The smoke dissipated, revealing a hunched old man, about a meter tall.
The elder had a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks, clad in a tattered robe, and leaning on a walking stick.
"Who are you? State your name quickly!" Duan Liang demanded coldly.
The old man seemed to perceive Duan Liang's considerable cultivation. He clasped his hands in a salute and said, "Esteemed Daoist, I am Huang Lao Jiu from the Huang family. May I know why you summon me so late at night?"
"Why summon you? Did you capture a young girl? Hand her over to this Daoist immediately, or I'll obliterate your soul!"
Duan Liang looked down from above, brandishing the Yin-Yang Bone-Illuminating Mirror and pointing it directly at Huang Lao Jiu. With a mere thought, the mirror would instantly reduce Huang Lao Jiu to a wisp of smoke.
Huang Lao Jiu naturally recognized the terrifying nature of the Yin-Yang Bone-Illuminating Mirror. He prostrated himself on the ground, repeatedly begging for mercy, "Please spare this humble one, Esteemed Daoist. I have done nothing wicked. I have always devoted myself to cultivation and have never harmed any human."
"Little brother Lin Feng, this old fellow doesn't seem to be lying. What do you think of this?" Duan Liang cast a questioning glance at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng took out his phone and flipped to a photo of Xia Xue. "Old fellow, have you seen this girl?"
Huang Lao Jiu looked up at Xia Xue's photo and suddenly recalled something. "Esteemed Daoist, I have seen this girl. She was not taken by my Huang family, but by the fox clan."
"Hu Santai captured this little girl. I saw it with my own eyes, it's absolutely true!" Huang Lao Jiu explained tremblingly.
"The fox clan did it? Why would they do something that harms humans?" Duan Liang questioned.
"Esteemed Daoist, we are also victims. This is what happened..." Huang Lao Jiu dared not conceal anything and told Duan Liang and Lin Feng all that he knew.
It turned out that Huang Zhenzhen and the other victims were all people who worshipped the Yellow Immortal in their homes, and were under its protection. One day, the fox clan came to their door, forcing the Huang family to hand over the Golden Elixir that the Huang family had cultivated. The Huang family refused and engaged in a fierce battle with the fox clan. The Huang family suffered heavy losses but managed to protect their Golden Elixir. In retaliation and to threaten the Huang family, the fox clan began to target the humans protected by the Huang family. This led to the brutal murders of Huang Zhenzhen and others. As for Xia Xue, Huang Lao Jiu personally witnessed Hu Santai abduct her, but he did not know the reason.
"Why did the fox clan want to seize your Golden Elixir?" Duan Liang asked. "As far as this Daoist knows, your Yellow Immortal and the Fox Immortal have been on good terms for generations. They are both among the Five Great Immortals. You shouldn't have fallen out."
"How can you expect me to believe you?" Duan Liang questioned with doubt.
"Esteemed Daoist, Hu Santai is not from the fox clan you mentioned, nor is he one of the Five Great Immortals," Huang Lao Jiu clarified. "Hu Santai and his ilk are black foxes who have fallen into the demonic path, revering the Demon Sage. The Demon Sage is a nine-tailed black fox that cultivated to sainthood. Later, it was severely injured by the human Great Emperor, leaving only a remnant soul lingering on the demonic path."
"Hu Santai and his followers are trying to revive the Demon Sage, so they are snatching the Golden Elixirs of us wild immortals everywhere. Our Huang family refused, so they attacked us with deadly force!"
"Grand Elder Huang and Grand Aunt Huang of our Huang family were both severely injured by Hu Santai. Our Huang family is in grave danger!" Huang Lao Jiu said, tears streaming down his face, filled with grievance.
"My dear lover, this matter is quite serious. I'm afraid it's beyond my ability to handle," Duan Liang said, looking at Ying Tianqing after understanding the full story. After all, this involved a Great Sage of the demon race, and he didn't believe he had the strength to challenge one.
Ying Tianqing also understood the entire affair. "Qiu Long, do you have any impression of this Demon Sage?" Ying Tianqing had never paid attention to figures of the Demon Sage level and could only ask Qiu Long.
"Emperor, it is true that a nine-tailed black fox cultivated to sainthood. Six thousand years ago, that nine-tailed black fox had a brief encounter with your subordinate. He called himself the Black Fox King, his strength was slightly superior to mine, and he was the most promising existence to become a Great Emperor of the demon race back then. Later, he offended the Northern Xuan Great Emperor He Wuhen, who slew him with the World-Destroying Divine Sword. As you, Emperor, were sealed at that time, you were unaware of this matter," Qiu Long recounted.
"Hmph, so it was He Wuhen who killed him. To have He Wuhen personally act and even use the World-Destroying Divine Sword, this little black fox indeed had some ability," Ying Tianqing snorted, clearly having a deep understanding of He Wuhen.
"Emperor, what should we do now? Should your subordinate personally intervene to retrieve the person, or...?" Qiu Long also realized the gravity of the situation and tentatively asked for Ying Tianqing's opinion.
"Yes, you go personally. Hu Santai is not someone Lin Feng can handle. Go and demand the person's release."
"If they resist, you know what to do!" Ying Tianqing instructed.
"Your subordinate understands. Your subordinate will go and demand the person now." Qiu Long nodded, let out a roar, and transformed into a black flood dragon, plunging into the ground.
Not long after, several dark figures shot out from the ground. They transformed into human form, leading Xia Xue, who was tied up and bound. Qiu Long then emerged from the ground.
"Who are you people? How dare you trespass into our territory?" Hu Santai, the leader, had one hand around Xia Xue's neck. Xia Xue was currently unconscious.
"Little thing, why don't you pay respects to our Emperor!" Qiu Long said with a cold face, glaring at the black-robed figure.
Hu Santai heard this and finally glanced at Ying Tianqing, who stood with his hands behind his back. "Emperor? You are fit to be called Emperor?"
"There is only one Emperor in this world, and that is the King of our clan!" Hu Santai showed disdain for Ying Tianqing, even finding the word "Emperor" somewhat jarring.
"Is that so? Then look now and see if this Sovereign can be called Emperor." Ying Tianqing's gaze sharpened, and two massive roc wings suddenly extended from his back. The wings flapped slightly, emitting a piercing sonic wave that made the entire land tremble violently.
Hu Santai could not withstand the sonic wave. He released Xia Xue and collapsed to the ground, clutching his head in agony, as if about to explode. He looked utterly miserable. As for his subordinates, they were instantly annihilated, their souls dispersed into black smoke and vanishing into the heavens and earth.
"I was wrong, I was wrong! Stop it quickly, I can't bear it!" Hu Santai begged for mercy in pain, deeply intimidated by Ying Tianqing's terrifying power. Not only Hu Santai, but Huang Lao Jiu, who had been watching silently, was also terrified. Hu Santai was someone even the Huang family's Grand Elder and Grand Aunt could not defeat. Now, Ying Tianqing merely flapped his wings, and Hu Santai could not endure it. Good heavens, who exactly was Ying Tianqing?