The Leisurely Immortal Abode occupied the entire Fox-Fu Mountain Range, stretching over a hundred thousand li, with numerous peaks and secluded valleys.
The terrain was highly undulating, named for its resemblance to a crouching fox.
The disciples resided on the back of the fox, near the dining hall and training grounds. Since Lin Xiangqing could not easily use spiritual power, he took Su Tangxing on a Heavenly Horse.
The Xianju raised many spirit beasts, and the Heavenly Horses were used to transport junior disciples.
They looked like large white dogs but had black heads, a pair of large wings on their backs, and a gentle temperament. They would fly over when a whistle was blown.
Lin Xiangqing took a brand-new ceramic whistle from his pouch and handed it to Su Tangxing, teaching her: “This is a Heavenly Horse. It will come when you blow the whistle. You can tell it your destination, and as long as it’s within the sect’s boundaries, it will find its way without getting lost.”
He had arrived on a Heavenly Horse himself. That horse hadn’t left after being given to someone else; it was outside the door, lowering its head to graze on grass. Lin Xiangqing approached, his cool fingers stroking the horse’s mane, encouraging: “Junior Sister, you try it too.”
Su Tangxing blew the whistle.
Soon, a small black dot gradually approached.
In the game, she had only found the Heavenly Horse convenient and fast for traveling and completing tasks, never thinking the creature was cute.
Now, standing face-to-face, she wasn’t even as tall as the horse.
The Heavenly Horse lowered its head, looking at her with big, wet, dog-like eyes, and obediently crouched down to make it easier for Su Tangxing to reach it.
She stood on tiptoe, imitating Lin Xiangqing by slipping her fingers into the horse’s thick yet smooth mane.
These Heavenly Horses were meticulously cared for by the Xianju disciples, clean and odorless, warmed by the sun and radiating a gentle heat.
Su Tangxing leaned her head against it, feeling its warmth.
Lin Xiangqing smiled along with her, asking softly: “Do you like it?”
“I do!”
The Heavenly Horse’s wings were folded against its back. Su Tangxing avoided them as she climbed up and sat down, then turned to ask Lin Xiangqing: “Senior Brother, where are we going?”
The Heavenly Horse stood up. Lin Xiangqing said: “To the main peak. Master wants to see you.”
The main peak was on the fox’s back, but the tallest structure wasn’t there. It was on the fox’s head.
Before dismounting from the Heavenly Horse, they could still see two enormous statues in the distance.
They were shaped like foxes.
One seated, one standing.
The one on the left had nine tails spread out behind it, sitting upright with its head held high, facing the sky, its fox eyes looking down with disdain.
The one on the right had one fewer tail. Its eight tails danced wildly, its front paws slightly raised, its head tilted slightly as if listening, with a faint, enigmatic smile.
“These are our sect’s founders, Tian Zhao and Tiankuang. They just awakened from seclusion yesterday.”
Su Tangxing nodded, recalling in her mind.
Did the Leisurely Immortal Abode have these two in the game?
She hadn’t heard of them.
So, which one was the game’s surprise?
When she had explored the Leisurely Immortal Abode in the game, she hadn’t seen any peaks there either. She remembered that area was still an unopened zone in the game, with a gray, hazy barrier preventing approach.
Going further would just hit an invisible wall.
…
The spirit beasts in the Leisurely Immortal Abode were usually free-range. Passing by other peaks, they could see disciples coming and going on Heavenly Horses and spirit beasts strolling leisurely.
Upon landing on the main peak, they saw a water buffalo leisurely grazing nearby.
It was large and stout, with hard, smooth skin and short, thick legs.
The knee-high, lush green grass was reserved for this buffalo to graze freely. Hearing the noise, it raised its head and stared blankly, a half-eaten stalk of grass still in its mouth.
“How did you get here? Where are your calves?”
Lin Xiangqing walked over and patted its horns.
The water buffalo glanced at them, and seeing no danger, flicked its tail and continued chewing.
