Chapter 41 Nefarious Scheme
41 Nefarious Scheme
"!!!" The people in the great hall gasped at the sudden enormous mental pressure.
The elders didn't know the agreement between the Palace Master and the 11th Elder. Regardless, this kind of pressure only belonged to someone at the 10th Rank expert!
"You, you've broken through to the Great Ascension Realm and become a Deity!?" The Palace Master was shocked beyond measure.
She had no idea what kind of fortuitous encounters Elder Celestial Fox encountered in such a short time, but to break through a whole great realm in a few hours was something she had never seen or heard of before.
"I've found my sister. As for the previous matter, you can place all the blame on me personally. If they want revenge regardless of my mercy, they should only come to me. The Tiangong Sacred Land will not make trouble with the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace." Yuuki glanced at the subtle energy fluctuation behind the three highest authorities.
She was sure the Palace Ancestor was there, ready to do anything for this holy land. Her alertness increased, and the ice palace's trouble was no longer her business.
"Wha, what?" The Palace Master glanced at the shadow fox once more. Was that fox Elder Celestial Fox's sister?
Even though there were doubts and suspicions, the current matter suddenly became beyond her control.
"I shall return this crystal plaque as I am no longer Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's person. Thank you for these three years, Palace Master. However, the deal ends, and our exchange will end here." Yuuki returned the elder identity token to the Palace Master.
"Presumptuous and ungrateful! Do you think you can come and go as you please? Once you are Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's people, you forever belong to us!" The great elder in a grey robe jolted into a rage.
"Hou? It's just an exchange, am I right? Palace Master, you must speak up for this. I am not the 11th elder but a distinguished guest elder. You promised to help me to find my sister in exchange for my service to the palace. The day for me to go is already here." Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Wait, is she the person you are looking for? You never said that person was your sister. Also, your drawing depicts a human rather than a nine-tailed shadow fox! She is just an imposter, an impersonator tricking you into thinking she is your sister!" The Palace Master panicked.
She took a painting scroll and showed it to everyone to prove her point to Elder Celestial Fox.
She and the elders planned to solve the problem with the best solution. Yet, no one ever expected Elder Celestial Fox would decide to leave right away.
And again, it was because of the shadow fox!
"..." Ely was speechless.
It was supposed to be a painting of her, but it looked more like a doodle-like melon drawing than a person. It was a far cry from her appearance when she was in her original human form.
Not even a God could help Yuuki to find her with that kind of poster. Yuuki should enter her drawing class first.
"I suspected that before, but I've confirmed the truth. My sister has foxy transformation abilities. Her previous form was human, so I thought she would still be human. You can announce my banishment from Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace, Palace Master. It's time for us to part ways." Yuuki raised her hand in farewell, then turned around. She took Ely's hand and walked away from the great hall.
"I'm sorry, but we can't let you leave."
Several elders and their respective direct disciples immediately blocked the exit.
Yuuki didn't budge and only stomped her foot lightly on the floor.
*Tap*
Deity-level pressure exploded and suppressed everyone's spiritual energy and cultivation realm. Yuuki's eyes glowed a bright blue as she used her secret technique. An extreme cold aura expanded and froze the eternal ice far below zero.
"That is if you can restrain me. I no longer have a reason to stay. I hope you do not appear as my enemy the next time we meet." Yuuki passed by the elders and direct disciples.
*Swoosh*
The Palace Ancestor decided to make her move. Yet, the shadow fox suddenly bonked her head with a wooden stick before she could even touch the Elder Celestial Fox.
That simple hit was super effective. The Palace Ancestor's spiritual entity received a critical hit straight to one's soul.
"I thought this holy land was awe-inspiring, but how is it different from mortal's sect? Have an all-high and mighty attitude, even though you are not immortals.
Prejudice, arrogance, selfishness, greed, and many more... too many negative emotions. You have never helped or protected my sister sincerely. Let me remind you, she belongs to no one but herself." Ely pushed the unconscious old lady.
