“These are carefully selected by me for you.” Su Xuanxuan’s voice carries pride: “Rage Swordsmanship Canon forges the sword foundation; Nine Cycles Soul Refining Art tempers the soul; Myriad Transformations Return to One integrates the strengths of a hundred schools. If you cultivate all three simultaneously—within three years, you will surely achieve a breakthrough. To set aside the distant future, for the upcoming Chu Family Selection, as long as His Highness studies these techniques well, you will certainly put on a brilliant performance.”
Looking at those jade slips, Chu Yuan’s expression darkens. Of course, he recognizes these techniques. In his previous life, Su Xuanxuan used these very techniques to “cultivate” him. Back then, he was young and naive, believing these techniques could truly make him stronger. But later, Chu Yuan gradually realized they all share a common feature: the longer one cultivates them, the deeper one’s dependence on the teacher becomes. Rage Swordsmanship Canon requires the Fox Venerable’s special spiritual power to “guide” him—no one else can replace it; the advancement of Nine Cycles Soul Refining Art requires a specific catalyst, otherwise one falls into Qi Deviation; Myriad Transformations Return to One is even more insidious—the more one cultivates it, the more one’s internal spiritual energy synchronizes with hers.
In the Fox Venerable’s view, this might be cultivating him; but in Chu Yuan’s eyes, this is nothing short of domestication, turning him into a sword in her hand, forever unable to escape her control.
The more Chu Yuan thinks about it, the more irritated he becomes. Agreeing to move into her courtyard does not mean he will submit to her manipulation. Having been reborn, finally free of the System Restriction, he absolutely will not walk the same old path.
Raising his head, he meets Su Xuanxuan’s fox eyes, which are full of smiles, and says word by word: “Venerable Fox, why must your disciple cultivate according to your ideas? To be honest, your disciple entered the Dao through the Path of Myriad Emotions, aspiring to freedom. If bound by others, it would violate my Dao Heart! I don’t need your guidance from now on!”
Hearing this, Su Xuanxuan’s smile freezes for a moment. Her brows furrow slightly, and a trace of displeasure and confusion flashes in her eyes: “This won’t do!!! This subordinate is at the Dao Harmonization stage. If His Highness accepts my guidance, it’s like standing on the shoulders of a giant—how many years of detours could you skip? Why must it be like this?” Her voice rises as she speaks, carrying a tone of natural urgency, as if asking: ‘Yuan’er, why are you refusing? How dare you refuse? This subordinate has done so much for you—can’t you see that?’ The Fox Venerable doesn’t understand: she has given him the best techniques, the best resources, the best guidance—why is he so resistant and disgusted?
Facing the interrogation, Chu Yuan fires back: “Venerable Fox, you just don’t get it! The Dao De Jing says: ‘To be bent is to become whole. To be crooked is to become straight. Reversal is the movement of the Dao.’ Things always transform into their opposites. What you call ‘straight’ is a shortcut, but in reality, ‘bent’ is what works! Especially since your disciple cultivates the Path of Myriad Emotions, to experience countless emotions, one must walk more detours to truly reach the Dao Harmonization and Mahayana stages!!!”
Regarding the path he must take, Chu Yuan has long had plans. As for the “shortcuts” the Fox Venerable offers, in Chu Yuan’s eyes after being reborn, they are nothing more than a road to the palm of her hand—a road of no return. He does not want to be controlled anymore! Does not want to be kidnapped by those three words “for your own good”! Does not want to be a marionette on her strings!!!
Hearing Chu Yuan quote classics, Su Xuanxuan’s mouth opens slightly, momentarily unable to refute. But her obsession with the Holy Son still makes her fly into a rage out of humiliation: “Nonsense! Don’t think citing a few sayings of great masters can refute me. I am also doing this for your own good! Holy Son, why don’t you understand my good intentions?”
Chu Yuan rolls his eyes helplessly, having a flashback to his past life. The problem is, given his current identity, he is merely a recently come-of-age collateral disciple. As such a junior, he really has no right to question this superpower of the Dao Harmonization stage.
What should he do then?
After a moment of silence, Chu Yuan suddenly thinks of his “Ring Spirit Ancestor” persona. Through the “Ring Spirit Ancestor” identity, he has a chance to convince this fox.
Acting on the thought, Chu Yuan immediately activates the Phantom Ethereal Dharma Robe on him and begins to mimic. In an instant, his translucent robe flows like liquid mercury, transforming from plain white into deep black; his face is shrouded in a thin layer of mist, eventually solidifying into a copper coin mask; and his exposed ink-black eyes narrow halfway, pretending to be weathered and aged.
Watching this, the young dragon in Chu Yuan’s arms stares with round, wide vertical pupils. Its dragon tail unconsciously straightens, its dragon face full of confusion: “Chef, what’s with this outfit?” How did its chef suddenly turn into this? But based on the spiritual energy fluctuations, Gu Su Die feels it’s still the same person.
Seeing Chu Yuan suddenly change his attire, Su Xuanxuan guesses something and hesitantly asks: “Sir, may I ask if you are Elder Ring Spirit?” She hasn’t forgotten that beside her Holy Son, there is a mysterious existence claiming to be a remnant soul of a Chu Clan ancestor.
Hearing the Fox Venerable’s inquiry, Chu Yuan, wearing the copper coin mask, nods. Raising his hand, he strokes an imaginary long beard and says in a deep voice: “Venerable Fox. I’m afraid I don’t quite approve of your current educational methods!”
