"What’s that..."
Zhiwei’s pupils constricted slightly as she instinctively shielded her junior sister.
Surrounding the Tao Stele were four gigantic vines as thick as pythons, coiled around it.
The spiritual pressure they emitted had shockingly reached the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation!
These were indeed the Spirit-eating Vines!
Though they lacked intelligence and possessed only the instincts to devour and kill, they sensed Chen Ye’s presence—or rather, the presence of the Vine King.
The four restless vicious vines instantly became docile, dropping their tendrils in a friendly manner, gently brushing against Chen Ye’s garments.
"Don’t be afraid, I’ve subdued them,"
Chen Ye explained with a smile,
"In the future, if I’m not around, they will be your shield of protection as well."
This journey to the rear mountain.
Chen Ye’s other intention was to familiarize the Spirit-eating Vines with the aura of the three apprentices.
Zhiwei sighed in relief.
She had entered the Songyang Cave Heaven with her master, naturally aware of the Spirit-eating Vine tribe.
However, the impression left by the Spirit-eating Vines on her was too profound, and after a year of not seeing them, she couldn’t help but feel a little tense now.
The upcoming time turned particularly warm and comforting.
Without outside disturbances, the three girls finally freed their nature.
The boldest one, Qing Jun, even treated the terrifying Foundation Establishment Stage Spirit-eating Vine as a swing, swinging back and forth on the tendrils, occasionally letting out bell-like laughter.
Jin’er was still somewhat afraid, but under Chen Ye’s encouragement, she tested by watering a smaller Spirit-eating Vine with spiritual water, watching its tendrils joyfully shake its leaves, her little face breaking into a smile.
Zhiwei quietly sat beside Chen Ye, pouring tea for him, watching her junior sisters frolic, the ice in her eyes melting away, replaced with softness.
"Zhiwei, aren’t you going to play with your junior sisters?"
"Zhiwei will stay here to serve Master..."
"Silly girl, I brought you out to have fun, go on."
"But Zhiwei just wants to stay here..."
Foolish Master.
Zhiwei was already grown up, no longer a child, and not at all playful!
Moreover,
being by her Master’s side was already the most interesting thing in the world.
...
Time flew by.
After spending half a day playing with the apprentices, Chen Ye let Zhiwei lead her junior sisters back to the valley to cultivate, while he stayed behind alone.
He slowly walked towards the Wood Element Tao Stele, sat down cross-legged, and the dense ethereal wood energy around him caused his pores to open up comfortably.
"Come out."
As his mind moved, a flash of green light emerged from his left sleeve, and a small tentacle, only thumb-sized, cautiously crept out.
This was the body of the Vine King.
Compared to the four mighty Spirit-eating Vines, the Vine King now seemed quite pitiful.
Originally just a small tentacle, now pitted and corroded by Li Min’s sea of blood.
"Go ahead."
Chen Ye affectionately touched its tender sprout, pointing towards the richest soil beside the Wood Element Tao Stele.
Though the Vine King lacked full intelligence, it instinctively knew it was a good thing, and joyfully moved over, rooting itself into the soil beside the Stele.
The Stele slightly trembled.
A vast amount of plant energy flooded into the Vine King’s body, its scars visibly peeling away.
The Vine King comfortably stretched out its branches and leaves, greedily absorbing the purest Wood Element Power between heaven and earth.
Chen Ye nodded with satisfaction, intending to use the strength of the Stele to practice the "Life and Death Profound Light Sutra" together.
Suddenly.
His gaze caught sight of the other side of the Stele, his expression turning somewhat peculiar.
"Hmm?"
At the place where the Stele’s energy was most abundant, a little snow-white creature was curled up there.
It was only the size of Chen Ye’s palm, entirely snow-white without a trace of blemish, with fur as fluffy and soft as clouds.
The little creature was lazily lying deep in the vines, its two front paws hugging its fluffy big tail, the pink tip of its nose twitching with each breath, sleeping soundly.
No... It wasn’t asleep at all!
This little thing was constantly trembling in fear, clearly pretending to sleep!
"Hmm? Could it be that this little fox has been here all along?"
Chen Ye realized.
