Preparations for the ritual were completed.

After emerging from the cave, the Nine-Tails stayed outside continually. It was said to be an exceedingly unusual occurrence.

“Raise the altar.”

The Nine-Tails also personally directed the preparations for the ritual.

Yu Jeong-shin and Dam Hyun had much to assist with.

As Taoists, they had deep knowledge in rituals and offerings.

“Let’s place the altar in the direction of the east.”

“Master, wouldn’t it be better to start at the hour of the Rabbit?”

“The alignment of the moon and celestial bodies at that time seems most auspicious. Indeed, it would be best.”

The reason for such meticulous preparation was for the success of the ritual.

And the success of the ritual meant obtaining the approval of Queen Mother of the West.

Among the numerous celestial immortals, Queen Mother of the West was a supremely high-ranking Great Immortal.

Various preparations had been made to receive the goddess’s permission.

This included the offerings to be presented.

“These are Blood Moths containing my blood.”

Blood Moths, turned stark white from sucking the blood of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox, fluttered within an iron cage.

They left it on the altar along with various other offerings.

Although it included all sorts of valuable items and gold ornaments, the most crucial was the blood of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox.

“It’s been a while since we’ve conducted a blood sacrifice.”

“It’s also my first time doing it for Queen Mother of the West.”

The altar was different from usual.

In front of them was something like a tent.

A splendid curtain was hanging loosely, making it impossible to see inside.

In front of it was a seal inscribed with “Queen Mother of the West’s Throne.”

This was the method for communicating with Queen Mother of the West on earth.

Directly summoning an immortal was impossible. Hence, a curtain was erected to converse beyond it.

The first part of the ritual would be conducted by the Nine-Tails, Yu Jeong-shin, and Dam Hyun.

And the latter part would heavily involve Yi-gang and the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon.

Meanwhile, Yi-gang had been conversing with the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon.

Looking at Yi-gang’s still emotionless face, the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon spoke up.

“I miss the sun.”

“The sun?”

It was a time closer to deep night than dawn. There was still much time left before daybreak.

“I want to see the sunrise.”

“The ritual must be completed before dawn.”

Yi-gang’s voice was unyieldingly cold.

Even if he didn’t mean to sound harsh, it was enough to wound, yet the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon just grinned.

“But I still want to see it.”

“…You can see it once you get a new body.”

“…Right?”

If the ritual proceeds without issue, then surely, watching the morning sun would be trivial.

“Let’s go.”

Yi-gang stood up. The preparations for the ritual were complete.

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon followed him.

“You stay here.”

A long piece of red dyed ramie fabric was spread out.

Entering the latter half of the ritual, she just needed to walk slowly to the end of this path.

Yi-gang left the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon behind and went to his position.

Soon, the Nine-Tails began the ritual.

“O Queen Mother of the West who sits in the Great Hall of the Heavens of the East.”

Queen Mother of the West was said to be their mother.

“In this sacred place of the Kunlun Mountains, as your children cry out, please shine your dragon eyes through the moonlight.”

A rhythm akin to singing could be felt.

Boom!

Dam Hyun began to beat the drum.

As he struck the large drum, a deep sound that could shake one’s body resonated.

Yu Jeong-shin inserted incense into the burner and began to recite the scripture.

“May the celestial form protect us, and the terrestrial light shine upon us, embracing the human desires to summon the spirits…”

The low recitation of the scripture conveyed the demeanor of a Taoist.

“The original righteousness aligns with the heavenly way, the original form is the constructive way…”

The sound of the scripture continued to echo, and the clouds in the sky slowly began to move.

Those with sharp senses started to feel a change.

Something was happening.

Whoosh- Whoosh—

Flames started to light up on torches spontaneously, without anyone igniting them.The flames illuminated the path of red fabric that the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon was to advance upon.

Yi-gang, feeling a tingling sensation, waited for his turn to step forward.

The ability to manipulate True Qi reached its peak after passing through the Gateway of Life and Death.

