“Miss Wen?”
Tang Muxi exclaimed in disbelief.
If it weren’t for that polite smile, she would have thought she was hallucinating.
Wen Mingyu stepped down from her elegant sword, stowed it away, and smiled, “I finally found you.”
She only knew that Jiang Yin and the others were hiding in the Mysterious Mountains, but she was unaware of their exact location.
After wandering around the mountains for a long time today, she finally spotted a figure at the peak.
“I ran into your Senior Sister in the city a few days ago and arranged to visit her after some time. I hope you don’t mind, little junior sister?”
Wen Mingyu casually took out a dark fan, slightly opened it, and gently waved it.
So it was an appointment with the Senior Sister.
Tang Muxi understood, brushed off the dust from her hands, and waved her hand slightly, returning the flowers she had taken back into the ground: “Miss Wen, please wait a moment. I’ll take you to find Senior Sister.”
“Don’t call me ‘Miss.’ If you don’t mind, just call me Mingyu,” Wen Mingyu smiled, “What is little junior sister doing?”
Tang Muxi noticed her gaze on the flowers floating in the air and explained, “Last time at the Heavenly Talisman Pavilion, I was fortunate to obtain a technique called Star Shift. Recently, I had a sudden idea to use it for something else.”
Wen Mingyu understood, noticing that the roots of the flowers had no spiritual energy fluctuations yet could be controlled.
She nodded thoughtfully, “That’s interesting. Am I interrupting you? If you’re busy, you don’t have to worry about me.”
Tang Muxi shook her head, “Not at all. Just when I was troubled because something happened with Bai Ling, and I had no way to resolve it. Since Mingyu is here, it’s perfect to see what’s going on.”
Tang Muxi couldn’t bring herself to call her Mingyu directly, so she added “sister” at the end.
Upon hearing that something had happened to Bai Ling, Wen Mingyu no longer hesitated and immediately asked Tang Muxi to lead the way.
Jiang Yin had run out of her spiritual essence these past few days and was looking for a place with heavy yin energy to cultivate.
When Tang Muxi brought Wen Mingyu to the Floating Immortal Island, Jiang Yin happened to be absent, so they went directly to Bai Ling’s room.
The main island was the most beautiful, filled with various trees and spiritual plants, lush greenery, and a mist of immortality.
As they passed by rockeries and small ponds, Wen Mingyu frequently glanced over.
“This Immortal Island truly is a masterpiece, it’s astonishing,” she remarked.
The scenery was so beautiful that it was comparable to the magnificent palaces she had seen in the Demon Realm.
Tang Muxi felt a bit shy upon hearing the praise.
After all, this Immortal Island was won through a lottery and was originally supposed to belong to the Heavenly Talisman Pavilion.
“I’m just lucky, that’s all.”
Arriving in front of Bai Ling’s room, they found the food delivered in the morning still untouched on the ground.
It was intact, and the steam had already dissipated, indicating it had not been touched.
Tang Muxi sighed softly as she collected the food and explained, “Bai Ling had a mishap during her transformation and couldn’t retract her ears and tail, so she doesn’t want to show herself. She’s been locked in her room for five days, refusing to open the door, and the food delivered has never been touched.”
Wen Mingyu frowned, her dark fan no longer waving.
“Wait a moment, Sister Mingyu, I’ll go knock on the door again.”
Tang Muxi finished tidying up and stepped forward to gently knock on the door: “Bai Ling, are you awake? Miss Mingyu is here to see you, why not meet her?”
However, after calling several times, there was no response from inside.
If it weren’t for the fact that Bai Ling hadn’t been seen going out these past few days, one might almost think that there was no one inside.
Wen Mingyu took a step forward: “Let me try.”
Tang Muxi nodded and stepped back.
“Bai Ling, I am Wen Mingyu. We met a few days ago; I wonder if you remember?”
She waited quietly, but there was no reply.
Wen Mingyu didn’t get discouraged and continued, “I heard that the little junior sister said you had some trouble with your transformation. I am quite familiar with the demon race, and perhaps I might know the reason and could help solve it.”
