Becoming a Fox Spirit from Under One Person

Compared to the various techniques of sword energy, Zhang Zhiwei was more curious about Chen Ruoan's movement skills.

It moves without any warning, and its trajectory is impossible to track. When a person moves, it is as light and agile as the mist in the forest, as elusive as a fox spirit from Qingqiu. In a flash, it has already changed its location, leaving an indistinct shadow that makes it difficult to discern its true nature.

Zhang Zhiwei dared not be negligent. He chanted the Golden Light Mantra, and a purer, more brilliant golden light rose from his body, protecting his entire being.

His eyes were serious, and there was no longer a trace of disrespect between his brows; he was ready for battle.

At this moment, Zhang Huaiyi, carrying a broom, hurried up the mountain and stood beside Zhang Jingqing, his eyes fixed on the scene. He whispered:

"Master, my senior brother's expression has changed."

Zhang Jingqing stroked his beard and smiled: "He should change."

"Sword techniques are not uncommon; schools like the Flowing Cloud Sword and Penglai Sword Pavilion have exquisite traditions in them. But the opponent's Shadow Shift technique is ethereal and traceless, unparalleled in the world of lightness skills."

Zhang Huaiyi lowered his voice, full of doubt: "This disciple has never heard of such a person in the industry. Master, where did you find him?"

Zhang Jingqing smiled and said, "I didn't find him. This young man in front of me is the spirit fox that Zhiwei encountered during his travels years ago."

"So that's how it is."

Zhang Huaiyi gripped the broom tightly, silently watching the duel unfold.

Only with like-minded partners can one improve oneself. My senior brother will surely go even further this time, and I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to catch up with him again.

Zhang Huaiyi's unease intensified.

The competition had already stirred up a ripple, alarming the Taoist priests of Longhu Mountain. They climbed all over the walls and squeezed through the cracks in the doors, making the area incredibly lively.

Zhang Jingqing did not stop them, letting the disciples whisper among themselves outside the arena.

"I wonder if this benefactor can make Zhang Zhiwei suffer a setback?"

"It's hard to say about my abilities... but I hope so!"

···

With his longsword in hand, Chen Ruoan's eyes gleamed with golden light. After a careful examination, he could find almost no flaw in the Taoist priest before him.

It's okay.

The fox murmured to itself.

The purpose was to make friends through martial arts; victory or defeat was merely a matter of worldly fame. What mattered more was the prayer of Master Jingqing.

Therefore, we must leave Zhang Zhiwei with a deeply memorable experience of scheming and plotting, and also have a contest of equal skill, with every move meaningful and substantial, in order to live up to this agreement at the mountain gate.

call out!

Chen Ruoan used Flash to approach Zhang Zhiwei. The life force nurtured by the Green Vine Sword exploded with the sword energy and attached itself to the protective golden light. After the energy settled, the viscous and damp green liquid slowly flowed along the light shield.

Zhang Zhiwei's golden light materialized into a blade, representing a desolate and broken golden blade, which collided with the green vine sword representing growth.

boom!

The sound of clashing weapons suddenly rang out, and the green vines and leaves snapped and fell, scattering all over the ground.

Zhang Zhiwei flicked his arm, wiping away the green liquid that had stained the golden light, and asked, "You can use poison too?"

"I know a little bit about it."

Chen Ruoan sighed softly, "It's really difficult."

Zhang Huaiyi used the dry, scorching, fierce, and violent Yang Five Thunder to break Zhang Zhiwei's golden light, but among all the fox's methods, the only one that can be described as fierce is his manifested true form.

Clearly, now is not the time to reveal their true identity.

Indeed, cunning and treacherous are characteristics of a fox.

Taoist priest, I'm sorry, the fox is about to start a scheme.

Chen Ruoan puffed out his cheeks and gently blew towards the ground. A demonic wind rose, and a wisp of water vapor mixed with fox energy rose and swirled, enveloping the entire area in rain and mist. For a moment, the scenery was hazy and the atmosphere was mysterious.

Zhang Zhiwei's fingertips twitched slightly, sensing something was amiss.

The Qi contained within the rain and mist can slowly degrade his protective golden aura.

"This method sounds so familiar..."

Zhang Zhiwei murmured in a low voice, then suddenly shook his sleeve, dispersing the surrounding rain and mist, before striking out with his palm.

Chen Ruoan neither dodged nor avoided, but raised his palm to meet the attack. Zhang Zhiwei subconsciously reduced his strength slightly, because the palm of the other party was coated with green poison.

In a flash, the fox shifted its body, slightly bent its five fingers, and slapped Zhang Zhiwei's left cheek.

This move is familiar to me too.

