Chapter 55: The Secret Past is Inherited (Part 3)

Now, let us turn to the foot of Azure Hill.

Su Su and the Grand Elder arrived before the legendary White Emperor’s tomb. The Grand Elder spoke with concern once more, “Your Majesty, once you enter the tomb, you must not disturb the spirit of the White Emperor. Though the White Emperor has passed, both his earthly and celestial souls remain. If you can complete the trial he left for you, perhaps you may be fortunate enough to inherit his legacy!”

“Enough! Here, I bid you farewell, Grand Elder. When I emerge, I shall resolve the turmoil among the Nine Clans. Until then, I must trouble you to guard the entrance for me.”

“Very well. I shall wait here for Your Majesty’s return and hope you succeed in passing the White Emperor’s trial, bringing prosperity to our people!”

“Then, I take my leave, Grand Elder!”

With her words spoken, Su Su steeled herself and wasted no further time. Her figure, clad in dark green, transformed into a sweeping arc of light and soared into the tomb.

The Grand Elder, Su Qianshu, watched Su Su enter with quiet worry. After all, the fate of the entire clan rested on her success. Should she triumph, the current crisis would be averted; though failure posed no mortal danger, the consequences would be dire, for the Nine Tribes would face dissolution, and the ancestor of Azure Hill would not intervene to protect them.

The White Emperor’s tomb occupied the most auspicious ground among the nine peaks of the tribe. The central basin, encircled by the nine connected peaks, resembled a treasure bowl from above, with the tomb at its very heart. Here, the spiritual energies of heaven and earth gathered, coursing through the tomb, ensuring that formidable barriers guarded its depths. This was the White Emperor’s intention for hiding his essence here. In life, the White Emperor had followed the Eastern Emperor Taiyi to war across the land, his peerless cultivation unmatched among the demon tribes. The nine great demon saints of the tribe had held him in the highest regard, each bestowing upon him their life’s mastery. Yet, talent must not breed greed; the White Emperor devoted himself to mastering but a single saintly art. This simple dedication made him, in the eyes of the saints, the finest choice to lead the Nine Tribes, and so they supported him fully.

Yet, the White Emperor’s inner elixir was a secret, passed down only among the elders of Azure Hill. This elixir contained nine centuries of cultivation, and within the tomb lay countless esoteric arts of the demon saints. But in centuries past, none had ever succeeded in claiming them. Even Su Su’s father, the Azure Emperor, failed the White Emperor’s trials. After his return in defeat, the Azure Emperor issued a secret decree to pass down his title, then relinquished all affairs of leadership, abandoned his throne, and vanished from the tribe. Among the thirteen foxes of Azure Hill, only the young Su Su inherited the throne; the other twelve children, save for Su Moran who traveled abroad, left together in search of their father. Thus, the Su family’s halls stood empty and their sanctum desolate.

Within a hundred years, the tribe had known no peace, plagued by internal strife and beset by ambitious rivals among the other kings. In those troubled years, the young Su Su managed to achieve full transformation, granting precious time for the clan to settle internal affairs. But a century is fleeting for the Nine Tribes, and Su Su had not yet the time to restore order. The rebellion of Yangyi was only a matter of time.

Now, Su Su crossed a transparent barrier, as if stepping into a demonic formation—the very one set by the White Emperor, the Nine-Palace Star-Glory Array. The Grand Elder had already explained its workings to her on the way. It was knowledge passed down from the failed attempt of her father, the Azure Emperor, and the Grand Elder had kept it well in mind to instruct future heirs, for it was a precious lesson hard-won.

Back then, the Azure Emperor had come here under the Grand Elder’s guidance, but his unstable heart caused the array to reject and expel him. He never set foot in the tomb again. That failure struck him hard; he abandoned his kin and journeyed alone to the fabled southernmost sea in search of the legendary Kunpeng Ancestor, seeking power to restore the tribe, even at the cost of his reputation.

It is worth recalling the ancient strategist of the demon tribe, the Kunpeng Ancestor, once the foremost among Eastern Emperor Taiyi’s 365 great demon generals. His powers were unfathomable. When the demon tribes were undone by the machinations of the dragons and the celestial court, had he chosen to intervene, perhaps the current calamity could have been averted. In the war of the gods a thousand years ago, the demon armies were defeated by the hundred clans, their soldiers bewitched and empowered by the sorcery of the Wu shamans, becoming like undying fiends who slaughtered demons without mercy. Seeing the doom of his kin, the Kunpeng Ancestor led his followers to flee east, seeking seclusion in the far southern seas, never again meddling in demon affairs.

There may be hidden truths in these ancient tales, but none among the younger generation dared ask, and the Azure Emperor never returned. Rumors spread among the tribes that the Azure Emperor was dead, fueling the Lion King of Yangyi’s ambition to seize power.

By now, Su Su had reached the heart of the array, where a solitary white fox statue stood, weathered by centuries. Its craftsmanship was simple, devoid of elegance or seductive grace. Most curious of all, the statue bore but a single tail—thick, solid, and two meters long, towering a meter above Su Su herself. Such a sight was unknown among the tribe. For the nine-tailed fox clan, the length of one’s tails should match the body, but this one far exceeded the norm.

From this alone, one could tell the statue depicted the White Emperor’s true form, and its tail radiated an inexplicable authority. Was the tail a symbol of the Emperor’s strength? This was Su Su’s suspicion. As a demon woman, perhaps it was intuition, or perhaps some strange consciousness passed to her in this place—but the thought came unbidden to her mind.

Surrounding her was a visible barrier, rippling like water in the wind—a wondrous sight. Apart from the solemn statue, beneath Su Su’s feet was a mysterious pattern she did not recognize, facing the statue’s imposing gaze.

Had the enigmatic Mr. Li been present, his wide knowledge would have recognized the pattern: it was the emblem of the Nine-Palace Star-Glory Array, with each corner pointing to one of the nine directions.

Suddenly, a disturbance broke the silence. The statue’s eyes snapped open, and a dark red beam of light shot straight onto the mysterious pattern. Su Su was rooted to the spot by the shock; even her quick wits failed her. Had the light struck her, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

With a clang, a great sound echoed in her ears!

As the ringing filled the entire array, the pattern beneath her feet blazed with crimson light. Enveloped by the radiance, Su Su thought she saw the statue’s lips curl into a subtle, knowing smile—a mark of deep meaning. At that moment, their gazes met. Su Su saw clearly: the white fox’s visage looked back at her, half-smiling, half-serious.

What fate awaits Su Su? The answer lies in the next chapter!