Chapter 257: The Revealed Card

As the White Fox Girl lifted the ambush cover and stepped out of the small hall of the inheritance ceremony, she found herself surrounded by countless Lingyin Clan members, packed so tightly that not even water could leak through.

The moment the Spiritual Fox Priestess returned, her transcendent divine will had already taken control of the “island,” which would typically require thousands of subordinates just to barely manage. Freed from their usual duties, all the Lingyin Clan members rushed here in unison.

“Welcome home, Miss!!!”

Looking at the throng of fox-eared figures kneeling before her, Vilyric, who was aware of Ming Xi’s associated memories, felt no surprise. Any discomfort on her face was concealed by her mask. After a long pause, a slight, bittersweet smile appeared on her lips as she nodded gently.

“You’ve all worked hard. You’ve all done well. Leave the rest to me.”

“Woo… Miss…”

The girls wept as they embraced each other, and the more composed male clan members wiped their tears with enthusiasm. These subordinates, created using Ming Xi’s bloodline as a template, not only possessed incredible strength akin to mythical beings but also held pure and ardent admiration and absolute loyalty to her, much like children of the Spiritual Fox Priestess.

Though a millennium is not particularly long for the immortal Lingyin people, this was indeed the first time since their creation that they had been separated for so long from the being called Miss, enduring the possibility that she might never return. Yet, they still did their utmost to fulfill the mission left behind by Ming Xi.

To say that Vilyric felt nothing would be impossible. Although she was no longer Ming Xi, in a certain sense, she could still be considered another Ming Xi, having inherited everything she left behind.

While the Lingyin people openly worshipped the God Fox, in truth, the Spiritual Fox Priestess was their true leader—something Vilyric had already grasped through various means.

Meanwhile, on the lower realms, blood and warfare raged on. Though Vilyric summoned the Divine Guardian Legion, created by Ming Xi and honed over the millennia for battle, led by Lucas and his fellow Guardians, they could only maintain the situation and reduce casualties. To truly turn the tide, they needed to tackle the root cause.

She turned to a few Lingyin clan elders at the forefront and casually asked, “Have you brought the items?”

“Yes, as per the message the Miss left before leaving, we recently sent someone to the仙霞 mountain range to unveil the seal and retrieve the items you left behind… and we also caught someone at the entrance.”

“?”

She was slightly taken aback but quickly understood. There were almost no inhabitants hailing from the Ancient Spirit Realm who would go to such a place; the only individual she could think of was one specific person.

“Never mind, just bring him and the items over.”

“Understood.”

The elders swiftly turned to leave, and the White Fox Girl once again focused her gaze on the only figure present who hadn’t knelt, her voice carrying a hint of warmth.

“It’s been a while, Wu.”

“It has indeed been quite a while for me, but for you, a millennium is merely a small segment of your lengthy life. After all, in my memory, you’ve never changed at all.”

“Hehe, truly impolite. You’re still as blunt as ever~”

Before her stood a girl clad in vibrant armor, a bright red cape fluttering behind her. Despite her four arms and three eyes, she bore an ordinary appearance, yet exuded an almost unbeatable aura.

Her name was Wu, a name given by Ming Xi.

Wu was not a native being of the Ancient Spirit Realm but rather a survivor picked up by the Spiritual Fox Priestess from another world on the brink of collapse, a world that revered martial arts and thrived on battle, known as the Martial World.

However, the unchecked overflow of power had ultimately led to disaster. The top-tier experts in that world, incited by unknown individuals, engaged in fierce battles over the path to true divinity, resulting in countless casualties.

The war raged for months, leading to catastrophic mountain collapses and uprooted energy balances in the Martial World, which was already on the edge due to excessive life depletion. Natural disasters and calamities surged forth, and the Martial World’s powerful beings could no longer manage the crisis.

In less than a century, that world transformed from prosperity to utter ruins.

