The other Ferocious Beasts wore various expressions, but without exception, they all smiled with a hint of cruelty after suddenly realizing what was going on.
Di Tian was especially amazed in his heart, admiring his lord's methods to the utmost.
Well done!
Although Xiao Wu had taken human form, in essence, she was still a Soul Beast.
The Soft Bone Rabbit clan was renowned for its extraordinary reproductive ability, and its members became pregnant with ease.
And Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. How powerful was her bloodline?
Even if the bloodline of her descendants were diluted, they would still far surpass ordinary Soft Bone Rabbits.
Their meat would be delicious, and the energy it contained would make them top-quality fare!
With just a little care, they could soon breed a large number of high-quality, different varieties of "new" Soft Bone Rabbits in the Star Dou Great Forest.
By then, scattered throughout the forest, these rabbits would become a "benefit" within easy reach of every Soul Beast citizen.
This would not only greatly improve the quality of the prey available to the Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Over time, a high-quality food chain would also raise the average strength of the entire Soul Beast population!
This punishment was a brilliant plan that accomplished several things at once!
It punished the traitor, appeased the loyal, and brought tangible long-term benefits to the entire Soul Beast Empire!
Our lord truly was our lord!
Far-sighted and thorough in every consideration!
Seeing the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape still standing there in a daze, Di Tian snorted coldly and, in a tone that said "you two are so stupid," enlightened them:
"Why haven't you thanked our lord for her benevolence?
"Having your 'Little Sister Xiao Wu' contribute to the whole clan is the greatest honor she could ever receive!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape had very mixed feelings about this.
On one hand, they didn't want their Sister Xiao Wu treated this way. On the other, they felt Xiao Wu deserved punishment for her crimes, and at least she hadn't died.
Besides, if Xiao Wu were to breed on a large scale, she would surely have to mate with many Soul Beasts. If the pool were broadened, might they have a chance too?
At that thought, the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape exchanged a glance and answered in unison, raising no further objections.
In that instant, a world-shaking idea flashed through the minds of these two "simpletons" who had lived for tens of thousands of years.
To produce offspring... they would need a partner, right?
Their lord wanted to improve the bloodline quality of the Soft Bone Rabbit clan. Naturally, they would need to choose the most powerful Soul Beasts as mates to produce the finest offspring!
Across the entire Star Dou Great Forest, aside from their lord, the young lord, and top Ferocious Beasts like Lord Di Tian, who had a stronger bloodline than the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape?
They had grown up with her, knew her inside and out, and shared a deep bond...
Wouldn't they be the perfect ones to carry out this task and "atone through meritorious service"?
Once the idea took root, it spread like a rapidly growing vine, instantly consuming their every thought.
The humiliation and reluctance they had felt at the thought of Xiao Wu being used as a breeding tool were replaced in an instant by a fervor blended with possessiveness, anticipation, and a strange sense of responsibility.
Th-this wasn't punishment at all!
This was clearly their lord's "blessing" to the two brothers!
She was giving them a way to "protect" Xiao Wu forever, in another form, and to merge their bloodlines with hers, creating powerful offspring unlike anything the Star Dou Great Forest had ever seen!
Once they understood this, the despondency vanished from the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape.
"Boom!"
The Titan Giant Ape used the last of his strength to slam a fist into the ground, making a thunderous crash. In a deep, rumbling voice, he roared:
"Our lord is wise!
"I... I, Erming, am willing to contribute to the prosperity of the Soft Bone Rabbit clan!"
An unprecedented light shone in the Titan Giant Ape's enormous eyes as he stared straight toward Xiao Wu's bound form, his longing utterly undisguised.
The Sky Azure Bull Python reacted even faster. He lowered his enormous bull head once more, this time speaking with utmost sincerity and excitement:
"Our lord is farsighted and wise. We were foolish, and nearly mistook our lord's mercy!
"Xiao Wu betrayed her clan and deserves punishment. To contribute to the future of our Soul Beast Clan is her honor—and ours!
"I, Daming, swear to follow our lord to the death, devoting myself to the great revival of the Soul Beast Empire until my dying breath!"
The impassioned declaration left the Ferocious Beasts standing nearby dumbfounded.
"Holy crap!"
Xiong Jun's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He edged over to the Ten Thousand Demon King and lowered his voice:
"Did those two big idiots suddenly get their brains working?
"They're changing their tune faster than I am!"
The Ten Thousand Demon King's mouth twitched. Seeing the way Daming and Erming looked ready to rush off right that second to "atone through meritorious service," he understood. With a look that said he saw right through them, he mused:
"Perhaps this is love... though a little twisted."
Di Tian couldn't help laughing either. Now he understood completely.
Those two fellows had mistaken their lord's punishment for an arranged "marriage" between them and Xiao Wu.
Still, this was a good outcome.
Di Tian cleared his throat and looked sternly at the two brothers in the pit.
"Since you've come to your senses, remember today's lesson.
"Our lord's mercy isn't unlimited. As for what you have in mind...
"Hmph. That will depend on your future conduct, and... whether you're worthy."
His meaning was clear: he was tacitly allowing them to "compete for the position."
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Di Tian!"
"Thank you, Lord Di Tian!"
Daming and Erming shouted together, as though they already saw the forest filled with "super rabbits" born to Xiao Wu, endowed with the divine strength of a Titan Giant Ape and the dragon blood of a Sky Azure Bull Python.
Gu Yuena took it all in. Her peerless face remained utterly calm, though a faint trace of scorn and indifference flickered deep in her violet eyes.
She didn't care who Xiao Wu bred offspring with. It could be Xiong Jun, Daming and Erming, or even any Soul Beast in the forest with a sufficiently powerful bloodline.
She wanted only the result.
A result that would continuously provide the Soul Beast Empire with high-quality "strategic reserves of food."
As for the love and hatred, the deluded hopes, and all the rest along the way, in her eyes, they were no more than amusing diversions in this grand plan.
She turned and took Gu Yuan's hand once more, as if the judgment that had just decided the fate of several Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts had been nothing more than a trivial matter.
"Let's go, Xiao Yuan. The farce is over."
"Mm."
Gu Yuan nodded with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the two enormous figures who had gone from despair to fervor. He sighed inwardly.
Na'er's move had wielded the art of kingship to perfection.
She had resolved an internal conflict without bloodshed, won over two top-tier combatants, and even paved the way for the Soul Beast Empire's future supply needs.
Most importantly, she had completely severed the last possibility of Xiao Wu and Tang San ever being together. In the cruelest yet most effective way, she had made Xiao Wu pay for her choice for the rest of her life.
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