Chapter 176: Making an Example of Him
As the last ray of golden light sank below the horizon, Sangkun walked out of the water prison.
His eyes were sinister, his expression utterly foul.
Bailing came up behind him and asked, "Young Clan Leader, did you find out the scepter’s whereabouts?"
Sangkun’s face darkened further. "No. That vile beast must have hidden it."
"Still, there’s no need to worry, Young Clan Leader. We can proceed with the succession ceremony first. As for the scepter, I’ll have someone prepare a substitute."
Sangkun was still uneasy. "Is the Priest not ready yet?"
Bailing shook his head. "He said he still needs a few more days."
"The succession ceremony is imminent. If I don’t successfully complete the bone fusion soon, how am I supposed to handle the challenges from those beastmen?"
"Rest assured, Young Clan Leader. You are already an 8-star beast soul. Aside from the Beast Guard, no one has a higher rank than you. No beastman can defeat you. It’s best to hold the succession ceremony as soon as possible, lest delays breed trouble."
Sangkun thought he had a point. "Mm."
On the day of the succession ceremony, Hong Tu knocked on the gate to Qiao Xixi’s courtyard early in the morning.
"Xixi! Xixi! Are you up? We’re about to leave."
Qiao Xixi, carrying Sangqi on her back, opened the gate. "We’re ready. We can go now."
Sunxiao walked out of the house.
Seeing Sunxiao, Hong Tu shrank back toward Qiao Xixi in fear. ’Xixi really seems to like this cold snake beast husband of hers,’ she thought. ’She has him follow her everywhere.’
"There are bound to be a lot of beastmen watching the spectacle today. You two be careful," Jin Ling added, following them out and speaking in a gentle voice.
"Okay. I’ll be sure to stick close to Sunxiao and not wander off."
Jin Ling watched them until they were out of the courtyard gate.
Hong Tu curiously withdrew her gaze and sighed with admiration. "Xixi, all your beast husbands are so handsome. They’re worthy of you."
Qiao Xixi agreed she had good taste. "Your beast husbands are great, too."
As soon as they reached the stone path leading to the altar, they saw it was packed with beastmen.
Hong Tu’s two beast husbands quickly flanked her, keeping her protected between them.
Sunxiao also held Qiao Xixi close, preventing any other beastmen from bumping into her.
Qiao Xixi seemed to be leaning delicately in Sunxiao’s arms, but her gaze was constantly scanning the crowd. Only after she spotted a familiar figure did she look away.
The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger, and Qiao Xixi and her group were quickly separated from Hong Tu’s family.
Sunxiao led Qiao Xixi to a spot at the very edge of the crowd, where it was less congested.
From within the crowd, someone shouted, "He’s here, he’s here! The Young Clan Leader is here!"
All the beastmen looked up at the sacrificial altar and, sure enough, saw Sangkun ascending it.
"Xixi... Huh? That’s strange. I’m sure I just saw Xixi standing on the stone steps a moment ago. How did she suddenly disappear?" Hong Tu looked quizzically at the spot where Qiao Xixi had been. She had been about to go over and find her.
"This way."
Hua Qing pushed through the crowd, leading Qiao Xixi and the others down a quiet, narrow path.
"Today is the succession ceremony, so most of the inner city guards have gone to the altar. But strangely, there’s one place in the inner city where the number of guards is higher than usual."
After entering the inner city through an inconspicuous side gate, Hua Qing led them to the outside of a secluded stone courtyard.
This stone courtyard was right next to the dungeons. Because it looked so dilapidated, no one usually paid it any mind.
But strangely, today there were many more guards posted around this small courtyard, both in plain sight and in hiding.
"The person you’re looking for is very likely inside," Hua Qing said in a low voice, stopping.
"How did you know he would imprison someone here?"
A dark glint flashed in Hua Qing’s eyes. "Because I’ve been locked up in there before. Inside, he’s turned an underground river mouth into a water prison."
Qiao Xixi’s expression grew heavy. ’No wonder Sunxiao couldn’t find Sangze in the dungeons before. So this is where he was being held.’
"I’ll go draw the guards away for you."
After speaking, Hua Qing turned and left.
Qiao Xixi and the others hid in the shadows. When Hua Qing ran forward and caused a commotion, Sunxiao took out the Invisibility Cloak, put it on, and leaped into the courtyard with Qiao Xixi in his arms.
Unlike outside, the courtyard was empty. There wasn’t a single beastman on guard.
They walked to the only stone house inside and pushed open the door.
Inside was a room with the most ordinary furnishings.
Sunxiao noticed the footprints on the floor, walked directly to a cabinet, and opened its doors.
The moment the mechanism was triggered, a wisp of black energy drifted out into the air.
However, this wisp of black energy was invisible to Qiao Xixi and Sunxiao; only Sangqi could see it.
"Mother, Father is in there!"
Sunxiao went first, ducking as he entered. He led Qiao Xixi in behind him.
The deeper they went, the more Qiao Xixi could feel the thick, humid air.
After what felt like a long time, the stone steps finally came to an end.
Qiao Xixi quickly exchanged 10 points for a Lighting Device and switched it on, aiming it at the water’s surface.
But there was nothing on the surface of the water except for two hanging stone chains.
Sunxiao took a deep breath. He couldn’t smell Sangze’s scent.
"Sangqi, are you sure Father is here?"
Sangqi’s large eyes were fixed on the water. He could see wisps of black energy rising from beneath the surface.
"Yes, Mother! Father is in the water!"
"In the water?"
"I’ll go down and see."
Sunxiao slowly waded into the water. Soon, his body disappeared beneath the surface.
Qiao Xixi frowned, staring at the calm surface of the water.
Meanwhile, on the sacrificial altar, the ritual to worship the Beast God was complete.
Sangkun stood up from the ground, his gaze sweeping over the beastmen below.
"Today, I will succeed the throne as the Clan Leader of the Divine Leopard Tribe. If there are any warriors who object, you may come up now and challenge me."
The vast Divine Leopard Tribe had no shortage of brave beastmen. Strangely, however, none of the warriors who dared to step up and challenge Sangkun were above a 5-star beast soul. In the end, they were all defeated, one by one.
"The Clan Leader is truly incredible! We willingly submit!"
The beastmen standing below the altar all knelt in succession.
"The Clan Leader is valiant! We willingly submit!"
Sangkun stood on the altar, unable to hide the smugness in his eyes.
Just then, a male snow fox stepped forward.
"I wish to challenge you."
Sangkun’s eyes narrowed as he cast a cold glare at Feiyan.
’An outsider beast.’
He shot a displeased glance at Bailing, blaming him for carelessly allowing these outsiders to challenge him.
But Feiyan had already stepped forward, and Sangkun couldn’t refuse. After all, there was no rule in the tribe that forbade outsiders from issuing a challenge.
"Fine. Please."
Feiyan stepped onto the altar and, without a single wasted word, launched an attack on Sangkun.
Sangkun’s expression hardened, and he quickly met the attack.
Feiyan’s movements were fast. At first, Sangkun could only react passively. However, Feiyan’s beast soul level was not as high as his, and after a period of fighting, Feiyan’s offensive began to slow.
A cold glint flashed in Sangkun’s eyes. ’To make those outsiders submit, I’ll make an example of this male snow fox today!’
Sangkun released the energy of his 8-star beast soul to its maximum, then leaped forward to tackle Feiyan.
’Foolish outsider, die!’