Chapter 101 The Vanished Black Wolf Tribe

Chapter 101 The Vanished Black Wolf Tribe

In the center of the sacrificial temple, a wooden post stood tall. Mao Yun was bound to it with sinews, his exposed skin crisscrossed with deep red welts that seemed to cut to the bone.

The High Priest of Wanxiang City, clad in sacrificial animal hides and adorned with a headdress of colorful feathers, danced around Mao Yun, clutching a bone staff. Periodically, he chanted obscure, incomprehensible prayers in a hoarse, grating voice that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Red Eagle and Grey Eagle beastmen spread their massive wings, circling and soaring above the temple, their keen eagle eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings. Meanwhile, Iridescent Snake beastmen burrowed into the soil, only their multicolored scales occasionally peeking out. On the ground, a group of elephant beastmen, armed with bone and stone knives, formed a tight perimeter, ensuring a formidable defense both above and below.

The High Priest’s cloudy eyes reflected Mao Yun’s trembling form. With a sudden slam of his bone staff into the ground, the chanting ceased. Spreading his arms wide, he bellowed, "The time for human sacrifice has come!"

He then seized a blood-stained bone knife and advanced toward Mao Yun. Staring into the High Priest’s terrifying, predatory gaze, Mao Yun’s body involuntarily curled and convulsed. No beastman could face death without fear. Though Mao Yun had just been rallying the enslaved beastmen, the bone knife at his throat triggered an undeniable, instinctive terror. Sweat poured down his forehead as he screamed in his mind, "Wen Ran, wise one, why aren't you here yet?! What should I do? Am I truly about to meet the Beast God?!"

Just as the High Priest raised the bone knife high, poised to strike Mao Yun’s head, a deafening roar suddenly ripped through the sky.

Everyone instinctively froze, looking up. The once starless, pitch-black night sky was now choked with vast, dark red clouds. A blinding red beam shot from these clouds, striking the High Priest with pinpoint accuracy. Every feather on his head glowed faintly red, a chilling echo of the blood-soaked feathers of a White Eagle Clan member whose wings had been brutally torn apart.

Terrified, the High Priest tried to flee the red light, but it seemed to have locked onto him. No matter where he ran, the light followed, firmly fixated. The interplay of light and shadow behind him cast a hazy silhouette—half immersed in a dark red, bloody glow, half lost in the boundless darkness. At first glance, he looked like a demon clawing its way out of hell, utterly terrifying.

Someone in the crowd shrieked, "The Beast God is angry!"

The voice, sharp with terror, ignited panic among the others.

"The High Priest has angered the Beast God! The Beast God is punishing him!"

"The High Priest has committed too many wicked deeds! Even the Beast God can no longer tolerate it and has revealed His wrath!"

"Run! Don’t let the High Priest drag us down!"

......

Wen Ran, bundled in furs with only his eyes visible, stood in a dark corner not far from the sacrificial temple. He held a glowing panel. Every time his finger brushed the blinking red button, the bloody light targeting the High Priest shifted, relentlessly tracking him no matter where he fled.

This was an advanced solar panel he had bought from the interstellar market. According to the merchant, interstellar scientists had modified it to convert solar energy into several types of energy, including the red light used to intimidate insects.

After all, insects lived deep underground in dark nests and were terrified of sudden light exposure. The panel could also generate high-temperature fireballs with strong offensive capabilities. The merchant had said, "Little brother from the beast world, trust me. Buy this solar panel with sparks and lightning, and it’ll solve your urgent needs! These fireballs are used by interstellar warriors to roast insects—they’re incredibly powerful!"

The merchant hadn’t lied. Just this beam of red light was enough to terrify the High Priest!

Wen Ran watched the panicked High Priest on the altar and turned to praise Mao Run and Mao Ye. "Well done! Keep shouting! Let these old fools learn what it means to face a coordinated outcry!"

Encouraged by Wen Ran’s praise, Mao Run and Mao Ye yelled even louder. Soon, panic spread to every beastman in Wanxiang City, making it clear that the High Priest’s actions had angered the Beast God.

