Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Lu Yun gently closed his palm, cradling the fluffy tail. The little fox, clearly enjoying the touch, swayed its tail fluidly like seaweed.

"Ji-lu..." The little fox rested its chin on his knee, its eyes slowly drifting shut in contentment.

When curled into a ball, the little snowball was only slightly larger than his palm, but its tail was nearly twice the length of its body. In the snow, they would look like one small and one large snowball.

"Little one."

Lu Yun scratched the little fox's chin.

The fox, utterly relaxed, lazily opened its eyes after a while: *"Ji?"*

What is it?

"I believe I told you before—have you forgotten something?"

"...Ji?" Did I?

Luo Ci pondered slowly for a long time, until its head ached.

Lu Yun: "Don’t let others touch your tail so casually."

Oh, right.

The little fox shifted, lying on its back with its belly exposed on Lu Yun’s lap, absently hugging its paws as it recalled.

Only then did it remember Lu Yun’s earlier warning: never to casually reveal its tail or let others touch it. The nine-tailed fox was an auspicious beast capable of granting blessings. If someone made a wish upon its tail, the tail would disappear.

"Ji-ji." Luo Ci licked its pink paw pad, feigning innocence.

Why does that matter? Lu Yun isn’t just anyone, after all.

Lu Yun gently groomed the little fox’s fur, his voice low: "...What if I wished on your tail too?"

"Ha-wu..." That’s okay too.

Luo Ci pressed its face against its front paws and yawned.

Lu Yun watched the little fox, belly bared and completely trusting, playing with its own tail: "You wouldn’t mind losing a tail?"

"Ji."

*"It’s fine—one or two tails can always grow back."*

Light streamed into the divine hall, but Lu Yun’s tall figure blocked the rays. Silhouetted against the light, Luo Ci couldn’t see his expression clearly, only feeling the gentle strokes along its tail. Lu Yun confirmed once more: "Is it only me you allow this with?"

Luo Ci gave a little nod.

Lu Yun’s lips curved slightly as he scooped up the fluffy fox into his arms. "Mm... I’m the same—only with you, little fox."

His little fox was always so free-spirited, with countless all sorts of friends here and there. Occasionally, he couldn’t help but wonder—in the little fox’s heart, was he truly different from those others?

Once such thoughts surfaced, they were hard to erase. When they arose too often, he couldn’t help but ask. Fortunately, the little fox gave him the answer he wanted.

……

When Luo Ci awoke, the immortal realm had transformed utterly. He cast his spiritual sense toward the Fortunate Cavern, where pavilions now stood row upon row, bustling with activity—a far cry from the ruins and overgrown weeds of the past.

The statue of the little fox carved by Yun Xi was placed in the most prominent spot.

Moreover, he discovered that upon waking, he had even been enshrined in immortal legends.

As the new sect-founding patriarch of the Nanshan Sect, he had bestowed upon them the Fortunate Cavern—a spiritually blessed land—along with the protection of the Cloudtop Sect and the Jiuzhou Immortal Island. Even when demonic realm forces harassed the immortal realm, they would unanimously avoid this place. Legends of his deeds were widely circulated and embellished.

The Nanshan Sect had also attracted countless rogue cultivators, becoming one of the most prosperous sects in the immortal realm.

After listening for a while to the Reception Disciple recounting his epic to new members, Luo Ci’s ears flushed with embarrassment, and he quietly slipped away from the sect.

Someone happened to glance up and catch a glimpse of a snow-white silhouette—an exceedingly beautiful figure perched atop a blossom-laden tree, like a flower spirit hidden among petals.

The ancient epics abruptly overlapped with reality. A sudden realization struck him—could this person be the Nanshan Sect’s mysterious founder...?

The Reception Disciple, noticing his sudden stillness, patted his shoulder in confusion.

He started from his reverie, but when he looked up again, the figure on the tree had vanished.

A wave of melancholy washed over him.

Unaware that he had unwittingly stolen another heart, Luo Ci aimlessly released his spiritual sense and soon found himself in his favorite storytelling spot.

The once-familiar bustling street had also transformed. Many shops were new to him, but thankfully, the teahouse where storytellers performed still stood in its original spot. The crowd inside was even livelier than before his seclusion.

After listening for a while, he learned that this place had become a starter village for newly arrived players.

The teahouse had also become the fastest hub for gossip exchange.

Curious, Luo Ci edged inside, expecting to hear some fresh tales—only to be subjected to yet more gossip about himself.

"Indeed, the Nanshan Sect’s mysterious founder, the Little Fox Lord, is exceedingly beautiful. After all, he ascended from being a nine-tailed fox—no wonder so many powerful figures from various sects fell for him one after another."

A new player eagerly asked, "Who exactly?"

"As everyone knows, Yunxi Immortal’s palace has never allowed anyone to stay overnight—except the Little Fox Lord, who shared his quarters. The Nanshan Sect’s statue was also carved by his own hands. Years ago, when some protested the sect occupying the Fortunate Cavern, Yunxi Immortal openly proclaimed that opposing the Nanshan Sect meant opposing the Cloudtop Sect!"

"Wow..."

"Then there’s the Lord of Jiuzhou Island—the most enigmatic of them all. The island rarely interacts with the immortal realm, and its lord is a paragon of compassion, though seldom seen. Rumor has it that back then, he not only personally left the island for the Little Fox Lord but also invited him aboard a painted boat and even wept for him multiple times..."

"If you ask me, the most famous incident involves the Demon King. His temper is infamously volatile—he holds everyone in contempt, and even demons fear him, terrified of being devoured for the slightest misstep. Yet, someone compared architectural outlines and discovered that the Demon King’s palace was actually modeled after the divine hall..."

