Chapter 26: The Protection of the God Fox, The Eternal Clan

In the eastern part of this world, there is an ocean named the East Sea.

The sea is boundless and vast, an entirely new world unknown to most beings on land.

And above the East Sea, there are islands.

One of them is called the Lingyin.

The Lingyin Clan is a reclusive tribe, living far from the world, indifferent to worldly disputes, and not pursuing fame or wealth, instead living a tranquil life.

The Lingyin Clan is also an eternal tribe, possessing countless treasures, nearly rivaling entire nations in wealth. They revere the God Fox and are protected by it, with clan members all possessing unique powers, never aging nor dying.

Once, a person who had heard of the Lingyin name at the East Sea invested heavily in building ships, crossing thirty thousand miles of ocean, enduring countless hardships, and finally witnessing the Lingyin. Recognizing his sincerity, the Lingyin Clan consented to his request, allowing him and those holding their token to travel between the continent and Lingyin Island to exchange treasures from both sides. Eventually, they sent clan members to assist his heir in establishing a merchant association.

This is the origin of the Lingyin Merchant Association.

Myriad words and mysteries revolve around the revered God Fox.

It is said that it bears nine tails, where it passes, the world is shrouded in darkness, and the sun and moon lose their color. If the Fox were to get angry, it could burn mountains and boil seas, wielding enormous power.

There are also tales that the revered God Fox often manifests in human form, appearing with the Mask of the God Fox, concealing its ears and tail, resembling a mortal yet elusive and untouchable.

Moreover, it is said that the God Fox is no ordinary entity, too transcendent to be measured by human logic, arriving and leaving without a trace, traveling on celestial light, as brilliant as the sun and sparkling like the stars, making it difficult for all beings to look directly at it.

The tales of the Fox are countless, with no definitive version that can completely convince everyone, even among the protected Lingyin Clan, most have only seen the miraculous signs and sacred objects left behind, remaining in secrecy about the true form of their revered god.

To better worship the God Fox, the Lingyin Clan, following its decree, chose a woman within the tribe who most resembled the legend of the God Fox and was outstanding in beauty to wear the sacred artifact Mask of the God Fox, thus becoming the Spiritual Fox Priestess.

“So… you mean to say that I am the one possessing the Mask of the God Fox, named Xī, the Spiritual Fox Priestess?”

In response to Miss White Fox’s question, Ming Lan nodded firmly.

“Isn’t that so? My lady, you’ve also mentioned your name is Xī. It’s quite rare in the common world to have a single name without a surname, let alone the existence of the Mask of the God Fox, as well as your appearance, voice, and attire that have hardly changed since then… It’s precisely because I noticed these that I eagerly followed you, hoping for an opportunity for us to meet. I even thought you were looking for a secluded spot for the same reason.”

“…”

After a moment’s silence, Vilyric remained noncommittal but continued to inquire.

“Since you are so certain, then how did the Spiritual Fox Priestess Xī go missing? Why didn’t you look for her?”

For this question, Ming Lan, who usually spoke without hesitation, did not respond immediately, instead casting a significant glance at Little Dragon Daughter standing behind Miss White Fox and then at the two Winged Girls and Tilysha nearby eavesdropping on the conversation.

“My lady, your companions…”

“They are all trustworthy. Unless it’s crucial secret information, there’s no need to hide anything.”

A touch of nostalgia and sentiment flickered in Ming Lan’s clear eyes before a wry smile appeared.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, and you’re still as opinionated and confident as ever. Since you’ve assured me, I have nothing further to worry about… I wonder if you remember the disaster from a thousand years ago?”

“A thousand years’ disaster?”

Miss White Fox was momentarily startled, then quickly came to her senses.

“Are you talking about the Divine Cataclysm?”

With a serious expression, the fox-eared man nodded slightly.

“Indeed.”

“Wow…”

Although her face remained composed, Vilyric was secretly surprised.

The Lingyin Clan… indeed, it was quite extraordinary to randomly pull out a clansman who could casually discuss a tremendous secret that occurred a millennium ago?

It’s worth noting that even Vilyric herself learned about this information about the scale and claws only after much inquiry during her journey, meeting many beings, and even knowing some that were godly or higher.

Out of curiosity, the girl hurriedly questioned.

“You know the details of that disaster? What kind of enemy caused the Twilight of the Gods?”

However, Ming Lan could only shake his head helplessly.

“I don’t know; probably only the God Fox and the Spiritual Fox Priestess Xī possess the true understanding of it. Even the four elders in the clan are said to only have a half comprehension. Of course, they might know but are feigning ignorance, as the God Fox has said — ‘Do not think of its name, do not know its root.’ There are some things that merely speaking of will bring about disaster and destruction. Those old fellows are quite sly.”

It seems Ming Lan didn’t hold the four so-called elders in the same high regard as he did with Xī, casually venting his thoughts as if chatting with peers.

“The causal power that transcends time and space…”

A bit disappointed, thinking that this unexpected encounter might finally lead to a breakthrough.

But then again, if even a Demon God could traverse the river of time to bring its longings to the present, what entity stronger than it, one that even gods could not rival, could be so easily spoken of by mortals?

“Well, although we ordinary clansmen do not have the right to ask such questions, it seems you, my lady, did participate in that war and stood alongside the gods. Moreover, it is said that the God Fox even interfered with the battle situation.”

“Although these are just rumors, at that time, you indeed left Lingyin Island alone with the Mask of the God Fox, disappearing without a trace.”

“And then… a thousand years later, you met me again here?”

The fox-eared man silently nodded.

Miss White Fox’s brow furrowed slightly beneath her mask, suddenly remembering something.

“By the way, Ming Lan, how old are you this year?”

In response, the young man, who claimed to be from the Lingyin Clan, merely smiled.

“My lady, didn’t I mention earlier? Since receiving the blessings of the revered God Fox, age has lost its meaning for us Lingyin Clan members. We are eternally alive. Unless we choose death, even if we fall into the River of the Dead and our souls disperse, we can be reborn.”

“Though the cost is that we can no longer have new descendants, the number of clan members will remain constant forever, we can infer — Xī did not, nor could she have fallen in battle during the war, she merely went missing. If calculated, with the number of rebirths added up, I must already be over thirty thousand years old.”

“Puh! How, how much?!”

“Ah?”

“Brother, did he just say… 30,000? Is that really age? I can’t be hearing this wrong, right?”

Vilyric was dumbfounded.

This guy, who so casually referred to the Holy Knight Claycius as “Eldest Brother,” the Priestess thought they were around the same age, but as it turns out… they were comparable to living fossils?!

This was even thirty times older than Miss Edith from the royal family of the United Kingdom! Even that mythological being like Tiyelu, who was left from the mythological era, might not have lived for 30,000 years. It would likely take a true deity like Xi Fu Lin to surpass him. This guy… won’t he be boasting?

Feeling the fluctuations of astonishment from the few girls present, Ming Lan awkwardly rubbed his nose.

“No need to be so surprised… If you really are my lady, then the years you’ve lived through would only be more than this number. That said, I’ve only been off the island for about a hundred years, this time just happened to come to Holy Star City for errands, so I’m not very familiar with this world, still exploring around.”

Seeing Miss White Fox seemingly frozen, Ming Lan suddenly seemed to recall something, looking astonished.

“Uh… I mean, my lady, you wouldn’t think that you…”

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!!”

   

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