All the beastmen present were stunned by the sudden turn of events. Upon hearing that the Beast God was angry, they fell to their knees, begging for forgiveness.

The Red Eagle and Grey Eagle beastmen, who had been circling high in the sky, folded their wings and descended to the ground when the dark red clouds gathered inexplicably. They looked up warily at the clouds. The elephant beastmen on the ground instinctively huddled together, clutching their bone knives, while the Iridescent Snake beastmen emerged from the soil, their sharp fangs glinting menacingly.

Mao Yun looked up at the dark red clouds, his expression a mix of tears and laughter. Tears welled in his eyes, but he dared not make a sound.

"Nonsense!" the High Priest shouted, raising his bone staff and forcing a tone of authority. "This is the Beast God urging us to complete the human sacrifice quickly! Beastmen of Wanxiang City, help me slay this slave and offer him to the Beast God—"

Before he could finish, three fireballs burning with fierce flames descended toward the sacrificial temple at an astonishing speed. As they streaked across the sky, they left long red trails of smoke, as if slicing the dark night in two with a red laser.

Faced with the sudden attack, the Red Eagle and Grey Eagle beastmen flapped their wings in panic, trying to rise into the air. However, the scorching heat waves forced them back to the ground. The Iridescent Snake beastmen transformed into their beast forms, swiftly slithering into the soil and crevices. Only the elephant beastmen of Wanxiang City, due to their massive size and weight, couldn’t move quickly. As the fireballs threatened to crash down, despair filled their eyes.

Wen Ran had no intention of killing all the beastmen. He controlled the trajectory of the fireballs, directing them to land beside the High Priest. The aim was not to kill him but to injure him with the scorching flames. The intense heat also melted the beast tendons binding Mao Yun, emitting a sizzling smell of scorched flesh. Wen Ran signaled to Mao Bu, Mao Run, and Mao Ye with his eyes, and the three immediately understood, stealthily making their way toward Mao Yun.

Lang Zhi had also transformed into his beast form. His pitch-black wolf fur was nearly invisible in the darkness. He stood guard beside Wen Ran, his thick wolf tail tightly wrapped around Wen Ran’s waist, his wolf eyes cautiously scanning the surroundings.

Wen Ran patted his furry tail a few times. Seeing that the Big Black Wolf had no intention of letting go, he let it be. Clearing his throat, he took out a megaphone from his space and spoke with authority, "Foolish mortals! How dare you misuse the name of our God to harm beastmen!"

Interstellar technology was truly remarkable—even this megaphone was incredibly effective!

His voice, amplified by the device, echoed like a sudden clap of thunder from the clouds, resonating across Black Stone Mountain. The sheer force of it struck the ears of everyone present, evoking a sense of the Beast God’s majesty and absolute authority.

The High Priest felt the divine power of the Beast God in that voice—a soul-shaking reverberation that drilled into his very heart, making it tremble.

"How is this possible?! How can the Beast God still be in the beast world?!" the High Priest cried out in disbelief, pointing angrily at the blood-red clouds. "You are not the Beast God! What evil spirit is posing as a god?!"

"You dare question me?!"

The low, grating voice, like metal scraping against glass, was so authoritative and sharp that everyone instinctively covered their ears. The very air seemed to tighten like a taut string.

Even the noisy crowd fell silent under the weight of the unquestionable voice.

No sooner had the words been spoken than a second wave of fireballs hurtled down, landing directly at the High Priest’s feet.

The ground instantly cracked, and the High Priest, along with his bone staff, fell to the ground. He was quickly subdued by approaching Sand cat beastmen—wait, no, they weren’t Sand cat beastmen?

Wen Ran stared wide-eyed at the group of large Black Wolves that had suddenly appeared. Where did they come from? Why did they look so much like Lang Zhi’s beast form? Had the Black Wolf Tribe not been wiped out?

Wen Ran quickly turned to Lang Zhi, who raised his wolf head high, his green wolf eyes fixed on the pack. After a moment, he let out several howls at the moon. Soon, a series of howls echoed in response.

