Chapter 441: The North and South Orcs

"Nine Heavens (by Supreme Sage Teacher)" Find the latest chapter!

True illusions generally consist of two parts: temptation and surrender.

Various illusions are used to confuse your senses and blur your judgment. If you maintain clarity of mind, the illusion remains just that—harmless. But if you succumb to the illusory world, sharing its sorrows and joys... in other words, if you get too immersed in the "movie," you become like fish on a cutting board, utterly at the mercy of others.

Color gradually returned to Tian Wu Lan's eyes.

Illusions tempt the heart; she didn’t personally arrange every flower or blade of grass in the illusion. Still, she could sense fragments of information—this beastman had a rebellious streak, ungrateful for the League of Blades' protection, unwilling to accept the scraps the League threw their way, and even daring to dream of standing equal with humans, sharing the same rights... Moreover, Tian Wu Lan could sense Kela’s inexplicable trust in Wang Feng. It seemed this beastwoman truly believed Wang Feng could show her a day where beastmen and humans were equals.

What a naive, laughable dream.

Tian Wu Lan smiled faintly. Just this thought alone was enough to mean death for a beastman, let alone the fact that Hu Sha’s injuries were too severe... Rose's blood debt could only be repaid with blood.

The caster had awakened, but Kela seemed to have completely surrendered. Everyone understood—the match was over.

Beastmen would always be beastmen. Merely standing on this battlefield was already an honor they could brag about forever. How dare they dream of competing with Tian Wu Lan? The result was nothing but bringing shame upon themselves.

The stands weren’t as lively and jubilant as in the previous two matches. Instead, the audience merely smiled faintly. With Tian Wu Lan’s strength, did beating some beastgirl deserve celebration? That would be an insult to her. They murmured among themselves, the murmur of conversation filling the stands. No one cared about the outcome of this match, already shifting their discussions to the Holy Sanctuary's "three-nil" sweep. Though the first match’s draw made the scoreline less than perfect, it was still a three-nil.

The Southern Beast Tribe’s Grand Elder on the platform shook his head slightly. Before coming here, he had held some hope.

Now, divisions had emerged among the Southern Beast Tribe’s leadership. Some believed the League of Blades' discrimination against beastmen had become too blatant, making their lives harder by the day, with no hope or future in sight. Those who scraped by in human cities to "work" fared slightly better—though they endured endless discrimination and humiliation, at least they had food. But in the barren southern continent, hundreds of tribes saw countless beastmen starve to death every year... What good was their precious freedom? Was it more important than survival? Why not merge with the Northern Beasts? Though it would mean submitting to the Nine Gods’ enslavement and losing their freedom, at least they wouldn’t starve, right?

As for whether the Northern Beasts would accept them, that wasn’t a concern. The twelve Beast Elders represented the twelve sacred bloodlines that once followed the Beast God—recorded in the Beast Codex and acknowledged by all beastmen. Currently, the Northern Beasts held eight seats among the twelve, while the Southern Beasts had four. Even if only for the sake of restoring the Beast Tribe’s spiritual symbol by reuniting the twelve elders, the Northern Beasts would never reject the Southern Beasts’ proposal.

But the question was—could the Southern Beasts, after generations of hardship and bloodshed to earn their "freedom," truly let it go so easily?

The Grand Elder supported the Northern merger. Among the Southern Beasts’ four elders, Frostwolf Elder also agreed. But Wu Di and Tata Si were staunchly opposed, their stance unyielding. Half a year ago, when Kela and Wu Di were recruited by Rose, it wasn’t entirely coincidental. Rose’s willingness to accept beastmen was the result of an agreement between Tata Si and Thunder Dragon. That woman, over a decade younger than the Grand Elder but already aged beyond her years, had cashed in on a favor Thunder Dragon owed her to secure this opportunity.

This world was never short of wise individuals.

From the start, the Beast Tribe had been skeptical, writing it off as an old woman's folly. Yet who could’ve predicted that those two seemingly mediocre beastmen, after joining Rose, would actually awaken? They gained human friends who treated them as equals, became the talk of the town across the League, frequently featured in publications like the Holy Sanctuary's Light and the Blade’s Sacred Path, and ultimately stood on this highest stage of human competition—the Holy Sanctuary’s tournament!

To be honest, even someone as resolute as the Grand Elder had wavered. For a moment, he truly saw the possibility of humans and beastmen coexisting as equals. And it wasn’t just him—the entire Beast Tribe had sensed it. They cheered for Kela and Wu Di, idolizing them as symbols of hope for the beastmen’s rise, even expecting them to humiliate the strongest Holy Sanctuary on this very stage, defeating their finest human disciples, making every human who looked down on beastmen see their potential and willpower!

The Grand Elder had arrived with hope. What was a simple match to humans carried immense weight for the Beast Tribe. Yet, who could’ve imagined...

With a soft sigh, the faint trace of hope on the Grand Elder’s face finally vanished, replaced by a calm, detached smile.

