Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The woods were eerily quiet.

Chen Xuan stepped on the thick layer of decaying leaves, taking small but extremely fast strides.

The white fur ball in his arms was still wriggling restlessly. Su Chang'an clung to his collar with its two front paws, occasionally sticking out its tongue to lick its newly grown furry collarbone, humming softly.

"Chen Xuan, this isn't over between us because you're a dog."

Su Chang'an transmitted her voice and cursed, her tone carrying three parts anger and seven parts grievance, "You almost broke my bones, and they still hurt."

Chen Xuan glanced down at her, then casually stroked her back with his hand, his fingertips carrying a bit of spiritual energy as he massaged that area.

"It's supposed to hurt."

His voice was very soft, only the two of them could hear, "You won't learn your lesson if I don't hurt you."

Su Chang'an rolled his eyes, and was about to curse his unfilial son again when his ears suddenly twitched.

There are people ahead of us.

More than one.

A pungent smell of blood filled the air, mixed with the cacophony of voices and the clanging of weapons.

Chen Xuan didn't stop. He pressed Su Chang'an's head down with one hand, pulling her closer to his chest, while his other hand rested on the hilt of his sword. He walked indifferently through the last patch of bushes.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

This was an open river valley, where the corpses of more than a dozen iron-backed wolves lay scattered on the ground, their blood staining half of the river red.

Dozens of disciples dressed in the outer sect attire of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect were gathered together. Some were digging out demon cores, some were bandaging wounds, and others were starting a fire to roast meat.

In the very center of the crowd stood a woman dressed in snow-white.

Luo Qingxue was holding a long sword that was still dripping blood, and she was wiping the blade with her head down.

No one dared to approach her within three zhang (approximately 10 meters); her aloof and arrogant demeanor was completely out of place in this chaotic scene.

"Who?"

Luo Qingxue suddenly looked up, pointed her long sword, and the sharp sword energy went straight for Chen Xuan's face.

The surrounding disciples were startled and quickly grabbed their weapons, staring nervously towards the bushes.

Chen Xuan didn't even lift his eyelids.

He merely turned slightly to the side, and the sword energy grazed past the hem of his clothes, slicing off a small tree as thick as a bowl behind him.

"Just passing by."

Chen Xuan uttered two words indifferently and lifted his foot to walk deeper into the valley.

The entire room fell silent.

The outer disciples, who had been so boisterous just moments before, now stared wide-eyed at this suddenly appearing menacing figure, like chickens with their necks choked.

Isn't this Chen Xuan, the one who threw away the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Milk like trash?

Luo Qingxue was stunned for a moment, and the sword in her hand slowly fell to the ground.

She looked at Chen Xuan with a complicated expression.

The humiliation she suffered at the entrance of Duanqing Residence yesterday was still fresh in her mind, but as soon as she saw this cold and stern face, her anger inexplicably subsided by more than half.

This person has an indescribable quality about him.

Despite wearing a tattered cloak covered in patches and carrying a silly-looking fox in his arms, he stood there and made everyone present feel that he was a cut above them.

"Junior Brother Chen."

Luo Qingxue sheathed her sword, took two steps forward, and her dignified smile returned to her face. "You've gotten here too?"

That's a rather pointless question.

Chen Xuan ignored her and kept walking.

Su Chang'an peeked half his head out from the collar of the cloak, his two dark eyes darting around Luo Qingxue before he gave a disrespectful "tsk".

"Tsk, this girl is really thick-skinned. Her face was swollen from being slapped yesterday, and she can still laugh today."

Su Chang'an transmitted his voice to Chen Xuan, his tone full of schadenfreude, "Son, it seems you can't escape this love affair. She's stuck with you now."

Chen Xuan paused slightly and glanced down at the fox in his arms.

"Quiet."

He didn't use telepathy; he spoke it aloud.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet valley.

Luo Qingxue's smile froze for a moment, thinking that Chen Xuan was telling her to shut up.

She bit her lip, her eyes slightly reddening, but she still forced herself not to lash out.

"Junior Brother Chen, the core area of ​​the secret realm is just ahead."

Luo Qingxue took a deep breath and quickly walked to Chen Xuan's side, trying to stop him. "There are powerful demons at the peak of the Gate-Knocking Realm and even the Foundation Establishment Realm lurking there. It's too dangerous to go in alone. I'm the leader of this group, ordered by the elders to escort the outer disciples. How about... we travel together?"

Her words were presented in a grand and dignified manner, giving herself a way out while also appearing magnanimous and responsible.

The surrounding disciples also came to their senses and echoed each other.

