Chapter 442: So Easy to Fool
Qiao Xixi raised an eyebrow. ’A personal attack? I can do that too.’
Qiao Xixi’s face peeked out from between Jin Ling and Sunxiao, and she scanned Yu Ling from head to toe with a gaze far more contemptuous and mocking than Yu Ling’s own.
"You certainly look the part, but you’re completely useless. You can’t even help your mother with such a small matter. How pathetic."
Yu Ling was the Beast King’s favorite cub, so she immediately understood the meaning behind Qiao Xixi’s words. Her arrogant face instantly darkened.
"You’re nothing but a stinking brat born from a Wandering Beast. How dare you compare yourself to me."
"That’s right. Your bloodline is so noble, so why are you still so useless?"
"You!"
Yu Ling was so furious her fur stood on end.
But Qiao Xixi had no intention of backing down. ’She’s put her face right in front of me. It would be a waste not to take a swing.’
Qiao Xixi walked up to Yu Ling, her tone dripping with provocation. "There’s one more thing I need to tell you. Soon, you’re going to lose the Beast King’s favor."
"That’s impossible! My mother loves me the most!"
Qiao Xixi smiled meaningfully. "You see? You don’t even know, yet you claim she loves you most. The Beast King must not have told you, right? It’s something even your brother knows, but she kept it only from you. That means you’re not nearly as important as you think."
"You’re lying! If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll rip your mouth off!"
Sunxiao and Jin Ling took a step forward, unleashing an intense pressure.
Seeing this, the beastman soldiers all moved closer to Yu Ling.
Qiao Xixi put her hands behind her back and gestured to Jin Ling and the others, signaling them not to be hasty.
"You definitely don’t know this, but the Beast King has tasked me with finding the source of the Dark Origin Stone. This thing can completely suppress the monsters in the Thunder-swallowing Forest. Once I find it, do you think the Beast King will still care about a useless female cub like you?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the color drained from Yu Ling’s face.
Until this moment, she had been absolutely certain of her mother’s affection. Even knowing Qiao Xixi existed, she’d never seen her as a threat. ’But what if she actually accomplishes something so great? Will Mother’s feelings for me really stay the same?’
"You don’t even know what the source of the Dark Origin Stone is. What makes you think you can compete with me!"
This statement greatly provoked Yu Ling. Her eyes widened. "Who says I don’t know? My father once told me that the royal family has records about it. I’ll definitely find it before you do!"
Qiao Xixi quickly picked up on the information in her words. ’Looks like the royal family really does know about it.’
"Then let’s just wait and see."
Yu Ling still wanted to cause trouble for Qiao Xixi, but she was worried about wasting time she could be using to find the source of the Dark Origin Stone. Gritting her teeth, she threw out a final threat, "You just wait," and left with her beastman soldiers.
Qiao Xixi scoffed. ’So easy to fool.’
"Xixi..."
Qiao Xixi turned back to look at Yaoxi, softening the sharp aura around her. "Aunt Yaoxi, did I scare you?"
Yaoxi smiled and shook her head. She actually quite liked this side of Qiao Xixi—bright and bold, unlike herself.
"Xixi, I heard you say just now that you’re looking for something?"
Qiao Xixi had planned to bring it up after getting to know Yaoxi a little better, but she hadn’t expected her to ask about it first.
"Yes, I’m trying to find the source of the Dark Origin Stone. I heard that only the royal family of Beast King City knows where it is. Have you heard of it, Aunt Yaoxi?"
Yaoxi nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
Qiao Xixi was very surprised. Yaoxi had actually heard of it.
Yaoxi glanced around, then thought for a moment and said, "Come inside with me first. We’ll talk in the house."
"Alright."
Qiao Xixi followed Yaoxi into the stone house.
Even from the outside, she had guessed the house wouldn’t be in good shape, but she hadn’t expected it to be this bad.
The room contained only two moldy stone stools and not even a simple plank bed. In a corner, a few beast-hide mats, washed so much they’d faded to white, were laid out on the floor. Next to the mats stood a wooden rack, which Yaoxi had probably made herself. It was crudely constructed, likely due to a female’s lack of strength.
But even so, the room was kept very clean.
The state of the room made Yaoxi feel embarrassed for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and asked Qiao Xixi to sit down.
The stone house was too small, so Jin Ling and the others didn’t come in, standing guard outside the door instead.
"Aunt Yaoxi, you said you know about the source of the Dark Origin Stone?"
Yaoxi nodded. "I heard my father mention it once. Actually, it has always been a secret the royal family is forbidden to speak of."
When Qiao Xixi heard that, she knew there was more to the story.
"I heard my father say that a long, long time ago..." She couldn’t remember which Beast King’s reign it was. "Back then, the various Beast Cities were all very powerful, as were many of the large tribes. They all wanted to expand their territory and influence."
As the Beast King, how could he not sense their ambition? To bolster his own power, that generation’s Beast King came up with an idea: to create something that could grant males even greater strength.
"Later, a shaman figured out a dark art... they had the males absorb the power of the Dark Origin Stone. After absorbing the power, those males did indeed become stronger, even more powerful than those with an Awakened Beast Soul. The Beast King was very pleased."
But he didn’t realize that in doing so, he had given the dark power fertile ground to grow. Fed by him, the power of the Dark Origin Stone grew stronger and stronger, until it reached an uncontrollable level.
Wild beasts that accidentally absorbed the dark power all mutated. Seeing things spiraling out of control, that generation’s Beast King finally grew fearful. He hastily ordered the shaman of that time to find a way to bury the source of the Dark Origin Stone deep underground and suppress it with the power of beast souls.
He worried that the suppressing power would weaken over time, so he instructed his successors to have someone guard the source and immediately quell any disturbances.
Qiao Xixi listened, her brow furrowed. "If that’s the case, then the source of the Dark Origin Stone should be under the Watchtower."
Yaoxi shook her head. "I don’t know. That knowledge was lost with the previous Beast King."
Lost???
A somber look crossed Yaoxi’s face. "Because back then, she didn’t want to pass the throne to me, so she was unwilling to tell me about it. But by the time Yu Qing took power, she was already gravely ill and couldn’t even speak."
Qiao Xixi’s eyes widened in surprise. "Aunt Yaoxi, are you saying that the Beast King’s throne was originally supposed to be yours?"
Yaoxi nodded. "But my mother didn’t like me, so she was unwilling to tell me."
Perhaps the previous Beast King thought she still had a long life ahead of her and wasn’t in a hurry to inform Yu Qing. That’s why Yu Qing doesn’t know.
But who could have known that the previous Beast King would suddenly fall gravely ill and die before she had the chance to pass on the information?
And so, the knowledge was lost with Yu Qing’s generation.
"Then besides the royal family, is it possible the Holy Priest knows?"
Yaoxi shook her head. "He probably doesn’t know. This isn’t exactly a proud moment in our history, after all." If this matter were to get out, it would certainly damage the royal family’s prestige.
"But don’t worry, Xixi. I still know some of the old-timers in the royal palace. I’ll go ask them."
Qiao Xixi hadn’t expected to get such useful information from Yaoxi. She was very grateful. "Thank you, Aunt Yaoxi."
Yaoxi shook her head. "I’ll be happy if I can be of help to you."
After chatting for a while longer, Yaoxi walked Qiao Xixi to the door.
"Xixi, don’t just wander around the royal palace. If you absolutely have to go somewhere, make sure your beast-husbands are with you."
Qiao Xixi was a little puzzled. "Aside from people potentially targeting me, is the royal palace itself unsafe?"