Chapter 39 Who Gave You the Courage?
"It was my fault. I already apologized... Please don't give me this kind of silent treatment." Yuuki couldn't stand Ely's silence for that long.
Ely heaved a subtle sigh as she couldn't feel angry for long. She then glanced at Yuuki and took on this nine-tailed snow fox's overall look.
Yuuki was an attractive fox lady clad in a traditional white icy robe with multiple layers. A crown-like ice circle adorned her head as if she was the Empress of the snowy region.
Her long sparkling white hair cascaded down below her hips, skin as white as snow, and bright amber, almost golden, foxy eyes accentuated her mystic charm as a legendary being.
Yuuki's beautiful appearance resembled an untouched exquisite flower in the middle of an icy meadow. However, her power seemed to say she was the Tyrant Empress of Extreme Ice.
That was Ely's first impression of the cold beauty before her.
"That was the second time you buried me in the snow. Also, my first layer of protection was destroyed because of you. It's good that you didn't show any malice, or you might turn mush." Ely showed the pieces of her broken artifact.
"What can I do? You keep running away, and I'm desperate to catch you. Do you still have another eight layers of protection? But I will take care of you if you get hurt." Yuuki shifted her gaze to the side because she felt guilty.
"Never mind. So, your holy land is at the highest peak, the ground above the ice clouds?" Ely looked up at the tallest mountain covered in the thick cold fog. She couldn't imagine how a holy land could be present on the clouds above that mountain.
"Yeah, I'll take you there. But that's not my holy land. I'm just a distinguished guest elder there. They can never ever control me." Yuuki tapped her Ice Lotus, telling it to fly faster.
"Nee, Ely... Please tell me. You are a human, but why did you disguise yourself as a nine-tailed shadow fox?" Yuuki asked in a mellow voice. She was concerned about something and worried that Ely would get into trouble.
"That's because we're in the Northern Realm where beastkin and demi-humans rule. Hehe, even a Deity can't see through my disguises. I feel proud of my skills." Ely felt proud of her skills, but her face implied, 'Isn't that obvious?'.
"I see... Then, let me remind you, Ely. The fox-kin, especially the nine-tailed fox, can be considered the best furnace to boost one's cultivation. Never let anyone catch you, or they will swallow you alive, especially the fiend." Yuuki emphasized her point with a solemn expression.
"Is it that bad? Um, okay. Thanks for reminding me. I will be cautious." Ely felt anxious, but she was the evil's nemesis. Therefore, she was not too worried.
"Good, but this big sister shall protect you. The nine-tailed fox is revered because of our power and beauty, but there are countless beings plotting tricks to take us down. You don't have to worry. No one under heaven can harm you under my watch." Yuuki puffed out her chest as she had already made up her mind.
"Ah-um, thank you." Ely felt happy to have a strong sister willing to care for and protect her voluntarily.
They arrived at a holy land above the ice clouds a few moments later. A grand ice palace was in the middle of the valley, surrounded by eleven peaks and settlements resembling an ice town.
Yuuki immediately went to her abode on one of the peaks around the ice palace. She asked Ely to wait in a garden pavilion as she had to take care of something and tidy up a few things.
"..." Ely sipped the warm blue tea while glancing left and right.
It was her first experience to visit the holy land, and it was fair to say this place was above the mortal boundary. The spiritual energy here was more prosperous compared to any common area. Only slightly superior to the Sacred Mountain's forest but far inferior to her residence.
As for Yuuki's abode, it was a small blue bamboo house with lots of ice decorations. A garden with dozens of ice plants thrived around the pavilion. It was a simple residence for a Demi-God, or now, a Deity.
Ely felt if it was her, she would not feel comfortable living in an extreme environment like this because the natural temperature was so cold. She might have frozen to death if it wasn't for her multiple cold resistance artifacts.
The ground was blue or white in color, but it wasn't ice or snow. Ely noticed the presence of a vitality herb near the pavilion. It was like a Peace Lily plant thriving in a sizeable cauldron-like pot.
Dozens of defense mechanisms were installed around it as if the owner feared it being touched or stolen by anyone.
