After cultivating for a thousand years a fox turns into a spirit.
Tips
culture
In folklore, 精怪 are non-human entities (animals, plants, objects) that become sentient by cultivating over long periods. Pu Songling's 聊斋志异 is the classic source. Overlaps with 妖怪 (yāoguài) but 精怪 emphasizes the transformation origin.
register
Also used playfully to describe a person as mischievous or uncannily clever: 小精怪 'little imp.'
