Translator: CinderTL
Gulp...
Xu Sanyan swallowed nervously. "Clan Chief, if all other races have symbiotic spirit beasts, wouldn't the Bear Clan and Flying Eagle Clan have an even greater advantage?"
Ever since learning that the old woman might have undergone Seven Blessings, his tone had become even more respectful.
This wasn't out of cowardice, but rather his innate respect for elders and the young. He naturally treated his elders with extra deference.
The old woman shook her head. "Only the Dog Clan has symbiotic partners. Heaven is fair. It granted the Bear Clan immense strength, the Snake Clan agility, the Flying Eagle Clan keen senses, and the Stone People Clan resilience. To compensate, it gave the Dog Clan powerful companions."
Xu Sanyan nodded silently, acknowledging the truth as he gazed at the Seven-Headed Dog's massive form.
From this perspective, the individual strength of other races likely surpassed that of the Dog Clan.
Xun Ancai had previously mentioned that Dog Clan people were relatively balanced in all aspects. While they lacked the Bear Clan's raw power, they were faster. Though less agile than the Snake Clan, they possessed greater strength.
But the reality was more nuanced. Strength couldn't be compared so simply.
In a life-or-death struggle, disregarding combat techniques and focusing solely on physical prowess, the gaps in strength and speed would be nearly impossible to compensate for through other means.
To illustrate this more concretely with numbers, let's assume the Bear Clan has a strength of 10, a speed of 5, and a total score of 15.
The Dog Clan, on the other hand, would have a strength of 7, a speed of 6, and a total score of 13.
While the Dog Clan appears slightly faster than the Bear Clan, the vast difference in strength remains difficult to overcome.
The Snake Clan faces a similar predicament.
Xu Sanyan pondered inwardly, If that's the case, would obtaining the Bear Clan's Blessing be even more beneficial to me?
After a moment's thought, he shook his head. Blessings are extremely rare and not easily acquired.
His ability to obtain the Dog Clan's Blessing stemmed entirely from their need for his assistance. He couldn't assume other clans would offer the same conditions.
A bird in hand is worth more than a thousand in the forest. Only what you hold in your grasp truly belongs to you!
Moreover, no one had ever said that obtaining the Dog Clan's Blessing would prevent him from acquiring the Bear Clan's Blessing. With this secret realm under his control, he would eventually extract every last drop of its value!
Xu Sanyan then posed his final and most pressing question: "If I accept the Dog God's Blessing, will I become one of the Dog Clan people?"
The old woman smiled and shook her head. "The Dog Clan people are bound by blood, not by power. Accepting the Dog God's Blessing will have no impact on your identity. It will merely enhance your physical body with the Dog God's strength."
Xu Sanyan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He preferred being human and had no desire to become a dog.
"Any more questions? If not, let's begin."
The old woman retrieved two irregular, crystalline stones from her sleeve. These were likely the Earth Vein Stones, the remains of the Dog God's corpse.
Xu Sanyan nodded. "No more questions."
"Very well, follow me." The old woman leaned on her cane and began to ascend Heroic Soul Mountain.
The middle-aged woman and the Seven-Headed Dog remained behind, waiting.
The old woman's steps were unsteady, and she appeared frail, but she was a formidable figure who had received the Seven Blessings. To her, the short mountain was as flat as a plain.
Upon reaching the summit, Xu Sanyan discovered a hidden arrangement.
A small, open area lay at the peak, with a waist-high stone altar at its center. Atop the altar stood a statue with a human body and a dog's head—presumably the Dog God itself.
Both the altar and the statue were crudely carved and weathered by countless years of wind and rain, yet they still stood firm.
The old woman approached the statue, casually planted her cane in the ground, and slowly knelt, prostrating herself with fervent devotion.
Xu Sanyan, who did not worship the Dog God, remained standing. After all, it was merely a demonic creature—hardly worthy of his reverence.
In his entire life, Xu Sanyan had only knelt down in one situation: when he needed to change positions, like the previous night.
The old woman didn't insist on him kneeling. She pressed her palms together, sandwiching the two Earth Vein Stones between them, and began to chant softly.
Moments later, the Earth Vein Stones emitted a faint, luminous glow. The light suddenly coalesced into two beams that shot into the Dog God Stone Sculpture, causing the statue to radiate a hazy aura.
Xu Sanyan watched intently as the statue's eyes abruptly lit up. Though it was merely a stone carving, for that instant, it seemed to come alive!
The light in those eyes swirled and shifted. Xu Sanyan frowned deeply, feeling...
The statue seemed to be looking at him!
A sudden pressure weighed down on Xu Sanyan's heart.
At that moment, the old woman's lips moved as if she were speaking, but no sound escaped. The scene took on an indescribable eeriness.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, the light from the stone sculpture's eyes shot toward Xu Sanyan, instantly piercing his body and surging wildly within him.
A searing pain erupted through his entire being, as if his bones were being shattered and reassembled, his muscles tearing with muffled snaps.
The energy tore through his body while simultaneously healing it, sparing neither his organs nor his flesh.
"Ah~!!"
Xu Sanyan could no longer suppress the agony, his anguished scream tearing through the air.
This torment rivaled, if not surpassed, the agony he had endured while refining the Nether Phoenix!
"Ahhh!"
Overwhelmed by the intense pain, Xu Sanyan was momentarily unable to focus on anything else. His mind went blank as he collapsed to the ground, paralyzed.
The old woman continued her prayers without turning her head, seemingly oblivious to Xu Sanyan's agonized screams. The Earth Vein Stone in her hand gradually turned ashen-white, its jade-like luster fading away.
The halo surrounding the Dog God Stone Sculpture slowly dissipated, as if it couldn't be sustained much longer.
Xu Sanyan's screams echoed across Heroic Soul Mountain. The middle-aged woman and the Seven-Headed Dog below had long grown accustomed to this ritual; each Blessing was a dual torment of both mind and body.
After all, such immense power couldn't be obtained easily.
How long passed, Xu Sanyan didn't know. The screams eventually ceased, and the stone sculpture reverted to its original form.
Xu Sanyan lay weakly on the ground, his eyes staring blankly at the sky, like a broken doll.
His long robe was soaked through with sweat, as if he had just been pulled from water. He tried to sit up, but couldn't even move a finger.
The old woman rose, leaning on her cane, and shuffled over to Xu Sanyan. Her benevolent smile now seemed utterly false to him.
"Don't be afraid," she said. "This is a normal reaction. Everyone experiences it. Rest well at home for the next few days, avoid strenuous activity, and allow your body to recover naturally. We'll begin the second Blessing in five days."
As she spoke, the old woman guided Xu Sanyan down the mountain with one hand.
Xu Sanyan's face was deathly pale, his once-handsome features now twisted and distorted, still recovering from the ordeal.
After leading him down the mountain, the old woman handed him over to a middle-aged woman. "Take him home," she instructed.
"Yes," the woman replied, cradling Xu Sanyan as she led him toward Xun Ancai's house.
The old woman leaned on her cane with one hand while stroking the Seven-Headed Dog with the other, watching the pair recede into the distance.
"Woof~"
The Seven-Headed Dog let out a low bark, as if trying to communicate something.
The old woman tilted her head back to gaze at the sky and sighed. "The outside world isn't as wonderful as they imagine."
(End of the Chapter)
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