Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

He was an old man who was so old he looked terrible.

He wore a faded gray cloth robe, his hair was sparse, his face was covered with deep wrinkles, and his skin was as dry and withered as tree bark, clinging tightly to his bones.

He walked very slowly, each step as if he had used all his strength, leaning on a cane made of some kind of wood, which tapped on the ground with a "thud, thud" sound.

Yet, the moment this seemingly frail old man appeared, the earth elemental energy in the entire hall seemed to find its backbone and became incredibly docile.

"Ancestor!"

When Liu Qingshan and Elder Tie saw the old man, their expressions changed drastically, and they immediately knelt down, not daring to raise their heads.

This is the Great Sage Ancestor of the Moving Mountain Sect, who has lived for thousands of years, and also the last remaining treasure of the Moving Mountain Sect.

Gu Xiang's eyes narrowed slightly, and he tightened his grip on the sword.

He could sense that although the old man's life force was exhausted, like a candle flickering in the wind, the hidden power within him was as vast as the sea.

This is a true Great Sage; even though he is near death, he is not someone that can be easily contended with in his current state.

However, the old man neither looked after the village nor paid any attention to his kneeling disciples and grand-disciples.

His cloudy eyes suddenly lit up with a strange light when he saw Su Qing sitting on the snow fox fur cushion.

In that radiance, there was nostalgia, excitement, and deep reverence.

The old man walked shakily to Su Qing and threw away his cane.

To everyone's astonishment, the patriarch of the Mountain Moving Sect actually straightened his clothes and respectfully bowed to Su Qing.

"Little Stone...pays respects to the Goddess Houtu."

The old man's voice was hoarse and trembling, as if he had traveled through ten thousand years and returned to the Taoist boy who used to play in the mud on the back mountain.

The main hall was deathly silent.

Liu Qingshan and Elder Tie's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

What did the ancestor call her?

Little Stone? Is that the old man's nickname?

Su Qing was also stunned.

She looked at the old man who was nearing the end of his life, but had no memory of him.

After all, she was an avatar, inheriting only most of the original's memories and personality.

"You...you've mistaken me for someone else, haven't you?"

Su Qing shifted uncomfortably. Although she usually liked to act like an elder, being knelt before an old man who was several thousand years old still made her feel like it would shorten her lifespan.

"I won't admit I'm wrong."

The old man raised his head, tears welling in his cloudy eyes, and a childlike smile appeared on his face: "Red clothes, bare feet, the appearance of a celestial fox. And this... cough cough, this air of looking down on everyone, exactly the same as ten thousand years ago."

"Back then, when the Empress was sunbathing on the back mountain, Little Stone would fan her from the side."

"You even complained that I was fanning too slowly, so you used your tail to lift me up and throw me onto a tree branch."

Su Qing's lips twitched slightly.

This certainly seems like something that lazy bum like me would do.

It seems this is another debt of passion owed by the original body in the past... no, it's a karmic debt.

Get up.

Su Qing sighed and adopted the demeanor of an elder: "Since we're old friends, don't kneel. With your old bones, I'm afraid you'll break them and then blame me."

The old man chuckled and stood up with Liu Qingshan's help.

His gaze shifted and landed on the jade pendant in Gu Xiang's arms.

To be precise, she was looking at the bulging pocket at Gu Xiang's waist.

There, dwells the earth spirits who, having exhausted their essence in the process of delivering the message, were reduced to their original forms.

"Such a pure earth element spirit."

A hint of pity flashed in the old man's eyes, and he extended his withered finger and gently touched it.

A warm, mellow, earthy-yellow light flew from his fingertips and disappeared into Gu Xiang's pocket.

Gu Xiang felt a heat around his waist.

The next moment, the shriveled and withered radish miraculously became plump again.

"Ouch... Grandpa's suffocating!"

A loud, energetic shout came from the pocket.

Tu Ling, with a head full of emerald green leaves, popped out of Gu Xiang's pocket. It looked around in confusion at first, then immediately spotted Su Qing sitting in the chair.

"Big sister!"

With tears welling up in her eyes, Tu Ling jumped off Gu Xiang and scrambled to Su Qing's feet, hugging her leg and wailing, "Big sister! I thought I'd never see you again! The fire underground was too hot, and the Earth God was too dark, waaaah..."

Su Qing kicked it away a little with her toe in disgust: "Wipe your snot, it's filthy."

Although she expressed her disdain, a hint of a smile flashed in her eyes.

This little thing is so adorable.

The old man, upon that single tap, understood the entire story of the earth spirit, and his wrinkles smoothed out with a smile: "Good child, a spirit with feelings and loyalty. To deliver a message, you even gave up your very essence."

"Now that we've joined Buzhou Mountain... oh no, it's now called the Mountain Moving Sect."

The old man shook his head, seemingly somewhat sentimental: "Since you've come, it must be fate. I've replenished the little fellow's depleted essence and even bestowed upon it a great fortune."

It was only then that the Earth Spirit realized what was happening. It touched its round belly and discovered that a vast and pure power had appeared within its body, even more profound than what it had gained from hundreds of years of cultivation.

It stared wide-eyed at the unassuming old man in front of it and immediately realized that he was a golden opportunity.

"Thank you, Ancestor! May you live a long and prosperous life!"

Tu Ling immediately bowed down, his obsequious manner making Gu Xiang want to facepalm.

This guy really does call whoever is stronger "daddy".

After the reminiscing ended, Su Qing composed herself and became serious again.

"We can catch up later."

Su Qing looked at the old woman and pointed to the depths of the main hall: "Let's keep things separate. Since you acknowledge me as Your Majesty, will you give me my tree or not?"

The atmosphere inside the hall became subtle once again.

Liu Qingshan and Elder Tie watched their ancestor nervously, fearing that he might make a mistake and hand over the sect's lifeline.

The old man remained silent for a moment.

He turned around, looked at Liu Qingshan and the others kneeling on the ground, and suddenly raised his cane and struck Liu Qingshan hard on the back.

"Snapped!"

"You fool!"

The old man cursed, "How dare you touch the Empress's things? That's the sacred tree where the phoenix roosts, containing immense karma and terror! You fools, you only see the chance of life, but not the calamity of death!"

"If you were to truly refine that tree, the Heavenly Tribulation would reduce the Mountain Moving Sect to ashes without the Great Zhou even lifting a finger!"

Liu Qingshan was beaten so badly that he dared not utter a sound and could only bow his head and admit his mistake.

After the old man finished cursing, he coughed violently a few more times, and his breathing became even weaker.

He turned around and gestured for Su Qing and Gu Xiang to enter.

"Your Majesty, and this one too... Prime Minister Gu."

"That tree is right behind us."

"Even though I'm dying, I know there are some things I shouldn't take."

"Now that the main character has arrived, please come with me and take the tree... away."

After saying that, the old man walked unsteadily toward the back of the main hall.

Su Qing and Gu Xiang exchanged a glance.

Gu Xiang sheathed his sword and took Su Qing's hand again.

"Let's go."

The two followed the old man toward the unknown forbidden land.

Seeing this, Tu Ling quickly followed after him with her short legs, not forgetting to turn around and make a face at Liu Qingshan.

It feels so good to have someone protecting you.

Linjiangxian - Recognizing Relatives

The situation in the palace suddenly shifted, and a long sigh startled everyone.

A withered face and white hair are my kindred spirits. The stubbornness of yesteryear is now bowing to my clothes.

When a spirit encounters spring, even withered trees become moist; where can one find such a connection?

Do not dwell on right and wrong, gratitude and resentment. The sacred tree returns to its former master; fortune and misfortune are ultimately determined by one's own heart.