Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Cub

Having said that, the tiger claw suddenly slashed its own chest, and blood spurted out like a column.

The gold-colored fur was dyed red and splattered onto the phantom of The White Tiger behind him, enveloping the entire dense forest in blood.

His gaze was resolute, his voice deep: “With my blood, I sacrifice my soul! Blood ritual, initiate!”

With his words falling, a powerful force erupted from within him.

Caleb Manning’s strength instantly surged to Seventh Rank, glowing golden tiger stripes circulated around him, as if a divine being had descended.

Malachi Arcanus’s Netherworld Dark Fire collided with the barrier and rebounded, exploding into a black lotus in his palm: “Interesting, sacrificing heart blood to perform Forbidden Technique?”

“It’s the Winged Tiger Clan’s Soul Burning Ceremony.”

Jade’s eyes reflected the flowing runes, “His strength has temporarily risen to Seventh Rank; together, we might not be his match. Seems troublesome.”

“Troublesome? Then let me test how powerful a Seventh Rank Beastman truly is.”

Rhys Blackwood’s dark eyes flashed with derision, his body swung forcefully, and his serpent tail shattered three ancient trees, sweeping them sideways, black scales scraping against the barrier with a piercing sound.

Corbin Crowley transformed into Silver-moon Grey Wolf, his agile body glowing under the moonlight, a rapid silver-moon Ice Blade emerging from his brow, slashing the blood-red sky: “Seventh Rank?”

His silver eyes reflected Caleb Manning’s gentle gesture wiping Chloe Callahan’s cheek and scoffed: “Just a fool squeezing out his soul’s potential.”

Suddenly, blood-red runes entwined around Kian Sterling’s fox tail.

He squinted and chuckled: “Using my tail as an altar is a no-go.”

Nine fox tails surged like snow waves, each tuft igniting with purple-red Fox Fire.

The Fox Fire was extremely blazing, illuminating the entire blood-red sky, forcibly burning the Blood Curse completely.

Zeke Veridian’s fingertips’ Wind Blade abruptly transformed into emerald chains, entwining around Caleb Manning’s throat, pulling him down from mid-air: “Blood ritual requires twelve breaths; cutting it short now is still possible.”

“Too late.”

Caleb Manning’s Seventh Rank aura exploded, chains breaking inch by inch.

His tiger claw formed a blood-red vortex, devouring most of Kian Sterling’s Fox Fire.

Malachi Arcanus suddenly appeared behind Chloe Callahan, Netherworld Dark Fire turning into claws reaching toward her heart: “Heard that after the blood ritual, one regresses to cub form, requiring strength rebuilding?”

Caleb Manning’s pupils constricted, seeing Chloe in danger, instinctively reaching to protect.

Yet he was instantly pierced through the abdomen by Rhys Blackwood’s snake tail, blood gushing like a spring, gold fur completely dyed red, blood dripping.

“You’re forcing me!”

Caleb Manning roared fiercely.

Suddenly ripping off the beast tooth necklace on his neck, blood-red runes crawled from Chloe Callahan’s ankle up to her waist.

As Corbin Crowley’s silver-moon Ice Blade hacked at the edge of the blood-red vortex, Chloe Callahan had already transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the vortex.

…

The Salt Lake, next to a hot spring pond somewhere in the dense forest, the surrounding weeds and stones had long been cleared by Kian Sterling.

Luna Sutton squatted by the hot spring pond, sprinkling rose petals she had just picked from the sea of flowers into the water.

Suddenly, a voice from the system echoed in her mind: “Host, do you want a live broadcast?”

She paused, then raised an eyebrow: “What live broadcast?”

The system chuckled mysteriously: “Of course, it’s your Beast Husbands and Caleb Manning’s life-and-death battle!”

Her eyes instantly brightened, nodding immediately: “Play it!”

The system chuckled, immediately projecting a virtual screen before her eyes.

In the image, Caleb Manning, drenched in blood, the golden tiger stripes appeared particularly glaring under the moonlight.

Chloe Callahan, held in his arms, was already unconscious.

Corbin Crowley, Rhys Blackwood, Kian Sterling, Zeke Veridian, and Malachi Arcanus surrounded him, each displaying their magical powers.

“Tsk tsk, this Caleb Manning is really a passionate fool.”

Luna Sutton watched as she continued sprinkling petals into the hot spring, once done, she removed her beast skin garment and entered to soak.

She leaned against the hot spring pond wall, warm water covering her chest, staring at the virtual screen as if watching a movie.

This virtual screen was only visible to her; anyone else would see her staring blankly ahead.

Fortunately, it was secluded and late at night, so no Beastman would come over.

In the image, Caleb Manning suddenly slashed open his chest, blood like a column, instantly reddening the whole sky.

Luna Sutton suddenly grasped the petals floating on the water, her eyes widening: “Wow, blood ritual? That’s gritty!”

The system timely explained: “Blood ritual is the Winged Tiger Clan’s Forbidden Technique; it burns the power of the soul, temporarily boosting strength to Seventh Rank, but at the cost of soul damage, regressing to cub form, requiring strength rebuilding.”

She narrowed her eyes, watching Caleb Manning protect Chloe Callahan despite being besieged by five people, feeling oddly complicated: “This man is indeed a true hero.”

In the image, Caleb Manning suddenly ripped off the beast tooth necklace around his neck, blood-red runes instantly wrapped Chloe Callahan, transforming her into a stream of light sending her away.