Probably, the little white fox secretly sneaked out, and now with people coming, how could it dare to show up?
So it hid deep in the vines, pretending to sleep the whole time.
Don’t say,
Although due to the Wood Element Tao Stele, the energy here is chaotic and suitable for hiding,
the fact that the little white fox managed to hide until now before being discovered testifies to its remarkable Concealing Qi skills.
"Besides the ability to conceal Qi, the skill of covering one’s ears to steal the bell is also exceptional."
Chen Ye chuckled silently.
Without revealing the truth, he squatted down and extended a finger to poke the fluffy white fur, speaking to himself:
"Huh? When did Little White come over? Judging by its looks, it seems to be asleep. I’ve heard that when a fox is asleep, you can lift its arm and it won’t fall. If it falls, it means it’s still awake... Tsk, a fox daring to deceive its master, might as well turn it into a collar!"
The little white fox, pretending to be asleep, shuddered in fear.
How could someone dare to make a little fox into a collar!
That’s too cruel!
Suppressing his laughter, Chen Ye reached out and gently grasped one of the little white fox’s front paws, lifted it off the ground, suspended in mid-air, then released it.
One breath, two breaths...
The fluffy little paw astonishingly stiffened in mid-air, completely motionless!
"Whoa!"
Chen Ye pretended to be surprised,
"Looks like it’s really asleep? Then I shall try this one."
With those words, he lifted the little white fox’s other front paw, suspension in the air likewise.
Next came the left hind leg, right hind leg...
In order to demonstrate it was "dead asleep," the little white fox exerted every bit of its strength, its muscles tight and stiff like iron rods, allowing Chen Ye to manipulate it.
To maintain this pose, the little white fox’s white fur trembled slightly, its pink tongue almost tired out, yet it kept its eyes tightly closed, gritting its teeth and persevering.
If I don’t move! Then I’m still asleep!
I won’t become a collar!
"Not bad, not bad."
Chen Ye stroked his chin, clicking his tongue in amazement.
It was the first time he’d encountered such a foolish fox!
Seeing this scene,
Chen Ye couldn’t help but reminisce about before, back when he suspected the little white fox was the legendary True Man Ye.
But now it seems.
True Man Ye, being noble, wouldn’t be bullied by a girl every day?
And be so foolish...
During these days together.
Chen Ye had grown fond of the cute little fox and couldn’t bring himself to be too harsh.
Seeing the little white fox nearly exhausted,
he wisely decided to stop, coughed once: "Hmm, looks like Little White is truly asleep, then forget it, I won’t punish it."
As he spoke,
he nudged the little white fox’s body.
Only then did the little white fox "wake up leisurely," pretending to stretch lazily, yawn, its eyes dreamy.
Yet those four twitching little short legs had already revealed everything.
"Little White, why are you here? Hmm... yes, since coming back to Lisong Valley, didn’t keep restraining you."
Chen Ye rubbed the little white fox’s head.
The little white fox was furious but dared not speak, letting out a pitiful squeaky sound:
"Squeak..."
Chen Ye laughed, this timid appearance, truly resembling Qing Jun.
After pondering for a moment, he suddenly said: "Little White, if you don’t want to stay by my side, I can actually let you return to the Three Thousand Great Mountains."
Chen Ye’s words were sincere, not deceitful.
He genuinely intended to let the little white fox go.
After all...
To put it one way, the little white fox had already helped him immensely, Chen Ye couldn’t bear to forcibly enslave it,
"Squeak?"
The little white fox was startled, blinking its watery large eyes twice.
Let it go?
Would this big meanie really let such a cute fox go?
Besides, if it wanted to leave, it would’ve left long ago.
There wasn’t any restriction placed on it, even at Baopu Peak, tethered to its neck was only a regular Magical Artifact.
How outrageous!
How was it supposed to respond?
Before, it could pretend to be forced to stay, but now Chen Ye proposes to let it leave...
If it left,
how could it absorb Dragon Qi from the evil girl to heal?
If it left,
where would it find a place rich in Spiritual Qi, safely recuperate?
It certainly didn’t want to return to the Refining God Sect... To be honest, compared to the Refining God Sect, it would rather stay by Chen Ye’s side!