Lavish Hospitality

As they walked up the mountain, Tushan Lingyi introduced Tushan to the group:

"Tushan is one of the four great ancient fox clans. However, as you all know, a certain God King in the heavens colluded with... well, never mind."

"In short, after a great catastrophe, it became what you see today."

"You should have noticed by now that the reason the King's power manifests in nine colors is precisely because the royal family of Tushan consists of nine types of foxes."

"Ultimately, the convergence of these nine powers forms the pure white that the King possesses."

Cen Yu listened with great interest from the side: "So, your King is not hereditary, but chosen through selection?"

"If a fox can cultivate to nine tails and gain the recognition of all other foxes, then it becomes the new Nine-Tailed Sky Fox?"

Tushan Lingyi nodded: "Yes, and no."

"Our fox clan has a very long lifespan, and because of this, it takes an extremely long time for most foxes to cultivate even a single tail."

"Even if one reaches nine tails, as long as the Fox King has not passed away or voluntarily abdicated, there is no opportunity for a successor."

As she spoke, she caught Cen Yu's gaze and added: "The Fox King possesses a bloodline suppression over all other foxes; no fox can harbor disloyal intentions."

"Even if they did, they would be unable to muster even a shred of power, even when facing a Fox King who is severely wounded and on the brink of death."

"Our current King only ascended the throne after the previous King fell while saving Tushan, becoming the last Nine-Tailed Sky Fox in the world."

"Oh... no, that's not entirely accurate. It should be the last one in this realm; we cannot sense the locations of the other three clans, let alone know their current state."

After the five of them ascended the mountain, they walked for quite some distance, encountering countless foxes in human form along the way.

Guangling Douluo asked in confusion: "Ceremonial Officer Lingyi, why do you all live in human form?"

Logically speaking, shouldn't soul beasts prefer their original forms and look down upon human bodies?

Hearing this, before Tushan Lingyi could speak, Tushan Jinci looked at him strangely.

"Is there anything strange about that? Humans are the darlings of heaven and earth. Aside from combat, human form is naturally more convenient for daily life."

"I only appeared in my beast form when we first met because I hadn't returned to Tushan for a long time."

"Uh..." Guangling Douluo gave an awkward laugh: "Alright, I hadn't thought of that."

After arranging accommodations for Cen Yu and the others, Tushan Lingyi gave instructions to the surrounding foxes and took Tushan Jinci to report back to Tushan Zhaoli.

The scene shifts.

"..."

The three of them stared at each other, looking at the sofa, the large bed, the quilts, and everything else in the cave dwelling.

Guangling Douluo's mouth twitched: "They're quite trendy for being trapped here, they even have a sofa."

"But... why is all of this made of fox fur? Don't they feel pain when they pluck their own fur?"

As expected of old antiques who have lived for such long ages; they are so ruthless they don't even spare themselves.

As he finished speaking, he saw Cen Yu and Azure Luan looking at him with bewilderment.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing him like this, Azure Luan covered his face in silence: "I told you before to read more books, sigh..."

It was truly embarrassing; having an illiterate person in the team who didn't even know basic common sense.

Just as Guangling Douluo looked blank, Cen Yu said quietly: "Fifth Elder... creatures like cats and foxes shed a lot of fur every season."

"Just looking at the fields we passed on the way here, where only crops are grown, you should have realized it."

"With so many foxes in Tushan, how much fur must they shed every year? It would be a waste not to use it, wouldn't it?"

Azure Luan nodded and added a jab: "Even if you haven't raised small animals, you should know this if you had read even a few books."

Sigh...

Hearing this, Guangling Douluo spoke up unhappily: "Hey, hey, hey? How old do you think I am? Still reading books?"

"In the entire Douluo Continent, who doesn't address me as Guangling Douluo? Isn't that enough?"

"..."

The two fell silent.

At this moment, Guangling Douluo continued: "Besides, with my talent, I estimate I can only reach level 98 in this life; level 99 is likely impossible."

"According to history, even if I don't die in battle, due to various hidden injuries, a peak Title Douluo at level 98 lives for at most two hundred years."

"So why should I study? Isn't that a waste of time?"

Besides, if we're talking about being illiterate, aren't the three guys under him even more so?

Hearing this, Cen Yu looked at Guangling Douluo with complete disapproval: "That's not the right way to look at it. As the saying goes, live and learn."

"Besides, for a Title Douluo, how are you considered old?"

"Even if we take a step back, with my talent or Senior Sister Xue'er's talent, whoever becomes a god can just bring you all to the God Realm, right? Why be so pessimistic?"

"Thump—thump—thump—"

Just then, the door to the cave dwelling was knocked upon.

The three of them fell silent, turning their gazes toward the entrance simultaneously.

Azure Luan walked over and opened the door, asking with a puzzled expression, "Hello, may I ask..."

Before he could finish, he saw a group of fox-folk in human form walking in with orderly precision.

Then, under the bewildered stares of Cen Yu and the others, several fox-folk carried in a wide, long table.

Following that, the remaining fox-folk stepped forward, placing exquisite dishes from their hands onto the long table.

Once everything was properly arranged, the leading fox-folk smiled and said, "Apologies for the intrusion, honored guests from afar. This was specifically ordered by Lady Ceremonial."

"Thinking that you have just arrived at Tushan, we assumed you had not yet dined at this hour, so we prepared these in haste. The dishes are humble; we hope you will forgive us."

Hearing this, Azure Luan snapped back to reality and hurriedly replied, "Not humble at all. You have all been very thoughtful. Please convey our thanks to Ceremonial Tushan Lingyi for her hospitality."

After the people left, the three of them looked at each other, then at the "delicacies" on the table.

Hmm... they were indeed delicacies.

Clear-stewed chicken soup, roasted whole chicken, braised chicken wings, yellow-braised chicken, shredded chicken salad.

Mushroom chicken soup, steamed chicken, braised chicken drumsticks, spicy diced chicken, peppercorn chicken, bamboo fungus chicken soup.

Red-braised whole chicken, braised chicken gizzards, stir-fried chicken with bamboo shoots, crispy fried chicken nuggets, nourishing chicken soup, smoked chicken???

There was also white-cut chicken, kung pao chicken, pan-fried chicken breast, minced chicken soup, crispy-skin chicken, braised chicken with chestnuts, stir-fried chicken offal, honey-glazed chicken drumsticks, tea-smoked chicken...

Cen Yu stared at the pile of chicken, completely dumbfounded: "Are you kidding me? Does Tushan only have chickens? Why is every single dish chicken?"

"At least give us a vegetable dish, right? I'm afraid if I eat this, I'll dream of chickens tonight."

Hearing this, Azure Luan sighed: "Isn't chicken the favorite food of foxes? These dishes... they seem quite normal, don't they?"

"It's just that I didn't expect them to never get tired of it, and I certainly didn't expect the reserves of Tushan Chicken to be this vast..."

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Tushan Lingyi said to Tushan Zhaoli with a face full of confidence: "Rest assured, My Lord. I have had them prepare the dishes our fox clan loves most; they will definitely be satisfied!"