"Who’s afraid of whom!"
...
In short, their relationship indeed grew closer.
Chen Ye was filled with joy.
His little apprentice finally made a friend.
Chen Ye stretched lazily, having resolved one major thing in his heart, it was time to deal with another matter.
"Traveling to the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District is a long journey, and there might be Demon Cultivators from the Emotion Crossing Sect causing trouble. Full preparations have to be made."
He pondered in his mind, also counting in the battle power of the Vine King.
That Vine King is a powerful Foundation Establishment Middle Period demon plant, commanding several demon vines comparable to the Foundation Establishment stage, making its combat strength truly formidable.
It’s just inconvenient to move...
But Chen Ye observed that the Vine King seemed to have mastered the magic of transformation, able to turn into small tendrils to move.
And now, being outside, without the array prohibitions of the Stone Tablet Forest, maybe it could go with him to the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District.
To find the Vine King, the key lies on that little white fox.
"I wonder if that little thing is still pretending to sleep."
Chen Ye muttered as he approached Zhiwei’s room and gently knocked on the door.
"Master?" Zhiwei opened the door and, seeing it was Chen Ye, his lips subtly curled up.
"Where’s Little White?" Chen Ye asked.
Zhiwei turned aside and pointed inside the room to a soft couch.
There lay the fluffy little white fox, curled into a snow-white ball, nestled in the corner of the couch, breathing steadily, seemingly having a sweet sleep.
Originally, the little white fox loved staying with Qing Jun, but Qing Jun was a little Demon King that the little white fox really couldn’t stand the torment, finally preferring to stick with Zhiwei.
Chen Ye stepped forward, looking at the little fox pretending to sleep for days now, couldn’t help but find it amusing.
He extended his finger, gently nudging its furry back.
"Stop pretending, wake up."
The little white fox remained motionless, not even twitching an ear, its acting was truly masterful.
Chen Ye wasn’t annoyed, he bent down, craned to the little fox’s ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"If you don’t wake up, I’ll dress you in a pink little skirt, tie a big bow on your tail, and take you for a walk at Baopu Peak, let Qing Jun’s friends see my well-behaved pet."
The snowy furball shivered suddenly!
Just imagining it made it shudder with embarrassment.
It was the Saint Heir of the Refining God Sect, what absurdity!
"Chirp!!"
The little white fox, fur bristling, erupted, arching its body and huffing at Chen Ye.
"Awake?" Chen Ye straightened and leisurely watched it.
The little white fox bared its teeth and claws, wanting to lunge at him to scratch, but upon seeing Chen Ye’s massive fists, recalling the fear of being dominated by absolute power, it could only halt its actions in humiliation.
"Alright, no more teasing you."
Chen Ye grabbed it by the scruff and lifted it before himself, seriously saying,
"I need to go to the Three Thousand Great Mountains, need your help to find the Vine King."
The little white fox snorted disdainfully.
It’d rather die than assist in evil!
Chen Ye shook his head: "Think about it, if the Vine King is at your side, wouldn’t you have a protector?"
The little white fox’s ears twitched.
If the Vine King was present, how dare Chen Ye bully it?
It hesitated for a moment, ultimately, humiliated, it nodded its little head, letting out an extremely unwilling "chirp."
"That’s more like it."
Chen Ye smiled contentedly, finally got this key "pathfinder" sorted out.
...
Time is the essence in battle.
Chen Ye was already a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and furthermore, he had strong Spiritual Power, with the Five Elements great cycle continuously providing Spiritual Power.
He only took a day to reach the Three Thousand Great Mountains.
If it weren’t for the poor quality of the Iron Sword, Chen Ye’s speed could have matched that of Foundation Establishment Late Period—of course, considering long-distance travels.
"Once back, need to intensively learn some Second Tier Magic. So when heading to Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, can seek Master Gu to forge the Iron Sword and repair the Hundred Herbs Furnace... thus, overall battle power will soar."
Chen Ye pondered in his mind, his Flying Sword already pierced through the clouds, below was the endless expanse of verdant mountains, the Three Thousand Great Mountains.
He landed in a secluded valley and lifted the curious little white fox from his shoulder.
"Alright, we’re here." Chen Ye patted its little head, "Start working, which direction is the Vine King?"
"Chirp!"
The little white fox protested loudly, broke free from his grasp, and lightly landed on the ground.
Its petite snout sniffed the air while its furry ears twitched a few times as if identifying something.
Minutes later, it picked a direction, turned back, and called to Chen Ye, then started to run its four little legs, yet it hadn’t even run a few steps when it felt a strange sensation around its neck akin to a clear "ding-dong" sound.
"?"
The little white fox stopped abruptly.
It instinctively scratched its neck with its hind paw, only to encounter a cold, hard ring.
A collar!
The symbol of humiliation that the shameless one placed around its neck!
The little white fox almost forgot about it, as the collar hadn’t been useful since it was worn, and it had consciously ignored it.
But now, the crisp sound from the little bell on the collar was like slapping its face.
How could it ignore the collar’s existence?
Chen Ye, observing its frantic behavior, leisurely manipulated the light beam in his hand: "Little white fox, little white fox, you are a spirit pet, what’s there to be embarrassed about?"
The collar was a Magical Artifact, after all, if he induced it, there would be a light beam connected to the collar, working much like a leash.
He amusedly added: "I specially chose this for you, with a bell on it, how sweet. You run jingling, and I can know where you are, avoiding you running around mindlessly."
"Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp chirp chirp! (Shameless! Despicable! Get this off me now!)"
The little white fox thrashed around in anger, trying to paw off the detestable collar, but to no avail.
Ho ho...
This little fox sure has some guts, dare to regard itself as the master in front of him.
Chen Ye shook the light beam in his hand, causing the collar at the other end to tighten, making the little white fox stagger:
"You now are a little fluffball in my palm, dare to call yourself the master?"
The little white fox fell protuberantly to the ground, its fox eyes filled with humiliating rage about to burst into flames.
It... couldn’t stand it!
Once its Cultivation was restored, it’d make this person know the shame of its past!
"Not want to wear it, fine." Chen Ye, seeing the moment was right, began to paint a picture, "As long as you always behave, I’ll consider removing the collar, how about that?"
He wasn’t worried that the little white fox might rebel.
Current observations indicated the little fox couldn’t leave Qing Jun, seemingly needing Qing Jun’s True Dragon constitution.
Moreover, even if it intended to let the Vine King strike, Chen Ye wasn’t afraid.
After all... the collar around its neck wasn’t to humiliate but to control.
His intention of inducing the light beam was essentially to threaten the little white fox against harboring any thoughts of betrayal after finding the Vine King...
The little white fox froze in place, in a moment, actually clawed its tears in grievance.
When did it suffer such injustice?
Foxes have their revenge, ten years are not too long!
Give it another ten years, then it can complete Mortal Transformation and restore full strength!
It swore viciously in its heart, resigning itself to turning around, with a drooping head, dragging heavy steps, began to lead the way ahead.
"That’s it."
Chen Ye smiled contently, placed the light beam away, trailing behind the dejected little fox.