Su Xuanxuan’s brows furrow slightly. If it were Chu Yuan, she could still rely on her seniority to be unreasonable; but this old man is at least an ancestor of the Chu Clan from some generation, so the Fox Venerable, as a Guardian, has to show some courtesy.
Before she can think of how to respond, Chu Yuan continues: “Besides, this child is quite resistant to you. The task of cultivating him should be left to me!”
Su Xuanxuan’s brows furrow even tighter. Cultivating the Holy Son is her business, an opportunity she has waited over a decade for. She absolutely cannot let others take over! Especially this old man who claims to be an ancestor but brushed off his own name with the excuse of “amnesia.” If one were to question his suspicious nature, it would be highly questionable! Su Xuanxuan absolutely refuses to entrust the Holy Son’s cultivation to someone so dubious. “No, I—”
“Words are useless.” Before she can say more, Chu Yuan directly interrupts. He doesn’t want to endlessly haggle with her and says bluntly: “Before you came, I have already been training this child for some time. I hear the Venerable Fox is renowned for your sword techniques. Why not suppress your cultivation and spar with the child?”
Chu Yuan’s feigned aged eyes fix on Su Xuanxuan: “If he can survive three of your rounds, then let the child continue his cultivation under me. If he loses, I will help persuade the child to accept your training. What do you say?”
Oh? A bet?
Su Xuanxuan is intrigued: This Elder Ring Spirit wants to make a bet with me?
Looking at Chu Yuan’s aged, composed eyes, seemingly full of confidence, she feels an inexplicable wariness: On what basis is he so confident? Why does he think Yuan’er can withstand three of my moves? No, that’s not important! What matters is that if I win, no matter how unwilling Yuan’er is, he will have to accept my teaching!
This thought tempts Su Xuanxuan: “Alright.”
Chu Yuan nods: “Then let’s not delay.” He can’t wait to shake off her control.
But Su Xuanxuan raises her hand, stopping him: “Not now.”
Chu Yuan is confused: “Venerable Fox, what do you mean?”
Su Xuanxuan’s brows arch, her smile deepening: “Nine days from now, I will arrange a training session for the Chu Clan collateral disciples. During these nine days, Elder, you may continue to train the Holy Son. That way, when His Highness and I spar later and lose, you won’t say I won unworthily. How about that?” Her voice remains gentle, but her eyes hide a hint of mockery.
Feeling her gaze, Chu Yuan’s heart sinks: This fox gives me so much time—how confident is she in her own strength? Didn’t she notice during her inspection yesterday that my cultivation has already reached the Domain Transformation Realm?
As if sensing his thoughts, Su Xuanxuan adds: “Of course! By then, both parties in the spar will have their cultivation realms suppressed to the Qi Sensing stage! Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to reflect the Holy Son’s true level.”
That being said, the Fox Venerable gives him all this time partly to make him lose thoroughly and without doubt. On the other hand, what she wants is never a spar, but a crushing. During the process of growth, injury is unavoidable.
Su Xuanxuan knows she is helping him. Helping him face reality! Helping him abandon those pointless pride and resistance! Helping him walk onto the path she deems most correct, most efficient, and safest!!!
All for the better cultivation of the Holy Son! When he ascends the throne as Holy Lord, he will surely understand her good intentions.
Looking at Su Xuanxuan’s smiling eyes, Chu Yuan can read the possessiveness and desire for control within. To get rid of her, he must win the bet: “It’s a deal!”
With that, Chu Yuan deactivates his mimicry, looking at the Fox Venerable in his original form, and says solemnly: “I trust the Venerable Fox will keep her word!”
Su Xuanxuan nods: “Naturally! And I expect His Highness the Holy Son to keep his word if he loses.”
Hearing their exchange, the young dragon lying on Chu Yuan’s chest shifts its vertical pupils back and forth between the two. Seeing that its chef is about to fight again, its little claws grip Chu Yuan’s collar tighter: “Chef, can you beat this fox?”
Looking down at the young dragon in his arms, its eyes full of worry, Chu Yuan’s lips curl upward slightly. He says softly: “I don’t know, but I have to try.” He says this, but in his heart, he naturally has confidence, otherwise he wouldn’t have proposed the bet. Still, in front of the Fox Venerable, Chu Yuan can’t reveal it.
Watching this person and dragon whispering, Su Xuanxuan’s smile remains on her lips, as if watching prey make futile struggles in a cage. When Chu Yuan looks up again, she speaks: “Alright! Holy Son, you are free to cultivate these few days.”
As she speaks, her gaze shifts from Chu Yuan to the young dragon in his arms, her smile deepening ninefold: “Sovereign, come with me. I will personally teach you the method of cultivation.”
Hearing this, Gu Su Die perks up. Although it dislikes this fox, it has to admit: her cultivation is indeed unfathomably deep. To recover its previous life’s strength as soon as possible, Gu Su Die must learn from her in order to protect its chef better.
At the Fox Venerable’s summons, its dragon tail lightly flicks on Chu Yuan’s wrist, then it leaps into the air. Waggling its tail, Gu Su Die steadily flies into Su Xuanxuan’s arms.
Catching it, Su Xuanxuan’s fingertips gently stroke its dragon scales, her smile warm like a kind elder.
Watching this scene, Chu Yuan feels an inexplicable unease in his heart. To be safe, he cautions her seriously: “Venerable Fox, you know well the Sovereign’s identity. Please take great care and never harm my Sovereign.”
Looking at the Holy Son’s grave gaze, Su Xuanxuan’s eyes flicker with confusion: Why does my Yuan’er value this young dragon so much?