Zhang Zhiwei immediately returned the favor, shaking the opponent's upper dantian in the same way.

The two were perfectly in sync, simultaneously dodging to the side. However, the palm wind emanating from Zhang Zhiwei was still fierce, blowing off the cloth on Chen Ruoan's head and revealing two soft fox ears.

"Huh?" Zhang Zhiwei was taken aback.

In his moment of distraction, a luminous white pill swirled above his head, and a ghostly blue foxfire erupted from it, piercing through the golden light protection and drilling straight into his body.

An indescribable discomfort spread throughout his body, a feeling very similar to the sensation he experienced when he was struck by Fang Dongtian's Yang Spirit during their sparring session years ago.

Zhang Zhiwei recognized the person before him and laughed, "A wanderer, a wanderer, your cultivation is both scattered and mixed. There are so many methods that it's overwhelming."

"No, it should be called a scattered fox."

Stab it!

Thunder roared through the rain and mist, instantly clearing the area. The finely woven lightning coalesced into a cage, blocking all of Chen Ruoan's escape routes.

"Captured, a man-eating beast." Zhang Zhiwei raised his hand.

As the blinding lightning dissipated, a fox corpse lay curled up with charred fur inside the lightning prison. Its long, pointed mouth was slightly open, its tongue lolling out, giving it a truly dead appearance.

"Huh?"

"what?"

"No, Fox, how did you die?" Zhang Zhiwei removed the lightning prisoner and stepped forward to check.

The fox was dead, devoid of any life force, yet it still retained a breath of "qi".

Qi?

The fox corpses scattered, and another fox rushed over and kicked the Taoist priest's cheeks several times.

Um! ?

The Taoist priests watching began to stir: "Was Zhang Zhiwei just kicked by a fox?"

···

Zhang Zhiwei steadied himself and rubbed his face: "You insidious fox, what tricks did you use?"

"This tactic is called 'taking advantage of someone's kindness'."

"I'm referring to the corpse from earlier."

Chen Ruoan transformed into human form, pinching a faint golden light between his fingers: "Through the insight gained from the Golden Eyes and the Qi circulation method of the Golden Light Mantra, I have come to understand one of the Five Elements Illusion Techniques: Flowing Light Illusion."

"Of course, there's also one of the Five Elements Escape Techniques: Metal Escape Flowing Light."

"Huh?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingqing stumbled and almost rushed straight into the arena.

The Golden Light Master's signature move, the Golden Escape Flowing Light, such a secret technique, has been figured out by a fox?

"Huaiyi, open your eyes wide and look carefully. Such an opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance." Zhang Jingqing suppressed her surprise and solemnly instructed her beloved disciple beside her.

Zhang Huaiyi nodded heavily, his gaze fixed intently on the arena.

Chen Ruoan drew a wisp of pure Qi and condensed it into a tiny glimmer that flickered in his palm.

The light spots gathered and grew brighter and brighter...

In an instant, a dazzling golden light exploded, its intense brilliance scattering in all directions, making people dizzy and disoriented, almost unable to look directly at it.

Zhang Zhiwei raised his sleeve to cover his eyes, but before he could react, a huge fox claw slammed down from the air, its powerful force sending him straight into the courtyard.

Zhang Huaiyi hesitated, then stammered, "Master, that move just now... didn't seem to be the Golden Escape Flowing Light."

Zhang Jingqing stroked his beard and coughed twice to cover his embarrassment: "That's right, the fox was just bluffing and trying to scare people."

"Master..."

"What's wrong?"

"I'm blind."

"Huh?" Zhang Jingqing turned her head and saw Zhang Huaiyi looking like a fool who had temporarily lost his sight. The Taoist priest was furious and raised his hand, as if to hit his disciple on the forehead: "You idiot, you sensed something was wrong with the golden light, why didn't you close your eyes and avoid it?"

"But Master just told me to keep my eyes wide open and watch carefully," Zhang Huaiyi muttered aggrievedly. "Who would have thought the fox was so cunning?"

"Huaiyi, I said you have a thief in your heart. You're usually clever, cautious, and adaptable, so why are you being so overly straightforward in this matter?"

"Master, please don't scold me. I know I was wrong."

···

Not far away, the mountain breeze swept through the courtyard, carrying away some of the lingering fox scent and golden embers. Zhang Zhiwei propped himself up on his knees, gently brushed off the dust and vine petals that clung to his Taoist robe, and nodded slightly to Chen Ruoan.

"Well done, you fox, trying to play dirty tricks on me, huh?"

"Are you angry?" Chen Ruoan narrowed her eyes and saw Zhang Zhiwei's palm brimming with terrifying power.