Chapter 5: The Intelligent Fox
The fox was gray and white, with fur that appeared sleek and well-groomed, as if it was regularly cared for. Its eyes were particularly striking, clear and filled with an intelligent light, indicating it was no ordinary wild fox, but rather seemed almost human-like.
It hid in the bushes, silent, just watching Zhang Kai, its thoughts a mystery. However, after a moment, the fox nearly jumped in shock.
Zhang Kai, whom it was observing, suddenly leaped up, using the stones as stepping points to spring into the air, his movements light, covering five to six meters in a single bound. The fox, with its mouth agape, watched in awe, as if witnessing a miracle. If it could speak, it would have surely exclaimed in shock.
After a while, having mastered the technique, Zhang Kai’s movements became even more fluid. With a light tap of his toes, he would float up, his feet moving through the air for more than ten steps. After flipping in mid-air and landing, he would step on the water surface, causing ripples, before soaring up again, this time rising seven or eight meters. He stretched out his hands, gathering internal energy in his palms, and even paused in mid-air for two breaths before slowly descending and gliding to the shore.
Even though it was just ordinary lightness skill, its magic was beyond imagination. Zhang Kai was thrilled. Humans have always dreamed of flying freely in the sky like birds, hence the existence of lightness skills in martial arts novels, mythical cloud-riding, sword-flying in Xianxia tales, and airplanes in technology. However, aside from airplanes, the other forms were nearly impossible to achieve – until now, as Zhang Kai had done it, stirring his emotions deeply.
But this was not enough for him. What Zhang Kai really desired was sword flying, or at the very least, riding clouds and mist. That would be true flight, enabling him to roam the world and achieve immortality.
He continued his research, from Running on Grass to Walking on Water, then Catching Cicadas in Eight Steps. These were not truly flying but methods of lifting and suspending the body in air. Without his 150 years of internal energy, the effects would be ordinary. But sufficient internal energy can turn the decayed into the miraculous.
For example, Qiao Feng from 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' didn’t possess any exceptional lightness skill, yet after crossing a bridge, he carried his beloved girl and flew forty miles in one breath. Perhaps holding a girl inspires a man’s potential, but deep internal energy is undoubtedly a crucial factor.
After experimenting with various lightness skills and having the advantage of a century's worth of power, Zhang Kai learned quickly. In less than three hours, he mastered several lightness skills, combining their characteristics with his hundred years of power. His lightness technique had transcended the scope of these three skills, and he felt there was still more depth to explore.
However, as his enthusiasm for flight subsided, Zhang Kai picked up the Modern Buddha Palm. Martial arts are incomplete without the 'martial' aspect. As a child, who hasn’t playfully mimicked the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms or wielded a Golden-Hooped Rod, chasing chickens and dogs, pretending to fight little demons?
Zhang Kai had been one of those kids, and now his dream was becoming a reality. He was eager to begin. The Modern Buddha Palm from the Modern Buddha Palm was different from what was depicted in TV dramas. This Buddha Palm could emit light and even fire, but the effects were too obvious, and the movements were comical.
Not like in the TV dramas, where it was accompanied by Buddhist chants, Sanskrit characters, and even manifested the image of the Buddha himself, as if it belonged in a Xianxia world, capable of fighting demons. Zhang Kai had thought about taking the Buddha Palm from the TV series, but it was tricky because the manual was engraved on eight large cauldrons.
It wasn’t that he couldn't take it out; the issue was where to put it. So, Zhang Kai started with the current Buddha Palm to gain experience and then planned to cultivate the TV version, hoping to integrate and learn faster.
Even Zhang Kai entertained the thought of showing off the Buddha Palm in a Buddhist temple, which would surely astonish those monks.
With anticipation, he began studying the manual. The Modern Buddha Palm, with its preset special effects, was easy to learn. After all, Huazi, with thirty years of internal energy, had managed to master it with some gestures.
And then there was the Seven Spinning Slash. Even Huazi’s foolish friend could learn it, so there was no reason Zhang Kai couldn’t. He flipped through the manual, imprinting the nine moves of the Buddha Palm in his mind. But the execution of the moves... they were too comical. "Buddha Moves the Mortal Heart," "Buddha Also Gets Angry" – one move emitted hearts, the other a barbecue-like flame.