*Thud*
The Palace Ancestor's spiritual avatar fell to the floor. Her invisibility shattered into pieces, and her presence appeared before everyone. Her avatar's soul fragment still received a tremendous impact from that seemingly harmless blow.
"..." Yuuki was amazed beyond words.
Ely only used a wooden wand with two zigzagging paper streamers to inflict a gentle blow. Yet, the Palace Ancestor fell unconscious to that simple attack.
Yuuki regained her composure right after and immediately took Ely away from there before the others returned to their sense.
It was dangerous if everyone ganged up on her from all sides. Ely could get hurt. Thus, they had to leave as soon as possible.
Several minutes after Ely and Yuuki left the Immortal Palace, the Palace Master and everyone soon recovered from the suppression and shock.
The one they mistook for the Oth young shadow fox, the impostor demon fox, and a dirty creature, was an unfathomably strong expert.
That shadow fox managed to send their ancestor unconscious with a super light tap on the head and barely exerted any effort.
"Why did it turn out like this? We've treated the Elder Celestial Fox well, but it's always just an exchange?" The Palace Master put her hand to her forehead.
"It's all because of that shadow demon fox. We must uncover the truth and make the 11th elder realize her mistake."
"Then, what about Tiangong Sacred Land? Shall we let her go?"
"But, she is already in the Great Ascension Realm. Even the ancestor wouldn't be able to catch her that easily."
"Argh! I already said that we shouldn't be doing this. Look what happened. The 11th elder decided to leave our palace."
"Yeah, we should catch up with her soon. Maybe, she'll come back if we recruit her sister too."
"That will upset a lot of people. That dirty shadow fox shouldn't be here! The 11th elder should be sent to the Tiangong Sacred Land. The conflict that sparked a war will happen because of her."
"We can't control her, and you hope that place can do that for us? She is the Celestial Fox for a reason! She actually is never a part of us."
Disputes broke out between the elders and divided them into two factions.
One side was hostile to the Elder Celestial Fox, while the other defended her.
"We might be able to bring back Elder Celestial Fox if we can successfully prove that shadow fox is not her sister." The great elder in a grey robe muttered softly.
"That's it! It is a great loss to lose a Great Ascension Realm expert. We can assassinate that shadow fox and throw the blame on others. Elder Celestial Fox will go killing spree and feel at a loss. We can take advantage of the situation to help and bring her back there. Once her beloved sister dies, she will be much easier to control." The elder in a yellow robe agreed with that.
*Bam!*
"Shut up for me!" The Palace Master slammed her hand onto the table and exerted her 9th Rank pressure with great annoyance.
"That shadow fox can send our palace's strongest powerhouse unconscious. Do you think she is a herbivore? She is so calm even in front of us, and can any of you measure her real cultivation realm? She looks like an ordinary weak mortal, but did our ancestor lose at the hands of a mortal in an instant!? Once you try to assassinate her, our palace will cease to exist!" The Palace Master was panting slightly with anger.
"Ugh, to think her sister actually existed and appeared here. I've tried so hard to prevent her from finding her sister. In the end, fate brought them together." The Palace Master slumped down into her seat.1
She previously thought the Elder Celestial Fox was quite loyal to Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace after years of win-win exchange. However, it seemed that it was just a self-deception.
"Then, what should we do?" The great elder in a bluish-white robe asked.
"We cannot afford to clash with Tiangong Sacred Land now. Let her wish to bear all the blame fulfilled. Announce that Elder Celestial Fox is no longer Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's people!" The Palace Master announced her decision, and the majority couldn't help but agree with it.
The great elders then brought their unconscious ancestor for treatment.
Regardless of the results that had already been announced, the elders, who had split into two factions, had already taken steps for an action that was completely opposite to each other.
The friendly party wanted to mend relations with the Elder Celestial Fox and bring her back. While the hostile party intended to catch or kill the shadow fox with a nefarious scheme to control the Elder Celestial Fox. The latter believed that the shadow fox was using dirty tricks to knock unconscious their ancestor's spiritual avatar.