Chapter 1: Human, You Can Touch Me

In a daze, Chu Huaizhou slowly opened his eyes.
All he saw was darkness.

Hmm… not only could he see nothing, but he also felt an itch.
Something furry was tickling his face… huh?

Chu Huaizhou snapped awake.
If his memory served him right, he should be resting at his own Heavenly Sword Peak in the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect.

How could anything break through the peak’s protective array and sneak into his bedroom without him noticing?

In an instant, thoughts flooded his mind—sect breached, enemies attacking, or maybe his disciples pulling a prank.

Regardless, Chu Huaizhou knew he had to get up.

He reached out, grabbing the thing plastered to his face and lifting it.

Light poured in.
Chu Huaizhou finally saw what he was holding.
At that moment, a crisp, pleasant voice rang out.

“Meow?! Human! What are you doing?!”

In his hand was a snow-white fox, a vermilion mark between its brows, strikingly beautiful.
He was gripping it by the scruff, lifting it up.

It had gone from a fluffy white ball to an elongated, dragon-like shape.

Its four little paws flailed in the air, paddling like it was rowing a boat, as if trying to intimidate him.
Yet, it was so adorable it had no menace whatsoever.

Then, as if realizing something, the fox quieted down, no longer squirming.
A visible spark of joy flashed across its furry face.

“Yah, human, you’re finally awake! You slept longer than ever this time. I thought the lightning fried your brain, meow!”

Looking at the adorable white fox, Chu Huaizhou’s mood eased.

This fox wasn’t a stranger.
It was Bai Li, a little fox he’d rescued during a sect mission after reaching the Golden Core stage.
He’d brought it back to the sect not on a whim but because of its terrifying potential.

Though it had only one tail now, it already possessed Foundation Establishment strength despite not yet transforming into human form.
Its bloodline potential was unfathomable, making him suspect it might be a descendant of the legendary Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox.

It definitely wasn’t because this fox, despite being a fox, always ended its sentences with a “meow,” which he found amusing enough to keep it around.

That said… Chu Huaizhou stared at the nine large tails, disproportionate to the fox’s small body, and fell into thought.

Where did this fox get nine tails? Was it self-taught illusion magic?

Indeed, for a fox with such a high-grade bloodline, knowing some illusion magic wasn’t surprising.

Aspiring to become a Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox at such a young age? Hah, Bai Li, you little…

“Human, why do you keep staring at my tails, meow?”

Bai Li, dangling in the air, noticed Chu Huaizhou’s oddly clear gaze fixed on her tails since waking up.
She wanted to snap at him.

But remembering his recent failed tribulation and month-long coma, she figured he was in low spirits and held her tongue.

Her nine fluffy, soft tails swayed gently, slowly extending toward him.

“Human, if you want to touch, go ahead. Just… don’t make a habit of it, meow.”

“Hm? Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

Since when was this fox so close to him? Close enough to sleep on him?

Chu Huaizhou recalled that before, he’d have to bribe her with her favorite treats just to get a pat.

Though he couldn’t fathom why Bai Li was suddenly so affectionate, as a furry enthusiast in his past life, Chu Huaizhou wasn’t about to miss this chance.

He dove in, wildly playing with the tails, burying his face in the nine fluffy appendages.

Was this paradise?

Sadly, the blissful petting session didn’t last long.
As if time had sped up, the nine tails were forcibly yanked away before he could fully enjoy them.

Bai Li nimbly wriggled out of his grasp, leaping off the bed to lick her now-disheveled tails.

“Alright, alright, human. Focus on recovering. There’s healing spirit liquid on the table. I’ll go get your disciples.”

Without waiting for a reply, she scampered out the door, leaving him alone.

Once Bai Li was gone, Chu Huaizhou’s gaze lingered on the flash of white before his thoughts stirred.

What did she mean by “recover” and “spirit liquid”?
Didn’t he just take a normal nap? Could he have gotten injured in a dream? Something felt off.

