After exiting the Array, Jiang Zuo didn’t plan on doing anything else.

He would just occasionally take out an Array Stone to carve. He had seven of them: one focused on a Concealing Trapping Array, one on Defense, and one on Sealing.

Another was engraved with the Ye Zi mark.

That was all for now, just these four.

As for Attack Arrays, an Array Stone with so little energy would produce an attack that was simply too weak. There was no point in carving one.

Besides, Jiang Zuo lacked the Spiritual Qi to draw the kind of Runes needed for an effective attack.

Take the figure from the palace, for instance. For Jiang Zuo to draw it relying on his own Cultivation, he would need to be at least Tier Five.

It would also require a vast amount of time.

Jiang Zuo stretched, then decided to go out for a walk and find something to eat.

Just as he reached the door, however, he saw a young man on the road, seemingly searching for something. The moment Jiang Zuo stepped outside, the young man spotted him.

He then hurried over to Jiang Zuo.

Jiang Zuo watched him calmly. He recognized the man—it was the Tier Three disciple from the Spiritual Control Sect who had tried to steal his business yesterday.

Tang Shui soon stood before him. Jiang Zuo remained silent, waiting to see what the man wanted.

The first thing Tang Shui did was bow his head respectfully. "Fellow Daoist," he said, "can you cure Six-tailed?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Zuo replied calmly, "I can’t."

With that, he stepped past Tang Shui and started to leave.

He knew why the man had come.

The rejection in Jiang Zuo’s voice filled the spurned Tang Shui with bitter frustration.

Tang Shui gritted his teeth, his fists clenched.

He was struggling internally, reason clashing with his desperate wish.

Finally, his eyes filled with resolve. Tang Shui blocked Jiang Zuo’s path again and pleaded, "Fellow Daoist, I know I was in the wrong before. I was the one who disturbed you.

I apologize. I can compensate you with double—no, ten times the price.

I’m begging you, please cure Six-tailed."

Jiang Zuo gave him a cold look. "I told you, I can’t cure it."

Tang Shui said directly, "I’m willing to offer everything I have. I implore you, Fellow Daoist, to save it."

This was what Jiang Zuo didn’t understand. ’Foxes don’t even taste good, so why do these people get so worked up over them?’

In the end, he left without another word. He had said he couldn’t cure it, and that was that.

It had nothing to do with money, nor with the person asking.

His Cultivation was still insufficient to mend the Six-tailed’s Celestial Defect.

Standing to the side, Tang Shui felt a chill run down his spine. ’Is Six-tailed really beyond saving?’

Tang Shui looked at Jiang Zuo, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes.

It wasn’t malice toward others, but a grim resolve directed at himself.

’Three days. It’s too late to find anyone else. This man is my only hope. He saw the problem with a single glance, which means he must have a solution.’

’No matter how slim the hope, I can’t give up.’

Six-tailed was special to him; no other Spirit Fox could ever replace it. It was the only warmth that remained by his side when he’d been on the verge of death. His very life was a gift from it.

’So, I can’t give up yet.’

Desperately seeking any remedy, Tang Shui knew this was the only person he could turn to.

He had already called the seniors in his Sect, and they were all powerless to help.

With that, he turned and followed Jiang Zuo.

Jiang Zuo naturally knew this person was following him, so his steps started to change, and soon he had shaken the man off.

He didn’t like being followed and had no habit of tolerating it.

Jiang Zuo made his way to a food street, hoping to find something especially tasty.

They used cash here, but as long as it was delicious, he didn’t mind using Spirit Stones.

After sampling his way around, Jiang Zuo found nothing particularly delicious.

Just as he was about to leave, he was surprised to find that the man had found him again.

That couldn’t have been easy. A short distance later, Jiang Zuo shook him off again.

But to Jiang Zuo’s surprise, he had caught up again not long after.

Jiang Zuo glanced at him, then shook him off yet again.

This time, the man found him even faster, panting for breath.

Jiang Zuo asked, "How did you find me?"

"Well, this place is only so big. I just had to search the whole area," Tang Shui said.

Jiang Zuo nodded. ’That’s true. To a Tier Three Cultivator, this whole town isn’t very big.’

’He was bound to find me if he searched enough times.’

Then Jiang Zuo turned and said, "Stop following me. I told you I can’t cure it."

"Wait a moment." Tang Shui stepped in front of Jiang Zuo, then performed a Summoning. A turtle appeared, and he retrieved a Spirit Stone from its shell.

The moment he saw the Spirit Stone, Jiang Zuo couldn’t help but take a second look.

’A Ninth-Grade Spirit Stone.’

Tang Shui handed the Spirit Stone to Jiang Zuo. "Fellow Daoist, this is my only Ninth-Grade Spirit Stone. I beg you to save Six-tailed."

Jiang Zuo shook his head. "Even a Ninth-Grade one is useless. I can’t cure it."

Tang Shui cried out in despair, "Then what will it take to keep it alive? How can I stop it from dying?"

Then, a single sentence from Jiang Zuo instantly stunned Tang Shui: "Keeping it alive is simple."

"Huh?"

’What does he mean?’

Tang Shui wondered if he had heard wrong.

"F-Fellow Daoist, what did you say? Didn’t you say you couldn’t cure it?"

Jiang Zuo’s face was impassive. "Just because I can’t cure it doesn’t mean I can’t keep it alive?"

Tang Shui: "..."

’Is there a contradiction between being incurable and staying alive?’

’No, there isn’t.’

Without another word, Tang Shui thrust the Ninth-Grade Spirit Stone forward. "Fellow Daoist, keeping it alive is enough! As long as it can live, it doesn’t matter for how long. I’m begging you."

Jiang Zuo accepted the Ninth-Grade Spirit Stone. It was an undeniable fortune, yet holding it, Jiang Zuo’s expression remained unchanged.

He looked at Tang Shui. "First, cut off its tails. Leave only one. Then give me two days."

Tang Shui was startled at the mention of cutting off the tails. However, he didn’t protest, merely asking, "Two days from now is the final day. Will that be enough time?"

Jiang Zuo offered the Ninth-Grade Spirit Stone back. "You can always find someone more qualified."

Tang Shui wouldn’t dare take the Spirit Stone back. He knew if he accepted it now, he’d never be able to offer it again.

So, no matter what Jiang Zuo said, Tang Shui could only accept it in silence.

Then Jiang Zuo added, "My method only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. If you want it to live longer, you’ll need more Spirit Stones.

But don’t worry. This can be done in installments. As for the interval between them, I’ll have a definitive answer in two days."

Tang Shui bowed deeply in gratitude.

He was starting to realize it. ’This man can’t possibly be an ordinary Tier One. A Tier One Cultivator who can shake me off like it’s nothing?’

’Whether he’s Tier One or not, I have to believe he’s extraordinary. I’ve placed my only hope in him.’

After Jiang Zuo left, Tang Shui summoned Six-tailed. Before the fox could say a word, Tang Shui spoke. "You have too many tails. We’ll cut off five and sell them for cash."

Six-tailed was stunned, finding it hard to believe. Finally, it replied in a crestfallen tone, "Okay."

Meanwhile, Jiang Zuo contacted Chi Xue Child. "Has Liuyue Xue woken up?"

Chi Xue Child was taken aback—Po Xiao was actually contacting him. He quickly replied, "Liuyue Xue is awake."

"Ask her if there’s a way to buy Spirit Medicine here. The precious kind."

"I’ll ask." A moment later, Chi Xue Child replied, "It should be possible. Liuyue Xue will need to contact her Sect, but she says she can’t put too much on credit."

"No need for credit. I’m heading over now to pay."