Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 201 The Detestable White Fox; A Journey to the Moon Rhinoceros
At this time, Chen Ye was still unaware.

At home, a disciple was eagerly awaiting his return.

He lowered his straw hat and stepped out of the Herbal Pavilion.

Looking around, there were many more stalls along the street, and everywhere you could see rogue cultivators, their faces weathered and their murderous aura still lingering, peddling all sorts of seemingly extraordinary magical artifacts.

"Hmm... What treasures lie within the Three Thousand Mountains? What are these legendary hidden realms? Are they cultivators' cave dwellings or ancient ruins?"

Chen Ye was puzzled.

He only ever operated on the outskirts of the Three Thousand Mountains, never venturing deep into them. After all, he always sought stability and avoided such dangerous places.

I never thought of myself as the legendary chosen one, so I went on adventures everywhere, seeking opportunities.

I've only heard a little about it; the mountains are home to all sorts of precious spiritual plants, ferocious beasts, and various relics.

As Chen Ye walked, he quietly spread his divine sense.

"...Damn it, if it weren't for that Blood Sun Flower, my three brothers and I wouldn't have perished in the Black Wind Cave! That cave is incredibly eerie!"

"What's that compared to what we did? A few days ago, our team accidentally stumbled into an ancient forbidden area and witnessed the Wan Kui Sect members and Medicine King Valley disciples fighting tooth and nail over an ancient corpse! That ancient corpse is said to contain the secret method for forming the Golden Core!"

"Are Master Bai and Master Ye really trapped in the secret realm? This is a matter of utmost importance..."

Various rumors, both true and false, mixed with the cultivators' suppressed excitement and fear, kept reaching Chen Ye's ears.

Only then did he truly gain a more intuitive understanding of the so-called "chaos in the Three Thousand Mountains".

Chen Ye pondered silently:

"It seems that the great battle between the major sects unintentionally revealed many relics and caused the demonic beasts to flee in panic, which gave the rogue cultivators an opportunity... However, I have heard that there are also Core Formation demonic beasts deep in the mountains, which may lead to great chaos in the future."

However, what's done is done.

Everyone was blinded by rage and frantically scrambling for resources; who would care about the hidden dangers deep in the mountains?

"Fellow Daoist, please stay!"

Just then, a fawning voice rang out beside him.

Chen Ye paused and looked back.

There stood a thin, rogue cultivator with a cultivation level of only the sixth level of Qi Refining, bowing and smiling obsequiously at him, holding a half-open wooden box in his hands.

"Fellow Daoist, you are clearly a person of profound cultivation."

The rogue cultivator forced a broad smile, pushed the wooden box in his hand forward a little further, and said as if presenting a treasure,
"This...this is a treasure I just obtained from the Three Thousand Mountains! The tail of a white fox! Senior, have you ever heard of white foxes? They are a rare race in the Three Thousand Mountains, extinct for over a hundred years. I never imagined that with the chaos in the mountains, I would actually catch one..."

Chen Ye's gaze swept over the broken white fox tail.

Upon inspection, spiritual energy flowed, but it was still unremarkable—after all, the white fox was just an ordinary spirit beast. It was only because of its beautiful fur and its extinction that its fox tail was so popular among cultivators.

Something moved in his heart.

Could it be that the little white fox attracted by Qingjun is actually a branch of the extinct fox clan from the Three Thousand Mountains?
"No need."

Chen Ye shook his head, said nothing more, turned around, and prepared to leave.

Hmm... In Yunxi Fang, cultivators often use fake fox tails to deceive visiting cultivators.

As a local resident of Yunxifang, he naturally knew very well.

Upon seeing this, the rogue cultivator became anxious and quickly stepped forward, wanting to say something more.

Unexpectedly, the person in front of him snorted coldly, and a chilling killing intent enveloped him as if it were a tangible thing.

He collapsed to the ground with a thud, and the wooden box in his hand fell to the ground and rolled far away.

The rogue cultivator, disregarding the wooden box, scrambled and crawled away, escaping without a second thought.

"Huh? You don't want any of the stuff anymore..."

Chen Ye raised an eyebrow. If that was the case, then he had gotten this item for free.

Anyway, it's just a fake fox tail; I'll go back and scare the little white fox...

Thinking this, he casually put the fox tail into his storage ring.

……

It was dusk when we returned to Linsong Valley.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire valley in a warm golden hue.

Compared to the blood-soaked Yunxifang, this place is like a paradise.

As soon as Chen Ye stepped into the inner valley courtyard, a petite white figure darted out from the herb garden and fled to the underside of the house, watching him warily.

The little fox has been constantly fed by Qingjun these days, and it no longer looks as pitiful as it did when it first arrived.

