Chapter 9: Brainwashing the Snow Fox—A Fox Does Not Deceive Its Own Kind

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With a blink, Ling Xi opened her eyes once more to find herself amidst a frozen forest exuding a biting chill, the cold wind howling fiercely. The cold wrapped around her neck, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. Luo Chen had not mentioned that this was an icy plain landscape.

Judging by the name of the Mysterious Path Secret Realm, Ling Xi had imagined being near water, or at least surrounded by mist. But instead—

A thousand miles of ice sealed, ten thousand miles of snow swirling—

The tops of snow pines were cloaked in white snow, their branches adorned with icicles as thick as arms. Beneath the tree stumps, dead leaves and decayed grass had vanished, buried beneath the snow.

Ling Xi kicked off her sleeves with trembling hands, her teeth chattering so violently she almost lost a few. With one step, the snow reached her knees.

What a dreadful place; when she returned, she would certainly demand Luo Chen compensate her for the poor conditions.

“Come here, Xi Xi. The Nine-Hole Exquisite Fruit is just ahead. Let’s hurry so no one else snatches it,” Wen Jue called from behind a snow pine, his eyes shimmering like a starry sky, a gentle smile blooming at the corners of his eyes—soft as the spring scenery.

Ling Xi scooped up a handful of snow, compacted it firmly, then tossed it playfully, smiling at Wen Jue with no hurry to find any treasure.

Snowflakes danced through the air, the white fox-fur collar sparkling with silvery stars. A muffled cough came from beneath the tree.

A pale hand clenched into a fist, pressed against lips, blood flushed the pure white face. The sickly aura in Wen Jue’s brows faded somewhat, replaced by tender affection veiled in misty eyes.

Ling Xi blinked discreetly, holding back the urge to slap him. She threw a snowball; white snow scattered as Wen Jue’s temple flushed pink, half his cheek dusted with icy crystals.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Wen Jue’s eyes, a crimson gleam sliding past his pupils. When Ling Xi lifted her gaze, his lips curved into a kind smile.

“Senior Brother, I’ve never seen snow before. I got excited—please don’t be angry.”

Ling Xi buried her fingers in the snow, grabbed the top of her boots, and struggled to lift them as she walked, slow and awkward.

Before she could get two steps closer to Wen Jue, her foot slipped and she fell into the snow. When she stood up, her hair was flecked with snow, her nose red and purple.

She blew warm breath onto her palms, anxiety creeping into her eyes, then bent down to lift her boots again.

“Senior Brother, walking in the snow is difficult. If we can’t make it in time and fail to pick that Nine-Hole Exquisite Fruit, what shall we do?”

Wen Jue paused while wiping snow from his face, a fiery yet mocking glint passing through his eyes. His smile spread naturally.

His white boots stepped lightly on the fluffy snow as if on solid stone, without sinking at all. In the blink of an eye, Wen Jue was in front of Ling Xi.

His pale index finger pointed inches from her forehead, then hesitated and silently withdrew, curling into a fist pressed to his lips as he coughed.

“Senior Brother has some skill with his feet. When the technique is activated, one moves as lightly as a swallow. Cough, cough—though my body is weak, I can carry you for a little while. The rest of the way, you’ll have to walk yourself.”

Ling Xi smiled warmly, wrapping her arms around Wen Jue’s neck and leaning against him naturally. Yet, a dagger was already pressed against Wen Jue’s neck.

Wen Jue held Ling Xi’s calf gently, his tone calm but tinged with helplessness.

“Little Junior Sister, now is not the time to joke around. Put the knife down first.”

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A streak of red bled from the dagger’s blade; a drop of blood slowly fell, staining the white fox fur collar.

Ling Xi laughed playfully. Instead of retreating, her knife pressed deeper, the blade embedding into Wen Jue’s neck.

Her voice was crisp and light, as if not threatening but negotiating a game with a companion.

“You tricked me here, thinking I’d run away? There’s no such good fortune.”

Wen Jue’s figure dissipated. At his feet, a small, round creature with a fluffy white tail scrambled, digging through the snow as it fled.

The sky held no sun, and thus no light.

Ling Xi’s form blurred, and in the blink of an eye, she appeared before the little beast, pressing firmly on its neck and lifting it up.

