The Little Fox's Immortal Cultivation Encyclopedia

The newborn tail swayed gently, and a patch of darkness rapidly magnified in the fox's eyes, accompanied by the sound of pattering water.

The Peach Goddess emerged from the darkness, her face showing surprise: "Why didn't you inform me beforehand, fellow Daoist? Hmm..."

He examined the fox's illusory white tail closely, nodded in realization, and exclaimed, "Congratulations on your remarkable progress, fellow Daoist. Your progress in just one day has surpassed my hundred years of arduous cultivation, and you have become a true Peach God."

The fox's tail swayed as it glanced at him: "Not exactly a god."

"Fellow Daoist, do not be modest. When your vows are abundant, your spiritual light will naturally shine forth. How can this not be considered?"

The fox explained earnestly, "I used the energy-gathering technique to remove all the human thoughts and desires from my vow, regardless of whether they were good or bad. Now I can only be considered a half-god, and I can't use many of my abilities."

Peach Goddess looked interested: "I'd like to hear the details."

"You are a pure incense god, and all your supernatural powers depend on the prosperity and decline of incense offerings." The fox shook its head. "Everyone believes that your fruit can prolong life, so they worship and believe in it every year. Over time, the fruit really can nourish people and make them live longer."

"At the same time, every believer is an extension of your power, so you can observe the world through the eyes of believers and know so many things."

"Success is due to incense offerings, and so is failure," the Peach God sighed, then asked, "Fellow Daoist, can't you now also see things in this way?"

"That's not how it works. No matter how much willpower the fox absorbs, it can't do it. Many things are simple for you, but difficult for the fox. The fox has to resort to other means."

"That's why you had Magistrate Zhang urgently collect all the lanterns in the county, which is why the city is lit up like this today," Tao Shen said with emotion.

"That's right. The fox imitates the Nine Lamps of Qi-Guiding Master Yun, using its fur to connect with people's hair. When people make wishes, the fox connects their wishes with each person's one by one."

Peach Goddess nodded slightly, then recalled her earlier question: "What do you mean by 'gathering Qi', fellow Daoist?"

"Just like anger, the angry fox has also learned to breathe, but it's not the right time for it to practice breathing exercises yet."

"Young friend, you are far more intelligent than I am."

Peach Goddess suddenly realized what was happening and chuckled, "So that's why you suddenly came to see me and talked so much. You just came to show off."

"Yes, that's true." The fox said frankly, without the slightest embarrassment, "but I mainly came to tell you all this knowledge so you won't die."

Peach Goddess shook her head: "I will try, but its effectiveness is still unknown. Fellow Daoist, you don't need to have too high hopes."

"Even Li Lang has been cured by the fox spirit."

"Thank you, fellow Daoist. However, while Yin Sha and the power of vows are impurities for Li Lang, they are different for me."

"There's one more thing. I'd like to know, in order to maintain this lamp magic, I can only lie here and can't go anywhere. But I've made such a big fuss, are you sure those demons will definitely come here for the Mid-Autumn Festival and won't go somewhere else?"

Peach Goddess said with certainty, "I don't know the specific reasons, but in my opinion, as long as two things remain unchanged, they will not change their plans, no matter how much preparation we make."

The fox's eyes held a hint of doubt.

"Firstly, the Yin energy beneath Tao County is the strongest within a hundred miles, so they would definitely choose this place; secondly, with the Autumn Equinox moon worship ceremony canceled, the next day for a thousand people to gather in Tao County is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so they would naturally choose that day."

"Is that all?"

"That's all."

……

Chang Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, sat up from the ground, and gasped for breath.

"Where is this?" He suppressed his surprise and looked around.

There was no sunlight, and all around were rock walls. The torches were embedded in the walls, casting shadowy light on the tunnel.

He was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with wild joy: "I'm not dead! I escaped from there!"

"To be precise, you are already dead." A bluish-gray ghost head poked out from the side. "How laughable that you were captured by those mortals. You have truly disgraced my sect."

Chang Sheng turned his head and looked. He recognized this person; he was the one he had personally turned into a ghost.

His face stiffened, then he flew into a rage: "You little devil, how dare you be so quick-witted!"

"Lord Chang, why don't you take a look at what you look like now?" the ghost chuckled.

Chang Sheng felt uneasy. He lowered his head and stretched out his palm.

Those already pale hands became even paler, revealing a translucent quality under the firelight.

"I...I've become a ghost."

"Who can do this? Who dares to do this? I'm the next leader of the inn!"

Chang Sheng was furious, but his face remained calm. After realizing that he had become a ghost, he immediately abandoned his arrogance, suppressed his anger, and forced himself to adapt. Besides, he already knew who had done it.

He showed respect: "Is the sect leader here?"

"Tsk." The ghost was somewhat disappointed that it didn't see the scene of Chang Sheng cursing and then being casually erased as it had imagined. "Consider yourself lucky. The incense master is inside. Hurry up and go."

"Thank you for your guidance, fellow believer." Chang Sheng ignored the malevolent gaze of the ghost and walked deeper into the cave.

The roadside was lined with countless earthen and stone statues, each with a ferocious expression, holding guns and knives, with countless ghosts moving among them and controlling the statues.

As Chang Sheng approached, they all stopped what they were doing, and hundreds of pairs of eyes filled with resentment turned to look at him.

Chang Sheng ignored them, smiling and nodding: "Thank you for your hard work, fellow believers."

"Chang Sheng..."

"You've finally met your match..."

Low, chilling words rose and fell, and a cold wind swept through the cave, causing the firelight to flicker and casting shadows on Chang Sheng's face.

He walked without stopping until he reached the deepest part, where he came to a undisturbed stone chamber with handprints left by the earthen golems digging on the walls.

The room was completely dark.

Chang Sheng walked straight in.

"suck--"

"call--"

Breathing sounds came from inside the room, as if they were right next to his ear, and the yin energy in the room rose and fell like waves with each breath.

Chang Sheng stepped into the darkness, knelt down, and showed respect and admiration on his face.

"Greetings, Master of Incense."

"suck--"

With a whoosh, the Yin energy was swallowed in one gulp, the darkness receded, and the lamp embedded in the wall began to shine.

Get up.

"Yes."

Chang Sheng stood up and bowed slightly.

"Look at me."

Chang Sheng readily accepted good advice and looked around.

The man before him was dressed as a Taoist priest, with a withered face and a complexion as pale as frost.

"You harbor resentment." The incense master's expression remained calm, his lips barely moving.

"I dare not. I was imprisoned, and the sect leader was able to intervene from afar, using magic to capture my soul and bring me back. This is already a great favor from heaven."

"You've spent too much time and energy on mortals," the sect leader said calmly. "How can you become an immortal, how can you achieve immortality if you can't renounce the mortal world?"

"I only want to accumulate strength as much as possible to contribute to my religion."

"Once you enter the mortal world, you will be tainted by its filth, and this will be your first calamity."