Nine-Tailed Frost Moon Fox

Just then, a low voice resonated from the bottom of the lake.

"Let him come over."

The aura of those fierce beasts vanished in an instant.

Bear Lord let out a cold snort and stepped aside to make way.

Zi Ji looked at Yun Ming, a hint of playfulness flashing in her eyes: "Pavilion Master, please."

Yun Ming stepped toward the edge of the lake.

The lake water parted, revealing a path leading to the depths.

Without a moment's hesitation, he walked inside.

The bottom of the lake was a massive space, like a hollowed-out cavern.

Countless night-luminescent pearls were embedded in the cave walls, illuminating the place as if it were broad daylight.

In the deepest part, a figure sat on a stone chair with his back turned to him.

The figure was tall and imposing, with black hair cascading down to his waist, exuding an ancient and profound aura.

"Yun Ming..."

The figure spoke, his voice deep, as if it had traveled from the dawn of time.

"What do you want?"

Yun Ming stood three zhang behind him, keeping his distance.

"Di Tian, I have come to ask you for something."

"Ask?"

Di Tian slowly turned around.

It was the face of a mature man, his brows and eyes etched with endless vicissitudes.

His eyes were golden, his slit pupils slightly constricted.

"You, Yun Ming, would actually ask someone for something?"

Yun Ming was silent for a moment: "For my son."

Di Tian's gaze shifted slightly.

"A son? Since when did you have a son?"

"...That is none of your concern, is it?"

"..."

Yun Ming did not hide it: "His martial soul is unique; it requires a spirit with the moon attribute."

"I have searched Shrek, the Tang Sect, and the Spirit Pagoda, but found nothing suitable. That is why I came here."

Di Tian watched him, as if judging the truth of his words.

After a long while, he spoke: "The soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest are not your prey."

"I know."

Yun Ming's voice was calm: "That is why I have come to negotiate terms with you."

"What terms?"

"If you let me take away a suitable soul beast, I will owe you a favor. In the future, as long as it does not violate my bottom line, I will do one thing for you."

Di Tian smiled.

The smile was faint, so faint it was almost imperceptible.

"Yun Ming, is your favor worth that price?"

Yun Ming looked at him, his gaze steady: "Whether it is worth it or not, you know in your heart."

Di Tian did not answer.

He remained silent for a long time, so long that Yun Ming thought he would refuse.

Then, Di Tian raised his hand and beckoned gently.

Deep within the lake-bottom space, a silvery-white light ignited and flew toward them.

It was a fox.

Its entire body was silvery-white, its fur like brocade woven from moonlight, and its size was a circle larger than an ordinary fox.

Most striking were its tails—nine of them, fluffy and soft, with faint frost flowers congealing at their tips.

But its eyes were closed.

"Nine-Tailed Frost Moon Fox."

Di Tian's voice sounded: "Ten thousand years of cultivation, dual attributes of ice and moon."

"It is a descendant of the previous Silver Moon Fox King. Both its parents died at the hands of humans. I have kept it here, and it has been in a deep slumber."

Yun Ming looked at the sleeping fox, a complex feeling suddenly welling up in his heart.

"Is it willing?"

Di Tian glanced at him, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

"Heh... you are certainly unique."

He said, "Of all the people who have come here, not one has ever asked that question."

Yun Ming did not speak.

Di Tian withdrew his gaze and spoke indifferently: "Whether it is willing or not depends on your son. The Nine-Tailed Frost Moon Fox is an ancient exotic beast, proud and arrogant; if it does not fancy someone, it would rather die than follow them."

He waved his hand, and the silver fox floated gently toward Yun Ming.

"Take it away."

Yun Ming took the sleeping fox, feeling the icy, cold aura within its body.

"And the conditions?"

Di Tian turned around, presenting his back to him once more.

"I haven't thought of the conditions yet. When I do, I will come to find you."

Yun Ming was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well."

He turned and left.

Behind him, Di Tian's voice drifted over faintly:

"Yun Ming, remember that you owe me."

Yun Ming did not stop his pace, his voice as calm as before:

"I will not forget."

At the end of the passage, the moonlight spilled down once more.

Holding the sleeping Nine-Tailed Frost Moon Fox, Yun Ming slowly walked out from the bottom of the lake.

Outside, the fierce beasts were still there.

Zi Ji looked at the silver fox in his arms, her eyes complex, as if filled with emotion and relief.

She said, "This little one has had a hard life; it barely survived and has been sleeping ever since."

Yun Ming nodded: "I will take care of it."

He did not say anything more, his figure flashing and disappearing into the night.

Bear Lord watched his retreating back and let out a cold snort: "He got off easy."

Zi Ji did not respond, merely looking up at the moon in the sky.

