

  How could she fail to notice that Xia Li clearly had certain thoughts about her?

  And, to be fair, it would have been difficult for him not to.

  Whether in old scholars' fox-spirit tales or in the otaku culture of Xia Li's own era, fox women had always occupied the highest seat in aesthetics.

  Again, seeing once was better than hearing a hundred times.

  Doubting King Zhou. Understanding King Zhou. Becoming King Zhou.

  "No!"

  But just as Xia Li was considering whether or not to sample the experience, Qiu Fu rejected the proposal on his behalf.

  "Oh? Hu Hufu, do you have some objection?"

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  "My name is Qiu Fu now. Clan Leader, your talent for naming people really is terrible. And if anyone's going to repay him, it'll be me personally. Why do you need to step in?"

  "You misunderstood. I call it repaying a debt, but in truth I'm coveting his body. His yuan-yang is so abundant it's already leaking out. Such a waste."

  "What? Clan Leader, how can you be like this?! You're shameless!"

  Qiu Fu had no sense of restraint at all. She actually pointed straight at the fox clan leader and called her shameless.

  "Says the noble one. Off to the side with you."

  The fox clan leader waved her hand, signaling for Qiu Fu to go home and sleep.

  There was nothing left for her to do here.

  Xia Li, meanwhile, kept his mouth shut and tried to act like some inscrutable expert.

  Ever since reforging his body, his qi and blood had grown so vigorous that his vitality was overflowing.

  Recently, he really had been feeling a bit pent up.

  And his view of romance had always been a casual one.

  He valued no loyalty in himself, nor did he expect it from others.

  On top of that, people were naturally curious.

  He only wanted to commit the kind of mistake every man was willing to commit.

  More than anything, he was simply curious, so...

  Fine.

  No more pretending.

  He admitted it.

  He had a thing for demons.

  "Qiu Fu, since the Clan Leader is offering so warmly, and I really can't refuse such hospitality, if the Clan Leader is willing, then I..."

  "Hah!"

  Qiu Fu literally hissed at him.

  The sight instantly reminded Xia Li of Big White back when he had first picked him up and the dog had still been guarding his food.

  Even the fox clan leader couldn't help laughing.

  "All right, all right. I won't fight you for him. A tigress is still a tigress. How could a little fox demon like me ever compete?"

  After saying that, the fox clan leader secretly sent Xia Li a message with divine sense.

  【This child has truly accepted you. Otherwise she would never have agreed to the name you gave her.】

  【It's just that she's still far too immature when it comes to feelings. If you don't mean it, then keep your distance. Demons are not like humans. Demons have their own nature.】

  【The cold-hearted may die without remembering you even once. Foxes, for all their passion, are often fickle. But the passionate type? Three days apart feels like life and death. Which kind do you think she is?】

  The fox clan leader was telling Xia Li to think carefully.

  If he didn't have the heart for it, then he shouldn't go around ruining lives, his own included.

  The moment Xia Li heard that, he recoiled inwardly.

  That was far too heavy.

  Clearly, crossing that line was out of the question.

  Xia Li rejected overly deep emotional ties.

  He did not want to depend on anyone in life and death.

  As long as he never possessed something in the first place, then he would never have to lose it.

  He would never have to spend the years after their absence wasting away from longing.

  Precisely because he was capable of deep feeling, he chose to be unfeeling.

  "Come on. Back to my nest to rest. We've been traveling for so long, you must be tired too."

  Qiu Fu grabbed Xia Li's hand and hauled him away directly.

  The fox clan leader smiled helplessly.

  She had naturally noticed the strange shift in Xia Li's expression after hearing her message.

  A kind of wordless coldness...

  Inside Qiu Fu's "nest," Xia Li was brought in as a guest.

  Though Qiu Fu called it a nest, it was actually an exquisite little wooden house built at the windward mouth of the valley.

  Wind chimes hung by the windows and doors, producing clear, natural music whenever the breeze passed through.

  "Listen carefully. Since I owe you, then if there's going to be repayment, it can only come from me. If you really want to..."

  Before she could finish.

  A powerful wave of soul-force suddenly swept across the valley.

  "I am Wang Xian, commander of the Demon-Hunting Army! Hand over the tiger demon who murdered my son, and I guarantee no innocent party will be harmed!"

  A powerful human expert had arrived.

  And he had come directly for Qiu Fu.

  That left Xia Li deeply puzzled.

  He knew the followers had sent word back, but he was the one who had actually killed that man.

  So why target Qiu Fu?

  How had they tracked them here so precisely?

  And how could they act this arrogantly in demon territory? Were the neighboring demon tribes doing nothing?

  Xia Li instantly guessed that there was more here than he knew.

  Hu Ling had run away.

  Qiu Fu had gone to rescue her...

  The Demon-Hunting Army had pushed deep into enemy territory without meeting resistance and had still located Qiu Fu's tribe with perfect accuracy.

  If someone claimed there was no scheme behind that, who would believe it?