Zhiwei was also stunned to see the little white fox standing bewildered and at a loss.
Something’s not right.
According to the little white fox, it had just left home not long ago... But why had the ancestral land of the white fox turned into ruins?
Putting aside everything else for the moment, the little white fox had been constantly longing to return home. Seeing this scene would likely feel like a bolt from the blue.
The little girl with the ink-black hair squatted down, gently embraced the dumbfounded fluffy ball, and said softly:
"Don’t be afraid. If our home is gone, we’ll build a new one."
The little white fox turned into a lifeless fox again, resembling a puppet, motionless in Zhiwei’s embrace.
This fox always behaves like this,
it becomes dazed and silly like a dead fox whenever it is strongly stimulated.
Chen Ye sighed as he surveyed the sprawling ruins.
He could imagine how prosperous and peaceful this place must have been in the past.
"However... this little white fox is indeed peculiar."
Chen Ye’s gaze fell on the little white fox.
Whether it was the vine king in the little white fox’s memory, or the red scarf, or the ancestral land of the white fox,
the impressions of these things in its mind were all from not long ago.
But in reality... it seemed a long stretch of time had passed.
Otherwise, how could a Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation plant demon directly reach the Middle Period of Foundation Establishment in just a few months?
The red scarf and the ancestral land of the white fox were clearly corroded by time.
Hee Qi, unaware of the intricacies between them, felt invigorated upon reaching the Eighth Layer Heaven:
"Brother Chen, I know a place. Let’s go there first to gather some information."
"What place? In the Eighth Layer Heaven, could there still be a place where cultivators gather?"
Chen Ye was puzzled. You need to inquire in a place with people, right?
Hee Qi laughed heartily, "Brother Chen is truly sharp. Indeed so, this place is called No Thought Valley."
With that, he began to explain to the master-disciple duo.
As it turned out, within the Grotto Heaven, opportunities were everywhere, and what one obtained was not necessarily what one needed.
Cultivators could exchange goods in No Thought Valley to meet their needs.
"However..."
Hee Qi took a glance at Chen Ye, then at Zhiwei beside him, and reminded with a serious expression,
"Brother Chen, although it’s a common agreement in No Thought Valley not to fight, those cultivators who have survived until now are all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. How could they be bound by a mere verbal agreement? Our reputation within the Grotto Heaven isn’t very good; it might be best to adopt a simple disguise."
Disguising wasn’t too difficult.
Chen Ye took out a gray cloth long robe from the Storage Ring and put it on, concealing the Flying Light Sword in his sleeve.
In an instant, the young man with gentle and warm disposition transformed into an unremarkable middle-aged cultivator.
Zhiwei also changed clothes, tucking the little white fox into her embrace, revealing only its furry little head.
The red scarf was too conspicuous and had to be temporarily put away.
"Uh..."
Even after disguising, it seemed they hadn’t really disguised at all.
The man, young girl, and fox, this team had characteristics that were far too distinctive.
Hee Qi was also dumbstruck, belatedly realizing that Chen Ye was truly too unique.
Which decent person, upon entering the Cave Heaven Secret Realm, would bring a young girl and a pet along?
Chen Ye, rubbing his chin, cast a mischievous glance at his eldest disciple.
Perhaps because of her Purity Glaze Body, her skin was porcelain white.
With a face not even the size of a palm, a delicate nose, faintly colored lips, and a sharp chin, she formed a naturally beautiful, aloof yet stunning appearance.
Her figure was slender and thin, with a lone waist that was effortlessly held and perfectly upright.
A cascade of ink-black hair loosely tied with a red ribbon fell to her waist, resembling a spotless jade lotus.
Cold, beautiful, with a fragile, delicate look.
"Alas," Chen Ye sighed internally, "In a few more years, who knows how many suitors this perfect cabbage that I’ve painstakingly raised will attract."
The thought of someone trying to snatch away this prized disciple, whom he had nurtured so much, filled Chen Ye with a sudden rage.
"Master?" Zhiwei, sensing the gaze, slightly tilted her head.
Chen Ye replied with utmost sincerity, "Master is just considering the bigger picture, so you’ll have to endure a bit for now."
"Hm?" Zhiwei was momentarily stunned, not quite understanding what her master meant.
The next moment, she found herself being lifted by her master, secured around the waist.
"Master!"
Zhiwei’s eyes flashed with embarrassment and annoyance; how could her master just hug her like that with others around?
No!
Even if there weren’t others, it wouldn’t be right!
"Stay hidden."
Chen Ye didn’t give her a chance to resist, pressing his disciple’s petite and exquisite body tightly to his chest, then donned the voluminous black robe over himself.
In that instant, he transformed into a rotund, black-robed cultivator.
As for Zhiwei, she and the equally bewildered little white fox nestled in her arms were securely hidden in her master’s embrace under the black robe.
"As clever as ever!"
Chen Ye expertly bounced his disciple in his arms, raising an eyebrow at Hee Qi,
"How about it?"
Hee Qi praised, "Not bad, not bad, especially in this Grotto Heaven where Divine Sense is limited. This way, it resolves our worries."
Under the black robe, Zhiwei instantly turned as stiff as the little fox. Even through the fabric, she could feel herself heating up.
This girl, always cool and self-assured, lately wouldn’t even let her master hold her hand, now being held like a doll by her master, and in front of others...
"Master..." A voice as soft as a mosquito’s seeped out from the black robe, "Put me down..."
Holding back his laughter, Chen Ye deliberately bounced her, "Don’t move, you’ll expose us. Didn’t you hear Uncle He? Master is just doing this for our safety."
His palm, holding her waist through the material, found her just as slender and fragile as he had imagined, almost as though she might break with a bit of force.
How infuriating!
Even though he had been dutifully feeding his disciple, why were both his disciples still so thin?