Reality would always shatter ideals. This world wasn’t a fairy tale. Wu Di’s impractical dreams could never succeed for the beastmen. It was time to make a decision.

Better slaves in the North than let more beastmen starve to death on the barren wastelands.

………………

In such a defenseless state, a single small knife would suffice to end the match. Yet Tian Wu Lan didn’t seem inclined to do so. Her captivating eyes glanced at Wang Feng in the stands, a faint smile playing on her lips before she casually flicked her fingers.

Kela’s arm lifted like a marionette’s.

"Combining illusion and puppetry—brilliant." Gui Zhicai’s eyes gleamed. Every puppeteer was an artist, brimming with endless creativity—precisely what he adored most. "A Phantom Puppeteer! That’s a title worth having. Hah, I’m starting to regret not taking this girl as my disciple."

Li Xuanyuan couldn’t help but laugh. "Ghost Elder, whose side are you on? Weren’t you just saying how well you got along with Wang Feng and the others?"

"Of course, I’m on the winning side. Isn’t that obvious? Otherwise, it’d be embarrassing." Gui Zhicai chuckled. The Divine Envoy and the Island Lord had ordered Wang Feng’s identity kept secret, so there was no need to tie himself to Rose just yet.

"Then I dare not invite you for drinks tonight. My little sister might come tug my beard."

"Ah, you sister-obsessed fool, just don’t tell her! It’s not like she’s that eavesdropper Qiao Si down there—can she even hear us?" Gui Zhicai glared. "We’re still drinking. Not just drinking—you promised the famous ‘Eighteen Touches’ show in Blade City! The Supreme Sage Teacher often taught us: ‘Listen broadly, and you shall see clearly!’"

Li Xuanyuan burst into laughter: "Hear all sides to see clearly; there is no end to learning! I admire eager learners, even elders—consider it done!"

As they spoke, Kela on the field had completely fallen under Tian Wu Lan's control. An Nanxi had already begun counting down, but Tian Wu Lan's fingers were already moving. Ten seconds was more than enough time for her to do plenty.

"Kneel and repent for your insolence!" With a smile, she manipulated her new puppet. She wanted to show Rose that challenging the Supreme came at a cost—sometimes one more terrible than death.

No sooner had she spoken than Kela's legs bent slightly, only to straighten again moments later.

Tian Wu Lan frowned slightly. Was the girl resisting?

This shouldn’t be happening. Someone trapped in an illusion shouldn’t have the awareness to resist her Puppetry.

She tried again, only to find she could no longer control Kela at all. To her shock, the blank whites of Kela’s eyes began to flicker faintly.

Everyone noticed now. An Nanxi stopped counting. A wave of astonished murmurs spread through the stands as conversations halted and eyes turned toward the field.

Kela’s body trembled, her resistance growing stronger and more obvious by the second.

The Southern Beast elder, who had long given up, felt a flicker of hope. Was there still a chance?

Illusions and Puppetry were lethal weaknesses for beastmen, whose weak mental fortitude left them reliant on brute strength. Yet what force could possibly sustain this beastwoman, allowing her to resist the illusion’s grip and defy the Puppetry controlling her?

How… was this possible?

Not good—! Tian Wu Lan’s pupils contracted sharply. With a flick of her fingers, eight white paper talismans materialized between her fingertips.

What had been a done deal suddenly twisted. The stands fell silent as everyone stared in shock at the beastwoman who, despite being ensnared by Tian Wu Lan’s illusion, refused to be controlled.

*Kneel, you damned slave!*

In Kela’s world, countless snarling humans roared at her, pressing down on her. The crushing pressure of Ghost Level and even Dragon Level auras, the disdainful sneers, the dismissive glances—even her own beastkin brethren mocked her for overestimating herself.

But Kela refused to kneel. Beastmen have knelt long enough.

In Old Wang’s Soul Refining Array, she could endure this struggle for an hour. But earlier, she had faced the ancestral spirits of her people—she’d been unable to muster the will to break the illusion, nor the courage to "betray" her kin by defying them. Now, though…

Those snarling human faces, the oppressed figures of beastmen, the endless taunts of "slave."

A spark of lightning began to glow in Kela’s eyes, as though something within her consciousness was awakening, helping her break free of these shackles.

Slaves? They were all struggling to survive in this world—so why should beastmen be born slaves?

No. Never.

Tian Wu Lan’s composure wavered. This strange beastwoman’s resistance surged like relentless waves, showing no sign of weakening. For an illusionist, having their spell broken was a nightmare—it wasn’t just disruption, but backlash. She wouldn’t give her opponent that chance.

"Divine Phoenix Sky Dance!"

The eight paper talismans shot forth like comets, transforming mid-flight into a dazzling storm of thousands of radiant phoenixes—a prismatic torrent crashing toward Kela in the midst of her transformation.

KABOOM!

The field erupted in blinding light. A figure was sent flying like a broken kite, hurled beyond the arena’s edge.

