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Chapter 394 Naming by Contract
Chapter 394 Naming by Contract
Yuqing Mountain Range, Zihu Prefecture.
"I have met the little princess."
The door opened wide, and Bai Li gave a slight bow before looking at Chen Beiwu and gesturing with her hand.
"Young Master Chen, please."
Chen Beiwu, dressed in white, calmly stepped into the cave.
On his shoulder, the seven-tailed purple fox lowered its eyes, seemingly afraid to look up.
"Hmph, you little brat, you actually know how to come back?"
A lazy yet authoritative female voice, tinged with dissatisfaction, slowly rang out.
"Eek."
The seven-tailed purple fox stiffened slightly, then rushed forward, transforming into a purple shadow and quickly pounced into the arms of a stunningly beautiful woman, its seven fox tails swaying coquettishly behind it.
Chen Beiwu stopped and looked at the Ziyao Demon King, who was leaning against the jade throne, and performed a junior's salute with neither humility nor arrogance.
"Sit down, don't be shy, just make yourself at home."
After giving Chen Beiwu a few words of advice, the Purple Yao Demon King stood up, her ample bosom swaying slightly. She reached out and grabbed the seven-tailed purple fox by the neck, lifting it up.
"Eek?"
The seven-tailed purple fox dangled its four paws, revealing an innocent and naive expression.
"Being cute and charming won't work. We agreed to see each other once a year, so why haven't you come to see your mother in eleven years?" said the Demon King Ziyao with dissatisfaction.
This girl is no longer suitable to be raised.
Once you have a cultivator, you forget your mother.
Upon hearing this, the seven-tailed purple fox tilted its head, yawned, and slowly closed its eyes.
"Still trying to pull this trick? Pretending to be asleep won't work." The Purple Jade Demon King flicked his right hand, causing the seven-tailed purple fox's entire body to shake.
"Your Majesty is wise. The reason why Azhi failed to fulfill the promise is my fault," Chen Beiwu explained.
"Hmph, I'll let you off this time."
Ziyao Demon King snorted and tossed the seven-tailed purple fox into Chen Beiwu's arms like trash.
"Azhi's bloodline has almost fully awakened now."
Zi Yao Demon King raised her eyes and glanced at Chen Beiwu, then brought up the important matter: "It's time to let her consume the Beast King Fruit, stimulate a portion of her bloodline potential, and step into the realm of Demon General."
Chen Beiwu's heart skipped a beat, but before he could speak, the Demon King Ziyao changed the subject: "But before that, it's best to finalize the matter of Azhi's contract first. What do you think, Young Master Chen?"
Although Chen Beiwu was only a Golden Core cultivator, the difference in their cultivation levels was vast; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were worlds apart.
However, Chen Beiwu, as a rising star in the sect and a promising talent in the Void Refinement stage, was worthy of her condescending to treat him with respect.
Upon hearing this, the seven-tailed purple fox immediately raised its little head, looked at its mother, and then at Chen Beiwu, a hint of nervousness flashing in its heterochromatic eyes.
"Your Majesty is right. I have come today to discuss with Your Majesty the matter of establishing a covenant." Chen Beiwu nodded in agreement.
The seven-tailed purple fox is no ordinary celestial beast.
He usually secluded himself to cultivate with the seven-tailed purple fox.
If he wants to bring the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox back to his hometown, he must do so legitimately, gain the approval of the Purple Jade Demon King, and become the little guy's contracted cultivator.
As for the matter of establishing a covenant, after so many years of getting along, Chen Beiwu knows the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox quite well. He understands that the little guy is a person of his word, and the possibility of him revealing his secrets is even lower than that of the Golden Egg, whose personality is gradually becoming reckless.
"Eek." The seven-tailed purple fox's eyes brightened slightly.
"Very well, then let's talk about the dowry."
The Purple Jade Demon King's lips curled up, revealing a stunning smile that could outshine all the flowers.
"Dowry? What dowry?"
Chen Beiwu was slightly taken aback.
Having cultivated in the Jade Purity Immortal Sect for a long time, he also became aware of some of the unspoken rules of the contracts.