"Yes, Senior Brother Chen, there's strength in numbers!"

"Senior Sister Luo is a direct disciple of the inner sect; with her around, we're much safer!"

"Chen Xuan, don't be ungrateful. Senior Sister Luo is fortunate to have taken you in!"

The one speaking was Zhao Tiezhu, the one who had been ignored yesterday when he delivered the thousand-year-old blood ginseng.

He stood in the crowd, his back ramrod straight, taking advantage of the large number of people around him, his face full of resentment.

Chen Xuan stopped, turned his head, and gave Zhao Tiezhu a cold look.

Zhao Tiezhu shuddered, the rest of his words caught in his throat, and he shrank back behind someone.

"Not interested."

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze and continued walking past Luo Qingxue.

He was in a hurry.

The aura of that treasure was getting weaker and weaker; if it lingered any longer, the fox would probably be in tears.

Luo Qingxue became anxious.

She didn't know why she was so fixated on this cold, aloof boy. Perhaps it was because no one had ever dared to reject her like this before, or perhaps it was because the loneliness Chen Xuan exuded was so similar to her own state of mind when she practiced swordsmanship.

"Chen Xuan!"

Luo Qingxue called out, her voice trembling slightly, "Ahead lies the Misty Swamp. Without the Breakthrough Pill from Heavenly Sword Peak, you won't be able to get out!"

Chen Xuan paused in his steps.

Misty Swamp?

He frowned.

It is indeed a bit troublesome, mainly because it is easy to get lost and waste time.

Su Chang'an in his arms stirred.

"Say yes."

Su Chang'an suddenly transmitted his voice, his tone becoming serious, "That thing is deep in the swamp, and... I smell a very unpleasant odor, as if something is guarding it. If someone's going to be cannon fodder, might as well use them."

Chen Xuan looked down at her.

Su Chang'an blinked, reached out a paw and patted his chest, giving him a "listen to Dad, you can't go wrong" look.

Chen Xuan remained silent for a moment.

He turned around and looked at Luo Qingxue, who had a hopeful expression on her face.

"lead the way."

Two words, concise and clear.

Luo Qingxue, however, seemed to have heard some heavenly music. The gloom on her face vanished, and she even revealed a hint of girlish shyness.

"Alright! Junior brother, stay close to me!"

She turned around and called for everyone to line up and set off. Her enthusiasm was so great that anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was Chen Xuan's maid.

Su Chang'an clicked his tongue in amazement in Chen Xuan's arms.

"Is this girl out of her mind? You've treated her like this, and she's still chasing after you? Is this what they call a masochistic type?"

Chen Xuan ignored her complaints, simply wrapping his cloak tighter to block the prying eyes of outsiders.

The large contingent set off.

Luo Qingxue led the way, while Chen Xuan followed in the middle of the group, neither too close nor too far.

Along the way, Luo Qingxue would occasionally glance back at Chen Xuan, finding various excuses to strike up a conversation.

"Junior Brother Chen, are you thirsty? I have some spiritual spring water here."

"Junior Brother Chen, is this fox your pet? It's so cute, what's its name?"

"Junior Brother Chen, it seems your sword is broken. I'll go to the Sword Tomb to find you a good one later..."

Chen Xuan remained expressionless throughout, speaking very little.

"I'm not thirsty."

"No name."

"No need."

Su Chang'an laughed heartily, trembling with laughter in Chen Xuan's arms, her tail swishing back and forth, tickling Chen Xuan's chin.

"Oh my, this girl is hilarious."

While cracking open the pine nuts Chen Xuan had peeled for her, Su Chang'an commented, "'No name'? Chen Xuan, you're really something. My name is Su Chang'an! Su Chang'an! You dare say I don't have a name?"

Chen Xuan reached out and pinched her mouth shut, stuffing the freshly peeled pine nut inside.

"Eat yours."

Su Chang'an chewed on pine nuts, mumbling indistinctly, "You're just pretending. You're probably secretly thrilled, aren't you? Having such a beautiful woman swaying around you, doesn't it give you a real sense of accomplishment?"

Chen Xuan paused in his movements.

He lowered his head and looked at the heartless fox in his arms.

Those narrow, fox-like eyes were full of mockery, showing not a trace of jealousy.

Chen Xuan's nameless anger surged up again.

Does this woman even have a heart?

"Su Chang'an".

Chen Xuan suddenly spoke, his voice low and carrying a dangerous undertone, "You really want me to be with her?"

Su Chang'an was stunned for a moment, forgetting to spit out the pine nut shells in his mouth.

"Oh? That's not entirely true..."