"A moon-attribute soul beast..."

She said softly, "It has been so many years since I last saw one."

In the darkness behind her, the figures of the fierce beasts dispersed one by one.

The Star Dou Great Forest returned to silence.

Only the moonlight fell quietly.

Shrek City.

Ya Li stood by the window, having not slept all night.

As the horizon turned a pale white, a figure landed in the courtyard.

Yun Ming stood there, holding a silver-white fox in his arms.

"I'm back."

He said softly.

Ya Li walked out and gently embraced him.

Yun Ming held her with one arm and the sleeping fox with the other, his voice very light:

"I have brought a gift back for our son."

Inside the room, Yun Jingheng was still fast asleep.

The first ray of morning sunlight shone through the window lattice, landing on Yun Jingheng's brow.

The crescent moon mark grew slightly warm.

The Nine-Tailed Frost Moon Fox beside Ya Li suddenly opened its eyes.

Pale blue pupils, slender and vertical, met the black eyes Yun Jingheng had just opened.

Man and fox stared at each other for three seconds.

Before Yun Jingheng could react, the mark between his brows suddenly flared.

Silvery-white light spilled like liquid mercury, instantly shrouding the entire room.

The Moonlight Sword manifested on its own, hovering in mid-air.

The blade trembled slightly, emitting a low hum as if calling out.

The eyes of the Nine-Tailed Frost Moon Fox lit up.

It stood up, its nine tails swaying gently; the frost on the tips of its tails began to melt, turning into specks of moonlight that drifted toward the sword.

Yun Jingheng "saw" the voice.

It was light, soft, and carried a hint of post-slumber confusion:

"Is... it you?"

The humming of the Moonlight Sword grew more intense.

The little fox took a step forward, then another, walking up to Yun Jingheng and tilting its head to look at him.

In those pale blue eyes, there was confusion, joy, and an indescribable... attachment.

"I have been waiting for you."

The voice sounded again, "Waiting for a very long time."

Yun Jingheng did not know how to answer.

He simply reached out and rested his hand gently on the little fox's head.

In that instant, he felt it.

He felt the loneliness of this little creature, felt the years it had spent sleeping in the darkness, and felt the final intent left behind when its parents died—

"Live on, and find the one who can ignite your moonlight."

The little fox closed its eyes and nuzzled against his palm.

Then it spoke, not through mental power this time, but with a real, youthful voice:

"I am willing."

Yun Ming stood at the doorway, watching this scene.

He did not interrupt, merely taking a yellowed scroll from his robes and gently unfolding it.

It was the original Spirit Pact, passed down from ancient times, far older than the artificial spirits of the Spirit Pagoda. It could only take effect if both parties were truly willing.

Yun Jingheng looked at the little fox.

The little fox looked at him.

Yun Ming began to recite the pact words left behind by Huo Yuhao with solemnity and a soft voice.

Silvery-white light surged from both of them simultaneously, intertwining, wrapping around each other, and merging.

The little fox's body began to turn transparent, transforming into countless specks of starlight that drifted slowly toward Yun Jingheng.

Those lights landed on Yun Jingheng, merging into his skin, his blood, and his sea of consciousness.

When the last speck of light vanished, a halo rose from beneath Yun Jingheng's feet.

Hundred-year.

It was only a faint yellow, its light weak, as if it might dissipate at any moment.

Yet, the halo rotated slowly, faintly exuding an indescribable vitality.

Yun Jingheng closed his eyes.

In his sea of consciousness, beside that moon, there was now a little fox curled up in sleep.

It was sleeping very soundly.

Yun Ming closed the scroll, looking at that hundred-year spirit ring, a complex smile flashing in his eyes.

"A hundred-year spirit ring, yet it possesses the spirituality usually found only in ten-thousand-year ones."

He said softly.

"This kid is really..."

In the Star Dou Great Forest, at the Lake of Life, inside a cave filled with green-gold stones.

Di Tian knelt on one knee, "My Lord, Yun Ming has been here; he took the Nine-Tailed Frost Moon Fox."

A small, silver-haired figure turned around, a calmness and seriousness on that youthful face that did not match its appearance.

"I know."

Di Tian's tone seemed somewhat anxious, "My Lord, if that little one had awakened naturally, it would surely have become your aid, so why...?"

"Di Tian."

A cold, clear voice interrupted Di Tian's worries, "Do you know what that martial soul signifies?"

"Lord... Lord, I... do not understand."

"It signifies that the possessor... is not human."

Di Tian raised his head, a trace of confusion appearing in his eyes.

"Is it one of our soul beast clan?"

"No."

"Ah?"

The small silver-haired figure cast a glance at Di Tian, "The Plane Master's..."

"Final creation."