Chen Yan nodded his head and said earnestly, "Thank you for the elixir, Fellow Taoist You Su."
Su Yi then asked Chen Yan to take out the inner core of the White Fox. She stared at it for a moment, her expression complex, and whispered, "She originally was my fellow disciple. We served the Venerable together under the Ten Thousand Demon Platform for many years and entered our revered master’s sect together.
But her talent was stronger than mine, she was proficient in both elixir and sword cultivation. We fled to this realm together and established this cave dwelling, originally preparing this alchemy room and furnace for her use."
However, the old fox did not continue to delve into the grievances between her and the White Fox, likely another story altogether.
Chen Yan did not probe further.
"Inner cores of the Demon Race have two main uses. First, you can absorb the demonic qi from the inner core to temper and strengthen your own primordial qi cultivation, but I assume with the guidance of the Venerable as your elder, you wouldn’t need such external aid for primordial qi cultivation.
The second use is to use the inner core as an ingredient in refining elixirs. However, I advise you to abandon this thought, for a Venerable household likely does not lack elixirs."
Chen Yan knew there must be more to the old fox’s words, so he calmly looked at her.
Indeed, Su Yi continued, "This White Fox fellow disciple of mine possessed a talent for innate divine techniques. Though she died, this talent divine technique has left an imprint within her inner core. By obtaining her inner core, you can gain this talent divine technique."
Chen Yan thought for a moment and then guessed with a smile, "Is it... her transformation technique?"
"Correct!" Su Yi replied, "Her innate talent divine technique, a transformation technique, allows one person to have a thousand faces and a thousand faces to belong to one.
Don’t think it’s unremarkable. While the cultivation method can teach higher cultivators various transformation spells, those spells can be seen through by those with stronger mana.
This White Fox’s innate divine technique has a special uniqueness. Because it is an innate divine technique, it cannot be spied upon by external forces... Underneath a Saint, none can use primordial qi to unmask the true form!"
Hmm? Now that’s interesting... Cannot be seen through under a Saint?
Chen Yan’s eyes indeed showed increased interest.
Su Yi then taught Chen Yan the method to refine the inner core.
Following Su Yi’s spell, Chen Yan activated his primordial qi to refine the inner core, and moments later, under the scorching virtual fire, the bloodstains on the inner core dissipated, transforming it into a snow-white, round entity resembling a pearl.
"You just need to wear this item on your body, and when you want to use it, activate it with primordial qi to use the transformation technique. As for what you turn into... it will depend on the level of your primordial qi cultivation."
The old fox said, thought for a moment, then gritted her teeth, and took out a handful of fur from her pocket.
"This is my fox tail hair, considered my innate hair. In the Fox Race cultivation, one’s cultivation is mainly contained in the tail... I see you are cultivating talisman arts as well. These fox tail hairs I give to you, use them to make a fox hair brush, which will be a good magical artifact for writing and drawing runes in the future."
Chen Yan accepted them and thanked earnestly.
"Fellow Taoist You Su, since the matters in the mountain are now resolved, and your formidable enemy is dead, you do not need to continue lonely cultivation in the mountain, do you?"
The old fox smiled, "I have already feigned death; the He Family knows about this, so it wouldn’t be good for me to return. I will remain in the mountain to heal for a while, and once I’m recovered, I will seek to reunite with my son and family."
As the two’s conversation concluded, Chen Yan had asked what he needed and gained the benefits.
Seeing Su Yi’s growing expression of fatigue, indicating her severe injury and mental exhaustion, Chen Yan simply stood up to bid farewell.
Su Yi escorted Chen Yan to the cave dwelling entrance, saying earnestly, "I will need to nourish myself for three to five years in this mountain. Once my wounds are healed, I will leave and go find my son and family. During these years, I will stay in the cave. If you need anything, please come directly to me. You have my gratitude, and I will not refuse any reasonable request."
With that, she bowed deeply to Chen Yan and then waved her hand, causing a rock to appear at the entrance, melding seamlessly with the surrounding mountain.
Chen Yan took a deep breath and started his descent.
At the mountain’s foot, beside the business car, Chu Keqing had been staring eagerly at the mountain for an unknown duration.
