Chapter 1536 - 554: Conversation with the Fox (Part 2)
"Teacher, where are you... The little fox has returned..."
The little fox’s call carried confusion and helplessness, making one feel heartache upon hearing it.
East Emperor Taiyi simply watched silently.
Clearly, she had walked past him, but through spells and divine skills, unaware of him being here, missing him time and again.
This scene stemmed from the memories of East Emperor Taiyi, also known as the young Daoist.
Yet, it was the conversation between East Emperor Taiyi and the Chaos Bell that was the focal point for all the immortals.
The artifact spirit of the Chaos Bell appeared as a young woman, her appearance bearing no real significance; she could change it at will if she preferred, though her personality left a lasting impression.
Bell Spirit crossed her arms, leaned against the door frame, and frowned at the young Daoist.
"Aren’t you fond of this little fox? Regardless of wanting a Dao companion or not, wasn’t being her teacher during this period quite joyful?"
"Does it have meaning?"
The young Daoist quietly retorted.
Bell Spirit was puzzled: "Does it not have meaning? Wasn’t it you who said? It’s the inspiration in our hearts that colors the years, isn’t she your inspiration?"
The young Daoist remained silent.
Bell Spirit sighed softly: "I know you’re conflicted about her identity, but... this indeed has no connection with your father."
"No connection?"
The young Daoist’s smile was exceptionally complex, laden with sarcasm, though seemingly directed at himself.
His voice was initially calm, but then grew increasingly agitated:
"From the Creation of Heaven and Earth to the extinction of all things, everything is related to him, yet you say the little fox has no connection with him.
"I was just in a bad mood and wanted to take on a disciple, then accidentally found a little fox and whimsically brought her here to seclusion, nurturing her bit by bit, transforming, growing up, then she awakens the ancient bloodline, destined to become the Nine-tailed Fox in the Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm, the main soul of Su Daji, you tell me this has no connection with father!
"Is it amusing to play with my emotions!
"You knew everything yet hid it all from me, didn’t you!"
Bell Spirit remained silent.
The young Daoist closed his eyes and gently sighed.
"Sorry, my Dao heart is somewhat unsettled..."
"He cannot control every change, otherwise, he wouldn’t have started making arrangements in ancient times to eliminate those possibilities."
Bell Spirit said:
"Even a perfect Heavenly Dao must allow for the existence of variables.
"The matter of the Nine-tailed Fox indeed wasn’t his scheme; recently, Taiqing has already sensed the anomaly in the Heavenly Dao, he hasn’t given me orders for a long time.
"This truly was just a coincidence, you just accidentally encountered a little fox carrying the ancient ferocious Nine-tailed Fox bloodline, under your guidance and cultivation, she awakened her ancestor’s bloodline.
"It’s that simple.
"Taiyi, you really don’t need to be so pained; if you think she is decent, you can completely experience the joy of a creature, your father would be pleased to see it.
"Do you really not care for her? If you don’t, then why protect her along the way?"
"I have no right to seek joy."
The young Daoist smiled wryly:
"My mission is about to start soon, you know it.
"The witch-demon war is the crucial link in the great trend of heaven and earth set by father, I must wholeheartedly devote myself here, the Witch Clan bears Pangu Bloodline, this threat must be eradicated.
"Pangu’s Primordial Spirit is already troublesome enough, let alone a simultaneous revival of the primordial spirit and divine body."
"This is just your excuse."
Bell Spirit stated indifferently:
"If you are dissatisfied, why not try to negotiate with your father?
"You’ve faltered many times already, Taiyi.
"I’ve watched you since you were young, you’re like half of my offspring, your nature shouldn’t be like this, you’ve no real connection to those plots and schemes, your father he... "
"He doesn’t need a son like me anymore, does he?"
The young Daoist murmured softly.
He bowed his head and lightly sighed: "No need to persuade me, this is just a doomed relationship."
Bell Spirit asked: "Then why don’t you try to resist him? I can help you, if it’s you."
"But why should I resist him, everything I have is granted by him."
The young Daoist murmured:
"And what can be resisted?
"He’s just a stubborn old man, he’s already in pain being bound by his own obsessions, I’m merely his creation, meant to play the role of so-called innate Great Power."
"Isn’t it right for me to fulfill his ideals and wishes?"
Bell Spirit stopped attempting persuasion, turning her gaze to the little fox wandering outside the door, the image in the white mist seeming to freeze at this point.
For the young Daoist and Bell Spirit, this amount of time indeed meant little.
The little fox became increasingly despondent, yet refused to leave for a long time.
As the sun rose and set, dawn and dusk intertwining repeatedly.
The little fox lingered here for three days, five days, a month, two months...
She had come to accept that her teacher did not want to see her.
But she was still unwilling to leave.
Following the memory of her teacher’s cottage location, she built a small bamboo house nearby and curled up on the wooden bed in the bamboo house, staring blankly with lifeless eyes.
The little fox remained this depressed for several months;
One day when the sun rose, she pushed open the bamboo house and reappeared radiant in the valley.
"Hmm! From now on, I’ll be the teacher’s registered first disciple! I’ll carry forward the cultivation techniques the teacher taught me!"
In the unseen neighboring courtyard, the young Daoist who was drinking was suddenly choked.
Then, this little fox truly started resembling... gathering a bunch of forest spirits, the bamboo house quickly turned into a chicken coop, dog kennel, bird cage...