Chapter Five: Fox

  Jiang Feng knew that the man was called Cheng Dong, a cultivator who had reached the eighth layer of Qi Refining. Qi Refining was also the first realm on the path to immortality and the lowest one at that. Above it were several other realms, including Foundation Building, Golden Elixir, Purple Mansion, and Spiritual Platform.

  Cheng Dong came here this time for a reason. Moreover, the monks who came to this place were not just him alone. There were hundreds of other little monks like him.

  They were all summoned by some immortal sects and came to this place for exploration. As long as they can find valuable treasures here, they can enter a certain sect.

  To put it simply, the place where Jiang Feng is now is a forbidden land that was accidentally discovered. No one knows what's inside the forbidden land, and this forbidden land only opened a small crack. Only Qi-refining stage cultivators like Xiao Xiu can enter through that crack. This is also why those sects allowed people like Cheng Dong to enter.

  In the conversation, Jiang Feng learned about the existence of cultivators and understood some things about them. Those small bags that Jiang Feng picked up were the most commonly used storage bags by cultivators. Unfortunately, Jiang Feng was not a cultivator yet, he didn't have spiritual power, so he couldn't open it.

  Through Cheng Dong's words, Jiang Feng felt that he had touched another world. A world he could not have imagined before. This world made Jiang Feng yearn for it endlessly.

  Cheng Dong's injury was not very serious. Although he was only a small cultivator in the Qi Refining stage, 8th layer, if he were to take action now, he would still be able to defeat Jiang Feng. However, Cheng Dong did not have that intention. Because he was very clear that just now when Jiang Feng was hit by the flying sword, nothing happened to him, so there must be a protective treasure on his body. He may not be a match for him.

  "You just said that the crack we entered here can't last long. So shouldn't we hurry up and leave?" Jiang Feng said.

  "Not bad, it's indeed time to leave this place early. After going out, relying on Huosang fruit, we can enter a sect. Who knows, maybe we'll be sworn brothers in the future." said Cheng Dong.

  "You just said it too, cultivating immortality isn't that easy. It's not something everyone can do either. I still don't know if I have the qualifications for it." Jiang Feng said.

  Cheng Dong didn't say a word, and led Jiang Feng away from the restricted area. In fact, this restricted area was very large, and they were only on the periphery. The places where treasures might really exist, they hadn't even touched upon. Even in this outer area, there were dangers lurking everywhere. If things went wrong, they might never be able to leave.

  After walking around for more than three hours, Cheng Dong stopped and frowned at his surroundings. Seeing Cheng Dong like this, Jiang Feng realized that something was wrong.

  "Don't tell me you got lost." Jiang Feng said.

  "We've really gotten lost. I can't find the way out anymore. And it seems like we've entered some kind of illusionary formation. We might end up dying here." said Cheng Dong.

  Looking at Cheng Dong's slightly tense expression, Jiang Feng felt that Cheng Dong was not joking and did not intentionally come here. However, Jiang Feng still kept a safe distance from Cheng Dong.

  As for Jiang Feng's warning, Cheng Dong didn't say anything. He just said "rely on luck" and stopped talking.

  The two of them could only rely on luck now. They casually chose a direction and walked. As they walked, it seemed like they were walking in circles. After more than an hour had passed, they still hadn't found a way to leave this place. And they encountered many dangers along the way. There were several times when both of them almost died.

  "You listen, it seems there is a sound in front." Cheng Dong reminded.

  The surroundings were either low trees or large rocks. These trees and rocks formed a maze. Apart from the people beside him, Jiang Feng had not seen any other living creatures, nor had he heard any sounds.

  "Since you said there's a sound, let's go take a look. Maybe there's someone, or maybe there's a way out." Jiang Feng said.

  "It may also be something that will take our lives," said Cheng Dong.

  Although he said so, Cheng Dong still took Jiang Feng towards the direction where the sound came from. Not far away, Jiang Feng also heard the voice. It sounded like a groan. It was just unknown whether it was human or animal.

  Afterwards, behind some trees, Jiang Feng saw the creature that made the sound. It was a white fox over one meter long, lying beside a large rock and making low moaning sounds. It looked like it was about to die.

  Feeling someone approaching, the fox immediately stopped whining. All the hairs on its body stood up straight, staring at Jiang Feng and Cheng Dong with a "dare to come closer and I'll bite you to death" attitude.

  "Be careful, it's just a cunning fox." Cheng Dong reminded.

  "Yao fox? You're saying this fox is a monster?" Jiang Feng said with some surprise.

  "That's right, it's indeed a monster. It just hasn't reached its prime yet. But even if it hasn't reached its prime, it's not something we can handle," said Cheng Dong.

  "But looking at its appearance, it seems like it's almost done for. It shouldn't be that scary, right?" Jiang Feng said.

  At this time, the fox stood up. At this moment, Jiang Feng and Cheng Dong saw that the half of its body that was previously invisible was covered in bloodstains, and there were also charred parts. It was clear that the fox had suffered serious injuries.

