Nine Revolutions to Become a Demon

The faint firelight flickered within the cave, illuminating Chu Ning's pensive face.

He sat cross-legged, recalling his recent cultivation gains. The fusion of the Hundred Steps Penetrating Willow and the Thunderclap Saber Art had unexpectedly birthed the Thunder Prison Sky Lock. This made him realize that the limits of martial arts were far beyond simply improving one's cultivation realm; understanding and creation were far more important.

However, this was far from enough.

Chu Ning frowned, his hands slowly clenching.

The price of the Chaos Divine Order was becoming increasingly heavy. If he continued to rely on advances, he would one day be crushed by a future he had already overdrawn.

But if he were to cultivate and improve himself, he lacked sufficient resources and time.

"What should I do?"

His gaze fell upon the last Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit in his embrace.

This Mysterious Sun Fruit, brought from the Blazing Flame Valley, was a rare treasure nurtured by heaven and earth.

He had personally witnessed its miraculous effects, as it had twice revived the near-dead Azure-Eyed Snow Fox, causing it to transform and evolve.

Merely the residual medicinal power had allowed Li Jing'an to break through his shackles, advancing directly from Sixth Grade High Rank to Fifth Grade.

He himself had also broken through from Tenth Rank Middle Grade to Tenth Rank Upper Grade the moment the Little White Fox bit his skin!

What did this represent?

It meant that the violent energy contained within far exceeded his imagination!

Chu Ning's gaze deepened. He suspected the Profound Sun Fruit could not be consumed rashly.

He recalled the transformation his body underwent after the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox consumed it.

Spiritual Beasts' instincts allowed them to refine violent spiritual energy on their own, but humans, without corresponding cultivation techniques to assist them, were highly likely to suffer a backlash that could kill them.

Chu Ning lowered his head, gazing at the Mysterious Sun Fruit in his palm, his brow furrowed, his thoughts churning.

Given his personality, if it were an ordinary spiritual fruit, he would have long since consumed it to try and improve his cultivation.

But the Profound Sun Fruit was no ordinary item.

"If I consume it rashly and cannot withstand the violent energy, at best I'll suffer qi deviation, and at worst, I'll explode and die..."

Chu Ning sighed slowly, still unable to make up his mind.

Just then, he sensed the Little White Fox in his embrace suddenly become restless.

It stared at the Profound Sun Fruit in Chu Ning's hand, its eyes revealing an unconcealable longing.

It gently licked its nose, its ears perked up slightly, its entire being radiating an eager excitement.

Chu Ning raised an eyebrow.

"This thing seems to have a greater attraction for Spiritual Beasts?"

Just as the Little White Fox was getting excited, Chu Ning suddenly felt a strange sensation in his heart.

A connection, unlike any he had felt before, quietly emerged between him and the Little White Fox.

This was not merely the restraint of the Golden Cudgel Spell, but a... deeper spiritual resonance.

In that instant, Chu Ning's world seemed to undergo a peculiar change.

He could hear the Snow Fox's heartbeat, perceive its emotional fluctuations.

Its excitement, its longing, its instincts...

Even its combat intuition!

"Is this... the power of the Golden Cudgel Spell?"

Chu Ning was deeply shocked.

His spirit seemed to have pierced through some barrier, entering a brand new realm.

At this moment, he even felt as if he could directly communicate with the Little White Fox.

Suddenly, Chu Ning's consciousness jolted. His entire divine sense was pulled by a powerful force, entering a strange illusion.

White mist permeated the surroundings. Vaguely, he saw a figure.

It was a giant, snow-white spiritual fox, its fur smooth and soft, its nine fox tails swaying gently. Each sweep seemed to draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

It stood there quietly, gazing at Chu Ning.

"Nine Revolutions to Become a Demon, Ten Revolutions to Become Human."

As he stood there in shock and uncertainty, the Snow Fox's form gradually changed.

From its quadrupedal beast form, it slowly transformed into a human shape.

A pair of long, slender legs appeared first, followed by a curvaceous figure. The white mist gradually dispersed, and a stunningly beautiful figure appeared before Chu Ning's eyes.

She was a seductive and enchanting woman, with a strange, icy vertical pupil on her forehead. Her eyes were as clear as sapphires, her skin as white as snow. She wore a thin white robe, revealing a smooth, fragrant shoulder. Her tail was still present, swaying gently behind her.

Nine phantom tails in the mist descended like moonlight, their human silhouette wrapped in ice-crystal woven silk.

Her fingertips brushed past Chu Ning's blood-stained temple, and frost bloomed where they touched. "You can see my pain."

