Chapter 855: Master Tricks Apprentice

Ji Yuan was unaware that the aquatic creature had approached him because it recognized him as the immortal who wielded thunder magic at the Black Desolation Myriad Monster Feast. He simply paid a little more attention to the creature as he continued towards the Dragon Palace.

Around the riverbank banquet area, more and more tables were being set up, and an increasing number of fish maids appeared, flowing like a stream. They were already serving dishes of prepared food and bringing in jars of fine sealed wine.

Although this small amount of food and wine would barely satisfy the true forms of these aquatic creatures, the Dragon Transformation Feast was an excellent social occasion for them, as well as a chance to witness Ying Ruoli's magnificent transformation into a dragon.

"Mr. Ji, there you are! Please come with me to the Dragon Palace's main hall. You said you were going for a stroll but disappeared for most of the day. The feast starts tonight, and if the Dragon Lord doesn't see you, he'll surely punish me!"

Seeing the Yaksha rush over, bowing and pleading, Ji Yuan didn't want to make things difficult for him.

"Alright, alright, let's go. But speaking of which, where has that boy Ying Feng gone? I haven't seen him at all."

"Uh, His Highness should currently be at the mouth of the Tongtian River, awaiting Lady Ying's return from the sea."

"Oh."

Ji Yuan nodded, his gaze lifting towards the river surface above. Even through the layers of river water, he could still feel an immortal light streaking across the sky.

"Mr. Ji, please!"

"Mhm."

Ji Yuan no longer wandered, walking back directly with the Yaksha.

Meanwhile, Hu Yun was wandering through the riverbank feast with Xiezhi. Banquet tables were everywhere, as were aquatic creatures either moving about or chatting animatedly. As a fox demon, Hu Yun could only cautiously follow Xiezhi.

"Master, I just saw that boat. Master Yin must be on it, and maybe Yin Qing too. I want to go back and see them..."

"Hey, what's the rush? They'll definitely be in the main hall once the feast begins. You'll have plenty of chances to see them."

Xiezhi looked around like a country bumpkin seeing the city for the first time. Every now and then, he would reach his chopsticks onto a nearby table and snatch a few bites of newly served dishes.

Most of the surrounding aquatic creatures were busy socializing and conversing. Although some fish maids had started serving food, few were generally preoccupied with eating and drinking.

It was like attending a human wedding feast: someone might stroll by a table, suddenly extend their chopsticks, and take some food. Xiezhi's habit of reaching out with his chopsticks to grab food while wandering might earn him a few extra glances, but no one actually stopped him.

"Heh heh, these feasts are quite interesting, but I can't find it..."

Xiezhi was by no means subtle with his chopsticks, often grabbing a large handful with a single scoop. If the banquet plates weren't so large, he could probably take half the food in two scoops from a regular household plate.

"My friend, who are you looking for?"

"Just looking around."

"My friend, why don't you sit down and have a drink?"

Amidst the comings and goings, a water creature approached Xiezhi and asked curiously. Xiezhi turned to look, then simply grabbed the wine pot the other held.

"Exactly, that's the spirit! Come here to make friends, sit down, have a drink, and get to know each other."

"Drinking is good, but no need to sit down. This is fine."

Xiezhi lifted the wine pot, drank straight from the spout, then turned his back to the other and walked away. The water creature beside him frowned slightly. *This person is far too ill-mannered*, he thought.

"Hmph!"

"Uh, Lord River God, my master didn't mean it. It's his first time at such an event, he doesn't understand anything. He drinks like this even at home..."

Hu Yun repeatedly bowed and clasped his hands towards the clearly irritated person. This individual was clearly a River God from somewhere; his divine aura was subdued and not outwardly visible, but Hu Yun's extremely keen nose could detect a faint, sandalwood-like scent of incense, indicating his cultivation was certainly not poor.

The River God looked down, initially thinking he saw a mortal child. But that was clearly impossible. Upon a second look, he realized Hu Yun's body was clearly an illusion, yet he couldn't see through it immediately. Squinting for a closer look, he vaguely caught a fleeting glimpse of a fox's phantom image. Had he not concentrated, he would have missed it entirely; even then, it was very indistinct.

If he had seen this child in a human city or on a riverbank, the River God might genuinely have mistaken him for a mortal child.

A fox?

"You, at least, have good manners. Is he your master? It's no big deal, you're excused. Go quickly and follow your master, lest he cause more trouble."

"Yes."