For example, deep within the Yuqing Mountains, there exist some ancient and noble clans of titled Heavenly Divine Beasts.
These ethnic groups have unique rules and place great importance on the dignity and rituals of their people.
Even if the young members of the clan have already recognized the cultivator, the Immortal Alliance cultivators still need to offer a considerable amount of fellowship gifts to give the clan enough face and express their sincerity.
If the Demon King Ziyao were to ask for a dowry, Chen Beiwu could understand to some extent, but what the hell is this dowry?
Isn't this the dowry that a bride's family prepares for her when she gets married in the mortal world?
"That's right, it's the dowry."
Seeing the fleeting look of surprise in Chen Beiwu's eyes, the Purple Yao Demon King said matter-of-factly, "This has always been the rule of my Seven-Tailed Purple Fox clan."
"When a core junior in the clan chooses a contracted cultivator and forms a co-cultivation contract, it is just like a marriage in the human race. As an elder, I naturally have to prepare a dowry for Azhi to fulfill the proper etiquette, and at the same time, to give her more confidence on her future path of cultivation."
At this point, her gaze fell on Chen Beiwu, and her red lips parted slightly: "I hope that Young Master Chen can understand this tradition."
"I understand," Chen Beiwu nodded.
Although he had never heard of such a tradition among the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox clan, since the Demon King Zi Yao had spoken of it this way, it must be true.
"The dowry I have prepared for Azhi conforms to the number of 'Five Mysteries,' which roughly amounts to nine fourth-tier Mysterious Treasures, nine bottles of fourth-tier Mysterious Elixirs, nine fourth-tier Mysterious Talismans, nine fourth-tier Mysterious Arrays, and nine fourth-tier Mysterious Herbs."
With each word spoken by the Purple Jade Demon King, Chen Beiwu's mind sank a little deeper.
What an extravagant dowry!
The sheer size of this dowry could probably empty the coffers of an entire Nascent Soul sect in the Southern Wilderness (excluding the five major sects at the Earthly Realm).
O
The golden egg, the iron egg, and the five qi vines' eyes grew brighter the more they listened.
Especially the Five Qi Vine, upon hearing about the nine fourth-tier profound herbs, almost drooled.
"What does Young Master Chen Beiwu think? Should we add some more to make it nine Xuan?"
Seeing Chen Beiwu's slightly somber expression, the Purple Yao Demon King's smile vanished, assuming that the former had objections and felt that the amount was insufficient.
It should be noted that the dowry she provided was no ordinary item; it consisted entirely of top-grade mystical treasures, pills, talismans, arrays, and medicines.
Such a dowry would be something even a Nascent Soul Perfected True Monarch couldn't afford even if he emptied his pockets.
Of course, those with extraordinary backgrounds, such as Nascent Soul True Monarchs born into Daoist Immortal Clan and True Venerable Clan, are an exception.
"Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated by this junior." Chen Beiwu carefully chose his words and said, "The dowry Your Majesty has prepared for Azhi is far too precious. Even if this junior were to give everything he has, I'm afraid it would be difficult to prepare a matching dowry."
Sincerity is mutual.
The more dowry the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox offers, the harder it will be for Chen Beiwu to reciprocate with proper courtesy, and he will end up owing her even more favors.
"Eek?"
The seven-tailed purple fox blinked, looking somewhat confused.
Is it too much?
The treasures and rare medicines collected by the Queen Mother and the King could almost form a small mountain.
Compared to that small mountain, these rare treasures and pills are utterly insignificant.
"Gulp."
Upon hearing this, Jin Dan swallowed hard, and his gaze toward the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox changed.
Good heavens, she's a real princess!
Even a small portion of her dowry would be a treasure she had always dreamed of.
"Woof."
Tie Dan was also somewhat surprised.
Is this the wealth of a second-generation cultivator?
Even though its master is renowned as a Void Refining talent, known throughout the Jade Purity Immortal Sect and even the entire Immortal Alliance, his wealth is still less than one-tenth of that of the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox.
"Hey."
