Chapter 139

Chapter 139

The floating palace in mid-air was a familiar sight to both Immortal Lotus and the little furball.

It was the Divine Palace.

How could the Divine Palace appear in the Immortal Realm?

Luo Ci rushed straight into the palace, finding the scenery along the way exactly as he remembered.

The divine osmanthus tree in the garden exuded a rich, delicate fragrance, its golden petals scattered across the ground. On the trunk, he found the mark left when Qing Yue had once measured his height.

This was indeed the Divine Palace.

Familiar with the layout, Luo Ci hurried to the inner hall, where Lu Yun was resting on the divine dais. Tiptoeing closer, he suddenly threw himself into Lu Yun’s arms with a cry.

"Lu Yun, the sky in the Immortal Realm almost collapsed! Just now, a huge hole appeared, and the Divine Palace fell into the Immortal Realm!"

Lu Yun opened his eyes. The little fox kept burrowing into his embrace, his tail swaying unconsciously behind him. Lu Yun reassured him, "The sky didn’t collapse."

The little fox peeked up slightly. "It didn’t?"

Lu Yun: "Mmm. I created a pocket space in the Immortal Realm capable of accommodating the Divine Palace."

Luo Ci blinked his round eyes. "For me?"

Lu Yun stroked his head. "For myself. I wanted to stay with you."

Even if Luo Ci was naive, he knew that creating a space large enough to hold the Divine Palace was no simple feat.

He had once heard rumors of a powerful cultivator accidentally tearing open a tiny pocket space during a battle.

At the time, he wondered—were pocket spaces really so easy to create?

Later, he tried it himself and realized it was nothing like that.

Manually created pocket spaces were lacking in spiritual energy, some even devoid of air, making them uninhabitable for ordinary beings.

Moreover, most were unstable, prone to shattering or collapsing at any moment, dragging everything into spatial turbulence.

The Divine Palace was the only place capable of bearing Lu Yun’s Divine Power. Creating a space large enough to house it was no trivial matter.

At the very least, Luo Ci couldn’t do it now...

This dimension was entirely constructed from Lu Yun’s Divine Power. The dense Primordial Qi within made Luo Ci feel incredibly at ease.

It had been so long since he last breathed so freely. The spiritual energy of the Immortal Realm paled in comparison to the Primordial Qi. Stretching comfortably, he rolled happily on the divine dais, his eyes sparkling.

"Does this mean you can stay and play with me in the Immortal Realm from now on?"

Lu Yun: "Mmm. The pocket space should remain stable for at least a millennium."

Overjoyed, Luo Ci tugged at Lu Yun’s sleeve. "Then let’s go to Thousand Mechanisms City and Cloudsea Peak together! The scenery there is amazing—cloud mushrooms as big as I am, even taller! In spring, there are so many fluffy spores floating like snowflakes..."

Wherever the little fox went, he would send letters and sketches to Lu Yun. Even though Lu Yun already knew these things, he listened with endless patience.

At this, Luo Ci’s ears perked up. Hugging Lu Yun’s arm, he asked, "Oh! Did you keep all the letters I sent you?"

Lu Yun: "Go look for them yourself."

"Are they in this room?"

Luo Ci rummaged through the cabinets first, then found them neatly stacked beside the brush stand on the desk. After sorting through them for a while, he rested his head on Lu Yun’s shoulder and sighed. "I didn’t realize I wrote so many."

Lu Yun glanced at the pile of letters. When he first received them, his feelings hadn’t been entirely positive.

It was an odd sensation—like a lonely elder left behind in an empty house, receiving postcards from a child traveling the world. On one hand, he was glad to see the child grow; on the other, there was an unease, knowing the child was exposed to a dazzling world without him.

An aching absence.

Mixed with the fear that his little one might wander off, led astray by external temptations.

Signs of the little fox could always be found in the Divine Palace. The more letters piled up, the deeper those pent-up emotions grew.

When snow covered the flower garden, loneliness and longing spread.

Now, Lu Yun was grateful for his decision back then.

The decision to let his little one pursue happiness. Now, he was rewarded with just as much joy and fulfillment.

Nothing compared to the satisfaction of knowing the child had always kept him at the center of his plans.

His heart had been soothed.

Now, those letters only brought contentment. After all, only a child who cared for him deeply would send so many.

In any case, Lu Yun’s heart was now full, and the whole world seemed beautiful.

Creating a dimension in the Immortal Realm wasn’t just for the child’s eternal freedom, happiness, and smiles—it was also to free himself from constant worry.

***

The Divine Palace’s descent had a massive impact on the Immortal Realm.

First, the local inhabitants, who held deep reverence for deities, came in droves from all corners to kneel in worship.

The Divine Palace was protected by a barrier, preventing ordinary beings from approaching. They could only catch fleeting glimpses of divine light—yet even that glimmer of divine light held profound mysteries, enough for immortals to contemplate for years.

Then, Luo Ci was spotted by players when he emerged from the Divine Palace.

Even in an Immortal Realm teeming with beauties, few could rival his looks. Beastkin were naturally striking, and fox spirits were the most exceptional, possessing an innate charm that captivated everyone.

As the massive wings of the xuan bird cast cloud-like shadows, stirring fierce winds, the youth on its back glowed like spring flowers. His snow-white hair cascaded from the Divine Garment like snowflakes clearing mist, while his gemstone eyes gleamed with mesmerizing light, drawing all gazes.

