Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Beneath the Divine Blossom Tree.

The Primordial Realm was a land of chaos, where sun and moon were indistinguishable. When the gods slept, the realm would sink into a veil of twilight.

As night fell, the entire Primordial Realm slumbered. The pouch-shaped petals of the Flower Deity cascaded in clusters, scattering across the ground like fallen stardust.

Not far from the Divine Blossom Tree lay a stone, upon which the fuzzy cub perched, gazing at the rocking chair beneath the tree.

On the rocking chair, the ancient god slept with closed eyes, a snowy puff curled upon his lap. The god’s hand gently stroked its back.

The little fox’s snow-white fur shimmered faintly in the dim night, as if gilded with starlight. One of its two fluffy tails coiled around the god’s waist, while the other wrapped around his arm.

The little fox had always been this affectionate with the ancient god. Having seen it so often, the furball had grown used to it.

In the Primordial Realm, without day or night cycles, the passage of time was nearly imperceptible. He had no idea how long it had been. The little fox spent its days carefree—either playing with other Wild Beasts in the valleys or chasing butterflies in the grass, then nestling in the ancient god’s arms for a nap when tired.

Such tranquility and peace almost made him forget the past.

The violence and corruption he had endured in the immortal realm now seemed distant, as if they'd never happened...

The furball didn’t know when he had fallen asleep.

He only stirred when poked awake, blinking drowsily to see the little fox’s furry tail tip tickling his nose like grass. Unable to resist, he sneezed, waking him completely.

Luo Ci lowered his tail and wiggled tiny paws. “Wake up, play with me!”

The furball yawned and hopped down off the stone without hesitation. When the ancient god slept, the little fox often stayed by his side. But since the god’s sleep was unpredictable, once the fox woke, it would come find him to play.

The little fox pranced ahead, tail swaying, while the furball followed half a step behind. Though he knew the fox bore the ancient god’s mark, and that Wild Beasts would cower before it, he still instinctively released his own aura to ward off any potential threats.

They arrived at a small pond. Luo Ci leaned over, using the water’s surface as a mirror, while the furball plodded alongside, his massive reflection rippling alongside.

Luo Ci pouted while rubbing his cheeks with tiny paws.

So strange...

Every Wild Beast he had seen in the Primordial Realm was mountain-sized, their wings vast enough to eclipse the sun.

Even the furball, since arriving here, had grown rapidly—once puppy-sized, now nearly five or six times larger, resembling a little lion. He was hardly “little” anymore.

Yet Luo Ci’s own growth was slow, only growing from palm-sized to one-and-a-half palms. They ate the same things, so why...?

The little fox sighed, dipping a paw into the pond, sending up tiny shards of water like shattered jade plates.

The furball tilted his head, puzzled by the fox’s distress over its size. To him, the fox’s petite form was completely adorable.

As he had grown larger than the fox, a protective urge had grown. He nuzzled against the fox gently. “You eat too little. If you ate as much as I do, you’d grow too.”

Luo Ci gave a soft squeak.

Though his body hadn’t grown much, the ghost of a third tail had begun to manifest. Once it solidified, he would truly have three tails.

Transforming into human form, Luo Ci noticed a peculiar type of soil near the pond—Xirang, earth that seemed alive. Excited, he scooped a handful and molded a tiny clay figure. “Look!”

The furball sniffed it, then snarled. After years of torment in the immortal realm, anything humanoid was untrustworthy.

Just as he was about to swallow the figure whole, Luo Ci yanked it back—though not before a chunk went missing. The fox's eyes widened as he huffed, “He’s not food!”

The furball despised humans, but he hated seeing the fox upset more. With a grumble, he spat out the mud.

Luo Ci propped his chin in his hands, pondering. The mud figures were fragile, easily crushed if left unattended.

After consulting Qing Yue, he received a piece of Nüwa Stone—much harder than Xirang, perfect for crafting durable figures.

