Chapter 2086: Little Brother

Qingyang Temple, Xifeng.

After Qin Li broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, he was granted a cave dwelling here. The new sect territory was vast, and even with all Qingyang Temple disciples residing there, it didn't feel crowded in the slightest.

Following the little fox's preference, he built a simple dwelling by the river at the southern foot of Xifeng. With no one around, the distant mountains and rivers stretched out unobstructed, offering a breathtaking view as soon as one opened their eyes.

One day, after Qin Li was summoned by the deacon and returned to his dwelling, he felt a weight on his shoulder and heard a sweet, delicate voice in his ear.

"Hey! What did the deacon want with you?"

The little fox was naturally skilled in mystical escape techniques, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. Qin Li had been startled many times, but now he was used to it.

He plopped down on the bluestone outside the door and said, "Deacon Tan wants to take me to the North Sea."

"The North Sea? Are we going back to the ancestral land? Oh, that's great, I miss home too! I've been away from the Thousand Mountain Bamboo Sea for so long!"

The little fox jumped to the ground and excitedly paced back and forth in front of Qin Li.

Qin Li chuckled good-naturedly, "Deacon Tan said we're going to Langdu Island. That's not the ancestral land, is it?"

"Langdu Island?"

The little fox paused, then suddenly remembered something, its fur bristling all over. It shrieked, "Langdu Island is a spirit island in the Outer North Sea, where a large army is stationed! He's sending you to the battlefield!"

Qingyang Temple, under the pretext of establishing the sect, recalled most of its disciples. However, it still bore the responsibility of defending the territory, and every so often, a new batch of disciples would be rotated to guard the front lines.

"The battlefield?"

Qin Li looked somewhat dazed, seemingly not yet understanding what this meant for him.

"You agreed?" The little fox clung to his knee, straightening its upper body, its face filled with tension.

Qin Li scratched the back of his head. "Deacon Tan just informed me; he didn't ask if I was willing."

"It's over, it's over, it's all over..."

The little fox immediately wilted, dejected, pacing ceaselessly, its expression growing more and more agitated.

Qin Li was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and it was merely at the mid-stage of Demonic Spirit. That place was a battlefield often frequented by cultivators at the Soul Transformation stage; if they went in, they probably wouldn't even leave ashes behind.

It had chosen Qin Li, originally thinking it could benefit from him, but unexpectedly, instead of gaining advantages, it was about to be pushed into an abyss.

The little fox said bitterly, "Couldn't you have refused?"

"Deacon Tan said it was a sect decision, and Brother Chi and the others have all agreed as well," Qin Li replied.

"What's their surname, and what's yours? You're a member of the Qin family! If you don't want to go, who would dare send you to your death?" The little fox was utterly distraught.

Qin Li suddenly dropped his good-natured smile, and said solemnly, "The Ancestor once said that precisely because we are of the Qin family bloodline, and countless eyes throughout the sect are watching us, we must always lead by example in everything we do, uphold the Qin family's reputation, and live up to our ancestors' prestige!"

The little fox glared at Qin Li with an expression of disappointment, wishing he would be more proactive, but more than that, it felt helpless. Having spent day and night together, it understood this guy's temperament well: he wasn't stupid, yet sometimes he was incredibly naive, making it impossible to persuade him to turn back.

It was already tied to Qin Li and couldn't escape, so it could only ponder countermeasures. "Did Deacon Tan say which general's command you'd be sent under?"

"The general Deacon Tan mentioned, his name sounds like Fifth Grandfather," Qin Li said uncertainly.

"A Qin family Master?"

The little fox's eyes darted around, and its worried expression instantly vanished without a trace. It said contemptuously, "I get it now, they're sending you there to gain merit! Typical of a clan disciple, hmph..."

The little fox gave Qin Li a disdainful look, then gracefully leaped into the bamboo basket hanging from the rafters. As the mountain breeze blew, the basket swayed gently, and the little fox stretched contentedly, quickly falling into a deep sleep.

Several days later, Qin Li and a group of Qingyang Temple disciples boarded a Dharma boat, left Qingyang Temple, transferred to the North Sea, and were then directly sent to Langdu Island.

Upon landing on Langdu Island, orders were issued. The group was split into several contingents, and that very night, someone led away Qin Li's group.

Standing on the banana leaf-shaped Dharma artifact, Qin Li and the little fox were still a bit disoriented upon learning they were being sent to a front-line camp. In the blink of an eye, they had gone from the safe sect to a dangerous battlefield, without ever seeing the "Fifth Grandfather" Qin Li had mentioned.

They stood at the back of the crowd, with hundreds of Qingyang Temple disciples ahead, their cultivation levels varying, the highest being a Nascent Soul stage Master, who was chatting and laughing with the person who came to meet them.

Resisting the Changyou clan was the duty of every cultivator in the Storm Realm, and also the best opportunity for tempering and experience.

