The Aloof Immortal Venerable is Pregnant with My Fox Cub - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Tan Qingxuan took out a Demon Race communication token from her sleeve and handed it to Song Zhen.

“I encountered a Core Condensation stage demon cultivator. I was still severely injured at the time and almost perished at the demon cultivator’s hands. Fortunately, Cang Ran saved me. After returning to heal, I used a secret method to temporarily restore my realm to the Void Refining stage and subsequently killed the demon cultivator.”

Song Zhen took the token to examine it, finding the demon cultivator’s remnant soul still on it. Hearing the perilous process her Senior Sister described, her heart instantly tightened.

Cang Ran clenched her paws. She knew why that demon cultivator never showed up again. It turned out Qingqing had killed him, likely on the night she thought Qingqing had run away from her.

Qingqing had used this dangerous method to rapidly increase her cultivation because she didn’t want Cang Ran to worry. She wondered if this would have any negative effects on Qingqing.

Cang Ran’s heart seized up, and she quickly asked Song Zhen: “Do you have a way to treat Qingqing?”

Although Song Zhen was grateful to the fox demon for saving her Senior Sister’s life, hearing Cang Ran call her Senior Sister “Qingqing” still prompted her to correct: “You must address my Senior Sister as Immortal Venerable, not by her given name. I naturally have a way to treat her. I must first refine some elixirs for Senior Sister.”

As long as it’s treatable. As long as she could save Qingqing, she would temporarily forgive this arrogant woman.

Cang Ran twitched her ears and said perfunctorily: “Got it, got it. Immortal Venerable Qingxuan, right? I’ll call her that day and night from now on.”

Song Zhen saw her disrespectful attitude but suppressed her emotions for her Senior Sister’s sake and cautioned Tan Qingxuan: “Senior Sister, this method is very dangerous. Do not use it again. I observe that your meridians are damaged, and the effects will likely manifest in the next two days. You will require acupuncture, medicinal conditioning, and immersion in a medicinal spring for ten days to fully recover.”

Tan Qingxuan nodded slightly and said warmly: “Junior Sister, it is just the two of us here. Cang Ran saved my life, so she may call me Qingqing. Has anything else happened in the sect recently?”

Song Zhen reported truthfully: “The demon beasts causing trouble in the mortal realm have been cleaned up for now. The Demon Realm suffered heavy losses this time, and the Demon Lord was also injured, so there shouldn’t be any more major disturbances for a while.

However, the Guiyuan Sect recently lost a supreme sect treasure and suspects that a disciple of our Taixuan Sect is responsible. Knowing you are not here to preside, they have repeatedly collided with the spiritual ships and flying swords of our disciples who are out training, and they have had friction with the guards at several high-grade spiritual vein monitoring posts. I have already sent people to investigate, and none of our disciples stole their treasure.”

Tan Qingxuan recalled the Gold Core stage cultivator Cang Ran encountered. The disciple uniform he wore did look somewhat like the Guiyuan Sect’s. The spiritual mushroom the little fox took from his jade thumb ring might very well be the sect treasure stolen by that disciple.

“Write a letter to Qi Fengping, stating that our sect has self-investigated and found no one who stole the treasure. Tell them to investigate their internal spies. If they can’t find them and still try to pin this on the Taixuan Sect, the Taixuan Sect will not let the matter rest!”

Song Zhen immediately agreed, her expression becoming solemn as she thought of her Senior Sister’s experience with the thunder tribulation in the Demon Realm: “Senior Sister, are there any signs of ascending to the upper realm after this dangerous thunder tribulation?”

Tan Qingxuan shook her head slightly: “No. I entered the Mahayana stage at two hundred years old, and at three hundred, I touched upon the secrets of the heavens. This world should not have been able to stop my ascension, but for some unknown reason, there has been no Heavenly Stairway descent for nearly five hundred years, trapping me in this realm.”

Song Zhen frowned: “Master predicted before her ascension that Senior Sister is a person of great destiny in this world, born with the protection of the Heavenly Dao. There should be no obstacles. In recent years, even Senior Sister cannot ascend, and it is even less possible for cultivators from other Immortal Sects. If this continues, I fear a calamity will eventually befall the cultivation world.”

Tan Qingxuan suddenly recalled the talk of “destiny” mentioned by the little fox. If that person truly followed destiny, why would she have been so easily slain by her? She dismissed it as baseless nonsense.

Tan Qingxuan lowered her eyes and said: “I will continue to search slowly. Perhaps it is the will of heaven that I remain in this realm. Junior Sister, cultivate diligently. Perhaps the two of us can ascend to the upper realm together in the future.”

Song Zhen sighed: “I am clumsy and dull. I was only a rogue cultivator back then. If Master hadn’t taken me as a disciple, how could I have had the chance to receive Master’s teachings with Senior Sister? I am now over a thousand years old but only in the Void Refining stage. It would be extremely fortunate for me to enter the Mahayana stage before my lifespan runs out.”