Ely was amazed that the vitality herb had dozens of leaves and five flowers! There were also no signs it had ever been harvested.
Her vitality herb at home had at most three flowers and ten leaves every half year. She could only pick a few of them every six months under the said vitality herb's permission.
However, Yuuki's vitality herb was far superior! She could even sense that herb giving a smug response to her surprise.
"O-oh-" Ely just nodded as if she understood that herb's arrogance.
It was a Super-tier life-saving material, after all.
However, a herb was still an herb. It would still be material for medicine, potion, elixir, or something else.
*Creak*
The blue bamboo gate was opened from the outside, and two people clad in white-blue robes with ice cloud patterns entered carefully.
They were the white-haired human and the long-blue-haired bunny woman. They were the disciples of the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace.
They clasped their hands in front of Yuuki's abode, then the blue bunny announced the purpose of their arrival. "Elder Celestial Fox, we have come to inform you that Palace Master expects your presence at the Immortal Palace."
Unfortunately, they got no response even after waiting a few minutes.
"..." Ely somehow felt a bit awkward too. She watched from the side silently while drinking her tea without making any noise.
She then paid them no more attention and glanced at her blue tea. It resembled the bubblegum milkshake, but it was an authentic tea with an exceptional taste. She poured another cup to enjoy it more.
"Has Elder Celestial Fox left again? I believe her Ice Lotus just landed here a few minutes ago." The white-haired human whispered to his senior sister.
"No, that's impossible. The gate's protective array is disabled, so Elder Celestial Fox is still inside. Otherwise, we won't be able to enter." The blue bunny spoke in a whisper-like voice.
"Hmm?" The white-haired human suddenly noticed the presence of a fox beauty in the garden pavilion.
That beauty was a young fox demi-human with an angelic visage and charm. Her captivating foxy eyes gave a sacred impression that was hard to describe in words.
Unfortunately, that beauty's hair and fur were dark in color. Her outfit was even dark-purple in color.
The brilliant and bright color meant welfare and prestige in Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace. The neutral pure was superiority, and the light color was respectability.
Any color meant goodness, as long as it was not black or dark, which was always associated with darkness and evil!
The blue bunny also looked to the side and noticed that shadow fox lady.
It was gross for that inferior, dirty creature to share the same kin with the Elder Celestial Fox. That shadow fox had probably come here to ask Elder Celestial Fox for help. However, Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace would never accept that dark color thing as a disciple, not even a servant!
"Excuse me, shadow fox. I believe you are not a guest of the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace. May I know what you are doing in Elder Celestial Fox's residence?" The blue bunny came closer in an intimidating and unfriendly manner.
"Elder Celestial Fox asked me to wait here." Ely ignored that blue bunny's hostility in a calm manner. She continued to sip her tea in peace.
She believed these teenagers wouldn't dare make presumptuous moves at Yuuki's residence.
"Don't joke with me, dirty fox! Do you wish to hug Elder Celestial Fox's thigh to enter Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace through the back door? I advise you to stop dreaming and leave here immediately. You will never be welcomed anywhere in this holy land." The blue bunny slammed her hand onto the table.
*Bam*
The impact made the bamboo table shake, and the blue tea spilled, wetting Ely's thighs and legs.
"..." Ely had no idea what was wrong with this blue bunny's unreasonable hatred.
She also didn't understand why she needed to hug Yuuki's thigh or enter through the back door. Yuuki brought her here via a clear path for all to see.
"That's no concern of yours, and I shall take my leave once my business is over. Please mind your own personal affairs, miss bunny." Ely took out a handkerchief to wipe her wet thighs and legs.
"You! You don't know good from bad!" The blue bunny was feeling extremely annoyed. She had never once been belittled and insulted, let alone by an inferior creature.
She stretched out her hand as she was about to grab this shadow fox's hair. But, an ice dagger shot before her hand could reach anything, stopping her movement mid-air because of a sense of danger.
"Who gave you the courage? Try to touch her, and I will kill you." Yuuki came out of her abode with a cold, death stare. Her extreme ice-cold aura broke out, instantly causing the temperature to fall below zero.
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