The Master of Beasts

From the outside, Fox Fate Pavilion appeared as a high-end building, shrouded in pink mist that intertwined around the entire structure, with occasional flashes of Spirit Light from its arrays, making it look quite extraordinary.

However, once inside, Chen Jiuge felt he might have set his expectations too high.

「Fox Fate Pavilion – First Floor.」

Numerous Spiritual Beasts, either incompletely transformed or in their original forms, were causing a commotion throughout the hall. They were accompanied by several scantily clad fox women with top-notch figures and appearances. Due to their incomplete transformations, they either sported a pair of fox ears or trailed a fluffy fox tail; some even had both.

"What a mess," Yue Meng muttered before grabbing Jiao Yue and burrowing into Chen Jiuge's Grotto Heaven.

Da Bai exhibited a lecherous grin, his drool almost reaching the floor.

Before Chen Jiuge could comment on Da Bai, a fox woman clad in a thin veil sashayed over. "My, who is this handsome young master from such an esteemed family?" she cooed.

"Do you know anyone here, Young Master? Or shall I arrange a few companions for you?"

Looking at the fox woman, who seemed to be a madam, Chen Jiuge glanced at her exquisite face and said, "This is my first visit. I didn't expect Fox Fate Pavilion to be so chaotic. It's rather disappointing."

As if to echo Chen Jiuge's words, a wild wolf whizzed over their heads and flew out the main door.

The perpetrator, a black panther currently embracing a fox woman, scoffed, "That puny wolf actually dared to compete with me? It was seeking death."

"HAHAHA, a good kick!" the Spiritual Beasts in the vicinity roared their approval.

The madam chuckled awkwardly. "We Spiritual Beasts are quite straightforward. As it's your first visit, Young Master, you might find it a bit unsettling."

Chen Jiuge offered a polite smile.

Having seen her fair share of the world, the madam's smile didn't falter. "Young Master, you Human Clan Cultivators prefer the upper floors. How about I show you?"

Feeling the softness of her arm, Chen Jiuge subtly tried to pull his away. It won't budge?

Looking at the smiling fox woman madam, Chen Jiuge could only nod.

They crossed through the chaotic hall. The Spiritual Beasts there showed no curiosity as to why a Human Clan Cultivator like Chen Jiuge would appear; they didn't even bother provoking him. Some even shifted aside as he approached, appearing somewhat fearful.

"Does Young Master find this strange?" The fox woman madam perceived Chen Jiuge's confusion.

"Young Master, any Human Clan Cultivator who comes to Beast City is usually no ordinary figure. Of course, this doesn't include the reckless ones, and they wouldn't make it to Fox Fate Pavilion anyway. After all, those Spiritual Beasts in the outer areas are mindless; they just crave the taste of Human Clan Cultivators," the fox woman said with a chuckle, covering her mouth.

Chen Jiuge nodded expressionlessly in agreement.

As for Spiritual Beasts eating humans, it was quite normal. Just as humans consumed Spiritual Beasts, differing species naturally saw each other as food. This was especially true since the flesh and blood of cultivators contained rich Spiritual Energy, greatly beneficial for the cultivation of Spiritual Beasts.

Chen Jiuge didn't know how many floors Fox Fate Pavilion had; one couldn't tell from the outside. In any case, the fox woman only led him to the third floor.

Looking at the rooms, each bathed in a red glow, the fox woman chuckled. "Young Master, there's only one empty room left now. What do you think?"

"It's fine." Since I'm already here, I might as well take a look, Chen Jiuge thought.

"Then this little friend, Young Master, you'll have to put him into your Grotto Heaven. Our girls in each room only entertain one guest at a time."

After recalling the loudly protesting Da Bai into his Grotto Heaven, Chen Jiuge pushed open the door to the only vacant room.

"Young Master, please allow this humble girl to play a tune for you," a charming voice sounded.

It was immediately followed by a delightful melody from a qin, accompanied by an equally seductive song.