Deep in concentration, Luo Ci puffed his cheeks, carefully shaping the figure with chubby fingers. Time slipped away unnoticed. The furball dozed nearby, waking to find the fox still at work. Annoyed, he circled a few times before wandering to the courtyard, where only remnants of Prosperity Stones remained.

Peering into one, the smooth surface shimmered like disturbed water, revealing scenes from the mortal realm. The immortal world was celebrating—a new Immortal had risen.

Such an event was rare, happening only once every few centuries. The whole realm celebrated.

The furball scoffed. One day, he would repay those hypocrites for their cruelty.

Remembering the fox’s love for excitement, he bounded back, tugging Luo Ci’s sleeve toward the courtyard.

At the mention of this rare celebration, Luo Ci’s eyes sparkled. “Let’s go! It must be so lively!”

No one could refuse the Little Fox Lord’s whims. As he dashed through the Prosperity Stone, Qing Yue hurriedly called after him, “Little Fox Lord, remember to hide your ears and tail!”

Though the Divine Garment and the god’s mark would shield him from harm, prying eyes might ruin his fun.

The furball followed, pausing by the abandoned mud figure.

He sniffed, puzzled.

For a moment, it almost seemed... alive.

---

“Wow...”

Warm breezes carried the scent of immortal wines and delicacies through the bustling streets. As twilight deepened, lanterns ignited, weaving a fiery dragon through the city.

Luo Ci marveled at the crowds, the vibrant stalls, the hawkers’ cries—so much livelier than the serene Primordial Realm.

“It’s amazing!”

Overwhelmed, he barely knew where to look. Spotting a candied hawthorn vendor, he conjured spirit stones to buy two sticks—one for himself, the other tossed to the furball.

The furball devoured his in a single gulp, stomach bottomless as ever.

Savoring the sweetness, Luo Ci wandered until his gaze landed on a floating pavilion—a towering, layered structure suspended midair, its winding corridors aglow with radiant lights.

He beckoned the furball. “Let’s check that out!”

At the entrance, guards demanded an invitation, barring entry to those below a certain cultivation level—ostensibly due to hazardous artifacts inside.

Unfazed, Luo Ci forged one with illusion magic, slipping in effortlessly.

If the exterior was grand, the interior was a realm of opulence. Though less crowded than the streets, every item here gleamed with extravagant brilliance, near-blinding in their splendor.

Only the most renowned shops could secure a place within this pavilion.

Feeling a tug on his sleeve, Luo Ci followed the little fox's gaze and noticed that an auction was taking place in one of the largest pavilions.

The kite spread its otherworldly wings and soared through the air, its iridescent glow hanging in the air, exuding an air of pride.

A spirit beast's rank was essentially determined at birth. Auctions for top-tier spirit beasts often drew large crowds.

Even if few could afford to bid, there were plenty of onlookers eager to watch the show.

Luo Ci instinctively took a couple of steps closer, sensing the kite, but detected no trace of Wild Beast bloodline—it was just an ordinary spirit bird.

However, this kite was among the highest rank seen in the past decade, so the crowd around it was large.

Suddenly, the kite, which had been circling arrogantly in the air, seemed to sense something and abruptly dropped, tucking its wings and trembling in fear.

The onlookers burst into chatter, baffled by what had happened. The seller hurried over to check, fearing something was wrong with the bird.

Luo Ci could tell the bird was reacting to his presence and asked in confusion, "Why is it afraid of me?"

The little fox licked its paw. "You're a Wild Beast. All divine beasts, demon beasts, and spirit beasts instinctively fear you."

Luo Ci had initially wanted to get a closer look, but upon hearing this, he stopped in his tracks.

He visited several other pavilions selling spirit beasts, and sure enough, before he could even approach, the creatures began trembling.

Not wanting to draw attention, Luo Ci avoided such places afterward.

He then discovered a shop specializing in celestial plants.

