Xiao Cui's words left me stunned for a second or two.
Because normally, who would say such things?
But I didn't mind Xiao Cui; I just found it amusing and patiently explained to her what Dragon Leap was.
After learning about the dangers involved, Xiao Cui pouted in disappointment, responding with a displeased "Oh."
Seeing her expression, I felt a little upset.
If there was a way, I would definitely let her play with it, but that was the earthly dragon energy. Even the nine-tailed fox at its peak wouldn't dare claim to move mountains, so how could I let her play with it?
An hour later, the nine-tailed fox's demonic power finally dropped to three tails.
Its transformed size also shrank to half of a human's height.
Seeing this, I perked up and called out, "Brother Huang, get ready."
Huang Jiu had been impatiently waiting and immediately stood up, opening his mouth wide, like a child waiting for candy.
As soon as the nine-tailed fox landed, I drew the blood刺 and poured 90% of my Dao energy into it, thrusting it forcefully into the energy eye of the dragon's spine.
At once, the mountain beneath us trembled, as if an earthquake had struck.
With a roar, the nine-tailed fox's form was scattered by the dragon energy and turned into a bead the size of a fist.
Huang Jiu inhaled sharply and sucked the nine-tailed fox's demonic soul into his mouth.
The moment he swallowed it, his yellow fur turned silver-white.
Seeing this, Huang Xian'er immediately attached herself to Huang Jiu and used her power to suppress the nine-tailed fox's demonic soul that was now in his stomach.
It was at that moment that I noticed Huang Xian'er's true form was actually a silver-white female yellow weasel.
There were many yellow weasels with white fur, but a completely silver-colored one like her was incredibly rare.
Her ability to transform so quickly was probably due to her fortunate circumstances, though it also seemed related to her special physical form.
I grabbed Xiao Cui's hand and ran down, not bothering to maintain formalities. I picked up Huang Xian'er's body and protected her in my arms.
Then, holding the blood刺, I remained vigilant, keeping an eye on our surroundings.
About ten minutes later, Huang Xian'er detached herself from Huang Jiu. As her spirit floated out, I hurriedly placed her body down.
When her spirit returned to her body, a flash of white light passed, and the person standing before me was now the human form of Huang Xian'er.
I noticed that Huang Jiu had also turned to silver fur, and I couldn't help but ask, "Sister Xian'er, do you both turn silver when you transform?"
Huang Xian'er shook her head, saying, "No, it's because of my unique nature. As for Xiao Jiu, I can't explain it either. I've seen him devour other demonic beings before, and his fur color changes depending on what he consumes."
After hearing Huang Xian'er's explanation, I remembered that Huang Jiu's fur had changed when he devoured the small snake and the ghost elephant.
According to Huang Xian'er, this seemed to be a peculiar trait of Huang Jiu, rather than something common to all demonic creatures.
Since Huang Xian'er couldn't explain it clearly, I didn't press the issue.
After about seven or eight minutes of Huang Xian'er's transformation, Huang Jiu began to glow, just like when Huang Xian'er had transformed.
Seeing this, I was happy for him and said, "Looks like it worked! I just wonder how that demonic artifact will react."
Huang Xian'er replied, "That artifact can contain a demonic soul. After Xiao Jiu devours the nine-tailed fox's soul, it will appear inside his demonic soul. But how to extract it, I don't know. After all, I've never seen such an artifact before."
I jokingly asked, "Sister Xian'er, aren't you tempted by a nine-tailed demonic soul and a demonic artifact?"
Huang Xian'er smiled and replied, "Xiao Jiu and I are married, so what's his is mine. Besides, without Xiao Jiu, there wouldn't be a Huang Xian'er."
There was a story behind her words.
But while I was curious, I wasn't going to pry.
At that moment, Huang Jiu's body underwent a change. A humanoid figure appeared on his form.
That must have been his appearance after transforming—it looked pretty handsome.
Now that Huang Jiu had transformed, I couldn't refer to him as "it" anymore, but as "him."
However, just as I was thinking about how to interact with him moving forward, the humanoid figure on Huang Jiu suddenly shattered.
Huang Xian'er immediately became nervous.
I was stunned for a moment and asked, "What's going on? Is something wrong?"
Huang Xian'er, worried, said, "I'm not sure."
At that moment, Huang Jiu tried to reform his humanoid body again, but as before, the outline only became clear before shattering again.
After trying for more than ten times, it still failed. Huang Jiu was becoming agitated. He stood up and bowed to me, asking, "Li Yang, do I look like a human now?"
A plea for a title?
It seemed Huang Jiu was experiencing transformation failure and trying a local method.
A plea for a title wasn't meant to intimidate or prevent help, but because a demonic creature transforming was going against the heavens. By helping, I would bear the karmic consequences.
In Northeast China, encountering Huang Xian'er's plea for a title was considered highly inauspicious.
Though I had heard of the practice before, I'd never encountered a yellow weasel asking for help with transformation.
Now that Huang Jiu was asking me, even though the local method was genuine, I would have to bear the karmic consequences. I hurriedly spoke up, "You're human!"
Huang Jiu stood still upon hearing this.
Just when I thought the plea for a title had worked, Huang Jiu suddenly burst out cursing, "Damn heaven, are you playing with me? I curse you to have a son with no anus."
Huang Xian'er, concerned, asked, "Xiao Jiu, is it because your cultivation is insufficient?"
Huang Jiu responded, "It's enough, but there's a force that's preventing me from transforming. It's very strong, and I can't break through it."
Huang Xian'er, hearing this, looked back at Xiao Cui and bowed to her, saying, "Huang Xian'er respectfully asks the mountain master to assist in helping my husband transform."
From Huang Xian'er's attitude, it seemed that Xiao Cui had helped her during her transformation.
That was fine. It fulfilled the promise I had made earlier.
I looked at Xiao Cui but didn't pressure her.
Xiao Cui looked at me, thinking I was doubting her, and she began to tear up in grievance.
Huang Xian'er quickly explained, "Li Yang, don't make it hard for her. It's not that she doesn't want to help, she just can't."
Upon hearing this, I wasn't sure what to say and prepared to console Huang Jiu.
However, before I could approach, Huang Jiu had already shaken off his earlier sadness and stood with his hands behind his back, saying, "If I can't transform, then I won't. It's fate. I, Huang Jiu, don't expect it. Besides, having an artifact is already a great stroke of luck. I don't want to keep having good luck, only to end up a short-lived ghost."
He was implying something about me.
It made me want to console him, but now I just wanted to punch him.
Huang Jiu continued, "Even though I can't fully transform, I have the power to transform briefly. That's enough."
The power to transform briefly?
Did that mean he needed more demonic energy than a normal demonic creature would to transform?
I asked, and Huang Jiu replied, "I'm not sure, but it's certain that some force is preventing my transformation."
"Forget it, I don't want to think about it. Even if I can only transform for a short time, I'm satisfied with that."
As he said this, his gaze lingered strangely on Huang Xian'er.
Huang Xian'er, feeling his gaze, also became teary-eyed and eagerly urged, "Let's go home now."