Upon hearing that there might be a solution, Bai Ling couldn’t hold back her excitement.
After a short while, a voice came from inside: “Really?”
The voice was clear and youthful, a bit downcast but filled with anticipation.
Wen Mingyu could even imagine her expression at that moment and couldn’t help but smile: “Really.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the tightly shut door suddenly opened.
Bai Ling had not transformed back but appeared in her human form.
She looked like a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, with snow-white skin, sparkling eyes, and long, smooth black hair that reached her waist.
On her head were a pair of fluffy white fox ears, with a hint of red inside and delicate white on the outside.
Behind her swayed a long, fluffy fox tail, tapering to a point, moving adorably with her body.
A half-demon in human form.
Wen Mingyu had seen many half-demons, but none were as beautiful as the girl before her.
Transforming back would be so dull; it was better to stay like this.
Bai Ling was not tall, only reaching Wen Mingyu’s shoulder, and had to look up to meet her gaze.
Seeing that she had not spoken for a while, she grew anxious: “So, what do you think? Did you notice anything?”
After saying this, she spun around in place, her tail swaying, as if she wanted someone to compliment her new outfit.
Wen Mingyu couldn’t help but reach out to ruffle her hair.
Accidentally brushing against her fox ears made them twitch adorably.
Wen Mingyu smiled, pondering, and recalled what Tang Muxi had said about Jiang Yin’s speculation, saying, “Perhaps you really haven’t fully transformed yet.”
“Ah?”
Is that it?
Bai Ling’s heart sank, her ears drooping down as she quietly retorted, “But I have a golden core.”
Most demon clans can transform once they reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and some can even do so at the Qi Refinement stage.
Why is it that for her, things are particularly difficult, and her Golden Core is still not enough to reach the transformation level?
Wen Mingyu understood the implication behind her words and shook his head to comfort her, “Dragons and phoenixes are divine beasts of heaven and earth, with extremely long lifespans. Only upon reaching the God Transformation stage can they take on their true forms.”
“But I am neither a dragon nor a phoenix…”
“Do you know that in ancient times, there were more divine beasts than just dragons and phoenixes?”
Seeing Bai Ling looking over, Wen Mingyu continued, “There was the Celestial Fox, entirely snow-white, with nine tails and a heavenly eye on its forehead that could perceive the will of heaven. It resided in the extreme north and was the king of demons. The offspring of the Celestial Fox are born with cultivation abilities, and only upon reaching the God Transformation stage can they take on their true forms.”
However, the Celestial Fox clan had long been extinct, even before the demon realm was divided into the Eastern and Western Demon Kings, which was over ten thousand years ago.
Bai Ling did not have nine tails, nor did she possess the Celestial Fox’s “heavenly eye,” so Wen Mingyu was not entirely sure and could only say this as a form of comfort.
This time, Bai Ling understood the unspoken words of Wen Mingyu.
Just as she felt a glimmer of happiness, it quickly faded, her emotions fluctuating like a small boat on a lake, swaying uncertainly.
“Could you lend me Bai Ling for a few days? Perhaps I have a way to temporarily hide her ears and tail.”
Wen Mingyu did not continue with the legend of the Celestial Fox but instead mentioned a more practical solution.
Yet, in her heart, she kept a watchful eye, planning to ask her mother queen when she returned to her clan.
The mother queen had been the Western Demon King for a long time and should know more about divine beasts.
Tang Muxi hesitated when she heard that she wanted to borrow Bai Ling, recalling her Senior Sister’s warning.
However, she was not Bai Ling’s owner, merely a friend, so it was not her place to make such decisions.
She said, “You should ask Bai Ling. If she agrees, I have no objections.”
Bai Ling also knew that the mention of the Celestial Fox was vague, and hiding her ears and tail was the most sensible option.
After thinking for a moment, she nodded in agreement, “I am willing.”
Seeing Tang Muxi downcast, she spoke up to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely come back once this is over. Your cooking is so delicious; I wouldn’t run off with a stranger.”
