Before the chatterbox Yao Xiaoxiao could say a word, the habitually reticent Wen Qingxue explained the situation to Xu Xian in just a few sentences.
A celestial anomaly.
An auspicious beast had been born into the world.
The current commotion in the Demon Suppression Abyss was the result of humans and demons fighting over that auspicious beast.
After learning this, Xu Xian murmured, "Ten days?"
"It seems quite intense."
Wen Qingxue briefly summarized the intelligence they currently had and informed Xu Xian.
"According to those who returned, that white deer can turn invisible and is difficult to detect with divine sense. It only appears at midnight. So far, many humans and demons have died, yet no one has touched so much as a single hair on it."
Xu Xian remained silent, nodding thoughtfully.
Wen Qingxue gestured toward the darkness. In the next second, several figures leaped out from the night and landed in the courtyard.
"Little Grand-Uncle!"
"Little Grand-Uncle!!"
One look revealed they were disciples of the Sword Suppression Hall.
Wen Qingxue said slowly, "Little Grand-Uncle, Demon-Slaying City is no longer peaceful. Since you've come out of seclusion, leave with Xiaoxiao first. They will be responsible for escorting you back to Boundary Mountain. Peak Master Li and the Sect Master are waiting for you there."
Xu Xian withdrew his thoughts, turned his gaze toward Wen Qingxue, and asked casually, "What about you?"
Wen Qingxue replied calmly, "I have to go to the Demon Suppression Abyss and find that auspicious beast."
Xu Xian raised an eyebrow and asked a strange question.
"Alive? Or dead?"
Wen Qingxue was stunned. "What?"
Xu Xian slowed his speech. "I'm asking, does the sect want that auspicious beast alive or dead?"
Wen Qingxue's gaze flickered with a momentary blankness before she answered truthfully, "Dead."
She didn't forget to add, "If it dies in the Demon Suppression Abyss, our sect will have the least trouble."
Xu Xian understood and murmured, "Indeed."
When he had gained enlightenment from the stele and obtained the sword embryo, he had also acquired most of the common knowledge of this world. When Wen Qingxue mentioned the auspicious beast, information about them naturally surfaced in his mind.
However, what he knew might differ slightly from the common perception in Fanzhou.
So-called auspicious beasts were born from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. They were named auspicious beasts because they brought good luck and blessings.
But in the records of the Cangming Realm, an auspicious beast was nothing more than an entity of fortune born from a particular heaven and earth. Rather than calling it a beast, it was better described as a spirit.
Just like the little book spirit. Whether it was a book spirit or a sword spirit, they were all spirits, but they were often born later, called acquired spirits.
Auspicious beasts were usually born innate, evolved from the Heavenly Dao, so they were considered innate spirits.
Because their appearance resembled the beast race, they were called auspicious beasts. But in the records of the Cangming Realm, auspicious beasts didn't just come in beast forms; they could be humanoid or plant-like. Ultimately, they were more like four-unlike hybrids.
Auspicious beasts were extraordinary from birth, favored by the Great Dao. They were at the beast king stage at birth and possessed powerful Great Dao divine abilities.
Only two auspicious beasts were recorded as still existing in Fanzhou. One was the Nine-Tailed Fox. The other was Emperor Bai Ze.
The Nine-Tailed Fox was rumored to be able to charm all living beings; possessing nine tails, it had nine lives. Bai Ze was said to have the ability to foresee the future.
The one just born was a white deer. According to Wen Qingxue, this beast likely possessed a divine ability to conceal its presence, similar to his Pupil of Insight, allowing it to evade anyone's divine sense.
An auspicious beast was, of course, better alive. Whoever obtained it—setting aside the fortune it brought—would have a beast god stage existence if they raised it. Moreover, because they were favored by the Great Dao, there was no need to worry about them having a limited lifespan like a great sage.
Any human who obtained one could establish a top-tier sect. If the beast race obtained it, they could usher in a brand-new golden age.
