Chapter 529: Do Not Speak of the One‑Eyed Stone Tiger

Strictly speaking, whether it's Bermoss or the High Tower Community, the speed at which both sides made decisions this time was already at a god‑defying level.

If this were on Earth, establishing diplomatic relations and such would take three or four years of back‑and‑forth probing before any clear progress could be made.

Unfortunately, the Yangyue World's magical technology is a bit one‑sided; at least in communications and transportation it's terribly lacking.

So even if you sing a mountain song and she throws a flirtatious glance, everyone only completes one round, and August slips away.

Thus, time silently reaches September; as the sun gradually moves north, the Wilderness Plains enter early autumn, with the heat fading and vegetation slowly withering.

Although it hasn't yet reached the stage where north winds sweep the ground and white grass snaps, or where the northern sky brings snow in August, the atmosphere's shift toward grimness is visible to the naked eye.

Indeed, on the very first day September arrived, the High Tower Community, under official pretext, issued a wave of "persuasion to withdraw" to the Spirit Tide merchants stranded in the Wilderness Plains.

It wasn't because any conflict arose; they merely informed them that the situation in the Wilderness Plains was tightening and war might be imminent.

—Guys, if you have nothing else, go back and collect your clothes; otherwise, what will you do when you end up covered in blood?

Anyone who can trade on the sea isn't a coward, especially since that includes James, the old fool who seems to hate his own life.

The old man even proactively approached a familiar councilor to ask for support.

"Kid, I've been fed up with this pack of vicious wolves for a long time. If you need my help, just say the word and grandpa will be there instantly!"

While the players were intensively mobilizing and preparing to meet the grassland onslaught with a strategy of waiting for the enemy to tire, a series of rather strange rumors suddenly surfaced on the southern wasteland.

It began in a Horsefolk Tribe on the western wasteland.

These robust men, when they rose at dawn to fetch water and cook, noticed something reflecting on the riverbed.

The brave ones who ran over saw, amid the river's silt, a lifelike carving of a stone tiger with only one eye.

On the tiger's back was etched a line of small characters—"Do not speak of the one‑eyed stone tiger; the vast, grim king now appears!"

Later, it was at a Monkeyfolk Tribe in the east.

Without any prior sign, after a night's sleep, a supremely ornate great sword was suddenly planted beside the well in the tribe's central plaza.

On the adjacent floor tile was also carved a prophecy—"With only one's own qi and blood, the treasured sword will choose its king."

In such a tense moment, such dangerous events kept occurring consecutively.

Not to mention ordinary beasts, even the Wolf King himself, residing in the Wolf King's Court, was alarmed.

He silently circled the stone tiger that the Horsefolk had voluntarily delivered to the Wolf King's Court, his eyes, mostly white with a hint of blue, flickering indecisively.

Finally, he waved his hand.

"Men, seal the news!"

Yet reality seemed to oppose him; the moment his front foot demanded a seal, the back foot saw the two incidents spread across the entire wasteland, unstoppable.

Moreover, immediately thereafter, an anomaly occurred in the largest river of the northern wasteland.

While locals were pickling fish for winter, they found a scroll inside the belly of one of the fish.

Unrolling it, they read—"Right and wrong, merit and fault, who shall judge? Truth and falsehood indistinguishable, who shall claim the throne?"

"Damn!"

At this point, even He Chi Na, even if a fool, could see that someone was meddling.

Their motives were clearly to undermine his rule!

But he rose to the throne by terror, dominating the grassland, after all.

His governance is weak, the people's hearts are unsettled.

Many scoundrels constantly oppose him outwardly while secretly complying.

So now, simple killing no longer works; indeed, killing would only cement everything, turning him into a universally known pretender king.

The only way to break the deadlock is to tackle the root, destroying the theoretical foundation of this targeted rumor chain.

—Collapse its credibility, which relies on the native grasslanders' innate resistance to him, thereby bankrupting it!

As for the concrete objectives…

Right.

Sword!

Pull out that great sword!

But now it's late summer; as Wolf King, He Chi Na must fully prepare the Wolf King's Court's upcoming autumn offensive, to regain the face lost on the mountain during summer.

Otherwise, when heavy snow falls in September and October, the withered grassland will turn into a white snowfield, and the Wolf King's Court won't be able to muster tribal warriors for an expedition until the snow melts next year.

Moreover, being a premature child, He Chi Na was born frail and sickly, lacking martial talent; even with sufficient level, he can't advance in rank, and his qi and blood stats are abysmal.

Draw the sword? Don't go tearing off your own arm and then thank the heavens!

After much deliberation, he could only entrust this heavy duty to A Xi Bao.

Theoretically, he's the heir apparent, the future Wolf King.

In reality… ha! It's actually not wrong.

