The Aloof Immortal Venerable is Pregnant with My Fox Cub - Chapter 54

Chapter 54

On the way down the mountain, Cang Ran and the little hedgehog, one large and one small, held their packages, the tears in their eyes uncontrollably dripping down.

Cang Ran was immersed in sadness when she heard the little hedgehog sobbing with emotion nearby.

“Great King, I’m so sad. When we left Fox Fox Mountain, I wasn’t this sad.”

The little hedgehog wiped her tears with her claws while looking at the Great King, who was also tear-stained.

Cang Ran patted her head, her voice a little hoarse, and comforted her: “We’ll be back soon after we finish our business. Why are you so sad? Are you missing Xiaoxin?”

The little hedgehog’s eyes were filled with clear foolishness: “I was thinking that I might not be able to eat the dried meat from the Spiritual Beast Hall for a long time. That dried meat was so fragrant.”

Cang Ran was speechless: “You’ve only lost dried meat, but I’ve lost my Dao Companion. Why are you crying along with me?”

The little hedgehog sighed: “But Great King, when I think that there will be no more free dried meat, I really want to cry. The tears just fall by themselves.”

Cang Ran was silenced by her: “The Great King won’t let you starve. Can’t you show some ambition?”

The little hedgehog whimpered twice: “Then I won’t think about dried meat anymore. I don’t need the Great King to support me. I will find my own food!”

Cang Ran held her forehead: “Now you’re showing ambition. But who taught you, a little hedgehog, to whimper like that?”

The little hedgehog stopped whimpering and said happily: “When I was rubbing their bellies, they asked me if I could make a yīng yīng yīng sound, so I did. Then they gave me more spiritual fruits and elixirs and praised me for being so cute.”

To be rubbed by despicable and cunning humans, and also to cooperate by making cute sounds… How was this different from forcing a respectable demon woman?

It was a good thing the little hedgehog hadn’t transformed into a human yet. Otherwise, she couldn’t imagine how…

Cang Ran pinched her forehead: “Don’t sell yourself everywhere next time. It’s quite pitiful.”

The little hedgehog’s face was sincere: “Great King, I’m not pitiful. Their hands are soft, and they rub quite comfortably, like a massage, and they also give me delicious things.”

Cang Ran raised her hand and covered the little hedgehog’s mouth: “That’s enough, stop talking. The more you talk, the more it sounds… lewd.”

The little hedgehog stopped talking and asked doubtfully: “Okay, Great King, aren’t we going back to Fox Fox Mountain? Where are we going to do business?”

Cang Ran said seriously: “We are going to look for a secret realm. I told Bashi when I left that I would find a way to repair it. That secret realm is not easy to find. I don’t know if I can find it.”

Cang Ran remembered the secret realm was called the Divine Sword Tomb. It not only contained an peerless divine weapon but also a Divine Fire Profound Crystal. The male protagonist relied on the Divine Fire Profound Crystal to temper his spiritual sword into a divine sword, allowing him to dominate the battlefield.

The male protagonist originally entered an ordinary secret realm with others, accidentally opened a hidden secret realm, and fell into the Divine Sword Tomb alone. At that time, someone arrived one step ahead of the male protagonist, but failed to snatch the Divine Fire Profound Crystal and could only escape from the secret realm.

The original book mentioned that the male protagonist chased after him to silence him but was a step too late, finding that the location was a town called Xitong Town, on the edge of the cultivation world, next to an active volcano. Presumably, the other person entered through that active volcano, so she needed to find that place called Xitong Town.

The male protagonist was dead now. Instead of letting someone else benefit sooner or later, it was better to benefit herself first and find a better divine weapon for Tan Qingxuan.

She didn’t have the male protagonist’s luck, so she probably couldn’t use the method of accidentally opening the hidden secret realm. Therefore, she could only directly look for the other path that led directly to the hidden secret realm.

Cang Ran decided to look for Xitong Town first. She unpacked the package Tan Qingxuan gave her and found a spiritual artifact for flying, the Cloud Concealment Boat, prepared by Tan Qingxuan. When stored, it was about an arm’s length, but after activating the mechanism, the inner area was about ten to twenty square meters.

