Chapter 112: The Male Siren

This was a face so strikingly handsome it could cause nosebleeds: skin whiter than snow and frost, hair silver as a fairy’s.

A pair of sword-shaped eyebrows slanted into his temples, with a single spot of crimson like blood between them. His narrow fox-like eyes held a pair of deep blue irises, as profound as the ocean. His nose was sharp and straight, like a suspended gallbladder. Thin lips curled slightly, a faint smile blossoming from the corners, spreading in gentle ripples. In that instant, Feng Ke’er felt as if she were standing amidst a forest of peach blossoms, countless trees blooming before her eyes.

Such a powerful charm!

“Cough cough cough!” She feigned choking on water, lowering her head to cover her mouth while coughing. At the same time, she gathered her spirit and quickly glanced at the handsome man's dantian.

Within his dantian, a splendid Nascent Soul lay lazily, propped on an arm, reclining sideways with seductive eyes like silk. His appearance was identical to the beautiful man before her.

Ah, truly natural, no cosmetic alterations.

The astonishment in her eyes quickly passed. Feng Ke’er increased her spiritual power by ten percent and peered through again.

Behind the Nascent Soul appeared the phantom image of a nine-tailed silver fox.

It was cultivation at the Seventh Stage Great Perfection—when a demon cultivator reaches this stage, their demon core resembles a human cultivator’s Nascent Soul, retaining only one or two original traits.

In this case, only the silver hair and fox eyes remained as original features. Among human cultivators, mutations due to cultivation are common; silver hair is no longer unusual and cannot serve as proof of demonic origin. As for the fox eyes… if a male cultivator possessed such lively fox-like eyes, he would undoubtedly enchant countless female cultivators. Therefore, based solely on the physical traits of the demon core, one could not identify his original species.

However, a demon cultivator is still a demon cultivator; unless they reach the rank of Golden Immortal, their dantian contains a phantom image of their original body. Generally, ordinary cultivators cannot perceive this phantom through spiritual vision. Feng Ke’er was absolutely an exception. Her eyes, forged in the lower realms, were nothing short of monstrous.

So that explained it. No wonder he unleashed his charm at their first meeting! Damn fox spirit! Feng Ke’er’s heart suddenly cleared.

In the Barrier Sea, thanks to the Demon King’s blessings, the fox clan population was vast. From the sixth layer to the very heart of the Barrier Sea, the charming forms of fox demons could be found. Feng Ke’er had infiltrated many fox nests and witnessed their various seductive techniques. Yet, none matched the Demon King’s level.

Since her internal water spirit energy had transformed into ice spirit energy, her disposition had grown colder and colder. After over three centuries of refinement within the Barrier Sea, her resolve had only strengthened. Thus, this time the Demon King was doomed to fail—no matter how potent his charm, he could not sway a heart colder than stone.

Of course, being struck by lightning was an entirely different matter.

“Forgive me, forgive me,” Feng Ke’er said, stepping aside gracefully to let the handsome man through. She clasped her fists in greeting. “I was reckless and disturbed Your Majesty, the Demon King.”

She had guessed correctly. The silver-robed beauty by the poolside was indeed the legendary Demon King, the sovereign of the Barrier Sea’s heart—the Nine-Tailed Silver Fox.

The Demon King let out a soft “Hmm,” raised an eyebrow, flicked his wide sleeve, withdrew his slightly forward-leaning upper body, and propped his head with his left hand while reclining lazily by the pool. “Who are you? You haven’t answered me yet.” Though he appeared indifferent, the Nascent Soul in his dantian suddenly stirred, flipping upright with interest, repeatedly scrutinizing Feng Ke’er.

This female cultivator effortlessly broke free of his charm—truly amusing!

The Demon King’s voice was a pleasing baritone, precisely the type Feng Ke’er most adored. Unfortunately, His Majesty was unwilling to relent; he deliberately used a seductive tone that sounded soft and sweet, with a long trailing note almost like spun sugar.

Invincible East! Suddenly, in her mind appeared a red-clad half-demon embroidering peonies amid flowers, as if doused with a bucket of soda, prompting her to shiver violently. “Ahh—” What a chilling sensation!

“Uh, I am Feng Ke’er. I’ve long admired Your Majesty’s name…”

“Hmm, I know you, Miss Feng!” The Demon King made an orchid finger gesture, reminiscent of a young male performer in Peking Opera, pointing toward the Barrier Sea. “All the treasures in the heart of the Barrier Sea have ended up in your hands. Do you know how much time and effort I spent collecting those treasures? Sigh, and you simply took them all away so easily, without even a word of thanks. My heart is nearly broken…” His eyes reddened.

Perhaps because he switched from “I” to “My Majesty,” Feng Ke’er noticed his tone had toughened somewhat. Still, seeing such a beautiful demon male so aggrieved made her own heart ache—she almost wanted to slap herself. “Serves you right for your dirty tricks, you black-hearted fox spirit! How dare you tamper with my treasures!”