Its snow-white fur appeared even more lustrous and smooth, and its pair of dark, bright eyes seemed to possess an even greater intelligence.

Chen Ye always felt...

It was like a girl looking at herself with disdain and fear.

As for it?
All I did was pry open its hind legs and glance at it a few times...

"You're such a cheapskate, who would want to watch that?"

Chen Ye shook his head in disdain.

The little fox was quite intelligent and understood his words. Its fur bristled, and it immediately activated its Spinosaurus form, whimpering softly at Chen Ye.

"The little thing is so cute, I really want to play with it a lot..."

Chen Ye felt his hands were itching, and he pondered to himself.

The white fox clan has long since become extinct.

Therefore, Chen Ye never imagined that this fox would be a member of the White Fox Clan of the Three Thousand Mountains.

But what if it really is a member of the white fox clan...?

Where have you been hiding in the mountains all these past days?
The outer perimeter of the mountain was filled with cultivators, while the inner perimeter was teeming with ferocious demonic beasts.

How can a fox without any cultivation survive?

Chen Ye suspected that it had been hiding in some kind of grotto-heaven before... It was also affected by this great battle that caused the grotto-heaven to appear in the world, and the little fox was accidentally left out.

"No, we have to think of a way to capture you and study you carefully."

Having made up his mind, Chen Ye put on what he considered a friendly smile.

He quietly channeled his spiritual energy, and beneath his feet, the Cloud Chasing Step was already poised to be unleashed.

“Little fox, you’re quite arrogant,” he said as he slowly approached. “Come here, let me take a good look at you.”

The little white fox also sensed the danger, letting out a threatening whimper, its four short legs tense, ready to run away at any moment.

It's now!

A glint of light flashed in Chen Ye's eyes!
His figure instantly transformed into a blur, like an arrow released from a bow, as he pounced towards the little white fox in the corner!
His pounce was as fast as lightning, and he was confident that even an ordinary cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining would have no chance of dodging it!

The next moment, however, he missed his target.

The petite white figure, in the instant he moved, nimbly leaped and instantly appeared on the rooftop several feet away!

"Ok?"

Chen Ye was stunned, somewhat unable to believe his eyes.

This speed...

Unconvinced, he once again activated his movement technique and chased after the little white fox on the roof.

But the little white fox's movements were even more agile than he had imagined!
It moved nimbly on the eaves, as if walking on flat ground, and each time it narrowly dodged Chen Ye's grasp just before he could catch it.

Even though Chen Ye had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, he chased after the fox for a long time but couldn't even touch a single hair on it!

"Ha!"

During the chase, the little white fox even had the leisure to turn around and let out a mocking squeak at Chen Ye, who was panting heavily. Its big, dark eyes were full of disdain. "Damn it... how come this beast is so much more agile than before in less than two months?"

Chen Ye's face was grim, his heart filled with shock and anger.

What did Qingjun feed it? How did it suddenly evolve into a Mega Evolution...?

The legendary white fox clan, though clearly not skilled in cultivation, is gentle and affectionate. In the past, they even often guided lost cultivators in the mountains.

It can be called the mascot of the Three Thousand Mountains.

But this little fox is an extreme case, utterly wicked!

It wasn't fleeing at all; each seemingly perilous escape was clearly a mockery of itself!
"Well...you're pretty good at escaping, aren't you!"

Chen Ye narrowed his eyes. He no longer held back. The Flying Light Sword flew out from his sleeve, hovering and humming softly, ready to strike.

Until then.

The little fox, oblivious to its own limitations, was suddenly filled with fear. Its four short legs trembled, and its big eyes stared at Chen Ye in terror.

No matter how fast it is, it can't be faster than a flying sword!

"Master! Don't bully Xiaobai!"

Suddenly, the little girl shouted.

Chen Ye turned around and saw his white-haired, cute and charming little apprentice staring at him angrily. She waved to the little fox that was still trembling on the eaves.

Upon seeing her savior arrive, the little white fox cried out joyfully and, with a sway, landed steadily in Qingjun's arms.

It buried its little head in Qingjun's arms and rubbed against him affectionately.

He didn't forget to turn around and swagger back at Chen Ye.

Chen Ye: "..."

Inverted!

These people are all going to rebel!

Qingjun stroked the little white fox silently and said softly, "Is Master going to punish Qingjun too?"

Now, Chen Ye's anger completely dissipated.

"Hmph." Chen Ye retracted his flying sword, feigning disdain as he looked away. "I was just trying to see if it had recovered from its injuries these past few days. Since you're protecting it, then forget it."

"Really?" Qingjun blinked her beautiful phoenix eyes, her face full of disbelief.