The boat was shaped like a whale, with shallow golden fins on both sides. When deployed, the air holes beneath the fins would release cloud mist for concealment. The cloud fins moved the airflow very subtly, making it difficult for anyone to detect the Cloud Concealment Boat’s approach.

In addition to this flying artifact, there were about ten sets of robes with defensive arrays and self-cleaning functions. The fabric was much better than the ones she and Tan Qingxuan bought in Mingxia Square, but they looked very low-key. If one didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t realize they were spiritual robes.

There were also some elixirs for healing and detoxification, with labels on the bottles indicating the various situations the elixirs could handle. Worried that she might lack food on the journey, Tan Qingxuan also prepared several bottles of Nourishment Pills for her.

The little hedgehog, seeing the Great King unpack the package, quickly followed suit. She soon became excited: “Great King, Immortal Venerable gave me a beautiful storage bracelet. The space inside is huge! She also gave me a small shovel, a box of high-grade spirit stones, so much money! I can support the Great King!”

Cang Ran glanced at the little hedgehog’s storage bracelet. It seemed to have a defensive array on it. The small shovel wasn’t a shovel but a weapon called a yue (axe). The little hedgehog could use it for self-defense. Her Qingqing even took care of the little hedgehog. It was truly a sign of loving one thing and its master’s belongings.

Cang Ran felt a wave of happiness and nodded: “Since the Immortal Venerable gave it to you, keep it well. Later, I’ll take out the things I helped you pack. You can put them all into your own storage bracelet.”

The little hedgehog nodded happily: “Thank you, Great King!”

Cang Ran handed all the little hedgehog’s things to her. They each put their packages into their storage bracelets, and then Cang Ran carried the little hedgehog into the Cloud Concealment Boat.

The Cloud Concealment Boat had a cabin for rest. Inside the cabin, there were two bamboo reclining chairs, some tea sets, incense, and all kinds of other daily necessities.

This was much easier than flying with a sword. Cang Ran lay down on the reclining chair and tried it out. It was very comfortable. Her fox body could fully stretch out. She opened the array disc for filling the Cloud Concealment Boat with spirit stones and tried using spirit stones. She found that this high-end spiritual artifact could only use high-grade spirit stones.

It required ten high-grade spirit stones at a time. She didn’t know how long it could sustain the journey.

Fortunately, Tan Qingxuan had previously given her a mountain of high-grade spirit stones, and the share she got from the mountain-suppressing leopard also included some high-grade and premium-grade spirit stones. She didn’t need to worry about consumption for the time being.

After the spirit stones were filled, the Cloud Concealment Boat immediately floated in mid-air. Cang Ran stood on the boat and looked back at the Taixuan Sect, located at the peak of the mountains. Tan Qingxuan’s figure was no longer visible.

She sighed inwardly, turned around, and controlled the Cloud Concealment Boat with her divine sense, traveling through the floating clouds and flying towards the distance.

Because she needed to find Xitong Town, and there were thirty to forty small towns with the same name, Cang Ran stopped and started for almost half a month, inquiring in various places, before finally finding a small town that was the closest to the one in the original book.

It was exactly noon. It was June, and the summer heat was getting stronger. She and the little hedgehog were already starving. They landed the Cloud Concealment Boat and went to a tavern by the roadside in Xitong Town to eat first.

Because the Demon Race had a bad reputation, and demon cultivators were divided into good and bad, some bad demons would also kill people and take their hearts. Many human cultivators with low spiritual roots who couldn’t establish their foundation avoided the Demon Race like the plague. Smaller towns generally had a low acceptance of the Demon Race.

To avoid trouble, Cang Ran transformed into human form, wearing a broad-brimmed straw hat to block the sun. The little hedgehog, who had shrunk considerably, squatted on her shoulder, and they entered the tavern together.

They had brought enough money for the journey and thought they would have a satisfying meal, just like in other towns.

The proprietress heard a customer arrive, lifted the curtain to the back hall, and hurried over. She apologized: “Customer, we can only offer some wine and plain noodles and small side dishes here now. We temporarily can’t offer anything else.”

