Upon seeing this figure, everyone present showed expressions of awe and respect. Even the Kui Niu King and Black Dragon King's faces changed slightly.
The White Crane King!
He was the youngest of the ten Beast Clan Kings. When he first became a king, his foundation was still shallow, but as time passed, this brilliant individual slowly transformed his talent into strength, becoming unfathomably powerful.
Even among the other Beast Kings, they held great apprehension toward the White Crane King.
"Father!"
Princess Bai Lu called out with joy.
However, the White Crane King only cast a faint glance at her, and she immediately lowered her head in guilt.
She had failed to acquire the Beast God's Heart and had even helped the one who had stolen it attempt to escape!
"White Crane King, I admit I was impulsive earlier. But Bai Lu's behavior today has been utterly outrageous and unacceptable!"
The Black Dragon King quickly spoke up.
He needed to take the initiative, lest the White Crane King seize on his earlier aggression toward Bai Lu and place him at a disadvantage. If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't mind engaging in a lengthy argument. But when it came to the White Crane King, he preferred to avoid direct conflict.
"Hmm."
The White Crane King nodded calmly, not pursuing the previous matter, giving the impression of indifference.
He looked around and said, "Bai Lu was indeed out of line this time. A mistake is a mistake, and I don't intend to make excuses for her. A father is responsible for not teaching his child properly. As compensation, I will withdraw from the fight for the Beast God's Heart. The rest of you can fight for it amongst yourselves."
"However, this human is my daughter's friend. I hope everyone will show some leniency and spare his life."
With that, he turned to look at Qin Zi, who lay in Bai Lu's arms, and said, "Hand over the Beast God's Heart. Since you're Bai Lu's friend, I will ensure your life is spared, but don't expect to keep the Beast God's Heart."
"No!!"
Qin Zi hugged his chest protectively, instinctively making a defensive posture, his voice tense, "My father needs the Beast God's Heart to survive! I can't give it up!"
Bai Lu also pleaded, "Father, he only took the risk to save his father. Please, show mercy for his filial piety."
However, the White Crane King remained unmoved, his tone indifferent, "There are many people in this world with filial piety, but there is only one Beast God's Heart. If I helped everyone who needed it, even one Beast God's Heart wouldn't be enough."
"But he's my friend!"
Bai Lu protested loudly.
"Precisely because he is your friend, I will spare his life. But that is the extent of it. I have no obligation to save his father."
The White Crane King's voice was calm, his logic cold and terrifying. "If we start extending help to the families of friends, then what about their friends' families, and so on? Where would it end?"
"This…"
Princess Bai Lu was left speechless. She couldn't argue against her father's reasoning. From a logical standpoint, he was right.
But she truly wanted to help Qin Zi!
Because, like Qin Zi, she had her father to rely on. She could imagine the pain of losing a parent and didn't want Qin Zi to become someone filled with sorrow and despair.
"Hand it over."
The White Crane King looked at Qin Zi.
Despite being on the brink of death, Qin Zi shook his head vigorously, resisting with all his might.
"Hmph!"
The White Crane King snorted softly and reached out his hand. Instantly, Qin Zi's internal world was revealed, and the Beast God's Heart floated out from within, slowly drifting toward the White Crane King.
"No... No... NO!!!"
Qin Zi screamed in despair, his voice filled with agony, as if kneeling on the ground and stretching his hands toward the sky in a heart-wrenching howl.
"Sigh…"
"Filial piety is admirable, but what can it accomplish?"
"In the face of absolute power, humans are always left helpless…"
Many members of the Beast Clan sighed internally as they watched this tragic scene, feeling some sympathy for Qin Zi.
Although they were of different races, emotions like despair and helplessness were shared by all. Everyone had something or someone they wished to protect.
Buzz!
Suddenly, the Beast God's Heart emitted a dazzling light and unleashed an ocean-like surge of energy, breaking free from the White Crane King's control and rushing back into Qin Zi's body.
Whoosh!
Immediately, Qin Zi's entire body radiated with a blinding light, his limbs spread out, and his body began to levitate.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In the sky, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the wind howled. Massive amounts of spiritual energy, like countless white dragons, converged on him.
Not only that, but streaks of golden martial fortune, mixed with the surging spiritual energy, also flooded toward him.
"Ahhhh!!"
Qin Zi let out a deafening roar, as if some ancient beast was awakening within him!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A series of powerful heartbeats echoed throughout the heavens and earth, making the entire world tremble. It was as if the heartbeats belonged to a giant, or perhaps a god.
"This is…!"
"The Beast God's Heart has fused with his own?!"
"No, his original heart was crushed by the Black Dragon King. The Beast God's Heart has taken its place!"
The surrounding Martial Emperors immediately saw through Qin Zi's internal condition and exclaimed in shock, unable to believe what was happening.
The Beast God's Heart… was really a heart?!
They had always thought it was a stone!
"How could this happen?"
The White Crane King was briefly taken aback by the scene before him. His brow furrowed as his expression grew more serious.
A terrifying aura began to pour out from him, flooding the area like a tidal wave.
"Father, what are you doing?!"
Princess Bai Lu's face paled as she rushed to stand in front of Qin Zi, her heart trembling with fear.
For the first time, she realized just how terrifying it was to stand in opposition to her father—the very man whose presence had always made her feel safe and secure.
But despite her fear, she did not back down. She looked her father directly in the eye, her face full of pleading.
"Hehe, what are you thinking?"
Suddenly, the White Crane King chuckled, a doting expression appearing in his eyes. "I said I'd protect your friend. Now that the Beast God's Heart has become his heart, how could I possibly take it out? It seems this time… I'll just have to be a little greedy."
Whoosh!
With a wave of his sleeve, the White Crane King gathered Bai Lu, Qin Zi, the three gray-robed elders, and even Jin Zhi, who was in the distance, into his internal world.
Then, turning to face the Black Dragon King, Kui Niu King, and the other Beast Kings lurking in the void, he smiled wryly and said:
"Apologies, my fellow Dao brothers. Today, I, White Crane, must break my promise. I'm taking both the Beast God's Heart… and the boy."
Whoosh!
As he spoke, a horrifying aura spread recklessly from his body, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing.
"White Crane King, you've gone too far!"
"Unreasonable!"
"I won't stand for this!"
Voices of anger and authority echoed from all around, and then the space around them began to distort.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, figures shrouded in chaotic energy emerged from the twisted space, each like a towering demon god.
These were the other Beast Clan Kings.
"White Crane King, I had no intention of becoming your enemy, but today you've gone too far!"
The Black Dragon King's voice was cold as he stepped forward, his body swelling with power. A violent storm of dark energy swirled around him, making him look like a demonic god as well.
"I… I… I'm not backing down either!"
Kui Niu King hesitated for a moment, torn, but seeing the tide turning, he clenched his teeth and joined the "Anti-White Alliance."
Moo—
He transformed into his true form, a colossal Kui Niu bathed in thunderous light, radiating overwhelming ferocity.
"Hahaha! It's been ages since I've had a good fight. Today, let's battle to our hearts' content!"
The White Crane King laughed heartily, his aura swallowing the heavens and earth, before he charged directly at the other Beast Kings!
"Arrogant!"
"Kill!!"
Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thus began a battle of titans, a clash of divine powers that tore the heavens and earth apart!