“It seems it wandered out on its own,” Lin Xiangqing said. “It gave birth a few days ago but refused to care for its calf. We had to let other disciples help raise it.”
Just then, a small water calf came running up from the slope below, frolicking at a swift pace.
But its four hooves were still uncoordinated, each moving independently, causing it to stumble and wobble as it charged forward.
A disciple followed closely behind, shouting, “Don’t run, don’t run! Be careful not to slip!”
Upon reaching the slope and seeing them, the disciple hurriedly said, “Eldest Senior Brother.”
Startled by the people, the calf splayed its legs.
Su Tangxing reached out.
Lin Xiangqing was quicker, using his Spiritual Power to support it, preventing it from truly falling.
The calf was steadied and stood upright, then ran straight toward its mother.
Seeing it nuzzle under the belly, it was likely hungry.
The disciple held up a bottle and said, “There’s milk here, there’s milk here.”
The calf ignored him, nestling under its mother to drink.
Water buffaloes usually give birth to only one calf at a time, with twins being rare. The lactation period lasts six to nine months.
This buffalo had only one offspring, and because it was well cared for in the Leisurely Immortal Abode with ample nutrition, it produced plenty of milk. Even after the calf finished drinking, there was still some left.
Once full, the calf began running around again, and the disciple hurriedly chased after it with the bottle.
Lin Xiangqing looked at the calf, then at Su Tangxing, and said, “Our sect sits atop a spiritual vein, rich in Spiritual Qi. Even just grazing on the grass here, the milk produced by the buffalo is more nutritious than that from outside. Why don’t you drink some too, Junior Sister?”
Su Tangxing: “Huh?”
Lin Xiangqing smiled and asked the buffalo, “My junior sister is still young. Let her drink milk alongside your calf to nourish her body, alright?”
Water buffaloes don’t moo like cattle; their vocalizations are more like a low “mm.”
Su Tangxing couldn’t tell if this was an agreement, but the next day, when she followed Lin Xiangqing to milk the buffalo, it didn’t kick them.
Now, Lin Xiangqing was still speaking to the buffalo: “Good, thank you.”
Su Tangxing asked, “Senior Brother, can you understand the language of Spirit Beasts?”
Lin Xiangqing had just used his Spiritual Power, and now his lips were slightly pale. He covered his mouth and coughed lightly twice, assuming a thoughtful expression: “Hmm… perhaps I can?”
“If Junior Sister talks to it more, you might understand too.”
Su Tangxing looked at him skeptically.
Was that true or not?
Lin Xiangqing couldn’t hold back a smile, ruffling Su Tangxing’s head. “Just teasing you. Although it has spiritual intelligence, it can only understand simple commands. Anything else, it still can’t comprehend.”
Even in summer, his hands were somewhat cool, though his movements were gentle.
The senior brother’s brows relaxed. “Let’s go. Master is still waiting for you.”
Su Tangxing thought he had forgotten.
The Sect Leader was waiting, yet he still had the leisure to chat with the buffalo.
Upon entering the hall, she realized it wasn’t just the Sect Leader waiting.
Two figures sat at the head of the hall, with the Sect Leader accompanying them on the side.
Seeing them finally enter, the Sect Leader beckoned: “Come quickly, pay respects to the two Ancestors.”
“You child, why didn’t you bring your junior sister in sooner?”
The Sect Leader only said this, his tone carrying no hint of reproach.
The two figures sat at the head, one on the left and one on the right.
The one on the left had an indistinct face, visible only as a mist-like silhouette.
Dressed in an upper garment and lower skirt, the black robe was edged with gold and red, exuding a noble and imposing aura.
The one on the right had a clear face, wearing robes of the same color but with tightened cuffs, appearing much more neat and simple.
Compared to the dignified and steady presence of the one on the left, this one seemed sharper and more unrestrained.
Judging by his figure alone, it was clear he must be a handsome man.
But…
Su Tangxing’s gaze lingered on his neck for two seconds before looking up again.
Only, because of the Ancestor, what rested atop the neck was not a human head.
Instead, it was a crimson fox head.