On the Azure Cloud Sect's mountain path, a youth in a dark blue Daoist robe slowly headed uphill, holding a little girl's hand.
"Eldest Senior Brother Ouyang, how much farther is it?" the little girl asked, panting. Beads of sweat covered her delicate, doll-like face, and her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel's.
The youth called Eldest Senior Brother Ouyang stopped, glanced at the sun overhead, and thought for a moment. "Don't worry. At our current pace, we'll definitely reach the foot of our peak before dusk tomorrow."
"To... tomorrow evening?" The little girl went deathly pale, then plopped onto the ground in a huff, refusing to take another step no matter what.
The mountain path ahead twisted and wound, seemingly without end.
Seeing the little girl sprawled on the stone slabs as though playing dead, Ouyang slowly sat down on them too, studying his new Little Junior Sister with curiosity.
In Ouyang's eyes, a panel only he could see appeared beside the little girl:
Name: Hu Tutu (juvenile Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox) Cultivation: fifth level of Core Formation Root bone: 10 Charm: 7 (underage) Luck: 8 Musical aptitude: 10 Exclusive skill: Charm All Beings (not unlocked) Evaluation: a top-tier, underage animal-eared girl!!!
Ouyang's heart leaped with joy. Compared with those unruly brats up on the mountain, they had finally gotten a perfectly ordinary animal-eared girl.
The little girl's name was Hu Tutu, and she had only just arrived at the Azure Cloud Sect that day. His master, whom he had not seen in nearly a year, had left Ouyang a few instructions before hurrying off again. Before leaving, his master had even let out a long sigh of relief, as though he had shaken off some troublesome burden.
That was how the two of them had ended up climbing the mountain path. For one thing, Ouyang wanted to find out what medicine his master was hiding in his gourd; for another, he wanted to see when his new Little Junior Sister would reveal her fox's tail.
Indeed, from his very first glimpse of this Little Junior Sister, Ouyang had known she was not human, but a Spirit Fox with an innate Dao body!
After all, with that golden attribute panel beside her, he could not avoid seeing it even if he wanted to.
But his master, the lord of one of the Azure Cloud Sect's peaks, had actually taken a fox demon as his disciple?
If word got out, it would surely be another huge piece of news in the cultivation world!
"Senior Brother, what are you looking at?" Hu Tutu glared at Ouyang irritably. Her Eldest Senior Brother looked presentable enough, but he had absolutely no manners. Even if he would not use Sword Flight, he could at least use some wind magic to help her along.
She was clearly just a little girl, yet he had made her climb this mountain path with him for four whole hours!
He had no idea how to cherish a delicate flower!
And his gaze was growing more and more heated. Could he be some pervert who liked little children?
Was it because she was a natural beauty, already a budding beauty now and certain to topple kingdoms and cities when she grew up? Had this Eldest Senior Brother already fallen for her while she was still a child?
Although she was the fox clan's little princess, and her beauty was naturally unrivaled, she was only five and had no desire to fall in love yet!
I, Tutu, hate senior brothers more than anything!
At that thought, Hu Tutu's gaze grew wary. Like a hamster guarding its food, she clenched both fists against her chest and asked cautiously once more, "Senior Brother, what are you looking at?"
Hearing Hu Tutu ask again, Ouyang came back from his wandering thoughts and realized he had been rather inappropriate. He coughed awkwardly and withdrew his gaze.
Yet inside, Ouyang's thoughts surged like overturned rivers and seas, as though he had uncovered a sensational scoop!
Good grief, Master's surname is Hu, and this Little Junior Sister's surname is Hu too. Could she be Master's illegitimate daughter?
But this Little Junior Sister is a fox demon born with an innate Dao body!
Could it be...
Hiss...
Master actually bagged a fox?
Something that scandalous? That's my master for you!
But in that case, what about all my master's wives?!!!
Even as someone who had transmigrated, he could not help sighing and admitting defeat before his master, the man known as the cultivation world's romantic wanderer!
His master really was a handsome bringer of disaster. Sometimes Ouyang even had to wipe up his messes for him.
Now he even had a child. If those Master's Wives of his found out, they would have a hard time resisting the urge to beat his damned brains out!
Even as Ouyang worried about a fire breaking out in his master's backyard, joy bubbled up in his heart again.
With leverage this big in my hands, what outrageous demand should I make?
Ouyang's expression did not change, but inwardly he was so ecstatic he could no longer contain himself.
New Little Junior Sister ×, fatal leverage over the old geezer ✓
Keh keh keh!
Master, you wouldn't want your Master's Wives to find out about this, would you?
At that thought, Ouyang looked at his Little Junior Sister again, putting on a warm smile. "Little Junior Sister, you've only just arrived at the Azure Cloud Sect, and you don't know anyone or your way around. I'm taking you along to familiarize you with the sect's paths, so you won't get lost when you go to the various peaks for lectures."
Seeing Ouyang grow enthusiastic, Hu Tutu shook her head and said clearly:
"Master already told Tutu on the way here. The Azure Cloud Sect is one of the nine great Immortal Gates in today's cultivation world."
"It has over a thousand inner disciples and a hundred thousand outer disciples. It oversees the Azure Cloud Holy Land, a blessed grotto-heaven with seventy-two peaks, and its grounds stretch over a hundred thousand kilometers! The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy is abundant, and heavenly treasures can be found everywhere..."
"Without great opportunities, great blessings, or great talent, even entering the outer sect is as difficult as ascending to heaven!"
Hu Tutu recounted everything about the Azure Cloud Sect as though counting the treasures in her own home, leaving Ouyang repeatedly stunned.
The Azure Cloud Sect is that good? I thought any old dog could get in! A question mark slowly formed in Ouyang's mind.
Back when he had first transmigrated, his master had descended from the sky and shamelessly cried and begged to take him as a disciple. Ouyang had thought he was some wandering con artist.
Ouyang had originally planned to tell Hu Tutu which peaks were gathering places for idiots, where she could mooch food and drinks, and which peaks she should steer clear of. Wisely, he shut his mouth.
Once Hu Tutu finished, Ouyang coughed and said solemnly, "Exactly. That's precisely what I was going to tell you. Since you already know, I won't introduce everything one by one. Next, I'll tell you the most important things about our hill... no... our Little Mountain Peak!"
Seeing Ouyang's solemn expression, Hu Tutu began listening attentively too.
After all, this was where she would be living from now on, so Hu Tutu naturally took it to heart.
Ouyang raised one finger gravely. "On our peak, aside from the old man, I'm the boss!"
???
That's it?
Hu Tutu stared at the solemn-faced Ouyang, wondering whether she had misheard.
Looking at Hu Tutu staring blankly at him, Ouyang continued, "From now on, stick with me. My rules are the rules! As for the other unruly brats on the peak, stay away from them. They're all sick in the head!"
At this point, Ouyang was filled with bitter regret. Precisely because he had failed to establish his authority when those unruly brats first arrived at the sect, he now got none of the experience of being their Eldest Senior Brother.
"Oh? It seems our Eldest Senior Brother has quite a deep prejudice against us!"
No sooner had Ouyang finished speaking than a gentle voice came from behind him. Though the voice was gentle, its tone was unusually icy.
Ouyang stiffened and turned around awkwardly, finding a youth in a Daoist robe standing behind him.
Ouyang forced a smile onto his face. "Oh, if it isn't Xiao Bai! You're climbing the mountain too? What a coincidence!"
Before you continue