Cang Ran looked at the proprietress and asked doubtfully: “What’s wrong? When I just came in, I saw the sign outside said you offered meat dishes. Why are you suddenly not offering them?”

The proprietress heard that Cang Ran had an accent of an outsider. Seeing her beautiful appearance, she explained in detail: “This customer, you might not know, but we recently enshrined a bird demon here. Because the bird demon has high cultivation and can summon wind and rain, our Xitong Town’s vast fields can have continuous good harvests.

However, the bird demon has a huge appetite and only eats meat. Therefore, all the good meat must be given to the bird demon for enjoyment. Occasionally, if people in the town have other wishes, they also have to send meat to the bird demon. Unfortunately, a wealthy family already took all the butcher’s meat early today to offer to her. I couldn’t buy any meat and haven’t had time to change the sign yet.”

A look of surprise flashed in Cang Ran’s eyes: “Other places are under the protection of major sects, where cultivators summon rain for you. Why would you offer sacrifices to a bird demon?”

The proprietress looked embarrassed: “Our town originally went to the Tianjian Sect to invite cultivators, but the cultivators there charged spirit stones, and high-grade spirit stones at that. We had to exchange them at the bank in a large city, and the price was too expensive. This bird demon only eats meat and doesn’t charge spirit stones. The people in the town thought that every household could afford to offer meat, so it was worth it.”

Understood. So it was an economically viable bird demon.

As a fellow demon cultivator, Cang Ran didn’t possess the technique to summon wind and rain. Most cultivators in the cultivation world needed to use talismans to summon rain. This bird demon seemed to have some unique abilities. She wondered what methods she used.

A hint of curiosity arose in Cang Ran’s heart. She was also too hungry, so she quickly said to the proprietress: “No meat then. Just bring us ten bowls of plain noodles first, and all the plain side dishes the restaurant has.”

The proprietress was taken aback: “Ten bowls of plain noodles?”

Cang Ran nodded: “Yes. I’ll add more if it’s not enough. How much is a bowl of plain noodles and a plate of vegetables here?”

The proprietress saw that Cang Ran was extremely beautiful and dressed richly. She didn’t look like a laborer working in the fields or a worker moving cargo at the docks. How could she eat so much all at once?

The proprietress said somewhat awkwardly: “Well… We only have the lowest-grade spiritual vein underground here. The land doesn’t have much spiritual energy. It doesn’t cost that much. I guarantee you’ll be full. Just five low-grade spirit stones will be enough.”

Cang Ran immediately took out the spirit stones and handed them to the proprietress: “Okay, then hurry up and serve the dishes.”

She was so hungry now that she could easily devour an ox and eat this small tavern out of business. The proprietress was quite honest.

The proprietress didn’t expect Cang Ran not to bargain. She was immediately overjoyed, put away the spirit stones, and said: “Customer, do you need some wine? Our small shop also has loose wine. I can pour some for the customer.”

Cang Ran waved her hand: “No need. I brewed my own spiritual wine. Just bring me some small side dishes and plain noodles.”

The proprietress quickly nodded, went into the shop to light the fire and cook, and even brought in a fellow villager to help. Before long, she served all ten bowls of plain noodles as Cang Ran requested, filling the entire table.

After serving the plain noodles, she stir-fried several small dishes. One table wasn’t enough, so she pulled over another table and placed them side by side, fully loaded and fragrant for ten miles.

The plain noodles were made with scallions fried in scallion oil, mixed with cornmeal and white flour. They were cooked in boiling water with a poached egg nestled inside, topped with some fresh wild vegetables, and drizzled with several drops of fragrant sesame oil.

Among the seasonal vegetable side dishes, besides some common farmhouse vegetables, there was also pickled cabbage, which smelled refreshingly sour. The white radish was taken out and cut into pieces the size of a thumb, and it was very crisp to eat. The proprietress was helping pour tea nearby, very attentive.

Cang Ran had the little hedgehog sit across from her. The two demons feasted heartily. The proprietress was surprised to see the little hedgehog join them at the table, but she didn’t find it too shocking, thinking it might be a beloved pet of a wealthy family.