The River God watched Hu Yun run after the person ahead. His gaze fell upon Hu Yun's feet, and only then did he have a slight realization. No wonder it was hard to see through him—it was the influence of his shadow. Some weaknesses in the illusions of demons, devils, and monsters manifest in their shadows. This little fox's shadow was remarkably dense and harmonious, even suppressing his demonic aura to some extent, subtly influencing the River God's judgment.

Hu Yun quickly caught up with Xiezhi, who continued forward, drinking from the pot's spout, his steps much faster than before.

"Master, wait for me!"

As he called out, Hu Yun saw Xiezhi crash head-on into a burly man ahead, whose body radiated a dense demonic aura. Xiezhi even spilled wine on him. Although the wine quickly ran off, it clearly infuriated the man.

This water demon clearly had a short temper; he immediately swung his hand and grabbed Xiezhi, seizing him by the neck.

"What are you doing, you brat?"

"Good, good, you're perfect!"

Xiezhi said this, not dodging or avoiding, watching as the other's hand seemed to reach for his neck in slow motion.

This sudden change stunned Hu Yun, and the demon-possessed man also paused, looking at Xiezhi to one side. *How did I inexplicably grab the wrong person?*

"Master, how is this..."

Just as Hu Yun asked with a bewildered expression, he felt as if everything above his neck was out of his control. His mouth transformed into a long fox muzzle, revealing sharp fangs, and then he fiercely bit down on the demon-possessed man's hand, right at the web between his thumb and forefinger.

"Ah—"

The demon-possessed man cried out in pain and instinctively let go. A bewildered Hu Yun also dropped to the ground.

"Well done, my good disciple! You stood up for your master! Quick, teach this arrogant, foolish demon a lesson!"

"Master, I..."

Hu Yun's face was filled with horror. Looking at the demon-possessed man's bleeding hand and feeling the ache in his own teeth, he knew he had been tricked.

"Alright, you're asking for death!"

The demon-possessed man's demonic aura surged, his eyes turning crimson. A large hand, imbued with ripping power, slammed down towards Hu Yun, who was sitting on the ground.

"Woo..."

The large hand swung through empty air. Hu Yun had narrowly escaped the attack range at the last second. A blast of demonic energy, like a fierce wind, swept outwards with the force of the large hand, but it was dissipated by the surrounding aquatic creatures.

"My good disciple, you're just too afraid of everything. Don't look at this fellow as if he's scary; he's no match for you. If you don't win, you don't get to eat."

"Huh? No, Master..."

Hu Yun had no desire to fight such a terrifying demon. He immediately turned to run. If his master was tricking him, he'd go find Mr. Ji. But after only a dozen steps, he was "thumped" back.

Hu Yun looked up and saw a layer of transparent light flowing before him.

The surrounding aquatic creatures gathered around, their gazes directed not only at the circle but also at Xiezhi, who clearly didn't mind the spectacle. *When did this person cast the spell?*

"Oh, is this a sparring match?"

"Should we break this spell?" "Let's just watch for now."

"It's none of our business."

"Hmm." "Let's just enjoy the show."

*This is it, no one's going to help me*, Hu Yun thought, looking around. A crowd had gathered, and some were even placing bets. But there was no time to think; the sound of tearing air came from behind him.

"Roar..."

The moment the roar sounded, Hu Yun jolted and sprang away, dodging the other's pounce. He saw that the man's face was now covered in scales, and his eyes glowed with a chilling crimson light.

"Are you crazy? We're both trapped in here!"

Hu Yun yelled this, but the other continued to glare intently at him, instantly making Hu Yun realize that this foolish demon had definitely been tampered with by his cheap master.

"My good disciple, go on! How will you know if you can do it if you don't try? And you, inside there, my disciple is just a little demon who hasn't fully transformed yet. If you can't beat him, this joke will spread throughout all the world's waters and the eight desolate lands!"

While Xiezhi egged them on, Hu Yun and the demon-possessed man scurried wildly inside. Initially, some River Gods, finding it amusing, considered intervening to end the farce. But they soon frowned and dismissed the idea. The young fox was escaping with surprising skill; the powerful demon behind him couldn't touch him at all.

"Bang..."

Within the small confinement, a wave of immense force erupted from a collision. The black shadow that had just emerged from Hu Yun's shadow had astonishingly transformed into a divine general with golden armor and a crimson face.

At the same moment, Hu Yun revealed his fox tails, but instead of three, there were four. Xiezhi saw clearly that the fourth fox tail was formed from the ink-like blackness of the shadow.

"Well, well, kid, you had this trick up your sleeve!"

Xiezhi slapped his thigh and settled down at a nearby table, drinking from his wine pot and observing the developments within the small confinement.