Chapter 176: Chapter 177: Standing on the Shoulder of a Giant

Ye Wushuang hovered in the air, his body clad in Golden Armor that burst with golden light, making him look like a golden Divine King!

Before him, one giant after another bowed deeply, their respect immense!

This shocking turn of events was something even Ye Wushuang, with all his composure, couldn’t immediately process.

Not only had he interrupted the Giant Spirit Clan’s ritual, but even the Barbarian God Statue they revered as a Divine Spirit had suddenly lost both its eyes.

He had expected the Giant Spirits to fly into a rage and subject him to death by a thousand cuts, but this outcome was something he’d never anticipated. It was all so theatrical!

"Priest!"

’Priest!’ Ye Wushuang repeated the word in his mind. Staring at the giants before him, he could sense that their reverence was no act—it was genuine and came from the heart.

Of course, none of that mattered. The important thing was that their hostility toward him had vanished. This realization allowed him to breathe a mental sigh of relief.

"Esteemed Lord Priest, we were offensive earlier. Please forgive us!" An elderly, barefoot giant stepped forward and spoke with great reverence.

This was the same giant elder who had previously sworn not to let Ye Wushuang escape.

But now, his reverence for Ye Wushuang was stronger than anyone else’s.

Ye Wushuang’s eyes flickered.

’I’m no Priest, but in this situation, if I try to deny it, they’ll probably tear me limb from limb.’

’So, for now, the only plan is to play along. This identity might be my only way out of this bizarre, deadly crisis!’

With that thought, Ye Wushuang cast aside his reservations. His expression grew solemn as he declared, "You were unaware of my arrival. I do not blame you."

Upon hearing this, the giant elder bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your forgiveness, esteemed Lord Priest!"

He then turned to the giant at the Yin Yang Realm. "Clan Leader, with the Lord Priest’s return, it is time to plan our clan’s resurgence!"

This giant at the Yin Yang Realm was the Clan Leader of the Giant Spirit Race!

After hearing this, he glanced at Ye Wushuang before saying, "We will discuss this matter back at Giant Spirit Hall. For now, let us escort the Lord Priest."

With that said, he approached Ye Wushuang.

The Clan Leader’s eyes were like stars, shining with a brilliant Divine Light. His muscles, layered like rock, gleamed with a metallic sheen, exuding a powerful aesthetic.

He was also incredibly tall, standing a full forty to fifty feet high!

Even with Ye Wushuang hovering in midair, he only came up to the man’s shoulder.

He wore a dark headband, from which a silver feather plume rose at the front. It seemed to be some kind of symbol, lending him an air of majesty.

His body showed no trace of True Essence fluctuations, yet it radiated a terrifying aura capable of sundering the heavens, shattering stars, and slaying Divine Spirits.

Observing him up close, Ye Wushuang was deeply shaken. ’This is without a doubt a true powerhouse,’ he thought. ’Someone who would likely rank among the strongest in the entire Grand Emperor Domain!’

Ye Wushuang wasn’t afraid, however. ’If this Clan Leader wanted to kill me,’ he reasoned, ’I’d already be dead.’

"My name is Pann Cang, Clan Leader of the Giant Spirit Race. I know you have many doubts, Lord Priest. Please come with me, and I will clear them up for you!" Pann Cang said directly.

’Doubts?’

Staring into Pann Cang’s earnest eyes, Ye Wushuang was baffled. ’What doubts could I possibly have? I have absolutely nothing to do with the Giant Spirit Clan. How could I be their Priest?’

Seeing Ye Wushuang’s silence, Pann Cang said no more. He tilted his shoulder, gesturing for Ye Wushuang to stand on it.

For a moment, Ye Wushuang was stunned, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Pann Cang smiled. "Lord Priest, come on up. I’ll take you somewhere!"

After a moment’s hesitation, Ye Wushuang made his decision. Gritting his teeth, he stepped onto Pann Cang’s shoulder.

