Chapter 84: You Go and Kill the Priest

Luo Si became like a burning meteor, a comet, descending from the sky with terrifying power that made the jackal-men tremble, landing on a large open patch of the territory.

BOOM!!!

The earth shook and mountains trembled.

The entire Howling Cliff violently swayed; stones rained down, dust filled the air, and a thick shockwave carrying moisture expanded in a ring, flipping nearby wooden huts like paper scraps, hurling jackal-men into the air, and forcing Bloodfang Warlord to dig its claws deep into the ground to stay upright.

When the dust cleared, Luo Si slowly rose to his full height.

At the edge of the impact crater beneath his feet lay over a dozen jackal-men knocked unconscious.

The scorching scales on his body, having absorbed the kinetic energy of the fall, glowed crimson, evaporating the drizzle into thick white steam that swirled around him.

Though none understood what the crimson scales meant.

Yet every jackal-man felt an instinctive dread, sensing the scent of death.

The target had landed as desired.

Fight?

Bloodfang Warlord fell silent for a second, then suddenly surged forward.

—But not to attack.

It performed a full prostration before Luo Si, slamming its forehead hard against the ground, face beaming with flattery, its tail whipping wildly with unrestrained awe and submission: “Great Dragon Lord! The Red-Eye Clan pledges eternal allegiance to you!”

This time, it meant every word.

Luo Si’s size was deceptive; without revealing his power, the jackal clans might have hunted him as a slightly stronger juvenile dragon—but he was far more than just slightly stronger than an ordinary juvenile.

Now,

Having witnessed Luo Si’s might, the jackal-men’s innate urge to follow dragons was ignited; their former scheming vanished, utterly subdued by Luo Si’s dominance.

“Stand.”

Luo Si said.

When Bloodfang Warlord and the other kneeling jackal-men rose, Luo Si spoke slowly: “Not every beast clan may become a dragon’s vassal. You must prove your worth to earn the right to pledge loyalty to me.”

Having witnessed Luo Si’s power,

The jackal-men were filled with worship and devotion, eager to crawl forward and lick his claws.

Except the priest.

Fearing Luo Si might change his mind and reject the Red-Eye Clan, Bloodfang Warlord hurriedly said: “Command us, Great Lord—how can the Red-Eye Clan please you?”

Luo Si narrowed his eyes and asked: “Jackal-man, do you believe in gods? Tell me your true thoughts!”

Bloodfang Warlord’s ears twitched faintly in the rain; its throat bobbed, then its gaze flickered toward the priest.

The Red-Eye Clan worshipped gods.

—It wanted to say so, but the words died on its tongue.

Bloodfang Warlord’s eyes swept over the two jackal guards.

They had once been the clan’s fiercest warriors; now they were soulless puppets, even losing the desire to mate—the one thing all jackal-men craved.

Rotclaw called it a “blessing.”

But Bloodfang had witnessed the ritual firsthand—fifty jackal-men locked in iron cages, tearing each other apart until only two remained, then drenched in black blood to receive the blessing.

Years ago, during the great wilderness drought,

The Red-Eye Clan sacrificed a third of their prey, begging the gods for rain, and received nothing.

The priest said the gods demanded greater devotion.

But that would starve more clan members and doom the tribe.

Bloodfang Warlord was cruel by nature, not a kind creature, and felt no pity for ordinary clan members—but as clan leader, it deeply valued the tribe’s survival.

The losses from god-offerings had long surpassed any gains, slowly dragging the Red-Eye Clan to ruin.

Bloodfang did not believe in the gods; it even despised them.

More precisely, it did not despise the gods themselves—how could a mud-stained wilderness beast dare despise the lofty gods?

It despised the humiliation of being fooled, of being ignored.

Ye Nuogu had never truly protected the Red-Eye Clan; Rotclaw’s spells always cost more than they yielded.

But this dragon was different.

His strength was visible to the eye.

