Watch out for the Fox Spirit.

No matter how much of aHeavenly Beastit is, the allure just now was a power beyond common sense.

Even a spiritual being of my level almost lost my composure in an instant.

TheDongja Gongis a fine martial art, but as my internal energy grows, there is a fatal flaw—it becomes easier to fall prey to such temptations.

Even for a pure spiritual being like me, maintaining such purity makes it more vulnerable to these temptations.

If it weren’t for that, I wouldn't be feeling this strange anticipation.

I suddenly wanted to wag my tail, wanted to be held in someone's arms.

I also let out some unintelligible, rather undignified noises.

If I were in my right mind, I’d never think of such things.

But still, I’m glad she didn’t show any hostility.

Rather, this form of attack made me realize how dangerous it could be and gave me an opportunity to prepare.

...But how do I prepare for this?

Should I hideTusandPusin my fur?

Whenever I go into a daze, they could just bite me.

It seems like a decent plan.

They’re growing bigger as time goes on, but they’re still small enough to be hidden in my fur for now.

Hooowww.

...And then, there’s this one too.

TheFox Bead.

The exact reason is still unknown, but it seems to like me.

“Surely… just now?”

TheIron-Head Dragon, confused, muttered to himself, shaking his head.

"Was it a dream...?"

He muttered and then glanced at me.

"Gomo-doshi, could it be that you...?"

He was likely wondering whether something had happened or if he had dreamt it.

It wouldn’t really matter if I said something or not.

Even if I spoke about theHeavenly Beast, he wouldn’t believe it. Communicating with my “gek-geks” is hard enough.

If it were a short story, I could say it, but the longer it gets, the more distorted it would sound.

“Gekgek.”

Hooowww.

But contrary to my thoughts, theFox Beadflew into the air.

“Hah! It really wasn’t a dream!”

TheIron-Head Dragonquickly got into a defensive posture.

Whoosh!

TheFox Beadspun around as if it didn’t like theIron-Head Dragon, swirling in the air.

“Gomo-doshi! Watch out!”

Woowww!

The two beads, like heads of the beads, were about to collide.

There was no time for me to stop it.

Then it dashed away, and theIron-Head Dragoncharged forward, head lowered.

Boom!

A deafening roar was heard.

“Gegegeek!”

...In the midst of it all, I was stuck between them.

“D-Daehyeop!”

*

The Fox Bead and the Iron-Head Dragon were both buried in the ground.

TheIron-Head Dragonhad only his head poking out, and theFox Beadhad half of its body exposed.

Simply burying them in the earth wasn’t enough for me, so I used plants to bind them up.

“Sorry, sorry!Gomo-doshi, I didn’t mean to….”

Wooowww…

The two creatures groaned in frustration.

“Gekgek….”

I could still feel the vibrations in my bones.

As expected, theIron-Head Dragon’s headbutts were not something you want to take head-on.

Though his strength had diminished since our battle, it was still quite powerful.

Of course, it wasn’t just theIron-Head Dragonproducing that force.

TheFox Bead, which had flown towards us in a flash from the other side.

TheFox Bead’s attack met theIron-Head Dragon's headbutt, creating a strange harmony between them.

Thanks to that, the power was enough to make me scream.

“Kuhh…The plants are…!Gomo-doshi, please stop this!”

Wooowww! Wooowww!

Huh?

What’s wrong with my plants?

Still, the fact that a man is doing that makes me feel a little strange.

...You’re male, right?

If you’re a female too, my position here might become awkward.

“Hah… Hah… Thank you,Gomo-doshi…”

Wooowww…

Both theIron-Head Dragonand theFox Beadwere panting heavily.

…Although I’m not sure if I should say theFox Beadwas panting.

Luckily, theFox Beadseemed to calm down a bit.

If they had continued fighting, I’d have personally shown them what the inside ofGomo-doshi’smouth looked like.

Instead, I gave a brief explanation with mygekgeksounds.

“…Heavenly Beast. I thought it was a being of imagination, but to think it actually exists. Being byGomo-doshi’sside, it seems my humble experience is widening.”

TheHeavenly Beastappeared for a brief moment, and she had entrusted thisFox Beadto me.

“Moreover, seeing that the raging spirits have disappeared without a trace, it seems theHeavenly Beastmust have gathered them. It’s true what they say, a sacred spiritual beast connected to the heavens—those rumors don’t seem exaggerated.”

Wooowww.

“Yet, to think theFox Beadcould move so actively… I think I understand why it’s angry. I must have eaten thatBead.”

TheFox Beadis not a common artifact.

