Wild Fox Worshiping at the Temple

It wasn't long before a light rain began to fall from the sky.

When he arrived at the Front Hall, Li Chu was surprised to find a pilgrim who had arrived early already prostrating there.

It was slender, with pure white fur, and lying there like a fluffy ball of snow. Its front paws were clasped together beneath its head, its eyes closed as if praying for something.

The one kneeling before the Three Pure Ancestors in the hall was actually a wild fox.

Li Chu didn't disturb it.

Beasts with spirit should be treated equally.

After a long while, the White Fox opened its eyes. Its large, gentle, and bright eyes looked at Li Chu, revealing a trace of gratitude.

Li Chu nodded to it.

Seeing that Li Chu didn't pay it any mind, the White Fox relaxed. It got up, spread its paws open devoutly, and then earnestly bowed its head.

It repeated this, three bows and nine kowtows.

After finishing its worship, it looked at Li Chu deeply one last time before turning to leave. Its thick tail trailed behind it, but its movements were exceptionally agile. In just a few moments, it darted away and disappeared, like a streak of white light.

The courtyard was muddy from the rain, but it passed through nimbly, without a speck of mud staining its fur.

Although Li Chu found it novel, he had seen many strange and peculiar things during this time, so he wasn't too surprised.

At lunchtime, he mentioned this to Yu Qi'an.

"A wild fox worshiping at the temple. It seems it's on the verge of transforming. It came to ask the Three Pure Ancestors for blessings. You'll probably see it every day from now on," Yu Qi'an said leisurely.

Transformation was the first major hurdle for Demons and Monsters on their path of cultivation. Without transforming, they would forever remain mountain spirits and wild beasts, their bodies subject to the heavens' protection.

They had to undergo the baptism of a Heavenly Tribulation and successfully transform before they could conceal their Demonic Qi and take on a human form.

Humans were the most intelligent of all beings, and cultivating in a human body offered many benefits.

"Is it okay?"

"It dared to come and worship the Three Pure Ones, which means it's a righteous demon. It hasn't committed any evil acts of harming people. Let it be. If it successfully transforms in the future and is friendly to humans, it will be a merit for us."

"It's not easy for demons to transform," Yu Qi'an sighed.

Some demons inherently lacked spiritual intelligence, such as those born from plants, mountains, and rocks. They might take thousands of years to get an opportunity to transform.

However, the Fox Clan was naturally spiritual and could transform within a hundred years.

But similarly, the risk of facing a Heavenly Tribulation would greatly increase.

At least fifty percent of demons would die in the Heavenly Tribulation during their transformation.

So, the mountains and wilds have always been full of demons and monsters that have persisted for many years without shedding their original forms. They just don't dare to undergo the Thunder Tribulation. But without transforming, their realms are blocked, and they can't increase their lifespan.

Those who accept the Heavenly Tribulation usually find some connections to increase their chances of success.

Like praying to Buddha in temples or gods in Daoist Temples, these are common paths. They might increase a sliver of good fortune, but they can't play a decisive role.

Some demon creatures, in order to successfully transform, will join immortal sects or follow powerful beings.

Demons and monsters protected by sects or powerful beings will receive much support when undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation, and their chances of success will greatly increase.

As the saying goes, "It's good to have a big tree to lean on for shade."

Among the Twelve Immortal Sects, there is a specific Bestowal Sect, which recruits demons and monsters using ancient inheritance methods of bestowal.

Demons and monsters bestowed by Qi Refiners have a success rate of up to eighty percent in passing the tribulation.

But the conditions of the Bestowal Sect are extremely harsh. Any demon or monster wishing to be bestowed must sign a blood pact and serve as a slave in the sect for a hundred years after transforming. Only then can they be free.

Most of the Demon Race are born and raised naturally, preferring a life of freedom and unrestraint. However, to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation, countless have gone to serve the Bestowal Sect as slaves, which shows how great the attraction of transformation is to demons and monsters.

It was continuously raining, and not many people would come to the Daoist Temple—in fact, not many people came even on sunny days.

Yu Qi'an then told Li Chu more.

With the pattering of raindrops, Li Chu listened intently.

"The Bestowal Sect sends demons and monsters to Zhao Ge City every year, offering them to the powerful figures of the Imperial Court in exchange for privileges that other immortal sects do not have. Therefore, their influence has grown larger and larger in recent years, they've recruited more and more disciples, and the number of demons and monsters seeking their patronage has also increased, making them flourish," Yu Qi'an gazed into the distance, stroked his beard, and said disdainfully, "I don't know about their cultivation, but they're certainly good at business."

"Sending demons and monsters?" Li Chu tilted his head, confused.

"Heh heh," Yu Qi'an chuckled, "What treasures haven't the big shots in Zhao Ge City seen? But... they can't resist this."

A gust of wind brought raindrops into the kitchen, making it cool and quite comfortable.

"Cat-eared Girl, Fox Spirit, Mermaid..." Yu Qi'an murmured, "Who wouldn't be tempted."

Li Chu blinked, "Cats, foxes, fish?"

"And Rabbit Girls, Butterfly Fairies, and the trend changes one after another. Recently, it seems to be popular to have wings. When I was traveling in my youth, I happened to catch the trend of Scorpion Beauties. In those years, no powerful figure in Zhao Ge City would dare to go out without keeping a Snake Spirit."

"Ew--" Li Chu shivered, shaking off the raindrops.

He had always thought keeping snakes as pets was quite perverted.

Yu Qi'an seemed to read his mind and made a wavy motion in the air with his arm.

"Not snakes, but snakes that have transformed into human form. Their bodies are soft and slippery, as if boneless. Their tongues can extend eight inches long," he explained, adding, "And they're forked."

At this moment, Li Chu heard footsteps from the front yard through the wind and rain in the backyard, and he stood up.

Yu Qi'an didn't hear footsteps. He only realized someone had arrived when he saw his disciple get up.

But he did hear Li Chu muttering as he walked away: "Snake tongues are forked, right?"

The implication was that there was nothing strange about it.

"It's not strange for them to be forked in a snake's mouth, but to fork after transforming into a human... sigh."

Watching Li Chu's retreating back, Yu Qi'an sighed softly.

His disciple was good in every way: respectful, filial, polite, and even looked like him.

It was just that his mind was a bit strange.

It wasn't this bad when he was a child. He thought it would get better as he grew up, but who knew it would get worse over the past two years.

Daoist Yu pondered: "Should I find him a wife?"

It was just a short walk across the courtyard, so Li Chu couldn't be bothered to use an umbrella. The needlework on his daoist robe was dense, and the fabric was stiff. By the time he reached the Front Hall, not many water droplets had landed on him, and they all fell off with a shake.

It was just that the yellow earth in the Backyard had made his shoes a bit dirty.

He looked down, and the Pilgrim who had arrived saw it too. So he smiled and said, "I'll pay to have the Backyard paved with bluestone bricks later."

Li Chu looked up at him and nodded.

The visitor sat on a prayer mat, dressed in a brocade Xuan robe, with a patterned, jade-inlaid belt and gold thread embroidered around the collar. He was also quite handsome, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, a fair complexion, and a face full of heroic spirit.

This person was the Seventh Young Master of the Wang Family in Yuhang Town, named Wang Longqi, and an old acquaintance of Li Chu.

Wang Longqi was considered one of the more decent second-generation rich kids in the area. Although he wasn't ambitious, he wasn't dissolute either. With his family background and good looks, he had always been popular with the girls.

He knew Li Chu, also because of a girl.

Thanks to Feng Weimian for the 200 reward.

I wrote too much for today's chapter, so I've split it into two...