'Damn! When did Xia Tian break through to the peak of the Earth Profound Realm?' Xia Chen cursed himself inwardly.

He thought he had surpassed Xia Tian and could finally defeat him, but Xia Tian was already at the peak.

After obtaining the Sacred Body of Lin Ruoxi, Xia Tian's cultivation had advanced by one stage. Even without it, he could handle this demon king like a ragged cloth.

"Little Chen is learning fast! Haha," laughed Xia Tian as he exited the hall, leaving Xia Chen sighing in relief.

Xia Chen couldn't help but grit his teeth in anger and think of ways to save Liu Mei from Xia Tian's clutches.

Until now, Xia Tian had never directly fought him, so he couldn't openly challenge him and had to follow his directions for now.

Haha, he was the first protagonist to send his own woman into someone else's hands.

Xia Tian was happy. He got a few women without even making an effort and also played with that demon king.

Contemplating the situation, Xia Tian's eyes darted towards the unconscious fox nestled in his embrace.

A mischievous thought crossed Xia Tian's mind - he desired nothing more than to humiliate Xia Chen by ravaging his daughter in front of his eyes.

However, for now, the prospect of tormenting the helpless fox captivated his interest futher.

He wanted a 'Fox Ride!'

With a swift motion, he struck the defenseless creature's delicate snout, eliciting several harrowing yelps of pain.

*Chi, Chi!*. 

Xia Tian couldn't help but chuckle. "Quit pretending! I know you're awake!"

The little fox tensed up; despite its brief unconsciousness, it quickly regained its senses.

Knowing Xia Tian was now its new master, resistance was futile.

As the little fox faced Xia Chen in that moment, a peculiar sense of familiarity washed over it.

And yes, Xu Qing was fully aware of both Xia Tian and Xia Chen's true identities.

Xia Tian was the person who ruthlessly destroyed her once tranquil home, leaving it in ruins and desolation.

This crucial information had been secretly conveyed by the princess to Xu Qing, ensuring that she wouldn't stumble upon it unexpectedly and unleash an unpredictable reaction.

Despite knowing that Xia Tian was responsible for obliterating her family, Xu Qing displayed a remarkable absence of hatred towards him, a testament to her extraordinary emotional resilience.

After all, she had been nothing more than a helpless infant at the time of the tragedy, unable to imprint the face of her beloved parents into her memory.

The princess had long revealed Xia Chen's true identity to Xu Qing, hoping to foster a sense of understanding and control, but she stubbornly resisted, refusing to acknowledge him.

In her heart, she held a deep resentment, directed towards the man who failed to protect her when she needed it most.

Observing the silence that enveloped the petite fox, Xia Tian's eyes narrowed, a glimmer of intrigue shining in them.

"Make yourself bigger," he commanded, a hint of amusement lacing his words. "I would ride upon your magnificent back!"

"Eh?"

Xu Qing, engrossed in her thoughts, quickly nodded her small fox head and gracefully leapt out of Xia Tian's grasp.

With an effortless transformation, she grew into an immense fox capable of accommodating at least two people comfortably.

However, as the realization of Xia Tian's words finally sunk in, a sudden stillness overcame her entire being, her body frozen in disbelief and uncertainty.

"W-want to ride me?" Xu Qing stammered, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Her past master had never posed such a ridiculous request before!

A surge of emotions overwhelmed her, and she desperately scanned her surroundings in search of Xia Tian.

But he was nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, a slight tremor ran through Xu Qing's fox body as she felt an unfamiliar weight settling upon her back.

Without any consideration for her consent, Xia Tian had audaciously perched himself upon her, his hands firmly gripping her ears as makeshift reins.

"Run!" he exclaimed, patting her back with urgency, indicating that she should start moving.

A fiery blush spread across Xu Qing's fur, intensifying from a rosy hue to a deep crimson, as she wished to disappear from the sheer embarrassment.

Nevertheless, she clenched her teeth, determined to fulfill Xia Tian's command. With a burst of energy, she propelled herself forward, her paws thundering against the ground.

As Xu Qing raced forward, Xia Tian's face lit up with pure joy, relishing in the exhilaration of the ride.