He not only "saw" the Snow Fox's memories, but it was as if he had personally experienced those bloody scenes.

When the sharp bronze nail pierced the fox's claw, a searing pain shot through his limbs.

As the demonic blood pooled and the vertical pupils were gouged from the nine fox corpses on the altar, he felt a pang of heart-wrenching grief...

"This isn't a simple illusion... she and I are already connected by blood?"

Cold sweat trickled down Chu Ning's forehead. The binding sensation of the Golden Cudgel Spell seemed to be weakening, yet something more terrifying was quietly taking root.

Her lips curved into a faint smile, her eyes holding a mix of teasing, curiosity, and even...

a hint of mockery.

"Should I call you 'Master'?"

Chu Ning's heart instantly pounded, his earlobes turning red as his gaze involuntarily shifted away.

"This..."

He had never imagined that the Little White Fox, upon transforming into human form, would be so breathtakingly beautiful.

Mist swirled, and the exquisite face of the white fox slowly drew closer, her icy vertical pupils reflecting Chu Ning's stunned expression.

"Master...?"

She breathed out softly, a cool fragrance accompanying her words as she whispered in his ear, "What are you afraid of? Do you want to control me, or... be controlled by me?"

Her fingertip traced Chu Ning's chest, a frost-like demonic energy appearing, carrying a hint of provocation, a hint of probing, and even... a playful mockery.

Chu Ning's heart trembled, his reason flickering like a candle in the wind.

"No, I can't keep looking!"

He abruptly reined in his mind, forcefully severing the illusion and instantly returning to reality.

Before the phantasm collapsed, she pressed the Mysterious Sun Fruit into Chu Ning's sleeve, "Don't eat it. Without refinement, humans cannot harness its power."

"So that's how it is..." He tightly gripped the fruit, the golden veins beneath its skin writhing like imprisoned dragons. Each pulse sent Chu Ning's dantian's thunderclouds churning, the Snow Fox's Golden Cudgel Spell markings flickering like a breath.

"Hoo—!"

Chu Ning opened his eyes, finding his forehead beaded with fine sweat.

He panted a few times, his gaze instinctively falling on the Little White Fox.

The Little White Fox was still curled in his arms, her sapphire-like eyes open, looking up at him.

Her innocent expression formed a stark contrast to the alluring and seductive appearance in the illusion.

Chu Ning's mouth twitched slightly.

"No wonder the Little White Fox was so interested in the Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit. It turns out it's crucial for demonic beasts to transform."

He rubbed his temples, feeling that things were becoming increasingly complicated.

But one thing was certain: the Golden Cudgel Spell was undergoing some inexplicable change. He seemed to be able to borrow some of the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox's abilities.

"Tsk... so this Golden Cudgel Spell isn't all-powerful after all."

Amidst his excitement, Chu Ning also sensed a subtle anomaly.

When the Snow Fox had transformed into human form just now, he had a fleeting illusion that "she was trying to break free."

If the Snow Fox's realm advanced further... would the Golden Cudgel Spell still be able to completely restrain her?

Chu Ning took a deep breath, his gaze gradually calming.

"Regardless, now is not the time to dwell on these thoughts."

His attention returned to the Mysterious Sun Fruit in his palm.

"I need to consider how to utilize this Mysterious Sun Fruit first."

Inside the cave, the firelight flickered uncertainly.

Chu Ning's figure was cast in shifting light and shadow, the atmosphere serene and profound.

"Perhaps... I can find an opportunity to learn alchemy?"

Alchemy was the process of refining spiritual herbs into energy that humans could absorb.

"The energy of the Mysterious Sun Fruit is too violent. Consuming it now carries immense risk... I'll learn alchemy first to refine it completely."

He pondered, lightly rubbing the fruit's skin with two fingers.

"So, the next step is to hone my existing martial arts and improve my foundation. That way, I can win the Azure Cloud Arena in one fell swoop."

As dawn broke, outside the cave, the morning light filtered through the leaves and onto the ground.

Chu Ning tidied his belongings, the Little White Fox perched on his shoulder, her blue vertical pupils glinting with a touch of spirit.

He patted the Little White Fox's head and smiled faintly.

"Let's go, to the prefecture city."

Energy surged beneath his feet, and in the next instant, Chu Ning's figure transformed into a lightning-like afterimage.

As the Sky-Rending Shadow Flight Technique was activated, his white hair whipped wildly. With each step, he imprinted lotus-shaped marks of intertwined frost and lightning on the ground. Behind him, a phantom of the Snow Fox exhaled moonlight, and the ancient trees he passed bore fruit of ice and lightning.

—The Azure Cloud Arena is the true stage!