Wen “Stranger” Mingyu: … For some reason, she felt a bit uncomfortable.
Clearly, she had fed her quite a few Cold Spirit Fruits, so why was she still considered a stranger?
Tang Muxi did not take it seriously but still nodded, “Okay, it’s a promise.”
Without further delay, Wen Mingyu was not one to procrastinate.
Since she had received consent, she immediately took Bai Ling and left.
Before departing, to show her comfort, she generously gifted Tang Muxi a stack of spirit paper, wrapped in a delicate box, with strange runes engraved on the surface.
“What is this?”
Tang Muxi opened it to find it filled with exquisite and valuable spirit paper.
In the cultivation world, talismans are categorized into heaven, earth, mystery, and yellow, and depending on their rank, different spirit papers are required as a medium for their power.
Heaven-level talismans are equivalent to heaven-level magical treasures and are extremely rare, requiring special materials to bear them.
Spirit paper can be used as a medium for talismans below the earth level.
As talismans are meant to release power instantly, they have high requirements for spirit paper.
Therefore, regardless of rank, spirit paper is very expensive.
Talisman Immortals, like Pill Immortals, were considered a “noble cultivator” in the world of cultivation.
Without a solid financial backing, they often can’t even afford the spirit paper needed for their practice.
This stack of spirit paper is exquisite and luxurious, practically screaming “expensive,” and it’s likely earth-grade spirit paper.
Wen Mingyu smiled and said, “This is the Heavenly Talisman Pavilion, which can continuously produce spirit paper. Little Junior Sister can give talismans a try, write a few more, and keep them for emergencies; that would be good too.”
Continuously producing!
Tang Muxi’s eyes widened, and she silently recalled the price of a piece of earth-grade spirit paper, unable to help but swallow hard.
This was yet another treasure that one couldn’t afford even if they sold themselves.
“Too, too precious…”
Tang Muxi’s hands trembled.
Wen Mingyu shook her head, her face filled with guilt.
“I promised to visit Miss Jiang, but instead, I took away your friend. I feel guilty, so please, Little Junior Sister, don’t refuse.”
Rationality told Tang Muxi that she should return the Heavenly Talisman Pavilion at this moment.
But for some reason, she was reluctant to let go.
There were countless pieces of earth-grade spirit paper here; how many spirit stones would that be worth?
Is the Heavenly Talisman Pavilion really that wealthy?
Bai Ling was also very envious, her tail not even swaying.
Wen Mingyu glanced at her silently and took out a cold spirit fruit from her storage ring, handing it to her.
“Want to eat?”
Bai Ling immediately bit down, mumbling, “Eat!”
Her tone was filled with joy.
Thus, with her “money power,” Wen Mingyu managed to daze the two fools and successfully took Bai Ling away.
When Jiang Yin returned, it was already evening.
The sky was dim, and a cool breeze blew.
Seeing Tang Muxi staring blankly at a wooden box in her arms, she couldn’t help but ask, “What is this?”
Tang Muxi came to her senses.
“Heavenly Talisman Pavilion! Sister Mingyu gave it to me! It can produce earth-grade spirit paper infinitely!”
Mingyu… sister?
Jiang Yin’s expression gradually darkened, her eyelids twitching involuntarily.
She felt that something significant must have happened while she was away.
“Why did she give you this?”
Her heart sank as she asked.
Tang Muxi, still clueless, poured out everything that had happened today like a bamboo tube spilling beans.
When she heard about the “guilt gift,” Jiang Yin was so angry she nearly fainted.
“You just let her take Bai Ling away like that?”
Tang Muxi was taken aback.
“Um, she said she wanted to borrow her for a few days.”
“A few days? Did she say when she would return her?”
Jiang Yin’s anger grew as she felt helpless.
If she didn’t specify, wouldn’t that mean she could keep delaying indefinitely?
Tang Muxi finally realized, “It seems she didn’t…”
“This is not a gift; it’s clearly a contract of servitude!”
