The Nine-Tailed Fox Empress waved her hand, signaling Yin Xue that she could leave.
Yin Xue rose and departed the grand hall.
She didn't rush out of the imperial palace, instead waiting for Yu Fu to emerge.
After a while, Yu Fu exited the hall, and it was unclear what the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress had instructed him.
Yin Xue walked up to him and said,
“Lord Yu Fu, could I trouble you with a small matter!”
“Princess, please command me. What is it?” Yu Fu replied, somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Yin Xue to still be around so late at night.
“I wish to ask for a person from Lord Yu Fu. Her name is Jian Zhu, and I want to take her with me to another world,” Yin Xue stated.
Jian Zhu!?
Yu Fu did recall that Jian Zhu had sold a considerable amount of information about the Qing Qiu Kingdom to Yan Huang.
He had also personally interrogated Jian Zhu.
However, Jian Zhu's resolve was strong. She only claimed to have sold the information for money and revealed nothing else, not even a single accomplice.
Despite their exhaustive efforts and various methods, Jian Zhu was tortured to the brink of death.
If using a dying person could lure out a bigger fish, all the better.
Thus, Yu Fu said,
“May I ask what your relationship is with this Jian Zhu? She has committed offenses and is currently in the celestial prison.”
“It’s nothing. If it troubles Lord Yu Fu, then forget it!” Yin Xue replied.
Yin Xue wanted to save Jian Zhu out of consideration for Zheng Dong.
If it would lead to significant trouble, she was unwilling.
“It’s no trouble at all, a trivial matter. I will have someone deliver her to the Princess’s mansion tomorrow morning.
At that time, I will also accompany the Princess to the other world. Please be prepared tonight,” Yu Fu stated.
After all, she was a person on the verge of death. He wanted to see who exactly was trying to save Jian Zhu.
“Then thank you, Lord Yu Fu. I hope you will take good care of me in the other world,” Yin Xue said.
After a few more pleasantries, Yin Xue and Yu Fu parted ways, and Yin Xue returned to the Princess’s mansion.
However, Zheng Dong did not wait for Yu Fu.
This workaholic had directly gone to the celestial prison to interrogate Jian Zhu overnight.
As dawn approached, Zheng Dong had no choice but to return to the Princess’s mansion first.
Acting during the day would be too conspicuous, so he planned to return at night.
However, upon returning to the Princess’s mansion, he discovered that the servants were all busy packing, preparing to depart for the other world.
Zheng Dong had no intention of going with them.
But Yin Xue informed him that Yu Fu would be bringing Jian Zhu shortly and intended to take Jian Zhu to the other world as well.
This forced Zheng Dong to stay temporarily, waiting to rescue Jian Zhu before finding a way to leave.
However, he worried that Jian Zhu might not recognize him as her younger brother later.
After all, Jian Zhu had never met him before.
He could only adapt to the situation as it unfolded.
Zheng Dong left a clone by Princess Yin Xue’s side, while his main body used the ultimate combination skill, Perfect Possession, to hide within Princess Yin Xue’s golden hairpin.
This way, even if attacked suddenly, he would be safe.
Not long after, Yu Fu arrived at the Princess’s mansion with Jian Zhu.
Jian Zhu was wearing a blood-stained prison uniform, her face pale, and her eyes vacant.
She hadn't expected to walk out of the celestial prison alive.
Yet, she also knew she wouldn't live much longer.
She was already numb.
She didn’t want to say anything, do anything, nor did she want to think about what Yu Fu intended to do by bringing her out of the celestial prison.
She just wanted to breathe the fresh air outside the celestial prison.
“Your Highness, I have brought the person you requested,” Yu Fu said, glancing at Zheng Dong behind Yin Xue.
In the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom, it was common for princesses to take consorts, but he hadn't expected Yin Xue to choose such an ordinary mixed-blood.
Could this mixed-blood be very strong in that regard?
However, what happened next shocked him.
Before Yin Xue could speak, Zheng Dong’s clone directly stepped forward and hugged Jian Zhu.
“Sis! Sis, how did you end up like this…” Zheng Dong exclaimed, fearing Jian Zhu might reveal something.
At this moment, Jian Zhu’s heart was filled with complex emotions. Hearing the first word “Sis,” she was startled, thinking it was indeed her brother. But seeing an unfamiliar face, she calmed down.
On the surface, Jian Zhu’s expression remained unchanged throughout.
She didn’t know if Zheng Dong was sent by Yu Fu to test her, nor did she know if Zheng Dong was an ally.
Therefore, she remained silent, maintaining her previous appearance of bewilderment and numbness.
Yin Xue nodded to Yu Fu and said,
“Thank you for your trouble, Lord Yu Fu.”
Then, she beckoned two maids to take Jian Zhu to wash, apply medicine, and change clothes.
She also reassured Zheng Dong not to worry.
Of course, Zheng Dong couldn't help with such matters and didn't follow.
Yu Fu didn't immediately move against Zheng Dong.
