Lord of the Truth-Chapter 2089: Ancestor

BOOOOOOM!

The instant the colossal claw tore through the spatial gate and crushed into the plaza, the shockwave rippled outward like a violent storm. Stone shattered. Defensive formations flared instinctively. Dust and fractured runes spiraled into the air.

Every cultivator present retreated at least one step. Weapons flashed into existence. Spears, blades, spiritual constructs. Those with formidable cultivation opened their soul gates fully, their auras rising in layered waves of readiness.

The pressure radiating from that claw alone was suffocating. Ancient. Vast.

It was not merely powerful.

It was superior.

"Wait!!" Rinara’s voice cut through the chaos. She raised a hand sharply, then began descending with deliberate calm. "Don’t attack. Do you feel that?!"

The tension paused.

"...?"

Gradually, the gathered elders and hall masters focused again on the aura pouring from the portal. Confusion replaced hostility. Then disbelief.

That aura...

It was familiar. Not vaguely. Not distantly.

It resonated with their blood.

Before anyone could speak, the space within the gate distorted again — and a massive white muzzle pushed through.

A fox’s face emerged.

Its fur was pure, radiant white. From the tip of its nose stretching past its ears were nine flowing streaks of different colors — crimson, azure, emerald, gold, violet, silver, indigo, amber, and pale frost-blue. They shimmered faintly, as if each color represented a different force of nature.

"This...?!"

Again the crowd stepped backward — but now in stunned awe rather than fear.

They had seen this image before.

Painted in ancient murals. Carved in relief across temple walls. Enshrined in a towering artwork within the Throne Hall itself.

That face...

Those colors...

A Nine-Tailed Fox.

BOOM!

A second claw gripped the shattered plaza. The fox strained, its massive body resisting the narrow diameter of the spatial gate. The gate crackled violently, its edges sparking as if struggling to contain what was passing through.

The beast’s icy eyes swept across the crowd with sharp hostility. Killing intent flickered instinctively at the edge of its gaze — the natural response of a predator stepping into unknown territory.

Then something changed.

Confusion.

Its head tilted slightly.

It had sensed something.

Its own aura... embedded within the bodies of those tiny beings staring up at it.

Bzzzzzzzt—!

With a final surge of force, the enormous fox pulled its entire body free from the portal. The spatial gate trembled violently before stabilizing.

And then came the sight that made several elders lose strength in their legs.

Nine tails unfurled behind it.

Each tail was colossal — easily the size of its entire body. Each bore a different radiant hue matching the streaks on its face. They swayed gently in the air, scattering crystalline flakes that drifted down like multicolored snow. Where those flakes touched the ground, frost formed momentarily before evaporating into shimmering motes.

"Ni... Nine-Tailed Fox..." one Hall Master whispered before collapsing to his knees.

Thud. Thud. Others followed, trembling. Some wept openly.

"You..." Rinara descended slowly until her eyes were level with the beast’s enormous gaze. Her own were wide with disbelief. "Can you speak?"

The fox’s pupils narrowed slightly.

("What is happening here?")

Its mouth opened, and a deep, resonant voice rolled across the plaza like distant thunder. The air vibrated with each word.

("Why does my aura... my blood... flow within you?")

Rinara swallowed once, then bowed respectfully.

"We are the Kiomaji human race. The blood of a Nine-Tailed Fox like you runs within our veins. For generations, we were told our ancestor perished long ago. This... is the first time we have seen one of your kind with our own eyes."

The fox’s expression darkened instantly.

("Who perished?!")

The roar that followed cracked several tiles beneath their feet.

("That aura is mine. That blood is mine!")

"...?!"

Rinara instinctively stepped back, shock detonating across her features.

An elderly elder fell flat to his knees. "A-Ancestor!! Are you the very progenitor whose blood flows in us?!"

"Is this real...?" Soltier whispered, hand covering her mouth, tears forming in her eyes. "The Ancestor has come personally? The Shadow Swords arranged this?"

Daharis lowered himself even further, forehead nearly touching the ground. "Great Ancestor, Wing Lady Rinara spoke only what we were told. We never intended disrespect. Please... calm your anger. Come with us. Meet your descendants properly."

"Great Ancestor is our supreme guest!" another elder cried out, slamming his forehead to the stone. "Our honored sovereign! Our benefactor!"

"Long live the Ancestor!"

"Long live the Ancestor!!"

The fox observed the kneeling figures, the trembling devotion, the reverence vibrating in the air.

("Hmm... As it should be.")

The corner of its mouth lifted slightly, amused — satisfied.

("Perhaps this relocation will not be as unpleasant as I anticipated.")

"Relocation?" Rinara repeated, heart pounding. "Does Great Ancestor mean... you will remain here?"