  The fox that had just stood up fell down again within two seconds, and let out an even more mournful whimper. Its breathing was also getting weaker and weaker.

  "He's done for. Maybe this time we can still get a demon pellet." said Cheng Dong.

  "You're not even helping, yet you still want someone else's elixir. By the way, can the medicinal pill you ate earlier save it?" Jiang Feng said while giving him a sideways glance.

  "Save it? Are you crazy. Don't mention that my elixir can't help at all, even if it could, do you think saving it would prevent it from harming us?" Cheng Dong said.

  Jiang Feng didn't respond, he just stared at the fox. The fox's whimpering grew more and more pitiful, its breathing also became weaker. The fox's eyes had long lost their ferocity, all that was left was a pleading and helpless expression.

  "Can't we help it at all? Can't we just watch it die like this?" Jiang Feng said with a heart of compassion.

  "Unless you're willing to give it a Fireberry to eat. It might just save it." Cheng Dong said casually.

  It was just a casual remark, but he saw Jiang Feng staring at him with a serious face. The fox seemed to have also heard Huo Sangguo and looked at Jiang Feng with renewed energy, making sounds that seemed like cries for help.

  Seeing Jiang Feng's gaze, Cheng Dong secretly thought it was not good. He said: "I just casually mentioned it. Although the Fire Spirit Fruit is a healing medicine, it's not necessarily possible to save it either. Besides, a demon fox, saving it is also unnecessary."

  "There's always hope, and it's better than watching it die anyway." Jiang Feng said as he took out two Flame Peaches from his bosom and walked towards the fox.

  "You... are crazy, you're really crazy. Don't you understand how important the Huosang fruit is? Don't you know that the demon fox is very dangerous? If you save it, it might just eat you." Cheng Dong said somewhat anxiously.

  "All things have spirits. How can a monster that can cultivate be an exception? I think it won't do such a thing." Jiang Feng said, and had already approached the fox.

  The fire spirit fruit in his hand was carefully brought to the fox's mouth. Jiang Feng thought to himself, but please don't bite me. Also, please don't eat me.

  He glanced at Jiang Feng with a pair of eyes, the fox opened its mouth and swallowed the two fire spirit fruits in Jiang Feng's hand in one bite. Without seeing any movement from the fox's mouth, it directly swallowed the fire spirit fruit. At this time, Jiang Feng also stood up and retreated far away.

  The originally weak fox, after eating the fire persimmon fruit, quickly emitted wisps of white smoke from its body. The faint moaning sound also disappeared. The fox that had fallen to the ground also stood up at this time. The originally charred parts of its body were also rapidly recovering.

  After a moment, the fox let out a long howl. The sound was like that of some kind of ferocious beast. The injured parts on the fox's body had mostly healed, and its eyes also shone with more spirit. At this time, Cheng Dong had already taken out his flying sword, guarding against the fox's attack.

  After almost a minute, the fox lay down on the ground again. This time, it was more than an hour. When it got up again, the fox's condition looked much better. It also slowly walked towards Jiang Feng's direction.

  "Be careful." Cheng Dong reminded.

  Jiang Feng's heart was racing faster. Who knew if this fox would repay kindness with ingratitude? He was still very worried.

  The fox didn't get too close. It stopped about three or four steps away from Jiang Feng. It let out two low cries towards Jiang Feng, as if it was thanking him. This actually made Jiang Feng feel a bit more at ease.

  The fox then turned in another direction, and after turning its head to shout at Jiang Feng and Cheng Dong twice, it ran forward. After running a few steps, it stopped again and shouted at Jiang Feng twice more.

  "It knows the way out. It's going to take us out." Jiang Feng said with great joy, and immediately followed up.

  Under the leadership of the fox, they soon walked out of this maze. After advancing for a while, Cheng Dong saw a familiar mountain. The place he came from was right there. The fox had actually led them to the exit.

  "That's great, now we can go out." Cheng Dong said happily.

  "We owe you a great debt of gratitude. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid Jiang Dong and I would have died here." Jiang Feng said to the fox with great joy.

  The exit was not far away, and Cheng Dong also politely said a few words to the fox, urging Jiang Feng to leave quickly. But just as Jiang Feng was about to walk away, the fox bit down on his pant leg and pulled him in one direction.

  "Are you going to take me somewhere else?" Jiang Feng guessed and asked.

  The fox nodded and looked at Jiang Feng. At this time, Cheng Dong said: "You go. It shouldn't harm you. After you've finished your business, it will take you out. I'll be waiting for you outside."

  Cheng Dong also understood that the fox did not want to take him. Otherwise, it would not have pointed out the way first and then taken Jiang Feng away.

  Jiang Feng thought for a moment, feeling that there was nothing to worry about. He bid farewell to Cheng Dong and followed the fox. In his heart, he also wondered where this fox would take him.