Chapter Forty-Eight: The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox

"Hey, little guy, what are you daydreaming about? I barely managed to escape from those guys just now. It looks like Danqiusheng from the Alliance of Daoists and Celestial Master Zhang from the Celestial Master’s Mansion are nearby, and there’s a dragon as well! My, things are getting lively. Are they your companions?"

Hua Feng snapped out of his trance to find a stunning beauty standing midair beside him, dressed in a white, gauzy, form-fitting gown that accentuated every curve. Her jet-black hair was casually gathered, and her dark eyes shimmered with an accidental allure. He quickly reined in his wandering mind, only to realize that the nine-tailed white fox had disappeared.

"They are indeed my companions. But who are you? Did you see the nine-tailed fox just now?"

"That was me! I’m Xiaoli, the Celestial Nine-Tailed Fox. Pleased to meet you."

"Uh…" Hua Feng was dumbfounded. No one had ever told him monsters existed in this world. Wasn’t it said that after the founding of the nation, spirits were forbidden to manifest?

"Don’t get distracted. Are you here to help your friends? I need to settle a score with them too. There’s a panda spirit imprisoned in this ship, my friend. Since we’re both here to rescue someone, let’s join forces and break him out!"

"Alright, but the hull…" Hua Feng hadn’t finished when Xiaoli simply punched a hole in the ship’s side and darted inside. Startled, Hua Feng hurried after her.

"Um, Xiaoli, do you know where the control room is?" Hua Feng asked as he caught up.

"Of course I do! But after sneaking out of the Demon Realm, my powers were weakened. Otherwise, these people would never have caught me so easily. It’s embarrassing, really. I’ve cultivated as a Celestial Fox for a thousand years—about the equivalent of your human Emperor level—yet I still stumbled so badly. I’ll be the laughingstock of my clan when I return," Xiaoli replied, her every gesture radiating irresistible charm. Hua Feng dared not look at her for fear of falling under her spell again.

Fortunately, though she was a demon, she was still an earthly creature. No matter what, she wouldn’t side with the aliens against her own kind.

"Um, Miss Xiaoli—"

"Don’t call me ‘Miss’—just call me Sister Xiaoli. Our Celestial Foxes live long lives, but a thousand years is only just adulthood for us. By your reckoning, we’re about the same age, so just call me Sister Xiaoli," she interrupted.

"Alright, Sister Xiaoli. My name is Hua Feng. By the way, do you know Alliance Leader Danqiusheng and Celestial Master Zhang?"

"I wouldn’t say I know them well, but I’ve met them a few times. I had dealings with them before on behalf of my fox sisters. But don’t worry. With these outsiders invading, I may be a demon, but I was born and raised on Earth. If those people dare to extract energy crystals from the life force of living beings and great spirits, I’ll stand with you and won’t rest until they’re destroyed!"

"Good. From the sound of it, things are getting rough over there. Let’s hurry!" Hua Feng noticed the sounds of battle growing louder, rumbling for miles, with the roar of a dragon occasionally ringing out. It seemed Yinglong had revealed his true form—they were locked in a desperate struggle.

"I know, little brother, no need to rush me. We’re almost there," Xiaoli said, her keen senses guiding her rapidly toward their goal. Her hair floated behind her, a pleasant fragrance wafting to Hua Feng’s nose, making him realize for the first time the unique allure of a demon beauty. But there was no time for such thoughts now—rescue came first.

At last, after a quarter of an hour, Xiaoli located Cooper. With lightning speed, she struck; before he could react, her icy vital force froze him solid, then shattered him into pieces. The might of the Celestial Nine-Tailed Fox was truly terrifying.

So fierce! Hua Feng barely had time to react before the fight was over.

"Hua Feng, don’t just stand there. Is there something you can use to destroy this weapons system? I know nothing about technology," Xiaoli said after dispatching Cooper.

"Don’t worry, Sister Xiaoli. Go rescue your friend; I’ll plant all the explosive talismans Celestial Master Zhang gave me here—that should do the trick."

"Alright, wait for me. Explosive talismans, huh? I suffered from those before—difficult to make, too. That old priest must have gone all out," she said, vanishing before she’d finished. When she reappeared, she was carrying a young, handsome man on her back—presumably her panda friend.

"All set. Let’s get out of here!"

"Just a moment, almost done," Hua Feng said, arranging the talismans. A few minutes later, seeing the round console and energy chamber plastered with seals, he nodded in satisfaction, then followed Xiaoli out of the ship, heading toward Yinglong and the others.

Hua Feng circled along the shore, and when he was close enough, sent a mental message: "Celestial Master, everything is ready. Alliance Leader, Senior Yinglong—it’s time to withdraw!"

In the midst of fierce battle, dodging a barrage of shells and lasers, occasionally taking a direct hit, Celestial Master Zhang and the others heard the message. Combining their powers, they raised a defensive shield and quickly retreated to the shore, regrouping with Hua Feng, Xiaoli, and the rest.

Celestial Master Zhang wasted no time in detonating the talismans. Explosions thundered across the sky, flames shooting high, and as the barrage against the protective barrier faded, the attacks quieted significantly.

"Damn it! The Celestial Nine-Tailed Fox and Panda Mozart escaped! We lost a scout ship, too! Fall back and put out the fires—this grudge won’t be forgotten. Retreat!" Zeck led his monkeys away at top speed, leaving Hua Feng’s group finally able to breathe easy.

"They’ve retreated. We should leave too. Who are these two?" Yinglong asked, eyeing Xiaoli and the panda as the enemy withdrew.

"Celestial Nine-Tailed Fox Xiaoli! You were captured as well?" Danqiusheng only now noticed her beside Hua Feng.

"I should have known this kid could handle things so quickly—turns out he had a Celestial Fox to help him!" Celestial Master Zhang laughed.

"Let’s catch up on the road. For now, let’s withdraw. I’ll reveal my true form—everyone get on my back. As Dragon God, I’ll do you the favor of a free flight," Yinglong joked for once.

The moon dipped low; dawn was near. The great rescue, spanning thousands of miles, finally drew to a close. At this moment—one dragon, two spirits, three humans—three races soared together through the sky, the sea below, the heavens above. Their goal was the same: to go home.