Translator: CinderTL
Xun Ancai couldn't understand it, and even the clan chief was baffled. Why would they give up such a golden opportunity to someone else?
In their worldview, there was no concept of humility or abdication. Everything had to be earned through struggle, especially something as momentous as a blessing.
Xu Sanyan nodded. "Yes, let her have it. We'll start the ritual as soon as we return."
The clan chief pondered for a long moment before slowly nodding. "Very well."
After all, Xun Ancai was still one of the Dog Clan people. Granting her the blessing wouldn't be a loss.
Xun Ancai blinked, her face filled with gratitude as she gazed at Xu Sanyan. If not for the lurking dangers, she would have insisted on thanking him properly.
"Hold on tight!"
The clan chief commanded, and Xu Sanyan obediently gripped her thick arm.
With a sudden leap, the clan chief plunged into the depths of the forest, moving with the speed of a gale. Even carrying Xu Sanyan didn't slow her down in the slightest.
Woof!
The six-headed dog had slipped into the dense forest unnoticed. It now stood before an ancient tree, barking furiously.
The man in the tree was startled. He hadn't noticed the dog appearing beneath him at all.
Not only had he failed to detect it, but none of the dozens of Snake Clan members hiding nearby had either.
"There!"
The clan chief's pupils narrowed as she tensed her powerful legs, launching herself forward like an arrow released from a bow.
"Retreat!"
The man knew he was no match for her. He had only reached the fifth blessing, while the Dog Clan Chieftain had already attained the Sixfold Blessing—a difference far greater than a mere star or two.
He never intended to capture the Dog Clan Chieftain anyway. His sole purpose was to stall them, buying time for reinforcements to arrive.
Woof!
Seeing the man attempt to flee, the six-headed dog lunged forward, its fangs bared in a ferocious snarl. The six heads, each as savage as a wolf, snapped at the man's thigh.
Swish!
The man moved with serpentine agility, twisting his body to evade the dog's attack and coiling around the tree trunk like a living snake.
"Your turn!"
The clan chief roared, flinging Xu Sanyan forward like a thrown weapon.
Unable to match the Snake Clan's speed, she had resorted to this desperate tactic.
At that moment, Xu Sanyan truly transformed into a living blade, hurtling through the air. The gale-force wind whipped against his face, nearly blinding him.
He had never imagined he could be used in such a way.
But he had to admit, though the tactic was hardly elegant, it was remarkably effective. He closed the distance to the Snake Clan man with astonishing speed.
"What's that?!"
The man startled, seeing a dark, indistinct object hurtling toward him.
"Seeking death!" He recognized it was a person. What difference was there between attacking like this and courting death?
With a flick of his wrist, a patterned snake no longer than a finger appeared in his hand. He flung his arm, sending the snake straight at Xu Sanyan.
Xu Sanyan remained calm. With a thought, two sharp spikes materialized in the void—one large, aimed at the man, and one small, targeting the patterned snake.
Bang!
A muffled thud echoed as the small snake collided with Xu Sanyan's shoulder, instantly turning into a smear of flesh and leaving only a bloodstain on his clothes.
The snake had died mid-air, its divine soul dissipating into nothingness. Such beasts possessed weak souls; even a tiny spike was enough to end them.
"Agh!!"
The man suddenly screamed in agony. He felt as if ten thousand needles were piercing his brain, as if a giant hand were prying open his skull and draining his marrow. The excruciating pain overwhelmed him, causing him to lose control of his body and collapse heavily to the ground.
The six-headed dog seized its chance, sinking its teeth into the man's neck. Crimson blood stained the ground as the man's scream abruptly ceased.
Meanwhile, Xu Sanyan was still airborne, but his momentum had waned. He began to descend slowly, spotting a branch and grabbing it mid-fall. He swung twice to dissipate the force before landing smoothly on the ground.
Though it takes time to describe, the entire sequence unfolded in a mere instant. The Snake Clan members hidden in the shadows hadn't even reacted when their leader was already dead.