“Speak. Where is the Nine-Hole Exquisite Fruit?” Ling Xi’s eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile curving her lips.

The snow fox was barely a guardian beast of the fruit, not strong in itself, weak in offense, but with keen perception and capable of casting illusions to lure people before the nearsighted snow eagle.

The snow eagle feasted well; the fox could share in the spoils.

The snow fox flailed its four legs, eyes wide with fury as it glared at Ling Xi. It growled, fierce yet somehow endearing.

Ling Xi exhaled warm breath from her empty hand, a hint of delight in her eyes but a mischievous tone.

“Stop useless barking. No matter how fiercely you bark, I won’t lose a single piece of flesh. But…” She pinched a tuft of white fur, twisting it. “It’s cold. I could use a fox fur collar.”

The snow fox ceased its whining, tensed its body, and snarled unreservedly at Ling Xi.

“No use! I’m frighteningly strong now. A mere late Foundation Establishment eagle, I can crush with one hand.”

At Ling Xi’s words, the little fox trembled, turning its head sideways with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

“You see my human body, right? Want to know why I understand your words? You might not believe it, but I used to be a fox…”

The fox’s ears pricked up involuntarily. Its eyes seemed to look elsewhere, but in truth, they were fixed entirely on Ling Xi.

Seeing it take the bait, Ling Xi chuckled inwardly but wore a solemn expression, spinning a serious tale.

“Later, through evolution… or what you call cultivation, I became human-shaped.”

“Since we’re both foxes, follow me. I’ll teach you cultivation—far faster than guarding that strange tree.”

“Just by looking at that blind eagle, you can tell it’s bad news. Look how thin you’ve gotten.”

Ling Xi used herself as an example to brainwash it, flicking a snowball in her hand, honestly noting its thinness.

The greatest wish of a beast is to become human and cultivate immortality. Especially with someone experienced like Ling Xi—following her was a sure bet.

A fox never deceives another fox.

The snow fox pondered the rare opportunity, bit Ling Xi’s finger hastily, and sealed the contract.

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When the contract was sealed, the snow fox was dumbfounded.

Cultivation at Qi Refining Stage Two!

Lower than its own level!

And it was the one taking off?!

But the contract was made, not easily broken.

Ling Xi saw the disappointment in the fox’s eyes and continued to coax it.

“Transforming from fox to human requires rebuilding cultivation. It’s slow at first, but once you have a human constitution, progress accelerates.”

Humans have shorter lifespans and much higher cultivation talent compared to beasts, who might take centuries to advance a single stage. Humans are truly prodigies in cultivation.

After her coaxing, Ling Xi learned the approximate location of the eagle. Sending a mere Qi Refining Stage Two to fight it was clearly a death sentence.

Thinking of the disciples at Tranquil Peak, Ling Xi clicked her tongue.

Since leaving Tranquil Peak, she had begun to miss it.

Guided by the snow fox, Ling Xi found Chu Xinghe.

He saw Ling Xi holding the little junior sister’s hand and waving at him, and the slight annoyance in his heart eased considerably.

He knew Ling Xi couldn’t bear to leave Tranquil Peak—she had just been momentarily bewitched by the Detached Peak.

“Senior Brother, long time no see. I’ve missed you,” Ling Xi smiled and waved.

“Finally found Senior Brother. I located the Nine-Hole Exquisite Fruit, but I can’t beat that old eagle. I suppose you aren’t its match either.”

Chu Xinghe said nothing, walking silently beside Ling Xi, quietly listening to her fervent admiration, sneaking glances at her from the corner of his eye.

His clear gaze sparkled, sweeping away dullness, a few sparks of mischief flickering like fireflies.

Compared to the little junior sister, he was less fragile but more lively and playful—like a chirping bird under the sun.

Quite good.

Chu Xinghe was startled by his own thoughts and quickly recited the Serenity Formula several times.

Such wicked deceit as Ling Xi’s, yet he thought it agreeable.

Perhaps the evil qi had entered his body.

Deep within the icebound forest, a towering ancient tree cradled a snow-white eagle. Its clouded eyes fixed on the fruit atop the tree, its beak tapping a few times as it swallowed saliva.

Once the Nine-Hole Exquisite Fruit ripened, it would break through to Golden Core stage, improve its vision, and no longer have to placate that troublesome fox.