The three beastmen from non-Tiger tribes watched with keen interest from afar.
They weren’t particularly concerned about whether Xiao Shuo would be sacrificed as an offering, nor did they care if the Tiger tribe had angered the mountain god.
It was Tang Hongluan’s sudden transformation that piqued their curiosity.
Especially Bi Ze, who had been sneaking the most glances, his interest in the spectacle grew even stronger now.
Xiao Shuo and Yan Chen stared at Tang Hongluan, their faces darkening as she remained silent.
“I’ve awakened a supernatural ability! The mountain god rewarded me!” Tang Hongluan declared loudly, sweeping her gaze across everyone present.
Whispers erupted immediately.
“Since when do females awaken supernatural abilities?”
“Exactly! I’ve never heard of such a thing!”
“Is Tang Hongluan dreaming? She awakened an ability?”
“You awakened an ability?” The tribal chief and the old priest asked almost simultaneously, the latter’s aged eyes gleaming with eagerness.
The crowd fell silent, waiting for Tang Hongluan’s response.
“Yes!” Tang Hongluan nodded. There was no need to hide her awakened ability, this was the perfect opportunity to spin a convincing tale.
“Show me!” The old priest descended from the altar, his eyes burning with excitement. In his hundred years of life, he had never seen a female awaken a supernatural ability.
Though ancient myths spoke of such precedents, they were just that… myths!
As for whether other tribes had females with awakened abilities, no such rumors had ever circulated. Even if they existed, tribes would guard such secrets closely to protect these females from being snatched away by rival factions.
Xiao Shuo and Yan Chen’s expressions shifted slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing their faces.
No one could have imagined that Tang Hongluan, of all people, would awaken an ability. It was utterly fantastical!
But then, Tang Hongluan raised her hands, palms glowing as if cradling two miniature suns.
After a night of effort, she had already reached the second tier.
“And it’s a light-based ability!” The old priest, clearly well-traveled, recognized it at a glance.
The beastmen in the square didn’t react much, after all, which beastman didn’t have an ability?
But the females were wide-eyed in shock. Tang Hongluan, that disheveled madwoman, had actually awakened an ability… The heavens must be blind!
Especially Jiang Xin, whose face twisted with fury like a withered chrysanthemum. Why hadn’t Tang Hongluan drowned yesterday?
Now, not only was she alive, but she was also flaunting her newfound power in front of everyone…
“Since the mountain god has spoken, we shall act according to his will!” The old priest nodded solemnly. Xiao Shuo was a rare talent, it would be a shame to waste him as a sacrifice.
“Everyone, disperse! We’ll see the outcome in three days!” The tribal chief waved his hand, signaling for the crowd to disband.
Jiang Cheng fumed. “A beastman must personally accompany Xiao Shuo to ensure he doesn’t flee!”
Xiao Shuo shot Jiang Cheng a cold glare, then glanced briefly at Tang Hongluan before walking away.
Go to the Land of Divine Wrath within three days and kowtow thirty times? Was this woman joking? Did she think he was as foolish as those other beastmen?
But Yan Chen didn’t share his skepticism. Tang Hongluan’s inexplicable awakening suggested the mountain god’s intervention, so he was inclined to believe her words.
Regardless of Jiang Cheng’s ulterior motives, he himself was determined to oversee the matter personally.
His fiery red eyes swept over Tang Hongluan briefly before he said coldly, “I’ll be there to supervise!”
Tang Hongluan’s lips twitched. How… dedicated.
[Little Miss, the wildness levels of your beast husbands have changed. Keep up the good work!]
Tang Hongluan raised an eyebrow. Oh? Let me see!
She quickly glanced at the numbers on the panel:
[Xiao Shuo: Wildness Level 99
Yan Chen: Wildness Level 95
Qing Yuan: Wildness Level 90
Bi Ze: Wildness Level 90
Yun Li: Wildness Level 85]
Why did Xiao Shuo only drop by one point? Tang Hongluan closed the panel, muttering to herself.
[Yesterday, Xiao Shuo’s wildness level had dropped to 90, but it just rose by 9 points again…]
Tang Hongluan fell silent. Yesterday, she had even climbed onto his tiger back, how could his wildness level still drop? And today, she had kindly helped him resolve a minor issue, right? So why… did it rise again?
She should’ve just let him be the sacrificial offering! One less beast husband would’ve saved her some trouble!
Still, the wildness levels of the other beast husbands had all dropped to varying degrees. Though she couldn’t quite figure out why, maybe it was because she had shared watermelon with Yun Li?
Or perhaps they were moved by her “heroic rescue of her husband” earlier, softening their stone-cold hearts?
Who the hell knew why…
But at least it was a good start!
Instead of heading home, she went straight to the back mountain.
After two days of nothing but roasted meat, she was getting sick of it. She needed salt, and any other seasonings that could make the meat more flavorful! Like cumin… She stuck out her tongue, feeling like she was indulging in wishful thinking.
“Hey, System, aren’t you going to give me a reward?” Tang Hongluan muttered as she walked. After all, the wildness levels of her beast husbands had dropped a bit…
[Little host has received a small bag of salt!]
Tang Hongluan’s lips twitched. If she hadn’t asked, would it not have given her anything?
She had already figured it out, this system was utterly capricious, with frugality as its only principle!
Still, getting something was better than nothing.
With salt in hand, she felt more confident. Even if she found nothing else, she could still go home and enjoy flavorful roasted meat. Just thinking about it made her hungry again…
The basket at home still held some leftover wild fruits from yesterday, so she didn’t bother picking more today. After all, this season meant the back mountain was teeming with them, she could gather some anytime.
And someday, if she could figure out how to make bowls or basins, she could even press the fruits for juice or brew wine. The thought of sipping fruit wine while feasting on roasted meat was enough to make her grin in her sleep!
Today, her main goal was to find some ingredients.
Of course, the back mountain was overgrown with weeds, and this was the beast world, there was no shortage of bizarre insects. As she walked, Tang Hongluan suddenly felt a sharp pinch on her foot.
“Ow!”
She shrieked and kicked out hard.
A huge welt had already formed on her foot. Tang Hongluan’s eyes widened in fury as she followed the trajectory of her kick, only to spot a scorpion!
A scorpion had bitten her. And scorpions were venomous!
She immediately sat down to squeeze out the poisoned blood, all while angrily picking up a rock to hurl at the scorpion.
On one hand, she loathed the creature. On the other, the antidote for venomous bites was often the venomous creature itself, so she needed that scorpion to cure herself!
“What are you doing here?” A cold voice laced with disdain rang out. The next moment, she watched as the scorpion, which had been trying to flee, was snatched away by something.
Tang Hongluan turned her head. A strikingly beautiful yet eerie face, eyes gleaming with an almost greenish light, enough to make one’s scalp prickle. Who else could it be but her beast husband, Qing Yuan!
The scorpion that had just bitten her was now in Qing Yuan’s hand.
“This scorpion is mine!” Tang Hongluan pointed at the scorpion in Qing Yuan’s grip. Though she had quickly squeezed out the venom after being bitten, some residual poison might still remain. She was counting on using this very scorpion to fully expel the toxins from her body!
As she met Qing Yuan’s gaze, an inexplicable sense of foreboding rose in her heart, would he really refuse to give it back?