Five Qi Vine ran up to the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox and gently patted and massaged it with its little hands.
It is not greedy; it doesn't want any mystical treasures or pills, nor any mystical talismans or arrays. It is content as long as it can serve the seven-tailed purple fox and plant those nine fourth-order mystical herbs.
Therefore, it can give up its third-place position to the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox, placing it last.
"Eek." The seven-tailed purple fox tilted its little head.
She came from a wealthy family and originally didn't care about these dowries.
But seeing the two companions whose attitudes had changed drastically, she instantly understood the value of the dowry given by her mother.
On the other side, when Ziyao Demon King heard Chen Beiwu's reply, she was first taken aback, and then covered her mouth and chuckled.
"A gift for participating in the same event?" She leaned forward slightly and said with certainty, "Young Master Chen may have misunderstood."
"Our Seven-Tailed Purple Fox clan has never had the custom of demanding a fellowship fee from contracted cultivators since ancient times."
"The dowry I prepared for Azhi is merely my heartfelt gift and blessing as an elder to Azhi, not a commodity for trade."
At this point, the Demon King Ziyao's gaze fell on the seven-tailed purple fox, and she said softly, "All I need is for you to take good care of Azhi, protect her, and help her grow."
"It is my duty as a junior," Chen Beiwu said solemnly.
After discussing the dowry, the Demon King Ziyao hosted a family banquet and invited Chen Beiwu to a meal.
Chen Beiwu did not refuse, and they chatted about everyday things while eating, which lasted for more than two hours.
But even after the family banquet ended, Chen Beiwu was unable to find out any news about Azhi's father. He only knew that the latter had been in seclusion and had not even met Azhi many times.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing I need you to do." The Purple Jade Demon King said with great interest, "My Seven-Tailed Purple Fox clan has had a rule since ancient times: when any member of the clan forms a covenant, their true name must be determined by the covenant cultivator."
Chen Beiwu was somewhat surprised to hear this.
The Demon King Ziyao smiled slightly and explained, "Azhi is just my childhood name, not my real name."
In an instant, the golden egg, the iron egg, and the five qi vines all turned their gazes toward Chen Beiwu.
The seven-tailed purple fox also looked up curiously, staring at Chen Beiwu with unblinking eyes and a hint of anticipation in its expression.
Chen Beiwu's mind raced.
He was never good at naming things, and now he was completely at a loss for words when it came to naming something on the spot.
After a long while, a flash of inspiration struck Chen Beiwu, and he slowly recited: "The Jade Terrace is planted with fragrant orchids with roots connected to jade, and the moon's spirit is connected to the stars with its tail."
After reciting the poem, Chen Beiwu reached out and gently stroked the head of the seven-tailed purple fox: "How about I call you Zhiling?"
Zhiling?
The seven-tailed purple fox's heart stirred slightly. She repeated the name over and over again, growing fonder with each word, and couldn't help but let out a soft sob.
"A good name." The Purple Jade Demon King nodded slightly, looking quite satisfied.
Is it really that good?
Seeing everyone's reaction, Jin Dan looked confused, glanced at Tie Dan, and transmitted his thoughts.
In its eyes, Zhiling was far less appealing than its name; it sounded weak and lacked any imposing presence.
It should be understood that gold is the immortal material, while the egg is the origin of chaos.
The words "golden egg" together exude an aura of dominance and power, shaking the heavens; they sound incredibly formidable.
That makes sense, good names like "Golden Egg" are hard to come by, and it's already quite good that the owner could come up with two; any more would be asking too much.
"???"
Tie Dan looked up in surprise and took a serious look at Jin Dan.
No, these can be connected!
If its owner hadn't told it that a simple name was better and less likely to die young, it would have almost believed the golden egg's explanation.
So Tie Dan opened his mouth, wanting to ask a question, but seeing Jin Dan's smug look, he decided against it.
"Hey!"
Suddenly, Wu Qi Teng looked intently at Chen Beiwu, also wanting a name.
The problem is not scarcity, but inequality.
Everyone has a name, but this one is still called the Five Qi Vine, which is a bit unfair.
