CSMCDB - Chapter 122
Chapter 122
Wen Yuncheng took the time to use her token to visit a small secret realm belonging to the imperial family. This secret realm was similar to the one awarded during the Youth Tournament; a single day's effort wouldn't yield many useful opportunities. For others, however, cultivating in a small secret realm was a rare chance. Unfortunately, Wen Yuncheng had no need for such things. She obtained some miscellaneous pills and, upon leaving the secret realm, listed them at the auction house.
Eight thousand experience points and five hundred system points were in hand, and Wen Yuncheng's system point reserves broke right through the six-thousand mark. Back in the Demonic Beast Forest, one hundred salt-baked chickens had saved her life. Now, she was a person with two lives to spare! Wen Yuncheng was in high spirits after leaving the secret realm, feeling utterly triumphant.
However, before she could even leave the Imperial Palace, she was stopped by a guard.
"W-Wait? Look at this token. The First Princess let me into the secret realm. Didn't you all agree to it yesterday?!" Wen Yuncheng's voice rose an octave in her haste.
"No, no, you've misunderstood. A Sovereign is visiting. The Protector ordered this subordinate to wait here and escort you over once you exited the secret realm."
A Sovereign? The Protector? What was all this about? Wen Yuncheng was completely bewildered. She silently followed the guard toward the main hall, her heart pounding like a small drum. A Sovereign? The kind from the Demonic Beast Great Forest? Which one? Were they here to offer a formal apology? What did that have to do with her?
…Wen Yuncheng's expression stiffened. Could it be that the Celestial Fox King coveted her salt-baked chicken and wanted to propose a trade? The Protector had asked her to come over to discuss business? Whoever wanted to make that losing deal could go right ahead, but she certainly wouldn't! This was human territory, after all. They probably wouldn't beat her to death for refusing, right?
Upon entering the main hall, she saw two great figures standing within. One was Protector Chu Han, and the other was the Celestial Fox King, who was dressed in a white cloak. The collar of the cloak was trimmed with white fur—she couldn't tell… if it was white fox fur.
The Celestial Fox King was holding a small, three-tailed white fox. When the little fox saw Wen Yuncheng, it lifted its head and looked right at her. Wen Yuncheng could have sworn she saw a look of craving in those turquoise eyes.
This… this?
"There is no need to be alarmed. The Celestial Fox King has come this time because he wishes for his offspring to follow you." Neither Chu Han nor the Celestial Fox King exuded any imposing aura. Chu Han smiled, speaking in a very friendly manner.
"That's right. This troublesome Xiao Shi'er… I'll have to trouble you to take good care of her from today on. Although Xiao Shi'er is gluttonous, her innate talent is excellent. She may be my youngest daughter, but she was the first to evolve three tails. Given time, she will surely become a nine-tailed celestial fox." The Celestial Fox King stroked the little fox's head, repeatedly pushing down its little face as it kept trying to look at Wen Yuncheng. Seeing his own cub already siding with an outsider, he felt utterly helpless.
The agreement with the Empire was to randomly select one of the Sovereigns' most favored offspring and send them to the human side. This was somewhat akin to sending a hostage, as the offspring most valued by the Sovereigns were the ones with the greatest hope of inheriting their mantles. But as it turned out, his disappointing cub's eyes lit up the moment she heard she could go to the Empire, and she volunteered, insisting on going no matter what.
The Celestial Fox King was powerless; he couldn't keep this cub tied down. After some discussion, the other Sovereigns gave him a great deal of compensation, even allowing him to expand his territory, and the matter was settled.
"I entrust Xiao Shi'er to you. Just keep her safe, and perhaps she can become a great help to you in the future?" The Celestial Fox King sighed, handing the little fox in his arms over. At that moment, he didn't seem like the Sovereign of the forest, nor did he carry himself like a Star Emperor at all.
Wen Yuncheng was dumbfounded, having never expected such a development. She glanced at the little fox. Although it was a Star King-level asset, it… consumed system points.
The little fox licked the Celestial Fox King's fingers and nuzzled his hand before leaping into Wen Yuncheng's arms, forcing her to catch it in a flurry.
And just like that… she got a Star King-level fox?
"They said they had to choose one of the Sovereigns' most favored offspring to send to the human race, so I was super enthusiastic and said I'd go! I beat a whole crowd of competitors to snatch this opportunity! Aren't you going to give me a salt-baked chicken to eat?" The moment they left the Imperial Palace, the little fox's tail hooked around Wen Yuncheng's arm, rubbing against it. Her eyes were shining, and the fur around her mouth was slightly glistening. "You know, I really missed you! Of the one hundred chickens you left behind, my daddy ended up snatching more than half of them!"
Wen Yuncheng glanced at the little fox. Foxes were cunning. Although this little one loved to eat, she would surely say anything to get food. "I'll take you to a restaurant for lunch. Don't talk in your beast form. We need to be low-key, understand?"
"Why do we have to be low-key? I'm a nine-tailed celestial fox! Look, with you holding me, so many young girls are looking at you." Xiao Shi'er chattered endlessly, her pair of turquoise eyes darting around. "Your human world is so lively. There are so many people."
"Behave yourself. There are good people and bad people among humans. You know about your nine-tailed celestial fox bloodline. Aren't you afraid the people from 'Fu' will take you away for research and turn you into dried fox jerky?"
Xiao Shi'er fell silent. The last time she was lured away by a spirit fruit, the Celestial Fox King had given her a harsh scolding. She naturally knew what "Fu" was and what they had done to demonic beasts. She lay obediently in Wen Yuncheng's arms, her ears perked up, her lively eyes the only thing still looking around.