Her eyes darted around, instinctively sensing danger. "I think this girl might be a bit dim-witted, but she comes from a wealthy family. If you could win her over, we could live a life of luxury in the sect, wouldn't that be wonderful..."

"Oh."

Chen Xuan sneered.

He suddenly stopped, ignoring the many people watching, and pulled Su Chang'an out of his arms, holding him up in front of him.

"What? Put me down!"

Su Chang'an kicked his limbs wildly, feeling dozens of eyes staring at him, and he felt a little embarrassed.

Chen Xuan stared into her eyes and said, word by word, "I'll say it again."

"I don't live off women."

"besides."

He moved closer, his nose almost touching Su Chang'an's wet nose.

"I only live off your family."

"Did you understand?"

Su Chang'an was dumbfounded.

What... what kind of indecent words are these?

The surrounding disciples were also dumbfounded.

Although I couldn't hear what Chen Xuan said, judging from the way he was acting, it felt like Senior Brother Chen was...flirting with a fox?

Luo Qingxue was walking ahead when she heard the noise and turned around, just in time to see this scene.

The boy held up the white fox, his eyes focused and affectionate (in her eyes, affectionate), and the fox was as docile as a doll in his hands.

Luo Qingxue suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

She was actually a little envious of the fox.

"Junior Brother Chen..."

Just as Luo Qingxue was about to say something, the mist in front of her suddenly began to churn violently.

"roar--!"

A deafening roar came from the depths of the swamp, carrying a terrifying pressure that directly caused several disciples with low cultivation levels to cough up blood and collapse to the ground.

The ground began to tremble violently, and mud surged, as if some enormous creature was about to emerge.

"Oh no! It's a demonic beast at the Foundation Establishment Realm!"

Luo Qingxue's expression changed drastically, and her longsword instantly flashed from its sheath. "Form ranks! Everyone, form ranks!"

The crowd instantly erupted into chaos.

Chen Xuan acted as if he hadn't heard.

He tucked Su Chang'an back into his arms and pressed down on her head, which was trying to peek out.

"Don't move."

He looked at the swirling mist, a bloodthirsty smile curving his lips.

"The main character has arrived."

Su Chang'an snuggled closer to him and whispered, "Chen Xuan, that's a powerful demon at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Be careful not to break my treasure."

Chen Xuan patted her bottom.

"rest assured."

"If it's broken, I'll replace it with an even better one."

After saying that, he lightly touched the ground with his toes, and instead of retreating, he advanced, turning into a blur as he rushed directly into the deadly fog.

Only a group of dumbfounded outer disciples and a bewildered Luo Qingxue were left behind.

"Has he...has he gone mad?"

Zhao Tiezhu said in a trembling voice.

Luo Qingxue gritted her teeth, watching the figure disappear into the mist, and a strong impulse suddenly surged in her heart.

"Keep up!"

She shouted and chased after him, sword in hand.

She also wanted to see what this man was up to.

Deep in the mist.

Chen Xuan held the sword in one hand; the broken sword was rusted, yet at this moment it emitted a chilling gleam.

Su Chang'an, nestled in his arms, peered out with his eyes at the enormous black shadow slowly rising from the mud ahead.

It was a two-headed giant python, its body covered in black scales, and its two lantern-sized eyes gleamed with an eerie green light, staring intently at them.

On the altar behind the giant python, a bead emitting a soft red light floats.

That was the remnant soul of a nine-tailed fox.

"Chen Xuan, that's a two-headed demonic scale python. Its skin is very thick. Hit its vital spot!" Su Chang'an excitedly commanded.

Chen Xuan remained silent.

He simply stroked Su Chang'an's nape lightly, and then raised his sword.

"Hold on tight."

"Dad will take you to steal a bride."

Su Chang'an: "???"

What are you trying to steal? If you're going to steal beads, just steal beads, stop talking nonsense!

But she couldn't afford to complain now, because Chen Xuan had already made his move.

One sword.

The wind and snow began.

The temperature of the entire swamp instantly dropped to freezing point.

The arrogant two-headed demonic python was enveloped by a sky full of sword energy before it even had a chance to open its mouth and spew venom.

"boom!"

The enormous snake head shot into the sky.

Chen Xuan stepped on the snake's body and walked step by step toward the altar.

Behind them, Luo Qingxue and the others had just rushed into the mist when they witnessed a scene they would never forget.

The boy stood atop the enormous snake corpse, cradling a white fox and holding a broken sword, like a god or demon descending to earth.

"This...this is his strength?"

Luo Qingxue almost dropped the sword in her hand.