He wanted to cast a long line to catch a big fish.
He wanted to see what Zheng Dong was up to.
Zheng Dong, on the other hand, wanted to take Jian Zhu away as soon as possible.
However, after waiting for a long time, the maids had not brought Jian Zhu back.
At this moment, the Princess’s mansion steward announced that the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress and Bu You Tuoteng were about to arrive.
Zheng Dong dared not act rashly.
He had no choice but to follow Yin Xue and Yu Fu to welcome the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress and Bu You Tuoteng.
Soon, a overlord-level Nether Bone Dragon was seen pulling the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress’s dragon carriage, arriving outside the Princess’s mansion.
Following that, Bu You Tuoteng also arrived with nine fox demons from the other world.
“Xue’er, when you go there, don’t slack off. Cultivate diligently and strive to become a Totem as soon as possible!” the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress said.
This surprised Yin Xue greatly.
She hadn't expected her mother to personally come to send her off.
Bu You Tuoteng, standing behind the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress, also spoke,
“Your Majesty, rest assured. Our Emperor will not mistreat Princess Yin Xue. He has already prepared a time-elemental gem for Princess Yin Xue. I believe that with its use in cultivation, Princess Yin Xue’s strength will surely advance by leaps and bounds!”
A time-elemental gem!?
This was exactly the resource Zheng Dong desired.
But he didn’t want to go to the other world.
At this moment, Zheng Dong also noticed a man from the fox demon tribe behind Bu You Tuoteng giving him a sinister smile.
That smile was like a demon from hell, beckoning you.
The man was named Bu Cheng, the nephew of Bu You Tuoteng and the third prince of the Fox Demon Clan’s patriarch, the Fox Demon Emperor.
He wasn't here as a hostage but was accompanying Bu You Tuoteng to experience the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom, essentially for a gilded experience.
The goal of their fox demon tribe was not to cooperate with the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom.
Instead, it was to completely control the entire Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom and then conquer the entire Blue Star.
The reason Bu Cheng harbored ill intentions towards Zheng Dong was that he had taken a liking to Yin Xue.
As soon as Yin Xue arrived in the other world, he would use the skill "Steal Heart and Change Intent" to turn Yin Xue into his puppet.
At that time, any information Yin Xue sent back to the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom would also be false.
Furthermore, Yin Xue would follow him devotedly until he grew tired of her.
As for Zheng Dong, upon arriving in the other world, he planned to eliminate Zheng Dong directly.
Yu Fu and other confidants of the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress would also be subjected to the "Steal Heart and Change Intent" skill, turning them into their puppets.
Zheng Dong was not intimidated by Bu Cheng’s sinister smile.
He did notice that the human forms of the fox demons had no fox tribal markings, appearing completely like normal humans.
This was also the biggest difference between the fox demons of the other world and the Nine-Tailed Foxes of the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom.
As for the reason, he might have to go to the other world to find out.
Afterward, Zheng Dong wanted to find an opportunity to leave but never found one. Moreover, he hadn't expected the Nine-Tailed Fox tribe to build a teleportation array in Qing Qiu City.
It could directly teleport them to Fox Moon City.
This was much faster than high-speed rail or airplanes.
However, using the teleportation array consumed a lot of elemental energy. After each teleportation, the array needed to accumulate enough elemental energy before it could be used again.
This made it unsuitable for ordinary people.
To show their sincerity in cooperating with the fox demon tribe from the other world, the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress intended to see them off through the teleportation array before leaving.
Zheng Dong had no choice but to brace himself and follow Yin Xue, Yu Fu, and others to Fox Moon City.
As soon as they exited the teleportation array, they saw Yin Xuan Tuoteng, who was stationed in Fox Moon City.
Yin Xuan was the sister of the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress and one of the Totems who supported cooperation with the fox demon tribe from the other world.
Of course, the one she came to greet was not Yin Xue, but Bu You Tuoteng.
Next, she would escort Bu You Tuoteng and others back to the other world on behalf of the Nine-Tailed Fox Empress.
Fox Moon City was not far from the secret realm leading to the other world.
The entrance to the secret realm had now been built into a small military fortress, garrisoned by the Nine-Tailed Fox Legion of the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom.
However, a teleportation array had not yet been established, requiring them to travel by mount.
Fox Moon City equipped Zheng Dong and the others with Sky Wings.
Sky Wings were very large transcendent creatures that flew in the air, comparable to large aircraft.
However, their combat power was mediocre, and many Totem Kingdoms trained them as flying mounts.
Zheng Dong, along with Yin Yue, Yu Fu, and other members of the Princess’s mansion, rode on a Sky Wing.
This presented an opportunity for Zheng Dong.
His clone remained by Princess Yin Yue’s side.
His main body quietly found Jian Zhu.
Jian Zhu still had a blank expression, with two maids attending to her.
Directly taking Jian Zhu away would undoubtedly cause a commotion.
Moreover, Zheng Dong felt that Yu Fu was constantly watching him and Jian Zhu.