Upon seeing this, the Purple Yao Demon King smiled, wanting to see how Chen Beiwu would react.
"Okay, okay, wait a moment, I'll think of one for you too."
Chen Beiwu pondered for a moment and then asked, "Xuele, what do you think?"
Wu Qi Teng frowned, repeated it, and felt that it wasn't as good as Zhi Ling's.
"Hey?" (Where's the poem?)
Wuqi Teng decided to listen to the meaning again.
"The fragrance of sage grows ever stronger in the cold air, and the Dao pivot never stagnates, its flow everlasting," Chen Beiwu pondered.
He didn't choose this name randomly.
The Five Elements Vine is ever-changing, its patterns resembling snowflakes, and its nature is like a thief who never stops. It rejoices when it encounters those with all five elements present, which perfectly corresponds to the name Snow Vine.
"Hey."
Wuqi Teng blinked, then suddenly thought the name wasn't so bad.
Sensing Wu Qi Teng's thoughts, Chen Beiwu breathed a sigh of relief.
Poetry isn't so easy to come by.
Fortunately, he had read some extracurricular articles while studying at Shouhe No. 2 Middle School, and with a few minor modifications, he could produce a couple of lines of poetry that were barely usable.
"Hey." (From now on, I'm Schiller.)
Five-Five Vine ran to its friends to show off.
"Scheller, your name isn't as nice as mine."
The golden egg proudly raises its head.
Tie Dan closed his eyes speechlessly, wondering where Jin Dan got his confidence from.
On the contrary, Wu Qi Teng was stunned and began to doubt his own aesthetic sense.
"How about you call yourself Vine Egg from now on?" Golden Egg suggested.
Upon hearing this, Wu Qi Teng jolted awake and immediately regained his senses.
What a terrible name. I can't believe that Golden Egg has any sense of aesthetics.
Even if Schiller is terrible, he can't be worse than Teng Dan.
Seeing the golden eggs playing and fighting among themselves, the Purple Jade Demon King's smile grew even wider.
It's good to be honest and simple.
With someone as carefree and straightforward as Jin Dan, her daughter will definitely be able to handle relationships very well.
"Young Master Chen, your name has been chosen; we may now enter into a contract," the Purple Jade Demon King reminded him.
Without hesitation, Chen Beiwu activated the Primordial Cave True Azure Flower Controlling Myriad Tribulations and Myriad Spirits Immortal Technique, and a glimmer of spiritual light appeared in his sea of consciousness between his brows.
Tracing back to the origin, the divine light illuminates the Purple Palace.
"The primordial beginning is the foundation, and essence and blood form the bridge."
Chen Beiwu formed a hand seal with both hands, pointing out a bit of essence blood to form the Tongcan Seal.
Zhiling lowered her head, relaxed her mind, and let the Tongcan Seal enter her own sea of consciousness.
"Buzz!"
Chen Beiwu's brain was buzzing, and a seven-tailed purple fox that blotted out the sky slowly emerged in his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness.
Same-parameter contract established!
Chen Beiwu opened his eyes and found a warm and affectionate connection in his heart.
Without needing to transmit his thoughts through divine sense, Chen Beiwu could clearly perceive all of Zhiling's emotions, and even faintly sensed that the bloodline hidden within her body was beginning to stir and boil.
The next instant, influenced by the immortal magic, Zhiling's bloodline began to awaken, and an invisible wave spread and erupted from her center.
There was no time to investigate Zhiling's three meridians. Chen Beiwu's storage ring flashed, and a Beast King Fruit quickly fell into the mouth of the seven-tailed purple fox.
"boom!"
"boom!"
"boom!"
After consuming the fruit, Zhiling's aura surged once more, and she began her attempt to break through to the third realm of Demon General.
It's done!
Looking at his daughter whose energy was perfectly integrated, the Demon King Ziyao felt a sense of relief.
With the help of someone as talented as Chen Beiwu at the Void Refinement stage, Azhi might be able to surpass her in the future and become an Eight-Tailed Void Fox.
As for the legendary Void Celestial Fox, it is far too ethereal and unrealistic.
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