Barely had the words crossed Daji's lips that a multitude of magenta rays shot out of her colorful pearl, curving on their way down and surrounding the 17 Kuns in an array of colorful light. The light dispersed, revealing legions upon legions of mysterious beasts that split into species-based battalions.
500 Nine-Headed Hydras, 500 Flood Dragons, Jeweled Snakes, Colorful Clams, Indestructible Crabs, Mermaids and so on. All in beast forms, going from rank-four Beast Generals to rank-six Ordained Beasts, the 7,000 man-strong sea creatures stood in flawless military order, with the weakest beasts lining up at the back while the strongest formed the vanguard. Array runes oscillated around them, milk-white stones and bagua compasses hovered in the midst, signaling a grand formation that united all these creatures for overwhelming destructive capabilities.
"You're…a Nine-tailed White Fox from Qingqiu! By all the ruinous waves, has a new dynasty emerged from the Western Damnation Sea? Where…are all these troops coming from?!" Though mystical shrouds concealed her appearance, a single glance at the colorful pearl enabled the Kun leader to identify Daji's background.
As all mysterious beasts, white foxes possessed a monster core. If damaged, the core would harm the mysterious beast's cultivation. And once destroyed, it ended its owner's life as well. For that reason, Mysterious Beasts never dared to expose their monster cores. The white foxes were one of the few exceptions for, unlike other species, their monster core also contributed to their battle prowess.
Not only did they provide them with mind-boggling storage space, but they also enabled them to insta-cast unique binding formations. Add to that the white foxes' innate formation excellence plus bewitching abilities, and attacking a member of the White Fox clan often meant confronting the troops they'd subjugated as well. However, since the white foxes took refuge in the hidden island of Qingqiu, they rarely if ever left their domain, to say nothing of subjugating other races to form private armies.
But now, a nine-tailed White Fox had appeared in the Outer Sea, bringing alongside her an army of over 7,000 troops, the weakest of which could break a Dongli Golden Core expert. The combined might of these 17 Kuns was not enough to handle the weakest of Daji's soldiers!
'Though the ten-tailed White Fox possesses the most overbearing fox bloodline and mesmerizing skills, they are too cursed to make adequate use of their abilities. The nine-tailed foxes are entirely different. Akin to the Gods in Heaven, each can form a deadly army if they so wish to, and bring down ancient empires in a fit of rage. Why…is one of these creatures in the Outer Sea?' Faced with this alarming news, even the free-spirited Zuixian held his breath, his eyes trembling at the possibility that, this tailed fox might be heading towards his home: Dongli.
He was slightly incorrect. Yes, to chase Xinzi, Daji headed towards Dongli, but if she didn't make the entire Eastern Continent quake for all the grief she'd suffered in her previous life, she wasn't worthy of being a legendary monster!
Due to ancient conflicts with the beast-ruled Western Continent, the Eastern Imperial clan reduced all mysterious beasts, regardless of deeds or background, to either slaves or corpses. Anyone that refused to treat them as such suffered the imperial clan's persecution, making it nigh impossible for mysterious beasts or anyone related to them to establish a foothold in the east.
In her previous life, born from heaven and earth, Daji had the misfortune to start her journey in the East—suffering no end of persecution until she finally landed in the Dark Moon Cult's hands. Then she got tossed to the Soaring Crane Mountain, which didn't hesitate to use its perverse methods to control her powers—quite literally torturing her to death! If not for their futile war with her master, that death would have been the end of her story!
Thankfully, her master appeared in the midst of it all, giving her the second chance that she now enjoyed. But though her current background put her above the Eastern Continent, Daji couldn't forget the injustice she'd suffered. The Dark Moon Cult and Eastern Imperial Clan both had to pay for that grievance, and if for that she had to overturn the East, then overturn the East she would!
"Damn! Damn! Damn!" Overwhelmed by despair, the 17 Kuns lost the will to fight. Their leader swayed in the air, fumes oozing from his scales as he stared, helpless, at Daji's armada. Kuns and White Foxes both ranked among the legendary beasts, but following their rebellion against the Night and the brutal genocide that Hengye Wuxin put their entire species through, the Kuns had indeed been reduced to a shell of their former selves, and now didn't have a single Supreme-Clarity-level powerhouse to hold the fort.
