The moon has long risen above the distant mountains, leaving the outer disciple quarters bathed in a soft, amber twilight. The courtyard, which earlier had been filled with energy and whispers from the formation of master–slave contracts, was now calm. The remaining disciples, having sealed their bonds, returned to their quarters under the watchful eyes of the elders.
Liang Yue and Shen Ji remained silent, standing apart from the others. No one called them forward again. Their contracts were not ordinary. The Moon Fox, curled gently within Liang Yue's soul, hummed quietly, its energy gentle but potent, a silent pulse of ancient life intertwined with his own. The Golden Wyvern beside Shen Ji shifted its wings lightly, its presence radiating raw, restrained power.
When the elders finally dismissed the gathering, the murmurs of the disciples followed them as they filed out, some casting glances at Liang Yue with awe or envy. No one dared approach him directly. He walked back to his assigned room, the weight of the Moon Fox inside him a subtle, steady reminder that he was no longer alone in his path.
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That night, Liang Yue lay on his mat, exhaustion pressing down on him, yet sleep came easily. The presence of the Nine-Tails Moon Fox was warm within him, and his consciousness soon slipped into a dream that felt more vivid than any waking reality.
He found himself standing in an endless plain bathed in silver moonlight. Mist rolled across the land like liquid silk, and the air was thick with the scent of jasmine and frost. Hundreds of white foxes ran across the plain, their tails flicking like threads of moonlight, eyes glinting with intelligence and mischief.
Time flowed strangely here. Liang Yue watched generations of Nine-Tails Moon Foxes rise, mature, and vanish into legend. Some guided early cultivators, their presence subtle but transformative. Others withdrew from the world entirely, retreating into forests, mountains, and hidden valleys, leaving only whispers of their existence behind. Some fell prey to cruelty and greed, hunted or forced into subjugation.
Finally, the vision narrowed. All of the lineage's energy, knowledge, and will converged into one: the little fox, the same one now merged within Liang Yue. Its fur shimmered under the eternal moonlight, nine tails flicking and coiling with elegant precision. Despite its size, it radiated an energy that was ancient and commanding.
A sudden shift of light drew Liang Yue's gaze upward. A colossal figure emerged, bathed in pale silver radiance. Its nine tails fanned across the sky, luminous and vast, each streak etched with the wisdom of countless generations. The Nine-Tails Moon Fox Progenitor. Its eyes—deep, endless pools—locked onto Liang Yue.
Child of two lives, the voice echoed, not spoken aloud, but felt directly within Liang Yue's soul. You have been chosen because you carry understanding, restraint, and patience. That is why it followed you.
Liang Yue bowed slightly in respect. I… I will use its power wisely.
The progenitor's gaze softened. Listen carefully. You will not summon it as others summon beasts. It now resides within you. You will not call it forth, but you may transform into it. Its power will grow as yours grows. When you channel its energy, you will bear a tail as proof of the bond. Remember: dominance is not your path. Harmony is.
The little fox stirred within Liang Yue's soul, playful and lively, brushing against him like a whisper of moonlight. I understand, he whispered. I will not misuse it.
Good. The progenitor's silver glow intensified, flowing into Liang Yue. I grant you charm that bends perception, fox-born flexibility that allows the nimblest movement, durability that protects your fragile body, and beauty that draws attention without arrogance. Your path will not be the same as others, but it will be formidable.
The dreamscape shifted, golden light replacing silver. In the distance, Shen Ji stood beside a massive creature, its scales glinting with molten gold even in the dim, dreamlike sun. Its wings were folded neatly, eyes ancient and knowing. The Golden Wyvern Progenitor's presence pulsed across the dream, warm and commanding.
Shen Ji walks a path of ascension, the presence resonated. His companion is destined to evolve into a true dragon. So too will the bearer of the Moon Fox walk a parallel path, intertwined yet distinct.
Golden light surged and bathed Liang Yue. He felt a warmth in his body, a strengthening of his form, a subtle shift in his presence. I grant you the blessings of harmony and beauty, the progenitor of the Wyvern whispered, just as I grant Shen Ji more handsomeness, a presence that commands attention and inspires respect.
The duality of the dream was vivid. The Moon Fox stirred playfully within him, while the echo of the Golden Wyvern's power radiated alongside it. Liang Yue's mind grasped the truth: their paths were linked, yin and yang, moon and sun, fox and dragon. The bond was spiritual, visceral, eternal.
When he awoke, sunlight filtered through the paper windows. His long black hair, once flawless, now carried a subtle streak of silver, tainted but beautiful, glinting in the morning light like a thread of moonlight. Shen Ji, nearby, had a golden streak through his own hair, shining with quiet intensity.
Liang Yue flexed his fingers, feeling the presence of the Moon Fox deep within him. Its energy pulsed with every heartbeat, ready to respond to his will. A tail flicked faintly in his awareness, proof of the bond.
He met Shen Ji's gaze across the room. Their eyes held a new understanding, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that connected them and the power now awakened within each of them.
Together, they rose. Two disciples marked by extraordinary fate, yin and yang in perfect balance—linked by moonlight and sunfire, fox and dragon, equal and powerful in ways none of the others could yet comprehend.
The sect would notice soon enough. But for now, Liang Yue smiled faintly, brushing the silver streak from his eyes, the little fox stirring contentedly inside his soul. He had been given power, guidance, and a bond beyond measure.
And he intended to use it wisely