The little ones always slept a lot, and with the ancestral ceremony lasting the whole day, they had long since become unbearably sleepy.

Aurelius Valerius’ small head kept nodding, his eyelids battling to stay open.

Sol Valerius also curled up in his father’s arms, already fast asleep.

Mael Valerius carefully adjusted his posture to let the two little ones sleep more comfortably.

He strode out from the Ancestral Grounds, his dark golden eyes sweeping over Soren Phoenix, a flicker of displeasure in them. "Why are you here?"

Originally, he’d wanted to take advantage of the ceremonies to spend a few sweet, peaceful days alone with Luna in the Dragon Clan.

After that, he’d go join the Phoenix Clan. But this flamboyant guy just brought a whole group charging over uninvited.

Soren Phoenix could easily read his thoughts. His eyes, full of mischief, seemed to hold a smile as he lightly fanned himself. "Cousin, what kind of thing is that to say? The Dragon Clan’s annual ancestral ceremony is quite the spectacle. Can’t we come and watch the fun? Or is Cousin afraid we’re disturbing you?"

Mael Valerius’s face instantly darkened, a little embarrassed at having his intentions exposed.

He was just about to speak,

when a voice full of unmistakable superiority suddenly cut in: "Heh, this ’Beast God Envoy’ from the Lower Domain can’t even enter the ancestral land’s barrier. Just waiting outside—what a glamorous life as an envoy, huh."

Everyone turned at the sound to see Princess Willow of the Celestian Clan, surrounded by her retinue, sauntering over gracefully.

She was dressed in an opulent jade-green gown, her makeup impeccable. The look she gave Luna Sutton was openly contemptuous and provocative.

Standing beside her was a woman of cold elegance in a pale moon-white dress, a silver crescent mark on her brow—Diane Snow, Holy Daughter of the Baize Clan.

Diane didn’t say a word, but her autumn-tinted eyes landed on Luna, filled with scrutiny and a hint of well-concealed jealousy.

That gaze was downright uncomfortable.

Luna Sutton furrowed her brows. These two were clearly here to pick a fight. She instantly looked away.

Obviously didn’t want to bother with them.

Neither Princess Willow nor Diane expected Luna to ignore them so thoroughly, as if even glancing their way would waste her time.

Being ignored like that made both of them stew in resentment, their expressions growing uglier by the second.

Princess Willow’s face darkened; she was just about to erupt,

when Mael Valerius’s dark gold gaze swept over coldly, making them both shiver involuntarily and snap their mouths shut.

The commotion over here wasn’t small, and some had heard what Princess Willow said earlier.

Once again, everyone’s eyes focused on Luna Sutton, whispers spreading through the crowd.

"Princess Willow’s got a point. Beast God Envoy? Maybe she just made it up herself." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Abolished live sacrifices? Plunged the entire Beast Realm into chaos—who knows if she’s got some ulterior motive?"

"Lower Domain’s a savage land. What could they know about true rituals and communing with the gods? Probably just a few cheap tricks to fool those ignorant beastmen."

"Exactly. Unless the Beast God appears in person to acknowledge her, she’s nothing but a blasphemous fraud."

...

Corbin Crowley, Rhys Blackwood, Kian Sterling, Zeke Veridian, Malachi Arcanus, Soren Phoenix, and Mael Valerius all heard these words; their faces instantly clouded over.

Corbin Crowley’s silver eyes went icy cold, his gaze swept over the gossiping crowd, carrying an overt warning.

Rhys Blackwood’s aura grew colder, the air around dropping enough to make everyone feel as if they’d plunged into an ice cavern—silencing them at once.

Kian Sterling’s lips curled into a faint smirk, watching all the busybodies with an unreadable calculation.

Zeke Veridian’s detached eyes flickered with displeasure. He was about to spit out some venomous retort,

when Soren Phoenix gently waved his feather fan and spoke with a sly grin, "Since everyone is so curious whether the Beast God Envoy is the real deal, why not—let this clan chief do the honors and invite the Beast God himself to appear? How’s that sound?"

His voice wasn’t loud, yet every word rang clear in everyone’s ears.

The crowd was stunned.

Invite the Beast God himself?

Soren Phoenix might be flamboyant and powerful—not to mention the Phoenix Clan Chief—but he wasn’t a Priest. How could he possibly summon the Beast God?

Even the High Priests of every clan could only communicate with the Beast God through Great Divine Power at special times.

What did Soren Phoenix have that would make him capable?

Just because he’d become the new Clan Chief of the Phoenix Clan?

As the crowd wavered in doubt and suspicion, Luna Sutton glanced at Princess Willow and Lira Snow, her voice calm and steady: "Oh? The two of you seem quite skeptical about my status as Beast God Envoy?"

Princess Willow lifted her chin, disdainful: "Skeptical? More like I simply don’t believe it. The Celestian Clan’s legacy is long—we know very well how difficult and sacred it is to commune with the divine. You, a female from the Lower Domain, with what credentials? Just that claim you had a dream? Or those little tricks you peddle, and the brainless flattery from the beastfolk yokels who’ve never seen the world?"