Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

In the forest, the ground, which was previously covered by thick snow, now bore charred soil emitting wisps of green smoke.

It looked as ugly as a blotch of dark moles on the face of a beautiful woman with jade skin!

A massive twin-tailed snow fox squatted beside the charred ground, its narrow fox eyes radiating a piercing chill.

"Qi..."

It extended its paw, touching a scorching patch of charred earth, and spoke in human tongue, "Human cultivators!"

The voice was laden with indescribable grievance and fury!

Next to the twin-tailed snow fox squatted a smaller twin-tailed spotted fox, who shook its head and said, "This place has been marked as the territory of the White Tiger Sect. Qi should not have come here."

Smack!

The snow fox slapped the spotted fox across the face, sending it flying: "This is the homeland of our Fox Tribe!"

The spotted fox landed in the snow a dozen steps away, tumbled, and then sprung up again, its fox face now marked with several bloody streaks.

But it didn't get angry and said instead, "You should ask our ancient ancestor about that."

The snow fox fell silent.

One tail for the monster transformation, two tails for the spirit monster, three tails for the great monster, four tails for the Demon King!

It was just a twin-tailed monster fox; what power did it have to overturn the decisions made by the monsters above it?

Yet, how could the snow fox swallow the indignity of watching its beloved descendant reduced to bones and dust?

"I must find the fiends and flay them alive!"

The spotted fox curled its lips into a smirk that was neither a smile nor a frown, "Then you must also go to our ancient ancestor, for its Heavenly Secret Technique is the strongest among our Fox Tribe."

"I don't need you to tell me that!"

The snow fox snarled at the other, raised its sharp claws, and roared.

However, the spotted fox didn't want to be hit again, and in a flash, it leapt into the dense forest, leaving behind a single sentence.

"I certainly don't want you to end up like Qi!"

The eyes of the snow fox turned blood-red, and it opened its mouth to reveal a row of chillingly white teeth.

As if choosing its next victim!

Meanwhile, Wang Chen, who was more than a dozen miles away, sensed something and couldn't help but look back.

After ascending to the Purple Mansion Realm, his Divine Soul points surged, his spiritual power became unprecedentedly tremendous, and his perception abilities were many times stronger than during his Qi Cultivation Tier.

Wang Chen had acutely felt danger approaching, which is why he decisively retreated.

He even left behind the corpse of the snow fox.

You should know that such a monster fox's fur could fetch a good amount of Spirit Stones.

Yet, Wang Chen had a suspicion that even if he were to take the fox's corpse into his Storage Bag, it would likely expose him.

Just like how you should never take an Evil Cultivator's Storage Bag.

Time to look for another place!

With that in mind, Wang Chen sped towards White Tiger City like an arrow released from its bow, slicing through the wind.

In the following days, Wang Chen stayed in the city and did not venture out again.

The New Year was approaching.

White Tiger City became even livelier.

Ever since the Four Seas Commerce Association had set up a branch in the city, the Giant Whale of the Association had completed three round trips.

For this purpose, a special mooring spot was built outside the city.

The Giant Whale not only brought a large amount of resources to White Tiger City but also a multitude of migrating cultivators.

The beast tide that erupted some time ago did not just affect the original Flying Immortal City—many Immortal Cities near the Jade Dragon Mountain Range also suffered, with some even falling.

The number of refugees surged dramatically.

Normally, after the Giant Whale's arrival, it would take a group of original residents from Flying Immortal City away.

But the last two trips carried away far fewer cultivators.

Everyone knew that the situation outside was also unstable, and many places were actually worse off than the rebuilt White Tiger City.

With the influx of immigrants and displaced people, property prices in the city surged, and no more shops were left vacant.

All lines of business began to thrive.

Especially by the end of December, everyone came out to buy new year goods, emptying their Storage Bags to ensure they could celebrate the new year properly, making business in the city exceptionally booming.

Wang Chen took advantage of this by specially crafting a batch of Auspicious New Year's Talismans, catching the wave of excitement and making a tidy profit.

On New Year's Eve, the streets and alleys of White Tiger City suddenly became quiet and deserted.

The snow drifted down the empty streets while warm light shone through the windows of every home, and the sound of firecrackers crackled in the courtyards.

Wang Chen closed shop early to prepare his New Year's Eve dinner.

Since his arrival, he had gotten used to spending New Year's Eve alone.

Wang Chen had two properties in the city, but with the recent surge in property prices and high demand in the market, he decisively sold them off.

The number of Spirit Stones he possessed broke through the hundred thousand mark.

He had never been as affluent as he was now, so he was prepared to have a really bountiful New Year's celebration.

The main dishes for tonight's festive dinner were braised beast meat and steamed river fish, which sounded ordinary, but the ingredients were all second-tier quality, costing Wang Chen quite a few Spirit Stones.

Beyond these two main courses, Wang Chen also bought two jars of top-quality Spiritual Wine.

He wasn't going to shortchange himself.

Once the table was set with delicious dishes and the Spiritual Wine was in place, just as he was about to dig in, someone suddenly knocked on the shop door.

Who is it?

Wang Chen put down his newly lifted chopsticks and went to open the door.

Standing at the door was a lean middle-aged Cultivator, who, upon seeing Wang Chen, flashed a flattering smile, "Taoist Friend Wang."

"Taoist Friend Xu?"

Wang Chen raised an eyebrow, "It's New Year's—evening, what brings you here?"

The middle-aged Cultivator standing before him was named Xu Hongcai, a native of Flying Immortal City, with generations of his family having eked out a living here.

Wang Chen had met him by chance.

Xu Hongcai wasn't highly cultivated, but he was quite the charmer and had many friends.

He was akin to a local influential figure.

Wang Chen had no significant friendship with Xu Hongcai, but considering the latter's well-connectedness, he was willing to give him some face.

"I got kicked out."

Xu Hongcai looked dejected, "I really didn't have anything with Lady Li, but Lady Lu doesn't believe me..."

Wang Chen was speechless.

The Lady Li and Lady Lu mentioned by Xu Hongcai were widowed Cultivators living nearby.

Clearly, Xu Hongcai didn't have the achievement of a Time Management Master and unfortunately capsized on New Year's Eve!

Rubbing his hands together and with a sheepish look on his face, Xu Hongcai asked, "Taoist Friend Wang, could you put me up for the night?"

Wang Chen couldn't help but laugh, "Come on in."

Xu Hongcai was just a bit lecherous, but otherwise, he wasn't a bad person.

After entering the house and seeing the table full of piping hot food and fine wine, the middle-aged Cultivator couldn't help but swallow hard.

Wang Chen said, "Since you're here, join in and eat a bit."

He was never stingy or petty; having agreed to shelter Xu Hongcai, he didn't mind sharing the New Year's Eve dinner with him.

"Thank you, friend!"

Xu Hongcai bowed seriously to Wang Chen, his eyes nearly brimming with tears, "I will never forget your great kindness for as long as I live!"

Wang Chen shook his head, "Taoist Friend, you're too kind."

He got a pair of bone chopsticks for Xu Hongcai, invited him to sit down, and poured him a cup of Spiritual Wine.

Having someone to share the New Year's Eve dinner with was actually quite nice.

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Here's the second update.