Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top

Ning Xuan asked the question, though she didn’t expect the Little Fox to answer. After all, when she was verifying her identity at the entrance to the safe zone, she had told the Little Fox—who had started following her along the way—to go back. It was to avoid trouble and not attract attention.

This Little Fox, which had appeared out of nowhere, was remarkably perceptive. Even though it couldn’t speak, Ning Xuan felt it understood everything they said in their daily conversations.

Ning Xuan had her suspicions about the Little Fox’s origins. However, when it first came to her, it had been heavily injured. As she nursed it back to health day by day, the Little Fox grew very affectionate toward her. It was a closeness born of complete trust and wholehearted reliance.

Ning Xuan’s Spiritual Power Level was quite high, making her very sensitive to goodwill or malice from others. The feeling she got from the Little Fox was that if she were ever in danger, it would protect her to the death.

However, the longer they spent together, the more the Little Fox’s unusual traits became apparent.

Take this time, for instance. Ning Xuan was certain she hadn’t brought the Little Fox with her, yet it had followed her on its own. After they reached the safe zone, she had clearly told it to go back, but here it was again.

Ning Xuan grabbed the Little Fox by the scruff of its neck and flipped it over, making it lie on its back on the small table beside the bed. She parted the fur on its abdomen, revealing its pink belly.

Ning Xuan’s hand rested on the Little Fox’s stomach. Yu Mingche could feel a sharp vine pressing against its belly, seemingly ready to disembowel him at any moment.

Forced into such a vulnerable position by Ning Xuan, completely at her mercy, his survival instincts screamed at his reason. Yu Mingche could barely control the urge to flip over and leap away. Still, he fought to suppress it, letting out a series of soft, delicate whimpers. To ensure his safety, he even activated his Talent Skill: Enchanting Demon Domain.

A wave of pity for the Little Fox washed over Ning Xuan. She realized she was pressing a vine against its belly and, for a moment, couldn’t remember why. ’How could I treat the Little Fox like this?’

’No, that’s not right. How did the Little Fox get here?’

Ning Xuan quickly snapped out of it. She had been testing this Little Fox. ’Why did my memory suddenly get distorted?’

Come to think of it, Ning Xuan hadn’t originally planned on letting the Little Fox stay with the team. To ensure he could stay, Yu Mingche had used his Enchanting Demon Domain skill quite often in the beginning. Normally, with his high Spiritual Power Level, Ning Xuan would never have noticed its use.

However, in the Oasis Fairyland, Ning Xuan had refined a great deal of spiral nebula. It had accumulated in her body, ceaselessly improving her genetic bloodline. Combined with Yu Mingche’s repeated use of the skill, Ning Xuan had developed a certain resistance to it. And so, this time, she detected the problem.

The moment Ning Xuan realized what was happening, her expression hardened. A vine as thick as a finger shot violently toward the Little Fox’s heart.

Sensing Ning Xuan’s killing intent, Yu Mingche was horrified. He quickly rolled to the side. PFFT! He had avoided a fatal blow to the heart, but the vine instantly pierced through the Little Fox’s foreleg—which was Yu Mingche’s arm.

"WHIMPER! WHIMPER! WHIMPER!" The Little Fox’s shrill cries were filled with terror.

Seeing Ning Xuan’s expression change, Yu Mingche knew his skill had failed and feared she had discovered something.

Seeing the icy expression on Ning Xuan’s face, Yu Mingche decided to drop the act and reverted to his human form. WHOOSH! The little fox lying on its back suddenly became a man in the same position.

The man had long limbs, a well-proportioned frame, and elegant muscle definition. He was completely naked, lying on his back, with a bloody hole still punched through his right arm.

Ning Xuan’s expression grew even darker. Yu Mingche took a deep breath, rose, and knelt before her. "Yu Mingche pays his respects to you, Lord Contract Master." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The man kneeling gracefully before her had shoulder-length, chestnut-brown hair and a pair of captivating, fox-like eyes. His skin was fair and delicate, his lips a vivid red, and his dark eyes shimmered. With a high-bridged nose and a refined jawline, his face alone was a picture of exquisite beauty.

Although Ning Xuan was both angry and shocked, her eyes traveled down his body uncontrollably: the vulnerable curve of his slightly bowed neck, his handsome collarbones, his firm pectoral muscles, his well-defined abs, and his slender waist. Even while kneeling, she could tell he had long, well-proportioned, and powerful legs.

Ning Xuan’s eyes swept up and down his form several times, her face an icy mask as she remained silent.

Yu Mingche was in his thirties. He had been famous since his youth and was a man who held considerable power. Now, being scrutinized so thoroughly while stark naked, he had long since started to blush.

Ning Xuan didn’t speak. In truth, she was stunned by the scene before her. The last person she’d seen transform from a beast—a Win Snake—into a human was Ying Yaoshi. This was only the second time she had witnessed someone freely switch between their human and beast forms.

’No, that’s not it. Even though Ying Yaoshi is Level 3S, he only turns into his beast form when activating a special Skill or entering his combat state. But Yu Mingche seems to only have the strength of a Level 2S. As far as I know, a Level 2S shouldn’t be able to switch between human and beast forms so naturally.’

"Lord Contract Master, please understand. The Little Fox is my Companion Spirit. The only reason I can take human form is because I have attached my Divine Soul to its body. My true self is still on the Federation Central Star," Yu Mingche explained, as if reading her mind.

"You say you’re Yu Mingche. How can you prove it?" Ning Xuan suddenly asked.

"I was on a mission in the Star Sky Chaos Domain, which is why I missed the opportunity to beg your forgiveness before you advanced to B-Class. Also, because I was on an active mission, the Mainframe rejected your application to terminate our contractual relationship. Not many people should know about that, right?" Yu Mingche said, a little guiltily.

Bringing this up would certainly dispel Ning Xuan’s suspicions, but it would also serve as a reminder of his past transgressions.

"Since you know I already applied to terminate our contract, you should be well aware of my attitude. So what are you trying to pull, coming to me in the form of your Companion Spirit and even daring to use your Enchanting Demon Domain Skill on me just so you could stay?" Ning Xuan demanded.

"Lord Contract Master, I came to beg for your forgiveness, of course. Isn’t there a saying about atoning for one’s misdeeds with good service? I’ve been trying my best to please you." Facing Ning Xuan’s searching gaze, Yu Mingche finally couldn’t take it anymore and pulled the sheet off the bed, draping it over himself.

"Just now thinking of covering up? I thought you were putting on a show for me," Ning Xuan retorted, giving him a sidelong glance.

But the moment the words left her mouth, her accusatory stance began to falter.

She gave a slightly awkward cough, but Yu Mingche, as if sensing an opportunity, sidled closer, moving just like the Little Fox always did.

"Lord Contract Master, would you like to see more?" Yu Mingche asked, tilting his head up slightly and looking at Ning Xuan with sultry, seductive eyes.