Becoming a Fox Spirit from Under One Person.

Anyone who uses golden light to protect their body can easily guess which school of Taoism it belongs to.

Li Muxuan thought to himself, the Golden Light Mantra is a protective method that is specifically designed to counter external disturbances. If he were to use "force" to drive rocks and withered branches to crash into them, they would be completely blocked by the golden light, making it a complete waste of effort.

He then subtly stirred his magnetic field around himself, without touching a single blade of grass or tree, and created two invisible "forces" that silently spread toward Zhang Zhiwei.

The "field" of "reversing all directions" ignores the spread of any medium and can only be avoided by relying on the clues within the field or the faint, distorted sense of force when the field approaches.

Once enveloped by the "field" and not escaped in time, the part inside the field will be distorted by the caster, which is not something that a simple golden light spell can stop.

A fierce glint flashed in Li Muxuan's eyes. Once these two "forces" gripped the damned Taoist's heart, he would make him kneel on the ground, crying and begging for his grandfather!

Swish!

Two streams of "force" moved like serpents.

Zhang Zhiwei sensed the distortion in the environment, spun around, bypassed the two "forces," and leaped in front of Li Muxuan at an unimaginable speed.

Snapped!

He pressed his broad palm against Li Muxuan's face, and angrily increased the force, grabbing his head and slamming it into the muddy ground of the dense forest in the suburbs.

boom!

The ground behind the wicked child cracked, revealing fine fissures. If he hadn't used his "strength" to protect the back of his head, he would have been knocked unconscious if not killed.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and fell on Zhang Zhiwei. Li Muxuan felt the sunlight was so intense that Zhang Zhiwei appeared as a dark shadow, a cold, majestic, and imposing mountain.

"So fast... Is it because of the Divine Speed ​​Armor? No, where did he just come from, Longhu Mountain? He traveled thousands of miles and then took me down in a few moves. Is he really someone of my generation?"

"No, is this even human?"

Li Muxuan struggled to keep his eyes open and caught a glimpse of Chen Ruoan on the Taoist's shoulder.

Yes, and that damn fox, why does it have such a foxy look with its eyes crinkled and its mouth turned up?

I was mocked by a fox who was "borrowing the tiger's power"...

Seeing that Zhang Zhiwei seemed to still have more to say, Chen Ruoan asked, "How did it feel?"

"Hmm, I've dealt with many disciples from prestigious sects, but I've never seen such an interesting little trick before."

"Reputable sects! Reputable sects! Again, reputable sects! What I despise most is the hypocrisy of you self-proclaimed righteous people!" Li Muxuan roared.

Chen Ruoan and Zhang Zhiwei watched with expressions of amusement as the child, stuck in the ground, raging helplessly.

"Fox, don't you think he looks like a vengeful fox spirit from 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio,' heartbroken and trying to trick others? Which righteous sect has hurt him so deeply?"

"Taoist priest, your most urgent task is to apologize to all the fox spirits and vengeful ghosts in the world. They're not so... awkward? strong-willed? sensitive? self-centered?"

After thinking it over, Chen Ruoan realized it was really difficult to define Li Muxuan.

"Judging from his deeds, he's a troublemaker. Well then, I'll cripple him." Zhang Zhiwei raised his palm, gathering his Qi, and bursts of lightning erupted from his palm.

The fearless and ruthless "Quanxing" evil child was genuinely afraid the moment lightning patterns flashed in his eyes.

When he was angry with Zuo Ruotong, Li Muxuan became Wang Yaozu's apprentice and inherited his skills. However, until Wang Yaozu died, Li Muxuan never called him "Master" a second time.

Now, the things we inherited from the old man are being taken away and returned?

"Then you might as well kill me!"

Li Muxuan emptied his Qi Sea and made a desperate gamble. He first used his strength to lift himself up, and then gathered and intertwined all the distorted "force" in the field, aiming straight for Zhang Zhiwei's chest.

Zhang Zhiwei simply retaliated with a palm strike.

Stab it!

