136: Something unusual must be going on.

Lu Yi's words, though harsh, were the blunt truth that hit the nail on the head.

In the Seven-Tailed Celestial Fox's giant golden pupils, a flash of offended anger first flickered.

But in just an instant, that anger dissipated like mist, turning into deep helplessness and sorrow.

"Hu..."

The terrifying pressure that loomed over everyone's hearts like a heavy mountain slowly receded like a tide.

The giant fox let out a heavy and desolate sigh.

It slowly lowered its massive head.

Behind it, a giant, fluffy tail carefully reached forward.

With an incredibly gentle motion, it curled up the tiny, dying white fox that was huddled between its two paws.

It lowered its head and used its moist nose to gently nuzzle the little fox's head.

The gesture was filled with infinite love and reluctance, as if it were touching the most precious treasure in the world.

"Wu..."

Sensing its mother's scent, the little fox barely managed to open its eyes a crack.

It let out a whimper as faint as a mosquito's buzz, stuck out its tiny pink tongue, and affectionately nuzzled its mother's nose.

"Human, you are right."

Just then.

A melodious, gentle woman's voice, yet one laced with heavy fatigue and weakness, rang out directly in the minds of Lu Yi, Chu Qianqian, and Yun Mu.

The Seven-Tailed Celestial Fox did not speak aloud; instead, she communicated directly through Divine Thought transmission.

"This seat is an ancient remnant, barely surviving in this world."

"Only because I encountered a great catastrophe in my early years and was severely injured, my Origin has long been damaged. Although I have used this Jade Lake Secret Realm to linger on until now, I ultimately cannot defy destiny."

"Now that my old injuries have flared up and my Origin is completely exhausted, my end is near."

Though her voice was calm, it held an indifference that came from seeing through life and death:

"My death is not worth pitying. Only... I cannot stop worrying about this sole Bloodline."

As she spoke, she raised her head, and her golden eyes, filled with wisdom and scrutiny, swept over the three 'intruders' before her one by one.

Her gaze carried undisguised vigilance and distrust.

Although this place was isolated from the world, anyone capable of entering was certainly not simple.

As a Yao Beast who had lived for countless ages, she knew well the greed and cunning of humans.

She feared that after her death, her child would become Materials for these humans to refine Medicinal Pills, or be enslaved as a Spirit Beast without any dignity.

Hearing this, Yun Mu, standing to the side, felt his heart begin to throb violently, pounding loudly.

In his mind, he was rapidly flipping through memories of his past life:

"I remember now! In my past life, there were indeed rumors in the Heavenly Profound Realm that a juvenile Celestial Fox had appeared! So its Origin was actually here!"

Yun Mu looked at the dying little white fox, the fervor in his eyes almost ready to gush out:

"This is a Celestial Fox cub! If I can cultivate it from a young age and establish a contract, it will definitely be a combat power that cannot be underestimated in the future!"

Thinking of this, Yun Mu could no longer hold back.

He immediately took a step forward, getting ahead of everyone else.

His face was filled with sincerity, kindness, and a sense of justice; even his eyes turned red at the right moment as he cried out with a choked voice:

"Senior! This Junior has loved Spirit Beasts since childhood and cannot bear to see living beings suffer."

"Furthermore, the Cultivation Technique this Junior practices is gentle and mellow, most suitable for nurturing a young beast with such Innate deficiencies."

As he spoke, he held up three fingers and made a solemn oath:

"This Junior is willing to make a Heavenly Dao oath!"

"If Senior is willing to entrust this little fellow to me, I will surely treat it as my own, caring for it meticulously, and will never let it suffer the slightest grievance! Much less treat it as a servant!"

These words were spoken with earnestness and were deeply moving.

In his view, his acting this time was a perfect score; this Celestial Fox cub was as good as his!

However, after hearing this display of loyalty, the Seven-Tailed Celestial Fox did not show much excitement.

She only gave Yun Mu a faint look, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Then, she slowly turned her head and looked with her golden eyes at Lu Yi, who was standing on the other side.

After all, among the three people present, the one she could see through the least was this man who had remained indifferent throughout.

Just as Yun Mu thought Lu Yi would also compete like him, and had even prepared a bellyful of arguments and moral kidnapping rhetoric...

Lu Yi made a move that no one expected.

He said nonchalantly:

"Why are you looking at me? I have no interest at all in things like raising children."

He glanced at the little fox that was still nursing and shrugged:

"I have no confidence in keeping such a tiny thing alive; I'm the kind of person who fears trouble the most."

After saying that, he pointed to the expectant Yun Mu beside him and said casually:

"Since he wants it so much, just give it to him..."

The entire area went silent.

This single sentence completely stunned both the person and the fox present.

Even the dying little fox seemed to daze for a moment, stopping its whimpering.

"Hiss—!"

Chu Qianqian really couldn't hold back anymore and gave Lu Yi a hard pinch.

She leaned into Lu Yi's ear and said in a low, frustrated voice:

"Hey! Are you crazy?! That's a Celestial Fox cub! A future Great Yao King! And you're complaining about trouble?!"

On the other side, Yun Mu was first stunned, then ecstatic!

He mocked wildly in his heart:

"Simply foolish beyond belief! This is a Celestial Fox with immense potential! You actually find it troublesome? Do you think you'd have to scoop its poop or something?"

"But that's perfect! With one less competitor, this shocking Opportunity is mine alone!"

Just as Yun Mu was already beginning to celebrate his victory in his heart...

"..."

The Seven-Tailed Celestial Fox did not immediately choose to entrust her child to Yun Mu because of Lu Yi's rejection.

On the contrary, her eyes, filled with the wisdom of ages, began to look back and forth between the 'overly enthusiastic' Yun Mu and the 'completely indifferent' Lu Yi.

In fact, her gaze lingered on Lu Yi for even longer.

As the saying goes, when things are unusual, there must be a demon. As a member of the Fox Race known for their cunning, suspicion, and wisdom...

She instinctively felt that Yun Mu's urgent enthusiasm was too deliberate, with too much utilitarianism and greed hidden deep in his eyes.

That oath to 'treat it as his own' sounded too fake.

Whereas Lu Yi's attitude of completely not caring, even showing a hint of disdain...

Instead gave her a... strange sense of reality?

Or perhaps, only someone truly powerful enough to not need external help and who had absolute self-confidence would be dismissive of a Celestial Fox cub.

Such a person, though cold, was often the most disdainful of lying and cheating.

The Seven-Tailed Celestial Fox did not make a decision immediately.

She took a deep look at Lu Yi, then at the smiling Yun Mu, whose neck was stretched out in anticipation.

Finally, she cast her gaze toward the incredibly weak child in her embrace.

In her eyes, she fell into a long period of contemplation and inner conflict.

As time passed, the smile on Yun Mu's face gradually began to grow stiff.

An extremely ominous premonition began to rise from the depths of his heart.