Underneath his stoic expression, such a resolution was firmly set.

And there were eyes looking at Yi-gang with worry.

Baek Ha-jun and the Golden Needle Phantom were among them.

They did not directly participate in the ritual.

Instead, the Golden Needle Phantom had been preparing a medicinal decoction for Yi-gang throughout the night. Ha-jun was carefully holding that decoction.

“Shouldn’t we have given it to my brother earlier?”

“There’s a right time for taking medicine as well. Let’s wait a bit.”

The Golden Needle Phantom had not yet administered the decoction to Yi-gang, waiting for the exact moment to maximize its efficacy.

If it was a medicine that could cure the inner demon, wouldn’t it be better to administer it as soon as possible?

Ha-jun thought so but decided to trust the Golden Needle Phantom and wait.

The Golden Needle Phantom, however, was preoccupied with different thoughts.

He recalled the whisper from the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon the day before yesterday.

‘It seems like Yi-gang’s condition is quite abnormal.’

The Golden Needle Phantom was informed about Yi-gang’s condition.

Saying that the inner demon had properly settled in. That he might collapse into Qi deviation at any moment.

And that he seems to be mentally unstable due to a severe sense of responsibility.

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon muttered with a sorrowful expression, ‘This shouldn’t be happening.’

Regardless, there was hope that Yi-gang’s inner demon would significantly improve if things went well.

Wasn’t the thing tormenting Yi-gang the most the fact that he had to turn the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon into a yokai?

She confided the truth to the Golden Needle Phantom.

‘The truth is… the chances of success are quite low.’

‘…How low are we talking?’

Would the possibility of failure be about half?

Nothing in the world ever goes exactly as planned.

Knowing this, the Golden Needle Phantom braced himself for the news.

‘They say it’s nearly impossible.’

‘What?’

The Golden Needle Phantom froze, and the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon smiled broadly.

‘If it doesn’t go well, please take good care of Yi-gang so he doesn’t get too shocked.’

‘…’

‘He’s still young. He needs to live a long, healthy life.’

The words were too calm for someone who had died young like the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon.The Golden Needle Phantom had not yet shared the words he heard that day with anyone.

The likelihood that Queen Mother of the West would not grant permission was high.

The ritual was likely to fail.

“Oh!”

Then, the Nine-Tails looked up at the sky and exclaimed.

The clouds that had been bunched together parted, and a beam of moonlight illuminated the ground.

The Nine-Tails, along with the other Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes, bowed their heads in unison.

The air felt suddenly heavier.

Yi-gang sat cross-legged in front of the altar honoring Queen Mother of the West, with his palms facing up, holding a bronze fox statue in his clasped hands.

He expanded his spiritual awareness and concentrated his mind.

If he could obtain Queen Mother of the West’s permission, the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon would acquire a new body.

“O Queen Mother of the West,” Gumiho called out the name of Queen Mother of the West.

A fierce wind blew, causing the torches to dance wildly.

Yu Jeong-shin continued to recite the scripture despite sweating profusely.

Then suddenly, the wind stopped.

Yu Jeong-shin also stopped reciting the scripture.

A chilling silence settled.

Yi-gang felt a colossal gaze.

The air felt denser, a sense of pressure was palpable.

“Thank you for gracing us with your presence.”

The Nine-Tails was the only one present who could articulate words properly.

“We have prepared offerings for you, please accept them.”

On the altar, offerings including the Blood Moths were presented.

How Queen Mother of the West would take them would soon be evident.

Water flowed.

Beneath the tent prepared for Queen Mother of the West, clear and clean water began to flow.

Like a spring, the clear water flowed as if defying gravity.

It climbed up to the altar, and the offerings floated into the tent like being carried away by a river.

Yi-gang felt a sense of relief internally.

‘The offerings have been accepted.’

Queen Mother of the West had accepted the offerings.It was an expected outcome since the Nine-Tails, her kin, participated, but it was still a relief.

Now it was time to make a request.