When the Spiritual Fox Priestess found it through her perception, the entire world teetered on the brink of annihilation. In the end, she sought out the last remnant of the Martial World—a divine embryo that was still forming but never fully materialized.

Wu inherited all of the surviving power and supreme will of the Martial World, and Ming Xi brought her back to Lingyin Fairy Island, nurturing and caring for her.

Now, she was known as Wu Qu, the pinnacle of the Seven Hidden Stars, rightfully considered the strongest being on the island aside from the God Fox and the Spiritual Fox Priestess. She occupied a unique status; though not a god, she could stand her ground against those deities with relatively narrow concepts.

During the time Ming Xi had been missing and Xiao Kong was in seclusion, Wu had been shouldering the burden of Lingyin Fairy Island. She was also one of the most trusted confidants of the Spiritual Fox Priestess.

The girl known as Wu Qu stepped forward, nudged Vilyric’s shoulder with her elbow, and laughed heartily. Despite holding enough power to send an ordinary person flying off the island, it was her unique way of greeting only used in front of those she truly respected…

“The situation is urgent; no more chit-chat. Now that you’re back in the Ancient Spirit Realm, what are your plans?”

Receiving that heavy elbow jab, Vilyric privately grumbled about Wu’s disregard for restraint before casually replying.

“Is the Void Trace already engaged with that guy?”

Even Wu didn’t know that the God Fox had split into two independent entities. She only knew the divine name known by a select few, so she nodded.

“You and He have returned; the war that was forced to end has reignited. Now, new end creations are taking root in the Ancient Spirit Realm, and we need a god to stop them.”

“Is that so… new creations, huh?”

Are they like the Taotie… the things called world continuers? Yet, one thing remains puzzling—if these monsters were birthed from the singularity of the world’s end, why do they call themselves world continuers?

Wu was unaware of Vilyric’s thoughts, but since she had always followed the Spiritual Fox Priestess, seeing her pondering in silence, she tentatively inquired.

“Do you want to help? Or should I intervene while you stay put on the Fairy Island?”

The White Fox Girl shook her head.

“The Void Trace’s power is not beneath those creations, and the battles between gods are not to be resolved quickly. We still have something more important to handle.”

“You mean… the Evil Demons?”

“Yes. Is my music room still there?”

The three-eyed, four-armed girl nodded without hesitation, soon sporting a mischievous smile.

“Of course, we’ve always maintained it diligently… Seems like after a thousand years, we can finally hear the Spiritual Fox Priestess’ heavenly music again. How nostalgic~”

“You, when did you start talking nonsense? Go and make arrangements.”

“Okay.”

The music room of the Spiritual Fox Priestess was the most crucial place on Lingyin Fairy Island, or rather, on the World-Class Floating Vessel 017. It also bore another name known to the outside world—the God Fox Temple.

Why did the Spiritual Fox Priestess go to such lengths to create the grand and powerful Lingyin Fairy Island, a special living entity comparable to a god? To establish a stronghold and build her own influence?

Certainly, those were part of the reason. However, more importantly, the Lingyin Fairy Island served a specific multitude of functions that catered solely to Ming Xi.

“Long time no see, old buddy.”

Standing in a solemn and majestic room adorned with exquisitely carved nine-tailed fox statues, Vilyric raised her mask to reveal half of her true face, smiling at the empty space.

In the void, a light and ethereal response echoed back.

This was the entity that had been regarded by the world as the God Fox for a millennium, yet in a certain sense, it could indeed be considered a god.

Lingyin Fairy Island was alive. While it could not act independently, like every artifact housing its own spirit, it too possessed a will. It had taken on the identity of the God Fox, passing down divine decrees to maintain stability and peace in the situation, up until now.

In truth, Ming Lian Xin’s understanding of Lingyin Fairy Island was only superficial. It wasn’t some unique living entity comparable to a god…

This island was a personal artifact crafted by the Spiritual Fox Priestess herself—a exclusive artifact.

   

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