Spirit Fox

"Tap tap."

Someone beside him lightly tapped the table. Bai Ye opened his eyes and saw Jiu Yin, dressed in a white gown, standing at his side.

"What is it?"

Bai Ye asked lazily, his eyes half-closed.

Whenever he came to the Colorful Clouds Chamber, his body and mind always relaxed involuntarily. Perhaps it had something to do with what he had been exposed to since childhood.

When he was young, aside from Ying Longcheng, the person who took care of him most was Third Mother Zi Yun Die. He was also one of the few in Ying Longcheng who often got to hear Zi Yun Die sing opera.

Unlike Liu Yin, whose singing onstage was still somewhat immature, Zi Yun Die's skill was a true heavenly melody.

When he was little, there had been many times when he would become so engrossed that he forgot about the cold energy filling his body. That was probably why he still loved opera so much.

"Your Three Hundred Million Spirit Coins."

Jiu Yin's expression did not change from beginning to end as she spoke in an indifferent tone.

Bai Ye did not care about her attitude. Third Mother Zi Yun Die had nine disciples, and Jiu Yin was the youngest among them. She was around the same age as Bai Ye and Ying Xue'er. After spending so many years together, Bai Ye had long grown used to her being this way.

Besides, his own mind was somewhat abnormal. What right did he have to look down on others?

After Jiu Yin finished speaking, Bai Ye turned his head and saw a timid little girl standing behind her.

Because she was hiding behind Jiu Yin, Bai Ye had not been able to see her face.

"Handle it yourself."

Bai Ye spoke casually.

"This is what you got from Sun Cheng. Settle it yourself."

As Jiu Yin spoke, she stepped aside and revealed the girl behind her.

Bai Ye merely glanced at her, but his gaze froze for a moment. There was no other reason—this girl was simply too stunning.

That stunning quality was not merely physical beauty. More than that, it was an influence on the mind.

"A Spirit Fox Clan member?"

Bai Ye immediately composed himself and looked at the girl.

The girl had long purple hair and kept her eyes lowered, not daring to look at anyone. Yet the charm she unconsciously exuded was enough to intoxicate most men.

She looked to be only fourteen or fifteen. Unlike other girls, she had two upright fox ears atop her head, more than enough to reveal her identity.

"No wonder that idiot caused trouble at the Colorful Clouds Chamber."

At his words, the fox-eared girl trembled, somewhat frightened.

Bai Ye lowered his eyes and instantly lost interest.

A Spirit Fox that had already been tamed would only amount to this for the rest of its life, no matter how great its talent was.

The Spirit Fox Clan was a race that had existed long ago. If one truly had to categorize them, they should have belonged to humanity's side.

Legend had it that the Spirit Fox Clan's ancestor had accidentally cultivated a special technique and introduced the essence souls of fox-type Spiritual Beasts into his own body, resulting in a cultivation deviation. Fox-like traits then grew upon his body.

Later, those traits were passed down through the bloodline from generation to generation. They multiplied and thrived, even becoming an Ancient Clan for a time.

The Spirit Fox Clan's bloodline contained the power of the essence souls of all kinds of fox-type Spiritual Beasts, so the members of this clan were born with spiritual power a hundred times greater than that of ordinary people.

And the emergence of spiritual power also triggered their innate trait: "bewitchment." For a time, this became the mainstream path of cultivation for the Spirit Fox Clan.

It was a terrifying talent. At the height of their glory, the Heavenly Supremes backing the Spirit Fox Clan had once numbered in the double digits. Every one of those Heavenly Supremes had been captivated by this ability and willingly protected the Spirit Fox Clan.

Later, after the major fox clans on the Spiritual Beast side joined forces, coupled with the extermination efforts of human forces, the Spirit Fox Clan's glory quickly faded. The entire clan was wiped out, leaving only scattered survivors to struggle on.

Even now, whenever the Spirit Fox Clan was mentioned, they were mostly goods for major auction houses or favorites of slave traders.

It was only because it was Sun Cheng. If it had been someone with even slightly less backing, three hundred million Spirit Coins would never have been enough to acquire her.