Wen Yuncheng took the little fox to a restaurant. She wasn't short on Star Stones these days, so she ordered one of every chicken dish the restaurant could make, then simply ordered one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a soup for herself.
"The chicken here isn't as good as yours." The little fox, now in human form, sat on a stool, tearing apart a roasted chicken with her hands and stuffing it into her mouth. The plates in front of her were already mostly empty, yet she offered her critique. "But it tastes better than my daddy's cooking. It's a pity these are just ordinary chickens. If they were Rainbow Phoenix chickens, they'd be even more delicious."
For a moment, Wen Yuncheng couldn't imagine just how terrible the Celestial Fox King's cooking was. She watched as Xiao Shi'er gulped down a bowl of chicken soup, swallowing the chicken pieces inside, bones and all, and then ate a portion of honey-glazed chicken wings. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "Are you really okay eating so much?"
"I'm… hic… a nine-tailed celestial fox! How… hic… how could I possibly not be able to eat it all?"
Wen Yuncheng was speechless.
After settling the bill, Wen Yuncheng picked up Xiao Shi'er, who had reverted to her fox form, and could clearly feel that her belly had swelled by a full circle. Helpless, she bought some hawthorn candies for the little fox to cut the grease and aid digestion.
From this day forward, she had one more Star King-level bodyguard.
In early January, Lin Jinyu finally came out of seclusion. However, she had just stepped into the first layer of the Star Spirit rank and hadn't had time to consolidate her cultivation, so it wasn't a good time for her to be running around.
"I loved the gift you sent, and I miss you too~ On your birthday, someone will deliver your gift to the Flowing Cloud Sect. I hope it makes you happy." Wen Yuncheng said with a reassuring smile. "You should focus on consolidating your cultivation in the sect and don't be impatient. We're not in a rush to meet, right~"
"I know. I miss you a lot too," Lin Jinyu replied, then asked, "Are you feeling better?"
"Mhm, after eating the candy you made, all my worries disappeared~" Wen Yuncheng said, glancing at the fox eating chicken on the side. She brought the matter up with Lin Jinyu. "Have you heard about what happened after you went into seclusion? That disaster was likely related to the seven Sovereigns. After the agreement between Dragon Island and the Empire was extended, the Protectors went to negotiate with them. The Celestial Fox King gave his daughter, that gluttonous little fox, to me. She's a Star King-level asset. She just eats a little too much."
"I don't eat that much!" Xiao Shi'er's ears twitched, and she immediately retorted.
Wen Yuncheng ignored her and continued telling Lin Jinyu about recent events. "I've taken on a lot of bounties lately and cleared out many bandit strongholds. I'm probably close to the third layer of the Star Lord rank."
"A Star King-level demonic beast, and a descendant of the Celestial Fox King at that. Treat her well. She'll definitely be able to help you in the future," Lin Jinyu said. "You've been taking on bounties, clearing out bandit strongholds… Does it make you uncomfortable?"
Uncomfortable? Wen Yuncheng paused for a moment before realizing what Lin Jinyu was referring to. "I don't think so. When I think about the evil deeds those people committed, after eliminating them, I only feel a sense of satisfaction, with no feelings of disgust or fear." Wen Yuncheng answered honestly, then couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Do you think I'm too cold-blooded for being like this?"
On the other end, Lin Jinyu let out a low chuckle and said, "When it comes to that, my blood is probably a few degrees colder than yours."
With that, the topic was dropped. The two were affectionate for a while longer before ending the communication. Wen Yuncheng clutched the communication stone, her gaze firm. Lin Jinyu had now entered the first layer of the Star Spirit rank. Even if she needed a good while to consolidate her cultivation, the gap between them had widened.
Although this was what she had hoped for, and what she had brought about herself… Wen Yuncheng glanced at Xiao Shi'er, who was still engrossed in her food, and urged, "Hurry up and eat. We have more bounties to take on when you're done!"
When Lin Jinyu's birthday arrived, the Flowing Cloud Sect received a trial version of the Mechanical Wings, delivered by the imperial family. Although it was just a trial version that would be improved in the future, the pilot program for the Mechanical Wings at the Flowing Cloud Sect still caused a considerable sensation. Even Sect Master Lin had to offer a few words of praise for Wen Yuncheng.
It wasn't that the major figures were uninterested in the Mechanical Wings, but why hadn't they suggested Wen Yuncheng release the design blueprints? The difficulty of replicating a Star Power Mutation was one reason, but more importantly, they knew the Mechanical Wings were Wen Yuncheng's current advantage; it was unique to her.
Having watched so many of Wen Yuncheng's matches, the role the Mechanical Wings played was self-evident. The higher-ups didn't press the issue because they felt that even if Wen Yuncheng were to release the design, it would only be after she reached the Star King rank, when she could fly on her own. After all, once it was released, flight would no longer be her unique advantage against opponents of the same rank. Yet Wen Yuncheng had actually released it, and it was even a version developed and improved by the imperial family, with trial units already distributed!
"That kid… is not bad. Have him come to the Flowing Cloud Sect sometime. For a simple meal." When Lin Jinyu told Sect Master Lin that she needed to go down the mountain for a trip, he remained silent for a long time before saying this.
Lin Jinyu was stunned for a moment before replying, "She… she said she wants to fight her way up to the Flowing Cloud Sect on her own strength."
Lin Zhenyun's eyebrow shot up. In the end, he said nothing more and simply waved his hand, dismissing his daughter. Fight her way up to the Flowing Cloud Sect? That kid… wants to challenge my sect and still marry my daughter?
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