Chapter 346: Fox from Outside

The large satellite shimmering with silver light gradually enlarged in their field of vision, until the energy dome on its surface, the artificial atmosphere, and the various settlements and megastructures on the ground became visible. Then, the Immortal Vessel transmitted another reminder to Hu Li about decelerating for docking. Immediately after, Yu Sheng saw the Immortal Vessel in his view descend like a light, graceful leaf toward a navigation beacon on the surface of "Tai You."

Hu Li's several tails adjusted their angles and thrust intensity once more, following the Immortal Vessel's descent direction, and passed through the atmosphere according to the landing guidance transmitted by the latter, approaching the ground.

Yu Sheng saw a large facility appear ahead; it was a Gao Ta built on a plain, seven treasures inlaid and exquisite, surrounded by auspicious clouds. Numerous Bai Yu platforms depicting immortal treasures floated around the Gao Ta. Immortal Vessels descending from space frequently docked at these platforms, which would then shift their positions, descend to the ground, or retract into hangars on the lower levels of the Gao Ta, thereby improving the takeoff and landing speed and capacity efficiency of the spaceport.

When Hu Li tried to approach one of the platforms, the artifact spirit within the seven-treasure Gao Ta immediately sensed the "Temporary Mobile Immortal Travel Permit" tied under Hu Li's chin. The platform then emitted a navigation beam, moved itself to the most suitable position for landing, and a faint, ethereal voice entered Yu Sheng and Hu Li's ears: "Welcome—Temporary Stop—Nine-Tailed Immortal—visiting the Lingxi Mine Scenic Area. You are entitled to free docking at this scenic area's spaceport."

Upon hearing this, Hu Li immediately turned her head, her voice sounding exceptionally happy: "Benefactor, docking here is free for me!"

Yu Sheng: "... Mm, yes, as long as you're happy."

After a brief queue of a few minutes, this Bai Yu platform slowly descended to the ground near the Gao Ta. Hu Li lightly jumped off the platform and walked toward the direction where the Immortal Vessel had landed. Yu Sheng took this opportunity to look up and survey the surroundings, and happened to see another platform nearby also slowly descending from the sky.

He just happened to glance casually upward and actually saw a huge fox standing on that platform—a jade-faced, golden-furred five-tailed fox. It looked extremely dignified. Once the platform stabilized, it walked down with its head held high and chest out, displaying an air of great elegance.

This was the first time Yu Sheng had seen an Immortal Fox from this region. He was instantly delighted and tugged on the fox fur beneath him: "Hey! Hu Li, there's another Immortal Fox over there!"

"Where? Where?" Hu Li immediately lifted her head to look around, then spotted the jade-faced, golden-furred five-tailed fox walking forward with its chest out and head high. She immediately happily strode over with cheerful steps, "Hello!"

The next second, Yu Sheng saw that jade-faced golden fox shiver all over, lift its head, and look at the nine-tailed silver fox over here with a face full of shock and nervousness. Actually, it was hard for Yu Sheng to discern shock on a fox's face; his main basis for judgment was that the other's tail was about to puff up into a ball.

"Im-m-mortal?" The jade-faced golden fox instinctively lowered its body, then tilted its head slightly and cautiously, as if it dared not look directly at Hu Li. It emitted a crisp girl's voice from its mouth, "What instructions does the Immortal have... ah, I didn't mean to steal your Immortal Vessel platform! I saw no one was docking there, so I came up..."

"Ah? You didn't steal my spot," Hu Li tilted her head, feeling utterly confused, "I just saw another fox and brought my Benefactor over to say hello~~"

Yu Sheng stood up from Hu Li's back, walked all the way to the top of her head so the jade-faced golden fox opposite could see him, and imitated the people here by clasping his hands in a bow: "Hello, my name is Yu Sheng."

The jade-faced golden fox looked completely bewildered: "Ah, hello?"

Then, after a while, she cautiously looked at Hu Li and spoke: "Immortal, do you have any orders?"

"No," Hu Li said casually, "After saying hello, I'll be leaving first. We have things to do."

"Uh, Immortal, take care..."

Hu Li then carried Yu Sheng and strolled away.

The jade-faced golden fox, however, remained standing rigidly in place, watching until the figure of the nine-tailed silver fox disappeared in the distance before finally sighing in relief, its fur, which had stood on end, slowly settling down.

At almost the same time, a middle-aged man's voice came from the side: "Ling Long? What are you standing here for?"

The jade-faced golden fox, called Ling Long, turned her head and saw a middle-aged man in a purple robe standing nearby. He had his hair tied up in a high crown, a pale complexion, and a thin, tall build, looking at her with confusion.

"Great-Uncle!" The golden fox Ling Long immediately bowed down, her eyes sparkling, her voice sounding exceptionally cheerful, "Nine tails! That Immortal just now, nine tails!!"

"What nine tails, nonsense," the middle-aged man in the purple robe frowned, "I told you to come find me immediately after landing, but you didn't show up for a long time. I thought you had collided with someone else's Immortal Vessel again, yet I see you standing here in a daze! Did you forget how you were rear-ended last time, with bandages wrapped around your tail, lying in bed for over a month?"