Using them in actual combat would probably kill enemies with laughter, not force. No, he couldn't practice this version. He decided to memorize it for now and later learn the TV series version, which truly embodied Buddhist martial arts.
He then picked up the Seven Spinning Slash. This one was quite impressive, forming a luminous ring that could be thrown at enemies. It was a long-range attack technique, almost akin to a magical spell.
If the Seven Spinning Slash could be cultivated to its full potential, what could withstand its spinning light rings? With this thought, Zhang Kai promptly started learning it. This technique was even simpler than the Buddha Palm, essentially just one move – forming and slashing with the light ring.
Holding the book in one hand and gesturing with the other, his 150 years of internal energy transformed, instantly creating a streak of light in his palm. In the Modern Buddha Palm, the foolishly cultivated light ring was green.
However, having cultivated the Zixia Divine Skill, Zhang Kai's light ring was purple, richer in color and almost tangible. The ring spun in his palm like a flying wheel. After a moment's concentration, he flung it out, and it flew rapidly, slicing through a large tree with a snap, felling it in one clean cut.
Then, the light ring flew in all directions, its whistling piercing the air, splitting rocks and rippling water. Suddenly, as the light ring slashed through the grass, Zhang Kai heard a shriek.
Looking closely, he saw the light ring had passed through the foliage, breaking branches, and a fox emerged. The top of its head was bald, and it was completely frozen in place, too scared to move.
Zhang Kai's expression changed slightly, then returned to normal. "It's not a person, that's good," he thought, relieved he hadn’t inadvertently exposed himself even in the remote mountains.
But where had this fox come from? It had witnessed his cultivation and yet hadn’t fled. Could it be more than just an ordinary fox?
Curious, Zhang Kai approached the fox and said sternly, “Spying on someone’s cultivation is a crime deserving punishment.” His voice, imbued with a hint of internal energy, boomed like distant thunder, making the fox shiver. Then it did something that left Zhang Kai utterly stunned.
The fox prostrated on the ground, repeatedly bowing its upper body. Was it actually kowtowing and begging for mercy? "This fox has become sentient!" he thought, shocked. Yet, he composed himself and tested, “You, a wild fox, show some intelligence, but spying on cultivation cannot be easily forgiven. What do you suggest we do?”
The gray and white fox paused, then crawled to Zhang Kai’s feet, rubbing against his ankles, then looked up at him with a pitiable gaze. Yes, pitiable, with those clear eyes no longer cold like a wild beast but rather lively, even teary.
Zhang Kai was more shocked than ever. "This fox really has become sentient. Indeed, this world isn’t as simple as it seems; extraordinary species truly exist. But such extraordinary species must be rare, or else most people in the real world wouldn’t disbelieve in ghosts and spirits. Perhaps it’s worth observing and studying."
Pondering, Zhang Kai smiled, “You’re quite clever, knowing how to appease me. Well then, considering your hard cultivation and rare intelligence, I'll forgive you. You may go.”
The gray-furred fox was overjoyed, quickly getting up to run away, but after a few steps, it turned back, raised its body, and gestured with its paws, making chirping sounds, as if trying to communicate something.
Zhang Kai asked, “Do you want me to follow you?”
The fox eagerly nodded. Zhang Kai feigned hesitation for a moment before agreeing, “Alright, I am a bit tired from cultivating. I'll walk with you.”
The fox chirped joyfully, seemingly delighted, and then led the way. Zhang Kai followed, and after about ten minutes, they arrived at a cave. The cave’s surroundings bore traces of human excavation and had cultivated fields, though now overgrown with weeds, indicating long abandonment.
The fox entered the cave, and soon light emerged from inside. Zhang Kai entered and saw that it was not large, but arranged like a bedroom, with a lit oil lamp – the fox had lit it, showing it knew how to use matches!
But what captivated Zhang Kai the most was a skeleton in a Taoist robe, sitting cross-legged on a bed.