After a few seconds of silent thought,

Bloodfang Warlord bowed its head and replied to Luo Si: “My Lord, the Red-Eye Clan worships gods—but such worship is like vultures’ loyalty to carrion: only present when needed.”

“Now that you have come, that faith is past. The Red-Eye Clan’s loyalty belongs to you.”

This loyalty, still, was “vultures’ loyalty to carrion.”

Such was the nature of evil creatures.

But one could be certain: as long as Luo Si remained powerful, never growing weaker than now, the jackal-men would obey him without question.

And for dragons, that was simple enough.

Dragons grow stronger as long as they live.

Jackal-men are drawn to follow dragons; jackal vassals are nearly standard for dragons, precisely because of this.

Only beings like dragons can bear their “loyalty,” and few other powerful creatures in the wilderness are willing to accept jackal-men as vassals.

“Hochi!”

Rotclaw Priest’s gaze darkened; he growled: “This is disrespect! Retract your words! The Red-Eye Clan’s faith and loyalty may coexist! As children of the Jackal God, you must never abandon your faith!”

Hochi was Bloodfang Warlord’s name.

Names like Hoge, Hoke, are common among jackal-men.

Opposite,

Bloodfang Warlord did not respond to the priest’s words.

In its heart, Luo Si mattered more; his will outweighed the priest’s.

“Good.”

Bloodfang Warlord heard the Dragon Lord’s murmur, and its heart swelled with joy.

Luo Si scanned the surroundings, his gaze sweeping over Howling Cliff beneath the rain, over the drenched jackal-men, and said: “I do not allow god-worshippers among my followers.”

Ordinary jackal-men stared blankly, uncomprehending.

Their minds held no room for deep thought; they cared only about what to eat today, who to mate with, what to eat tomorrow, who to mate with tomorrow—they drifted with the tide, their faith merely a slogan shouted alongside the warlord or priest, utterly failing to grasp the meaning of “god-worshipper.”

But Rotclaw Priest understood.

At the threat to his own faith, his red eyes blazed with fury, his fur bristling like a storm.

“The Red-Eye Clan will never pledge loyalty to a dragon who desecrates jackal faith!”

He replied sharply, his voice ringing with conviction.

Luo Si paid no mind, and spoke plainly to Bloodfang Warlord: “You. Kill it. Prove to me your valor, your loyalty, your resolve.”

Bloodfang Warlord widened its eyes, staring at the priest.

In wilderness beast clans, shamans and priests are often revered elders of wisdom; Rotclaw Priest was older than Bloodfang Warlord, nearly having raised it.

Bloodfang had always feared it—even as warlord, it dared not be too bold with the priest.

But now, backed by Luo Si, the situation was entirely different.

Courage surged from malice!

Bloodfang Warlord suddenly lifted its head, and a guttural roar erupted from its throat like thunder.

“For the Dragon Lord!!!”

Pack Dominion!

A crimson aura exploded from beneath its feet, instantly engulfing the surrounding jackal warriors.

Their muscles swelled like inflating bladders filled with tar and oil, stretching their fur taut; their fangs extended nearly an inch, pupils shrinking to pinpricks of red.

This was the warlord’s ultimate battle technique.

Once reserved as a killing blow against Bone-Chewer Ogres, now turned against the former symbol of faith.

The warlord held greater prestige among the clan, especially among warriors, than the priest.

Under the influence of his dominion aura, the elite jackal warriors hesitated not—their weapons and claws all turned toward Rotclaw Priest, roaring as they attacked.

Bloodfang Warlord remained behind, shielding the warriors with its own body, not moving forward.

Luo Si noticed this and glanced at it.

Bloodfang Warlord grinned obsequiously and declared: “Great Dragon Lord, my strength lies in commanding warriors, not in fighting myself—please understand.”

“The warriors are my hands, my weapons.”

Pausing, as if fearing Luo Si might think him cowardly, Bloodfang Warlord puffed out its chest and added: “But if you command it, I will charge at the front!”

(End of Chapter)