Those were unmistakably wolf howls! Wen Ran exclaimed joyfully, "Zhi, they’re your tribesmen!"

Lang Zhi nodded. "Yes!"

Someone in the crowd screamed in panic, "It’s the Black Wolf Tribe! The Black Wolf Tribe is here!"

"The Black Wolf Tribe serves the Beast God! They only follow the Beast God’s commands! This proves the High Priest has done wrong!"

"Exactly! Every beastman knows the Black Wolf Tribe stays hidden unless it’s about the Beast God! This confirms it!"

"They must have come out because they learned of the High Priest’s actions!"

"Right! How dare the High Priest use the Beast God’s name to commit evil and harm beastmen? He’s despicable! May the Beast God punish him!"

......

Seeing the High Priest pinned down by the Black Wolf Tribe, Zi Yao’s face darkened with rage. He glared at Bikui. "Didn’t you say the Black Wolf Tribe was annihilated? What’s happening now?!"

Bikui’s face turned pale, his slender vertical pupils widening slightly as if he couldn’t comprehend the scene before him.

The Iridescent Snake Ritual Shaman said gravely, "Stop questioning Bikui! Do you have a death wish? We need to retreat now!"

At Zi Yao’s hissing command, thousands of Iridescent Snake beastmen hiding in the crevices slithered out, their forked red tongues flickering. Under the night sky, their scales reflected eerie shades of electric blue, emerald green, blood red, purple, and copper, gleaming with a sinister, sharp coldness. They swiftly moved toward Black Stone Mountain.

Zi Yao transformed into a nearly two-meter-tall half-human, half-serpent form. His lower body was a thick serpent tail covered in dense purple-red scales, glowing with a bloodthirsty aura under the dim firelight.

His narrow vertical pupils, filled with cruelty, cunning, and furious resentment, darted toward the gathering red clouds in the sky. His crimson tongue occasionally flickered out, and his sharp fangs gleamed with a poisonous glow, clearly showing the rage of a provoked venomous snake.

The Iridescent Snake Ritual Shaman urged again, "Hurry up and leave!"

With an angry roar, Zi Yao slammed his massive tail against the ground, sending rocks and vegetation flying, before slithering away furiously toward Black Stone Mountain.

"Trying to leave? Did I say you could go?" Wen Ran sneered, swiping his fingers across the panel. Dozens of large fireballs suddenly descended in front of the fastest-slithering Iridescent Snakes, blocking their escape.

The fireballs struck the leading giant snakes, causing them to writhe in agony. Their tails, roasted by the high-temperature flames, curled up as they thrashed, scattering chunks of cooked flesh on the ground. Soon, they fell still.

Seeing his tribesmen die so horribly, Zi Yao’s eyes flashed with hatred and fear. He opened his red mouth and spat a stream of black venom at the fireballs, attempting to repel them. However, the venom evaporated upon contact with the intense heat.

The High Priest of Wanxiang City screamed curses, "Xiang Shi, Xiang Tu, Xiang Chuan! Are you fools? Hurry up and save me from these damned wolf claws!"

The elephant beastmen named by the High Priest glanced at each other uncertainly, then at the High Priest pinned under the Black Wolf Tribe’s paws. They stood frozen, unsure whether to help the High Priest or obey the Beast God’s command.

Xiang Tu wrestled with hesitation for a moment, and just as he was about to take a step toward the High Priest, Xiang Chuan reached out to stop him, saying gravely, "Our Wanxiang Priest Temple is the place closest to the Beast God—it shouldn’t be like this! We should never oppose the Beast God! The High Priest’s heart has turned wicked, but ours must not! Don’t forget what our fathers and mothers often told us when we were young—why the Beast God chose our elephant beastmen to serve as the High Priests of the entire beast world!"

Xiang Tu whispered, "I heard from my mother that back then, the Beast God saw how our elephant clan would actively protect the young elephant calves when the herd encountered fierce beasts. The adult elephant beastmen would form a circle with their bodies, placing the young elephants in the center, using their massive bodies to create a protective barrier. This display of protective care for the young moved the Beast God and sparked His curiosity, so He observed our ancestors throughout their migration."

