In the darkened starry sky, the kings each held an array of ritual vessels. They surrounded Spiderstar King and spread out formation patterns one after another.
Spiderstar King herself extended eight black spider legs in every direction, spinning strand after strand of transparent, rippling webbing. The strands reached hundreds, then thousands, then tens of thousands of miles, until they faded from sight and stretched into the boundless starry sky.
Awe showed in the kings' eyes.
The Lineage Spiderstar King came from was called the Buxu Clan. Its bloodline was unusual, containing the power of divination, and its members possessed an extraordinary gift for it.
For that reason, the Buxu Clan had always been among the closest followers of the emperors and imperial heirs.
Its most central descendants followed only ancient emperors and ancient imperial heirs. They would never drift beyond that circle, for only then did they have a chance to rise so high that even their chickens and dogs would ascend with them—and become emperors themselves. No rare treasure, power, or status could compare.
The chief reason Azure Sky Imperial Son had paid such a steep price this time was Spiderstar King.
Blood River King's strength was secondary. He was not impossible to defeat.
The real trouble was that this slave king could run!
When faced with fewer enemies, he pounced, drowning them in a river of blood. He had none of a powerful fighter's pride and no scruples at all, choosing the weak as his prey. Countless royal Lineages jumped at every rustle, chilled to the bone.
Faced with greater numbers?
The slave king fled in an instant. No one could catch him!
That was what made him so troublesome. He was like a fly—but one they could not ignore. This fly possessed terrifying power in single combat.