The six-headed dog raised its head, a large chunk of flesh dangling from its jaws. It tilted its head back and swallowed the meat whole, then glanced at the man's mangled neck, now a bloody mess, the man long since lifeless.
"Retreat!"
The Snake Clan members trembled in fear. They had no idea how their leader had died—it was as if he had simply fallen from the tree and broken his neck.
Nearby, Xu Sanyan pushed himself up against a tree trunk, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His once-ruddy complexion had turned deathly pale. After using the Lu Clan's Spirit Refining Force twice in quick succession, he had depleted seventy percent of his soul power.
He couldn't use it again for a while, or he risked damaging his core essence.
"Are you alright?" the clan chief asked, approaching Xu Sanyan. Her gaze swept over the corpse before returning to Xu Sanyan, her lips tightening unconsciously. The killing intent in her heart intensified.
If he can kill others this way, he can kill me too!
The clan chief silently clenched her fists, a struggle raging in her mind. Finally, she slowly relaxed her grip.
Wait a little longer...
She reassured herself, Now isn't the time. It's not too late to act after we've annihilated the Snake Clan.
Xu Sanyan lifted his gaze, inwardly sighing in relief. The sharp spikes that had materialized in the void slowly dissipated, retreating back into his body.
If I were willing to risk my life, I could use the Lu Clan's Spirit Refining Force one more time.
Both parties harbored their own hidden agendas, neither trusting the other.
As they returned to the group, Xun Ancai noticed Xu Sanyan's pallid complexion and rushed to support him, her voice tinged with urgency. "Are you alright?"
Xu Sanyan shook his head weakly, too exhausted to speak.
Xun Ancai helped Xu Sanyan onto the back of a four-headed dog, instructing him to ride it.
Xu Sanyan lay prone on the dog's back. Its gait was remarkably smooth, barely jostling him.
Though the Snake Clan Leader had died, the surrounding snakes hadn't dispersed. Occasional whistles from the shadows proved the Snake Clan hadn't fully retreated.
"You go ahead! I'll cover the rear!" the clan chief declared, positioning herself and several fourth blessing clan members at the back of the formation. Xun Yang led the way, scattering powder to clear the path.
With the Snake Clan Leader dead, no one could challenge the clan chief. Any Snake Clan members she spotted would find escape impossible.
Xu Sanyan rubbed his temples to ease his headache, noticing the dwindling number of snakes on either side. He realized the journey should now be relatively safe.
After a while, the clan chief returned with her group, bloodstains on her face—likely from the enemy.
Xu Sanyan glanced at the Snake Clan members' long legs, silently pondering. Once Xun Ancai received her blessing, she would become the Dog Clan's sole fifth blessing powerhouse.
Next time I come, I'll wipe out the Snake Clan and kill their clan chief. Then...
Could Xun Ancai successfully inherit the position?
After a moment's thought, Xu Sanyan shook his head. It can't be that simple.
Besides, after this battle, the Dog Clan and Snake Clan would be at war. By the time he returned, the Snake Clan might already be gone.
As for the Dog Clan losing, that seemed impossible.
Comparing the overall strength of the Dog Clan to the Snake Clan,
the Snake Clan was known to have one clan chief with Seven Blessings and two leaders with Fifth Blessings. Therefore, there couldn't be many individuals with Fourth Blessings,
otherwise their overall strength would far surpass the Dog Clan, and the Dog Clan would have been annihilated long ago.
After these two battles, the Snake Clan's overall strength had been reduced by thirty percent.
Both Fifth Blessing powerhouses were dead, along with dozens of Third Blessing mid-tier combatants—a devastating blow to their vitality.
Even with a Seven Blessings leader, the Snake Clan couldn't withstand the full might of the Dog Clan.
Therefore, the next phase would remain the Dog Clan's offensive, with the Snake Clan forced into a passive defense.
(End of the Chapter)
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