Chapter 87
0087 ———————————————-
In the “Record of the Mysterious Center,” it states, “A fox can transform into a woman after living for over 50 years, and upon reaching 100 years, it can change into a beauty or a wondrous shaman. It may also transform into a man and engage in relationships with women. A fox is capable of knowing events occurring a thousand miles away, commanding poisonous creatures and spirits, and seducing people. Upon reaching a thousand years, it transcends to become a Heavenly Fox.”
The fox is classified as a creature of the Yin and is primarily active at night. Even ordinary foxes, which have not nurtured their skills, are considered special animals with intelligence comparable to that of humans. Additionally, there is a legend in “The Investiture of the Gods” that speaks of a notorious femme fatale, who was said to have been a fox, able to draw in the essence of the sun and the moon and manipulate people using the spiritual energies of heaven and earth. Thus, it is also referred to as an evil beast. Moreover, in popular belief, fox spirits are revered as one of the five deities of wealth.
However, what truly astonished me was not this trivial information. According to the Taoist texts I learned from Master Mangnyang, a fox with nine tails could only be a Nine-Tailed Fox, which is none other than the Heavenly Fox.
The Heavenly Fox is a fox that has lived for a thousand years. This spiritual creature, adorned with golden fur and possessing nine tails, represents the highest status achievable by a fox. It is said to serve in the Solar Palace and Lunar Palace of the heavenly realm, and thus poses no threat to humans. However, if it were to do so, it would possess at least the strength of a lower deity, prompting great calamity. Moreover, among these, the Fox Ancestor was the first fox to achieve enlightenment and ascend, holding powers equivalent to those of a high deity.
If the being before me were indeed a Heavenly Nine-Tailed Fox—then with my current strength, it would be an absolutely insurmountable divine being that I could never hope to defeat!
As I swallowed hard, the Nine-Tailed Fox turned its serene gaze toward me and spoke.
[Unfortunately, I am a Nine-Tailed Fox, but not a Heavenly Fox. My fur is silver, not gold.]
“What? Could such a thing even be possible?”