These three figures were considered the most unapproachable and hardest to interact with in the players’ eyes.

There were always veteran players who enjoyed educating newcomers with gossip.

Listening to the newbies’ gasps of amazement, the veteran sipped his cold tea with great satisfaction.

Shaking his head, he sighed, "Ever since the Little Fox Lord went into seclusion, the immortal realm has lost some of its vitality. Yunxi Immortal became even more reclusive, rarely appearing except for sect affairs. The Lord of Jiuzhou Island returned to Mount Sumeru, withdrawn from worldly affairs. The Demon King lies dormant deep in the demonic caverns. Our quests have become much harder..."

A newcomer asked, "When will the Little Fox Lord come out of seclusion?"

"Who knows?" The veteran shrugged. "But I’ve heard the Cloudtop Sect and Jiuzhou Immortal Island have both sent people to secretly monitor the demonic caverns."

"Why’s that?"

"The Little Fox Lord established a spiritual contract with the Demon King. If he emerges, the Demon King would be the first to know—so naturally, they’re maintaining surveillance."

Luo Ci froze in shock.

He naively thought these rumors would fade away after his seclusion.

How did it end up like this...

In the players' eyes, the Little Fox Lord was a stunning, alluring nine-tailed fox, while Yunxi Immortal was his favored guest, the Lord of Jiuzhou Island shed tears for him multiple times, and the Demon King rebuilt his divine palace and demon palace for him.

Originally, he had planned to disguise himself and have some fun in the immortal realm, but Luo Ci was so startled that he withdrew his spirit back into the divine palace and obediently continued his secluded cultivation.

·

On the day he finally cultivated his ninth tail...

The little fox couldn’t resist burying his face in his own tails—ah, the texture was just perfect.

Unable to contain his excitement, he sought out Lu Yun to show off. "Look, my tails!"

Lu Yun opened his eyes to see the plump little fox proudly raising all nine tails. The round little fox scooted closer, nuzzling him, while his nine tails wrapped around his arms and waist all at once.

The little fox tilted his tiny chin up. "Don’t they look gorgeous?"

"Very pretty."

Luo Ci plopped into Lu Yun’s lap, his tails encircling his waist, his tiny paws pawing at the front of his robes as he mumbled, "Then... have you forgotten something?"

Lu Yun knew exactly what he meant but pretended otherwise. "Forgotten what?"

The little fox’s ears instantly flattened, his cheeks puffing up in frustration. "Think about it, really think!"

His ears folded back, his wide, eager eyes brimming with anticipation as he stared at him—utterly adorable. A glow spread through Lu Yun’s chest, though he deliberately feigned indifference. "Hmm? I really can’t remember."

"You promised to take me somewhere!" Luo Ci rolled around like a fluffy ball, indignantly accusing, "You forgot! How could you forget... It hasn’t even been that long!"

"Sorry," Lu Yun admitted. "I remember now."

"Then... then you also forgot this," Luo Ci huffed, still wrapped around his neck, his soft pink paw pads kneading as he grumbled, "Grant me one wish, and I’ll forgive you first."

Lu Yun was accommodating. "Fine."

Seeing how agreeable he was, the little fox’s anger vanished instantly.

His temper had always been quick to flare and quick to fade. Soon, he was beaming, hugging his tails and rolling around again.

During his seclusion, he hadn’t just been cultivating—he had also secretly scoured every nook and cranny of the divine palace, yet found no special place that could open an illusionary realm.

That was, until Lu Yun carried him to the scripture pavilion.

No wonder he couldn’t find it.

Lu Yun was truly good at hiding things—probably because he knew this was his least favorite spot.

Luo Ci rested his tiny head against Lu Yun’s chest, curiously looking around as he took a divine talisman from the shelf.

"Give me your paw."

He tilted his head but obediently placed his tiny paw on the slip. Divine light shimmered from it, scattering like fireflies that floated around him, rising and falling. He let out a soft "chirp" and reached out to grasp a wisp of the light.

Suddenly, he was in an unfamiliar space.

He wasn’t the least bit afraid.

Because he had faith Lu Yun would never harm him.

So he peered around with boundless curiosity.

The atmosphere here resembled the divine palace, yet it wasn’t quite the same.

It was similar in that the scenery was just as breathtaking.

A warm spring breeze brushed past his ears, and fluffy clouds drifted across the azure sky, the gentle wind carrying a soothing caress.

Like the divine palace, this place was also eerily silent—no birds sang; no insects chirped, as if no living creatures existed here.

He spotted a lush cluster of roses and leaned in to sniff, but there was no scent at all.

In the overwhelming stillness, he noticed a colossal tree with sprawling branches and dense foliage, its canopy dense enough to shade the earth.

The branches pointed toward a sapphire-blue lake beneath it.

Like a mirror reflecting the heavens, it lay perfectly upon the velvety meadow.

Pattering over on tiny paws, he peeked into the water.

The moment his gaze met the lake, ripples spread across its surface. In the reflection, he saw a version of himself that was both unfamiliar and faintly familiar.

His features were much like his current self—amber hair, azure eyes... The weariness from breaking through to nine tails weighed on him, and as vivid, familiar scenes flooded his mind, he quickly grew drowsy. Wearily, he curled up by the lakeside, resting his tiny head on his paws as sleepiness overtook him.

A snow-white fox curled up by the clear lake, the breeze ruffling his delicate fur. A butterfly, appearing from nowhere, landed softly on his pink nose.

"Murmur..."

He blearily cracked his eyelids open just a slit.

He couldn’t hold on anymore—so sleepy.

Just wanted to sleep.

He hoped Lu Yun would be there when he awoke.