Chapter 317: Selection

The witch pointed her staff at Jiang Xia without hesitation, the tall thin man on the left.

"Haha, I was chosen." The tall thin man instantly became somewhat excited.

Meanwhile, the Lin Duo people gathered beneath the altar began to discuss, most of their comments rejecting this result,

Because this tall thin man's strength looks weak at a glance, he's hardly suitable as a warrior; why not pick the big muscular guy on the right instead? "It's great that Jiang Xia wasn't chosen—he doesn't have to fight."

Li Ke also let out a breath, his tense feelings easing slightly.

"The chosen one is indeed human, and he doesn't even know the witch, so why pick him? That chant was just offhand mumbling, and the Kuuga belt is fine—this doesn't match her hidden identity."

Jiang Xia pondered the witch's purpose in doing this.

If I were her, I'd just take the Kuuga belt and be done—wouldn't that doom this village? Why go through all the trouble to pick another Kuuga?

The witch flashed a strange smile, handing the faintly red-glowing Arcle (Kuuga belt) to the chosen person, then shouted toward the Lin Duo crowd below: "Kuuga is born now."

The moment that person received the Arcle (Kuuga belt) from the witch, he eagerly fastened it on.

The next second, a tremor appeared on his exposed skin, as if an invisible force had filled his body.

But in that instant of abnormal bulging, the Arcle (Kuuga belt) flashing red at his waist emitted a repulsive force and fell straight off his waist.

"What on earth is happening? Why does the Arcle reject the Lin Duo warrior?"

The white-haired village chief's stooped body suddenly straightened as he confronted the witch on the altar.

Seeing the fallen belt, the witch's face likewise flickered with surprise, but she quickly steadied her expression and calmed.

As an actor, she still had that self‑control.

She simply raised her staff and said calmly:

"Just now I misinterpreted the gods' will; another should be chosen as the warrior."

Now the person she chose didn't become Kuuga; at this point the gods cannot be wrong, so only the communication or interpretation could have erred—the gods themselves are not allowed to err.

Hearing the witch's words, the village chief's face improved considerably, though he still gripped his cane firmly, eyes fixed on her next choice.

At that moment, Li Ke's heart, which had just been let down, was lifted high again.

"The one chosen to become Kuuga is you."

Her staff once again pointed at Jiang Xia, the big guy on the right, whose bronzed muscles made him look extremely formidable.

"I should have been chosen long ago—I'm the strongest in this village."

The muscular man snatched the belt from the ground and fastened it in one motion.

"Click."

A soft sound rang out, and the Amadam spirit stone set in the belt's center kept flashing light.

The air trembled slightly, light burst from the belt, and the surrounding air grew scorching.

"Phew, though it doesn't match expectations, at least the Arcle didn't end up with someone who lacks fighting spirit."

Seeing this, the witch breathed a slight sigh of relief; posing as a witch speaking for the gods, she had come to Lin Duo Village so that the Arcle (Kuuga belt) would fall to someone lacking combat will and yet weak among the Lin Duo.

That way, Kuuga's power stays within a controllable range, allowing her to complete her mission and advance to the next rank.

Thinking this, the witch's eyes flashed with regret—clearly Li Ke was the one who best fit her needs, both temperament and strength being the lowest of the Lin Duo, and she had long ago deliberately ruined his sister's eyes and lured him into becoming a volunteer warrior candidate, but this plan was ruined by the guy in front of her.

She lowered her head, using the face paint smeared on her visage to hide the killing intent in her eyes. Once she finishes her task, she will surely take harsh revenge.

Then how about wiping out this entire village?

The sight of Kuuga struggling before the king is truly exciting; just thinking about it makes one happy.

"Boom!"

While the witch was daydreaming, the muscular man she had chosen a second time let out a anguished cry.

This time the belt's rejection seemed even stronger than before, actually flinging the belt away.

Jiang Xia reached out and caught the flying Kuuga belt, fastening it on before the witch could even react.

"Now I'm the sole candidate—it makes sense for me to wear the belt, Spider Gurangi."

Jiang Xia looked at the astonished witch and said slowly:

"Gurangi! What, she's a Gurangi?" the village chief slammed his cane down.

Now those who had gathered for the festival were shocked, and the young adults instantly drew the weapons placed at the side, encircling the altar.

Gurangi is the Lin Duo's mortal enemy—no doubt about it.

Yet they did not launch an attack immediately, because the witch holds tremendous prestige in Lin Duo Village.

After all, the Kuuga lineage is transmitted by the witch.

Upon hearing her identity exposed, the witch showed no panic; looking at Jiang Xia, now belt‑fastened, waving his scepter and pointing at him, she spoke righteously:

"You're the Gurangi; I set this trap just to expose you. This is the gods' guidance I received—not only for choosing a Kuuga, but also for revealing your Gurangi identity."

"I knew the Gurangi would choose to attack during the festival, so I opted to become a Kuuga warrior here, hoping to use my companions' power to destroy you."

"But I never imagined the Gurangi could actually destroy the Kuuga inheritance ritual."

Although these words shouldn't be scrutinized too closely, they suffice for the present situation.

You've underestimated me—do you think I've been the witch here all these years just by relaying the gods' words? I now control the entire village.

Foolish Lin Duo, even if you've obtained Kuuga, could you raise a hand against your own kin? They all obey my orders now.

Sure enough, after hearing the witch's explanation, many of the youths surrounding the altar shifted their glare back to Jiang Xia, their faces hardening with cruelty as they aimed their weapons at him.

Seeing this, the witch burst out laughing in her heart: Lin Duo, tear each other apart.

"Impossible—Jiang Xia could never be a Gurangi; I'd stake my life on it."

At that moment, the apparently cowardly Li Ke, who didn't want to fight, pushed through the crowd and shouted at those surrounding the altar.

"Brother." Li Ke's sister kept her eyes shut, her hands nervously clasped before her chest, yet still tried to gauge Li Ke's direction by sound.

Although she couldn't see, she could hear many different sounds and feel that her brother was furious and heartbroken.

"Thanks, Li Ke, I'm fine—I can handle this." Jiang Xia smiled at Li Ke, who was like a raging lion.

"Li Ke, listen to me: people become weak because they love someone, but it's not disgraceful, for that is not true weakness."

"Now, you Gulangji, look at my transformation!" Jiang Xia said to the witch in front of them.

"(End of chapter)"