It is an item controlled by a fox that has trained for over a hundred years. For someone else to obtain it, the original owner must die.

TheIron-Head Dragonhad received theFox Beadfrom Nam Gung-Yeon, and at that time, theBeaddid not move.

It was considered a spiritual medicine, and he simply swallowed it.

“AFox Beadthat isn’t handled by a fox typically doesn’t move. It makes sense that it wouldn’t, since its owner had died. But for thisBeadto move like this…”

TheFox Beadtrembled lightly, almost as if agreeing with his words.

“…The owner hasn’t died.”

But that statement is contradictory.

The premise for theFox Beadto change hands is that the original owner must die.

“I can’t say for sure, but there must be some story behind this. It seems that it’s trying to followGomo-doshi, having sensed the power within you.”

The power within me?

“…The warm power that awakened my mind, one that reminds me of the sun. TheFox Beadmust have felt the same energy inside me.”

There was something I needed to address.

The sun-like power theIron-Head Dragonmentioned.

I don’t have that much to do with the sun.

If I had used fire, such a misconception might have been possible, but at that time, I didn’t use fire.

I was simply using my plant manipulation abilities.

“The power to break evil magic, the power to make plants grow and enrich the land.Gomo-doshiis the sun itself.”

Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements.

Among them, I thought my power was tied to the Wood element.

If I had taken control of theFire Mountain Dragon Gate, it would have made sense for the Wood power to manifest.

But, in reality, the source of my power might not be from Wood, but from Yang.

No, that’s a bit of a stretch.

Making plants grow and controlling them is undeniably the power of Wood.

But the questions persist.

…To understand my powers more clearly, I’ll need to claim another Dragon Gate.

EspeciallyChodofrom theDragon Life Cult.

The child of a plant-controlling dragon.

If I take hisDragon Gate, I’ll understand the true source of my power.

“ThisFox Beadwas likely drawn to that power ofGomo-doshi,” he said.

Wooowww.

TheFox Beadnodded, as if agreeing with his words.

I don’t know exactly what the source of my power is, but maybe it’s just that it likes my power.

TheFox Beadwas entrusted to me by theHeavenly Beast.

There’s a story behind thisBead, and someday, I’ll have to uncover it.

It’s a sentient object, but it’s powerful enough to harm me to some extent.

Additionally, the powers that foxes wield belong to the Yin side of the Five Elements.

While I had no idea where to get the Yin, it seems like theFox Beadhas come to me just like that.

Wooowww.

TheFox Beadtrembled lightly.

It rubbed its body against my cheek.

“…It’s moving like a child trying to charm its parents.”

TheIron-Head Dragonspoke calmly.

As he said, theFox Beadhad some behavior that reminded me of a child.

It didn’t like theIron-Head Dragon, so it tried to attack him without thinking, but then seemed sulky after I scolded it, and now it’s showing me affection immediately after being pulled out from the ground.

TheFox Beadand theIron-Head Dragon.

They’re strangely similar, aren’t they?

Both lost their parents, both lost their masters.

They must have resented the world and were destined to die.

Both theIron-Head Dragonand theFox Bead.

But then they met me.

Their fates have changed.

Gegekk.

TheGegekkdisturbance was created for people like them.

Just likeTusandPusandTang So-Yeong.

“Gegekk.”

TheFox Beadtrembled intensely.

TheIron-Head Dragon’s eyes widened.

“Gomo-doshi…!”

TheIron-Head Dragonspoke with a trembling voice.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand….”

TheFox Beadseemed to agree with his words, twitching slightly.

…

“Gekgek!”

The lizard felt embarrassed.

“Gomo-doshi! Please, not the plants!”

Wooowww! Wooowww!

*

I stayed a bit longer in the snowy mountain.

Although it was called a snowy mountain, there wasn’t much snow accumulated.

Using my abilities, I made plants grow, creating a suitable ecosystem.

Unlike before, the environment was now conducive to various creatures gathering.

The management of the snowy mountain was entrusted to theIron-Head Dragon.

Since my body is only one, it was impossible to manage both the snowy mountain and the volcano simultaneously.

I still hadn’t fully mastered the volcano, so it would be better to focus on my original place.

TheIron-Head Dragonwas a reliable subordinate.

Though he had weakened, his headbutt was still strong enough to pose a threat to me.

Moreover, as he became more accustomed to theDragon Gatepowers, he would only grow stronger.

His body was also indestructible, so unless anotherDragon Gateowner appeared, there was no way he could lose.

“Gomo-doshi, are you leaving now?”

TheIron-Head Dragonspoke gallantly.

Wooowww.

