Chapter 465 - 464: The Sole Ruler

The Snake Clan of the Valoran Empire had always held a high position. They were one of the first beast-kin civilizations to emerge, deeply entrenched in the Empire and wielding significant influence.

Within the Snake Clan, countless branches vied fiercely for power.

Various factions schemed against each other, both openly and in secret. Currently, the Snake Clan had five highly respected elders, each from a different group.

Among them, the Red Elder of the Chi Lian Clan commanded the most prestige.

Today was the wedding of the Snake Clan’s ruler, the First Duke of the Empire. No one had expected the bride to be assassinated, with the Chi Lian Clan being named the culprits.

The Red Elder’s throat and tongue had been pierced. His eyes were bloodshot, and his body trembled with rage.

’How dare you?!’

His Chi Lian Clan had suffered countless deaths and injuries. In front of everyone, the Duke showed no regard for the opinions of the other clans, acting as if he were blinded by hatred.

A tall, slender figure stood before the Red Elder.

The Duke stared indifferently into the elder’s blood-red eyes. The sound of chains dragging across the floor came from behind him as someone was brought in.

The elder’s expression faltered as he got a clear look at the newcomer.

The young Snake Clan man was bound in beast-locking chains. His body was covered in wounds, his face a mask of agony.

The Duke said coolly, "I’ve brought you your dear grandson. He’ll keep you company on the Yellow Springs Road, so you won’t be lonely."

The Red Elder trembled all over—

’It really was you!’

His throat was filled with blood, and he could only manage a gurgling, trembling roar.

The young man struggled to open his eyes. When the guard who had dragged him over let go, he collapsed to the floor.

He could smell the damp ground, mixed with the stench of blood.

He was the Young Master of the Chi Lian Clan, and also the former City Lord of Silan City.

The Red Elder had thought his grandson might have fallen into the hands of the Deep Sea Empire. He never imagined that the one who took him was the Duke!

The young Snake Clan man’s Beast Bones were shattered. He was now a useless cripple, unable to do anything.

Noel arrived at the Holy Tower.

It was the first time he had ever seen the Red Elder in such a pathetic state.

After all, he was a man who had held immense power in the Snake Clan.

Now, it was as if the Duke had him by the throat; his life and death rested on a single thought from the Duke.

"What’s the plan?" Noel asked. "Do you want me to heal him?"

"No need for a full recovery. Just enough so he can speak."

The Duke sat down in the white chair behind him and glanced at the young Snake Clan man on the floor. "As for him, pay him no mind."

"Understood." Noel stepped forward.

He walked up to the Red Elder. Seeing those blood-red, serpentine eyes, he let out a soft sigh. "Your Excellency, please don’t stare at me like that. The one torturing you is the Duke."

As he spoke, a white insignia covered the elder’s parched lips.

His throat and tongue felt as if they’d been nourished by a spring rain. Gradually, he was able to make a hoarse sound.

The Red Elder continued to glare fixedly at the seated Duke.

"She deserved to die...!"

’The Duke was busy with the wedding. He shouldn’t have had time to meddle in other affairs.’

’Besides,’ the Red Elder thought, ’since that SS female has returned to Valoran territory, we should just take her life and eliminate any future trouble!’

’The Duke is the one who should have acted!’

’She has her own territory, close ties with the sharks and Mermaids of the Deep Sea Empire, and even an ambiguous relationship with the Crown Prince of the Moon Rising Empire.’

’If a Rabbit Clan female with such extraordinary Fertility cannot be kept in the Valoran Empire forever, then she should die on this land. We must never allow her to endlessly bear offspring for the top-tier males of other empires.’

’Not to mention, with her astounding talent, she might one day advance to become a Holy Female!’

’A woman like her absolutely cannot be involved with other empires!’

’If the Valoran Empire cannot have her, then it should kill her outright—’

’And that is what the First Duke should have done.’

’Even if she had borne six pups for the Snake Clan, the Duke should have found a way to execute her.’

Seeing that the Duke was refusing to act, the Red Elder decided to take matters into his own hands.

He was confident he could send the Rabbit Clan female to her grave before the Hai Giant Shark could react.

But the plan was ruined!

The Red Elder had assumed it was people from the Deep Sea Empire or the Moon Rising Empire, but he never expected it to be Duke Bolun!

He stopped the Young Master Chi Lian’s actions!

In the Red Elder’s eyes, no matter what the Duke’s reasons were, his decision today was utterly absurd and laughable!

As for the wedding—

The elder practically ground his teeth. "The person who assassinated the Jinshe female has nothing to do with the Chi Lian Clan!"

"How could it have nothing to do with you?" The Duke’s golden, slitted pupils stared faintly at the dying man. "You colluded with outside clans, wanting to push a new leader into power. Especially you. How many things have you secretly manipulated over the years? How could you just stand by and watch me marry? What if the prophecy came true?"

The Duke’s tone was certain. "You have defied the Snake Clan’s prophecy. For that alone, you deserve death."

"Nonsense!" The Red Elder was so enraged he coughed up blood. "Lady Sophia’s prophecy... we must uphold it, even at the cost of our lives!"

The Red Elder had indeed manipulated many things.

When the Duke was still very young, he had held absolute power.

He was ruthless in his methods, but when it came to the Snake Clan, he believed his conscience was clear.

Especially concerning Lady Sophia’s prophecy—

As long as he lived, he would adhere to Lady Sophia’s charge and would never stand by and watch the Duke marry a female from another clan.

If necessary, he would even unite with other clans to kill the Duke and choose a new ruler for the Snake Clan.

"No." The Duke picked up his pipe, and an attendant at his side lit it.

He leaned back leisurely in his chair, his figure, hidden in the darkness, slowly becoming wreathed in smoke.

"You are the architect of all this."

"And behind you, there are other accomplices."

"Rest assured, I will send them to join you soon enough."

The Red Elder had been trying his best to refute the claims, but when he heard the Duke’s words, he froze.

It was as if time had stood still.

As he struggled to clear his thoughts, he realized a certain possibility.

"It was you?!"

The Red Elder stared at the Duke in the darkness, incredulous. The little Snake Pup had grown up and bared his fangs.

"You’re the one who killed Yu Xiang...!"

The Duke looked at the elder indifferently. Faced with the accusation, his golden, slitted pupils showed no emotion.

The young Snake Clan man also realized what had happened, his eyes wide with shock!

’How could that be?!’

’The Duke clearly doted on the Jinshe female!’

This wedding had been the center of attention. Many people wanted the Jinshe female dead, but the blame had now been pinned on the Chi Lian Clan, and it could never be washed away.

The elder’s face turned ashen.

Since the Duke dared to do such a thing, he must have been fully prepared.

The evidence would soon be made public.

The entire Chi Lian Clan would be exterminated for defying the prophecy.

The elder trembled all over—

He realized that he wasn’t the only one the Duke wanted to kill!

It probably included the other elders as well!

The Duke wanted to become the sole ruler of the Snake Clan!