The beautiful woman in purple smiled gently. “Little girl, when it comes to cleverness, no one in the Spirit Fox Clan can match you.”
“Rules are dead, but people are alive. Our Fox Clan must be practical and not stubborn about major matters.”
“You’ve grown up and bear the future of the Spirit Fox Clan. You can make decisions.”
“Aunt Xena, you support me?” Hannah’s face lit up with joy.
The woman in purple nodded. “I promised your mother I would protect you. If you inherit the lineage, it will benefit the entire Spirit Fox Clan. Naturally, I support you.”
“Aunt Xena, you’re the best!” Hannah shook the woman’s arm excitedly.
The woman in purple turned to Leo. “I apologize for any offense earlier. I know your goal in entering the secret realm is to seek fortune, but you must agree to one condition if you wish to enter.”
“What condition?” Leo knew foxes were cunning.
“The condition is simple for you. After you come out of the secret realm, you must help Hannah cultivate her first tail,” the woman in purple stated.
The highest level in the Spirit Fox Clan is the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox. As the last bloodline of the white fox, Hannah hadn’t even cultivated her first tail, which was quite unfortunate.
Leo thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright, I agree.”
The woman in purple smiled seductively. “Don’t worry, our Spirit Fox Clan is clear about gratitude and grudges. There will be a generous reward once it’s done.”
Leo kept a smile on his face but was somewhat skeptical inside. Dealing with foxes could easily lead to traps.
Quentin, who had been silent, grew anxious. “Lady Xena, since humans can enter the secret realm, can we also enter?”
The woman in purple pondered for a moment. “We discussed this when Hannah’s mother was alive.”
“The former glory of the Spirit Fox Clan is gone; it’s time for change. We no longer need to rigidly adhere to ancestral rules.”
“But…” The woman in purple sighed slightly. “But the secret realm is now unstable.”
“Although it contains various fortunes, it is also filled with dangers. You might never return once you enter. While I don’t recommend it, I permit you to go in.”
Hearing this, Quentin and the old man in gray robes were overjoyed and said in unison, “Thank you, Lady Xena.”
Now that everyone could enter the secret realm, there was much rejoicing. Under the woman’s direction, the banquet officially began.
Fortunately, the food was normal, though it was almost entirely chicken!
Shredded chicken, roasted chicken, braised chicken, steamed chicken…
Years later, when someone asked Leo why he didn’t eat chicken, he would recall the foxes’ all-chicken feast.
Watching the foxes devour their food, Leo could only join in reluctantly.
After eating and drinking their fill, the banquet finally ended.
Due to the presence of the woman in purple, Hannah did not return to Tranquil Heart Gardens with Leo but followed her instead.
Back in his room at Tranquil Heart Gardens, Leo took out his phone, intending to chat with Sophia on WeChat.
To his surprise, there was no signal.
Do these foxes not use phones?
Helplessly, Leo tossed his phone aside and sat cross-legged on the bed to cultivate.
The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Leo got up to breathe fresh air and stretch his body.
After a few stretches, he saw Hannah appear in the courtyard.
“Good morning, Leo,” Hannah greeted with a smile.
Leo stretched and nodded at Hannah. “Are we ready to leave?”
“Yes. Did you rest well?” Hannah’s cute demeanor was truly adorable.
Leo waved his hand. “Let’s go.”
Led by Hannah, Leo first had breakfast in the villa’s hall. Naturally, breakfast was also chicken in various forms.
After breakfast, Hannah took him to another courtyard.
This courtyard had no buildings; its most prominent feature was a large stone altar in the center.
As they stood by the altar, the woman in purple from last night appeared again.
She leaped onto the altar and sat cross-legged in its center.
Soon, many foxes gathered in the courtyard.
Among them were the three elders of the Spirit Fox Clan, their faces filled with anticipation and excitement.
The woman in purple opened her eyes and scanned the foxes below with a serious expression. “The secret realm is damaged and unstable now.”
“I can open the gate of the secret realm but can only keep it open for three hours. You must come out within that time; otherwise, you’ll be trapped inside when it closes.”
The foxes already knew about the dangers of the secret realm but felt even more tense hearing Lady Xena’s warning again.
However, no one would back down; greater risks meant greater rewards. For the fortunes within the secret realm, they had to take a chance.
“Lastly, if you find treasures or opportunities within the secret realm, don’t be greedy. Knowing when to stop is key to survival.” The woman in purple closed her eyes slightly and formed a hand seal.
As her hands moved through various seals, she uttered some strange syllables that Leo couldn’t understand at all.
A dense demonic aura emanated from her body, creating a strong sense of pressure that forced lower-level foxes to retreat with pained expressions.
The demonic aura began swirling around her before a purple vortex appeared above her head.
As her hands moved, so did the vortex.
The originally horizontal vortex stood upright and then descended onto an open space in front of the altar.
The vortex had no suction force; excited cries erupted from the foxes as they rushed into it one by one.
“Everyone, wait!” Hannah shouted anxiously but couldn’t stop their frenzy.
“What idiots! Entering the secret realm without a white fox bloodline guide is suicide!” Hannah cursed inwardly.
The woman on the altar struggled to maintain the vortex and sighed. “Hannah, go ahead. Your primary task is to find your inheritance. Be careful.”
Hannah responded and looked at Leo. “Leo, let’s go.”
Leo grabbed Hannah’s small hand and channeled his spiritual energy as they leaped into the purple vortex together.
At first, it felt like traveling through a time tunnel, but soon their feet touched solid ground.
Looking around, Leo was momentarily stunned by what he saw.