Chapter 10 Nine-Tailed White Fox

"Steward Ma, why perform such a grand gesture?"

"Why don't you open your eyes and take another look?"

This voice...

Ma Datou's body stiffened as he tremblingly raised his head.

His gaze swept past the flowing cloud-patterned hem and the top-grade Storage Ring, finally settling on that familiar face.

Under the moonlight,

Gu Heng stood with his hands behind his back, a slight smile on his lips.

"Gu... Gu Heng?!"

Ma Datou's pupils constricted suddenly,

"How... how can it be you?!"

"Is it that strange?"

Gu Heng spoke indifferently and reached out his hand.

*Whoosh—*

A neatly folded white brocade robe appeared out of thin air in his palm.

Then it drifted down onto the table.

"The clothes are washed. Though it's a bit late, they are finally returned to their original owner."

Gu Heng looked at the dazed Ma Datou and said calmly, "The two of us are even now."

Even?

Ma Datou looked at the white robe, then at the high-and-mighty Gu Heng, his heart pounding violently.

He was no fool; to have reached the position of a steward in the Outer Sect, he relied on his ability to read people.

Since Gu Heng possessed such terrifying cultivation, crushing him would be easier than crushing an ant. Yet he hadn't raised a hand; instead, he came to return the clothes and said they were "even."

What did this mean?

It meant that this hidden big shot didn't even care about a small figure like him!

Gu Heng indeed had no killing intent.

He killed either for self-preservation or to eliminate trouble. Although Ma Datou usually loved taking small advantages and had a bit of a sharp tongue, he had brought Gu Heng into the Sect during his most destitute times.

He had indeed provided him with a livelihood, allowing him to survive for a while in this cruel world of cultivation.

"Gu... No! Senior Gu!" Ma Datou kowtowed on the ground. "Senior is truly magnanimous!"

He hurriedly spoke, "Before, this lowly one was blind and offended a True God! I will never forget Senior's mercy in sparing my life! If Senior needs anything in the future, just give the word; I will go through water and fire without hesitation!"

Saying this, he glanced at the white robe on the table and waved his hands frantically. "And this white robe... how could this rag be worthy of Senior's touch? I don't want it anymore! Just treat it as a rag to wipe Senior's shoes!"

Gu Heng looked at Ma Datou, who was kneeling and weeping bitterly, and gently shook his head.

Such was human nature: bullying the weak while fearing the strong.

When you are weak, your kindness is seen as weakness; when you are strong, your casual charity is seen as a divine blessing.

"I'm leaving."

Gu Heng said nothing more, turned around, and took a step forward.

His figure instantly transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the vast night.

It wasn't until that suffocating pressure completely disappeared that the chirping of insects in the small courtyard resumed.

Ma Datou slumped on the ground, gasping for breath. The cold sweat on his back felt chilly as the night breeze blew over it.

"My goodness..."

He wiped the sweat from his face, his heart filled with emotion. "Thank goodness I didn't completely offend him to death that night... Thank goodness Senior Gu is magnanimous, otherwise, even with a hundred lives, I wouldn't have enough to die!"

Feeling guilty, he kowtowed three more times in the direction where Gu Heng had disappeared.

"Respectfully seeing off Senior!"

...

After leaving Handyman Peak,

Gu Heng restrained his aura and strolled along the Sect's mountain paths like a leisurely Young Master.

At this time,

There was only half a quarter-hour left before the banquet began.

The reason he made a special trip to return the item to Ma Datou wasn't because Gu Heng was being fastidious, but because he believed in finishing what he started.

Cultivating immortality is cultivating the heart.

The causes one sows will eventually bear fruit.

Rather than letting this insignificant Karma become a Heart Demon or an obstacle in the future, it was better to settle it now.

"Settling a worldly matter certainly makes one feel much more refreshed."

Gu Heng stretched, looked at the brightly lit main peak ahead, and quickened his pace.

Just as he passed a temporary guest hall of Wan Shou Valley within the Qingyun Sect.

[Ding!]

In his mind, the System notification suddenly sounded.

[Special high-value target detected passing by!]

[Target: Ancient Bloodline · Nine-Tailed White Fox (Juvenile).]

[Rarity: Red (Extremely Rare).]

[Status: Sealed, being transported as a gift.]

[Judgment Result: Distance too far (out of passing range), and there is a special isolation Formation; passing failed.]

Gu Heng's footsteps paused.

"Nine-Tailed White Fox?"

His brows rose slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Red rarity?

This was the first time he had seen a red-level target since obtaining the System!

This fox has something special about it.

"I remember now..."

A scene from the Guanyun Platform appeared in Gu Heng's mind.

At that time, the Young Valley Master of Wan Shou Valley seemed to want to give this spirit fox to Lin Qingyue as a pet to win her favor.

"So it's that fox."

Gu Heng stroked his chin and looked toward the brightly lit guest hall.

Meanwhile.

Inside the guest hall, the atmosphere was lively.

The Elders and Disciples of Wan Shou Valley were busy working.

"Everyone, be careful! This is the Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox that the Young Valley Master went through immense hardships to capture from the Far North Ice Field!"

An Elder shouted, "This spirit fox has a noble Bloodline and is an ancient species. Once it grows up, it can even rival a great demon of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage! Tonight at the banquet, the Young Valley Master will personally present it to Fairy Lin Qingyue. If anything goes wrong, can you take the responsibility?"

"Yes!"

The Disciples carefully carried a golden cage covered with a red cloth.

The cage was only three feet in size, covered with runes. Inside, a small snow-white thing curled up in a corner, shivering.

"Although this spirit fox is precious, it's also a hot potato."

