204: Chapter 204 Loyalty Bond, Strange Movements in Yinshan

At this moment.

The dice spun rapidly on the interface for one last rotation before slowly coming to a stop.

Just as Mo Zixing expected.

Since her favorability was maxed out, three different personality traits to choose from did not appear this time.

On the interface, a single trait glowing with a faint pink light floated in isolation.

Perhaps echoing her race, the font of this trait was slightly different from the previous ones.

There were even two small fox ears atop the round, cute strokes.

[Loyalty: Absolutely loyal to the one and only recognized Master, never to betray. When the Master is harmed, will protect the Master at all costs.]

[This trait is different from conventional personality traits and is unaffected by any external forces such as charm or instigation.]

[Unless the host wishes to replace it, it will not change due to experiences, environment, or other influences.]

It really is a bit different.

Mo Zixing couldn't help but smack his lips.

He remembered that in Jiang Yuwei and the others' [Loyalty] trait, it was written as being loyal and never betraying their recognized Dao Companion.

How did it become 'Master' when it came to Hu Jiuying?

Was it because she had Mo Zixing's Beast Contract Seal on her?

Whatever, he should replace the old trait first.

With a thought from Mo Zixing...

...he chose to replace the original [Protective] trait with [Loyalty].

The Sky Fox clan had already been completely wiped out, so the [Family Ties] trait indeed wouldn't have any further impact on her.

It was fine to keep it.

Theoretically, [Protective] was somewhat similar.

But as someone who had crossed the line with his master, he naturally cared a bit about master-disciple related personalities.

It was less of a hassle to just replace it.

As he confirmed it in his mind,

the personality column on Hu Jiuying's interface also changed accordingly.

[Protective] quietly disappeared.

In its place was [Loyalty].

Her entire body trembled slightly.

When she looked up at Mo Zixing, her eyes had grown even clearer and brighter, carrying a reliance and trust that went deep into her fox heart.

Hu Jiuying subconsciously shuffled half a step forward, blocking the path between Mo Zixing and the depths of Yin Mountain.

She didn't even notice this movement herself.

At the same time,

at the very bottom of Mo Zixing's own system panel, a line of small text was rapidly updating.

[Total Quality of Newly Bound Loyalty trait Bearers]

[Red ×1, Purple ×4, White ×1]

[Conversion Buffs as follows]

[Cultivation Speed +32%, All Skills Power +32%]

The interface refreshed again.

[Current Bound [Loyalty] Targets: 5 people]

[Current Combined Buff: Cultivation Speed +98%, All Skills Power +98%]

Mo Zixing nodded in satisfaction.

These stats are amazing!

The original 66% buff had skyrocketed straight to 98%.

It was almost equivalent to double the effect.

Circulating his long-neglected breathing Mind-Cultivation Technique, he felt the spiritual energy in his body flow much faster.

He was also more adept at circulating other Cultivation Techniques, and his control over his power had reached a brand-new Realm.

In an excellent mood, Mo Zixing rummaged through his storage space and pulled out two clean robes.

Having been struck by the Lightning Tribulation for so long, the clothes on both of them had long since turned to ash.

Fortunately, he had learned from past experiences of being left practically naked.

Before setting off for Yin Mountain this time, he had stuffed over a dozen changes of clothes into his Storage Ring.

“Put this on.”

Mo Zixing handed one of them to Hu Jiuying.

Hu Jiuying took his robe and clumsily slipped it on.

Mo Zixing's robe was far too large for her, and the long sleeves completely covered her small arms.

The three tails behind her perked up disobediently, lifting the hem of the robe high.

“Ugh...”

Hu Jiuying wagged her tails forcefully. With great effort, she focused her mind and temporarily hid all three tails.

Leaving only the two pointy fox ears on her head exposed, twitching gently with her movements.

She peeked up at Mo Zixing.

Seeing him looking at her with a half-smile, her cheeks instantly flushed red again.

She quickly lowered her head, twisting the slightly too-long hem of the robe back and forth.

Mo Zixing clapped his hands, breaking the slightly ambiguous silence:

“By the way, I've been meaning to ask.”

He pointed at the fox ears on Hu Jiuying's head and said,

“You can maintain human form constantly, but why were all your clansmen we saw earlier in their original Sky Fox forms?”

Hearing him mention her clansmen, Hu Jiuying's shyness faded a bit, and her eyes dimmed slightly:

“Because maintaining human form actually consumes a certain amount of Mental Energy and spiritual energy.”

She kicked a small pebble by her foot and explained softly,

“The yin sha energy of Yin Mountain constantly corrodes our minds. Only because I carry a spiritual fire was I barely able to maintain a degree of clarity.”

“The other clansmen were invaded by the yin sha power for too long and lost their sanity long ago, turning into wild beasts that only know how to slaughter.”

“The Clan Chief was only able to occasionally regain a sliver of sanity because his cultivation was the highest.”

At this point, she sighed softly:

“I chose to maintain human form also to remind myself to pay attention to my physical state.”

“If I revert to a Sky Fox, it means I can no longer control myself either.”

So that's how it is.

Mo Zixing nodded, turning to look at the statue of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox nearby.

The entire Holy Temple had been practically leveled by the Lightning Tribulation, with ruins and debris scattered everywhere.

Only this statue still stood quietly in the center of the ruins.

Its majesty remained.

“Let's go.”

Mo Zixing withdrew his gaze:

“The matters here are considered finished. It's time to leave.”

Hu Jiuying looked up, staring at him in a bit of a daze:

“Where... are we going?”

“Back to my Sect.”

Mo Zixing reached out and rubbed the fox ears on her head; the soft, fluffy texture felt incredibly good.

“We can't stay in this place forever.”

He smiled and turned around:

“Since you're already my contracted beast, I must find a comfortable place for you to live.”

Hu Jiuying nodded vigorously, following closely by his side.

Mo Zixing waved his hand.

A streak of black light flew in from outside the hall and hovered by his side.

Ling Lin had returned.

“Master.”

Ling Lin's ethereal voice echoed in his mind, surprisingly carrying an unprecedented trace of solemnity:

“For some unknown reason, after you achieved your Breakthrough, Master, the yin sha energy in the depths of Yin Mountain suddenly went wild.”

What did that mean?

What did she mean by him achieving a Breakthrough, and then the yin sha energy in Yin Mountain went wild as a result?

After all, Ling Lin was his sword spirit, and they shared a certain degree of mental connection.

At this moment, Mo Zixing could even feel the tension in her heart...

And even a bit of...

excitement?

Mo Zixing frowned slightly, looking in the direction pointed by Ling Lin's blade.

He saw that the sky deep within Yin Mountain had somehow turned a strange, deep purple.

The yin sha energy had reached a concentration that was almost visible to the naked eye, constantly spreading outward from the distant mountaintop.