Qi Refining stage disciples were too weak, but those at the Foundation Establishment stage were qualified to join the battlefield. Qin Li was the one with the lowest cultivation among this group, and the usually lively little fox was now obediently huddled in Qin Li's arms.

The banana leaf flew swiftly through the wind, covering an unknown distance. Ahead, a lush island appeared, shaped like a butterfly, with shimmering restrictive lights on its surface.

Upon flying above the island, the banana leaf suddenly stopped, and the person who had come to meet them looked back.

This person was battle-hardened, and his eyes carried a fierce aura. When his gaze swept over Qin Li and the others, they all felt a wave of fear.

"Chi Weiyong, Qin Li... step forward!"

He called out several names consecutively, all of them Foundation Establishment cultivators. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, Qin Li and the others felt their feet leave the ground, plummeting downwards, and quickly summoned their flying Dharma artifacts.

"Don't panic! It's a good thing!"

The little fox was the calmest, transmitting its voice: "This isn't the front line. As long as we're stationed on this island, we'll definitely be safe!"

Qin Li fumbled for a moment, a flying dagger appearing under his feet, wobbling as he descended towards the ground. At that moment, a streak of light also flew up from the island, and a valiant-looking cultivator came forward to meet them.

Everyone noticed the token at his waist, and their hearts immediately grew solemn. They had crammed knowledge before coming, knowing that a waist token represented status; this person was the island's commander, and they would be serving under him in the future.

Moreover, the aura of this commander clearly indicated he was a Golden Core stage cultivator.

After a period of chaos, the commander gathered everyone. Facing the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators, he showed no arrogance whatsoever, and said amiably, "I am You Feng, humbly serving as the commander of Butterfly Island. Fellow Daoists, you are new here and may need some time to adapt..."

Seeing that the commander was easy to get along with, everyone put down their worries.

You Feng appeared kind, but his Golden Core stage spiritual pressure prevented anyone from acting rashly. They listened attentively as he explained the tasks and rules.

The entire day was spent on trivial matters. They were settled in the left wing of Butterfly Island, with each person receiving a barrack. The barracks were connected but separated by restrictions, which wouldn't interfere with their cultivation.

Having time to cultivate on the battlefield was undoubtedly very fortunate. In fact, their tasks were also simple: patrol outside the island a few times each day and normally stay stationed on the island. As long as they completed their daily tasks and didn't stray too far from Butterfly Island, the commander wouldn't interfere with them.

"Quick! Take them all out!"

Inside the barrack, the little fox was excitedly urging Qin Li.

That day, they could be said to have reaped abundant rewards. Besides special reconnaissance and warning Dharma artifacts, the commander also issued each of them a set of common Dharma artifacts, each at least of high-grade quality. These included offensive, protective, flying, stealth, and even various unconventional artifacts — everything imaginable. Even the little fox received a set of Dharma artifacts suitable for demon cultivators.

If they were in the sect, such Dharma artifacts would have to be exchanged for a large amount of merit, and Qin Li would not receive any special treatment.

One by one, the Dharma artifacts were laid out on the ground. The little fox looked at this one, touched that one, and excitedly rolled among them, confidently telling Qin Li, "I told you you were here to gild yourself!"

After a night of rest, at dawn, the commander summoned a portion of the group to patrol outside the island, and Qin Li and the little fox were among them.

They were initially very nervous, with Qin Li clenching his fists, not daring to relax for a moment. But after circling a large area, they found no sign of the enemy; all they saw was the azure sea, occasionally with seabirds flying by, peaceful and beautiful.

Everything was calm, and everyone gradually relaxed.

Upon returning to Butterfly Island, Qin Li could go back to his barrack to cultivate, but the little fox stopped him.

"Go off the island?"

Hearing the little fox's suggestion, Qin Li hesitated, "It's too dangerous outside!"

"We just went so far, where's the danger? We'll just wander around Butterfly Island, not going too far..."

The little fox repeatedly urged him, then found another good reason: "What if the enemy attacks? We need to know the terrain to know where to run!"

Although Qin Li didn't agree with its talk of running away, he was ultimately convinced. He activated his Dharma artifact and flew out of the island; sure enough, the commander did not stop them.

They first circled Butterfly Island, then gradually moved outwards, enjoying the scenery vastly different from the mainland. The little fox exclaimed, "How wonderful it would be if there were no great enemies outside!"

"Indeed," Qin Li agreed.

Qin Li was also deeply captivated, nodding in agreement. "But if there are no external enemies, there will be internal strife."

"Oh?" The little fox propped up its head, looking at Qin Li in surprise. "Who taught you that saying?"

"I heard Deacon Tan say it before," Qin Li replied honestly.

"I knew you couldn't have figured that out yourself!"

The little fox scoffed, continuing to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Not long after, it seemed to sense something, then suddenly let out a soft 'oh?', leaped from Qin Li's shoulder, and with its four paws creating wind, dashed furiously across the sea surface. Its speed was incredibly fast; in an instant, only a white blur remained.

"Where are you going?"