"Of course it's true," Chen Ye insisted stubbornly. "I will also..."

"Yes, Master wouldn't lie to Qingjun."

Qingjun muttered something under her breath, then held up the little fox in her arms to Chen Ye's face, presenting it like a treasure.

"Master, look, hasn't Little White gotten fatter again? It's all thanks to Qingjun! Master, would you like to give him a hug too?"

“Chi!!”

Even if you beat the little fox to death, it would never believe that it would be sold out by the little girl in the next moment!

He was so frightened that he kicked his limbs wildly, as if he were about to die.

"Huh?" Chen Ye was stunned for a moment, then took the little white fox and gently stroked its fur.

Once the little fox fell into his hands, it no longer dared to be arrogant, whimpering and shrinking into a small ball.

Qingjun watched with a smile, then suddenly said seriously, "Master, have you noticed that Xiaobai's fur is also white!"

Master isn't blind...

Chen Ye thought to himself, but smiled gently and said, "Oh my, it's white, the same color as Qingjun's hair!"

The little girl nodded repeatedly, twirling her fingers around her silver hair, and pouted, saying:

"So, when Master sees Xiaobai, he will definitely think of Qingjun's hair, right?"

Chen Ye had no idea what Qingjun was trying to tell him, so he could only nod silently.

Seeing her master admit it, the little girl unconsciously straightened her back and said with great spirit, "So...so from now on, Master must play with Xiaobai every day! You are not allowed to spend all day with Senior Sister, and you are even less allowed to spend time with Sister Qiongyu!"

"Chirp!" The little fox, who was being petted by Chen Ye, cried out sadly, looking at its little master with teary eyes.

Qingjun quickly reassured the little fox: "Don't worry! Master won't allow you to bully Xiaobai. If Qingjun comes back and finds that Xiaobai has lost weight or even a single hair, Qingjun will hold Master accountable!"

The little fox was finally relieved.

"Okay, okay..." Chen Ye had no choice but to agree, and after a while it belatedly realized, "Come back?"

"Yes!" Qingjun said matter-of-factly, looking at her master with surprise. "Qingjun is going to Dragon Sleep Mountain, didn't you know, Master? She's leaving today!"

The little girl's matter-of-fact attitude left Chen Ye bewildered: "You're leaving today?"

"Eh~"

Qingjun narrowed her eyes, looked at her master suspiciously, and smiled mischievously.

"Does Master really not want to part with Qingjun? Oh dear, there's nothing I can do... Then Qingjun won't go for the baptism, she can stay in Linsong Valley and cook delicious food for Master."

Being looked down upon by the fox is one thing, but another.

And now he's being looked down upon by little girls!

Chen Ye said irritably, "Master has hands and feet of his own, of course Qingjun's health is more important!"

"Qingjun was just saying it casually, did Master really take it seriously?"

The little girl sneered and looked at her master with disdain.

Chen Ye finally understood why this little fox always had such a disdainful look on its face; it turned out it had learned it from Qing Jun.

Indeed, their squinting expressions are exactly the same!
"Hmph, brat..."

Chen Ye picked up the little fox and let it kick its limbs wildly.
"Sharp-tongued and quick-witted, if this little fox were a person, it would probably be exactly like you."

He complained, but his hands betrayed him as he scratched the little white fox's furry chin.

"..."

Qingjun didn't immediately refute, but remained silent, pursing her lips. After a long while, she whispered,

"Master... Qingjun is leaving. You and Senior Sister must take good care of yourselves. Don't quarrel anymore, and don't bully Senior Sister. Talk to her more often..."

"Master knows. Hmm? Why are you so concerned about Senior Sister and not Master?"

"Because bad people live for a thousand years."

"soy Mujer!"

"Alright, alright. I've already told my senior sister about my concerns for Master... If I tell Master again, Qingjun won't feel at ease."

"Hmm... what did Qingjun say to Senior Sister?"

"Don't tell Master, and Master won't allow you to ask."

"As you wish. You're leaving already... I still remember how timid you were back in Yunxi Fang, and now you're suddenly going all the way to Longmian Mountain by yourself..."

"Qingjun also remembers that back then, Master would tell her wonderful stories and cook delicious food for her... Later, Master only knew how to cultivate!"

"It was Master's fault."

“Since Master has admitted his mistake, Master must remember... must come and pick up Qingjun! The Xu family is not Xu Qingjun’s home.”

"It's time to go," Mao Qingzhu said softly, leaning against the door.

"The last sentence!!"

The little girl vouched for him, then made her master squat down and whisper something in his ear.

"Master can bully Little White all he wants, as long as it's alright when Qingjun comes back..."

(End of this chapter)