This celestial image exploded across forums. Upon deeper investigation, players realized he was the same extraordinarily beautiful NPC who had once fueled intense debates—

The one who appeared at the auction with Immortal Yunxi, was closely connected to the Demon King, and was even seen boarding an ornate boat with the Lord of Jiuzhou Island.

To think it was the same person...

Within months, through a full-network vote, he became unquestionably the most popular NPC among players.

Many tried every possible way just to get a glimpse of him.

Luo Ci was completely unaware, only noticing that no matter where he went, "chance encounters" with these players became more and more frequent.

At first, he thought it was his imagination. But when some players "accidentally" walked past him over a dozen times, he realized—he might be a bit face-blind, but he wasn’t stupid.

Others hesitantly approached to ask about his preferences, and some even gave him precious materials and magical items outright...

Luo Ci was completely baffled until he finally realized that among these players, some wanted to increase their favorability, some hoped to trigger key plotlines, and most were just fans of his.

"So gorgeous! I just walked past and took dozens of screenshots—my hands wouldn't stop shaking..."

"Show me! Show me!"

"Wow, that face, and the way his gaze drifts over... my heart's about to burst."

"Send them to me first! I have pictures of the Little Fox Lord snacking on milk cakes—I’ll trade you."

...He could hear everything.

Wild Beasts had such keen ears.

Embarrassed, Luo Ci flicked his ears. He had originally been listening to a storyteller in the teahouse, but now he couldn’t focus at all.

He obediently returned to the Fuzed Cavern, where at least it was relatively peaceful.

After the Nanshan Sect learned of his connection to the ancient deity, they'd panicked for a while. Fortunately, they gradually adjusted. Under Man Yu’s leadership, they started clearing the land, repairing structures, and firmly settling in the Fuzed Cavern.

When Yun Xi heard that the Nanshan Sect had relocated to the Fuzed Cavern, he specially arranged for skilled craftsmen to help build a spiritual beast garden. Meanwhile, the Celestial Lotus planted the seeds of the Bodhi tree from Sumeru Island. The Bodhi tree had the power to gather spiritual energy—something ordinary people could only dream of.

Slowly, more and more rogue cultivators gathered under the Nanshan Sect, and its scale grew larger than before.

Seeing the little fox return from outside in low spirits, the little furball sharpened its claws and propped its chin on its paws. "Should I just go eat all those stalkers?"

"Crude," the Celestial Lotus said coolly. "The Little Fox Lord would surely be displeased. Burying them under the Bodhi tree as fertilizer is a better idea."

The little furball: "...How is your idea any different from mine?"

Just then, Yun Xi walked over with the craftsmen. Hearing this, he shot them both a glance. All living beings were equal, and if they truly acted on such thoughts, he would not stand by idly.

The little furball understood the meaning behind that gaze.

Perhaps it was overcorrection, but ever since this clay figure developed consciousness, it had read too many ancient moral texts—now it had become a stickler for rules.

Luo Ci languidly sprawled on the bed but soon perked up. He suddenly thought of seclusion. He had always wanted to cultivate into a nine-tailed fox as soon as possible. If he secluded himself for a century or so, surely these people wouldn’t keep chasing him around anymore, right?

Without delay. He shared the news with the little furball and the others before returning to the divine palace. In a flash of light, he transformed into his little fox form, curling his tail contentedly as he nestled into Lu Yun’s palm and entered meditation.

Once in meditation, the world around him fell silent. He calmly felt the spiritual energy flowing through his body. In truth, Primordial Qi was an exceptionally volatile form of spiritual energy, carrying the primordial fury of celestial thunder. Even a single touch could cause an ordinary immortal’s qi to go berserk, leading to a fatal explosion. Wild Beasts had hardier constitutions, but improper absorption could still occasionally send them into a mindless frenzy.

But the little fox had divine light protecting him, and Lu Yun was always there to guide and regulate the energy for him. Absorbing Primordial Qi never felt uncomfortable—it was more like drifting into a blissful sleep.

The little furball also returned to the demon realm to hibernate. Years later, when flames licked across its hide, signaling its awakening, it slowly opened its eyes.

The black monsters crowding around it startled, scurrying about the palace like shadowy marbles.

Ignoring them, the little furball slightly lifted its massive beastly head.

Dimly, it felt the spiritual contract stirring.

Had the little fox awakened?

***

Having slept his fill, Luo Ci stretched lazily. Eyes still closed, he padded his front paws against something plush, kicked his hind legs back, and raised his fluffy tail high.

Mmm... completely refreshed.

Even before opening his eyes, he could sense the small winged fish playing with its kin in a lake thousands of miles away, as well as the towering dark clouds gathering above the divine palace, pulsing with azure lightning.

Huh? He hadn’t even opened his eyes—why could he see such images? Only then did Luo Ci truly realize his cultivation had advanced.

Lu Yun also opened his eyes, glancing down at the little fox curled in the crook of his arm.

Luo Ci had no idea the gathering storm outside was his heavenly tribulation. Lu Yun’s barrier shielded him so well he couldn’t even hear the thunder.

"Ji." He poked his head out from the crook of Lu Yun’s arm, his round blue eyes peeking back at his rear.

Sure enough, two more tails had sprouted, their snow-white fur even fluffier than before. He looked noticeably larger—no lover of fluffy things could resist the urge to pet him now.

"Yi." He turned his head, delicately nipping one new tail and placing it in Lu Yun’s palm with his tiny paws.

Lu Yun: "What?"

The little fox tilted his face up and chirped, "Ji yi?"

Do you like them?

Lu Yun smiled. "I do."

"Ji."

Then you may pet them.