Qin Li called out anxiously, but seeing the little fox continuing its rapid flight, he couldn't help but feel a surge of panic.

When he finally caught up, the little fox slowed down, and Qin Li also noticed at that moment that someone was engaged in a magical battle on the sea ahead.

Waves churned, and ripples spread outwards in circles.

Roars echoed from the center of the waves, and gray lights flashed intermittently, indicating sharp intent.

The little fox did not conceal its aura, and the two combatants, sensing the uninvited guest, also reined themselves in.

Their figures emerged from the waves: one was a human cultivator, and the other was a fish demon.

The fish demon had a mouth full of fangs, a ferocious appearance, and was covered in blood. The cultivator was a young man in gray robes, with a gray flying sword hovering in front of him.

Neither side had high cultivation levels; the fish demon was at the Mortal Demon stage, and the young man was a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

"Hey! Where did you come from? This isn't where you should be, leave quickly, uh..."

Seeing the fish demon's pathetic state, the little fox felt displeased and wanted to scare off the young man, but then noticed that the young man also had a waist token hanging at his waist.

The fish demon, sensing the aura of a great demon from the little fox, dared not counterattack and lay trembling on the sea surface, whimpering a few times at the little fox.

The young man retracted his flying sword and turned to look.

"Are you from Butterfly Island?" The little fox landed in front of the young man and questioned him.

The young man nodded.

"Isn't this place only for Foundation Establishment cultivators?" The little fox asked, puzzled.

"I am a rogue cultivator," the young man said indifferently.

At this moment, Qin Li finally caught up, offering an apologetic smile to the young man. He then whispered to the little fox, "There are also Qi Refining stage Daoists on Butterfly Island who handle miscellaneous tasks."

The little fox realized, continued to scrutinize the young man, and remarked, "Rogue cultivators are truly pitiful!"

At the Qi Refining stage, one has to fight desperately on the battlefield, with not a single decent Dharma artifact to be found on their entire body, and even their only flying sword appeared dull. However, this guy seemed to have backbone, remaining neither subservient nor arrogant in front of them.

The little fox developed a slight liking for the young man, its tone softening a bit. "What are you doing killing demons here? Our enemies are the Changyou clan; both human and demon races should unite against outsiders!"

The young man's tone was as calm as an ancient well. "I need to practice my sword."

"Practice sword?"

The little fox snorted, "When you encounter the Changyou clan in the future, you'll have plenty of opportunities to practice your sword! Don't hit it anymore, let it go. It still has two children in its nest."

The young man wasn't lacking in opponents, so he nodded slightly and sheathed his sword.

Seeing that the young man knew what was what, the little fox was very pleased. It waved a front paw at the fish demon. "Hurry up and leave! Don't come to the surface of the sea again!"

The fish demon whimpered, splashed a spray of water, and flipped over to escape underwater.

The young man turned to leave, his brow furrowing slightly, but then he felt a weight on his shoulder as the little fox unceremoniously leaped onto it.

"What's your name?"

"Jian Yi," the young man replied.

"Jian Yi? What a strange name!"

The little fox patted his shoulder. "Don't be scared, we're all colleagues; we won't harm you. Call me Fox Immortal, and from now on, you'll be our little brother. With us protecting you, you'll be safe!"

Jian Yi looked at the little fox, then at Qin Li who had caught up, thought for a moment, and nodded, "Okay!"

Qin Li was about to explain, but he hadn't expected Jian Yi to actually agree. He waved his hands repeatedly, "Brother, don't take it seriously. We don't take on little brothers; from now on, we're all friends..."

But the little fox persisted, grabbing Jian Yi's collar and shouting, "What do you mean 'Okay'? You haven't called me Fox Immortal yet!"

Sacred Bath Plains, Sacred Lake.

Early that morning, the meditating elders of the Changyou clan, the Sacred Lake guards, and the servants in various mansions almost simultaneously heard a majestic voice.

"Everyone, leave the Sacred Lake before sunset!"

The elders were startled awake one after another, then greatly alarmed. "It's the Clan Chief's decree!"

All the mansions, including the Clan Chief's residence, instantly fell into chaos. Fortunately, Min Shu stepped forward to calm everyone and arrange for their evacuation.

Then, the Sacred Lake guards also withdrew from the center of the lake.

The elders couldn't find the Clan Chief, so they could only approach Min Shu, eagerly asking, "Third Young Master, what exactly has happened?"

This decree caused widespread alarm, and everyone thought some change had occurred in the Sacred Lake.

Just then, the elders suddenly noticed that the center of the Sacred Lake abruptly became dazzlingly bright, while the surroundings grew dim. The daylight seemed to have been snatched away by the Sacred Lake in an instant.

Within the myriad rays of light, a figure appeared — it was none other than Clan Chief Min Zhuo.

"Father intends to use the power of the Sacred Lake's great formation!" Min Shu's tone held suppressed excitement.

"Borrowing the power of the great formation? Could it be..."

The elders suddenly thought of a possibility and were immediately overjoyed.