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Though they failed every time, as warrior races, the Ox, Bear, Eagle, and Wolf Clans still recommended their strongest members to participate in the selection for the Beast King in every cycle. Whether to demonstrate their fighting spirit or to personally gauge the strength of the new Beast King, this tradition had never ceased—and this time was no exception.

However, when the Wargod Shaman announced the shortlisted candidates, it still caused an uproar.

Because all beastmen noticed the name recommended by the Wolf Clan: Xuanfeng Blizzard Wolf.

Though few knew Chen Xuanfeng had reached Saint Master rank, even his pre-Sword Master feats—such as teaming up with Shamanda to destroy Saint Spirit Mountain—were enough to intimidate all the top warriors among the beastmen. Not to mention, many knew he commanded several Saint Master-level followers, making his overall strength absolutely terrifying. And the only "Emperor Martial" of the Lion Clan happened to be his wife. Such a contender would throw the outcome into doubt.

Of course, such thoughts only circulated among those unaware of Chen Xuanfeng’s true strength. However, the Lion Clan was indeed troubled by this issue.

"What’s going on? Is the Wolf Clan not satisfied with just blocking my succession and now wants to seize the throne for themselves?" a young Lion Clan member grumbled upon hearing the news.

This was none other than Shamanda’s second son, Beria, who was in the Holy City’s palace when the news reached him. Since the Beast King had always been from the Lion Clan, the palace in the Holy City had become the Lion Clan’s de facto stronghold. Even though Shamanda was now dead and the throne vacant, no one dared oust the Lion Clan. Thus, the palace had become the Splitfang Clan’s base for seizing the Beast King’s throne, with all their top warriors and strategists gathered there.

A Fox Clan strategist spoke up, "Indeed, it’s strange. The other four warrior clans usually send candidates of similar strength to maintain balance, excluding those who might disrupt the power equilibrium. But this time, the Wolf Clan is sending someone strong enough to overturn tradition. Do they really think the other three clans will ignore their actions—or even agree to let the traditionally weakest warrior clan claim the Beast King’s throne?"

An elderly Lion Clan member interjected, "The Ox, Bear, Eagle, and Wolf Clans keep each other in check, preferring our Lion Clan to take the throne rather than letting another clan dominate—all for the sake of balance. That much is true. But to say that Lord Blizzard could truly threaten our Splitfang Clan is wrong. Other clans do occasionally produce geniuses, and there have been times when the Lion Clan’s warriors were in decline while the new generation hadn’t yet risen. Yet no one has ever shaken the Lion Clan’s rule because none could pass the selection’s second trial."

"You mean the trial of the followers’ battle?"

"Exactly. Our Lion Clan doesn’t just excel in individual combat—we also command the largest and strongest following. The Beast King selection has three trials. The first evaluates merit and capability, mainly eliminating those from non-major warrior clans or those without status. The second trial tests the followers, showcasing each candidate’s backing and eliminating upstarts who lack deep-rooted influence. Only by the third trial does it come down to individual martial skill—but by then, it’s usually an internal contest among our clan." The old lion spoke confidently. "Though our late king has passed, he left us the strongest followers. Despite losses in the Saint Spirit Mountain battle, we still have thirty-seven Orcish Warcraft Warriors ready for battle. Three of them, tempered by life-and-death struggles, have reached Sword Master level—far more than outsiders know. With their strength, even if that werewolf lord commands Saint Masters, he’ll only meet defeat. So there’s no need to worry about him posing any real threat."

To be fair, the old lion’s analysis was correct. The Splitfang Clan’s dozens of battle-ready Orcish Warcraft Warriors were at least third-tier Sword Masters. With their innate abilities, nearly a third could rival beastman Sword Masters. The three Warcraft Orc Warriors of Sword Master rank could duel a human Sword Master prodigy for dozens of exchanges, thanks to their magic. Add in the beastman Sword Masters and other elite followers serving the family, and if such a force couldn’t win, wouldn’t Shamanda’s sacrifice have been meaningless?

Yet when the time came, and young Beria, Shamanda’s second son, faced the werewolf lord from Fengdan Bailu, he nearly cried in frustration.

This isn’t fair play!

*Heroic Werewolf Scroll*, Chapter 100: Who Dares Compete for the Saint’s Name?

Preparations for the Beast King selection were grueling, as they involved not just tests of strength but the untangling of intricate political relationships. Though beastmen had a long history, they lacked the human talent for producing politicians who could deftly navigate complex interests. Thus, despite the Temple of the War God’s repeated urging, it still took over a month of preparation before the selection officially began.

The step-by-step selection process unfolded as it had countless times in history, with nothing particularly noteworthy. The first trial, evaluating merit, eliminated 90% of the candidates—mostly beastmen without strong racial backing. Fortunately, these candidates weren’t truly aiming for the throne but sought fame and the attention of major factions, so the eliminations faced little resistance.

In the end, eighteen beastmen advanced—all recommended by the five major warrior clans. However, each clan was divided into different tribes and clans, and even within a single clan, there were competing families. Thus, each finalist had their own allegiances, preventing any coordinated suppression of other candidates.

Soon after, the second trial began. The Temple of the War God required all finalists to lead no more than a hundred followers in rotating battles across designated terrains, with the top five advancing based on overall performance.

Naturally, among all the candidates, the favorites were Xuanfeng Blizzard Wolf from Fengdan Bailu and Beria, Shamanda’s son from Lion Heart City. One commanded several Saint Master-level followers, while the other controlled all the Orcish Warcraft Warriors as his personal army—both forces were awe-inspiring. By tradition, the two strongest factions would avoid early clashes, clashing only in the final round.