The Great Desolation had stood firm until now because of the auspicious beast Bai Ze. If they could obtain another, they would have the confidence to make a comeback and fight for dominance over Fanzhou in the future.
Therefore, both humans and demons were desperate to capture this auspicious beast for themselves. Only the Wendao Sword Sect was different.
If the demons got it, the treaty could be maintained, preventing a total war, but it would inevitably result in a potential threat and a powerful future opponent.
If the humans from the Central Plains snatched it away, given the importance of the auspicious beast to the demons, they might very well tear up that treaty. At that time, beast sovereigns and beast gods would cross the borders. The Wendao Sword Sect would never stand by and watch. A great war between humans and demons would inevitably break out, and the balance maintained for thousands of years would be completely shattered.
When that happened, not to mention the three-thousand-mile Demon Suppression Abyss, the ten-thousand-mile Northern Borders would likely fall entirely into the flames of war.
If a war truly broke out, whether the Wendao Sword Sect won or not, they would be bogged down in a quagmire, suffering great damage to their vitality. If things went poorly, the demonic cultivators might counterattack, the North Sea might come for a piece of the pie, and the Three Sects of the Central Plains would be even more pleased to see it happen. Don't even think about them helping. It would be lucky if they didn't stab them in the back.
This matter didn't look big on the surface, but undercurrents were surging. No wonder Li Qingshan and Ye Xianyu had come. As Wen Qingxue said, for the Wendao Sword Sect, it was best for this auspicious beast to die in the Demon Suppression Abyss. Neither the humans nor the demons would gain an advantage. Both sides would simply let the matter drop.
However... the Wendao Sword Sect's strength lay in its tribulation transcendence experts—eight of them in one sect. But below the eighth stage, while not weak, they were far from a match for the masses of the Great Desolation. Moreover, within ten days, the various major powers from the Central Plains had already sniffed out the scent and come over.
In the Demon Suppression Abyss, the Wendao Sword Sect was outnumbered. Wanting to kill this auspicious beast in front of both sides was no easy task.
"Little Grand-Uncle, let's go," Wen Qingxue urged.
Xu Xian nodded and agreed, "Alright."
He then looked at the four or five Sword Suppression Hall cultivators in front of him and instructed, "I'll have to trouble you all to ensure Xiaoxiao is safely escorted to Boundary Mountain."
Hearing this, Yao Xiaoxiao was dazed. Wen Qingxue frowned.
The Sword Suppression Hall disciples were even more confused and looked to Wen Qingxue for help. "Little Grand-Uncle, what do you mean by this?"
Xu Xian smiled slightly, looked toward the outskirts of the city, and said, "I'll accompany you on this trip."
"No."
"Little Grand-Uncle..."
Xu Xian did not intend to negotiate with them. Instead, he spoke in a tone that was almost a command. "Enough, my mind is made up. This matter is settled."
Yao Xiaoxiao wanted to say something more.
Xu Xian took the initiative to comfort her and put her mind at ease, saying that he was already at the sixth stage now. He could enter and leave that Demon Suppression Abyss as he pleased; no one could do anything to him. He also said he knew what he was doing and told her to be good and listen.
Wen Qingxue remained silent.
On the contrary, the Sword Suppression Hall disciples looked troubled, saying that this wasn't how Peak Master Li had arranged things and they wouldn't be able to explain it when they went back.
Xu Xian had no choice but to bring up his title as Little Grand-Uncle.
In the Wendao Sword Sect, the Little Grand-Uncle wasn't just the Little Grand-Uncle; he had another invisible status: Pavilion Elder.
The power of a Sword Pavilion Elder was immense during this period of war preparation. A Pavilion Elder's orders were second only to the Sect Master's. They naturally didn't dare to disobey.
Furthermore, to put it bluntly, these few people were all at the sixth stage, and the Little Grand-Uncle was also at the sixth stage now. It was hard to say who was protecting whom.
So they took Yao Xiaoxiao and left to report back.
"Little Grand-Uncle, be careful!"
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