In another place entirely, Kuro was listening to the reports he was getting from one of his shadows with a blank expression. “She has already reached the universal core realm!? Not only that, but that walking disaster is also by her side?” 

Kuro hated to think it but he might have an issue with getting Yuki with the demon queen was interested in her. “Do I need to give up on her?”

As he asked this question out loud, his eyes widened in shock at himself. “When have I, Kuro, ever given up things I want? Since I said I would make her my wife, then I will do so. I just need a method of dealing with that crazy bitch…. Maybe they can do something about her? But will they help me?”

Kuro did not know if they would help him since they were very against demonic cultivators, but if he could find something they wanted… “Maybe if I get them that… Then, it is set. After I have healed, I will go and take a look myself and see if I can get that and use it as leverage. My little fox just wait for me. Once I get things under my control, you will be mine.”  

- - -

“Brrr!” Yuki shivered from her head to the tips of her tails. “Did you feel that just now?”

“Hmm? Yuki, are you cold? Your fur is sticking straight up.” Nana asked worriedly. She did not want her Yuki getting sick.

“Not cold, but I felt a cold chill just now as if someone or something was talking strange things about me,” Yuki replied. She wrapped herself in her fluff, feeling soothed by its warmth. 

“Hmm? Someone dares to talk about you behind your back?” Delia’s aura turned murderous. 

“Delia, calm down. There is no need to get mad over nothing.” Yuki waved her hand, pointing her finger at Delia, who shrank back. She was one of the people at the top of the food chain in the mortal realm, and yet she was cowering in front of Yuki, who was a lower cultivation than her.

“Sorry….” Delia pursed her lips. She only let a bit of killing intent out. Why was she being yelled at?

“No need to be sorry. I just do not want to ruin the surprise when we reach the end of this passage. What if they detected you?” Yuki did not care about Delia getting mad since she was getting mad on her behalf, but she did not want to notify any of the people in the cave before she got to play with them.

“Hehe.” Delia grinned and hugged Yuki’s arm. She was glad that Yuki was not mad.

The group continued down the steep slope that led deeper into the cave. Luckily, it was not a smooth surface, and it seemed as if someone had tried to carve steps, but the slope was still pretty steep, so if one was not careful, one could easily take a fall. Not that cultivators would fall on such a slippery slope unless they were very clumsy. As for the five girls, none of them had to worry about such things. 

It was not until they got close to the bottom of the slope that they began to hear weird chanting coming from below. It was very soft and only just now entered both Selene’s and Yuki’s ears. 

“Hmm? Sounds like a prayer session?” Yuki wrinkled her nose and twitched her ears as she tried to make out what they were saying. “Selene, can you hear what they are saying?”

“I do not recognize these words. It sounds like a whole different language….” Selene frowned. She really had no idea what they were saying.

“So is this some kind of ancient cult then? Delia, are there such people in this world?” Yuki asked. She knew Delia had been here for a long time, so she would know better than anyone else. But when she turned to look at Delia, she saw an unexpected expression. One filled with anger and a hint of fear. “Delia?”

“Yuki, I think we should leave. These people…. We do not want to get involved with them. But I can swear they are not demonic cultivators. No…. These people are very different.” Delia did not want to explain anymore here as she grabbed Yuki’s hand and pulled her along. 

“Delia?” Yuki was startled, but she knew if Delia was saying this, then they should hurry and leave while they could. 

Nana and Silvia looked at one another before following Yuki and Delia. Selene did not plan to stay either. While she did not trust Delia, she was not going to risk not following her warning. At least not until she knew the entire situation.

The group quickly retreated out of the cave. It was not until they exited back outside in the forest and made their way back down the river to where they camped before that Delia let out a sigh of relief. 

“Delia, can you explain now who those people were and why you are so afraid of them?” Yuki asked as she stared intently at her long time friend. 

    “It’s like this….” Delia took a deep breath. “Around a million years ago, a group of people suddenly appeared in the mortal realm. I have no idea where they came from, but they wield powers that are not based on cultivation, and they are very dangerous. They call themselves the Serpents Of Time.”