"When our ancestors came across beastmen young from other tribes accidentally trapped in mud, the entire herd would halt their migration, transform into their beast forms, use their trunks to lay branches as support, or gently nudge the young ones with their bodies until they were safely out of the mud and danger."

"If a clan member was injured and couldn’t walk, the elephant beastmen would slow their pace and wait, with no one urging them to hurry. They would even gently touch the wound with their trunks and bring fresh grasses/foliage for the injured to eat, as if comforting them and assuring them they would recover. Our ancestors never willingly abandoned any of their kin."

Xiang Shi added immediately, "My mother also told me about our ancestors. She said that when our people encountered the bodies of beastmen from other tribes, unlike others who would quickly flee to avoid them, they would use their trunks to cover the bodies with branches and stones, then slowly circle the remains, expressing mourning and offering prayers. Even during migration, if they came across injured animals, they wouldn’t attack. Instead, they’d gently nudge the injured creature with their trunks, and if it posed no threat, they’d quietly move on, even yielding the path to smaller creatures to avoid crushing them under their large feet."

Xiang Chuan exclaimed fervently, "It was these small, seemingly insignificant acts of kindness and empathy from our ancestors that moved the Beast God to choose us! Our forebears showed respect and compassion for life in every way—not like now, under the High Priest’s leadership, with brutal persecution of beastmen’s lives! This goes against the Beast God’s original intent in entrusting us elephant beastmen with the Priest Temple! Clan members, the High Priest is not worth saving! The Beast God’s divine retribution is rightful—it rids the beast world of the scourge he brought upon so many beastmen! We must not oppose the Beast God! We must not save him!"

"Xiang Chuan is right, we must not oppose the Beast God!"

"We should not save him!"

"Support the Beast God’s punishment of the High Priest!"

"Support the Beast God’s punishment of the High Priest!"

......

Even so, a small number of elephant beastmen still chose to side with the High Priest. They were his trusted aides, having helped him capture and kill many beastmen. Even if they betrayed him now, once things settled, they wouldn’t get off easy!

These elephant beastmen tried to rush forward to save the High Priest, but as the black wolf beastmen prepared to attack, they found themselves surrounded and thoroughly pummeled by other elephant beastmen!

Seeing the tide turn against them, the Red Eagle and Grey Eagle tribes tried to flap their wings and escape. Most of the eagle tribes were hit by fireballs on their wings, crashing heavily to the ground, wailing in agony, rolling desperately to extinguish the flames with earth. A few eagles managed to escape the ring of fireballs!

As they soared high above, they happened to spot Wen Ran not far from the Priest Temple. They might not have noticed him so quickly if it weren’t for the glowing panel in his hand, which caught their attention. They realized that every time Wen Ran pressed the panel, fireballs would fall—the faster he pressed, the more fireballs descended!

The Red Eagle Clan leader screeched and dove down from the sky, aiming to crush Wen Ran’s head. Seeing this, Lang Zhi’s eyes sharpened, and he instinctively pulled Wen Ran aside to dodge. The animal skin draped over Wen Ran was snatched away by the eagle’s claws, revealing his full face.

Protected by Lang Zhi, Wen Ran quickly stood up and took two steps back, flashing a grin that was downright taunting.

Furious, the Red Eagle Clan leader flapped his wings and roared, "So it’s you causing all this!"

Seeing that Mao Yun had already been rescued by Mao Bu and the others, Wen Ran flipped the middle finger at the Red Eagle Clan leader and pressed the panel several times in quick succession. Fireballs rained down again, trapping the Red Eagle beastmen. At the same time, he muttered under his breath to Lang Zhi, "Let’s go, first rendezvous with Bān Shān and the others, then rescue the zebra beastmen together!"

......

Wen Ran rode on the back of the Big Black Wolf, clinging tightly to Lang Zhi’s neck. Lang Zhi moved incredibly fast, like a gust of wind in the night, and soon they reached the hiding spot of Bān Shān, Ban Qing, and the others. These people had been anxiously waiting for Wen Ran’s signal, pacing restlessly. Now that he had finally returned, it was time for action. Excitedly, they grabbed their bone knives and stone knives, charging fiercely toward where the slave beastmen were held!

