Chapter Eighteen: Collaboration

Zixuan’s eyes narrowed at his words, a chill gradually settling over her beautiful face.
“You rotten priest! Don’t push your luck.” With a flick of her sleeve, a violent wind swept through the room, slamming the door shut with a thunderous bang.
A vast aura surged from her delicate figure, charging straight at Chen Jiu—demonic energy!
Chen Jiu’s face changed dramatically. He gave a low shout and, seizing the moment, tossed the soybeans in his hand.
“Go!”
Crackling sounds erupted as five chubby little boys in bright red bellybands, their hair in horn-shaped braids, appeared clumsily atop the table.
Zixuan paused, then burst into laughter.
“Ha ha ha ha!”
She gazed at the scene, a seductive blush blooming on her lovely face, unable to hold back her amusement. “So, these are your trump cards?”
She tapped lightly with a slender finger, and with a flash of purple light, the five charging chubby boys froze where they stood.
At that instant, the connection between Chen Jiu and his little helpers vanished without a trace.
Chen Jiu’s expression turned pale. “What have you done?”
Zixuan, pinching the chubby cheek of one of the little boys, sneered, “You call yourself a priest and yet you think you can harm me?”
“Never mind that you haven’t even stepped into the First Floor of Immortals. Even if you achieved the Minor Pill Embryo, you’d still be no match for me!” She raised a snow-white fist and brandished it threateningly at him.
Chen Jiu’s face was dark as night.
There was no doubt—this woman was a monster, and her demonic energy was terrifying.
She was probably telling the truth: his cultivation was far beneath hers.
“Why don’t you sit down and listen to what I have to say?” Zixuan waved her jade-like hand, and with a flicker of purple light, the five little boys were released from their stasis.
Chen Jiu’s eyes flashed—he hurriedly formed a hand seal and recalled them all, stuffing the soybeans into his lapel. He wet his dry lips, then sat stiffly in a chair to the side.
Zixuan chuckled and said, “That’s what a clever person would do.”
After pouring him a cup of fragrant tea, she spoke in a soft, lingering tone: “To be honest, I’ve come to see you out of necessity.”
Chen Jiu’s brows furrowed.

This damned fox is trying her tricks again!
Chen Jiu was absolutely certain she was a fox spirit.
“Actually, I want to propose a partnership.” She picked up the steaming teacup and sipped gently.
Chen Jiu’s expression shifted; he retorted, “A partnership? With your cultivation, why would you need to work with a half-baked priest like me?”
Zixuan didn’t take offense. “You’re certainly a grudge-holder, aren’t you? I seek you out because I’m interested in your Heavenly Eye.”
Chen Jiu thought to himself, as expected.
This woman must have come for his “Heavenly Eye.”
Zixuan’s beautiful eyes flickered. When she mentioned the “Heavenly Eye,” the priest’s face grew dark, as if he wanted to cut her to pieces.
She giggled, “You really don’t know how to appreciate beauty…”
“Rest assured! I won’t reveal your secret.”
Chen Jiu snorted coldly, “I only trust the dead to keep my secrets forever.”
Zixuan arched her delicate brows. “It’s useless to provoke me. I won’t kill you—I need to work with you.”
Chen Jiu was intrigued. “So? How exactly do you want to cooperate?”
“Hmm…” Zixuan pondered for a moment, then said, “Your cultivation is too low right now. You can’t help me yet. When the time is right, I’ll come find you.”
“But for now, I can show my sincerity.” She added.
“What sincerity?”
Zixuan replied, “Don’t you want the Lotus Platform? I can help you obtain it.”
Chen Jiu’s expression changed. “Are you serious? The Ascension Conference has strict registration requirements—how could you get in?”
This fox spirit might have cultivation comparable to the Grand Pill Embryo stage.
“If I want in, I’ll need your help,” said Zixuan.
Chen Jiu was skeptical. “How can I help you?”
Zixuan rolled her eyes in exasperation.
“You really are stubborn!” she said, a little annoyed. “Have you forgotten how you used the Heavenly Eye to control me and show off a few months ago?”
Chen Jiu recalled carefully, and his expression changed drastically!

It’s her! The purple fox that possessed the wife of Magistrate Li’s son!
That day, Chen Jiu had used “Spirit Control” to manipulate a female corpse, defeating the yellow-furred demon and snatching a slim chance at life.
But in doing so, he had inadvertently saved Zixuan’s life. She had been trapped in the corpse, unable to move—if not for his lucky intervention, she might well have perished.
“So it was you!” Chen Jiu exclaimed in shock.
Zixuan’s eyes sparkled. “Well? Am I not beautiful as a celestial maiden?”
Chen Jiu frowned. “Enough of that. Are you asking me to use ‘Spirit Control’ to sneak you inside?”
Zixuan nodded eagerly.
“I’m just a soul now; my physical body is long lost. You can use your Heavenly Eye to bring me in, unseen and unheard.”
Chen Jiu was stunned.
To him, this woman seemed no different from an ordinary person—except when her demonic aura showed. He could scarcely believe she was merely a soul!
“Why so surprised? Our Tu Mountain clan is the royal family of foxes. Such transformations are nothing remarkable…” Zixuan mocked, seeing his astonishment.
Chen Jiu replied, “Do you think I’d believe you?”
Zixuan laughed. “Opportunity knocks but once. Without me, you won’t get through the Ascension Conference—once inside, you might even be beaten half to death.”
“Think it over. If you decide, come find me here on the day of the registration.” With that, Zixuan stood, twisted her slender waist, and transformed into a streak of purple light, vanishing out the window.
“Oh, and—don’t let the Bureau of Public Safety learn about your Heavenly Eye, or else…”
A moment later, Chen Jiu heard her warning voice echo in his mind.
His face grew grim. He knew his “Heavenly Eye” was a secret, but from her words, she seemed to know even more hidden truths about it…
The Bureau of Public Safety was an agency dedicated to hunting major demons and protecting the people, with numerous powerful cultivators.
But what could that have to do with his Heavenly Eye?
Zixuan’s tone was so serious—it sounded as if discovery by the Bureau would bring disaster.
He let out a long sigh and left the room,
needing to calm himself, sort through these matters, and decide what to do next.