novelraw Chapter 138: He’d Better Leave the Tribe
Chapter 138: He’d Better Leave the Tribe
’Such a minor injury. If he’d come back any later, it would have already healed on its own!’
’He knew it. That Golden Tiger Beast was the most dramatic of them all!’
"When it gets light out, the Clan Leader will come over. He knows more about Sunxiao’s condition."
Qiao Xixi was a little surprised. ’Feili knows about Sunxiao’s condition?’
Sure enough, Feili arrived after daybreak.
"Xixi, is Sunxiao all right?"
Qiao Xixi shook her head. "He doesn’t seem to be in any serious danger."
Feili nodded and sat down. "I knew he had the bloodline of a Sky-Swallowing Python the moment he arrived in the Silver Tribe. I warned him a long time ago that the Original Stone Curse has a volatile relationship with his own power. He can’t use excessively strong Crystal Stone energy to suppress it, or it’s easy for things to go wrong."
Qiao Xixi recalled using amethyst to mend the weaknesses in Sunxiao’s body. "Was it because the amethyst’s energy was too powerful? Did it cause the Original Stone Curse to crack?"
"Yes."
"Clan Leader, do you know of a way for Sunxiao to fully recover?" She had asked her little imp the same question last night, but it still hadn’t given her an answer.
Feili’s brow furrowed, and he seemed to be struggling with how to phrase his answer.
"There is a way, but it’s very dangerous."
"Please tell me, Clan Leader."
Feili frowned for a long moment before speaking. "Deep within the Hopeless Abyss, there is a Sacred Crystal left behind by the Beast God. This particular crystal can repair all the issues affecting a Sky-Swallowing Python."
He finished with a light sigh. "But the Hopeless Abyss is extremely dangerous. It’s not as if Sunxiao’s ancestors never went looking for it; they just likely never found it."
"And if this Sacred Crystal can’t be found, what will happen to Sunxiao and the others like him?"
Feili’s voice grew heavy. "If they survive, they will become mindless killing machines, no different from a star-rank awakened Mutant Beast. The other possibility is that their energy will completely dissipate, and eventually... they will die."
Qiao Xixi clenched her fists. Neither of those outcomes was one she could accept.
It wasn’t just about Sunxiao, but Qiao Lie, too.
"Now that Sunxiao’s Original Stone Curse has cracked, he could lose control at any moment. Xixi, I need him to leave the tribe temporarily. But don’t worry, the Silver Tribe has a very safe cave on the back mountain. Sunxiao can stay there for the time being."
Qiao Xixi didn’t blame Feili for saying this. Although Jin Ling and Feiyan hadn’t said a word, the injuries they bore were a testament to how fierce last night’s battle had been.
Besides, it had taken that many beastmen of the beast-soul star-rank to stop Sunxiao last night. If the cracks in his Original Stone Curse widened, his power would increase exponentially. It was impossible to say what would happen if he lost consciousness again.
"I understand, Clan Leader. I’ll make the necessary arrangements to ensure no one in the tribe gets hurt."
Feili felt terrible, but as the Clan Leader, he had to prioritize the safety of his people.
"Host, I have found a route to the Hopeless Abyss for you," the little imp’s voice suddenly chimed in.
Qiao Xixi: ???
"Didn’t you say you didn’t know anything?"
"Not at all, Host. Yesterday, I was formulating multiple routes to the Hopeless Abyss for you and have now selected the safest one."
Qiao Xixi: ...
"Tell me, what exactly is this Hopeless Abyss?" ’It must be incredible if even Sunxiao’s ancestors went there and never came back.’
"The Hopeless Abyss is a forbidden zone in the beast world. It’s where all the vicious beasts of the Beast World Continent congregate—demonic beasts, Mutant Beasts, Wandering Beasts, you name it. That’s why even powerful beastmen who’ve awakened their beast souls don’t dare venture there rashly."
"And the Sacred Crystal? Where in the Hopeless Abyss is it?"
"It should be in the planet’s core, likely on a Crystal Ore Vein. I can’t give you precise coordinates just yet, Host. But don’t worry. Sunxiao has already had one episode and released a lot of energy, so it won’t happen again for a while. You can wait until after the cold season to set out."
"Xixi, Sunxiao’s awake."
Qiao Xixi snapped back to reality, stood up, and went inside.
Sunxiao was already sitting up in bed, his complexion almost translucently pale.
He lifted his scarlet eyes to Qiao Xixi, his sharp brows knitting together.
"Xixi."
Qiao Xixi went to him and took his hand. "How are you? Do you feel any discomfort?"
Sunxiao shook his head. He only remembered feeling that something was terribly wrong with his body after he returned from the hunt last night. It was as if a powerful force was rampaging inside him, and he had been desperately trying to suppress it.
After he’d eaten his fill, he could barely contain it anymore and rushed toward the stream.
He couldn’t remember anything after that.
"The Original Stone Curse inside you has cracked."
Qiao Xixi held nothing back, telling Sunxiao everything that had happened the previous night.
The more Sunxiao listened, the grimmer his expression grew.
"I’ll leave the tribe tonight."
Qiao Xixi tightened her grip on his hand. "Only go if you feel it acting up again. You don’t need to hunt for now; our family has enough food. Once the cold season is over, we’ll set out for the Hopeless Abyss."
His crimson, snake-like pupils contracted. "No. It’s too dangerous."
’She knew it was dangerous. But they didn’t even know if the Sacred Crystal could be removed from the planet’s core. The safest approach was for them to go there personally and absorb its power. Qiao Lie had to go too, so how could she rest easy letting the father and son go alone?’
’There was still time, anyway. She wouldn’t argue with him about it now.’
"We’ll talk about it after the cold season passes. For today, you’re just going to lie down and rest."
Sunxiao’s gaze shifted, and he saw Qiao Lie standing in the doorway. His tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed.
"Come in."
Qiao Lie came into the room and leaned against Qiao Xixi. He had heard everything, and he knew that one day he would face the same fate as his father.
"Mother, I’ll leave the tribe with Father."
Qiao Xixi’s heart ached seeing her son being so sensible. She picked up the little cub and said earnestly, "Don’t you worry. You and your father are both going to be okay."
Just as they were speaking, a commotion sounded from the courtyard.
Curious, Qiao Xixi stood up. Carrying Qiao Lie, she went to the doorway and saw Feiyan tossing several large bundles in through the gate.
"Feiyan, what are you doing?"
Feiyan put on a serious expression. "That snake isn’t right in the head at the moment. I have to move in to protect you and your cub."
Qiao Xixi’s eyebrow twitched. "Move in?"
Feiyan lifted his chin. "That’s right. But there aren’t enough rooms here, so I guess I’ll just have to stay in the same room as you and the cub for now."
Sunxiao: ’...Do you take me for dead?!’
Jin Ling: ’...I can give you my room!’
Qiao Xixi: ’...How about you just don’t come at all!’
Feiyan, oblivious, simply carried his luggage straight toward Qiao Xixi’s room.
"Mother, it’s snowing outside," Qiao Lie said, pointing a small finger at the sky.
Qiao Xixi looked up to see snowflakes drifting down, signaling that the cold season had truly arrived.