The Elder murmured to himself, "It has a fierce temperament and is hard to tame. Moreover, it seems to involve some Karma with the Yao Race of the Far North... However, once it's given to Fairy Lin, it will be Piaomiao Palace's business and have nothing to do with our Wan Shou Valley."

"Depart! To the Guest Welcoming Hall!"

...

On the mountain path outside the hall.

Gu Heng withdrew his gaze and shook his head.

"Fortunately, the 'passing' didn't succeed."

He didn't feel any regret; instead, he let out a sigh of relief, a look of disdain appearing on his face.

"Damn it, I can barely protect myself. If I end up with a burden like this by my side, would I have to scoop its poop and feed it too?"

Are you kidding me!

Although he now had Soul Transformation cultivation, he was still not enough in the eyes of the real big shots. Since this Nine-Tailed Fox was of red rarity, it must involve a lot, and maybe a bunch of old monsters are looking for it.

If I 'passed' it, wouldn't that be inviting trouble?

"This kind of blessing should be left for that rich woman Lin Qingyue to enjoy."

Gu Heng curled his lip. "I'd rather kick it far away to avoid getting involved in its Karma."

He glanced at the System panel.

[Current Passing Points: 1/6]

"One last time..."

Gu Heng calculated in his heart, "I don't know what will be automatically triggered later. I won't add more points until I've used this up."

After all, although this System was powerful, it was also somewhat uncontrollable.

Who knows if the System will make him 'pass' some strange things?

If, during the banquet, he 'passed' some female Disciple's 'undergarment,' the scene would be too much to imagine.

"Strolling through the Sect, hey, having Soul Transformation cultivation but just not flying, just playing around."

Gu Heng straightened his collar; he wanted to make a timed entrance!

That feeling of acting cool by arriving late after everyone else has already gathered is the essence of a banquet.

...

Qingyun Sect, Guest Welcoming Hall.

Hundreds of tables were set with rare Spirit Fruits and jade nectar, their fragrance filling the air.

The Elders and True Disciples of the Qingyun Sect, as well as representatives from various major Sects, were already seated.

At the head table.

Sect Master Ye Wentian of the Qingyun Sect was smiling and exchanging pleasantries with the various factions.

Beside him sat an unremarkable-looking old man.

The presence of this old man made all the important figures present sit up straight, not daring to breathe loudly.

Old Ancestor Qingxuan!

This legendary powerhouse of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage actually attended the banquet in person!

And at the head of the guest seats.

Lin Qingyue wore a long white dress, looking as cold and aloof as a Fairy from the Moon Palace.

However, at this moment, the Fairy's face was somewhat pale, and her eyes seemed a bit depressed.

Those missing Spirit Stones were equivalent to more than half of her fortune!

If only she had known not to carry so many on her!

She picked up her wine cup and took a sip; the Spirit Wine that usually tasted sweet now felt incredibly bitter.

"Niece Lin."

At this time,

Ye Wentian seemed to notice her mood and spoke gently, "You don't look well. Is something on your mind?"

Lin Qingyue put down her wine cup and forced a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Sect Master Ye. This Junior is just... just a bit overwhelmed by the wine."

"Hehe."

Ye Wentian's gaze was profound.

He had long since surmised that Niece Lin had lost something.

"She really did lose her Spirit Stones."

Ye Wentian thought to himself, "Alas, poor thing... to lose such wealth at such a young age."

He comforted her, saying, "Worldly possessions come and go. Sometimes, loss is also a form of cultivation. If the old doesn't go, the new won't come."

Hearing this, Lin Qingyue felt even more bitter.

Easy for you to say! Converted to Low-Grade Spirit Stones, that's over two hundred million! Why don't you try losing that much, Sect Master Ye?

At this moment.

Various factions stepped forward one after another to toast Old Ancestor Qingxuan.

"Greetings, Old Ancestor Qingxuan! May your immortal blessings be everlasting and your life be as long as the heavens!"

"Old Ancestor's Divine Might is unrivaled; you are the stabilizing force of our East Province!"

Facing everyone's flattery, Old Ancestor Qingxuan merely nodded, still thinking about that chess move.

His hand was tucked into his sleeve, fingering a black chess piece.

"Five-in-a-Row... how on earth do I break that double-three situation?"

"If I play here... no, it'll be blocked. If I play there..."

His brows were tightly knit, and his gaze was distant.

If it weren't for the crowd and the need to maintain the Sect's dignity, he would have wanted to pull out the chessboard and drag Ye Wentian into another game.

*Cough, cough.*

Seeing the Old Ancestor spacing out, Ye Wentian quickly coughed twice.

He looked around and asked loudly, "Has everyone from the various factions arrived? And what about our Sect's Elders and Disciples?"

The Elder in charge of welcoming guests stepped forward. "Reporting to the Sect Master, the representatives of all major Sects are seated. Our Sect's Inner Sect Elders and True Disciples have also arrived."

Ye Wentian nodded, his gaze sweeping over the audience.

"Good, everyone is here. The timing is perfect! Then..."

He was just about to announce the start of the banquet.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed.

"Hmm? No, one person is still missing?"

His gaze fell on an empty seat to the side.

This seat was one he had specifically ordered to be reserved for that Utility Disciple.

The whole hall fell silent.

The group looked at each other in bewilderment.，Everyone is wondering who dared to do this.，How dare he make the sect leader and the patriarch wait for him?？

At this moment,

At the entrance of the Guest Welcoming Hall,

A slender figure in white slowly stepped over the threshold.

A voice then sounded, echoing throughout the hall.

"What a coincidence, the timing is just right!"