"I don't believe what Chu Feng said. Tingyu, you tell us," the War Faction Elder said, looking toward Yaojiao Tingyu.
"Elder, every word Chu Feng spoke is the truth. They lured us to a mechanism within the tomb and released fire-breathing insects, intending to use those creatures to kill us."
"Fortunately, Chu Feng had been prepared. He placed Insect Warding Talismans on us beforehand, which allowed us to escape with our lives."
"However, they did not stop there. After I obtained Lord Dragon King's inheritance in the Inheritance Pool, they tried to kill me once more."
"Thanks to Chu Feng risking his life to protect me, I was able to survive. Otherwise, even if I had obtained Lord Dragon King's inheritance, you elders would never have seen me again," Yaojiao Tingyu said.
"Tingyu, what did you just say? You mean you obtained Lord Dragon King's inheritance?" the four elders asked almost in unison. And it was not just them — every Yaojiao Royal Beast fixed their gaze intently upon Yaojiao Tingyu, for this matter was of the utmost significance to them all.
"Seniors, I have indeed obtained Lord Dragon King's inheritance. And I have Chu Feng to thank for it — it was with his help that I was able to receive Lord Dragon King's inheritance," Yaojiao Tingyu said with a beaming smile. After finishing, she cast a meaningful glance toward Chu Feng.
Swoosh— At that moment, Chu Feng waved his sleeve, and a layer of invisible barrier energy dispersed from Yaojiao Tingyu's body. Her aura surfaced in full for all to perceive.
Everyone could feel it — Yaojiao Tingyu's aura was no longer that of a half-emperor. It had reached the eighth grade of half-emperor.
"You succeeded! Tingyu, you really succeeded!" Yaojiao Guang was ecstatic. He rushed over in a single stride, swept Yaojiao Tingyu into his arms, and lifted her up, overjoyed beyond words.
In truth, it was not just him. Nearly every Yaojiao Royal Beast present was grinning from ear to ear. The four Supreme Elders in particular — even their aged bodies seemed to tremble, for they were truly overcome with joy.
Lord Dragon King, an emperor of a bygone era, the pride of the Yaojiao Royal Tribe. Now, his power lived on once more. How could the Yaojiao Royal Tribe not celebrate?
"Yaojiao Ba, Yaojiao Xueran — what do you have to say for yourselves?" the Harmony Faction Elder suddenly turned toward Yaojiao Xueran and Yaojiao Ba, his voice seething with fury, his gaze filled with killing intent.
He was not the only one. At this moment, every Yaojiao Royal Beast looking upon Yaojiao Ba and Yaojiao Xueran harbored a deep and burning hatred in their eyes.
Yaojiao Tingyu had obtained Lord Dragon King's inheritance, so they believed her words without question. Combined with the fact that Yaojiao Xueran's earlier claims had been thoroughly discredited, they could now be virtually certain — Yaojiao Ba and Yaojiao Xueran had indeed schemed to kill Yaojiao Tingyu.
Father and son, a pair of insidious scum who dared to murder their own kin — traitors to the tribe!!!
And the more they thought about it, the angrier they became. Yaojiao Tingyu had obtained Lord Dragon King's inheritance. Had she truly been killed, the loss to the Yaojiao Royal Tribe would have been catastrophic. The mere thought of it made their fury rise until their teeth chattered and ground together with audible clicks.
"Elders, please let me explain! Just let me explain!" Yaojiao Ba desperately tried to salvage the situation.
"There is no need for explanation. If I am not mistaken, you had Yaojiao Xueran lure Tingyu and the others to the location of the Hellfire Insect mechanism."
"That mechanism's location was something I told you in confidence — no one else knew of it. Yet I never imagined that you would go there and use that very mechanism to target the future hope of our Yaojiao Royal Tribe, Yaojiao Tingyu."
"Yaojiao Ba, you have truly disappointed me beyond measure. Our Yaojiao Royal Beasts have a sacred rule — kin shall not slaughter kin. I am compelled to spare your miserable life, but while you may be excused from death, you cannot escape punishment. Your cultivation — I must take it."
As the War Faction Elder spoke, he struck without hesitation. He raised his hand and seized the air, and two razor-sharp claws forged from martial power shot forward, piercing straight through the dantian of both Yaojiao Ba and Yaojiao Xueran.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!" Yaojiao Xueran and Yaojiao Ba let out agonized, heart-wrenching screams at the same time.