Tan Qingxuan encouraged her: “Master took you in because she saw your great perseverance and dedication to the Dao. Your talent is not poor. Do not undervalue yourself. You will surely find your own opportunity someday.”

Hearing her Senior Sister’s comforting words, Song Zhen cheered up and nodded: “Yes, Senior Sister is absolutely right. I will treat Senior Sister’s injuries first.”

Cang Ran had been listening to their long discussion. Now that they were finally finished, her droopy fox ears perked up again, and she shook her entire body of fox fur.

It turns out there hasn’t been a way to ascend in this world for nearly five hundred years. Was this to pave the way for the original male lead’s counterattack, allowing him to lead everyone to ascension? How devious! But Ye Ze was dead, wasn’t he? Where would the opportunity for ascension be now?

She had only read up to the part where the red fox spirit died and hadn’t read the rest of the plot. She should have read more of the later content. Maybe she could have helped Tan Qingxuan solve her current predicament.

After worrying for Tan Qingxuan, Cang Ran suddenly remembered something: Wasn’t she supposed to run away? Why was she considering such things for Tan Qingxuan?

Cang Ran was lost in thought when Tan Qingxuan suddenly set her down. Tan Qingxuan rubbed her fox head again: “Junior Sister needs some time to treat my injury. You and the little hedgehog play inside the palace for a while and come back later.”

Talking with Tan Qingxuan and her Junior Sister, two very boring people, was like listening to someone chant scriptures. The little hedgehog had already curled up and fallen asleep.

Cang Ran nodded, kicked the little hedgehog’s plump butt, and the little hedgehog rolled a few steps, waking up confused.

Cang Ran walked ahead, beckoning to the little hedgehog: “Let’s go, let’s go for a walk.”

The little hedgehog quickly followed behind the Great King. They walked around Fuyuan Palace several times and toured the side halls, finding that, just as Tan Qingxuan said, nothing was missing—it was ready for immediate occupancy.

They jumped onto the high eaves of Fuyuan Palace together, looking down. Everything here was orderly, and all the disciples were diligently practicing. Almost all of them were female disciples.

Just as they were starting to feel cold and were about to return to the side hall to rest, Lin Mingyue arrived with a group of people, carrying large and small items.

Before they even got close, Cang Ran smelled an alluring aroma. She sniffed her nose and realized it was the smell of roasted beef jerky.

Oh my god! How long had it been since she had gotten something for nothing? Finally, she didn’t have to cook herself; takeout was delivered to her door.

Lin Mingyue had the people put the items down and said: “These are the things Master instructed me to collect from the Spiritual Beast Hall. Please see if they are to your liking. The fox den and hedgehog nest are newly made, crafted from Ten-Thousand-Year Spiritual Wood. The quilts and pillows inside are made of Spiritual Silkworm Silk.

These are the food and water bowls you will use daily, bath creams, and some toys. The monthly allowance for spiritual beasts is eight hundred mid-grade spiritual stones per beast, which can be given to the Spiritual Food Hall people to separately add dishes you like.”

Zheng Mingxin had come with her Senior Sister. She held many bags of prepared beast food and carried a brand-new food box in her right hand, which contained the meal she had gotten today.

“I didn’t know what you liked to eat. The people at the Spiritual Beast Hall in the sect gave us a little of everything. The food box contains a portion of every exquisite small dish. I’ve been on Biguan for many years and haven’t been to the Spiritual Food Hall in a long time. These were recommended to me by my newly initiated Junior Sister.”

As soon as she finished speaking, two bags in Zheng Mingxin’s hand were emptied. The little hedgehog demon had happily rolled around in its beautiful hedgehog nest.

One of its paws was filled with specially prepared spiritual chicken meat, and the other paw held a pile of spiritual dried fruits. It stuffed them into its mouth, its cheeks bulging.

Its two short legs wiggled happily as it said to the Great King: “So fragrant! This is too delicious! Great King, hurry and eat with me!”

Zheng Mingxin saw that the little hedgehog had succumbed and continued to introduce the food to the little fox: “This spiritual beast food not only has beef jerky but also chicken jerky, pigeon jerky, duck jerky, fish jerky, and many others! Anything that flies in the sky, runs on the ground, or swims in the water, as long as it can be seen, the disciples of our Taixuan Sect can catch it!”

Cang Ran twitched her claws. Stop talking! Hurry and present the spiritual meat jerky to the Great King!

This little disciple was babbling on and on, showing no sense of expediency.

Zheng Mingxin immediately handed all the spiritual beast food to Cang Ran. Cang Ran sniffed the tip of her nose. Fragrant! Truly fragrant!

This jerky was clearly freshly roasted, still steaming. The special seasoning sprinkled on top hooked the fox’s heart like a small fishing lure.

Cang Ran took a bite. The meat was savory, oozing oil. The Taixuan Sect should change its name. Spiritual Beast Rearing Base would be better.