So, while busy mobilizing and eager to be a vanguard again to clear past disgrace, A Xi Bao soon received a secret letter from his father, the king.

"Oh? Draw the sword…"

As a warrior who proves the Dao through killing, he certainly doesn't believe in such so‑called prophecies.

But since the king said so, he doesn't mind retrieving the sword, further solidifying his already rock‑solid claim to succession.

Thus, a day later, he rode a high‑headed steed, leading over a hundred iron cavalry, and stormed the Monkeyfolk village.

Without a word, stepping onto the central plaza, he instantly spotted the great sword lodged in the stone beside the well.

And as he focused his gaze, he let out an excited "What a fine sword!"

Fine sword? Indeed, it is a fine sword!

The overall proportions are graceful, the blade's lines straight, and the hilt studded with several dazzling gems bearing strong enchantments.

The beautifully patterned edge reflects bright light in the sun; swung, it would surely cut iron like mud.

This is undoubtedly a treasure sword worthy of a level‑70 master, though the lifelike tiger carving makes him raise an eyebrow.

— Damn it, another tiger!

Translation: "——Damn it, why is it a tiger again!" (or "Damn, why is it a tiger again!").

Besides, this thing is dangerous, its source unknown, and the attached karma is far too heavy—our lives are pretty fragile.

Translation: "Moreover, this thing is dangerous and clings to you, its origin unknown, and the attached 'karma' is far too heavy; everyone's lives are also rather thin."

So for more than a day, no one in the tribe dared to touch the sword, and nobody even lingered near the plaza.

Translation: "So during this day and a bit more, no one in the tribe dared to touch this sword, and not even anyone near the square dared to linger."

But Aisibao came today to put on a show, taking advantage of the moment—how could he do that without an audience?

Translation: "But Ahixibao came today to show off, taking advantage of the situation; if no one gives him face, how could that work?"

So he immediately had the chief summon all the monkey people here; he wanted to pull the sword out in front of everyone.

Translation: "So he immediately had the chieftain summon all the monkey people here; he wanted to draw this sword in front of everyone."

"Watch closely—who is the true king of this grassland!"

Translation: "\"Watch closely, who is the true king of this grassland! \"" (maybe "Watch closely, who is the true king of this grassland!").

He shouted, grabbed the sword hilt, lowered his shoulders and gathered his breath, ready to pull it out in one go!

Translation: "With a loud shout, he reached out and grabbed the sword hilt, sank his shoulders and raised his qi, preparing to succeed in one go!"

But as he exerted his whole body and was about to pull the giant sword from the stone, his hand suddenly went numb.

Translation: "However, just as he exerted his whole body and was about to pull the giant sword out of the stone, his hand suddenly felt a tingling numbness."

"What?"

Translation: "\"What? \""

Already on edge, he was startled badly, thinking it was a trap, and instantly let go and leapt back three steps.

Translation: "Already highly tense, he was badly startled, thinking it was some trap, and immediately let go and leapt back three steps in a flash."

But as soon as he landed, he regretted it—his reaction was overly dramatic, and the giant sword showed no sign of anything happening.

Translation: "But as soon as he finished jumping, he regretted it: on one hand, his reaction was overly exaggerated; on the other, the giant sword showed no sign of anything happening from its appearance."

These two factors combined gave onlookers the impression:

Translation: "Combined, these two gave onlookers the impression:"

The great wolf prince confidently grabbed the sword.

Translation: "The great wolf prince confidently grasped the sword."

The suspicious Aisibao turned pale and cried out in alarm.

Translation: "The suspicious Ahixibao changed color and exclaimed."

The useless Haji wolf idled about, wildly panting at an innocent sword—basically, it was embarrassing.

Translation: "The useless Haji wolf idled about, wildly panting at an innocent sword. In short—embarrassing."

But having a thick skin is a required course for royalty, including the grassland wolves.

Translation: "However, thick-skinnedness is a required course for royal offspring, including the grassland wolf tribe."

So the wolf prince felt no shame, instead boldly raising his arms and shouting.

Translation: "So the wolf prince felt no shame, but shamelessly raised his arms and shouted!"

"Ha, this sword has quite a personality—I like it!"

Translation: "\"Ha, this sword has quite a personality, I like it! \""

The loyal wolf guards also gave him face, immediately voicing their support loudly.

Translation: "The loyal wolf guards also gave face, immediately voicing their agreement loudly."

"Your Highness is mighty! Your Highness is mighty!"

Translation: "\"Your Highness is mighty! Your Highness is mighty! \""

And the bewildered monkey people could only be swept along by the crowd to clap.

Translation: "And the bewildered monkey people could only be swept along by the crowd to clap together."

"Oh, oh, that's amazing (though I actually don't understand anything)."

Translation: "\"Oh, oh, really impressive (actually I don't understand anything). \""

Once he had regained his dignity, with the night long and full of dreams, Aisibao didn't waste any more time.