If true, the implications were staggering.

A living Nine-Tailed Fox — the original bloodline source — residing among them?

That would not merely strengthen their race.

It would redefine their destiny.

If she could persuade the Ancestor to grant her just a single cup of his blood every few years, her affinity would soar to heights she had never dared to imagine.

This was not merely any Nine-Tailed Fox. This was the fox — the very origin of the bloodline her grandfather had obtained all those years ago. The source. The purest root.

It was perfect.

No — it was a miracle. A dream descending from the heavens.

And more astonishing still, this Nine-Tailed Fox was no longer at the strength it once possessed when its blood had first been extracted in ancient times. Back then, it had merely been at mid-level Nexus State.

Now... its aura clearly radiated the power of a peak Nexus State.

The density of its bloodline alone could likely elevate their entire race by a tier.

If she could convince him. Somehow. By persuasion, by respect, by offering resources — anything. If only—

Bzzzzzt— 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The spatial gate crackled once more.

A Shadow Sword stepped out casually, holding a scroll in one hand and absentmindedly scratching his head with a pen in the other. He looked utterly unimpressed by the monumental creature standing before him.

"Hmm?"

His eyes drifted upward lazily as he realized a massive white fox was blocking the exit. His brows knitted slightly.

"Why are you still standing there, animal?" he called out flatly. "Move to your new garden."

"Ahhh—!!"

Every single cultivator present felt their souls leave their bodies for a moment.

"Shadow Sword!!" Rinara shouted sharply, horrified. "What are you saying?!"

"What?" The Shadow Sword glanced at her with mild confusion. "We asked you to prepare a forest and surround it with isolation and defensive formations. Didn’t you finish yet?"

He sighed as if mildly inconvenienced.

"Never mind. We can wait until you complete it."

Then he looked back at the Nine-Tailed Fox with visible irritation.

"Hey. Move away from the portal. You’re blocking the passage. Sit somewhere properly until they finish building your new enclosure. Don’t make me call your old warden."

"Y–You—" Hall Master Daharis raised a trembling hand, intending to speak, but his throat locked. His mind could not process what was happening.

That was their Ancestor.

Their progenitor. Their sacred bloodline origin.

The Shadow Swords had actually succeeded in bringing him here — and now they were speaking to him like a stray beast?!

("Grrrr~")

The Nine-Tailed Fox’s fur bristled faintly. Its massive tails swayed once with restrained irritation. A flicker of prideful fury crossed its cold eyes.

But then... something curious happened.

It hesitated.

It looked away.

Then, with surprising restraint, it leapt lightly toward an empty section of the prepared garden. Its landing caused no tremor, no destruction. It folded its nine colossal tails around itself and sat down — stiffly.

It looked... deeply embarrassed.

"This...?!"

"Well then. One delivery completed."

The Shadow Sword casually placed a checkmark on the scroll.

He turned slightly, clearly intending to return through the portal.

"Wait!!"

Whoosh.

Rinara appeared directly in front of him, eyes wide and blazing with confusion.

"I recognize you. You’re a numbered Shadow Sword, aren’t you? What exactly is happening here?!"

"Oh."

The Shadow Sword looked at her with half-lidded, sleepy eyes.

"It appears the performance of the Wing of the Nine Paths pleased His Majesty. He decided to reward you."

He shrugged lightly.

"Don’t make it a bigger matter than it is. Treat the gifts properly. Use them to strengthen yourselves and serve His Majesty more efficiently."

He extended his hand and handed her a strangely shaped spatial ring. Its surface shimmered with dense restrictions.

"There’s a small pond of Nine-Tailed Beast blood inside. A Law Domination Realm one."

"............?!"

Rinara’s thoughts shut down entirely.

A pond.

Of Dominator Nine-Tailed Beast blood?!

Her fingers trembled as she accepted the ring. She could already feel the overwhelming vitality sealed within.

Bzzzzzt—

Before anyone could recover, the spatial gate activated yet again.

Another claw emerged — noticeably smaller than the first. The portal crackled violently as space distorted and groaned under pressure.

Moments later, a second Nine-Tailed Beast stepped through.

A female this time. Her fur was slightly sleeker, her gaze sharper, her aura equally profound though less domineering than the first.

Silence fell over the plaza.

No one dropped to their knees. No one shouted. No one cried.

They had surpassed shock.

They simply stood frozen, mouths hanging open, slowly turning their heads between the obedient male fox seated in the garden... and the newly arrived female emerging from the portal.

"Well then."

The Shadow Sword marked two additional checks on his scroll.

"Second animal delivered. Ring received."

He gave a casual, almost dismissive salute.

"Work here is complete."

Without another word, he stepped back into the spatial portal.

Bzzzzzt—