It was Kela.

Outside the field—Tian Wu Lan’s victory.

"Kela!" A figure shot out from Rose’s entrance, darting ahead of Wang Feng to catch Kela mid-air. It was Mo Tong. As he caught her, he looked down in alarm. Kela’s face was ashen-faced, her Rose battle robes riddled with holes. Chaotic currents of lightning crackled across her body as if from qi deviation.

"Holy shit, that scared me... I thought that female beastman was going to have a last-minute breakthrough like that Fante Xi."

"A beastman? She doesn't deserve it!"

"Look at her, seems like she's suffering qi deviation. She's done for now. I think she'd be better off as an obedient slave girl. With that pretty face and figure, she'd fetch a good price!"

After being startled by Fante Xi earlier, seeing Kela show signs of transformation again had the Heaven's Zenith Holy Sanctuary supporters on edge, fearing a comeback. Thankfully, it was just a false alarm.

Those who had been pretending to be polite earlier were now wiping sweat, and all sorts of vulgar language finally spilled out.

Kela in Mo Tong's arms was already delirious, her Soul Power chaotic as if about to explode. Mo Tong, already anxious, felt like he was going to burst, his hair practically standing on end. Then Wang Feng appeared beside him, pinched Kela's mouth open, and forced a strange potion marked with the Darkmoon Island emblem between her lips while holding her hand and channeling Soul Power into her.

The effect was immediate. The erratic lightning on Kela's body vanished, her chaotic Soul Power was guided, and her condition gradually stabilized.

Others might not have seen clearly what Wang Feng gave Kela, but Tian Wu Lan, closest to the scene, saw it plainly.

Frankly, Kela's transformation had unsettled her, even making her feel a flash of fear for her life. If not for her combat reflexes honed by years of life-and-death battles, had she hesitated even half a second, the outcome of this match might have been very different.

That such an insignificant beastman could make her feel fear infuriated Tian Wu Lan. Coldly, she said, "Darkmoon Saint Spirit Brew... Wasting such a precious medicine on a slave. What a disgrace!"

"Slave my ass!" Mo Tong, who had just begun to calm down, nearly exploded at her words. Wu Di beside him also glared at her, eyes burning with fury.

Then Kela murmured deliriously, "Beastmen... Beastmen never... never..."

At this moment, perhaps only Old Wang knew what Kela was trying to say. Because this phrase was something he'd once used to coax her into joining the team—originally just a line from a game, it had unexpectedly become Kela's spiritual pillar and guiding light.

He now stared coldly at Tian Wu Lan on the stage. "Beastmen shall never be slaves!"

Old Wang's voice wasn't loud, but infused with Soul Power, it carried far enough for many to hear clearly, though not as pervasively as top experts like Fu Changkong could manage.

The buzzing noise of the crowd instantly fell silent.

"Whatever makes you happy." Tian Wu Lan couldn't help but chuckle, followed by uproarious laughter from the audience as they snapped out of their daze.

Many in the VIP seats were also laughing. Such slogans from beastmen were fine if they kept them to themselves in their caves for morale, but to say it here, in this time and place, was downright laughable—especially coming from a human. Humans were tolerant toward their own, taking Old Wang's words as a joke. And yes, it was kind of funny.

But the Southern Beast Tribe's Great Elder, who had been frowning earlier, suddenly froze.

"Beastmen are never slaves"—the meaning wasn't unfamiliar to him. It was the very reason the Southern Beast Tribe had broken away from the northern beastmen, even at the cost of turning against them. Numerous epic poems and scriptures in the Southern Beast Tribe elaborated on this ideal, dissecting and analyzing it in myriad ways. Yet none were as striking as these six simple words.

Yes, it was just a pure, fundamental ideal—the will of generations of southern beastmen. Why complicate it with other considerations? The laughter around them was piercing, but Old Wang, Wu Di, and the others in the arena, along with that female beastman who had held fast to this creed until the last moment, nearly breaking free...

The Great Elder's expression gradually returned to normal, his eyes once again calm and unreadable. He gave a light cough, and the gold-plate armored Seventh Prince behind him immediately leaned in respectfully.

"After the match, I want to meet that Wang Feng." Others could only see the Great Elder's lips moving, hearing nothing—and even if they did, they wouldn't understand, as Beastman tongue and common speech were entirely different languages. "Arrange it. No one must know."

In League of Blades territory, arranging a secret meeting between two such closely watched individuals without anyone noticing was undoubtedly challenging. But the Seventh Prince showed no hesitation or difficulty, simply replying respectfully, "Understood."

Humans might not care, and those in power might dismiss it as a joke, but they didn't realize how deeply these words, spoken by a human in such a crucial setting, could move a beastman leader—enough to alter the course of events. For easier reading next time, you can click "Bookmark" below to record this chapter (Chapter 441: Northern and Southern Beastmen). Next time you open the bookshelf, you'll see it!

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