As lightning flashed, Zhang Zhiwei sensed something amiss when he struck out with his palm. The direction of the "force" was not opposing the lightning in his palm, but rather increasing the speed of his strike in the same direction.

Li Muxuan took a solid blow, blood gushing from his mouth, his figure flying straight through the forest, smashing several trees in the process.

This powerful palm strike not only created a path for escape but also opened up a way out.

"Old Yuan, if you're nearby and want to join in the fun, lend a hand. Aren't you the best at escaping and saving your life?"

Several plumes of smoke exploded in the woods, and a figure quickly grabbed Li Muxuan and fled towards the western countryside.

Zhang Zhiwei lowered his rolled-up sleeves and said, "He's a ruthless person. I wonder what will happen when he strikes?"

"It's probably ruined."

Chen Ruoan raised her head slightly. The ill-fated relationship between Chen Ruoan and Li Muxuan had been completely wiped out by Zhang Zhiwei's interference. Even the karmic entanglement between the evil child and the beastly master Qin Fu had dissipated.

Given Li Muxuan's petty and vindictive nature, the fact that he didn't seek revenge later on likely means he lost the ability to do so.

The future can be changed, and even a tragic fate can be altered; that's good.

The fox became increasingly convinced that it would eventually be able to resolve its ill-fated relationship with Lu Jin.

Chapter 45 Zhang Zhiwei, I need your help with my cultivation.

Qin Fu thanked Chen Ruoan and Zhang Zhiwei for saving his life and wanted to discuss important matters and seek wealth with Fox. However, when he thought about the powerful people around Fox, he dejectedly gave up the idea.

The monkey trainer led the little saint in a bow, then bid farewell and headed east to continue collecting travel expenses at the bridgehead.

Chen Ruoan glanced at the armored horse on Zhang Zhiwei's legs, which featured a horse clad in armor and carrying a command flag on its back.

"The two places are thousands of miles apart, it's amazing that you came so quickly."

"It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early," Zhang Zhiwei replied. "So, are there any venues left for me to drink tea and listen to music?"

"Let's go." The fox didn't transform into human form; it simply pointed its paw towards the east.

Zhang Zhiwei shook his head helplessly and, just like when he traveled before, returned to the city with the fox on his head.

···

In the Chunfeng Deyilou restaurant, the private rooms face the street. On the stage downstairs, the opera "The Peony Pavilion: Strolling in the Garden" is being performed. The melodious singing of "The flowers are in full bloom" drifts in through the window. The tea master brings over several plates of exquisite tea and snacks. The Biluochun tea is brewed to perfection, and the steam curls up around the rim of the white porcelain cup.

"Few people in this world can enjoy life as much as a fox."

"You've been reduced to your original form. When will you be able to recover?" Zhang Zhiwei secretly glanced at the fox hiding under the table.

To be honest, I've never seen a fox transform into human form. I'd like to see if the fox has become a pedantic scholar.

"Wait, wait a moment." Chen Ruoan didn't want to immediately expose the lie she had just told.

When will the bruises on your face go down?

The fox was a little puzzled. Could it be that the future "top expert" couldn't even handle ordinary skin injuries?

Zhang Zhiwei sighed, "You're overthinking it. If the bruises on my face are gone, I'll get new ones when I go back to the mountain. This is what Master wants me to remember by leaving them on my face."

"Is Master Jingqing really that terrifying?"

Zhang Zhiwei backed down: "Giving me a few slaps would be too lenient. I should be thanking God that he didn't strike me with lightning!"

He leaned back in his chair, speaking with increasing exaggeration, gesturing with his hands: "A long time ago, a group of us fellow disciples committed a crime together, and he caught us red-handed. Good heavens, it was like we were struck by lightning!"

"Fox, your magic of summoning clouds and rain is indeed profound, but my master can also draw upon heavenly lightning. Tell me, what master is so heartless as to strike his disciple with five thunderbolts?"

As Chen Ruoan listened to Zhang Zhiwei's tragic account, he was thinking about something else entirely.

