A few days later, a messenger Golden Eagle Beast appeared before Jin Wei.

After hearing the Golden Eagle Beast’s report, Jin Wei’s expression turned grim. An immense pressure radiated from him, so terrifying the Golden Eagle Beast didn’t dare to breathe.

"You’re saying they dared to capture the Priest?!"

"Yes, City Lord. None of us expected them to be so bold."

Jin Wei snorted, exhaling a scorching blast of air. "Issue my order as City Lord! Have Jin Li take three hundred guards with five-star beast souls or higher to the Divine Leopard Tribe. If they dare to refuse handing over the Priest, then level their tribe to the ground!"

At Jin Wei’s words, the Deer Beast male standing to the side looked up in astonishment.

"City Lord, will this attract the attention of Beast King City?"

Jin Wei shot him a cold glance and sneered. "I’m merely dealing with a disobedient tribe. What can they say? Don’t think I’m unaware of Sanggu’s petty schemes. I want to make an example for the other tribes to see what happens when they dare to oppose me."

The Deer Beast male said no more. This time, the Divine Leopard Tribe had indeed crossed the line. They needed to be taught a lesson.

The beastman guard in the inner hall accepted the order and withdrew.

After Fengxuan’s capture, Qiao Xixi hadn’t been idle. They held a small family meeting and unanimously agreed that Tiger Beast City would definitely not let this go. They were very likely facing a tough fight.

Therefore, they all had to prepare for the coming battle.

"Clan Leader, does this hay go here?"

Qiao Xixi glanced over and nodded. "Yes, that spot is fine."

Over the past two days, Qiao Xixi had suddenly tasked Feiyan with leading the tribe’s beastmen to the back mountain to gather a plant called Purple Moon Grass. After bringing it back, they dried it, ground it into a powder, and then placed the powder in various stone basins around the tribe, setting them in high places.

Jin Ling carefully supported Qiao Xixi, afraid she might fall.

Qiao Xixi was also being cautious. According to the little sprite, her due date was getting closer, and she too was worried about any potential mishaps.

"Big Brother, you’re here."

Jin Xi walked over, carrying a large bundle of dried Purple Moon Grass.

Hearing the voice, Qiao Xixi turned and saw a male with medium-length golden hair approaching. He bore a slight resemblance to Jin Ling.

He had a faint, boyish smile on his face, looking bright and cheerful.

Jin Ling helped Qiao Xixi turn around. "Are your injuries all healed?"

That day, Jin Xi had rushed out to block a heavy blow from Jin Che for Jin Ling. He was injured again in the subsequent fight with Jin Che. After the battle, Jin Ling had let him stay in the tribe to recover.

Jin Xi nodded, his gaze falling on Qiao Xixi before quickly looking away. "Yes, they were just minor injuries, so they healed long ago. I was bored with nothing to do, so I came out to help."

"Jin Ling, this is..." This was the first time Qiao Xixi had met Jin Xi.

Jin Xi glanced at Jin Ling.

Jin Ling said calmly, "He’s my brother."

Hearing this, Jin Xi broke into a happy smile. "Clan Leader, I’d like to stay in the Divine Leopard Tribe. May I?"

Qiao Xixi glanced at Jin Ling and smiled. "I don’t really know your situation, so I’ll leave the decision to Jin Ling."

Upon hearing this, the light in Jin Xi’s golden eyes instantly dimmed.

"Okay."

Jin Ling spoke coolly, "We’ll talk about it after you’ve fully recovered."

Jin Xi looked up in pleasant surprise. ’Big Brother didn’t reject me outright. Does this mean I still have a chance?’

"Okay! Ouch! I think my arm still hurts a little. Maybe this injury won’t heal so quickly after all. I’ll go back and rest now." After saying his piece, he turned and left.

Qiao Xixi watched his nimble figure. ’He doesn’t look like someone who’s still injured at all.’

Qiao Xixi grew tired from walking and leaned more than half her weight against Jin Ling.

Jin Ling looked down, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Tired?"

"Mhm."

Without a word, Jin Ling lifted her up and set her on his shoulders. Her belly was big now, and carrying her horizontally would surely be uncomfortable.

Qiao Xixi let out a soft cry and quickly gripped his shoulders. Jin Ling held her by the waist to help her sit more steadily.

Qiao Xixi mischievously pinched his earlobe and clearly felt his body stiffen.

Jin Ling indulgently took her hand. "You’re naughty."

"Hmph. This is for keeping things from me. I’ll punish you if you’re not honest."

Jin Ling knew what she was talking about. He wasn’t intentionally hiding things; it was just that, for him, there was no point in bringing up certain matters anymore.

"What does Xixi want to know?"

"You’ve never told me about your past. How did so many brothers suddenly appear out of nowhere?"

"Yes, in the past, I did have many brothers. But as we grew up, that was no longer the case."

Qiao Xixi was puzzled. "Hm?"

Jin Ling’s gilded eyes stared at the path ahead. His voice was very soft and calm. "From the moment we were thrown into the training grounds, we were no longer brothers, but rivals."

Qiao Xixi’s eyelids trembled slightly. She thought back to when she was searching for Qiao Lie in the Beast Fighting Arena. ’Even though Jin Ling mentioned training grounds, it’s probably no different from the Beast Fighting Arena in essence.’

Beastmen admire the strong, but that doesn’t mean they are without emotion. She wouldn’t judge whether Jin Ling’s parents were right or wrong, but they were undeniably cold and heartless.

No wonder Jin Ling was never willing to speak of his past.

"So, the physical problems you had when you met us... were they also from back then?"

Jin Ling lowered his eyes, concealing the dark coldness within them. "Yes. So, Xixi, you’re the one who gave me a second life."

Qiao Xixi playfully cupped his chin and said softly, "If having your brother stay here will remind you of your unpleasant past, then we’ll make him leave."

Jin Ling paused his steps, the look in his eyes growing even softer. "Okay."

After a tour around the tribe, Qiao Xixi checked on the breeding grounds and the fields before returning to the inner settlement.

Qiao Xixi stood in the courtyard, watching Feiyan train the cubs.

Jin Ling brought over a stool and helped her sit down.

Qiao Xixi watched for only a moment before leaning against Jin Ling and falling asleep.

Jin Ling carefully picked her up and carried her back into their house.

"Alright, that’s it for today’s training. Everyone take a break. We’ll continue tomorrow."

Feiyan called the cubs over to drink from the Spiritual Spring. After every training session, they would be exhausted, but a bowl of water from the Spiritual Spring would make them feel much more refreshed.

"It’s strange. They’ve absorbed the energy from the Crystal Stones and they’ve done the training, so why aren’t the cubs’ beast soul levels increasing?"

Jin Ling glanced at the cubs playing in the courtyard. "Perhaps they’re lacking a catalyst."

"What?"

Jin Ling turned to look at Feiyan. "Think back. What were the circumstances every time you broke through to a new level?"

Feiyan frowned in thought. In the past, he had trained diligently every day, but he had rarely broken through to a new level during training. It wasn’t that it never happened, just that it was extremely rare.

More often, it happened when a crisis was at hand.

Feiyan looked up at the cubs. His heart ached for them, but he knew this was the reality they had to face. As a father, the only thing he could do was improve their combat skills.