Yet in the end, Feng Ke’er only flicked a finger, raised her head with a disdainful eye roll—damn, enchanted speech! Poisonous voice! You fox spirit, can you speak properly? If you didn’t seduce people, would you even survive?

The Demon King sighed mournfully, and a small white handkerchief embroidered with silver threads appeared in his hand.

Grasping a corner, he lowered his eyelids and blew his nose vigorously before continuing, “Very well, since I have left the heart of the Barrier Sea, those trivial things are but fleeting clouds. Miss Feng, you’ve taken them; I won’t quarrel. But why have you suddenly appeared in my bathhouse today?”

Again and again, the Demon King finally gave up. Abandoning the seductive tone, he finally “spoke properly.”

Bathhouse? Feng Ke’er’s heart tightened. She immediately looked around. The Demon King’s seductive skills were formidable; she dared not let her guard down and was fully alert. Thus, she had not noticed her surroundings clearly before.

The Demon King was not deceiving her. This was indeed a bathhouse, about ten square meters in size. A one-person deep warm water pool occupied most of the room. Around it was a wooden edge over two meters wide. Facing the door stood a nine-fold painted screen, and beside it, a purple sandalwood coat rack hung only a five-colored long belt. The Demon King was barefoot, wearing a loosely draped silver silk robe, his delicate collarbones and jade-like chest fully exposed.

The scene was infinitely inviting! Feng Ke’er’s cheeks flushed; she quickly withdrew her gaze and apologized again with folded fists, “Sorry to disturb you. I was being chased by enemies and fled here in haste…”

The Demon King seemed pleased by her embarrassed expression. Standing, he tightened his robe, sat cross-legged, and waved generously, “Our demon clan has fewer rules than human cultivators. Since fate has brought us together, Miss Feng need not take it to heart.”

Feng Ke’er was momentarily stunned, then looked up at him again. His mood had shifted swiftly—from a seductive half-demon to a dignified great man.

So he was testing her earlier?

Seemingly understanding her thoughts, the Demon King nodded slightly and spoke frankly, “To be honest, I have long wished to befriend you, Miss Feng, having heard of your remarkable skills. But there are too many who do not live up to their names, so I wished to test you. Unexpectedly, human cultivators are even more cunning and fickle than our fox clan. Fortunately, you are truly exceptional; mere ants are beneath your notice. However, I have inadvertently caused you some trouble. I, Hu San, hereby apologize and hope for your forgiveness.” Saying this, he stood and prostrated deeply before Feng Ke’er.

This was a priceless revelation. Feng Ke’er felt as though thousands of wild horses bolted past her mind: First, the Demon King was the Valley Master Hu San of Happy Valley; second, all the troubles in Happy Valley were caused by this damn fox spirit; third, the Demon King was explaining that his intention was merely to test and never to harm her. Unfortunately, the three groups he dispatched were all crooked monks. When generals are deployed, commands may not be obeyed. The Demon King was truly “wronged”!

Damn you, fox spirit! No wonder you’re so magnanimous about “not caring” for the treasures in the heart of the Barrier Sea!

The crow trio was also summoned by you! You demon hybrid, return my space!

Feng Ke’er was so angry her eyes nearly popped out.

The Demon King frowned slightly, hands spreading like a fan. “Miss, I only dispatched two human cultivators, no demon cultivators at all. Really, I detest crows more than anything. I swear by the Great Pangu, I never sent the crow demons.” To show his sincerity, he reverted to referring to himself formally.

Apparently, he didn’t know who the trio was. They truly weren’t his men. Feng Ke’er narrowed her eyes and snorted, “So, the two Nascent Soul cultivators Wu and Wang from the Information Forest, and Yan Nan from the marketplace, are all under Your Majesty’s command?”

The Demon King nodded sincerely. The previous seductive charm was gone.

“You are the Happy Valley Master Hu San?”

He nodded again.

“Can you read my thoughts?” Feng Ke’er suddenly asked. This was the question she truly wanted to ask. Against a demon who could read minds, smoke bombs and such were essential.

She cared deeply about this. Being able to see through others’ hearts was thrilling, but having one’s own thoughts read was dreadful. Besides, it seemed only Hua Taiyi, that walking calamity, had ever truly seen through her.

Yet the Demon King was worthy of his title. Hearing her, he smiled lightly, clenching his fist. “Cough, Miss Feng, you misunderstand. I possess innate abilities and can read minds without spells. Otherwise, with so many hidden dragons and crouching tigers in the Barrier Sea, how could a mere silver fox rise to be Demon King?” Saying this, he tapped his right hand, and a thick grass mat appeared by the pool.

“Miss Feng, please have a seat.” He gestured politely, like a refined gentleman.

Feng Ke’er had been standing in the pool all along.

Her little trick foiled, she was inwardly annoyed but thanked him, leaping onto the pool edge. At the same time, she formed a hand seal. By the time she sat cross-legged on the mat, her wet robes had already dried.

“I wonder, Your Majesty, what is the purpose of repeatedly testing me?” The Demon King was clever; there was no need for idle talk before a clever man. (To be continued)

Towering Scriptures 112_ Chapter 112 Male Fox Spirit Update Complete!