Translation: "After regaining face, with the long night and many dreams, Ahixibao also didn't waste any more time."

All we saw was him taking a deep breath, gripping the sword hilt with both hands, and as he let out an angry shout, he exerted force suddenly.

Translation: "Only seen, he took a deep breath, extended both hands to grip the sword hilt again, and as he let out an angry shout, he exerted force suddenly!"

Zizzle…

The sound effect is 'Zizzle…', probably like 'Zizzle…' or 'Zap…', but we need to render the onomatopoeia as an English sound word. The original sound is like 'Zizzle' or 'Sizzle'. We'll output 'Zizzle…'.

Just like a startled little electric eel, the giant sword began to discharge electricity again, growing stronger as Aisibao increased his force.

Translation: "Just like a startled little electric eel, the giant sword began to discharge electricity again, and it kept strengthening as Ahixibao's force increased."

But unfortunately, although it had resisted to the point of releasing a visible high-level lightning spell strong enough to scorch a low-level profession to charcoal.

Translation: "But unfortunately, although it had resisted enough to release a visible high-energy thunderbolt capable of scorching a low-ranking professional to charcoal,"

But for a seventy-level beastman powerhouse, this little current was nothing more than a mild tingling.

Translation: "but for a level-70 beastman expert, this little current was merely a tingling numbness."

On the contrary, it stirred up some fire in him, his blood surged, and he gritted his teeth.

Translation: "Instead, it aroused a bit of his fury, his qi and blood surged, and he gritted his teeth."

"You beast, how dare you still resist—I command you to submit to me at once!"

Translation: "\"Vile beast, how dare you still resist? I order you to submit to me at once! \"" (maybe "Vile beast, you dare to resist still; I command you to submit to me immediately!").

Finally, after a faint blood-red aura appeared on Aisibao's body and he nearly entered a berserk state, the giant sword yielded and he forcibly pulled it from the stone.

Translation: "Finally, as a faint blood-red aura appeared on Ahixibao's body, nearly entering a berserk state, the giant sword yielded and was forcibly pulled out of the stone by him."

"Handsome! Your Highness, handsome!"

Translation: "\"Handsome! Your Highness, handsome! \""

The surrounding wolfmen instantly burst into a cheer like mountains collapsing and seas roaring, for when one attains the Way, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven; if the wolf prince advances further, they could become his royal guard.

Translation: "The surrounding wolfmen instantly let out a cheer like mountains collapsing and seas tsunami, after all, one who attains the Dao brings his chickens and dogs to heaven; if the wolf prince advances further, they could become the wolf king's personal guards!"

However, it was unfortunate that things weren't so simple, for in the very next moment the giant sword gripped in Aisibao's hand began to vibrate wildly.

Translation: "However, unfortunately, it wasn't that simple, for in the very next moment, the giant sword gripped in Ahixibao's hand began to tremble wildly."

"You still aren't convinced?"

Translation: "\"You still not convinced? \""

Aisibao flew into a rage, clenched his fists, about to beat the sword into submission, when he suddenly noticed a crack appearing on the blade.

Translation: "Ahixibao flew into a rage, clenched his fists, about to beat it into submission, when he suddenly noticed a crack had appeared on the sword blade at some point."

"Huh?"

Translation: "\"Huh? \""

Moreover, the crack was rapidly extending at a visible speed, the gap widening almost instantaneously.

Translation: "Moreover, the crack was rapidly extending at a visible speed, the gap growing larger, almost in an instant!"

Bang!

Translation: "Boom!" (sound effect). We'll output "Boom!"

The giant sword exploded with a bang; if Aisibao hadn't let go in time and used his arm to shield his face, his eyes might have been put out.

Translation: "The giant sword exploded with a bang; if Ahixibao hadn't let go in time and used his arm to shield his face, his eyes might have been pierced blind!"

Even so, the blast's shockwave lodged his half-body full of steel shrapnel; the injury wasn't severe, but the humiliation was extreme.

Translation: "Even so, the shockwave from the blast embedded his half-body with fine steel fragments; the injury wasn't serious, but the humiliation was extreme!"

Furthermore, the sword didn't shatter completely; several gems on its hilt remained suspended in the air, casting a projection toward the dim sky.

Translation: "Moreover, the giant sword wasn't completely shattered; several gems on its hilt remained suspended in midair, casting a projection toward the dusky sky."

It had a long tail like a staff, fearsome claws, and was a pure-white giant tiger!

Translation: "Long tail like a staff, claws ferocious, yet it was a pure white giant tiger!"

But the projection lasted only a few seconds, vanishing amid a roar that seemed capable of shattering a person's five viscera and six bowels.

Translation: "However, the projection lasted only a few seconds, vanishing in a roar that seemed about to shatter a person's five viscera and six bowels."