Suddenly, she felt a mountain breeze, squinted towards its direction, and upon turning back, saw a figure swiftly approaching with the wind, landing in front of her!
Chu Keqing’s heart jumped!
She took a deep breath, revealing a relieved expression on her face, "Senior, you’re back!"
Chen Yan nodded and looked at the woman, "Have you been standing here all this time?"
Chu Keqing lowered her voice, "I saw Senior’s solemn expression before ascending the mountain, and it seemed like you were carrying some battle intent! I was worried about you, so I kept watching."
Then, Chu Keqing suddenly noticed a bloodstain on Chen Yan’s outer garment.
She was shocked, recalling Chen Yan’s earlier expression before heading into the mountain.
"Sen-Senior..." Chu Keqing’s voice trembled, "You... did you kill Mrs. He?"
Chen Yan rolled his eyes, "Do you think I’m a bloodthirsty person?"
He waved his hand, "I went up the mountain to help Mrs. He exterminate a spirit monster in the mountain."
Exterminate the spirit monster!
Chu Keqing swallowed hard—indeed, Senior possesses boundless divine techniques!
To speak of exterminating a spirit monster as casually as discussing a meal!
Chu Keqing’s expression grew threefold to respectful as she invited Chen Yan into the car, willingly serving as the driver and smoothly commencing the return journey.
Along the way, Chen Yan closed his eyes, nourishing his spirit, while Chu Keqing focused on driving, not daring to speak further.
Chen Yan contemplated the gains from exterminating the White Fox.
Wealth was no longer a concern for him.
The transformation technique from the inner core was an unexpected prize.
The four Bone Pills would serve as lifesaving tools—though Chen Yan did not intend to engage in mortal combat recklessly—it’s always advantageous to have a reserve option.
The greatest gain, of course, was learning about his father, Chen Jue.
Moreover... it seemed to unveil a grand secret!
Chen Jue, a person so prodigious and rebellious.
Once slew forty-seven thousand enemies with a single sword blow, and vowed to eradicate the Domain Realm Heavenly Dao.
Then he vanished, with a Great Celestial Venerable from the Domain Realm altering fate and masked heavenly secrets, causing Chen Jue to become the infamous demon overlord.
Hmm, perhaps he’s already been killed.
Plus, my grandmother, as a Venerable of the Ghost Race, broke the rule of "Venerables cannot cross the World Wall" and came to this world.
Raised me for twenty years!
Connecting these events together...
"It feels like an enormous secret." Chen Yan closed his eyes, sighing internally, "Like a clichéd plot of an obscure web novel. Am I the protagonist with a vengeance for my father’s blood feud?"
I swear never to go to the Domain Realm!!
Ignoring whether Chen Jue is hunted like a criminal in the Domain Realm, as the son of the demon overlord, can I even expect a decent outcome there?
Moreover... this matter involves top-tier powers, Great Celestial Venerables of the Domain Realm!
The Great Celestial Venerables masked heavenly secrets, clearly targeting Chen Jue.
By extension, Chen Jue’s enemy is the Great Celestial Venerable!
And me, a mere mortal cultivator, dare go to the Domain Realm?
A single finger from the Great Celestial Venerable would crush me into dust!
Even if I’m dead, I won’t go to the Domain Realm!!
With the rule of Venerables not crossing the World Wall, a Great Celestial Venerable can’t come to this world to bother me!
If he came, his strength would be suppressed to that of a mortal.
Staying in this world ensures my safety!
Chu Keqing drove Chen Yan back to his home in Jinling Prefecture.
It was already past 3 PM.
Chu Keqing parked the car outside the villa’s gates, respectfully bid farewell to Chen Yan, then turned and drove away.
Chen Yan opened his courtyard gate and walked through, up to the villa’s entrance. Just as he pressed his fingerprint to unlock the door, he was stunned by the sight in the living room!
With underfloor heating making it warm like spring, Young Lady Gu was dressed in a thin sweater, highlighting her graceful figure.
Standing in the living room, she was holding her phone, swaying her head to the music, completely absorbed...
"A-pa-chis, A-pa-chis, A-pa-chis, A-pa-chis~..."
Thud, Chen Yan’s backpack dropped to the floor.
Cold-faced Young Lady Gu!
Your character has collapsed!