When she saw Cang Ran and the little hedgehog actually finish the entire table of food, with all the plates empty, the proprietress’s eyes widened instantly. She said with an expression of disbelief: “You finished it all so quickly?”

The little hedgehog ate a lot but still felt hungry. The bowls here were not as big as the ones they used at the Taixuan Sect. The food cultivators at the Taixuan Sect used extra-large shovels for them, and every meal was meat and fish.

Such a small bowl of noodles was devoured by the demon in two bites. It was truly difficult being away from home.

The little hedgehog rubbed her claws: “Great King, I’m still a little hungry.”

Cang Ran hadn’t had enough either. Seeing the proprietress’s shocked and bewildered expression, she slipped her another spirit stone: “Ten more bowls of plain noodles, please.”

The proprietress took out a handkerchief, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a trembling hand, and waved her hand: “I won’t accept the spirit stones. You’ve given more than enough. Just wait here. I’ll make it for you.”

The proprietress stacked the bowls and went to the back hall to knead the dough again. Cang Ran said to the little hedgehog outside: “Later, you eat five bowls, and I’ll eat five bowls, and then we’ll stop. The proprietress’s hands are trembling. She’ll probably be exhausted if she kneads the dough again.”

The little hedgehog quickly nodded. Just as they were talking, four strong men carried meat into the tavern and asked: “Qiuniang, do you want any meat today? I’ll sell you some if you do.”

Cang Ran looked up. The four strong men were carrying half a side of pork. They were dusty, shirtless, and some were even bruised.

The proprietress, with flour on her hands, hurriedly came out from inside. She scanned the pork up and down, then asked the man with a blue cloth wrapped around his topknot: “Yes, I have distinguished guests here. Brother Li, why did you suddenly come back, and why did you bring the meat back, and you’re bleeding?”

The man called Brother Li wiped his face and said: “Don’t even mention it. The bird demon hasn’t been eating pork lately. Our employer’s wish didn’t come true, and he was pecked a few times. It hurts a lot. If you want some, I’ll sell you some cheaply. Hurry up and pour us brothers some loose wine.”

Qiuniang quickly washed her hands, poured wine for Brother Li and the others, and brought over several large bowls of wine. After drinking, the men felt much better. They sold a small half side of the meat to Qiuniang. After helping her move it into the back hall, they left with the remaining pork.

Cang Ran took the opportunity to ask Qiuniang: “Why is the bird demon so picky? Besides asking for rain, what kind of wishes do you ask for?”

Qiuniang kneaded the dough and cut the meat as she spoke: “There are many! Old Lady Wang next door loses her gold bracelet every few days, and she takes the duck she raised to the bird demon. Town carpenter Wang wants to find a good girl, so he takes two fresh fish and asks the bird demon when he can find a good match.”

The scope of business was actually so wide. The bird demon was indeed a bit impressive.

Cang Ran became curious: “Where does the bird demon live? Can I go see it?”

Qiuniang put the noodles into the pot and went to cut the meat again. She said to Cang Ran: “It’s at the foot of the only mountain in our town. The nearby villagers even built a temple for it. If you want to pray for something, it’s best to bring some meat, or the bird demon will get angry.”

Cang Ran nodded in agreement. After she and the little hedgehog demon finished their noodles, they headed straight for the foot of the mountain the proprietress mentioned.

Since it was the only mountain in this area, the entrance to the secret realm might be nearby. Did the bird demon appear here by chance, or did it know about it a long time ago?

Cang Ran quickly found the temple the villagers built for the bird demon. The temple was small, just one room. Outside the door stood an old bronze cauldron with some incense slowly burning in it. Next to it was an elm tree that was several hundred years old.

Inside the temple was a wooden frame filled with already slaughtered livestock, the blood flowing all over the floor.

However, the enshrined deity was a stone statue of a cute, plump little chick. Its body was round and chubby, its tail was long, but its wings were very small. It looked surprisingly harmless.

At that moment, Cang Ran wondered if she had gotten it wrong. How could a powerful bird demon with immense magical power be so soft and adorable?

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