In that very moment, rumors began to circulate among the citizens of Beijing, whispering of a divine figure seen astride a majestic moon fox.

Everyone marveled at the sight, convinced that Xu Qing was the living embodiment of the ancient legend of the moon fox.

Meanwhile, the little fairy, Luo Xue, remained speechless, her cheeks burning bright as she contemplated the true meaning behind her master's cryptic mention of a "fairy ride."

_______________

In the vast expanse of space, far beyond the boundaries of Earth, time raced forward at an astonishing pace.

The disappearance of Xia Tian and the others went largely unnoticed by the Xia Family, preoccupied as they were with their ongoing war against a foreign enemy.

Rumors swirled of an assassination plot targeting one of Xia Leng's concubines, further distracting them from the missing individuals.

Selena's seemingly insignificant actions had ignited a colossal war, unleashing a torrent of bloodshed. Yet she remained indifferent, merely carrying out her orders with unwavering obedience.

Her mission: to divert attention away from Wang Wenshu's clandestine departure from Xia family territory.

The esteemed sword fairy, deprived of her disciples, now focused her energies on transcending the confines of mortality. Striving to break free from the shackles that bound her, she sought greater power and enlightenment.

In the wake of Xia Tian's disappearance, Su Yanling, consumed by grief, found herself abandoned and forsaken. Xia Tian, the one she longed for, did not even grace her with a visit.

Casting aside thoughts of her family's destiny, Su Yanling believed that her concentration would be enhanced without the burden of attachments.

Li Nan, summoning her inner strength, prepared herself to return to the Li family and support her niece, Li Meiling.

With the sudden disappearance of Su Wei, their engagement was null and void.

Li Meiling, renowned as the epitome of beauty within the Li Clan, awaited her sister's aid.

The overnight disappearance of the Ye Family and the Su Family sent shockwaves through society, compelling the imperial family and the three major sects to intervene and temporarily halt the chaotic scramble for control of the vacated positions.

However, an unexpected turn of events unfolded. The ruler of the Shen family, hailing from the southern continent, proposed a unique arrangement.

The Shen family, prominent members of the Mystic Sky Peak realm and one of the mightiest martial arts clans after the top three Ancient rulers, sought to establish a stronghold (branch) in the northern continent, thereby bridging the power divide.

[The Shen Family's main branch is located in the Mystic Peak realm, and one of their branches is located in the Southern continent. Now, they seek to further extend and establish a branch in the northern continent of the Sacred Sky Jade realm.]

Naturally, this proposal ignited a fervent uproar.

To maintain equilibrium, it was decided that two princesses of the Shen family would be betrothed to the Li and Huo families respectively.

In return, the young miss from the Huo family and Li Meiling from the Li Family would be sent to the southern continent.

This agreement aimed to open the doors to trade between the two continents, effectively ending a centuries-old cold war.

However, implementing this agreement proved far from easy, as various factions vehemently opposed it.

The princesses of the Shen family were already involved in romantic entanglements and vehemently refused to comply.

This clandestine knowledge was limited to a few cunning old foxes who cared little for personal desires, so long as the appearance of 'purity' remained intact.

Huo Shuirou's proposed marriage faced fierce resistance from her father, a seasoned general who had battled against the southern continent's forces.

How could he possibly allow his daughter to be handed over to his adversaries?

Doubts lingered.

What if they had ulterior motives?

What if they sought revenge for his past deeds against their kin?

Li Meiling, burdened with a congenital (inborn) disability that left her legs paralyzed, possessed the ethereal beauty of a fairy.

Many within the Li family harbored reservations about sending her to an unknown land.

Concerned for her niece's well-being, Li Nan maintained clandestine contact with her through the assistance of her uncle.

Unexpectedly, Su Yanling voiced her protest against the arrangement, as Li Meiling had initially been promised to her brother.

She still possessed a voice in this matter.

Yet the powerful forces behind the scenes paid no heed to such concerns, swiftly approving the agreement regardless.

Although the wedding preparations progressed slowly, the marriage itself was not imminent.

Engagement ceremonies were held to appease the ongoing protests, as all parties involved understood the need to tread cautiously and avoid further conflicts.

In their eyes, once the engagement was secured, the girls were already considered half-married, their destinies intertwined.