Chapter 579: The Inevitable Bond

When news that the Nine-tailed Fox had been welcomed into Celestial Wolf City reached the Celestial Wolf Ancestor, he was thrilled. Before the ancestor from the branch clan could even settle Jiang Qiu and the others, he had already set out himself. He had to express his utmost gratitude for the gift from the Nine-tailed Fox God!

To others, the Nine-tailed Fox had merely withstood the Thunder Tribulation, bringing a glimmer of hope to Celestial Wolf City and allowing most of the Demon Race to see another day. But to the Celestial Wolf Ancestor, the Nine-tailed Fox God had granted him an opportunity to break through!

‘Yes, if it weren’t for the Nine-tailed Fox God’s Thunder Tribulation, how could I possibly have broken through to the True Body Realm in such a short amount of time?’

He had held a grand birthday banquet, inviting representatives from many Demon Race cities. Ancestors from all over had come to offer their congratulations, showing him, the Celestial Wolf Ancestor, due respect. They were all wary of his strength, as he was on the verge of breaking through to the True Body Realm.

But in truth, only he knew just how difficult it was to enter the True Body Realm. Without a fitting opportunity, he feared he wouldn’t have been able to break through even in another ten thousand years—he might have died without ever reaching the True Body Realm.

In fact, his ability to break through to the True Body Realm was entirely due to withstanding some of the Thunder Tribulation. It was like a sudden, profound anointment; in that moment, he truly attained enlightenment. He then used the residual power of the Thunder in his body to temper his own True Form.

And his True Form was, naturally, the Celestial Wolf True Form—the same giant phantom that had previously withstood a wave of the Thunder Tribulation for Celestial Wolf City.

‘Without the Nine-tailed Fox, when would I have ever gotten an opportunity like this to break through to a higher Realm? I truly can’t imagine it.’

Even putting aside his own breakthrough, if the Nine-tailed Fox hadn’t actively drawn the Thunder, Celestial Wolf City would have been destroyed. The Settlement he had managed for tens of thousands of years would have been annihilated, and even he himself would have died.

That outcome was utterly unacceptable to him. Therefore, he had to thank the Nine-tailed Fox God now. He had to thank them with the utmost reverence.

‘As for the argument that there wouldn’t have been a Thunder Tribulation without the Nine-tailed Fox?’

‘That viewpoint is absurd. In the First Celestial Realm, the strong are domineering and absolute. You shouldn’t blame the strong for possessing the power to decide life and death. Instead, you should lament your own lack of power to control your fate.’

‘In other words, the fact that someone else holds the power over your life and death is their own affair; it doesn’t automatically create a karmic debt of blame. However, if that person, who could have easily killed you, instead shows great restraint and even saves you, then they are your benefactor.’

‘Besides, while the Nine-tailed Fox did summon the Thunder Tribulation, it wasn’t originally aimed at Celestial Wolf City. A cataclysm of that magnitude could have obliterated even Chaos Main City. Why would it care one bit about the opinion of Celestial Wolf City?’

Therefore, the strong are the strong, and they must be revered. This was the Law of the First Celestial Realm, and this was the Celestial Wolf Ancestor’s attitude.

‘Moreover, ever since breaking through to the True Body Realm, my intuition has become exceptionally sharp. I might have offended the Nine-tailed Fox in some way before, and now, I must atone for it!’

‘Even if those offenses had no direct connection to me personally, I am the former City Lord of Celestial Wolf City and the Ancestor of the entire Celestial Wolf Race. Would a being like that care about the attitude of my subordinates?’

‘An existence like the Nine-tailed Fox God could completely ignore all of Celestial Wolf City. But if they decided to target the city on a whim, the first one in their sights would be me—the Celestial Wolf Ancestor, who stands at the very pinnacle!’

So, believing he had to show his respect, he had rushed to personally greet Jiang Qiu and the others. The moment he saw them, without saying a word, he dropped to his knees. Then, his voice resounding and filled with reverence, he declared, “Great Nine-tailed Fox God, the Ancestor of the Celestial Wolf Race humbly welcomes you!”

He was far more perceptive than ordinary beings; he was, after all, a master of the True Body Realm. Thus, he could even sense the lingering aura of the Nine-tailed Fox on Jiang Qiu himself.

Indeed, as a master of the True Body Realm, he could perceive that Jiang Qiu also shared a deep connection with the Nine-tailed Fox. He would not make the same mistake of being shocked, unlike the ancestor from the branch clan.

Jiang Qiu, however, was somewhat taken aback by this reaction. ‘I didn’t expect this. Has the True Body Realm reached a level where it can see through my concealment?’

‘But on second thought,’ he mused, ‘the commotion from the Nine-tailed Fox ascending past the Perfect Transformation Realm was already so immense. The higher True Body Realm must be incredibly powerful.’

The Ancestor was two full High Realms above him, so it was normal for him to see through his facade. Still, the man’s swift kneeling and complete submission were even more surprising. “Get up,” Jiang Qiu said. “I’ll only be resting in Celestial Wolf City for a time. Once the Nine-tailed Fox awakens, I must head north to find the Tai Python.”

Hearing this, how could the Celestial Wolf Ancestor fail to understand the situation? He didn’t dare stare at the Nine-tailed Fox and the One-tailed in Jiang Qiu’s arms, simply saying with great earnestness, “I will prepare the finest quarters for you. I will provide you with our best resources. I will erect the most exquisite statue in your name!”

The Celestial Wolf Ancestor wasn’t surprised in the slightest that Jiang Qiu was heading to Tai Lake to find the Tai Python. In fact, he was certain that even the Tai Python could not confront the Nine-tailed Fox God directly.

This confidence was perhaps an influence of his bloodline. The Celestial Wolf Race, and indeed all the nearby Demon Race who had witnessed the form of the Nine-tailed Fox God with their own eyes, now had the might of the Nine-tailed Fox seared into the very depths of their souls.