Due to a screen obscuring his view, Chen Jiuge couldn't clearly see the fox woman inside. However, recalling the fox women in the main hall, this place was clearly more expensive and of a higher class.

Once the song ended, although Chen Jiuge couldn't discern its quality, he still applauded. "Excellent."

The fox woman behind the screen sounded somewhat resigned. "Young Master, if you don't understand music, why pretend?"

"Of course, it's to match the atmosphere," Chen Jiuge responded nonchalantly; he wasn't a refined person anyway.

"You truly are straightforward, Young Master," the fox woman said as she stepped out from behind the screen.

Ravishing, a beauty that could topple cities and nations.

These were the descriptors that came to Chen Jiuge's mind upon seeing the fox woman.

"This humble one is Miaomiao. May I ask for your esteemed name, Young Master?" Miaomiao asked with a curtsy.

"Chen Jiuge. No need for 'Young Master.' Just call me by my name," Chen Jiuge replied, unaccustomed to the address.

"Then I shall call you Brother Chen," Miaomiao said, offering a charming smile.

Quietly watching Miaomiao prepare a cup of Spiritual Tea, Chen Jiuge curiously asked, "So, coming to these rooms... is it just for chatting and listening to music?"

Miaomiao tilted her head towards Chen Jiuge. "What else did Brother Chen imagine?"

Chen Jiuge felt a bit embarrassed—he had thought it was... that kind of place.

Through his conversation with Miaomiao, Chen Jiuge learned that this establishment was an enterprise of the Nine-tailed Fox—indeed, the sole Nine-tailed Fox in the entire Desolate World. That background is a bit terrifying.

Still, for an Immortal Daluo Golden Immortal to be running this kind of establishment... Chen Jiuge was quite curious, but since it involved a Great Power, he didn't dare inquire further.

An hour passed quickly. Chen Jiuge reflected that just chatting wasn't very interesting, and he didn't understand music appreciation anyway, so he decided to leave.

"Brother Chen, will you come again tomorrow?" Miaomiao asked, looking pitiful.

After paying the Spirit Stones and looking at the reservation Token in his hand, Chen Jiuge felt like chopping off his own hand. Just for some conversation and a song, it cost one thousand Top Grade Spiritual Stones! And I even made another reservation? Damn it!

"My Dao Heart is unsteady, my resolve weak!" Chen Jiuge sighed, standing at the entrance of Fox Fate Pavilion.

"You're right, brother!" a gloomy Qian Wanwan, his muscles bulging, chimed in as he stared at his empty Storage Ring.

This was the first Human Clan Cultivator Chen Jiuge had encountered in Beast City; naturally, he wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.

「In a tavern.」

Watching Qian Wanwan eat ravenously, Chen Jiuge inwardly remarked, How long has it been since this fellow last ate?

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Chen! It's been a long time since I've eaten so comfortably. Allow me to introduce myself again."

"I am Qian Wanwan, from Ultimate Buddha Heaven, a Dharma Protector Monk."

Ultimate Buddha Heaven, the sole Buddhist Sect Holy Land in the Heavenly Realm, is exceedingly powerful and deeply mysterious. The Dharma Protector Monks are one of its lineages, equivalent to an Inner Sect Mountain within the Myriad Beasts Sect, though their standing in Ultimate Buddha Heaven is somewhat elevated.

"Chen Jiuge, disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect."

"So, Brother Chen is a disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect!" Qian Wanwan exclaimed in sudden understanding. "Ah, apart from the Myriad Beasts Sect, only those barbarians would come to Beast City. And those barbarians don't care for Fox Fate Pavilion."

"Brother Qian, have you been here long?" Chen Jiuge asked curiously.

"About thirty years now, I suppose," Qian Wanwan replied, a bit lost in thought.

While Chen Jiuge was inquiring about Beast City with Qian Wanwan, a 'Not Receiving Guests' plaque was hung outside Miaomiao's room on the third floor of Fox Fate Pavilion.

