"Skinny Monkey, did I agree a little too hastily? That old man... can't beat Furball and Kang to the food."
As Shi Hao voiced his doubts, the battle for food quickly reached its conclusion.
Ancestor Mu Yan suffered a crushing defeat.
Furball held the high ground on the rim of the pot, both little paws clutching its edge as Furball buried a mouth in the soup and sucked furiously.
Kang went even further, plunging headfirst into the pot, all four hooves pointing skyward, marinating in the remaining emerald-green broth as though taking a bath.
Furball's tail had knocked the ladle out of Ancestor Mu Yan's hand. The old man had stubbornly scraped a thin layer from the pot's walls and was now tipping his head back to pour it into his mouth.
Kang pulled a head out of the soup.
Two tiny eyes glared at the old geezer competing for food, and Kang's nostrils contracted.
Buzz!
A slender beam of blue light struck Ancestor Mu Yan squarely in the chest.
The old man's body abruptly stiffened.
The ladle in his hand clattered to the ground. Before he could swallow the emerald broth filling his mouth, he toppled backward, stiff as a board.
Thud.
The mighty Grand Elder of the Heaven Mending Pavilion landed flat on his back on the yellow earth, limbs splayed and green liquid trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Ancestor!"
The Pavilion Master's expression changed drastically, and he strode forward.
All eight guardians moved at once, rune light flaring in their palms.
"Nobody move! Stay back!"
Lying on the ground, Ancestor Mu Yan actually let out a roar brimming with vigor.
The elders stopped at his shout.
The old man's eyes were wide open, fixed on the night sky.
The paralyzing force shattered and rebuilt his