The shop was filled with potted plants, brimming with rare blossoms and herbs. The moment he stepped inside, a refreshing aura washed over him, energizing him. Even those who weren’t buying lingered in the shop.

Among them, he spotted a potted plant resembling a marigold, sparking a pang of nostalgia. As Luo Ci approached, the flower bud bloomed just then.

He crouched down to examine it and pointed at the pot. "What’s this?"

"Golden Peony," the shopkeeper replied cheerfully as he walked over.

Luo Ci: "Is this pot for sale?"

"Apologies, guest, but none of our potted plants are for sale," the shopkeeper said. "However, you can purchase seeds to grow your own. The results will be identical."

Cultivating celestial plants required nourishing immortal soil and copious amounts of celestial spring water. It demanded not only substantial wealth but also meticulous care.

Depending on the quality of the soil and water, the resulting plants could vary drastically. Growing a fine celestial plant often required immense effort from the shopkeeper, which was why potted plants were rarely sold.

Unaware of this, Luo Ci was simply delighted to hear he could grow the same plant himself and eagerly produced a handful of spirit stones. "Then I’ll buy a bag of seeds!"

"Wonderful!" The shopkeeper, taken with the child’s cherubic face, couldn’t help but feel fondness. "Since you’re buying so much, I’ll include a seed of an immortal lotus. I acquired it by chance, but despite tending it for a hundred years, it never sprouted. Perhaps it wasn’t meant for me—maybe it’ll bloom for you."

Luo Ci nodded. "Thank you."

The little fox leaned its big head in curiously, and Luo Ci quickly clutched the brocade pouch, worried it might swallow everything whole.

As they stepped out of the sky pavilion, Luo Ci felt a chill on his nose. He looked up in confusion and realized it was snowing.

The ancient realm had no changing seasons, so snow never fell.

Luo Ci couldn’t even remember the last time he’d seen snow.

Hearing that passersby mentioned that the Tongxian River had frozen over and many were playing there, he eagerly followed the crowd. Sure enough, the river was covered in a thick layer of ice, with children walking on it with their parents.

Seeing everyone moving about safely on the ice, he couldn’t resist stepping onto it himself.

The moment his foot touched the surface, he slipped and fell. Fortunately, his thick, furry clothes cushioned the fall, so it didn’t hurt.

As he stood up, brushing himself off, he heard a *plop* behind him. Turning, he saw the little fox had awkwardly followed and also fallen on the ice.

The little fox, being a creature of fire and averse to water and ice, had never walked on ice before. It moved stiffly, all paws out of sync, and within two steps, fell again. Hearing Luo Ci giggle, it huffed and pounced, tackling him into a rolling heap.

Amid their playful tussle, a terrified shriek suddenly rang out.

Both looked up to see magical energies colliding in the sky.

Someone was fighting!

In the immortal realm, duels were commonplace—strength was revered, and disputes were often settled outside the city walls.

However, fighting within the city was an unspoken rule everyone followed. These two had clearly forgotten, engaging in battle right in the streets.

A sword aura struck the ice near Luo Ci’s feet, splitting it open with a crack.

Caught off guard, Luo Ci transformed into a little fox in shock and plunged into the freezing water.

His thick, dense fur soaked instantly, dragging him down. The little fox swam over, grabbing him by the scruff, and desperately paddled to keep him afloat.

Before anyone could react, divine light flooded from the darkened sky, so blinding it seemed to pierce their eyes. A vague figure emerged from the radiance, and the crowd fell to their knees in terror.

The divine light weighed down like a falling mountain, the sky itself rending as though by some colossal hand. The swirling snowflakes morphed into terrifying, piercing shrieks, and none dared look up, overcome with fear.

The river obediently carried the drenched child to Lu Yun.

Luo Ci, drenched and shivering, clutched at Lu Yun’s robes with tiny paws, curling his fluffy tail for warmth.

The poor little fox sniffled before sneezing. "Ah-choo!... Lu Yun..."