Luna Sutton was startled, then smiled: “Oh, pretty smart, knowing he couldn’t protect himself, prioritized saving his beloved.”

System: “Host, are you not worried? Chloe Callahan being sent away might become a threat later on.”

She shrugged, lazily leaning against the hot spring pond edge: “Worried about what? If she can truly rise again, that’s her skill. Plus, she doesn’t even know where she’s been transported to.”

Initially, learning of Chloe Callahan’s appearance made her uneasy, fearing following the original storyline.

Prevented by all means, instead made quite a few foolish moves, losing her past calmness.

Now thinking back, those tactics were really not high-level and too hasty, resulting not elegantly.

…

In the dense forest thirty li from Cragfall.

Kian Sterling watched as Lifebound Fox Fire ignited at his fingertips, his expression astonished. A wisp of gold had unexpectedly appeared within the flame that should have been purplish-red.

Why was this happening?

His brows furrowed tightly, a sliver of confusion crossing his beautiful fox-like eyes.

Fox Fire was supposed to be purplish-red, symbolizing the bloodline power of the Nine-Tailed White Fox.

Yet this wisp of gold seemed as if it had been tainted by some power, faintly exuding a strange aura.

“What’s wrong?”

Zeke Veridian noticed his unusual behavior, his jade-green eyes shifting slightly as he asked calmly.

Kian Sterling withdrew the Fox Fire, the corners of his lips curving up into a meaningful smile: “Nothing, it’s just that… the moonlight looks particularly interesting tonight.”

Corbin Crowley’s silver eyes were cold, his gaze fixed on the spot where Caleb Manning had fallen.

The once mighty and imposing Winged Tiger had now regressed into a palm-sized cub.

Golden fur clung damply to his body, his tightly closed eyes appeared particularly vulnerable.

Just like a newborn.

He stared at the wet cub on the ground, his silver eyes filled with complexity.

In the past, Caleb Manning had been one of the outstanding figures of their generation, rivalling him in strength.

Even surpassing him in some respects.

Now, due to a blood sacrifice, he had regressed to a cub, losing all his memories, as if all his past glory had become fleeting clouds of smoke.

“How ironic.”

Corbin Crowley murmured coldly, his voice frostily harsh.

He looked up at the night sky, the silver moon hanging high, casting a cold, mocking glow as if ridiculing the whims of fate.

Rhys Blackwood’s body flickered with black light, instantly transforming into human form.

His gaze fell on the wet golden cub on the ground, his expression also complex, “Survival of the fittest is the law of the beast world. He chose this path and should bear the consequences.”

His voice was low and icy, as if stating a simple fact.

Kian Sterling’s beautiful fox-like eyes slightly narrowed, his fingertips gently stroking that wisp of golden Fox Fire, curling the corners of his mouth into a meaningful smile: “Interesting, truly interesting. This wisp of gold reminds me of certain rumors.”

His voice was gentle as water, yet carried an inexplicable undertone.

Zeke Veridian stood by, his jade eyes indifferent, as if everything before him was unrelated to him.

He lightly brushed the fallen leaves from his shoulder, his voice as frigid as the wind: “He knows better than anyone the price of the blood sacrifice. Since he chose it, he needs no sympathy.”

Malachi Arcanus withdrew the Netherworld Dark Fire from his palm, his dark eyes flickering with disdain: “The struggle of the weak is futile, only the strong can survive in the beast world.”

The five people’s gazes again fell upon the cub, each with their own thoughts.

Corbin Crowley remained silent for a moment, then finally turned away: “Let’s go, it’s time to return.”

Caleb Manning had regressed to a cub and lost all his memories, no longer posing a threat to them.

Whether to kill or not no longer mattered.

Rhys Blackwood, Kian Sterling, Zeke Veridian, and Malachi Arcanus each cast another complex glance at the golden cub on the ground.

But none of them harbored the thought to kill anymore.

Each lifted a foot to follow.

In the darkness, the cub curled up on the ground, its golden fur glinting faintly under the moonlight.

Its breathing was weak, as if it could vanish into this cold land at any time.

…

Beast King City, within an ancient and splendid palace.

Chloe Callahan slowly opened her eyes to a world that was unfamiliar and luxurious.

Beneath her was a soft beast skin bed, surrounded by wooden walls carved with Nine-Tailed White Foxes.

Immensely spacious, like a grand hall, with two pillars in the center, also carved with the exquisite patterns of Nine-Tailed White Foxes.

The air was filled with a faint fragrance.

“Awake?”

A deep, magnetic voice came from beside her.

Chloe turned her head to see a Beastman standing by the bed, his posture strong and eyes delicately bewitching, a pair of beautiful, fascinating fox eyes seemingly capable of captivating souls.

Most striking were the nine snow-white fox tails behind him and the linen robe he wore.

Chloe’s gaze instantly focused on the linen robe, her heart filled with shock.

How could there be linen in the beast world?

She looked down at herself and saw that her beast skin skirt had already been replaced with a linen long dress, changed by someone unknown.

Chloe subconsciously touched the linen dress on her and looked warily at the man before her: “Who are you? Where is this place?”

The Beastman’s lips curled slightly, his voice carrying a hint of amusement: “This palace is called White Night, in the grand hall of The Royal City. Finding you unconscious on the outskirts of the city, I conveniently brought you back for healing.”

He spoke casually as if it were a trivial matter.

But Chloe caught a glimmer of deeper meaning in those fox eyes.

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