On Chen Ye’s side, however, it was completely different from those cautious cultivators exploring the grotto heaven.
The little white fox, befitting a creature of this land, was nimble and always found the safest path through the marshes and reed fields.
Along the way, Chen Ye more than once sensed the presence of other powerful demon beasts lurking in the shadows, but under the clever guidance of the little white fox, they miraculously avoided danger.
"Hmm, just as I thought..."
Chen Ye nodded secretly.
Judging by the little white fox’s skills, it should avoid provoking that demon snake.
Chen Ye speculated that the demon snake had originally targeted him, and the little white fox was caught in the crossfire.
Thinking this, he felt a bit guilty in his heart.
In the end, it was using the innocent little white fox...
Thinking of this, Chen Ye couldn’t help but call out, "Whistle... Whistle..."
The little white fox, happily leading the way ahead, paused, its fluffy ears twitching.
It wasn’t until Chen Ye whistled a few more times that it belatedly realized it was being called!
The little white fox stiffly turned its head, glaring angrily at Chen Ye.
It was a fox, not a dog!
How could Chen Ye have known the little white fox’s thoughts? Seeing it turn back at his call, he smiled and shook a smooth, plump pill.
On the pill, two mysterious dan patterns were clearly visible, exuding an exotic fragrance that was irresistible to the fox.
The little white fox’s eyes lit up instantly, forgetting its dignity, and it ran back happily.
It squatted in front of Chen Ye, wagging its fluffy big tail incessantly.
"Master, this is the pill you use for cultivation..."
Zhiwei was also taken aback; the two-pattern pill was a valuable resource for her master’s cultivation, and today he was feeding it to a spirit pet?
Such extravagance.
This single pill could buy a little white fox outside!
"Never mind, I have wronged this little white fox earlier."
Chen Ye wasn’t one to bully the little white fox; since he had wrongly accused it, he ought to compensate it.
He extended his palm to the little white fox’s mouth, and it eagerly stretched out its pink little tongue, licking the pill back and forth.
It was strange,
At first, Chen Ye thought this little white fox was bothersome and annoying, a true ungrateful little creature.
But the more he looked, the more he found it quite cute, stirring an unusual feeling.
Who in the world could resist a cute creature?
Thinking this, Chen Ye couldn’t help but take the opportunity to pat the little white fox on the head: "I have to say, you’re quite a cute little white fox."
"Squeak squeak?"
The little white fox twitched its ears, glancing at Chen Ye in confusion.
Chen Ye laughed secretly; it seemed the little white fox found him just as annoying as he found it. Truly a case of mutual annoyance...
He chuckled, scratching the little white fox’s chin: "Not just a little cute but extremely cute."
The little white fox was utterly embarrassed, quickly taking the pill in its mouth and moving away from Chen Ye, lying down to enjoy it at the side.
After finishing, it let out a contented burp, called out happily, and dove back into the deep reeds.
It wasn’t long before it stopped in front of a withered ancient tree towering into the sky,
"Is this... the demon snake’s lair?"
Chen Ye smelled the demon snake’s stench and immediately understood.
He led Zhiwei, following the little white fox inside.
The space inside the cave was not large, quite dry, in stark contrast to the damp, slimy outside environment.
"Master, look there!" Zhiwei suddenly pointed to the deepest part of the cave.
Chen Ye followed her direction and saw, in the nest piled with beast bones, a basin-sized pool of earth fire blazing fiercely.
Above the earth fire, a fist-sized red crystal was suspended.
"This is... a Second Tier fire element spiritual object, the Earth Fire Essence!"
Chen Ye was overjoyed.
The saying goes, where there is spiritual material, demon beasts are sure to accompany.
It seemed that the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer demon snake had its eye on this Earth Fire Essence, intending to use the second-tier spiritual object to achieve Foundation Establishment when its cultivation was perfected!
The little white fox was even happier than Chen Ye, cheering and leaping towards the Earth Fire Essence with its petite body, intending to grab it with its mouth.
"Vicious beast, stay away from it!"
Seeing this, Chen Ye panicked, and without thinking, he rushed forward!
The little white fox lightly landed beside the earth fire, casting a furious glance at Chen Ye.
How awful!
He had just called it an adorable little white fox, and now called it a vicious beast!
The little white fox deliberately opened its mouth wide, showing it off to Chen Ye.
Then, in his moment of horror, it triumphantly took a big bite!
"Squeal—!!"
The next moment, an extremely shrill scream erupted from the little white fox’s mouth!
From its small mouth emerged a wisp of blue smoke, and the smell of burnt fur quickly spread everywhere.
The red crystal in its mouth, like a scorching hot iron, seared it, causing its whole body to twitch and tears to fill its eyes.
"Thump."
The Earth Fire Essence fell to the ground.
Chen Ye was quick-witted; in the moment before the spiritual object hit the dry grass on the ground, he wrapped his hand with spiritual power and snatched the scorching crystal back.
"Squeak squeak! Squeak squeak!"
Freed, the little white fox couldn’t care about anything else.
It was frantically rubbing its reddened little mouth with its front paws, while pacing around Chen Ye in distress, its big eyes locked onto the Earth Fire Essence in Chen Ye’s hand, making anxious whimpering sounds, as if saying, "That’s mine."
Chen Ye was stunned at first, then enlightened.
He hadn’t wrongly accused the little white fox at all!
This little white fox was so familiar with the demon beast’s lair, it had clearly been eyeing this Earth Fire Essence for a long time, here to steal the treasure.