"Too weak!"
Looking at the small beast under his feet, which resembled both a fox and a Pallas's cat, clinging to his trouser leg and unable to even tear through his pants with its bite, Yu Zhibo couldn't help but chuckle, yet also feel a touch of pity.
If it weren't for the aura of a fragment of the World Heart, identical to his own, within its body, he wouldn't have recognized this little beast as Bai Chanyi's elder sister.
"Immortal, spare our lives! This child is young and doesn't know proper etiquette. Please, Immortal, show mercy and let it go."
Compared to the ignorant little fox, the mother Pallas's cat could sense Yu Zhibo's terrifying presence more acutely. Seeing her daughter foolishly trying to bite him, her eyes nearly bulged out in alarm.
Hearing her tell her to run, she felt a mix of shock, fear, and deep affection.
"You fool, let go of the Immortal quickly and kneel to apologize!"
The mother Pallas's cat gritted her teeth and immediately rushed forward to give the little fox a slap, hoping to appease Yu Zhibo and secure their freedom.
However, she held little hope. An esteemed Immortal like Yu Zhibo would consider even a glance from a weak spirit beast like herself an insult, let alone her daughter's audacious biting.
A hint of sorrow flickered in the mother Pallas's cat's eyes.
Just as she was about to reach the little fox, a gentle force stopped her.
"Don't be afraid, Aunt Pallas's Cat."
Yu Zhibo smiled at the mother Pallas's cat, genuinely feeling it was fortunate for Bai Chanyi's sister to have such a kind-hearted elder, despite her sharp tongue.
"Aunt Pallas's Cat?"
The mother Pallas's cat was utterly stunned by the address. The aloof Immortal was referring to himself as a junior and calling her "Aunt"?
She remained frozen, her furry face appearing somewhat dazed.
Yu Zhibo shifted his attention back to the little fox at his feet. With a thought, the little fox levitated, meeting his gaze.
"Bad guy, what are you doing!"
The little fox glared at him with its big, dark eyes, baring its teeth.
"Don't be afraid, little... uh... I mean you no harm!" Yu Zhibo instinctively wanted to call it "little one," but then remembered it was Bai Chanyi's sister and found it difficult to say.
After a moment of thought, he willed a pot of braised spirit chicken to appear before him, its aroma filling the air.
The anger in the little fox's eyes receded like a tide as it stared intently at the braised chicken.
The mother Pallas's cat was also stunned, confused by Yu Zhibo's intentions.
The meticulously cooked braised spirit chicken was incredibly tempting to such a small beast. Yu Zhibo could even sense rustling sounds from the surroundings – other Pallas's cats and foxes drawn by the scent. However, upon sensing Yu Zhibo's terrifying aura, they instantly fled.
"This place is too public. Let's talk elsewhere."
Yu Zhibo waved his hand, transporting the little fox and the mother Pallas's cat to the wooden house within the Pure Land space. He placed the braised spirit chicken on the table and prepared various exquisite desserts.
"Mother, these foods smell so good!" The little fox's eyes were filled with longing, paying no attention to the change in surroundings, its gaze fixed solely on the food.
The mother Pallas's cat also stared intently at the food on the table. After glancing at Yu Zhibo, who was smiling, a look of resolve appeared in her eyes.
"Eat!"
The food before them was too tempting. Although she didn't understand the purpose of Yu Zhibo's actions, she couldn't resist. It was better to feast before facing whatever came.
After a whirlwind of eating, the little fox let out a satisfied burp, and the mother Pallas's cat, while looking content, also wore an expression of resigned determination.
She closed her eyes, awaiting her fate.
"There's no need to put on such an expression. I told you I mean you no harm."
Yu Zhibo gently tapped the mother Pallas's cat's forehead, transmitting information about the little fox's identity into her mind.
Although the mother Pallas's cat was merely a small E-class spirit beast, she was the little fox's second mother and treated her very well. She deserved to know the little fox's background.
"What did you do to my mother?!"
Seeing the mother Pallas's cat fall into a daze after Yu Zhibo's touch, the little fox, believing her mother had met with misfortune, immediately became enraged.
Yu Zhibo remained silent. His Rinnegan flashed with purple light, and his spiritual power delved into the little fox's sea of consciousness.
The little fox's sea of consciousness was a space filled with turbid gray energy, a common sight in the consciousness of spirit beasts as their intelligence began to awaken.
At the center of the sea of consciousness was a semi-transparent ball of consciousness, surrounded by bubbles – memories related to the little fox.
Yu Zhibo had no interest in the past of the little fox's rebirth. What he sought was the little fox's true spirit and its activation. Only then could she awaken her true consciousness and recall everything from her past.
In the sea of consciousness, Yu Zhibo's spiritual power transformed into a golden figure, soaring through the endless gray mist. Soon, deep within the gray fog, he spotted a slumbering Heavenly Fox spirit.
This Heavenly Fox bore little difference in appearance to Bai Chanyi after her transformation, being entirely snow-white, with red eyeshadow at the corners of her eyes and three vibrant petal patterns on her brow, exuding an exceptionally alluring aura.
"Awaken!"
Yu Zhibo's spiritual avatar let out a soft command, like a resounding bell, carrying a soul-stirring power, drilling towards the brow of the Heavenly Fox spirit.
The Heavenly Fox spirit's body trembled.
The next moment, it slowly opened a pair of wine-red eyes.
"Who are you? Why do you disturb my slumber!"
The Heavenly Fox spirit coldly regarded Yu Zhibo's spiritual avatar. In the next instant, its pupils contracted, and its coldness instantly turned to fear.
Even though Yu Zhibo's spiritual avatar was merely a wisp of spirit, the Heavenly Fox spirit still sensed Yu Zhibo's terrifying presence.
Could she resist if such a terrifying being intended to possess her?
The Heavenly Fox spirit braced for the worst.
"Even if you've lost your physical body, you shouldn't be unable to sense my goodwill." Yu Zhibo looked at the vigilant Heavenly Fox with a hint of helplessness.
The Heavenly Fox spirit's expression froze: Why would this cultivator of terrifying strength wear such an expression!?
Yu Zhibo shook his head. "Chanyi is much better. You know, when Bai Chanyi first met me in the second chapter, she trusted me immediately."
However, he still needed to maintain a certain demeanor. He cleared his throat and said with a solemn expression:
"It's our first meeting. I am your sister Bai Chanyi's husband, which makes me your brother-in-law, Yu Zhibo!"
"Bai Chanyi? Xiao Jiu?"
The Heavenly Fox spirit murmured these key words. After a moment of stunned silence, its expression turned incredibly excited, and its voice trembled as it asked, "Are you really Xiao Jiu's husband?"
Its gaze towards Yu Zhibo was filled with anticipation and disbelief.
Yu Zhibo nodded slightly. "Look into my eyes."
The Heavenly Fox spirit instinctively focused its gaze and then sank into a world of memories.
Everything began when the young man encountered a black cat fighting dogs in an alley...