The fox madam frowned slightly as she looked at Miaomiao. "Miaomiao, are you sure about that Human Clan Cultivator?"

"Aunt Liu, fewer and fewer Human Clan Cultivators have been coming lately," Miaomiao said helplessly.

In fact, there used to be many Human Clan Cultivators in Fox Fate Pavilion. However, the Myriad Beasts Sect's recent war mobilization gathered a large number of disciples. Consequently, almost all the sect's disciples in Beast City had returned. Very few had come back even after hundreds of years, with many still on garrison duties.

"It's all those damned Demon Clan! If their existence wasn't still necessary, they would have been wiped out long ago!" Aunt Liu said angrily.

"It's alright, Aunt Liu. I feel this person is quite good," Miaomiao smiled.

"Let's observe a little longer. A fated bond isn't made casually. Once there's a backlash, the consequences are dire," Aunt Liu advised.

"Then I'll assess him again tomorrow," Miaomiao said after some thought.

"Destiny?" Chen Jiuge looked at Qian Wanwan in surprise.

"That's right. Fox Fate Pavilion actually has four floors. Apart from the ordinary fox women on the first and second floors, the third floor is for Destiny Spiritual Foxes. The fourth floor is almost never open."

"Brother Chen must have gone to the third floor too, right?" Qian Wanwan said suggestively.

"Indeed."

"That figures! I truly envy you, Brother Chen. The Destiny Spiritual Foxes are not only stunningly beautiful, but the benefits of consummating a union with one are immeasurable! It's just that I wasn't chosen. That's why I've been lingering at Fox Fate Pavilion all this time," Qian Wanwan said, his voice full of envy.

"So you're saying, the Spiritual Fox you meet on the third floor chats with you just to see if a destiny can be established?" Chen Jiuge asked, surprised.

"Exactly! Otherwise, with the status Destiny Spiritual Foxes hold in the Fox Clan, why would they show themselves publicly like those common fox women?" Qian Wanwan replied, puzzled.

Chen Jiuge suddenly felt the reservation Token in his hand burning hot. Does this mean I shouldn't go tomorrow? he wondered.

"Brother Chen, don't overthink it. Younger cultivators like us are all striving for the Great Dao of Immortality. A Destiny Spiritual Fox is indeed a significant opportunity. Many prominent figures had such companions in their youth. This is also why the Fox Clan holds a special status in the Desolate World. Naturally, the existence of that Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox is also a major factor," Qian Wanwan reassured.

"Brother Chen, if a Destiny Spiritual Fox is truly willing to establish a destiny with you, you absolutely must not refuse."

"After today, I must leave," Qian Wanwan sighed.

"Brother Chen, don't try to dissuade me. I've stayed at Fox Fate Pavilion for thirty years! Thirty years! My Storage Ring is now completely empty. Apart from my Lifebound Spiritual Artifact, all I have left is this Magic Robe. If not for your meal today, Brother Chen, I would have forgotten the taste of food!

"Brother Chen, if fate wills it, we shall meet again! I take my leave!"

With a few leaps, Qian Wanwan quickly disappeared into the distance.

Chen Jiuge opened his mouth. I just wanted to ask for more details about the Destiny Spiritual Foxes!

And surely you're not worried I won't pay for the meal, right?

Although he was rather speechless, Chen Jiuge found it quite amusing to have met such an interesting Dharma Protector Monk.

Back at the Meow Meow Inn, Chen Jiuge summoned the others and announced, "I've decided to stay here until my Body Refinement reaches the Perfect stage, then I'll leave. You all will do the same. As Spiritual Beasts, this is an excellent opportunity to hone your physiques."

"I will give each of you a sum of Spirit Stones. From now on, you must live independently—except for Zi Jing and Qimi, of course."

"Alright, let's distribute the Spirit Stones now. We officially start tomorrow!"