She then chuckled softly, "Your illusion magic is amazing! I didn't recognize you until I saw your face. And you're still in Jingting's form, which shows this magic is quite extraordinary!"

Zhao Feiyang hurriedly said, "This is a spell that the Emperor cast on me before I left the Underworld. He said that the spell would only wear off after I returned to the Underworld, and then I could return to my original form and appearance."

Chu Nian exclaimed, "Not only his appearance, but it seems even his voice and magical energy fluctuations have been altered!" He then stroked his chin and pondered, "This spell is somewhat similar to the Paper Doll spell. Could it be that he has mastered the Paper Doll spell and improved it so that it can be used on a real soul body? Alas, my disciple has indeed lived up to my expectations. He seems to be showing signs of surpassing his master!"

Otherwise, why would she have to see Lin Jingting's face in person to recognize him? It's because this spell concealed his magical energy fluctuations and soul aura too well.

Hearing Chu Nian muttering to himself, Yin Shanjun was filled with doubt. He winked at Zhao Feiyang, leaned closer to him, and whispered, "Hey, what exactly is the relationship between this woman and your Northern Emperor?"

Zhao Feiyang said with a troubled expression, "I don't know either!"

Yin Shanjun: "Didn't your Jingtingjun mention this to you subordinates?"

Zhao Feiyang still remembered Chu Nian's good qualities, but he wouldn't say that the Northern Emperor didn't even know her. He said, "This junior is of lowly status. How could the Northern Emperor discuss his private affairs with someone like this junior?"

Yin Shanjun thought about it and agreed. Even if Jingtingjun had a good relationship with his subordinates, he couldn't tell them every private matter!

However, he then remembered that this woman, who seemed to have a past with Jingtingjun, was the ninth tail of Liuying, so he looked at Nanhua Zhenren.

Master Nanhua was also troubled by this matter. If Liu Ying were to bring the Nine-Tailed Fox back, Liu Nian would definitely die, and her soul would be annihilated. However, if Liu Nian had a past with Lord Jingting, they would have to think twice before taking action, lest they incur Lord Jingting's displeasure.

Chu Nian had already figured out what the two immortals were worried about, and sneered inwardly.

The original owner was just a lowly mortal. First, she lacked the ability to contend with these two powerful figures—no, including Bai Jiuxiao, there were three. She didn't even have the courage or ability to disobey her mortal father. Second, she had no background or support in any realm.

So, none of these so-called immortals cared about the original owner's death at all; they all thought that Liu Ying was right to kill her and reattach her tail.

Master Nanhua said, "Let's go find that Golden-Winged Roc and ask him if he knows why Yingying's ninth tail has gained sentience!"

Yin Shanjun nodded and replied, "Okay."

Master Nanhua continued, "If this Liu Nian is a living soul that has seized Yingying's ninth tail, then Jingtingjun wouldn't unreasonably object to her returning it. However, if this ninth tail has truly awakened its own sentience and become independent after several reincarnations, then..."

He looked at Liu Ying and sighed helplessly.

Liu Ying hurriedly said, "Nan Hua, am I destined to be crippled like this forever? The Nine-Tailed Fox is clearly mine; is it wrong for me to want it back?"

Chu Nian sneered and said, "The Nine-Tailed Fox has already developed its own consciousness. What's wrong with it not wanting to return to you?"

She is making a accusation on behalf of the original owner.

Master Nan Hua hurriedly said, "Alright, let's go to Mount Ling first to find the Golden-Winged Roc and ask him what's going on!" As he spoke, he glanced at Bai Jiuxiao and said to Chu Nian, "Miss Liu, could you please remove the restrictions on Jiuxiao first?"

Chu Nian smiled and said, "Since Master Nanhua has pleaded for our Aunt Bai, I will let bygones be bygones for her offense today." With that, he waved his hand and released the restraints on Bai Jiuxiao.

The way the girl called her "Aunt Bai" made everyone a little out of place: Bai Jiuxiao is the Fox Clan Empress, is the "Aunt Bai" that this little girl is talking about her?

Bai Jiuxiao immediately felt a sense of relief and was able to stand up.

Zhao Feiyang watched in astonishment: This was the renowned Empress of Qingqiu in this small world, her status far beyond ordinary. It was said that while her magical power couldn't compare to that of Nan Hua Zhenren and Yin Shanjun, she was still a figure of immense influence. And yet, with a mere wave of her hand, Niannian had made her kneel there for half a day…

He's starting to believe Chu Nian's claim that she's Lin Jingting's master.

Firstly, she could easily determine that the person whose identity had been changed by the Northern Yin Emperor was not the Northern Yin Emperor, which showed that she was definitely very familiar with the Northern Yin Emperor; secondly, this woman's magical power was indeed unfathomable, at least in Zhao Feiyang's view, she was like the Northern Tai Emperor, and he could not see through her strength.

As soon as Bai Jiuxiao was released from confinement, she immediately stood up and pulled Liu Ying to her side. She was more aware of the reality than Liu Ying, and knew that now that Liu Nian had a powerful backer, even Nan Hua Zhenren and Yin Shanjun, who had always stood by her side, might be wavering.

“Let’s go find the Golden-Winged Roc together,” Bai Jiuxiao said. She was no match for that wretched bird; otherwise, he wouldn’t have broken off the ninth tail of the willow warbler.

For this reason, she didn't dare to ask the Golden-Winged Roc for a long time. How could the Nine-Tailed Fox have regained its intelligence and even reincarnated after being cut off for a period of time?

The immortals immediately set off together on the wind to Mount Ling.

Chu Nian, not wanting to fit in with them, kept her distance and headed towards Ling Mountain.

Although Zhao Feiyang was bestowed with immortal bones, his time as an immortal was still relatively short, and his speed was originally far inferior to those of the others. However, Lin Jingting cast a spell on him, allowing him to use some simple spells just like Lin Jingting, which is why he was able to follow Chu Nian at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Chu Nian then secretly transmitted her voice to him, asking about the situation in the underworld, and whether he knew why Lin Jingting had lost his memory, etc.

Zhao Feiyang had no idea about any of this. Not to mention a newcomer like him, even veterans like Cui Yu probably didn't know what was going on! The only thing he knew was that the Northern Yin Emperor was the creator of the Underworld and had been in charge of it for a very, very long time.

It is said that there is only one Netherworld among all the three thousand minor worlds. The Great Emperor of the Northern Underworld has the ability to refine boundary stones. The ghost officials and messengers of the Netherworld can use the boundary stones to travel to all three thousand minor worlds, take ghosts into the Netherworld to judge their merits and demerits, or send them to the mortal world to be reincarnated, or send them to hell to be punished, and so on.

Chu Nian then asked Zhao Feiyang how much time had passed since she left the underworld. She learned that three to five years had passed, and it seemed that she had not appeared during those years.

Chu Nian vaguely felt that this underworld created by Lin Jingting might be consistent with her timeline.