Chapter 120: Successor of the Divine Office

You make everything clear.

Tianhu Shizu asked, "After succeeding to the Heavenly Dao Divine Office, what will I become?"

You replied, "You will still remember everything, but your divinity will make you more rational, placing the balance of all living beings above all else."

Tianhu Shizu asked again, "After I replace you, can you protect the Fox Clan for me? Are you confident you can defeat Mo Zu?"

You were silent for a moment, then uttered six words.

"I will suppress him more."

"Very well! I accept!"

For the sake of the entire Fox Clan, Tianhu Shizu chose to succeed to your Heavenly Dao Divine Office, allowing you to act against Mo Zu.

"Go and bid them farewell."

You said calmly.

Tianhu Shizu nodded, turned away, and said goodbye to their spouse, children, and elderly mother.

You waited silently.

After a full seven days, Tianhu Shizu returned again.

You looked at the towering Nine-Tailed Fox ancestor and asked, "Have you decided?"

They nodded heavily, "No regrets on this journey!"

"Then let's go."

You led Tianhu Shizu to the JiuseShenjie.

Yang Zu and the contemporary Daoist Patriarch were already waiting for you; this was the first time a being other than a holder of the Heavenly Dao Divine Office entered the JiuseShenjie.

"Prepare to act."

"We don't have much time left."

Yang Zu looked at you and asked, "Between you and me, who will detach first?"

"You go first."

Yang Zu's preparations were more thorough than yours, making it more appropriate for her to go first.

"Alright."

Yang Zu did not hold back, re-entering the Heavenly Dao Divine Office; golden divine markings appeared on her face, adding a hint of mystery to her heroic visage.

Behind her, a massive bell bearing a diagram of a hundred forms of living beings floated.

It was the Chaos Immortal Treasure Hundred-Form Bell that Yang Zu wielded, mastering the path of Merit and Fortune to balance the relationship between the mundane and cultivators.

"Wu Zhong."

Yang Zu lightly called out the title of the contemporary Daoist Patriarch.

Wu Zhong, the Reincarnation Patriarch, immediately unfolded the Jiushen Dao, using it to bear the endless Dao resonance of the Chaos Immortal Treasure Hundred-Form Bell.

At the same time, the divine markings on Yang Zu's cheeks faded bit by bit.

You also exerted great power to ensure the stability of the Heavenly Dao Divine Office transition, preventing the heavens and earth from becoming unbalanced and turbulent, which would affect billions of living beings.

The process was extremely lengthy and could not tolerate any slip.

After an unknown amount of time, Yang Zu's divine markings vanished completely, and the Bell's Dao resonance was fully absorbed by Wu Zhong.

Wu Zhong successfully succeeded Yang Zu's Heavenly Dao Divine Office, becoming the new holder of the Hundred-Form Bell.

For the other party, this could be a chance of Creation, or a lifelong binding.

This side of heaven and earth had long returned to wholeness, yet was far from reaching its peak, continuously drawing energy from the Chaos Universe and evolving on its own.

In the future, Heaven's Will will further strengthen, and the divinity of the Heavenly Dao Divine Office holder will become increasingly potent.

Will Wu Zhong be able, before the desires of living beings fade, to comprehend the essence of the Wangxian Realm and find the next successor?

All of this remains unknown.

"Freedom, then."

Yang Zu stretched lazily, showing no concern that her cultivation had dropped to the True God Realm, her face beaming with a happy smile.

"It's our turn now."

You brought Tianhu Shizu to the Diyu Shijie.

You also returned to the Heavenly Dao Divine Office, divine markings manifesting on your face, one hand holding the Reincarnation Mirror, the other reflecting the shadows of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

With Wu Zhong's assistance, you passed the Heavenly Dao Divine Office to Tianhu Shizu.

Tianhu Shizu's eyes gradually grew indifferent, as the desires of living beings were drowned by the surging divinity, becoming increasingly faint.

"Lin Xiong, help me take care of my spouse and children!"

"Take good care of my mother!"

"Take good care of the Fox Clan!"

"I beg you!"

His voice grew increasingly cold, as if struggling.

You solemnly nodded, "Don't worry, Brother Tianhu, I will ensure your spouse, mother, and the Fox Clan remain safe; I hope there will truly be a day we meet again!"

Tianhu Shizu gave no further reply.

You and Yang Zu turned and left.

This time, you truly stepped into the Two Realms as living beings, unaware whether it was a blessing or a curse; the suppressed violet mist imp in your mind was awakening at an astonishing speed.

You felt its power.

Suppressed for too long, desire is about to swell.

Yang Zu asked you, "Lin Chuan, what are your plans next?"

You replied, "First settle the Fox Clan, then deal with Mo Zu; if that succeeds, we will set our sights on striking the Wangxian Realm."

Without the support of the Chaos Immortal Treasure, you have little confidence in striking Wangxian Realm again.

"Resolve it as soon as possible."

Yang Zu says: "I intend to make a one‑shot push into Wangxian Realm; this may be one of the few opportunities."

"Good luck to you."

You sincerely hope Yang Zu can ascend to a higher peak.

All this way, she has taken great care of you; you have little to repay her, and you constantly feel indebted to Yang Zu.

The higher the realm, the more one cares about Karma's entanglements.

One day, you will return this favor.

"If you cannot defeat Mo Zu, I will step in to suppress him."

Yang Zu leaves a single sentence and drifts away.

You arrive at Huzu Lingdi.

Having promised Tianhu Shizu, you naturally must fulfill it; you and Mo Zu will inevitably clash, and before that you must first settle the Fox Clan.

You gather the three most respected members of the Fox Clan to solicit their opinions.

They are Huzu Laotaijun and the two wives of Tianhu Shizu.

Huzu Laotaijun says: "I'm not going anywhere; I'll wait here for my son to return. My son is so obedient; he will surely come back to see me."

It's a mother's obsession; you cannot dissuade her.

"I think we should part ways; no one knows what kind of war lies ahead, and the Fox Clan's foundation must not be broken."

By contrast, Tianhu Shizu's wife is much calmer.

"My sister and I each lead a Fox Clan team in separate locations; please, Brother Lin, help us lay the seal."

Preserving the tribe and ensuring its prosperity is Tianhu Shizu's greatest wish.

"Fine! I will definitely settle you properly."

"Discuss among yourselves and split into three routes."

You wait in Huzu Lingdi for a month.

The Fox Clan divides into three squads; the squad led by Huzu Laotaijun consists of the elderly, weak, sick and crippled, who only wish to stay in their hometown, willing to die without regret.

The other two squads each migrate toward opposite sides of the Mundane World.

You fully calculate and find two auspicious Blessed Lands for the Fox Clan.

One Blessed Land is called Qingqiu, the other is called Tushan.