Chapter Six: The Hall of the Spirit Fox

Upon hearing Bai Ling’er’s purpose, the two sisters were briefly taken aback. But after glancing at the little one beside them, still munching away, their thoughts stirred. If Xiao Nuo Tian truly could obtain the ancestral spirit, then the child’s future would be extraordinary. Without hesitation, they gathered up the little one, ignoring his reluctant expression, and left the courtyard.

The Spirit Fox Hall stood to the north of the Divine Sword Sect, surrounded by countless peaks and the ancient forests that stretched for thousands of miles, nurturing the hall’s destiny. On the Wild God Continent, many factions refused to associate with demon clans, even dedicating themselves to the eradication of demons—chief among them the Celestial Palace.

Yet, since the threat from the Demon Domain arose, demon-hunting activities had gradually lessened, though some persisted. The demon clan was considered a treasure trove, and many still sought to slay demons for their own gain.

However, the Divine Sword Sect’s supreme decree had established that demons and humans should coexist. Thus, within the thousand-mile forests around the Spirit Fox Hall, though demons abounded, no one dared hunt them. None would oppose the supreme decree of the Divine Sword Sect.

Upon entry, disciples swore to uphold this decree, which became the guiding principle of the sect; any who defied it would face heavenly punishment, consequences no one could bear. Of course, disciples could still slay wild beasts outside the sect’s borders.

For millennia, the sect’s various halls and peaks had maintained countless ties with the Spirit Fox Hall, and any who killed man or demon would bear the mark of their act. The Divine Sword Sect thus became one of the few powers on the continent that coexisted peacefully with demon beasts.

The party of four soon arrived at the Spirit Fox Hall, marked by the golden fox head atop its roof. As they drew near, the surrounding disciples noticed them. “Greetings, Senior Sister!” Bai Ling’er possessed immense prestige at the Spirit Fox Peak, her elegance attracting countless admirers.

Passing through the grand doors, they entered a vast plaza where more than a hundred disciples had gathered. Most were outer disciples, brought by core disciples from various peaks to see if they might inherit the ancestral spirit.

As they entered, many disciples noticed their arrival. Several figures approached, with the one on the far right clad in silks, impeccably clean, holding a paper fan. His fair skin was crowned with a golden hairpin.

“Haoran greets the three junior sisters.” “Greetings, Senior Brother Haoran.” This refined gentleman was the eldest disciple of Sword Peak, famed for his remarkable cultivation—rumored to rival the sword masters of the eighteen halls. Barely in his forties, his exceptional talent had earned the favor of many sect elders.

The three young women naturally recognized the Sword Peak’s senior brother, and Nuo Xin and Nuo Yu also knew he was one of Bai Ling’er’s earnest suitors.

“Oh, Senior Brother Haoran, not cultivating today? You’ve come here to compete with your peers, bringing outer disciples for the trial?” Nuo Yu teased, knowing the circumstances well.

“Nuo Yu, little sister, grows more beautiful by the day,” Haoran replied with a bright gaze. “I’m here to relax, as the Supreme Master says, cultivation must balance effort and ease to advance swiftly.” He answered swiftly, not daring to offend the Supreme Master’s direct disciple.

“May I ask what brings the three junior sisters here together?” Haoran continued.

“We sisters have come with our younger brother to see if he is fated with the ancestral spirit,” Nuo Xin replied coldly from the side. All disciples of the Divine Sword Sect knew the Supreme Master’s two direct disciples were exceptional in both talent and beauty. Nuo Yu was lively and outspoken, always chatty during competitions, while her elder sister Nuo Xin was perpetually cold-faced—an icy beauty admired by many.

“Younger brother?” Haoran was surprised. When did Nuo Xin and Nuo Yu acquire a brother? His gaze found the little one standing behind them, who, to Haoran’s bemusement, was still nibbling a delicate pastry. The child finished the treat in two bites, then, with a flash, produced another from thin air. Haoran noted the spatial ring on the boy’s finger. Such rings were rare treasures, usually reserved for core disciples and used for valuables. It seemed this child’s ring was filled only with food.

To use a spatial ring, one needed to infuse it with spiritual energy. Though Nuo Tian couldn’t cultivate, his body was suffused with spiritual essence, allowing him to use the ring with mere contact.

The boy noticed their attention but focused again on his pastry.

