Chapter 386: The Mist Tide Brings Peril; The Fifth Blessing Proves Elusive

Lu Wang frowned deeply, turning to the middle-aged man beside him. “Second Uncle,” he asked, “they say the wilderness during the Mist Tide is extremely dangerous. Why aren’t we staying in the city?”

The middle-aged man pressed a hand to his violently pounding chest, his expression growing even more grave. He lowered his voice and explained, “We can’t linger here. We must leave. The mist isn’t too thick yet; if we move quickly, we should be able to escape safely.”

Lu Wanzhe wrinkled her delicate nose. Having finally gotten out of the city, she was being dragged back so soon, and she was thoroughly displeased.

In contrast, the other young man and woman remained silent, daring not to voice their displeasure. The middle-aged man was their father, and incurring his wrath would likely result in more than just a scolding.

Thousand Autumns City was currently sealed: entry was forbidden, but exit was permitted. Once outside, no one would stop you, but returning would be nearly impossible.

Without hesitation, the five stepped beyond the city walls. The middle-aged man checked their bearings, then swept his wide sleeves, gathering the four into a whirlwind of motion. They shot southward at breakneck speed.

The Chaotic Cloud Mountains teemed with countless dangers. Flying through the air only amplified the risks, but the middle-aged man couldn’t afford to worry about that now. His sole focus was escaping the Chaotic Cloud Mountains as quickly as possible.

The Lu Clan was renowned for their mastery of Divine Soul Arts, a fact known throughout the world. However, they possessed another divine soul technique, one rarely known even among their own descendants.

This technique, called the Evasion of Calamity Method, allowed its practitioners to sense impending calamities and steer clear of danger.

The middle-aged man was its most skilled practitioner, having never made a mistake in centuries. This method had saved his life countless times.

He had originally planned to wait out the Mist Tide in Thousand Autumns City, but a sudden premonition struck him. His heart began to pound violently, and his temples throbbed as if they were about to burst.

This was the most intense sensation he had ever experienced—as if a heavenly tribulation, capable of destroying heaven and earth, was about to descend!

The feeling filled him with dread, his heart pounding like a drum. He couldn’t find a moment’s peace, convinced it was connected to the Mist Tide!

The Mist Tide occurred every ten years, and the Chaotic Cloud Mountains had existed for tens of thousands of years, enduring countless Mist Tides. Yet this one felt different…

Watching their panicked figures disappear into the distance, Xu Sanyan narrowed his eyes but didn’t pursue them.

The man’s speed was too great, and Xu Sanyan wasn’t skilled in flight. Even if he forced himself to follow, he doubted he could catch up. The brief delay had already allowed the group of five to vanish without a trace.

Xu Sanyan felt a strange unease. Why were they in such a hurry? Could it be that his grandmother was about to give birth?

Unable to figure it out, Xu Sanyan decided to stop thinking about it. Perhaps something had happened to the Lu Clan.

He darted off in another direction, this time not venturing too far, digging a cave about five miles from Thousand Autumns City.

With everything prepared, Xu Sanyan vanished into the cave.

Dog Clan,

Xun Ancai had just returned to her cave when she saw Xu Sanyan sitting on the bed. A smile immediately bloomed on her face, but she didn’t rush to embrace him as she usually did.

Though she was happy to see Xu Sanyan, her joy seemed muted compared to before. An invisible barrier had formed between them.

She had matured, now understanding a fundamental truth: Xu Sanyan was not one of the Dog Clan.

Those who are not of our kind cannot be trusted.

Xun Ancai had never heard this saying, but she instinctively understood its meaning.

Xu Sanyan glanced at the tall, slender young man standing beside Xun Ancai, his brow furrowing slightly. He felt a pang of jealousy, as if he were being cuckolded.

“This is Xun Ye, the next clan chief candidate,” Xun Ancai introduced.

Xu Sanyan nodded curtly, letting out a nasal grunt. “Hmm.”

Xun Ancai had mentioned before that Xun Ye was the son of the previous clan chief, Xun Baicao.

