Chapter 24: A Phoenix Rising from a Coop of Common Hens

Ye Chen’s attention was no longer on the chief.

“Ya and the others managed to lure away some of the wild boars, but their numbers are terrifyingly large.”

“There are so many wild boars attacking this time. As for the ones used as offerings, do they possess any special qualities?”

The furious wild boars seemed bent on destroying the entire tribe, rampaging madly and suffering heavy casualties. Normally, they should have started fleeing by now. Yet these boars acted as if cursed, relentless in their frenzy, but surely their instinct to seek benefit and avoid harm remained. The chief and the shaman had already slain many, so why did some boars still show no fear of death?

Ye Chen pondered carefully. Previously, the wild boar chosen as an offering seemed unusually clever; although still a beast, it perhaps held the potential for further advancement.

If this provoked the entire boar herd into madness, it would be no surprise. After all, a phoenix from a chicken coop is a rare thing, and for ordinary beasts to break through and become extraordinary is no easy feat.

More importantly, this place was far from abundant in spiritual energy; hoping for bloodlines to revert and beasts to become monsters through time alone was futile.

So, truly breaking through could rely only on luck.

This wasn’t simply a matter of one wild boar’s death—it was the shattering of their collective hope, a hatred deeper than the sky, whose consequences would be severe.

“As for the meat of that wild boar, it tasted nothing special.”

Though Ye Chen had sampled the wild boar offered in sacrifice, he found its flavor quite mediocre.

“My limitations are still too great. The area I can control is too small. That won’t do—if real danger arrives, by the time I react, it might be too late.”

Of course, the danger Ye Chen referred to was not these wild boars.

The trouble they brought might seem catastrophic to the tribe, but to Ye Chen, it was nothing.

After all, these boars were mere beasts, and Ye Chen, as a ninth-rank deity—however diminished his strength—could deal with them effortlessly.

Yet one could hardly expect that the threats facing the tribe would always be within Ye Chen’s grasp.

If, by chance, while Ye Chen dozed, the tribe suffered heavy losses, any vengeance he took afterward would be too late.

“The tribe is simply too weak.”

Ye Chen sighed. With such frailty, their ability to withstand risks was low, and he dared not become complacent.

“If only the tribe’s members could improve their strength.”

Ye Chen’s gaze shifted, piercing the night, settling on Ya. In the tribe, only Ya possessed considerable power, having broken through to the extraordinary.

If not for the lack of inheritance in the tribe, Ya’s abilities could progress further, instead of being so bewildered by his current realm.

“If Ya could fully unleash his strength, facing the wild boars, he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.”

Ya ought to have the upper hand against wild boars.

Of course, one-on-one, Ya had no fear, but the boars were not constrained by martial rules—they favored group attacks. Their tusks were razor-sharp, and Ya dared not underestimate them.

After his breakthrough, Ya no longer had an ordinary physique. In theory, given enough time, he could kill the boars one by one, exterminating them all, though in the process, he could not protect the tribe.

Ya was furious, stomping his feet—he feared nothing in battle against the boars, yet dared not act recklessly.

By nature, Ya truly wished for a proper fight with them; yet now, constrained and cautious, he felt deeply aggrieved.

“They’re coming.”

Ye Chen’s eyes flashed. He saw a large horde of wild boars rampaging through the tribe, with the chief and shaman about to meet them—final combat was imminent.

“The wild boars appear menacing. I wonder if any among them have broken their limits and transformed into monsters.”

The shaman was shocked, frightened by the chief’s words. “We’re clearly on the outskirts of Demon Ridge; monsters shouldn’t appear here.”

“There’s nothing to fear from monsters. In the wild, one might worry, but if they come to us of their own accord, they’re nothing but wild boar meat—a great fortune. If there really is a monster, its meat ought to be tremendously nourishing.”

The chief’s expression was grave, never careless, but he deliberately spoke with a hint of lightness.

If it’s fate, so be it; if it’s disaster, it cannot be avoided. However anxious one might be, nothing would change. Now, they could only face it calmly.

The wild boars drew nearer. Among them, one was enormous, shrouded in a thin layer of demonic energy, which was gradually taking shape. When it thickened enough, that boar would shed its mortal form and be reborn.

That was the wild boar king, charging madly.

It looked intimidating, but had not yet truly become a monster—it was still one step short.

“What a pity. Looks like the wild boar king will fail at the last hurdle.”

Ye Chen felt a twinge of regret—it was indeed unfortunate.

Monster meat was a great tonic, possibly enabling some tribesmen to break through.

And just one step short was a world of difference.

“Slaying it isn’t difficult.”

“But that’s only true for me. If the chief attempts it, he’ll struggle.”

Ye Chen glanced at Ya—if Ya went all out, dealing with the wild boar king was possible.

But Ya was still immature. He wasn’t certain whether Ya and the others were leading the boars away to protect the tribe’s elders and children, or if the boars were actually toying with them.

Judging by the outcome, it seemed more likely the boars were leading them on, since Ya’s plan hadn’t worked—the boars were still charging in.

Ye Chen’s thoughts stirred. The illusory realm descended, transforming the scenery; before the wild boars appeared a massive cliff.

The boars, previously charging with ferocity, slammed on the brakes so sharply their hooves nearly snapped.

The wild boar king, possessing some wits, widened its eyes and looked around, bewildered.

Something was wrong—how had a cliff suddenly appeared?

The king’s demonic energy surged; the cliff, like paper, rippled as if on a calm lake suddenly disturbed, and with a pop, the illusion shattered.

It was fake—the wild boar king flew into a rage, its bristles standing upright like arrows.

At that moment, a spirit butterfly danced, appearing suddenly and fluttering in the air. The wild boar king froze.

With a whistle, streams of golden light gathered, forming a sword’s radiance. The sword sang, circling the wild boar king’s neck, and then its head toppled.

The wild boar king had not yet unleashed its might, nor wrought any destruction—it died in vain.

Normally, it wouldn’t have been so sluggish; though doomed, it would have lasted. Now, it collapsed with a thud, blood gushing like a fountain from its broken neck.

With the king dead, the other wild boars could not escape their fate. For Ye Chen, slaughtering them was effortless.

Ye Chen invoked the dream realm, reversing illusion and reality, bewildering the boars. Before they regained their senses, they perished silently.