Holding Bai Li in her arms, Lin Yaoyao tapped her toes lightly, performing her Light-body Technique to Speed down the mountain. Shen Mo followed closely behind, her long sword dancing continuously to force back the Snow Leopards attempting to pursue them. Her figure was agile, moving freely through the snow like a bolt of black lightning. Every swing of her sword brought forth a sharp wind that repelled any Snow Leopard that drew near. Although the Snow Leopards were incredibly fast and possessed great attacking power, Shen Mo's interference kept them from getting close to Lin Yaoyao and Bai Li.
Lin Yaoyao kept moving without pause while holding Bai Li. Relying on her familiarity with the terrain, she chose a relatively hidden path to descend the mountain quickly. Her heart was filled with immense anxiety, fearing that Bai Li's injuries would worsen or that the Snow Leopards would catch up. As she ran, she looked down at the unconscious Bai Li in her arms, her eyes filled with worry and heartache.
Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo fought as they retreated, eventually successfully breaking free from the Snow Leopards' encirclement. They arrived at a relatively safe cave, where Lin Yaoyao gently placed Bai Li on the ground, finally having the chance to examine her injuries carefully. Bai Li had multiple claw wounds from the Snow Leopards; the gashes were deep, and blood had stained a large portion of her clothes red. Distressed, Lin Yaoyao quickly took a bottle of healing Medicinal Pills from her Storage Ring, poured one out, and fed it to Bai Li. The pill dissolved upon entry, turning into a warm current that flowed into Bai Li's body, nourishing her Meridians and repairing her injuries.
Lin Yaoyao then took a bottle of Spiritual Spring Water from her Storage Ring. After warming it with her Qi, she gently wiped Bai Li's wounds and bandaged them with clean gauze. Her movements were tender and her gaze focused, as if she were handling a fragile treasure. After finishing this, Lin Yaoyao checked Bai Li's pulse again and found it much steadier. Seeing that the wounds were gradually beginning to heal, she finally felt a bit relieved.
Shen Mo set up a simple warning Formation around the cave for early detection and Defense, preventing another attack from the Snow Leopards. She then took a pile of dry branches and some flint from her Storage Pouch and lit a bonfire to dispel the chill in the cave. The dancing flames illuminated the cave, as well as the worried faces of Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo.
Shen Mo walked over to Lin Yaoyao's side and said softly, "Yaoyao, Bai Li's condition has stabilized. Don't worry too much." She patted Lin Yaoyao's shoulder to comfort her. "We will stay here and guard her until she wakes up."
Lin Yaoyao nodded, her eyes fixed intently on Bai Li, filled with concern and heartache. She gently stroked Bai Li's soft silver hair, silently praying in her heart that she would be safe.
Outside the cave, the cold wind howled and heavy snow fell. The summit of Snow Lotus Peak was covered in snow year-round, and the cold was biting. Inside the cave, the bonfire crackled, emitting a warm glow that dispelled the cold and brought hope. Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo waited quietly by Bai Li's side for her to wake. Time passed minute by minute; the cave was so quiet that only the sound of the burning fire and Bai Li's even breathing could be heard.
After Bai Li took the pill, her wounds healed at a Speed visible to the naked eye, but she remained unconscious. Her consciousness entered a mysterious space. The space was filled with Chaos, with no sun, moon, or stars, and no mountains or rivers—only a vast, ethereal white mist. Bai Li felt light, as if she were a feather drifting freely in the air.
Suddenly, a dazzling white light pierced through the Chaos, illuminating the entire space. In the center of the space, a massive phantom of a Nine-Tailed Fox floated silently in the air, emitting a divine glow. Nine enormous tails swayed gently behind it like nine white waterfalls, exquisite and beautiful. The Nine-Tailed Fox was snowy white all over, its fur as smooth and soft as the finest silk, emitting a faint fragrance. Its eyes were like two brilliant gemstones, flashing with the light of wisdom, as if they could see through everything.
The Nine-Tailed Fox's long-closed eyes seemed to be slowly pushed open by a mysterious force, and a soft light gradually blossomed from within them. When it fully opened its eyes, a gaze full of motherly love fell upon Bai Li like the warm spring sun, making her feel incredibly warm and comfortable. At the same time, the Nine-Tailed Fox's words, sounding like heavenly music, echoed slowly through the quiet space: "Child, after enduring countless hardships, you have finally arrived here."
Bai Li's eyes widened as she stared blankly at the massive, ethereal figure of the Nine-Tailed Fox before her. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, and the intertwined emotions of awe and curiosity made it almost impossible for her to breathe. She knew deep down that the Nine-Tailed Fox standing before her was no ordinary existence; it was the source of the Bloodline flowing through her body and the very root of her latent power.
After hesitating again and again, Bai Li summoned her courage and asked softly in a slightly trembling voice, "Are you... are you my ancestor?" Her gaze was locked onto the Nine-Tailed Fox's face, which was full of majesty yet not lacking in kindness, as if she were trying to find an answer there.
The Nine-Tailed Fox nodded slightly, a gentle smile appearing on its face as it replied softly, "Yes, in a sense, you can certainly think of it that way. I am not only a highly respected Elder of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan but also the Guardian of this Legacy." At this point, it paused for a moment before continuing earnestly to Bai Li, "Child, you now have a choice before you—are you willing to accept this Legacy I pass to you and inherit the formidable power possessed by the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox?"
Hearing these words, Bai Li did not hesitate for a second. She immediately nodded vigorously and responded decisively, "I am willing!" Her voice was crisp and loud, containing an unwavering determination and a strong desire for the unknown power. At this moment, her beautiful eyes sparkled with excitement, as if she could already see herself becoming incredibly powerful after obtaining the Legacy.
The Nine-Tailed Fox nodded in satisfaction. It slowly raised its front paw, and a beam of white light shot from its tip, enveloping Bai Li. Bai Li felt a surge of powerful energy rushing into her body, washing through her Meridians and strengthening her Bloodline; the Seal within her also began to loosen. Countless images surfaced in Bai Li's mind—ancient memories and legacies of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan, regarding Cultivation Techniques, combat skills, Alchemy, Formations, and more, as vast as the sea and encompassing everything.
The process of the Legacy was long and filled with endless pain. Every second felt like being in purgatory for Bai Li. She could clearly feel her body being torn apart piece by piece; the intense pain was like ten thousand poisonous insects gnawing at her marrow and Meridians simultaneously, making it unbearable.
However, facing such immense pain, Bai Li gritted her teeth tightly and refused to back down even an inch. Sweat had long since soaked her clothes and slid down her forehead, blurring her vision, but her gaze remained incredibly firm, flashing with an unyielding light.
This was because she understood deeply that if she couldn't make it through this stage, all her efforts would be in vain. Only by bravely enduring this pain that ordinary people couldn't imagine could she obtain true power and have the possibility of breaking the Bloodline Seal that bound her.
After an unknown amount of time, the Legacy finally ended. Bai Li slowly opened her eyes, feeling her whole body filled with power. To her surprise, she found that her Cultivation Base had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and she had also gained a new skill—Nine-Tailed Fox Fire. Nine-Tailed Fox Fire was an extremely powerful flame with the power to incinerate all things. Bai Li excitedly waved her small hand, and a ball of white fire danced in her palm, emitting a scorching heat that illuminated the surrounding space.