“Yes, Nuo Tian is our only brother,” Nuo Yu said with a smile, patting his head.

Few in the Divine Sword Sect knew of Nuo Tian’s existence. Only those who frequented the sect were aware of the little one on Tianjiao Peak. The Supreme Master had not taken Nuo Tian as a disciple—since Nuo, his direct disciple, could not cultivate, it would have been a loss of face. Thus, Nuo Tian became a small secret within the sect.

Haoran’s eyes brightened as he observed the child: his entire body was suffused with spiritual energy. Such a talent—no wonder he was the brother of two prodigies! This was prodigy among prodigies.

“This little one’s spiritual energy fills his body—amazing! Truly worthy of being the sisters’ brother,” Haoran exclaimed.

“You flatter us, Senior Brother. Though Nuo Tian is filled with spiritual energy, for certain reasons he cannot cultivate. That’s why our master did not take him as a disciple,” Nuo Xin replied politely.

“This child cannot cultivate? Why?” Haoran was astonished. He should be a genius among geniuses. No wonder there was no news of the Supreme Master accepting another disciple. Clearly, there was an issue. Still, he could try to inherit the ancestral spirit, Haoran thought.

The Spirit Fox Hall’s notice said disciples below the Soul Essence stage could inherit the ancestral spirit, but at least those of the Human Hero stage were required; one must be able to manipulate spiritual energy, and the Human Hero stage was the threshold. Below that were mere mortals, unable to wield spiritual energy—hardly cultivators. How could such a one sense the ancestral spirit?

The three women likely knew Haoran’s doubts but offered no explanation, instead leading the little one inside. Within the hall, lavish decorations and a giant golden fox statue caught the child’s curiosity. Before he could explore further, Nuo Xin took his hand and led him through dozens of doors to a small courtyard, barely a hundred square meters. Before them, a curtain of white light enveloped a modest house. This was the hall’s highest protective array, the Ten Thousand Foxes Maze. Even Soul Fate stage masters approached it with caution; this millennia-old array was no trifling matter. The five stood at the entrance; as a core disciple, Haoran had permission to enter, but only so far.

“Come here, little one. Sister has something to say,” Bai Ling’er called. Nuo Tian stepped forward. Bai Ling’er knelt and gently tidied his hair, wiping crumbs from his mouth.

She drew from her bosom a token engraved with a fox, this one bearing nine tails and eyes that shimmered with charm. Though Nuo Tian was momentarily dazed, he quickly regained clarity and accepted the token.

Bai Ling’er was astonished, as were the three behind her—they all knew the child had snapped out of it on his own. The Nine-Tailed Token was the supreme symbol of the Spirit Fox Hall, one of two ways to enter the ancestral spirit. Only direct disciples could enter; outer disciples had no chance. The token carried a mysterious power—those who touched it for the first time were easily ensnared. The three had all been caught before, and if not for Bai Ling’er’s timely help, they might have suffered damage to their cultivation. Yet the child needed no aid, awakening himself.

Haoran realized he had underestimated the boy, and the three women’s confidence in him soared—especially Bai Ling’er, who wondered if this was the ancestral spirit’s arrangement.

“Little one, once inside, don’t be afraid of anything. There’s no danger. If anything feels wrong, just call out to the token, and I’ll bring you out,” Bai Ling’er said softly, calming herself.

“Silly boy, if you succeed in obtaining the ancestral spirit, I won’t call you silly anymore!” Nuo Yu stepped forward, tousling his hair—neatly arranged moments before, now disheveled again. It seemed his perpetually messy hair was her doing.

Nuo Xin looked at Nuo Tian. He gazed back at his elder sister. She knelt, gently moved Nuo Yu’s hand away, and carefully arranged his hair. She said nothing, but her eyes shone with deep affection.

Nuo Tian seemed to sense something; his bright eyes gleamed even more, though the others failed to notice.

Standing aside, Haoran scoffed—so many disciples had failed to obtain the ancestral spirit; could this sudden little one succeed?

Xiao Nuo Tian turned, strode to the curtain of light, and stepped through without hesitation. He pushed open the door and entered; it closed behind him.

To the astonishment of the four, the moment the door shut, a roar shook heaven and earth, resounding throughout the Divine Sword Sect and startling countless cultivators from their meditation.