Worse, unlike the Sea Dragons, the Kuns all had hideous human forms, preventing them from getting a fair shot at joining the now defunct Night Slave Hall. The new God-Monarch didn't even care to send them an invitation for his Night Flower Selection! On the contrary, the White Foxes had both irresistible beauty and talent, making their future status in these seas hard to fathom.
Be it in strength or status, these Kuns couldn't afford to resist Daji, and had to give up on devouring the juicy resource that Xiao Hu was!
"Young lady, please forgive my transgression. But as you said, the Kun clan isn't what it used to be. We're now no different from loose cultivators, drifting from sea to sea for meager cultivation resources. This human's body is a walking treasure, and can increase me and my brothers' cultivation bases significantly. If you can allow us to devour the human, we are willing to become your servants…" The Kun leader tried to play the sympathy card. Alas…
"You are too ugly and at best would sour my master's mood. At worst, you might even burn his eyes. I can't risk it," Daji said in a calm, straightforward tone. At first, the 17 Kuns blinked at her words, wondering if their ears weren't playing tricks on them—they weren't.
"Bastard! Do you th…" Barely had the incensed Kun leader started his "I'm an Offended Mook Goon" rant that, at his back, the column of green light around Xiao Hu morphed into a gigantic spiral of green water orbs. The orbs joined into one, expanding in the Endless Sea sky, and channeling the waters below to form a brand-new Qi Pool. The green Qi Pool stretched far and wide, crossing the one square kilometer mark to stand among the anomalies of the Great Desolation World.
As expected by Xinzi, an Immortal Seed formed as well, sinking to the bottom of Xiao Hu's Qi Pool. Her eyes opened here, empty, indifferent, yet brimming with such sharp and overwhelming Sword Qi that Zuixian's brows furrowed.
'Such pure and unadulterated killing intent. This Sword Qi has absolutely no impurities, a feat only possible in someone that devotes their entire existence to the sword. Xiao Hu…what happened to you?' Zuixian's thoughts trailed off.
The first time they met, Xiao Hu gave him the impression of a caged and confused bird trapped by needs, desires and expectations that she couldn't make sense of. Now, however, she looked more like one of those crazed sword masters that let go of their past, emotions or desires to pursue the pinnacle of swordsmanship—another sword demon in the making.
"Huh? Why is my tail sinking towards the sea?" Xiao Hu's Spiritual Sense swept through the 17 Kuns, splitting them all into two. By the time their brains had registered their fate, their bodies had broken down into neatly carved pieces of Kun meat—vanishing in the depths of the Endless Sea.
'Sword Sense. Congratulations. In pure sword accomplishments, Guang Fanghu aside, no one in the White Immortal Sect can compare with you.' Zuixian thought, then glanced back and forth at Daji and Xiao Hu. The two stared at one another, in silence getting the measure of who they faced.
"Hi, charming sister."
"Based on what do you call me that?"
"A white fox's nose can detect the Yin and Yang balance in a person's body, while our eyes enable us to project the exact shape of your body, so yes, regardless of what you wear, looks and gender-wise, you can't hide anything from me."
"What a rude ability, does it work on its own or can you turn it on and off?"
"The nose thing we can't control. But as for the eyes, it's always choice. Most try to avoid using it, less they offend a vindictive powerhouse."
"I guess that 'most' doesn't include you."
"I'm not afraid of offending anyone. With that said, I have no interest in male bodies—just the beauties that might appeal to my master's eyes. You see, I'm on a mission to bring him the rarities of the world."
"Interesting…and that would include me?"
"If you're willing to join. But I'm Daji-positive that you will. My irresistible swagger will pull you in." As the two went back and forth, the oxygen level in the atmosphere seemed to drop, making the bystanders gasp for breath.
Zuixian, who observed this from the shadows, could see neither Daji nor Xiao Hu's faces—and had to rely on their voices and tone to picture their expressions.
"Will you cause mayhem?"
"Lots of it."
"Good. I have nothing to do and could use some exercise. My current fees are 50,000 spirit stones per month. I accept cash only," Xiao Hu said, turned into a green flying sword, racing towards Daji's right.
"That's golden-core level money.. You better believe that I will make you earn that bread," Daji said, and in a flurry of colorful rays, the armada vanished from the scene.