"Don't bother me."

Bai Ye spoke indifferently, then looked back toward the stage.

Someone else had already taken the stage to continue the performance. It seemed to be Qi Yin.

Hearing that tone, Jiu Yin immediately knew Bai Ye had lost interest in the matter. When it came to things he liked, Bai Ye would like them so much that he could not help playing with them until they died. But for things that did not interest him, he would not spare even a second glance.

This was Bai Ye—a willful madman.

"I-I can help you..."

Just as Jiu Yin was about to take her away, the girl spoke timidly.

Bai Ye ignored her and continued watching the stage.

The girl bit her lip, gathered her courage, and raised her head. Her eyes were purple as well, with ripples of light flowing through them as she looked at him earnestly. "I can help ease your headaches."

Headaches?

A trace of surprise appeared on Jiu Yin's face. It was rare for her composure to crack like this.

However, few people in Ying Longcheng knew that Bai Ye was ill. He suffered from an extremely strange cold ailment, one that filled his entire body with cold energy.

And that entire body included his brain...

That was why she was no longer surprised whenever Bai Ye suddenly acted insane.

But...

"Get lost."

Bai Ye said coldly.

That bargaining chip held no value to Bai Ye whatsoever.

Ying Madman rarely picked up a toy he had discarded a second time. He was simply that vile a person.

A flash of disappointment passed through the girl's eyes, but she knew this was her chance.

Though she did not know who the person before her was, after seeing what had just happened, even a fool would know that his status was far from ordinary.

She did not want to keep living with the identity of a "lowborn." She wanted to rise. She wanted to become stronger.

"Tell me, am I crazy?"

At that moment, Bai Ye's voice rang out again and entered her ears.

Jiu Yin was slightly stunned. He was...

Crazy?

Of course he was crazy.

The girl had personally seen him tear off the arm of the man named Sun Cheng in front of the entire audience at the Colorful Clouds Chamber.

But could she tell the truth at a time like this?

Bai Ye turned his head and looked at her calmly.

It was as though he were looking at a dead object, without joy or sorrow.

The girl gritted her teeth and abruptly raised her head, meeting his gaze.

"You're a madman. A very, very crazy madman."

The next second, Jiu Yin's eyes widened further in surprise. Before her eyes, the corners of Bai Ye's lips curled upward, and he actually smiled.

It was an eerie smile, one that inspired fear.

"Now this is interesting."

Bai Ye spoke lightly as he looked at her.

He stood, walked around the chair, and approached her barefoot. Tilting his head, he examined the girl before him.

"You want freedom?"

"I do."

"You want happiness?"

"I do."

"Why should you have it?"

"Because I'm a Spirit Fox. Because I'm a Spirit Fox with bloodline talent."

The atmosphere within the private room gradually shifted. Bai Ye looked at her. He disliked toys with no value, but he liked interesting ones like this.

Interesting meant valuable.

"What's your name?"

Bai Ye leaned against the table and asked softly.

"Yan Meng."

The girl's body felt somewhat weak. Meeting those Gilded Gold eyes truly took courage.

"Send her back to the City Lord's Mansion."

That last sentence was directed at Jiu Yin.

After saying that, Bai Ye gave a light leap and sat cross-legged atop the table.

Then he turned back toward the stage.

Seeing him like this, Jiu Yin knew the matter was settled.

Expressionless, she led Yan Meng out of the room and left.

She was quite curious. Over the years, few people had been able to change Bai Ye's decision. What was so special about this female slave that she possessed such charm?

After having a maid from the Colorful Clouds Chamber take Yan Meng away, Jiu Yin turned and returned to the private room where Bai Ye was. At some point, a Jade Bottle had appeared in her hand.

"There's something in her eyes."

The moment she stepped into the room, Bai Ye's voice sounded.

"What is it?"

Jiu Yin walked toward him without finding it strange, then gently set down the Jade Bottle.

A smile curved across Bai Ye's lips, and his eyes were clear.

"Ambition."

How interesting...