"Ah, ah, not in a daze! I met an Immortal! A nine-tailed silver fox, so white... not a single mixed-color hair!" Ling Long, however, seemed not to hear the purple-robed man's scolding and continued speaking excitedly, "You didn't see, she was so beautiful! Pure spiritual fire floated around her, she just walked over, her fur like satin... how does she maintain such good fur color? Alas, I didn't dare ask. The Immortal walked straight over and greeted me... Nine tails!!"

The middle-aged man in the purple robe finally understood the gist from Ling Long's chaotic and overly excited description. Shock and surprise gradually appeared on his face, and then he couldn't help but frown.

"Nine-tailed silver fox? What would an Immortal like that be doing here... also visiting the mine park?"

"I don't know that. She didn't tell me. However, I also saw a person standing on the Immortal's head, claiming to be Yu Sheng. He looked like an ordinary person. The Immortal called him 'Benefactor'."

"...?!"

"What's wrong, Great-Uncle?"

"Read fewer of those comic books your father collects!"

"Ah?"

Beside a pavilion built against a mountain, Yu Sheng saw Xuan Che, along with Luna and Erin, getting off the Immortal Vessel.

Upon meeting them, he saw Erin standing on Luna's shoulder, looking around like a sailor on a lookout tower.

"This place is great! Although it doesn't look as grand as Qianfeng Lingshan, there are huge, huge houses, machines, and spaceships everywhere!" The little doll, upon seeing Yu Sheng, excitedly shouted, "I thought this 'satellite' would be desolate!"

"After all, it's an immigrant star developed for thousands of years; how could there still be desolate places?" Yu Sheng laughed, then looked up and down at the two dolls who seemed to be getting along quite well, and couldn't help but sigh, "I'm quite surprised that the two of you haven't fought."

Erin immediately crossed her arms: "Type C Lock is a defeated opponent under my command! I have no need to bully her."

Luna, however, didn't mind the arrogant little doll on her shoulder. She just nodded slowly and reported the situation to Yu Sheng: "Ailin, didn't move around, didn't get stuck in the chair."

"See? I say Yu Sheng's worry was unnecessary. I, a doll from the Alice House, what is there to worry about regarding riding a shuttle?" Erin said proudly, jumped vigorously onto Yu Sheng, then turned her head and waved at Luna, "But speaking of which, I think your accent is a bit heavy..."

"Was the journey smooth?" Xuan Che glanced at the nine-tailed fox squatting beside Yu Sheng and scratching an itch, "I saw that you delayed quite a while after landing before coming out."

Yu Sheng nodded: "It was fine. We just encountered another Immortal Fox after landing and went over to say hello."

"By the way, people kept looking at us all the way," Hu Li muttered, scratching the soft fur on her neck with her hind paw, "What are they looking at?"

"... Perhaps Miss Hu Li's appearance is somewhat eye-catching," Xuan Che thought for a moment and said hesitantly, "Nine-tailed Spirit Foxes are very rare here, and silver foxes are even rarer. The fox clan regards white as noble and uses the number of tails to display cultivation. I forgot to remind you..."

The fox girl stopped scratching her itch immediately, tilted her head in confusion: "Ah? Does having more tails mean being more powerful?"

"More or less. An ancient saying goes, 'The fox continues its tail with its life,' referring to an ancient cultivation method of Spirit Foxes. It involves experiencing the four tribulations of 'birth, old age, sickness, and death' as one cycle of fate. Each cycle of tribulation adds one tail. It can also be understood that Spirit Foxes need to undergo a life-and-death tribulation to increase their cultivation by one tail... Although this ancient cultivation method is now outdated, the standard of ranking by the number of tails is still widely recognized among many beast spirits and demon immortals."

The fox girl was stunned after hearing this, then became visibly excited: "Hey Benefactor, then can I..."

"No."

"I haven't even said..."

"You cannot summon Ten Thousand Tails Paying Homage here. Besides, you can transform back now. With your size, walking among people, I'm always worried you'll step on someone."

"Oh."

Hu Li's ears drooped. She rubbed her nose tip against Yu Sheng, made a few grumbling sounds, and then obediently dispelled her transformation, turning back into her spirited young girl form—but she still did not hide her nine tails.

After all, she came to Qianfeng Lingshan specifically to fully enjoy the happiness of letting her tails blow in the wind and see the light.

Yu Sheng saw this and said nothing. Compared to Hu Li running around outside with nine tails, he was also carrying an "Artificial Saintess" around everywhere.

Of course, he had also confirmed the matter of Luna with Bai Li Qing. The conclusion was that in this world, not to mention ordinary people, even more than ninety percent of extraordinary beings might not be able to recognize the appearance of an "Artificial Saintess." After all, very few people are worth an Artificial Saintess intervening, and even fewer are those who have seen an Artificial Saintess and survived. Especially in a place like Qianfeng Lingshan, where master artificers are everywhere and all kinds of strange mechanical dolls exist, there was no need to worry about causing any trouble.

"I will take you to the entrance of that strange realm," Xuan Che spoke, "I confirmed some details with my master on the way. Its entrance is deep within the mine's restricted zone. Follow me."

Yu Sheng nodded and stepped forward to follow Xuan Che's footsteps.

However, just at this moment, Erin, sitting on his shoulder, suddenly lifted her head and blurted out without preamble: "There is killing intent!"

(End of Chapter)