The Old Clan Chief had no children, dedicating her entire life to the Dog Clan—a truly noble sacrifice. But Xun Baicao had offspring, and more than one at that.

The night outside the cave remained pitch-black, the long night far from over. Xun Ancai tossed another log onto the fire, coaxing the flames to burn a little brighter.

But the cave was poorly ventilated, and the thick, acrid smoke stung her nostrils.

Xun Ye’s eyes, filled with curiosity and wariness, scanned Xu Sanyan from head to toe. He had naturally heard of this man, the clan chief’s consort, and, understanding the situation, he wisely decided not to linger.

“Clan Chief, I’ll be heading back now.”

“Mm, go ahead.”

After Xun Ye left, only the two remained in the cave.

“Why are you back so soon?” Xun Ancai asked casually.

It was just a thoughtless remark, but Xu Sanyan heard it differently, as if she… didn’t want him here?

Hah…

Xu Sanyan scoffed inwardly, sensing that Xun Ancai was slipping out of his control. He had worked so hard to elevate her to the position of clan chief, and now she wanted to turn on him?

Not so easily!

If that’s how she wanted it, then she shouldn’t blame him for abandoning their past ties!

“I need a blessing,” Xu Sanyan said.

He had no intention of killing her now. If he did, he feared the Dog Clan would never accept him again.

He needed to wait for the right opportunity, a perfect moment.

Xun Ancai remained unaware of the murderous intent brewing in Xu Sanyan’s heart. Though she sensed their relationship had changed, she never imagined it had deteriorated to such a dangerous point.

Unbeknownst to her, Xu Sanyan’s heart was as cold as iron, devoid of warmth. The tenderness and affection he had shown her in the past were merely a performance.

When the time came, he would slaughter not only Xun Ancai, but the entire Dog Clan, without hesitation.

“Hmm…”

Xun Ancai hesitated. She was reluctant to grant Xu Sanyan another blessing.

This would be his fifth blessing, and the resources required were immense. She would hesitate even to use such resources for her own clan members, let alone an outsider.

Xun Ancai’s mindset had subtly shifted. She no longer regarded Xu Sanyan as her closest confidant, nor did she blindly follow his words as gospel.

She now had her own thoughts and plans.

In just a few short months, she had undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a naive, immature girl into a mature, steady woman.

This seemed to be what people often referred to as “awakening.”

Xu Sanyan understood that he needed to offer something in return. “I can trade grain for it,” he said.

Xun Ancai remained silent for a moment, torn between wanting to refuse and the lingering affection she still held for him.

The Dog Clan no longer faced severe food shortages. With the threats and competition from the Snake and Bear Clans diminished, their hunting risks had significantly decreased, making food acquisition much easier.

But she was ultimately too sentimental. With a sigh full of melancholy, she said,

“Ah… very well, but only this once. The Divine Blood is running low.”

“Mm.”

Xu Sanyan nodded slowly, his narrow eyes narrowing slightly as a deep-seated killing intent simmered within him.

The Divine Blood is running low?

Then your remaining lifespan must be dwindling too!

“Let’s get this over with. I’m pressed for time.”

“Alright.”

Xun Ancai turned her back to him, retrieved the Divine Blood and Earth Vein Stone, and strode toward Heroic Soul Mountain.

The process remained the same: she poured the Divine Blood over the stone statue, and the Earth Vein Stone’s golden light enveloped the blood, surging it into the statue’s body.

The heart-wrenching roar of agony echoed through the mountain range, gradually fading away after a long while.

Xu Sanyan stared blankly at the statue, as if lost in a trance. Yet within his pupils, a different image was reflected: the Dog God statue that had sat on the stone platform had vanished, replaced by a dog—a dog as black as pitch.

When he finally snapped out of his daze and glanced at his panel, it had already changed:

[Demonic Transformation—Dog Demon (1%)]

[Racial Trait—Vigilance]

Racial Trait?

Xu Sanyan was stunned. Had he gained a dog’s racial trait?

Does that mean…?

(End of the Chapter)