Subduing the Fox Pack

"If Brother Ye has such an idea, we'll speak to the people at the institute afterward."

"Using the discoverer's name as the scientific name is fine as well."

Xu Xiao naturally knew how to return a favor that cost him nothing.

After today's battle, he had thoroughly acknowledged Ye Xiu's strength. Since that was the case, he naturally had to think of every way to tie him to his own side.

"Still, great risks do bring great rewards."

Xu Xiao sighed as he looked at the Qingqiu Foxes gathered before him.

Their disguising ability was simply too powerful, not to mention their later imitation.

Judging from the abilities displayed by the Sky-Piercing Python, that imitation could not steal everything completely. But even if it could only obtain part of an ability, it would still carry epoch-making significance.

Not to mention anything else, wasn't the Kabbalah Organization's ongoing "God-Making" project essentially about cultivating people who controlled multiple abilities, then stacking those abilities to eventually create an omnipotent ability user?

According to intelligence, they were said to have already made decisive progress.

If these Qingqiu Foxes appeared before those people now, even the Kabbalah Organization's few ninth-rank ability users would likely be unable to sit still, wouldn't they?

At that thought, several more traces of fervor appeared in Xu Xiao's eyes.

"Brother Ye, you've rendered tremendous merit this time. Are you really not considering joining Starfire? I guarantee that once you join, your status will surpass even mine!"

Xu Xiao's family was already among the families at the highest levels of the government. His position within Starfire was quite high, and considering his age, he could even be called one of a kind.

Ye Xiu did not immediately state his position.

He looked at the Qingqiu Foxes before him, a flicker of interest passing through his eyes.

"So, Brother Xu, you mean to turn all these fellows into test subjects?"

At the words "test subjects," the Qingqiu Fox pack before them visibly stirred. The Qingqiu Fox King in Ye Xiu's grasp trembled all over like a sieve.

"Could it be that Brother Ye has another method? Forgive my bluntness, but this ability still needs to be analyzed by professionals."

Xu Xiao paused before adding, "If Brother Ye is worried about getting the short end of the stick, there's no need. If you still don't wish to deal with Kabbalah, then Starfire will be the only one capable of offering you a price that satisfies you."

"No, no, no. I've never doubted your strength."

Ye Xiu shook his head. "It's just that, this time, I personally want to exchange some of the benefits for a group."

"A group?"

Xu Xiao frowned, then relaxed.

Wasn't it perfectly normal for a powerhouse at Ye Xiu's level to have people behind him? Even if one thought bigger, what if it was a force he himself had cultivated? That was no problem either.

One of Starfire's leaders had put it quite well: seek common ground while reserving differences.

As long as everyone was heading in the same direction, Starfire had never rejected those who walked the same road under different names.

"If you want to secure some benefits for your subordinates, that's no issue. It would even be excellent if they directly merged into Starfire."

Seeing Ye Xiu's intrigued gaze, Xu Xiao hurriedly added, afraid that the other man might misunderstand.

"Of course, you would remain the actual leader, Brother Ye. I said before that Starfire is a rather loose organization. Our goal has always been the continuation of humanity. As long as it benefits humanity, we won't interfere if you act by your own methods."

"With those words, that settles it."

Ye Xiu smiled in satisfaction. It was certainly good for the Wildfire Gang to steadily develop, but for him, the faster, the better.

Being able to board Starfire's ship was clearly the opportunity for that growth.

Having settled the terms, Ye Xiu looked again at the Qingqiu Fox in his hand.

"Well? You heard what was said earlier. How about this: I'll give you a chance. As long as you cooperate obediently, I guarantee that the research won't harm your clansmen's lives. What do you say?"

Ye Xiu's words left Xu Xiao and the other two somewhat dumbfounded. They had just been about to tell Ye Xiu that although these beasts possessed a certain degree of intelligence, making them speak would still be far too difficult.

Only exotic beasts above the seventh rank could possess intelligence close to that of humans. Even those exotic beasts struggled to speak, let alone these Qingqiu Foxes.

Yet what they had not expected was that, upon hearing Ye Xiu's words, the Qingqiu Fox actually struggled and truly opened its mouth.

"Submit... submit... willing..."

Though the words came in broken fragments, it could actually convey that meaning?

"No, are these beasts really this smart? Where did they learn that?"

Su Lie's eyes widened, but Ye Xiu merely smiled without speaking.

Naturally, no one had taught these Qingqiu Foxes how to speak. But one must not forget their innate ability.

Imitation and replication—those were the most basic applications.

Was speech an ability? Yes and no.

But was the Word-Spirit Spell an ability?

That truly was one.

In the world of cultivation, there was no shortage of spirit beasts. There were even many sects that specifically raised spirit beasts to cultivate alongside them. In such a world, there were naturally methods for communicating with beasts.

Back in his sect's library, Ye Xiu's access level had been low, but there were simply far too many low-level books.

He had happened to study each kind with the attitude that learning them would never be a loss, so now he could cast the Word-Spirit Spell.

The Qingqiu Fox had copied the Word-Spirit Spell, so speaking naturally was no longer difficult.

"Submission is fine, but I need a benefit. Can you give me your ability?"

Ye Xiu looked at the Qingqiu Fox King before him, a trace of threat flashing through his eyes.

"Three... three tails, can..."

Noticing Ye Xiu's gaze, the Qingqiu Fox King immediately grew anxious.

It squeaked and gestured several times. At last, a flash of resolve appeared in its eyes.

Then the few of them saw it roll onto its side and viciously bite off one of its own tails.

Hiss.

Seeing the Qingqiu Fox King's action, the three onlookers all sucked in a sharp breath.

After all, biting it off alive was simply too shocking.

Yet Ye Xiu's expression remained calm.

He released his grip on the Qingqiu Fox King and instead pinched the severed tail.

A halo of light flashed, and when the broken tail touched Ye Xiu's body, it automatically transformed into a stream of water and merged into him.

Ye Xiu only felt his body swell, as though something within him had been opened.

No, it had not been opened.

Holding his breath and focusing, Ye Xiu used his divine sense to look inward and discovered that the power merged from the Qingqiu Fox King's tail had not brought any actual increase in strength.

The reason he felt his body swelling was entirely because his sensitivity to power had increased greatly.

Moreover, as his perception strengthened, he could now observe the mysterious force within his body that drove his abilities.

Looking up ahead, Ye Xiu also discovered that he could observe the amount of that ability-driving force within other people's bodies.

Now, as long as someone was his opponent, they could forget about ever hiding anything from him.

With such an ability, Ye Xiu could constantly observe how much power his opponent had remaining and sense their mobilization of power to judge how much strength they were exerting.

And this was not the only thing it brought.