It was early in the morning. The train has arrived at the land of Long.
This train ride was more comfortable than the one to Nippon Mountain. Half the ride to the Nippon was underground, so the train shook a lot, but this time, the entire ride was above the ocean, so the train didn't shake once. The reason for this was simple. When the train was underground, it touched the rails on the ground, and this caused the train to shake, while when it went through the sea, it flew above the railroad with magic.
"Do you know the way to where these Vulpini are?"
Shu asked.
"No need. There should be someone waiting to pick us up."
Fennec answered confidently. Shu was confused at how he was so sure.
He noticed the confused look on Shu's face and chuckled.
"This trip had been planned two months ago. You joining me was unexpected, but everything else was planned."
Fennec said. Shu thought it made sense this trip was planned.
They went outside along with the demon lion and waited.
At first look, these three were a strange group.
A demon lion and two Redfox family members in kimono. One of these Redfox family members was a tall, muscular young beastman with orange fur that most wouldn't want to mess with. The other was a short, weak-looking young beastman with bright orange hair. Fennec had an exceptionally light fur color that made him look almost blonde.
After waiting a few minutes, a group of ten vulpini beastmen arrived. Their fur was even lighter in color than Fennec's fur color.
"Are you Fennec from the Redfox family?"
One of the group members asked. He looked straightly at Shu.
"Haha, no, that will be him."
Shu answered and pointed at Fennec.
"Then who are you?"
The same guy asked him.
"My name is Shual Adom. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Shu answered with a slight bow. He, of course, bowed toward this guy. As Shu got near him, the guy felt tremendous pressure coming from Shu and jumped back.
"What exactly is your potential?! Including anything extra, you got from training!"
The guy shouted. He went into a fighting stance, and his friends were all surprised.
"I was born with zero potential and will die at age thirty-one."
Shu answered. He was unsure what this was all about.
The guy felt calmer, but it was not enough.
"Please fight me."
The guy cupped one hand in the other and bowed his head.
Shu wanted to test this guy's power, but it was not part of the plan...
"No."
It was Fennec who interjected before things continued.
Shu looked at him in disappointment.
"You can have that fight later."
He said to Shu and then gave an envelope to that guy.
The guy opened the latter and looked at Shu with dismay.
He turned toward his group and took a large breath.
"Change in plans! We are to take Fennec Redfox as planned. Also, we need to take this young beastman and the demon lion with us. This is the new heir to the Redfox family. Treat him with the utmost respect."
The guy said and then turned to Shu.
"My name is Huli Jing. I apologize for disrespecting you. I am the current heir to the Corsac family. I would still like to have that fight with you."
The guy said.
"Your family name is Jing, but you are the heir to the Corsac family?"
Shu asked.
"I am from a separate branch and married into the main family. You are called Adom. What's your deal?"
Huli Jing answered while questioning Shu.
"I was given away to a god after I was born and sent back here because of the tournament."
Shu answered, and Huli Jing was dumbfounded. Why was his backstory's simplified version so complicated?!
******
They followed that group to the Corsac family's territory and the castle.
They were led to a room where the family head sat. He stared at the latter and then at them multiple times.
"Ehuang! Take Fennec to the room we prepared for him. Then show him around the castle, and show him to the teacher we chose for him."
The family leader said. A cute, short girl with blue hair appeared from behind his chair. She seemed human, but her hair made it clear she wasn't.
She didn't talk and merely grabbed Fennec's hand.
"Uh- Wh- what?"
Fennec was expecting the servant in charge of him to be different, and he wasn't ready for her to grab his hand like that.
After Fennec was pulled away, the only people in the hall were the family leader, Shu, Huli Jing, some girl who was all over Huli Jing, the family leader's wife, and seven guards.
"Shual Adom-Kotaishi. It's nice to make your acquaintance. I hope our family can make you feel at home."
The family leader said.
"May you please agree to fight against my daughter's betrothed? I want to use it to test your current state. Is there any extra information I should know?"
The family leader said.
"Family leader, his potential is only thirty-o..."
Huli Jing started saying, but the family leader glared at him.
"Wait? My potential is important?!"
Shu was surprised. He won against too many people with higher potential than him and forgot people over-fixated on it.
The family leader nodded his head.
"Um, my potential is thirty-one. And I would love to have that fight."
Shu said. The family leader was stupefied. There was more to being the heir to a family than just blood relation. What is Huwang thinking?!
********
They went to another room. It was a large dojo.
Shu stood there, facing Huli Jing.
Huli Jing dashed at Shu. His steps seemed both natural and uncanny. It was as if he followed the energy around him to maximize his moves.
Shu closed his eyes and took a sharp breath. When he opened his eyes, Huli Jing was right at his face and reached for a punch.
Shu grabbed his hand, and Huli Jing felt that pressure again. It came from Shu's eyes. They were glowing brightly with a yellow shine.
"Do you have Tao sight?!"
Huli Jing Exclaimed as he received a punch to his stomach.
"I have been told I'm a gifted."
Shu answered. The family leader who was watching was shocked. A divine gift of Tao sight? He had never heard of such a thing.
After receiving a punch to his stomach, Huli Jing felt like he would die. Shu used that to do a low kick and swiped him off the ground. Soon after, Huli Jing was on the floor. The fight ended after forty seconds.
"How is it possible you are that strong with such low potential?"
The family head asked.
"using instructions from the demon god, I was trained and raised by George Adom."
Shu answered.
These words shocked the family leader.
George Adom was a legendary cultivator, known to be the strongest of the six monsters and also one of the strongest mortals in history. If that wasn't enough, the demon god is said to be the inventor of cultivation. Since Shu had been taught by the demon god, even though he may not have the highest potential, he was undoubtedly the strongest mortal in the foundation stage.
"Huli Jing. Get him cleaned, and then bring him to the altar. I need to speak with our patron goddess."
The family leader said and went out of the room. He needed to prepare for the ceremony. Even though the gods were forbidden to meddle in the affairs of the godless realm, they all did to some extent by supporting the descendants of their protégés.
Protégés are people who have patron gods.
This family's patron goddess is none other than Emma.