The Nine-Tails proceeded with the ritual as planned.

“The nine lives you bestowed upon me, Queen Mother. One has returned to Mount Kunlun.”

The Nine-Tails opened her mouth and spat out a blue gem.

The gem floated up and flew over to Yi-gang’s hand.

From here, it was Yi-gang’s turn to act.

“Along with him, the soul of a pitiful child has returned. Born human, but wishes to become a fox.”

Yi-gang focused his Qi in his right hand, which had open meridians.

Delicately, he infused the Qi into the fox statue.

“Thus, I wish to give it a new body and make it my child. I humbly ask for your permission.”

After filling the bronze statue with Qi, he started to move the yokai energy.

Fortunately, the yokai energy, blended with Yi-gang’s spiritual energy, moved as intended.

The Blue Eye Gem glowed blue.

Now, all that was needed was Queen Mother of the West’s permission.

“…Queen Mother of the West.”

But the Nine-Tails only called Queen Mother of the West’s name once more.

Yi-gang felt an ominous sensation.

It was the Nine-Tails alone here who could hear the voice of Queen Mother of the West.

But things did not seem to be going well.

“…Please, grant your approval.”

Could it be that permission would not be granted?

Suppressing his anxiety, Yi-gang continued to infuse yokai energy.

“If it is said to be impossible, then…”

The Nine-Tails bowed deeply.

Yi-gang inadvertently glared at the Nine-Tails.

Could it really end like this…?

“…As your child, I will comply.”

Was this an easy surrender?

Anger and astonishment surged hotly.

Gulp—

Swallowing the rise in his throat, the taste of blood lingered in his mouth.

Anger was the inner demon, and the inner demon spewed blood within Yi-gang’s stomach.

The True Qi coursing through his meridians raged fiercely. Yet, Yi-gang continued to infuse yokai energy.

“Thank you…for gracing us,” said the Nine-Tails, and Yu Jeong-shin hesitantly began to recite the scripture again.

The scripture was one of gratitude for the divine presence and a farewell to the departing deity.

Essentially, it meant that this was the end.

Yi-gang couldn’t accept this. At the very least, he thought he deserved an explanation.

Blood streamed from his nose.

Then, the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon screamed as if in agony.

“…No!”

Seeing the veins bulging on Yi-gang’s face and realizing he was entering Qi deviation, she attempted to leave her designated area and rush towards him.

Dam Hyun rushed to stop her, and in her place, the Golden Needle Phantom ran to Yi-gang.

At the moment when the ritual was about to turn into chaos—suddenly, a violent wind blew.

Crack—

The seal on Queen Mother of the West’s tent was torn off.

Then, the closed tent flapped open.

The Nine-Tails cried out in great alarm, “Turn your heads away!”

Not even the Lion’s Roar of Shaolin could produce such a voice.

When the great yokai, a kin of the immortals, uttered this with her intention imbued, it was as if a commandment had been infused with power.

Everyone in the hall turned their heads to the opposite side of the tent in an instant.

However, there was one who did not move at her call.

“…”

Yi-gang remained in his seated position.

His gaze was fixed on the inside of the tent.

Even considering it was night, the interior of the tent where Queen Mother of the West was present was exceedingly dark.

No, it wasn’t just dark; it was beyond what mere humans could peer into.

The abyss was staring directly at Yi-gang.

『What is it that you find so unjust?』

A voice that seemed to be that of a young woman or perhaps a dying old lady echoed.

Everyone else was rigid.

Even the Nine-Tails bowed her head and remained silent.

Yi-gang barely managed to open his mouth in response to the voice that seemed to shake his spirit.

The identity of the other party was all too clear.

“Queen Mother of the West, please turn this wandering soul into a Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox.”Queen Mother of the West.

Among the countless celestial immortals, the highest-ranking female immortal was looking at Yi-gang.

She gave her answer.

『I refuse.』

To restrain the curses that threatened to spill out, Yi-gang clenched his teeth.