TheFox Beadtrembled lightly in my fur.

TheIron-Head Dragonwould perform his duties on the snowy mountain.

TheFox Beadwould stay with me and eventually reveal its secrets.

TheIron-Head Dragonmade a respectful bow.

It was the ideal image of a devoted follower that I had been hoping for.

“Gekgek.”

Jisalseong,Bak Gi-Gae.

If one didn’t feel unease at the destiny ofkilling, it would be a lie.

But I believed he could overcome it.

After all, that’s whatGegekkyois about.

“GegekkisGegekk, and may theQiti-hooprosper forever.”

…Could you not use such difficult words?

I returned to the volcano.

“I had heard that the Head of Shaolin had fallen, but to think that’s the case….”

I instinctively reached forBaek Rang’sstomach, but stopped myself, and instead spoke withTang So-Yeong, touchingChillang.

“The true identity ofNam Ga-hanis theIron-Head Dragon, and he was destined forJisalseong’sfate. I never heard such talk even fromDang-ga.”

It seemedShaolinhad thoroughly controlled the information.

If you were to pick the two sects most mired in corruption, it would likely beDang-gaandShaolin, but evenDang-gawasn’t aware of this.

Of course, a high-ranking person fromDang-ga, like the head of the sect, might have known, but someone likeTang So-Yeong, with her own standing, didn’t know.

Other martial artists would be completely unaware, and most likely believed thatShaolinhad truly fallen.

“I’m relieved now. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but having a rift with humans will only lead to trouble. Even if we win, we’ll suffer damage, and killing humans brings trouble with the vengeful spirits. At least if it wasn’t for that old hag…”

Baek Rangsniffed the air.

His wolf-like glossy black nose moved and nudged against my chest.

“Baek Rang? What are you doing?”

“I just smelled something familiar.”

...Is it because of his wolf senses?

“This soft smell. I’ve smelled it somewhere before.”

Soft smell?

“…Hey.”

He pressed gently on me with his front paw.

“Geek…”

“Did you meet that old hag?”

“Gekgek!”

How did he know?

Well… wait, why am I shivering?

I’m aGegekkyo’s divine beast, after all.

These are my followers.

“Gekgek.”

Yes.

I smiled as I thought aboutTianhu.

So what’s next?

“…Catch it.”

Huh?

As soon asBaek Rangspoke,TusandPusquickly moved.

FromIlangtoChillang, they were all in motion.

“Gekgek?”

No, wait. Am I not the leader here?

“Let’s conduct an inspection first.”

Baek Rangsaid coldly.

Inspection? What inspection?

Right. He’s probably going to check if I’mGomo-doshi?

“Let’s check the lower part…”

“Geek!”

Only then did I understand whyTusandPuswere followingBaek Rang.

Kraaaak!

Iron-Head Dragon!Daoist!Dojeong!

I am a divine beast ofGegekkyo!

I already miss theIron-Head Dragon's respectful demeanor.

No matter how I think about it, the structure ofGegekkyois strange.

I tried to block them with my hands, but these beasts were hell-bent on undressing me.

Especially around the lower body!

“Geek!”

I couldn’t summon any strength, and I felt as if I was about to become a driedGomo-do.

As I trembled in fear, I couldn’t resist.

“…Stop.”

A figure with golden hair and red eyes appeared.

“Gegekk!”

It wasNephila.

No matter howZuo Ho FaandU Ho Fawere charmed, it seemed they hadn’t managed to persuade theDeity.

Currently,Nephilaheld the position ofDeity.

TheDeitywas the second-highest position after me.

...But why is she ignoring my words and listening to hers?

“…Tch.”

Baek Rangclicked his tongue in disappointment.

At least thanks toNephila, I survived.

“Gegeek…Gegekk!”

I huggedNephilaand bawled my eyes out.

Nephilajust smiled softly and patted my head.

How could someone be so merciful?

She’s clearly not a mereDeity, but aHeavenly Maidensent down from the skies.

Her chest was admittedly a bit lacking, but still...

While burying my face in her chest, crying, something strange happened.

Nephila’shand stopped.

Why is she stopping?

“…Gek?”

When I looked up,Nephila’seyebrows were raised.

She looked angry.

Swoosh!

In an instant, a tremendous amount of spider silk burst out and bound me up.

“…Finish it.”

Wait a second.

Nephila, are you joking?

“Geek!”

TheGegekkyofollowers rushed in unison.

“This… this is…! I need to record this…”

Tang So-Yeongonly observed as my clothes were being torn away.

TheFox Beadalso seemed strangely quiet, as though waiting for something.

“Geekgeek!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com