Already small, the soaked fox looked even tinier, his fur clung to his small frame. His pink paws pawed at Lu Yun’s clothes adorably, but his dejected appearance was unsettling.

Lu Yun tapped the fox’s forehead lightly, and a strand of divine light flowed into him.

Luo Ci felt his fur dry instantly, warmth spreading from his hind paws to his front, dispelling the chill.

The little fox felt too, divine light wrapping around it, and before it knew it, they were back in the divine palace.

As the deity departed and the divine light faded, the crowd slowly regained their senses. The river refroze, as if everything had been a vivid dream.

Only when they noticed the two dueling immortals encased in ice did they realize it had all been real.

…

Knowing Lu Yun was displeased, Luo Ci was unusually meek, resting his head in the crook of Lu Yun’s arm while anxiously toying with his tail.

But no matter how much he twitched his tail, Lu Yun remained silent.

The little fox became increasingly anxious.

This time, he’d been caught slipping into the immortal realm.

And worse—his foolish play had dropped him into the freezing river.

This worried Lu Yun.

His little head drooped.

"Squeak." I was wrong...

Lu Yun gently pinched the little fox's ear: "What did you do wrong?"

"Squeak." Sneaking into the Immortal Realm.

Lu Yun: "I allowed your trips to the mortal realm."

Without his approval, no one could pass through the Prosperity Stone to reach the Immortal Realm. The energetic little fox was fond of seeing the bustling, myriad world. Thinking Lu Yun was unaware, but in truth, Lu Yun simply turned a blind eye, feigning ignorance.

Luo Ci propped up her chin and thought: "Squeak..." Then I shouldn’t have played around so much and gone onto the frozen river.

Lu Yun smiled: "If others can go there, why not you?"

"Squeak?" What else? Luo Ci couldn’t think of anything.

Lu Yun soothed the uneasy little fox: "You did nothing wrong. The fault lies..."

With his arrogance, thinking a single Divine Garment could protect the little fox completely, and with the Immortals whose spell battle harmed her.

When Luo Ci heard this, she thought it over and felt justified, puffing out her little chest with pride. Her fur was completely dry by now, and as she slowly grew, a circle of snow-white, fluffy fur had formed around her neck—soft and very eye-catching, making her look even more round and adorable.

"Squeak." So you’re not angry anymore?

Luo Ci rolled over, exposing her soft little belly, asking to be petted.

Lu Yun sighed lightly: "How could I ever be angry with my little fox?"

"Squeak." Then you can’t be angry in the future either.

"Never."

Luo Ci snuggled comfortably in his embrace, enjoying the strokes, her snow-white tail curling and unfurling like rolling clouds. Her bright blue eyes narrowed contentedly, and her tiny paws gently tugged at his sash: "Squeak squeak..."

Then just teach them a lesson, don’t take their lives. After all, I’m perfectly fine now—killing them would be too much.

Lu Yun chuckled.

His soft-hearted little fox.

"Very well."

Since the little fox said so, he would be merciful this once—just freeze them in ice for a thousand years before releasing them.

At this moment, the little fox, sprawled out, fast asleep, had no idea what a stir the god's arrival had caused in the Immortal Realm. Many had witnessed the scene of the ancient god’s arrival.

In less than half a day, the news spread throughout the entire Immortal Realm, even overshadowing the newly ascended Immortal.

Wanqi, once a land where seasons changed distinctly with flourishing blossoms along its riversides, now had its Tongxian River perpetually frozen—a divine miracle said to be left by the deity, attracting countless Immortals to linger and seek enlightenment.

After learning the truth, the lord of Wanqi, upon discovering that the deity’s descent was due to a little fox, immediately commissioned craftsmen to erect a massive stone statue of the fox based on her likeness. Moreover, by the time Luo Ci visited the mortal realm again, her image appeared everywhere—on street corners, shop lanterns, and more.