Chapter 3254: Huan’er’s Mother’s Past

Yuan Ming Yun was one of the two strongest members of the main Phantom Fox Clan’s Yuan Clan in the Heavenly Territory. His strength was almost comparable to that of a titled Celestial Emperor, and yet, he had been so easily killed by Zhuge Feng. Although Zhuge Feng’s attack was a sneak attack, the Phantom Fox Clan members present on the scene knew if Zhuge Feng and Zhuge Yun joined forces, Yuan Ming Yun would still not be a match for them. Let alone one Yuan Ming Yun, even if they were ten Yuan Ming Yun, they still would not be a match for Zhuge Feng and Zhuge Yun if they joined forces. Since they were aware of this, even after Yuan Ming Yun’s death, Zhang Han Tian and the others could only submit to the twins out of fear of the twins venting their anger on them.

“From today onward, if I find out any of you dare to plot against Huan’er… I’ll annihilate your entire clan!” Zhuge Yun said as her eyes glinted coldly while stared at Zhang Han Tian and the others.

“Rest assured, my lord. Even if our Zhang Clan has 100 times the courage, we still won’t dare to plot against Miss Huan’er,” Zhang Han Tian said with a bitter smile on his face.

“My lord, the same goes for the Yuan Clan as well,” Yuan Yue, the Grand Elder of the Yuan Clan, hurriedly added. It was as though he was afraid Zhuge Yun would attack him if he was slow to reply.

“I hope you’ll keep your promises.” Zhuge Yun stared at Zhang Han Tian and the rest sternly before she, Zhuge Feng, Duan Ling Tian, Huan’er turned around and left.

Only when the group of domineering people left that Zhang Han Tian and the others regained their senses. All of them could only smile bitterly.

“Clan leader, it seems the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox is the woman I sent Zhang Jin Yi to investigate… I heard them calling them Huan’er,” Zhang Ping Ye, the Grand Elder of the Zhang Clan, said as realization dawned on him.

“There’s no point in bringing this up now… I didn’t expect this generation’s Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox had joined the prestigious Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect.” Zhang Han Tian shook his head. If it was not absolutely necessary, he did not want to provoke or offend the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect. Moreover, Zhuge Yun could be considered as one of the most powerful people in the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect.

All of them heaved a sigh of relief, having escaped death. Following that, Yuan Yue bade farewell to Zhang Han Tian and let his clan members back. Their clan was in a crisis now that their clan leader had been killed. The clan would definitely be in chaos for some time.

After the people from the Yuan Clan had left, Zhang Ping Ye’s eyes gleamed as he said, “Clan leader, the Yuan Clan just lost their leader. It’s going to be chaotic for them. Why don’t we seize the opportunity and gain control of their Celestial Crystal veins?”

Although the Zhang Clan and Yuan Clan were members of the Phantom Fox Clan and were usually united against outsiders, there were many small disputes between them.

“We, naturally, can’t let go of such a good opportunity,” Zhang Han Tian said as his eyes glinted. His expression turned solemn as he continued to say to Zhang Ping Ye, “Grand Elder, pass down my order… From today onward, all members of the Zhang Clan are prohibited from hunting down the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox. In fact, if anyone sees the members of the Yuan Clan trying to the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox, they must help her with all their might. If they’re no match for the people from the Yuan Clan, report it to me immediately.”

Zhang Han Tian looked in the direction where the Yuan Clan was located meaningfully as he continued to say, “I hope the members of the Yuan Clan will not give up and plot against the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox. If we’re able to help the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox, we might be able to establish a relationship with the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect.” A hint of expectation could be seen gleaming in his eyes as he said, “It seems like I should prepare a grand gift to the Du Clan of the Phantom Fox Clan in the Jade Emperor Heaven to congratulate them.”

…

Meanwhile, after leaving the main Phantom Fox Clan’s estate in the Heavenly Territory, Zhuge Yun said, “Duan Ling Tian, although there aren’t titled Celestial Emperors in the Phantom Fox Clan’s estate, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any out there… The Phantom Fox Clan has existed for so many years, they must have incredibly powerful elites in the Spirit Overarching Territory. To be precise, they’re likely at the center of the Spirit Overarching Heaven. Therefore, it’s unwise for us to completely annihilate the Phantom Fox Clan for now unless they cross the line.”

Chills ran up Duan Ling Tian’s spine when he heard Zhuge Yun’s words. Her words indicated that it crossed her mind to annihilate the main Phantom Fox Clan in the Heavenly Territory? No matter what, the Phantom Fox Clan was still a grade-one force! At this moment, he acutely felt his weakness even though his strength had improved tremendously. He was still a far cry from Zhuge Yun. After he calmed down, he replied, “Senior, this is more than enough… I think the Phantom Fox Clan won’t dare to act against Huan’er anymore…”

“Are there any other places you want to go next?” Zhuge Yun asked Duan Ling Tian.

“No.” Duan Ling Tian shook his head. “We can return now.”

However, as soon as Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, Huan’er looked at him and said, “Brother Ling Tian, I want to look for my mother.”