"The ritual is over for today. Everyone, return to your duties!" Pann Cang called out to the others. To Ye Wushuang’s ears, the shout was like a deafening crack of thunder.

Pann Cang then turned and walked away from the altar.

Ye Wushuang remained standing on his shoulder.

If anyone else had seen this, their eyes would have popped out of their sockets in shock.

Pann Cang was the Clan Leader of the Giant Spirit Race, the most powerful Ancient Race in the Endless Wilderness. He was a supreme expert of the Yin Yang Realm, a formidable figure whose wrath could lay waste to ten thousand miles.

A man so formidable that even other Yin Yang Realm experts wouldn’t dare provoke him, yet he was allowing a mere True Essence Realm Cultivator to stand on his shoulder. It was an absolutely mind-boggling sight!

"It seems the prophecy was right. Our clan’s Priest has returned!"

"Yes, he will lead our Giant Spirit Clan back to glory!"

"Indeed. The Lord Priest is incredible! He’s only at the True Essence First Layer, yet he beat young Pann Lin with his physical strength alone. He is truly worthy of being our clan’s Priest!"

...

Behind them, the group of giants did not leave immediately. Instead, they respectfully watched Ye Wushuang depart, discussing excitedly among themselves.

Their voices were so loud that every single word reached Ye Wushuang’s ears.

Ye Wushuang simply smiled faintly.

From these discussions, Ye Wushuang also learned that the slightly shorter giant who had fought him earlier was named Pann Lin. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

It turned out that Pann Lin’s attack had been a ritual, the Giant Spirit Race’s way of welcoming their Priest!

However, what surprised Ye Wushuang was that Pann Lin was actually only eight years old!

’Which meant he had just been fighting a little kid!’

Ye Wushuang would never have guessed. The thought that he had just thrashed a little kid made him smile wryly, and he couldn’t help but marvel at the unique physiology of the Giant Spirit Clan.

"There’s no need to be surprised, Lord Priest," Pann Cang explained, noticing Ye Wushuang’s wry smile. "Members of the Giant Spirit Clan are born much larger than those of the Human Race. Even as children, we can be over thirty feet tall!"

To be honest, Pann Cang himself had been quite shocked by Ye Wushuang’s thrashing of Pann Lin.

The Giant Spirit Clan had a unique physiology and possessed Celestial God Power. Even though Pann Lin was only eight years old, an ordinary human Cultivator at the True Essence Sixth Layer wouldn’t necessarily be his match.

Yet Ye Wushuang, at only the True Essence First Layer, had defeated him with physical strength alone!

’This must be the Barbarian God’s guidance!’ Pann Cang sighed internally. He thought of the legends of the Giant Spirit Race, and his heart began to burn with anticipation.

"Clan Leader..." Ye Wushuang called out, preparing to ask something.

But Pann Cang spoke first. "I know what you want to ask. You probably don’t believe you’re the Priest and only accepted the title as a means to escape the Giant Spirit Race, correct?"

Hearing this, Ye Wushuang’s eyes narrowed. He was stunned that Pann Cang had seen through him so completely. ’Then again,’ he thought, ’as the leader of an entire clan, it would be hard to believe he didn’t have a sharp, perceptive mind.’

Since Pann Cang already knew his true intentions, Ye Wushuang saw no reason to hold back. "If you know my goal, then why haven’t you killed me?" he asked directly.

"Lord Priest, you jest," Pann Cang said with a laugh. "You may not admit to being our clan’s Priest, but you are, in fact, the one!"

Pann Cang’s words were a bit roundabout, but Ye Wushuang understood his meaning clearly: He *was* the Priest of the Giant Spirit Race, he just wasn’t aware of this fact himself.

At once, Ye Wushuang asked in confusion, "Why?"

"It relates to one of our clan’s legends," Pann Cang said, glancing back at the Barbarian God Statue. He murmured, "When the Divine Eye shatters, the Earth Palace will be revealed. The Priest shall arrive, and the Giant Spirit will rise. Those were the words left by the last Priest."