The plank walkway swayed gently as Fox Master stepped onto it, with Su Tangxing following behind, gripping the ropes on either side.
“Don’t worry, you won’t fall.”
The fox’s mouth curled into a grin. “Even if you do, it’s fine. There are Spirit Beasts below—they won’t let you get hurt.”
This place seemed to be teeming with Spirit Beasts everywhere.
Su Tangxing asked what was in the water.
Fox Master replied, “An Xuan Gui. Want to take a look?”
Standing on the walkway, he called down, “Old turtle, come out and let my disciple see you.”
A massive dark shadow paused, and a head quietly emerged from the water’s surface.
Xuan Gui, with a bird-like head and a snake-like tail, spoke in human language, “Your disciple?”
“That’s right, my new one. If she ever opens the gate and calls for you in the future, you must not refuse.”
Xuan Gui said, “Understood.”
Its dark eyes turned to Su Tangxing, studying her for a moment as if memorizing her face.
Once satisfied, it sank back into the depths.
When Xianju disciples open the Gate of Ten Thousand Beasts to summon Spirit Beasts for aid, the Spirit Beasts on the other side have the right to refuse.
If their affinity is insufficient and no Spirit Beast is willing to come, they might only manage to summon an empty, desolate gate.
That would be truly awkward.
Fox Master leisurely continued forward, with Su Tangxing following closely behind his tail.
After traversing the long plank walkway, they entered Wushi Mountain.
Following the mountain path upward, behind the fox statue at the mountain’s peak stood a grand hall. Built with Spirit Stones and paved with white jade, its towering doors were adorned with intricate patterns that no human strength could open.
Fox Master extended a single finger, its black tip lightly pressing forward, and the massive doors swung open on their own.
“This is our treasure vault. Come, extend your hand. Master will give you the key.”
Su Tangxing stretched out her left hand, and the claw tip touched the pad of her index finger. A small flower, identical to the one on the door, spun briefly before disappearing into her skin.
“From now on, if you lack anything, come and take it yourself.”
Upon entering, the dazzling glow of Spirit Stones made Su Tangxing squint. Magical Artifacts, Magical Treasures, and Spirit Stones of all kinds lined the shelves, making the place resemble a massive parcel sorting station.
“Go pick your own initiation gift. Take whatever you like.”
Fox Master leaned back against the door, casually picking up an object and tossing it in his hand.
Su Tangxing wandered inside, her eyes overwhelmed by the sight. She didn’t lack much else.
The seniors had already given her plenty—Medicinal Pills, Artifact Refining materials, an Alchemy Furnace. Unsure of what she currently needed, she finally settled on a small sapling.
“What kind of tree is this sapling?”
Tiankuang looked at the plant held up before his eyes. “You want this?”
Su Tangxing hummed in agreement. “I want to plant a big tree beside my house so I can enjoy the shade in the summer.”
“…Shade? That might be a bit difficult.” Fox Master gave a peculiar smile. “Well, go ahead and plant it. If you can keep it alive, I’ll tell you what kind of tree it is.”
It seemed this was no ordinary tree.
Su Tangxing asked, “What if it dies? Is that okay?”
“It’s fine. Take it. Don’t want anything else?”
“No, that’s all.”
Fox Master handed over the object he had been toying with. “Take this too. Consider it a gift from your Martial Uncle.”
Su Tangxing thanked her Martial Uncle and took it, turning it over in her hands.
It was a fist-sized red sphere, cold to the touch, like a dormant heart.
“This is…”
With unparalleled forging skills, Su Tangxing recognized many Artifact Refining materials. She had even crafted something like this before. This was,
“The heart of the puppet.”
“The puppet is over there. Go and make it recognize its master.”
In the corner stood a tall, silent figure holding a long spear, clad in black armor, with a pale skeletal face beneath its helmet.
“A top-grade celestial puppet, enough to keep you safe.”
Su Tangxing nodded.
A top-grade celestial puppet—that would be enough to get the job done.
