Translator: CinderTL
The massive pile of prey was immensely valuable, and neither side was willing to yield, causing the atmosphere to freeze.
The clan chief knew the Snake Clan's hidden forces were limited; otherwise, they wouldn't be negotiating. After a moment's deliberation, she decided to gamble.
If they could bring this prey back to the tribe, it would significantly alleviate their food shortage. She couldn't afford to pass up this opportunity.
The clan chief glanced at Xu Sanyan, her meaning unmistakable: she wanted him to eliminate the hidden enemy.
Xu Sanyan slowly shook his head, indicating it was impossible. First, they didn't even know where the enemy was hiding—how could he cast a spell?
Moreover, the distance was too great. The Lu Clan's Spirit Refining Force had a limited range, and this distance exceeded his capabilities.
And they expected him to act without even discussing terms?
What a joke!
Xu Sanyan never released his hawk until he saw the rabbit. He wasn't about to work for free.
The clan chief's brow furrowed, steeling her resolve. Surrendering the prey was out of the question. She subtly signaled to the Dog Clan people beside her, who immediately understood and began to disperse silently.
"Kill!" the clan chief roared, and the six-headed dog beneath her feet lunged forward, charging into the dense forest with her.
"Retreat!"
A man's urgent voice echoed from the shadows. He knew they couldn't win a direct confrontation; their only option was to harass and delay the enemy while reinforcements were summoned from their tribe.
Xu Sanyan glanced at the restless Snake Clan prisoners beside him and quietly retreated a few steps.
Xun Ancai and the others followed the clan chief into the forest. A fierce clash erupted, followed by an abrupt silence. The clan chief returned with a grim expression, her face betraying her failure to capture the enemy.
"Move quickly," she ordered without further explanation. Once they reached Dog Clan territory, they would be safe.
The group pressed onward, moving at a much faster pace than before. The flanking dog packs tightened their formation, their senses on high alert.
Rustling sounds echoed through the forest.
"Shh~"
A strange, whistling sound pierced the air. Xu Sanyan's brow furrowed; he recognized it from the previous night.
Suddenly, a venomous snake emerged from the undergrowth, followed by a second, then a third...
A dense mass of snakes writhed and slithered, completely encircling the group. The incessant hissing of Xinzi filled the air, their vertical, triangular eyes gleaming with a cold, unnerving light that sent chills down their spines.
"Watch out!" the clan chief roared, pulling a fur-wrapped bundle from his chest. With a swift motion, he flung his arm, scattering a fine powder that billowed into the air.
The snakes froze instantly. The powder clung to their flicking Xinzi, causing them to drop dead on the spot.
"Hiss~!"
The whistle from the shadows grew sharper and more urgent, agitating the snakes further. Yet they dared not touch the powder.
"Move! Now!" the clan chief shouted, scattering more powder to clear a path. The snakes blocking their way recoiled.
Swish—
A sharpened branch suddenly flew from the darkness, aimed at one of the Dog Clan members. The man slapped the branch aside, but a shadow darted from it. Before he could react, a small wound appeared on his chest.
"Ah!"
A piercing scream tore from his throat.
Xu Sanyan's eyes narrowed. A dark, bloody aura spread across the man's exposed skin, surging to his face in moments. His bronze complexion turned pitch-black.
The Dog Clan warrior collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth, his eyes rolling back as he lost consciousness. His body continued to convulse violently, but he didn't die immediately.
Poison!
The Snake Clan had coiled venomous snakes around tree branches, ambushing their enemies. One bite from these snakes meant certain death, beyond even divine intervention.
No one had time to help him. Xu Sanyan watched helplessly as the man's corpse was quickly covered by the advancing swarm of snakes. The densely packed reptiles crawled over his body, soon completely engulfing him.
Terrifying!
Xu Sanyan couldn't help but shudder inwardly. This kind of death was truly horrifying.
Xun Ancai, worried about Xu Sanyan's safety, stayed close by his side, while the four-headed dogs guarded them both.
Ahead, the clan chief continued to scatter powder as she walked, but Xu Sanyan watched with growing alarm as the supply dwindled. This couldn't last.
The clan chief seemed to realize this too, and abruptly stopped.
The swarm of snakes quickly caught up.
In truth, these venomous snakes weren't as terrifying as they seemed. Though their venom was potent, their physical strength was limited. If the group focused on escaping, the snakes wouldn't be able to keep up.
The real problem was their prey—a mountain of carcasses slung across their shoulders. They refused to abandon it, creating a massive inconvenience.
Moreover, the Snake Clan lurked in the shadows, forcing them to maintain tight formations. Any separation would make them vulnerable to being picked off one by one.
The clan chief handed the powder to Xun Yang, who stood nearby, then turned to Xu Sanyan and whispered, "You and I will charge in. Find an opportunity to kill the Snake Clan Leader. Otherwise, none of us will make it back."
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow. Was she expecting him to work for free?
By tying his safety to the Dog Clan's survival, she believed helping them was helping herself, thus justifying her refusal to offer compensation.
What a joke!
Xu Sanyan shook his head without hesitation. "Clan Chief, you're mistaken. Killing that man earlier exhausted my soul power. I can't act for now."
The clan chief glanced at his vibrant energy and rosy complexion, her brow furrowing slightly. She knew this was just a ploy to avoid the task.
After a moment's contemplation, she spoke softly, "One more blessing."
Xu Sanyan didn't immediately agree. Instead, he sensed a grave danger in her words.
She's planning to discard me after I've served my purpose!
The Old Clan Chief had warned him that the resources required for each blessing doubled exponentially. The Dog Clan already owed Xu Sanyan four blessings. Adding another would make it five.
Five blessings? Across the entire Dog Clan, only the clan chief had ever exceeded this number. The next highest was a mere four blessings.
What did this mean?
It was obvious: the resources required for five blessings were astronomical, far beyond even the Dog Clan's capacity to bear!
And let's be clear, Xu Sanyan was an outsider. Why should the Dog Clan expend such a colossal price to enhance his strength?
Even if they truly intended to cultivate a five-blessing powerhouse, wouldn't Xun Yang be a better candidate? At the very least, Xun Hua or Xun Ancai would be more deserving—Xu Sanyan would never be considered.
Therefore, there was only one possibility: this was an empty promise!
Once the Snake Clan was eradicated, Xu Sanyan would lose all value. At that point, forget five blessings; he'd likely never even receive a fourth.
Xu Sanyan lowered his gaze, his eyes flashing wildly from an angle she couldn't see. This was likely not his own idea, but rather a dying wish from the Old Clan Chief.
Don't let that old hag's benevolent facade fool you—her heart was a nest of malicious schemes.
Thank heavens we killed her early, or who knows what rotten plans she might have hatched?
"I agree, but on one condition," Xu Sanyan said, lifting his head to meet her gaze.
The clan chief remained composed. "What condition?"
Xu Sanyan gestured toward Xun Ancai. "Transfer the blessing opportunity to her."
"Huh?" The clan chief blinked in surprise.
"Me?" Xun Ancai pointed incredulously at herself, her face a mask of confusion.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (HB) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c428. [+2]
🔑Read upto Ch374 for FREE visit the pinned post on my p@treon to learn how!🎉
💥Translated (6) Series, (4.6K+) Chapters, (6.7M+) Words.