With the sacrificial ceremony disrupted and rumors of the Beast God’s wrath, there were no longer any elephant beastmen guarding the slave beastmen, which made things easier for them.

Wen Ran jumped off Lang Zhi’s back, pushed open the door, and by the dim firelight, saw the crumbling mud hut that seemed ready to collapse at any moment. The thick wooden beams supporting the roof were nearly rotten, with strands of moldy fur hanging from them. The room reeked of a foul mix of excrement, urine, festering wounds, and the pungent odor of blood, sweat, and dirt from the beastmen. A gust of wind carried the stench, nearly suffocating.

Slave beastmen lay scattered on the ground, their faces filled with despair. When they saw beastmen enter, they initially thought Mao Yun had been killed and that they were there to select the next slave. To their surprise, it was beastmen from other tribes!

The zebra beastmen, upon seeing Bān Shān, Ban Qing, and Banna, transformed their despair into overwhelming joy, unable to hold back their tears. Banna and the others also teared up, quickly cutting the beast tendons binding their tribesmen with bone knives. They also took out the Dragon Blood Tree resin powder Wen Ran had given them earlier to stop bleeding and save lives, applying it to their clansmen’s wounds.

An older zebra beastman grabbed Bān Shān’s shoulder and asked anxiously, "Bān Shān, how did you get in?! Don’t worry about us, leave quickly! If the elephant beastmen return, it’ll be over—you won’t escape either! Ah, Wind Shaman, why did you follow Bān Shān and the others into this recklessness?! You’re our tribe’s Ritual Shaman! If something happens to you, our tribe will lose its ceremonial heritage! How will the surviving clansmen survive then!"

The white fur on Ban Feng's horse ears twitched slightly as he replied calmly, "It’s no trouble."

Bān Shān took his hand and said, "Uncle Ban Wu, don’t worry. We’re here to rescue you under the leadership of Beast God's Messenger Wen Ran. No one can harm us now! You’ll never be captured as slaves again!"

Hearing that it was the Beast God's Messenger, and following Bān Shān’s pointing finger to Wen Ran, everyone was shocked to see that the Beast God's Messenger was a pale-skinned lesser female. As the first light of dawn shone on him, adding a mysterious, gentle glow, the beastmen saw it as a divine halo bestowed by the Beast God.

Wen Ran hurried over to the other bound slave beastmen, personally cutting their restraints. An elderly White Eagle Clan beastman trembled as he knelt and kowtowed to Wen Ran. "Thank you, Beast God's Messenger Wen Ran, for saving me and my clansmen! Praise the Beast God! Thank you, beastmen from other tribes!"

The brown bear beastmen also knelt and kowtowed, expressing their gratitude solemnly, then coldly glanced at the Iridescent Snake Beastmen in the corner and asked, "Beast God's Messenger, what should we do with them?"

Wen Ran helped the elderly White Eagle beastman and the brown bear beastmen to their feet. His gaze swept over the lifeless Iridescent Snake Beastmen in the corner, noting they were barely clinging to life, with no will to survive. Their end was near. Surprisingly, he spotted an old acquaintance—Brownchain, who only moved his eyes slightly upon seeing him before becoming still again.

Wen Ran sighed and said gravely, "Let them fend for themselves here. The Beast God will not forgive any beastman who has committed grave sins! Forget about them. Everyone, move your limbs and get ready to charge out with me! Let’s kill the High Priest and avenge the fallen beastmen!"

The beastmen’s faces shone with the euphoria of having survived disaster. After being captured and tortured for so long, they were eager for immediate revenge! The rescuers, seeing their clansmen bound like prey, were both heartbroken and furious, their hearts burning with rage. Without bone or stone knives, the brown bear beastmen lifted heavy rocks and stormed forward with purpose toward the sacrificial square! Behind them followed a crowd of beastmen armed with clubs and sharp stones, their eyes seemed to blaze with fury!