Chapter 651

After much difficulty finding a moment of leisure amidst the busy schedule, the plump Tongzi saw his dog host's face reveal a familiar cunning smile, and his chubby three-layer belly couldn't help but tremble.

Tsk tsk, looks like someone's about to have bad luck again...

The next day, as the sky just began to lighten, the entire trading post's encampment was awakened by bustling activity.

Wu Yue placed her left hand on her hip, her body swaying as she squatted outside the tent, idly fiddling with her teeth.

The coming-and-going members of the Kuma tribe had grown accustomed to this scene; they all expressed understanding of the young shaman's habit of gripping a small wooden stick and poking it into her mouth.

Anyone who can become a shaman surely has some peculiar quirk, right?

"Haha, have you finished packing? We need to get ready to depart."

An enthusiastic greeting came from behind; Wu Yue, shouting with a mouthful of foam, turned her head and saw the Healing Shaman, smiling broadly, leading her group's shamans over.

"Uh..."

The enthusiastic greeting turned to shock upon seeing Wu Yue's mouthful of blood-tinged foam: "You... what happened to you? Are you injured? Why didn't you say anything? You're spitting blood foam!"

Wu Yue: "..."

She curled her toes into the ground, "Thanks for the concern, I'm just a bit overheated."

She quickly rinsed her mouth and stood up: "I just chipped a tooth while eating yesterday; it'll be fine in a few days."

"Are we about to depart? Wait a moment while I go fetch my pack."

Having said that, without waiting for the Healing Shamans to speak, Wu Yue took off running back to the tent, slung the animal-skin pouch she'd been using as a disguise over her shoulder, then stepped out of the tent to join the others.

Together they walked toward the tribe's contingent; the Healing Shaman looked at Wu Yue and asked, "What should we call you now?"

Although they know this sturdy young female beside them is the Shaman Moon, her identity must remain concealed at this trading fair.

Wu Yue pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Call me Xue."

"Snow Shaman."

The Healing Shaman nodded at the words: "Mm, that's a nice name."

"Snow Shaman, on this ascent of Beast God Mountain, if nothing unexpected happens, you'll be able to avenge your tribesfolk who died at the hands of the Sea Snake Tribe."

Wu Yue raised an eyebrow at him: "Have you already identified those giant serpents?"

The Healing Shaman chuckled: "In previous contests, our tribe could never achieve a good ranking, so whenever we ascend Beast God Mountain, we always set out from the rear."

"Those top-tier tribes ahead are quite far off, so we rarely encounter the leading teams."

"Yesterday the Sea Eel Tribe informed us that, when ascending Beast God Mountain, we must pay special attention to a strong combat squad within the Sea Snake Tribe."

Rumor has it they are all massive beast-shaped pythons; if stretched straight, their bodies would be wider than a river.

"If we encounter them, I'll definitely be able to recognize them."

She retains a deep impression of those giant worms that slaughtered many of her tribe's people.

"If it really is them, that would be great."

Moreover, on the open ground before yesterday's contest platform, the various tribes' Grand Shamans and Chiefs did not participate in the Beast God Mountain competition.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, the Sea Shark Grand Shaman rose and gazed upon the dark crowd of tribespeople on the open ground; her voice, wrapped in shamanic power, carried to every corner of the space.

"You've all heard the contest rules from your Grand Shamans; I'll add just one thing: when you see the Beast God Script, you must seize the moment to carve it from the stone wall, for the script appears only for a limited time—if none of you cut it down, the Beast God will reclaim it."

"For the sake of your tribes, charge, warriors! Shamans!"

The Old Grand Shaman's impassioned words made Wu Yue's blood boil, while the surrounding Healing Shamans and tribespeople remained calmly unfazed.

The Kuma tribe's team, placed second, stood this far forward for the first time, glancing back at the Sea Snake Tribe's people with a look that carried...

"Uh... the arrogant swagger of a petty person who's gotten his way!"

"Come on, aren't you guys pretty formidable? Aren't you pretty badass?"

"No talent, huh? Hehe..."

Everyone flicked their carefully groomed hair, and then we'll just head out without further ceremony.

That contemptible look made the Sea Snake Tribe's people clench their fists.

"Captain, once we go in we'll kill this bunch of chrysanthemum-long-faced scum."

The beastfolk with a soft, sinister visage sneered: "Our target is the Sea Shark Tribe; as for the Kuma Tribe... heh, we'll just take care of them in passing."

As the Kuma tribe's members hurried up the mountain, they suddenly felt a chill run down the backs of their heads.

"Tsk, it's really chilly up on Beast God Mountain—my neck hairs are standing on end."

"Enough talk—move forward quickly and put distance between us and the Sea Snake Tribe behind; that shameless bunch of long worms will surely retaliate against us."

Although the Kuma Tribe had beaten the Sea Snake Tribe in this contest, they were still fully aware of their own strength.

Now is not the time to set up a strong beastly defense; we need to focus on surviving.

Thus, after turning a corner and disappearing from the sight of other tribes, the beastfolk warriors behind surged forward, transformed into beast forms, hoisted the shamans ahead, and rushed forward in a hurried charge.

"Snow Shaman, hold on tight—we need to get far enough away from those shameless Sea Snake Tribe folks."

The group hurried along, quickly catching up to the preceding Sea Shark Tribe and then kicking up a cloud of dust as they overtook them.

"Sea Shark Tribe's people:" "..."

"Has the Kuma Tribe gone mad?"

The party did not stop until the sky grew dim.

The Healing Shaman ambled over, rubbing his sore lower back: "It's already dark; all the tribes that entered the contest should have gone into Beast God Mountain. Tomorrow we'll begin searching for the Beast God Script and precious treasures—Snow Shaman, get some rest early."

Wu Yue tugged at the corner of her mouth resolutely—good grief, forgive me for still retaining a shred of modesty; though my buttocks are numb, I can't bring myself to rub my rear in public.

Having spent a day on the road, everyone was utterly exhausted; after a simple bite of the food they'd brought, they promptly wrapped themselves in animal hides and drifted off to sleep.

Wu Yue opened her simple little tent and, amid the earth-shaking howls all around, drifted off to sleep.

The Cloudtreader summoned for night watch lay obediently on the soft mat at the tent's entrance, opening its pink little mouth to give a dainty yawn, its red eyes half-lidded, its lazy posture swaying its tail as it kept watch.

Next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, Wu Yue was awakened by a soft, wet sound; opening her eyes, she saw it was the little Cloudtreader wagging its tail.

Seeing its master open its eyes, the little creature jumped and shouted "ao ao" twice.

Wu Yue smiled, eyes narrowed, as she rubbed the little thing's head, then waved her hand and stored it in her system space.

At this time, the camp also had the sounds of the Kuma tribe moving about.

"Have you finished preparing, Snow Shaman?"

The tall Beastman Warrior asked respectfully, his gaze toward her filled with awe.

This was precisely the Beastman Warrior who had been in charge of protecting Wu Yue all along.