Upon hearing Huan’er’s words, Duan Ling Tian felt distressed for her. He looked at Zhuge Yun and said, “Senior, can we return to the Phantom Fox Clan here to ask about Huan’er’s mother’s whereabouts?”

Zhuge Yun nodded in response. She was more than willing to help Huan’er find her mother since Huan’er was her Mo Xie Progeny’s disciple. Moreover, she was rather satisfied with her disciple.

Needless to say, since Zhuge Yun had agreed to accompany Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er, Zhuge Feng would definitely follow suit. He would not allow his twin sister to wander outside of the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect alone.

…

Zhang Han Tian, the Clan Leader of the Zhang Clan of the Phantom Fox Clan, certainly did not expect Duan Ling Tian and the others would return so soon. He greeted them respectfully and led them into the Zhang Clan’s main hall. He looked at Zhuge Feng and Zhuge Yun and asked respectfully, “My lords, is there anything I can do for you?”

Upon seeing Zhuge Yun looking at Duan Ling Tian, Zhang Han Tian shifted his gaze to Duan Ling Tian as well.

Duan Ling Tian bluntly asked, “Clan Leader Zhang, do you know Du Xuan from the Du Clan?”

“Du Xuan?” Zhang Han Tian’s expression changed upon hearing these words. “My lord, why would you ask about Du Xuan? Do you know her?”

“Du Xuan is Huan’er’s mother.” Duan Ling Tian glanced at Huan’er before shifted his gaze back to Zhang Han Tian. “Based on Clan Leader Zhang’s expression, it seems like you know Huan’er’s mother.”

“She… S-she’s really Du Xuan’s daughter?” Zhang Han Tian’s expression was complex. He said with a sigh, “This must be karma.”

“Karma?” Duan Ling Tian frowned.

Huan’er who was standing next to Duan Ling Tian could not help but ask Zhang Han Tian, “You know my mother?”

“Of course… There’s no one in the Phantom Fox Clan who doesn’t know your mother.” Zhang Han Tian smiled wryly. “In fact, your mother and I were childhood friends. Before the Du Clan migrated from the Spirit Overarching Heaven to the Jade Emperor Heaven, the Du Clan’s estate was located near the Zhang Clan and Yuan Clan’s estates. She was a beauty…” His eyes seemed to soften and were filled with nostalgia when he spoke.

Du Xuan was a fascinating beauty. At one point, even Zhang Han Tian had tried to court her. Alas, she had rejected him. However, it did not negatively affect their friendship. After Du Xuan was expelled from the Du Clan, she left the Jade Emperor Heaven and returned to the Spirit Overarching Heaven to ask him for help. However, he really did not expect Du Xuan’s daughter to be the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox that would only appear once every 1,000,000 years.

“Now that I had a closer look, I have to say you really resemble your mother. However, you resemble your father more. You’re much more beautiful than your mother…” Zhang Han Tian said.

“Y-you know my father as well?” Huan’er’s eyes widened. She was overwhelmed with emotions when she heard these words.

“Your mother went to look for your father.” Zhang Han Tian sighed. “I don’t know if they’re still alive. After all, they had provoked a heaven-grade force, and there’s no way that heaven-grade force would forgive them.”

“A heaven-grade force?” Duan Ling Tian frowned. He did not expect Huan’er’s mother to be involved with a heaven-grade force. When the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect was in their prime, they were also a heaven-grade force.

“Clan Leader Zhang, can you explain further?” Duan Ling Tian asked solemnly.

Zhang Han Tian’s words so far did not explain much and left Duan Ling Tian confused. How did Huan’er’s mother and father get involved and provoke a heaven-grade force?

“Huan’er’s mother, Du Xuan, was the most beautiful woman in our Phantom Fox Clan… She had countless pursuers in the clan, and I was one of them as well,” Zhang Han Tian said, “However, the man who successfully captured her heart wasn’t a member of the clan. He was a proud prodigy from a heaven-grade force. However, this isn’t the main point. The point is this proud prodigy already had a pending arranged marriage to a female prodigy from another heaven-grade force. Since he annulled the arranged marriage, he had completely provoked the force he belonged to. Not only was he expelled, the force he belonged to even handed him over to the female prodigy’s force. Du Xuan came to look for me at that time to get information. All that I told you is the information I found for her. Afterward, all I know is that she went to that heaven-grade force to look for your father.” He looked at Huan’er and continued to say, “I didn’t expect both of them to have a daughter, and their daughter turns out to be the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox…. Karma… This is really karma…” He shook his head after he finished speaking.

Zhang Han Tian remembered that not long after Du Xuan left, the Du Clan in the Jade Emperor Heaven instantly announced her expulsion from the clan because they feared retaliation from the heaven-grade force the female prodigy belonged to.

“If the Du Clan finds out that the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox they have been searching for is Du Xuan’s daughter… I wonder what their reactions would be like…”

Although the Phantom Fox Clan knew that a rare Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox had appeared, they only knew the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox was from the Du Clan. No one knew the identity of the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox.