Soon, the little fox caught a big fish.

She leaped ashore, shook the water from her fur, and looked at Gu Changqing as if she was waiting for him to compliment her.

Gu Changqing inexplicably felt a twinge of pity.

Her fur was soaked, her body looked even thinner, as if only skin and bones remained, gaunt and emaciated.

This little fox had long since been tortured by that curse and because of the process of taking care of him, she was left in an even more pitiable state.

The little fox seemed to sense Gu Changqing’s emotion, so she hesitated, then transformed into a human. “It’s all right. As long as we find the Reincarnation Sea, everything can be restored.”

“Yes, we’ll find it,” Gu Changqing forced a smile.

Two people, their bodies reduced to shells by fate, encouraged each other.

She lit a bonfire and sat there roasting the fish.

Roar!

A piercing scream came from beyond the sky, the terrifying screech enough to make eardrums ache.

Looking up, the horizon was filled with an endless, dark mass of giant birds.

They seemed to feed on all things. Wherever they flew, everything turned to dust.

“Quick, run!”

“These are monsters cursed with ill-omen.”

The little fox leaped over and landed beside Gu Changqing, signaling him to climb up.

But Gu Changqing ignored her and started running like crazy.

This fox had already done enough for him. He’d rather be devoured by those monsters than continue to be her burden.

“Get up.”

The little fox bit and tossed Gu Changqing onto her back, then dashed wildly through the forbidden zone.

Gu Changqing winced in pain from the jolting. She was even frailer than she looked. He could barely feel any flesh on her back.

Seeing this scene.

Qingqiu’s Empress Bai Su was utterly furious.

Didn’t this little fox have any limits to how much she would do for this man?!

Catching fish for the Heavenly Emperor was one thing, but she even let the Heavenly Emperor ride her!

The reason demons were called demons was because they had a demonic nature and demonic pride. Demons were arrogant and unruly, leaders among all beings!

Born with strong physiques, peerless bloodlines, and for some, ancient skills flowing in their veins — they were natural overlords.

And the fox clan was a symbol of wisdom among the Demon Race.

What the Demon Race could not tolerate most was humans treating them like ants, riding their bodies as if they were mere mounts.

Yet this white fox even volunteered to let someone ride her.

“You’ve completely disgraced the face of our Demon Race!”

Bai Su was furious. If there weren’t so many strong figures around and the setting wasn’t inappropriate, the Qingqiu Empress would have probably cursed loudly on the spot.

“She was willing to set aside her pride and carry the Heavenly Emperor to flee.”

“I have to say, this white fox really is good to the Heavenly Emperor.”

The cultivators watching the scene were moved by the white fox’s actions.

“If not for this white fox, where would the Heavenly Emperor be today?!”

“Yet the Heavenly Emperor showed no gratitude at all, slaughtering the Demon Race without mercy, ruthlessly and inhumanely.”

The more they thought of the Heavenly Emperor’s later actions toward the Demon Race, the more they felt the white fox’s efforts had been in vain and grew angry!

They finally reached a safe place.

The little white fox seemed to have lost all strength. She lay on the ground, gasping heavily.

Gu Changqing didn’t even go to comfort the little fox, nor did he inquire about her condition.

He merely sat cross-legged and began to cultivate, focused only on himself.

Here, aside from strength, nothing else mattered.

If he couldn’t quickly improve his prowess, he would forever remain the little fox’s burden.

That was not the purpose of him accompanying the little fox into the forbidden zone.

Only by increasing his capabilities could he support the little fox and successfully find the Reincarnation Sea.

Outside the mirror.

Never mind Bai Su. Even the cultivators were trembling with anger.

“The Heavenly Emperor really doesn’t value the lives of the Demon Race.”

“He could abandon his sword heart for Jiang Minghuang. Couldn’t he at least look after this little fox?”

“Whenever he has time he just cultivates himself, completely ignoring the little fox — utterly cold-blooded!!”

“No wonder he later became a monstrous tyrant!”

Gu Changqing’s indifferent attitude toward the little fox provoked the cultivators’ ire.

Even if he couldn’t share the little fox’s burden, they felt that the least he could do was to comfort her or give some encouragement.

But he just cultivated for himself the whole time, not saying a single word of concern.

She had just moments before given up her dignity to carry him to safety!

“This is fucking insane, I can’t stand it at all. This little fox should have just abandoned the Heavenly Emperor in the Forbidden Zone.”

“The Heavenly Emperor is a burden now. Carrying him slows you down more than going alone!”

It was a rainy night.

The cold wind was bone-piercing.

A man and a fox trudged across the plain.

They were searching for a cave to shelter from the rain.

This rain was no ordinary rain. It was an ill-omened rain.

The rain contained a curse. Once it touched you, it would corrode your skin and flesh.

The little fox sheltered Gu Changqing beneath her body, using herself to shield him from wind and rain.

Her body emitted a constant sizzling sound.

Her entire fox body was being corroded by the ill-omened rain into a pitiful state.

Her fur fell away wildly and her skin split open, making her flesh and blood indistinct.