The level of the person who made this spiritual beast food was quite high. She must kidnap the chef along with her when she runs away.

With the Great Fox King’s stomach conquered, Cang Ran was very easy to talk to. She nodded and said: “The items are all good. I accept them. Just move my den into your Immortal Venerable’s sleeping quarters. Next time, make this jerky a little spicier. I like spicy food, but not too spicy.”

The fluffy, beautiful little fox issuing orders made it impossible to dislike her.

Lin Mingyue said: “We cannot enter the Immortal Venerable’s sleeping quarters.”

Cang Ran waved her paw magnanimously: “Then put it in the side hall for now. I’ll move it myself when I return.”

Lin Mingyue followed the little fox’s instructions, placing the fox den and hedgehog nest in a corner of the side hall not far from the sleeping quarters, in a slightly darker area.

The other daily use items were displayed on the multi-treasure cabinet, making them easy to retrieve if needed.

Lin Mingyue had the things put down and immediately left. Zheng Mingxin pleaded with her senior sister to stay a little longer to serve the little fox, but Lin Mingyue reminded her that she had a sword technique class in the afternoon and couldn’t be late.

Zheng Mingxin quickly nodded. After guaranteeing she wouldn’t be late, she personally watched her senior sister leave. As soon as her senior sister was gone, she sprang into action.

“Little Fox, I brought you all your favorite foods. Hurry and try them.”

Zheng Mingxin took the meal out of the food box one by one. Even Cang Ran felt the extravagance: mutton stewed with spiritual ginseng, pig trotters roasted with deer antler, bird’s nest and silver fungus soup. What are they trying to do? Are they trying to kill her little fox with over-nourishment?

“How is it? Surprised? Senior Sister isn’t here, so eat more. Otherwise, she’ll think I’m still just thinking about food all the time even though I’ve reached Biguan,” Zheng Mingxin brought out the last dish and placed a bottle of elixir on the table.

“This is a Peiyuan Pill that I secretly gave you before. Only inner-sect disciples can eat it. It’s good for your health. I have to go, or I’ll miss the afternoon sword technique class. You can find me next time if you need anything. My name is Zheng Mingxin, and I live in the Hundred Views Garden, the exclusive courtyard for inner-sect disciples.”

Cang Ran sighed, looking at the pig trotters, and waved her paw: “You go. Next time.”

“Then I’m leaving. I’ll leave this food box here. When you finish eating, put the plates inside, and they will automatically clean and transmit back to the Spiritual Food Hall.”

Zheng Mingxin saw the little fox seemed uninterested, thinking the dishes she chose this time weren’t good. She pondered how to send something else next time, waved goodbye, and left.

The little hedgehog brought its new food bowl and sat beside the Great King: “Great King, the food made by these human cultivators is too delicious! It smells so good!”

Cang Ran glanced at the little hedgehog’s golden food bowl. Now even the little hedgehog’s status has risen, and it eats from a golden food bowl.

Although they were all highly nourishing items, the chef’s cooking skills were truly good. It smelled quite fragrant.

After taking a bite, Cang Ran’s eyes lit up. She and the little hedgehog devoured all the food quickly and put the plates back.

The two demons lay spread out in the soft fox den, flattened like two soft pancakes.

The little hedgehog rubbed its belly, looking at the ceiling and saying: “Great King, I can’t eat anymore. What should I do?”

Cang Ran squinted, lazily: “I can’t eat anymore either. Let’s just stay like this for now. Eat less next time. Don’t get fat like a ball. It’ll be hard to run away then.”

After lying flat for a while, two small booklets suddenly slid down from the top of the fox den.

Cang Ran picked them up and read the titles: Guide to Rearing Spiritual Foxes and Little Hedgehog Cultivation Great Method.

She opened the Guide to Rearing Spiritual Foxes and flipped to a page, seeing the checklist: “Plenty of delicious food” was checked, “Exquisite and luxurious little den” was checked, and “Happy toys” was checked…

That Lin Mingyue was so practiced; it turns out she was just following the book.

Cang Ran flipped further, and her eyes suddenly widened. What’s going on? Why did this little booklet have “Postpartum Care for Spiritual Foxes” and “One Hundred Things That Must Be Done After the Birth of a Little Spiritual Fox” at the very end???

The little hedgehog picked up the Little Hedgehog Cultivation Great Method and asked the Great King: “Great King, do little hedgehogs have to give birth too? Storybooks only wrote about humans and demons having wedding night fun and being very happy every day. They didn’t write about having babies.”

Cang Ran confiscated the inappropriate booklet and stuffed it under her pillow: “This booklet is nonsense. It’s totally unreliable.”

The little hedgehog saw that the Great King had confiscated hers but was still reading her own, and couldn’t help but ask curiously: “Great King, why are you still reading yours?”

Cang Ran immediately covered her face with the booklet: “I’m just browsing. Don’t bother me. You sleep.”

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