Following Qiao Xixi’s instructions, Jin Ling silently recited a string of numbers in his mind. When he opened his eyes, a map-like image had appeared before him, displaying a red dot and a blue dot.

"The red dot is my location, and the blue dot is yours. This way, you can easily see how far apart we are."

"This is great! This is amazing!"

Jin Ling was so excited he even showed a rather childish side, repeatedly opening and closing the interface to look at it again and again.

Watching him, Qiao Xixi found it all rather silly and amusing.

Qiao Xixi had thought only Jin Ling would be so endearingly silly, but when Sunxiao and the others learned of the new function, they stayed up all night, repeatedly checking it. Even the cubs were too excited to sleep, chattering away without closing their eyes. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

In contrast, Qiao Xixi slept like a log, dead to the world.

Outside the Divine Leopard Tribe, a troop of several hundred beastmen was approaching.

Jin Li, walking at the head of the column, raised his head and glanced toward the Divine Leopard Tribe’s location.

He noticed that above the Divine Leopard Tribe, colorful, auspicious clouds, like flowing ribbons, were slowly gathering.

Jin Li frowned in confusion and turned to Songyan. "Look. What is that?"

Songyan looked up, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Divine clouds... Could it be that the War God is descending upon the world!"

Jin Li didn’t understand. "What do you mean?"

The shock on Songyan’s face was impossible to hide. "I once heard a rumor that the Beast God had a great general under his command. But for some transgression, the Beast God punished him, forcing him to be reborn as a beastman to protect these lands. When that general is reborn, his combat power is said to be unstoppable!"

Jin Li scoffed in disdain. "Songyan, you’re a 10th-rank beast guard, and you still believe such foolishness meant for cubs?"

’Many beastmen believed in all that Beast God nonsense, but in his eyes, some bullshit Beast God was less important than increasing his own power.’

"It’s just the weather changing, nothing more."

Songyan’s expression sobered. In all his years, he had never seen a sky like this. It definitely wasn’t something as simple as a change in the weather.

"Go. Tell the City Lord exactly what I just said, word for word."

Receiving the order, the Golden Eagle Beast flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

Jin Li saw this but didn’t stop him. As long as it didn’t interfere with his mission, he didn’t care.

One day later, Jin Li rendezvoused with Yun Qi and the others outside the Divine Leopard Tribe.

Jin Li shot a contemptuous smile at the somewhat disheveled Jin Che.

"You lost the Priest even with Yun Qi helping you. Jin Che, you’re getting more and more useless."

Jin Che’s fists clenched in anger. "If you’re so capable, then you go and drag them all back!"

"And what’s so hard about capturing them?"

Jin Che sneered. ’They did have an overwhelming advantage now, but easy? Hmph. It would be best if this idiot Jin Li suffered a setback. Then he’d realize how stupid he sounds right now.’

Yun Qi ignored the brothers’ squabbling and looked at Songyan. "When do you plan to make your move?"

"We’ll need two days to spread out and encircle them. We’ll strike in three days."

"Mm."

...

When Sangze woke up and felt the changes in his body, he was utterly stunned.

He cautiously touched the contract mark over his heart, unable to believe it.

"Sangze, what’s wrong?"

Qiao Xixi was passing Sangze’s room and saw his shocked expression, thinking something was amiss.

The moment Sangze saw Qiao Xixi, he flushed beet-red. From his neck to his face, he looked like a thoroughly cooked shrimp.

"Xi-Xixi... No, I mean, Mistress. Mistress, you’re awake."

Qiao Xixi felt awkward as well, thinking about last night. "Sangze, if you’re truly against it, we can go back to how things were before."

"What?" Sangze froze.

"I mean, if you don’t like..."

"I do like it! Mistress, I... I’m very happy." Sangze grabbed Qiao Xixi’s hand excitedly, terrified she was about to push him away.

"Huh?"

Now it was Qiao Xixi’s turn to be flabbergasted.

"I’m so happy I could become your mate, Mistress. I’ll work hard from now on so that you’ll come to like me too! I’ll go make you breakfast right now!"

With that, Sangze quickly threw on his clothes and rushed out.

Qiao Xixi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had actually thought Sangze would be unhappy.

"Mama, come look! The clouds in the sky are so pretty!"

Qiao Xixi walked into the courtyard and looked up. The once-white clouds floating in the sky had all turned a myriad of colors.

"Such strange clouds."

The words were barely out of Qiao Xixi’s mouth when she felt the cub in her belly give her a sudden, excited kick.

She gasped softly and gently soothed her belly. "What is it? Do you want to see the pretty clouds, too? Don’t be impatient. You’ll be out to see them for yourself in just a few more days."

Over the next two days, Sunxiao and the others grew increasingly busy, so much so that Qiao Xixi would often go a whole day without seeing them.

However, no matter how busy they were, they always left one of them behind in the inner city to watch over her.

That night, Qiao Xixi had just lain down and was drifting off to sleep when she heard an urgent voice outside her door.

"The force from Tiger Beast City is here! I saw at least a hundred male beastmen, 5-star and above!"

"I understand. Proceed according to the plan."

"Right."

When Jin Ling pushed the door open and entered, he found Qiao Xixi sitting up in bed.

"Xixi, did we wake you?"

Qiao Xixi shook her head. "Are they here? From Tiger Beast City?"

Jin Ling nodded. "Don’t be afraid. Sunxiao and the others can handle it."

Qiao Xixi frowned. ’Even though they had prepared thoroughly, she still hoped to avoid a direct confrontation if possible. After all, any fight would mean casualties.’

"Have the tribe members been evacuated?"

"Yes, the arrangements have been made."

In this world of beastmen, there was little concept of so-called loyalty. For most beastmen, especially the many outsiders, it made no difference who served as Clan Leader.

As long as a leader could provide them with a better life, they wouldn’t object.

Therefore, upon learning that the tribe was likely to be attacked by Tiger Beast City, the males with awakened beast souls would step forward to protect their home territory. They would fight to the death, regardless of the enemy’s strength.

Jin Li led his force to the outskirts of the tribe, coming face-to-face with Sunxiao.

"A Heaven-Swallowing Python. Interesting. I’ll give you one chance. Hand over the Priest immediately, and the few of you will return to Tiger Beast City with me obediently. Then we can consider this matter settled."

Sunxiao’s serpentine pupils glinted with a cold, dark light in the gloom. "Bring him up."

At Sunxiao’s command, two beastmen brought Fengxuan forward.

The firelight illuminated Fengxuan, revealing his clean and tidy appearance.

Aside from being a little thinner, he looked no different than before.

Jin Li laughed smugly. ’See? Just as I thought. How could a mere tribe not fear the might of Tiger Beast City?’

"Priest, are you alright?"

Fengxuan’s lips trembled as he slowly spoke. "I’m... I’m fine. Let’s go."

Jin Li’s expression changed instantly.