Ascending to Soul Sage, Qian Renxue's Guilt

The maid finished her tasks, and it was late into the night when Qian Renxue finally arrived at the side hall.

At this moment, the scent of alcohol and a faint fox musk were intertwined, permeating the air within the side hall.

As soon as Qian Renxue stepped through the door, her footsteps came to an abrupt halt, her gaze instantly captured by the figure in the center of the hall.

Ye Yunxi was slumped on the carpet, her hands still loosely bound by ropes, leaving faint red marks on her wrists.

She was drenched in alcohol, her ink-black hair plastered wetly against her cheeks and neck, and her originally gorgeous Fox Flame Flowing Light Dress was soaked through with liquor.

It outlined her exquisite figure, especially her slightly rounded lower abdomen, which looked as if it were distended from drinking too much, adding a touch of naive charm.

Most astonishing of all, nine fluffy fox tails had slowly unfurled behind her, the snow-white fur shimmering with a soft, silvery light.

The tips of the tails were tinged with a faint pink, and as they swayed gently, they carried a sense of enchantment, yet due to her drunken state, they also held a fragile, pitiful air.

She let her head droop, her long, wet eyelashes hanging low, her cheeks flushed like ripe cherries, while she muttered unconsciously:

"Bad person... stop pouring... it tastes so bad..."

Qian Renxue's breath hitched, and the lingering anger from her earlier pique was instantly swept away by the sight before her.

She walked over slowly, crouched down, and her fingertips brushed involuntarily against Ye Yunxi's alcohol-dampened cheek.

The cold touch made Ye Yunxi flinch, and her nine fox tails instinctively curled inward toward her chest.

"Do you not know how to use your soul power to resist?"

Qian Renxue's voice was much softer than she had intended, carrying a tremor she hadn't even noticed herself.

Given Ye Yunxi's strength, even while bound, it would have been child's play for her to use her soul power to expel the alcohol and resist the forced drinking.

Hearing a familiar voice, Ye Yunxi slowly raised her head.

Those peach-blossom eyes were veiled in a mist of water, dazed and wet, looking at her like an injured little fox, full of grievance:

"I don't know... I don't know..."

Her voice was soft, glutinous, and hoarse, thick with a nasal tone. Tears rolled down without warning, splashing onto the back of Qian Renxue's hand, so hot they made her heart tremble.

"I only know... there were bad people who wanted to get me drunk... they forced it into my mouth... I was scared..."

Ye Yunxi pouted, her tears falling even more fiercely, and her nine fox tails trembled along with her, as if accusing the others of their treatment or seeking comfort.

Qian Renxue's heart ached sharply, as if something had pinched it hard.

She had clearly only wanted to teach this little vixen, who always made her angry, a lesson and make her temper her behavior, but seeing her like this—

In such a disheveled state, intoxicated, and still carrying lingering fear—how could she have any desire to discipline her left? Only a dense, suffocating sense of distress remained.

It was she who had ordered the maid to force the drink, and it was she who had tied her up and left her here to reflect.

Qian Renxue had assumed Ye Yunxi would resist with her soul power as she always did, and continue to arrogantly curse her, but she had forgotten.

Although Ye Yunxi was mischievous and flighty, deep down, she also possessed this side of pure fragility.

Qian Renxue reached out, her fingertips hesitating for a moment before finally stroking the top of her head, clumsily smoothing her hair:

"Don't cry..."

As the words left her lips, she realized her own voice carried an imperceptible hoarseness.

Feeling his gentle touch, Ye Yunxi felt even more aggrieved, sobbing and whimpering:

"Bad person... you are a bad person too... tying me up... and letting others force-feed me alcohol..."

The nine fox tails wrapped around her arm of their own accord, the fluffy sensation bringing a faint warmth.

Qian Renxue stiffened, but she did not push her away, simply letting her hold on as the distress in her heart grew more intense.

She sighed softly, her voice impossibly gentle: "It is my fault... I won't do it again next time."

"Xue Qinghe, you are just a heartless villain. I have helped you so much, yet you treat me like this. Don't expect me to help you next time."

Ye Yunxi looked at Qian Renxue with tear-filled, indignant eyes.

You were truly ruthless, not leaving a shred of face, pouring alcohol down my throat.

"I, I only wanted to teach you a lesson. Who knew you wouldn't resist?"

Qian Renxue was filled with guilt; who could have known that Ye Yunxi would not resist at all?

"You are just heartless."

"Fine, this Crown Prince admits defeat. You should get some rest."

Qian Renxue knew she could not appease Ye Yunxi in her current state, so she untied the ropes binding her hands and feet and turned to leave the side hall.

Once the door closed, Ye Yunxi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and lay limply on the bed.

"Goodness, acting is so tiring!"

Just as Ye Yunxi lay on the bed, before she could even catch her breath, a cheerful and mocking notification sound rang out in her mind.

[Ding! Triggered hidden acting mission: Fox Tears Deceive the Heart, Drive the Crown Prince Mad]

[Mission Requirement: Successfully make Qian Renxue feel intense guilt, take the initiative to admit fault, and untie the restraints]

[Mission Reward: Cultivation level directly breaks through to a level 70 Soul Saint! Nine-Tailed Sky Fox martial soul purity increased by 5%, fox tail charm effect doubled!]

"Finally, it's done!"

The grievance in Ye Yunxi's eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by overwhelming ecstasy as the corners of her mouth curled upward uncontrollably.

A surge of warmth, far more torrential than before, flooded into her body. The bottleneck of a level 68 Soul Emperor was torn apart like thin paper, and her soul power skyrocketed, charging straight to the threshold of a level 70 Soul Saint!

The nine fox tails behind her suddenly erupted with a dazzling silver light. The fur became even fluffier and softer, and the pink halo at the tips of her tails grew increasingly intense, faintly exuding an aura that was both sacred and bewitching.

With the increased purity of her Demon Fox Martial Soul, she could clearly feel that her control over her charm abilities had become increasingly effortless, with her five senses also sharpening several times over.

"Level 70 Soul Saint..." Ye Yunxi raised her hand to feel the surging soul power within her, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. "That sucker Qian Renxue is really easy to fool."

"It was worth being forced to drink by those maids."

She rolled over, nuzzling comfortably into the soft bedding, and muttered:

"Want to teach me a lesson next time? Hmph, you'll have to ask this level 70 Soul Saint if she agrees first. But, considering you helped me level up, I'll reluctantly accompany you on that trip to subdue the Four Great Families."

A Soul Saint should be enough to teach Qian Renxue a lesson.

Meanwhile, inside the Pope's Palace in Martial Soul City.

On the papal throne, Bibi Dong wore a black pope's robe trimmed with purple. Her hair was swept up high, and she radiated a suffocating pressure.

Hu Liena and Yue Guan stood bowed below the hall, their expressions respectful as they reported everything that happened in Tiandou City regarding Ye Yunxi.

"Your Holiness, that Ye Yunxi is truly extraordinary."

Hu Liena raised her eyes, a hint of complexity in her gaze. "She is peerlessly beautiful and possesses a natural charm. Even my Demon Fox Martial Soul could hardly resist her allure. If it weren't for Elder Yue Guan being by my side, I would have nearly had my mind influenced by her."