Back then, when Zhang Zhiwei and Zhang Huaiyi were practicing martial arts at night, a group of fellow disciples climbed over the wall to watch. Zhang Jingqing summoned heavenly lightning to intimidate the disciples, causing them to disperse in fear.

Speaking of which, besides the "Eight Extraordinary Techniques" and other strange and bizarre arts, there are also many wonderful methods in this world that are difficult to understand in ordinary ways.

Lei Fa is one of them.

The thunder magic of Longhu Mountain, though called the Five Thunders, is actually the Five Qi—

The core of Taoist practice lies in communicating with all things through the "Five Qi". Those skilled in cultivation believe that "Shen" manifests by relying on "Qi", and "Qi" is driven by "Shen".

If you can maintain a state where external distractions do not disturb your mind, and your inner obsessions do not scatter outwards, keeping your internal Qi peaceful and flowing smoothly, and returning to the origin of life, then whether you are walking, still, meditating, or lying down, you can let your Qi flow naturally like a gentle stream.

When this cultivated "righteous energy" is used in magic, it can resonate with the power of creation of heaven and earth through its own true strength.

A gentle "shh" can summon clouds and rain, a slight "hiss" can unleash thunder.

When the primordial spirit within the body is mobilized, it moves swiftly and unhindered; when suppressing evil spirits, ghosts and monsters are defeated without resistance.

With such cultivation, one can penetrate heaven and earth, traverse yin and yang, and all the changes in the world will be controlled by one "true self".

Chen Ruoan's thoughts continued to wander.

Thunder Magic - Drawing Heavenly Thunder - Five Thunderbolts Strike the Head - Thunder Tribulation!

"Zhang Zhiwei, I need your help with my cultivation!" Chen Ruoan jumped onto the table. Fortunately, the tea drinkers were all attracted by the music and no one noticed the fox in the private room.

"What wicked thoughts are you having now?"

"Think about it, if I successfully cross the threshold of my lifespan, I will then face a tribulation of lightning. The heavens don't know how heavy their blows are; what if they strike me and turn me into a charred mess?"

"so what?"

"You can use your thunder magic to summon heavenly lightning and pretend to strike me a few times. That'll be enough to help me get through the tribulation."

Zhang Zhiwei frowned, thinking that this fox was simply audacious.

Regardless of whether the methods for foxes to become immortals as recorded in ancient texts are correct, even if they could, such a practice of deceiving the heavens is still stealing heavenly secrets.

"To cultivate the complete Thunder Magic, one must take over the position of Celestial Master. Unfortunately, my junior brother is more talented than me in becoming a Celestial Master."

"Ok?"

Chen Ruoan was taken aback. Zhang Zhiwei and Zhang Huaiyi, these two fellow disciples, both believed that the other was more suitable for the position of Celestial Master.

Needless to say, Zhang Huaiyi believed that he could not surpass his senior brother in either cultivation or character; Zhang Zhiwei probably thought that his junior brother understood people better and was more capable of shouldering the future of Zhengyi.

"I've always been curious, do you want to become a Taoist master?" the fox asked.

"It's not a question of whether I want to or not, it's a question of whether it's appropriate or not."

"If you want to, but think you're not suitable, wouldn't that be going against your own heart?"

"When that time comes, I estimate I will make corresponding changes." Zhang Zhiwei lifted the teacup, carefully took a sip along the rim, and found it refreshing, mellow, and sweet.

The singing on the stage continued, and a tea server approached. The fox then scurried under the table again.

"If you become a Celestial Master, I'll have to trouble you with the tribulation in the future. If you don't become a Celestial Master, remember to do your cultivation on the talisman well, so that when I undergo my tribulation, you can pray to Heaven in advance."

You can also make a wish on the wishing tree's treasure slip, but Chen Ruoan is used to having double insurance and multiple protections, just in case.

"Alright, alright, I'll put in a good word for you later."

"However, when it comes to cultivation, one must be down-to-earth and proceed step by step. There are not many convenient paths to heaven."