She dripped her blood onto the heart, watching as the crimson spread. The heart seemed to come alive, pulsing once in her palm.
Beneath the armor was a skeleton, its chest hollowed out in a perfectly shaped cavity. The moment she slotted the heart inside, she felt a connection form between herself and the puppet.
No flesh or blood grew, but a dark flame ignited within the hollow depths of its eyes.
The puppet came to life, silently awaiting orders.
There was no elaborate initiation ceremony—just a simple offering of tea. No tuition fees were paid; she simply received gifts from her Master and Martial Uncle.
The process was even simpler than in a game.
In games, players had to go down the mountain to hunt and gather, offering their master wild boar meat and berries.
Earlier, the Sect Leader had hesitated for a long time, also raising questions about the initiation process.
Normally, one would first pay respects to the sect’s founder, perform three kneelings and nine prostrations, recite the sect rules, and receive a bestowed name.
But the Fox Master simply said, “I am your founder. Who else is there to worship? I don’t remember the sect rules. You can explain them to her later. As for bestowing a name, forget it. Doesn’t she already have one?”
Su Tangxing nodded. “My name is Su Tangxing, taken from the line, ‘A flourishing shade of pear blossoms, may the auspicious star shine upon the southern land.'”
The Fox Master praised, “Not bad.”
The Sect Leader still had reservations. Tiankuang knew exactly what he was thinking and leaned closer to Su Tangxing, looking directly into her eyes.
Su Tangxing gazed into the fox’s eyes, where the mismatched pupils narrowed into sharp slits. As she watched, her mind went blank, her thoughts drifting for a moment until Tiankuang withdrew her gaze.
“She is not a great villain,” she heard Tiankuang say. “No need to worry.”
The Sect Leader explained to her, “Please do not take offense, Grand Martial Aunt. While talent is important when accepting disciples, character is paramount.”
Being called “Grand Martial Aunt” by an ethereal-looking old man made Su Tangxing slightly uncomfortable, but she didn’t dwell on it.
In the game’s storyline, the Taiyi Sword Sect once had a prodigy who betrayed the sect, causing widespread devastation for personal gain.
All major sects took this as a cautionary tale, and since then, “questioning the heart and character” had become part of the disciple acceptance process.
Su Tangxing wouldn’t claim to be of high moral character, but she certainly wouldn’t commit murder or arson without reason.
She just didn’t know how much these two fox founders had seen within her—whether they had glimpsed the game system.
The puppet followed silently behind her. Though large in stature, it moved without a sound.
Like a spectral bodyguard, ghostly flames flickered in its skeletal eyes.
Wherever Su Tangxing went, it followed.
Su Tangxing walked behind her Master, with the puppet trailing behind her, the two of them resembling another set of tails for the Fox Master.
“Master,” she said, holding a sapling in her arms and a grass-woven rabbit in her right hand, looking up at Tiankuang. “Did you see anything strange about me?”
“I did,” Tiankuang replied. “But it wasn’t very clear. That’s your personal opportunity.”
“Not ‘if they are not of our kind, their hearts must be different’?”
Tiankuang scoffed. “The world is vast and full of wonders, with countless opportunities. It’s not so narrow-minded as to reject even this. Do you think your Master is that petty?”
Su Tangxing didn’t know her well enough to respond and remained silent.
Since the two founding masters of Xianju did not intend to delve into her origins, she could now settle here with peace of mind.
Given that she did not yet have her own Cultivation Cave, Tiankuang let her choose a location.
“Your Martial Uncle has several portable Cultivation Caves. Pick whichever you like.”
Su Tangxing thought it wouldn’t be proper to keep taking from her Martial Uncle, so she carefully examined each one before making a choice.
None were particularly to her aesthetic taste, but as there were no other suitable options at the moment, she selected one for temporary residence.
Once her Cultivation Base improved, she would use her masterful forging skills to build one she truly loved.
“And that boy, that Rong something. I don’t want to see him. I leave him to you. Only when you are satisfied will I lift the Calamity Curse on him.”
Su Tangxing replied, “Understood.”