The magical mark on Mulan’s head had shifted from an azure fox to a golden fox head—proof of her identity as the Golden Nine Tails.

The tide had turned.

Under the law of the food chain, the Auspicious Fox utterly dominated the Cursed Wolf.

No matter what, Cursed Calamity Nine Banes could not devour the petite golden fox girl before him with rule-based magic; instead, he risked being effortlessly annihilated. He, too, was bound by this law.

Yet one advantage remained: he had cast the Life Destiny Combat Technique himself. As caster, he could terminate it anytime—like a game host.

Snap!

The finger snap echoed.

The magical marks on Cursed Calamity Nine Banes and Mulan vanished instantly. So did those on every other creature.

The situation reversed again. Reality returned to a raw power contest.

The pressure radiating from Cursed Calamity Nine Banes was immense. He was no mere Solarcrown Rank powerhouse, but a terrifying bearer of the Greedwolf Cursefiend bloodline—still capable of overwhelming the Azurehill Fox Clan even after nine elders had fallen.

“Come. Let’s begin anew.”

Greed flickered in Cursed Calamity Nine Banes’ eyes, fixed solely on Mulan’s golden silhouette.

“So what if you’re the Golden Nine Tails? You only have three tails. How can a Starry Rain Tier stand before my Solarcrown Rank? Submit quietly to my devouring—I might spare your clan!”

His words echoed through the space.

The awakened fox pack glared at him, itching to charge and tear him apart.

How dare anyone harm their Golden Nine Tails?

They’d burn everything down, bury enemies in corpses without hesitation!

This death-defying resolve belonged not only to the elders. All knew: the Golden Nine Tails was the Azurehill Fox Clan’s most treasured jewel.

Moling Qingqiu, Azurefox Moyue, and several other fox girls stepped behind Mulan. Their meaning was clear.

After Mulan became the Auspicious Fox, the auspicious omen granted every fox—previously stagnant in cultivation—an extra tail. These black foxes were reserve elders, newly minted eight-tailed.

“Lady Wuyue, we’ll hold him off. Please escape while you can.”

Mulan raised a hand to stop them.

“Stand down.”

Her words fell. Moling Qingqiu and the others retreated respectfully, utterly obedient. They’d follow even a command to die without a flicker of doubt.

Cursed Calamity Nine Banes smiled with pleasure.

“Oh? Sacrificing yourself for your clan?”

“You talk too much.”

Mulan’s aura surged. Light in her eyes sharpened.

Perhaps centuries had faded memory of the Golden Nine Tails’ might.

After her transformation, new knowledge flooded her mind—a gift from the Azure Fox Realm, a fragment of the previous Golden Nine Tails’ legacy.

Daring to challenge the Golden Nine Tails *within* the Azure Fox Realm? Past generations would’ve laughed themselves silly.

Nearby, the black tower shimmered with blinding gold.

Within the eerie space, dust obscuring the Theater of Fate’s radiance faded.

Conditions met!

Bloodline of the Golden Nine Tails!

Emotional state: one of the Seven Deadly Sins achieved!

Calm-eyed, Mulan extended her hand. Golden sparks swirled in her palm; profound fury burned deep within her gaze.

“Theater of Fate—unfold!”

Her small fist clenched.

A surge of magic rippled outward, instantly reshaping the world.

Beneath them lay no longer Azure Fox Realm soil, but a boundless plane woven of sun, moon, and stars. Above stretched an endless starry river.

All bystanders had vanished—unworthy to witness what came next.

The two protagonists stood at opposite ends of the arena.

Cursed Calamity Nine Banes paled.

“What *is* this place?!”

Every sense—perception, intuition, observation—reported only the unknown.

Control was gone. Life, soul, self—none felt his own.

This beautiful expanse felt like a slaughterhouse where fate was stripped away.

The handiwork of none other than Azurefox Wuyue—also known as Mulan.

Mulan gazed calmly.

“Never seen it? First time for me too. Feel honored. I invite you to perform a story. You cannot refuse.”

Her petite golden-haired figure unnerved him; her tranquil eyes sent chills down his spine.

How could he accept such a shift?

“Cursed Wolf! I am furious. Qingqiu Zili, who clung to me with affection, lies near death because of you. Elders who cherished me were cruelly cut down. You deceived trust, wounded hearts. Tell me—what repays your treachery?”

Golden flames flickered at her tail tips. Small, yet radiating crushing pressure.

Azurehill Fox Clan foxfire shifted with bloodline: crimson for crimson foxes, white for white, black for black, azure for azure.

Naturally, the noblest Golden Nine Tails wielded golden flames—Mulan’s blazing wrath.

“Only wrath!”

[Wrath Arc: The Hunter and the Wolf]

Flames flowed like liquid gold across her body, forging blazing hunter’s attire. A bow of fire materialized in her hands, humming with lethal intent.

“Azurefox Wuyue!”

Cursed Calamity Nine Banes tensed. Fur bristled. Fangs bared in a snarl.

Wolf nature erupted!

Composure shattered, replaced by jackal-like ferocity.

Kill! Tear! Devour!

He *had* to eliminate Azurefox Wuyue now!

But why?!

Solarcrown Rank power—gone. Countless techniques—useless.

In this place, was he truly weaker than *her*?

What kind of power?!

Mulan drew the fire bow to full moon. The flame-arrow carried the weight of her rage.

The story’s backdrop unfolded.

A narrated plotline echoed in both minds:

[Long ago, a cunning Cursed Wolf appeared. Targeting a profitable manor, it disguised itself as a harmless refugee to win villagers’ trust.]

This was Cursed Calamity Nine Banes’ beginning—exploiting the clan’s love for azure foxes, posing as one, feeding false hope to innocent foxes.

And the spark of Mulan’s fury.

[But the Cursed Wolf’s treachery ran deeper. Feigning gratitude, it abused their pity—claiming undeserved rights, accepting hollow adoration, secretly mocking their foolishness. Its heart was condemnable!]

This was the fuel of Mulan’s wrath!