"You damned baboon, your face and backside are the same shade of disgrace! I can't tell which is which; both look equally foolish," the Nian barked in anger.
And so, the quarreling erupted anew.
Moon Fairy pressed his four eyes deeper into his body.
As for Old Kapok... What to say about him? This old tree wasn't profound. He wasn't the sort of portable old master the protagonist stumbled into by coincidence.
He'd simply lived too long, becoming cunning and clear-sighted, recognizing the unusual nature of Moon Fairy. So, he generously offered his help, a small investment, really. And he was banking on the pay-off being big.
Even if Old Kapok had ulterior motives, Moon Fairy welcomed them, for indeed they solved an urgent problem.
Moon Fairy eyed the pitch-black box containing the Sealing Heaven grade Calamity Source in his hand...
"Aren't you afraid of killing yourself?" the Nian asked.
"If I die, I'll just switch to a different body double," Moon Fairy replied.
"And what about me?" the Nian said in dismay.
"You're down to just two eyes; what does it matter if you live?" Moon Fairy laughed.
"No! I must keep these eyes open, or I can't rest even in death!" the Nian roared.
"Dumb mutt," the Yaksha Ancestor chuckled.
Moon Fairy said no more and simply sat down in the deep abyss of the Beastly Peaks.
"What are you doing?" Old Kapok exclaimed.
"Facing a tribulation," Moon Fairy responded.
"The Desolation Corps is assembling for battle at the Ghost Cauldron, and you're here facing a tribulation?" Old Kapok said, baffled.
Moon Fairy glanced around and said, "There are too many people, too much chaos. They'll come from all directions and it will take a while to assemble them. I have enough time."
Overwhelmed, Old Kapok found himself speechless with admiration.
"Old bro, if you're worried about missing out, go ahead," Moon Fairy said softly.
"Well, I might as well wait here; I'm just hitching a ride anyway," Old Kapok chuckled awkwardly.
"You think I'll run away?" Moon Fairy teased.
"What are you saying? We're brothers in this life, and trust is the first step in friendship," Old Kapok said earnestly.
"Fair point." Moon Fairy gave him a thumbs up. "Then, I'm counting on you to keep watch."
"Leave it to me," Old Kapok assured with a reliable air.
Moon Fairy quickly readied himself. He opened the pitch-black box, and inside was another box. He opened it again to find another box!
He quickly channeled his Second Baptism Realm cultivation to protect himself.
"That tribulation is so powerful. Even I'd be toast if I tried going through it now. Can he actually endure it?" Old Kapok dared not imagine.
"GAAAGH!" From within the cocoon of wind and fire, he heard the suppressed screams of the silver fox. He even faintly saw its flesh being burned, completely charred into crumbling soot, then swept away by the harsh winds!
This revealed the destructive power of the Sealing Heaven grade Bleak Bone Wildfire Calamity.
"It's over! My lil bro is gone... The limits of this world, indeed, cannot be challenged..." Old Kapok's boiling blood, after simmering for a brief moment, felt as though doused with cold water.
He was impulsive today! And now, the harsh reality hammered down his newly bold heart once more, chilling him to the bone. Yes, he was still alive, but he would forever be unable to raise his head before the stronger.
"Alas..." Old Kapok sighed deeply.
"Goodbye, lil bro. A pity you didn't die in the Reincarnation Bastion, with no rebirth to follow..."
Speaking of which, he fell silent, for the Reincarnation Bastion had also been temporarily destroyed.
"Ah, life is full of disappointments!" Old Kapok lamented, feeling an urge to cry. He turned around, the world around him dark and gloomy.
"Old Kapok..."
Just at this darkest moment, suddenly, a soft yet forceful voice came from behind.
Old Kapok shivered! He whirled around!
There, within the cocoon of howling ghastly winds and cold abyssal flame, he saw a silver-haired youth, his body enveloped in wind and fire, one eye swirling like a hurricane, the other burning like fierce flames...
BUZZ! In that instant, the rampaging power of the Bleak Bone Wildfire Calamity was swallowed by the youth!
Before Old Kapok, this youthful figure, ambiguous in gender, had skin white as snow and a cold body, with silver hair fluttering wildly...
He had even grown three more tails! Now, with nine tails adorned!
At this moment, under the forging of the Will of Divine Desolation, the Divine Desolation Physique had become like a raw gem of heaven and earth, splendid and explosive.
Old Kapok knew Moon Fairy had only stepped into the First Baptism Realm! But he also knew even a sergeant like him might no longer be a match for him.
He couldn't help but tear up. He looked deeply at Moon Fairy and said, "Lil bro, since we are brothers, could you perhaps give me some comfort first?"
Moon Fairy paused, asking, "What do you mean?"
Old Kapok slapped his thigh and said, "You really look like a girl..."
At this, Moon Fairy became indignant.
BUZZ! He transformed into his beast form, the magnificent, dazzling, nine-tailed silver fox, surrounded by wind and fire, proudly standing between heaven and earth, his body thronged with the power of the Bleak Bone Wildfire Calamity!
WHOOSH! He charged toward the direction of the Ghost Cauldron, vanishing in a flash.
"Eh?" Old Kapok froze, then broke into a run, yelling, "Wait, my ride..."