Master of Ten Thousand Foxes

Huff...

The fierce wind blew, cutting against the high Bronze Altar with its sharp edges.

At the foot of the altar, the fox disciples were dressed in robes and crowns made of grass leaves, looking up, their furry faces gradually showing signs of tension.

"Ying?"

"Oh?"

They suddenly saw the engraved runes and pictures on the altar smoking with white mist!

This mist rose gracefully, gathering at the highest point of the altar, obscuring the figure of their master and his voice reciting knowledge.

"Ying ying ying?"

The White Necklace tilted its head, its eyes wet with tears, suddenly feeling afraid.

It was about to raise a paw to wipe away its tears so the other senior brothers wouldn’t notice... but glanced over to find it wasn’t the only one crying.

At the foot of this altar, each senior brother had a face full of panic, all wiping their eyes.

"Ying ying ying, oh oh oh oh!"

"Oh oh oh!"

"Ying ying oh oh!"

Foxes are very crafty; they know what to do next!

They lined up row by row, column by column, sitting up straight, imitating the patterns on the pillars, beginning to sway their heads as if reciting scriptures... Even though they didn’t understand, they still earnestly muttered in their fox language.

...

Huff...

Under the heavy dark clouds, amidst the blowing fierce wind.

The Celestial Palace Inheritor Sun Jinsong strolled with his master among the pavilions of the Celestial Palace, relaxing.

"...There’s no need to burden yourself so much.

"Take it step by step, cultivate well every day, study hard, and take your time.

"Immortal Cultivation is a long path, don’t constantly compare yourself to others.

"Comparing people to people can kill, comparing goods to goods can discard, isn’t that saying right?"

Ancient Immortal smiled, advising Sun Jinsong while leading him through the winding corridor to a new courtyard.

In this large courtyard stood slender altars, rising straight into the sky, resembling a forest of towers.

Sun Jinsong looked up.

"Master, what is this?"

Ancient Immortal grinned, leading him forward, explaining as they walked.

"These are the altars for worshiping Douluo Heaven!

"One day, you too will ascend them..."

Ancient Immortal led his disciple around these altars, touching and observing everywhere, explaining the advancement rules to Sequence Five.

"Sequence Five... Sequence Five..."

Sun Jinsong touched the cold, hard patterns on one altar, feeling the rough bronze rust, recalling his own cultivation, being stuck at the fourth knowledge point of the second Chapter of the first volume of the Silk Book for two days and nights, unable to figure it out.

At this pace, how long would it be until he could form a vessel?

And how long until he could form all six vessels and ascend this altar?

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but choke, his brow tingling with acid, tears welling up in his eyes.

He glanced at his master, finding him turned away, quickly raising his sleeve to dry his tears.

He adjusted his throat, clearing his voice, diverting the conversation.

"Master, who decided these strange advancement rituals?

"Why is it necessary to undergo ten cultivations to advance to Sequence Six?

"Why must one ascend an altar to worship Douluo Heaven to advance to Sequence Five?"

Ancient Immortal did not turn, did not look at him, just clasped his hands behind his back.

"This... wasn’t really decided by anyone.

"The so-called Immortal Path, the so-called route, was explored through endless years and effort by generations of forebears and Immortals.

"Hahaha, surprising, isn’t it?

"Actually, the cultivation and rituals on the path of Immortality, including various knowledge, our understanding of resources and the world, are constantly changing, updating, and developing.

"For example, the advancement ceremony to become a Grass Pill Master, long ago, reportedly wasn’t about worshiping Douluo Heaven but a more bloody, complex, perilous ceremony. It required White Bone Mountain, Flesh and Blood Smoke, Mountain and River Furnace, Sea of Pill Classics... I can’t quite remember the details.

"Nowadays, this Douluo Heaven was discovered somewhere in history by an Emperor.

"This ceremony was also created by that Emperor."

Sun Jinsong nodded, understanding.

"So that’s how it is?

"That Emperor improved the ritual, benefiting countless successors, truly a great deed."

Ancient Immortal sneered softly.

"Perhaps not so great.

"I still remember, back then, ascending the altar to worship Douluo Heaven, successfully bringing back an Alchemy Furnace, advancing to Sequence Five.

"But all experiences that day in Douluo Heaven, I have completely forgotten.

"From beginning to recite and worship, to return with the Alchemy Furnace, all memories in-between remain in Douluo Heaven.

"However, in the years since, I often dreamt of someone weeping at my ear, dreamt of someone pulling my clothes, tugging my sleeves, telling me their grievances.

"Yet every time I tried to listen closely, I would wake up from the dream, drenched in cold sweat, my heart aching."

Sun Jinsong’s hand trembled as he pulled back from the Bronze Altar, looking at the altar with a somewhat eerie gaze.

"Uh... Master... Did you... have you told the Emperor about this?"

Ancient Immortal smiled bitterly, sighing.

"Do you think the Emperor wouldn’t know?

"Does he need me to say it?"

...

Bai Mo stood atop a high platform, amid a misty fog.

Still reciting...

"...I once studied the Black Ghost Eye, comprehending the mystery of the plant’s nerves..."

As he recited, strands of mist transformed into hands flying towards him, covering his eyes, covering his ears, touching his crown, covering the back of his head, leaving only his mouth to continue speaking.