But mixed in with the roar was a crystal-clear, utterly venomous voice—"Traitor... villain!"

Translation: "But mixed into the roar was a crystal-clear, utterly resentful voice—\"Traitorous minister... villain! \""

……

Translation: "……" (ellipsis). We'll output "……" maybe as "..." but keep as "……"? Usually we translate ellipsis as "...". We'll output "...".

After the tiger's roar faded completely, all around fell dead-silent, as if the earlier cheers and leaps had never happened.

Translation: "After the tiger's roar completely faded, all around was deathly silent; the earlier cheers and leaps seemed never to have happened."

Aisibao slowly lowered his left arm, which was bristling like a hedgehog; in the shadow, his wolf eyes had turned blood-red.

Translation: "Ahixibao slowly lowered his left arm, which was bristling like a hedgehog from the spikes; in the shadow, his pair of wolf eyes had turned blood-red."

Nobody dared to advise or ask; the crowd waited in an almost suffocating atmosphere for the final outcome.

Translation: "No one dared to advise, no one dared to ask; everyone waited for the final result in an almost suffocating atmosphere."

At last, the wolf prince spoke.

Translation: "Finally, the wolf prince spoke."

"Someone..."

Translation: "\"Someone……\""

Then his voice suddenly rose.

Translation: "Then his voice suddenly rose sharply."

"There's a traitor! A traitor is harming me! Damn it, all of this is someone's sabotage!"

Translation: "\"There's a traitor! There's a traitor harming me! Damn it, all this is someone's scheming! \"

Having said that, he lunged onto the elderly monkey chief's side, pinning his shoulders down and demanding answers.

Translation: "Having said that, he lunged onto the elderly monkey chieftain's side, firmly pressing his shoulders, demanding answers."

"Speak! Who told you to do this?"

Translation: "\"Speak! Who ordered you to do this? \""

The monkey chief had already been frightened stupid, and could only stammer.

Translation: "The monkey chieftain had already been frightened stupid, only able to stammer."

"I... I didn't..."

Translation: "\"I... I didn't... \""

Then he was cut off by the wolf prince's shocked, angry shout of "Pioneer!" that cracked his voice.

Translation: "Then he was cut off by the wolf prince's shocked, angry cry that broke his voice: \"Pioneers! \""

"Pioneer! You all heard that, right? It's the Tower Commune! It's the humans up on the mountain who taught them to do this!"

Translation: "\"Pioneers! You all heard that, right? It's the High Tower Community! It's the humans from ShanShang who taught them to do this! \"

Axibao's gaze, like a poisonous thorn, swept over the throats of each guard around, his words spoken viciously as if he wanted to crush bones.

"You say, how... how to deal with it?"

Without any hesitation, without any doubt, they spoke with one voice.

Kill!

Kill!

As the Monkey Tribe chief's head, together with the half of the spine below it, was forcibly pulled out by Axibao, a massacre to eradicate the roots began.

No matter how fast the Monkey people fled, it was useless; under the pursuit of the Wolf Tribe cavalry, each one couldn't even run out of the village, and they fell dead amidst the raised dust.

One clever guy even tried to hide under the well, but he was also shot to death by arrows from the Wolf people, and they even dragged his corpse out to examine it closely.

"Your Highness, we've already checked; everyone in the village is here, even newborn infants didn't escape—don't believe me, look."

Very good.

After ordering the personal guards to burn the entire Tribe to scorched earth and conduct a second thorough investigation, Axibao led a small detachment and swiftly returned to the royal court.

After hearing his report, the Wolf King's expression fluctuated, but he still walked over and patted his shoulder.

Kid, you did well; at least I, the king, couldn't think of a better response.

By this point, any ordinary person could see everything; the target was precisely the Wolf King's pain point of 'illegitimate succession'.

In fact, a mere silver bloodline has no right to rule over the jungle where the strong devour the weak.

Wasn't it only by slaughtering the Cold Forest Tiger Tribe to prove his strength, and then adopting that little tiger as a foster son, that he earned his claim?

So at such a critical moment, suddenly hyping up such a dangerous topic...

Although no trace of the Pioneers appeared in the whole incident, the lack of trace is the greatest trace.

After reviewing the entire course of this incident, the Wolf King still felt that the humans on ShanShang were the masterminds behind all of this.

Damn it! I haven't even gone to look for them yet, and they dare to strike first and trip me up!

This is no ordinary human; we must strike with a heavy hand!

But though he felt the atmosphere in his heart, He Chi's face showed no expression, and he only spoke in a low voice.

Never mind, let's leave it at that for now; after all, we'll still have to see the real outcome on the battlefield.

You focus on leading the troops; I'll make full preparations—we'll meet all changes with constancy.

Axibao immediately knelt down.

"I, your child, have received the order!"

(End of chapter)