He couldn't rush things.
After all, on the Sky Wing ahead, sat two Totems, Bu You and Yin Xuan.
Zheng Dong had Ling'er condense a clone seed and parasitize it onto Jian Zhu.
As soon as they landed, Ling'er’s clone could use spatial teleportation to move Jian Zhu away.
By now, Xiao Zi’s clone had allowed Ling’er’s clones to spread throughout more than half of the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom.
The most important areas, Qing Qiu City and Fox Moon City, were covered.
This facilitated the use of spatial teleportation.
Just then, Yin Xue turned her head to look at Zheng Dong’s clone and communicated with Zheng Dong secretly using mental power:
“Are you trying to take Jian Zhu away?”
Zheng Dong was startled.
How did this beast-eared girl know?
“Don’t be surprised. Besides being of the time element, I am also of the mental element. Have you heard of the Life Identification skill?
When I saw Jian Zhu, I used Life Identification. I clearly sensed that you and Jian Zhu have no blood relation, and although you are a mixed-blood, you are not of the Nine-Tailed Fox tribe!”
“Since you know, why haven’t you exposed me?” Zheng Dong asked, confused.
“Do you know? Although I am a princess, I am actually just a caged canary, a pawn of my mother.
I yearn for freedom. Can you take me with you!” Princess Yin Xue said.
Zheng Dong was stunned.
Damn it, I came to save someone, not to abduct a beast-eared girl.
“If you don’t take me, I’m afraid I’ll be in grave danger when I go to the other world. As for why, with my current abilities, even using Destiny Calculation, I cannot fully deduce it,” Princess Yin Xue said with a distressed expression.
This put Zheng Dong in a difficult position.
Taking Princess Yin Xue with him might cause a huge stir, potentially drawing the combined pursuit of Totems Bu You and Yin Xuan.
But not taking her might also anger this beast-eared girl, who might expose him.
What to do?
“As long as you are willing to take me, I can sign an equal contract with you and become your pet. Although my combat power is a bit lacking, my foresight regarding the future and destiny is quite strong,” Princess Yin Xue added.
This did make Zheng Dong somewhat tempted.
Of course, it was more about obtaining the skills Yin Xue possessed: Destiny Calculation, Luck Perception, and Life Identification.
“It’s not impossible, but I need time. Can you help me stall for a while later?” Zheng Dong said.
Yin Xue immediately beamed and nodded slightly.
Not long after, the Sky Wings brought Zheng Dong and the others to the entrance of the secret realm, the military fortress built by the Nine-Tailed Foxes.
Upon landing, Princess Yin Xue made an excuse, wanting to rest for a while.
In front of Totem Yin Xuan, Totem Bu You readily agreed.
Since they had already reached the entrance of the secret realm, there was no rush.
Thus, the Nine-Tailed Fox Legion prepared a resting room specifically for Yin Xue.
Taking this opportunity, Zheng Dong’s main body no longer concealed himself and contacted Jin Heng Legend.
Jin Heng Legend had also arrived but had not yet entered the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom.
After hearing Zheng Dong’s report, Jin Heng Legend was shocked.
“You’re amazing, kid. In just two days, you’ve managed to make the princess fall for you.”
“Jin Heng Legend, stop joking. Time is of the essence, what are your plans?” Zheng Dong asked.
“This is an opportunity. Why don’t you go with her and infiltrate the other world to take a look?”
“No, that’s too dangerous,” Zheng Dong shook his head.
“I won’t force you. You can send a clone to scout the situation. I’ll also give you some inside information: we, Yan Huang, will not allow the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom to act recklessly.
The Elder Council has decided to take action against the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom, and Dragon Shock Legend will personally intervene.”
This was indeed shocking news.
Yan Huang had not taken action against neighboring Totem Kingdoms for over a decade.
The Elder Council represented the highest decision-making body of Yan Huang, consisting of five members, all of whom were Legend-level Beast Tamers.
Two of them were direct descendants of Emperor Feng and Emperor Xing.
Because of this, people from various influential families held a significant portion of power in Yan Huang.
This was unavoidable.
As a result, some unwritten rules, or privileges, emerged.
Of course, most family Beast Tamers were still decent.
Since Legend Dragon Shock was intervening this time, it indicated that Yan Huang was going to mobilize all its forces to destroy the Qing Qiu Totem Kingdom and prevent its alliance with the demon fox tribe from the other world.
This was good news.
Perhaps he could take this opportunity to gain some resources.
Therefore, Zheng Dong decided to condense a clone and go to the other world to scout the situation.
He approached Yin Xue and condensed a clone, using Mimicry and Disguise to transform into Yin Xue’s appearance.
“Do you have anything personal, preferably with your scent on it?”
Yin Xue’s pretty face flushed slightly. She understood what Zheng Dong intended to do and did not hesitate, taking out a colorful pile of clothes and accessories.
“How about I give you a drop of my vital blood? That way, it will be even harder to detect.”