Chu Huaizhou grabbed at the bed, his hand landing on a white-haired, blue-eyed, coin-shaped plush toy.
He squeezed it.

This wasn’t on his bed before, was it?

Who put it here? Whatever, it’s soft and cute. He’d keep it for now.

Scanning the room, everything looked exactly as he remembered, yet an inexplicable sense of unease lingered, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

His gaze landed on a delicate wooden table beside the bed.
On it sat a white jade bottle—likely the healing spirit liquid Bai Li mentioned.

Waste not, want not. Even a mosquito’s worth of meat is still meat.
As a Golden Core cultivator, Chu Huaizhou calmed himself, listening for any sounds outside.
Nothing.

He swiftly got up and snatched the bottle.

Pop—

As he pulled out the frosted jade stopper, a wisp of seven-colored mist swirled from the bottle’s mouth, shimmering like a rainbow or starlight dew.

Amid the misty glow, faint illusions formed.

Chu Huaizhou froze, staring at the air, murmuring.

“Qingluan carrying herbs, Black Tortoise bearing medicine… this… this couldn’t be…”

If his memory wasn’t failing him and the liquid wasn’t a fake, then this was a massive problem.

This had to be the legendary Nine-Turns Rosy Marrow True Dew, made from several rare ingredients and the essence of multiple Integration-stage demonic beasts.
It could heal the dead, mend bones, and even instantly repair damage from heavenly tribulations!

Chu Huaizhou swallowed hard, hoping it was a coincidence as he peered into the bottle.

The liquid was clear as moonlight, faintly glowing with seven colors.

Even before the medicinal scent fully dispersed, his pores opened on their own, as if a withered tree had met spring.
Despite his tension, he couldn’t help but want to hum in comfort.

Thud—

Chu Huaizhou’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.

His handsome, healthy face flushed, looking like he could live forever, yet his hands trembled uncontrollably.

Where did Bai Li get this healing spirit liquid?

He recalled that the Heavenly Origin Sword Sect, one of the seven top immortal sects of the Heavenly Star Continent, had only one such bottle in its treasury!

Only the sect leader could request its use, and even then, it required layers of approval from the Elder Council.

If he drank this, he might explode from the overwhelming potency.

With Bai Li’s half-baked Foundation Establishment strength, she’d be obliterated by the treasury’s defensive arrays before getting close.

Who was trying to harm him? He was only at the Golden Core stage, with three extraordinarily talented disciples and an awakened system. His future was bright!

Now, all the oddities from waking up were forgotten.

Chu Huaizhou felt doomed. The Nine-Turns Rosy Marrow True Dew in his hand seemed less like a sect treasure and more like a deadly trap.

Just then, two sets of footsteps approached from outside.
One was steady and powerful.

The sound alone suggested a formidable presence, not an ordinary person.
Yet the peak’s protective array showed no signs of repelling an intruder.

It had to be someone from the Law Enforcement Hall, who knew the access spells for each peak.

The other set of steps was hurried, soft, and weak, like short legs scrambling to keep up.

“I was just about to tell you the human’s awake, meow! How’d you get here so fast?”

Bai Li, you traitor! You led the enemy right to me!

Chu Huaizhou cursed inwardly.

Creak—

The wooden door swung open without resistance, and blinding sunlight poured in.

The figure at the door blocked some of the light, casting a towering shadow.
Chu Huaizhou couldn’t make out who it was.

Overwhelmed by unease, he spun around, sliding to his knees at the figure’s feet without hesitation.
Holding up the Nine-Turns Rosy Marrow True Dew with both hands, he blurted out:

“I’m sorry! I don’t know who put this here, but I haven’t used a drop! Please take it away. I’ll fully cooperate with any investigation.”

But the expected harsh enforcement didn’t come.
The figure seemed startled by his sudden action, pausing before speaking.

“Master… have you lost your mind?”