[Vol. 6] Chapter 249: The Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden and the Supreme Sacred Fox God
The Nine-Tailed Fox would never forget that day.
She arrived gracefully, wearing a red-and-white dance dress that Nine-Tails Fox had never seen before, yet it suited her perfectly. The holy beasts guarding the temple seemed to ignore her presence, as if she were meant to be there. Her breathtaking beauty and snow-white fox ears remained as pure and flawless as they were before she left.
She stopped in front of Nine-Tails Fox and smiled gently.
“Hey, I’m back. I think... I might finally be worthy of giving you a name now.”
They talked for a long time, just like when they first met.
Dawn spoke of the many places she had traveled to, the countless new things she had seen. Beyond the [Spirit Realm], there were endless worlds. Some as rich and full of life as this one, while others were old and withering, some even completely destroyed, left as barren wastelands for various reasons.
She realized that worlds, like all living things, could suffer, wither, and die. Nothing was truly eternal.
“I finally understand what this power is meant for.”
She had spent over a thousand years traveling through dying worlds, listening to their final cries of despair. She built a cemetery with her own hands, a resting place for these lost worlds.
Only she could do this. And someone had to.
She was neither the beginning nor the end, but she could be the one to guide them through it.
With every world she buried, the weight of karma and salvation accumulated on her body and soul. And in the very moment she laid the thousandth dead world to rest.
The divine barrier, thought to be unbreakable, shattered. The remnants of over a thousand worlds' wills condensed into a gift, a Divinity, blossoming around her like a field of crimson flowers.
A new god was born.
And her divine realm was none other than the cemetery she had poured her heart into, a final resting place for countless fallen worlds.
The Nine-Tailed Fox was astonished but also filled with joy for her. Even it had never imagined such a miracle, something beyond prediction or replication.
And now, she had returned. That alone was enough.
As the third deity of the [Spirit Realm] and the first to ascend from mere mortal flesh by her own power. The Nine-Tailed Fox planned to announce Dawn’s return and ascension to the world. A grand and magnificent ceremony would be held, with the [Ancestral Dragon] invited to offer Their blessings.
But Dawn only waved her hand with a smile.
“Aww, let’s not do that… I’m really not good at handling such big events. Just thinking about it sounds like a huge hassle…”
“I have no intention of calling myself a god. After all this time, my old family and factions have probably faded away. I’ll just have to start over from scratch. If I really need a new title… how about becoming your shrine maiden instead? Let me think…”
“Oh! Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden! Sounds fitting, doesn’t it? We’re both foxes, after all! Now then… it’s time for me to give you a name. The god served by the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden… hmm, what should I call you?”
……………………………
“…And that was how the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden and the Supreme Sacred Fox God were born.”
Gently tracing the exquisite mural on the wall, where a young girl and a majestic nine-tailed fox touched affectionately, the cat-girl’s expression softened with nostalgia, as if reminiscing over countless memories.
“Even though tens of thousands of years have passed, this memory remains as vivid as if it were etched into my very soul. Her arrival changed me… changed the entire [Ancient Spirit Realm]. I can hardly imagine what this world would have become without her.”
The priestess, having quietly listened to the whole story, nodded thoughtfully.
“So, Xiao Kong, you are the Nine-Tailed Fox from the story? Or should I say… the first and last god of the Ancient Spirit Realm. The Supreme Sacred Fox God?”
The girl smiled faintly but did not answer directly.
“Violet, haven’t you always been curious about my true form, the secrets I carry, and the past I bear? Well then… now’s your chance to see it clearly.”
Miss Priestess watched with wide eyes, full of surprise and curiosity, as the girl slowly raised a hand and removed the soft paw-shaped gloves covering her limbs. Beneath them were snow-white, slender wrists and delicate feet, indistinguishable from those of a human. And finally...
She took off the cat ears on her head.
"Poof!"
A streak of silver burst from behind her, sending dazzling light rippling through the air.
"Poof! Poof… Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!"
Eight more bursts followed, until a total of nine long, elegant tails swayed in the air. Just like in the ancient mural behind her, where the noble and beautiful Divine Nine-Tailed Fox was depicted.
Her short black hair was gradually dyed silver-white, cascading down like a waterfall of snow. A pair of long, graceful silver fox ears replaced the cat ears she had worn moments ago. Her entire appearance shifted as the surrounding light and divine aura wrapped around her. She was no longer quite the person Violet knew. But at the same time, she somehow looked even more like someone familiar.
The glowing radiance settled, forming a luxurious gown, similar to the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden’s robes, yet distinct in its elegance, draping over her godly form.
And then, her voice echoed through the small, enclosed temple chamber.
"I am the Nine-Tailed Fox. The oldest god of the Ancient Spirit Realm, the sovereign of all beasts. Or… you may call me the Supreme Sacred Fox God, Konghen.”
"Kong… hen?"
Violet repeated the name, her voice tinged with uncertainty, as if she were trying to grasp the deeper meaning behind it. Yet the overwhelming sense of confusion made her instinctively take a step back.
She had long suspected that Xiao Kong might be the Fox God, a being as ancient as the [Ancestral Dragon], perhaps even connected to Hen in some unfathomable way.
But never had she imagined she would witness such an unbelievable scene with her own eyes.
That face...
The face of the one known as the Fox God…
It was the same face as Hen. The girl who had been Violet's best friend in “Illusory World”, the one who had brought her to this place…
It was exactly the same.
For the first time since she had crossed into this world, Violet felt her emotions surge so intensely that even her voice wavered.
She forced herself to stop retreating, then strode forward, unable to suppress the confusion and frustration swelling inside her. With force, she grabbed the silver-haired fox girl by the shoulders!
"What is going on?! How could Xiao Kong possibly be Hen?! You two are completely different people! If you’re Hen, then who was the other Hen? What about the Western Kingdom Spirit Maiden?!"
It seemed the girl had expected this reaction. After all, it wasn’t something one could easily comprehend or accept. She let Violet clutch her shoulders, barely reacting to the incredible strength behind the grip.
Then, lowering her gaze to meet the girl’s silver-blue eyes, the girl’s expression remained as calm and gentle as ever. As if what she saw before her was something truly precious.
"Violet, first, you must understand this. The name of the Fox god is Konghen. But Kong is not the same as Hen."
"If my understanding is correct, you share a history with Hen in another unique world. However, I regret to tell you… those cherished memories do not exist within me."
Violet's eyes widened in shock. She lifted her head to meet the girl’s gaze. A gaze that was free of malice or deception, but still, her brows furrowed deeply.
"Then what does that mean? You say you’re not Hen, yet you look exactly like her. Is this just a disguise? Some kind of transformation?"
The girl known as the Fox God gently shook her head.
"Of course not. This is my true form. The body that naturally takes shape when I assume human form. If anything, the appearance you knew before was the disguise, a form altered by an artifact to conceal my existence to some extent."
"Then… what does this all mean?"
"Violet, now that you possess power equal to that of a god, tell me… do you understand the true nature of a 'god'?"