Qingqiu Mountain is not just a single peak, but a name for a vast, continuous mountain range.
The Fox Empress of Tushan’s residence is located on the highest peak.
Compared to the other mountains, the southern slope here is richer in jade, while the northern slope boasts a deeper verdant mist.
After Yun Mu stepped out from the secret space at the mountain’s summit, he immediately felt the temperature wasn’t too cold.
Fortunately, the sun had peeked out today, dispelling much of the chill unique to the peak.
“So this is what the Empress meant by being able to sense things? How amazing…”
He gently touched a rough little tree beside him, speaking to himself.
The Starlight Veil around him seemed to have a life of its own, consciously gathering into his hands and covering the entire tree.
Then, the energy flowed back up to his eyes, intertwining and swirling with the Snow-White Demon Power within his White Brocade.
Eventually, it condensed into a transparent fluid that seeped into his brow.
At this moment, although Yun Mu was only grasping this through blind intuition and limited perception, under this marvelous secret technique, he had roughly understood the shape of this crooked-necked tree.
“Such a pity I can’t see exactly what it looks like.”
Following his senses, he looked upward again, gathering part of his Starlight into his eyes as before, while another portion formed delicate lines tracing over the tree’s surface.
“Hm? What’s this…?”
Suddenly, a milky-white orb, like a glowing sphere, appeared in his “field of vision.”
At the same time, a unique sandalwood scent wafted around his nose.
He instinctively reached out to touch it, but could only feel the rough bark of the tree.
The deeper connection was abruptly cut off.
“Where did you come from, little human brat? Coming up here and touching my body like that,” a hoarse and aged female voice sounded, causing Yun Mu—immersed in the strange sensation—to instinctively step back two paces and stammer.
“Grandma… you… are this tree?”
“You little kid, do you think I touched anyone else? And why are you calling me ‘grandma’? I’m only just over three thousand years old. At that age, I’m still young in our tribe.”
The rapid-fire questions gave him a general understanding of her temper.
Of course, it also told him something that challenged his worldview—in the world of demons, a tree demon over three thousand years old still isn’t considered a grandma.
Whether it was true or not, he didn’t know, but given the situation, he had to accept it for now.
“Then… Tree Demon Sister?”
“Ahem, sister?”
“Hmm… if not grandma, then naturally sister, right?”
“Yes, you kid, you really are clever with your words… Alright, alright, I’m too lazy to argue with you. Just take your hands off me, or I really will start flicking you with these branches.”
Saying this, two dew-drenched twigs lowered and lightly brushed his face, carrying a faint coolness.
“Hands? But I’m not…”
Yun Mu instinctively looked down, shaking his already loosened hands, confused at first but then realizing the problem.
“Sorry, I was rude to bother you.”
Finishing his sentence, he quickly withdrew all his released Starlight energy, bowed respectfully, and then straightened.
The obedient and sensible demeanor made this “Tree Demon Sister” beam with delight.
“No harm done, no harm done. You only did this for a reason, didn’t you? Besides… the aura you carry isn’t unpleasant to me. When Yun Xi said you were a good kid, I didn’t believe her at first.”
The tree demon lightly waved her branches, the leaves brushing against the White Brocade, sending a gentle sensation across his face.
“But now I believe it.”
At once, the Starlight that had been naturally flowing outward from his body began to flow back inside, filling him with a refreshing feeling, like withered wood coming to life in spring.
“What is this…?”
Yun Mu felt the change within himself and was about to ask when a sudden sting erupted in his palm.
He instinctively curled his fingers around his palm.
As the twig flicked away, a spiky leaf was left in his hand, its sharp thorns piercing his skin, causing a faint pain.
Strangely, he didn’t immediately let go despite the pain.
His Sixth Sense, or rather the Starlight Veil enveloping him, told him this thing wasn’t harmful—in fact, it could help ease the Starlight Leak from his body.
After a while, as the coolness in his palm faded, he lifted his eyes again to the crooked-neck tree before him.
The peculiar glowing orb had vanished, leaving only branches swaying gently in the breeze and dewdrops falling on his cheek.
“Thank you.”
After bowing three times, he turned and walked down the mountain along the stone path with growing confidence.
About a hundred miles from there, inside a mountain cave, a beautiful woman with branches entangled in her hair slowly opened her eyes.
She sat cross-legged on a blue stone slab, a smile playing on her lips.
By her side, Li Changyi and Shangguan Xunyi stood one behind the other, watching her.
The former continuously stroked his crane-colored beard with a joyful expression, tinged with a bit of mockery and pride.
The latter tightly gripped the hem of her dress with one hand, her other hand curled over her chest, her brows slightly furrowed, nervous.
“Well? Didn’t I say his personality was pretty good? You didn’t believe Yun Xi’s words, but you wouldn’t dare not believe mine, right, old lady?”
Seeing the woman fully awake, the white-haired old man couldn’t hide his joy.
Laughing, he reached out with a proud expression.
“Hurry up. You lost the bet, so one drop of Pine Needle Jade Dew.”
There was no reply—only a sharp “snap” sound.
Looking over, Li Changyi’s hand bore a deep red mark.
“I told you, Li Changyi, three thousand years in our Song Spirit Tribe is considered youth. Don’t use the Beast Spirit Tribe’s age standards on me, alright?”
After speaking, she conjured out of thin air a slender, dark green narrow-neck jade bottle.
Tilting it slightly, a stream of verdant liquid dripped down.
“Zhan Lixue, you mean your three thousand years is equivalent to my one thousand years? So you’re basically a little girl?”
Just as the Pine Needle Jade Dew was about to hit the ground, Li Changyi quickly bent down and caught it with a single white Feather, enclosing it with his demonic power.
A branch then smacked him on the head.
He paid it no mind, standing up straight with a smile and holding the jade dew high with satisfaction.
After a long moment, he spoke again:
“By the way, who’s next to test him?”
“Not sure. Those others had no real interest from the start. Maybe number eleven? But she probably isn’t as kind-hearted as I am.”
Zhan Lixue stood up, casting her eyes downward at the much shorter elder—nearly two heads shorter than herself—and chuckled softly.
“You Beast Spirits really are small. Humans… even more so.”
“Hey, old lady, what do you mean by small? Don’t you know the phrase ‘a crane standing among chickens’?”
“Nope, and I’m too lazy to know.”
“Damn, don’t walk off! I’m seriously gonna argue with you!”
Seeing the pine tree female demon teasing his height walk away, Li Changyi grew anxious.
Rolling up his sleeves, he looked ready to fight.
“Xunyi, hold onto this bottle of Pine Needle Jade Dew. I’m going to teach her a lesson. Later, I’ll teach you how to use it.”
But after stretching out his hand for a long time, he didn’t get a response from his disciple.
Confused, he turned his head—and the figure in the Cherry Robe was nowhere to be seen.
“Wait! Where’s my big disciple!?”