[The clan leader has released a new book. If you couldn't get into the old book, take a look at the new one, "Rise of Humanity," which integrates various defects of the old book to create a different Great Wasteland!]
"Cai Er, take your time, what exactly happened?"
Upon hearing the girl's cry, Xiao Chen steadied his emotions, suppressed the anger in his heart, and asked.
The girl's name was Lin Cai Er, the daughter of Lin Shan, or the bearded man. It was hard to imagine how the rugged-looking Lin Shan could have such a beautiful daughter. Could it be a genetic mutation?
Xiao Chen's words seemed to provide a support for the young girl. Cai Er took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"Our tribe ran out of hemostatic herbs. Sister Mu Qing led me and some other sisters to the Chaotic Stone Region south of our tribe to gather them. Just as we were returning fully loaded, Xiong Yu from the Black Mountain Tribe appeared with his men. Without any explanation, he attacked. Sister Mu Qing could have escaped, but she got injured trying to save us, and was captured. The rest of our sisters... only Cao Er and I managed to escape back."
As she spoke, Lin Cai Er began to choke up again.
"If our sisters have fallen into the Black Mountain Tribe, they are in danger. And Xiong Yu has long been covetous of Sister Mu Qing... our sisters are really like lambs entering the tiger's mouth now, clan leader brother, you must think of something quickly!"
Lin Cai Er clutched at Xiao Chen's arms, shaking them continuously as her hoarse voice echoed in his ears.
"There, there, Cai Er, don't cry. Clan leader brother will definitely bring your sisters back!"
He gently patted Lin Cai Er's arm, whispering words of comfort.
Hearing the young girl's news, the joy of breaking through to the Blood Refining Realm was utterly shattered, and Xiao Chen felt some self-reproach for not preparing earlier and protecting his tribe people better, despite knowing how arrogant and overbearing the Black Mountain Tribe was.
This served as a wakeup call for Xiao Chen. Being a clan leader was not so easy.
A raging fire ignited within him; his anger was palpable. This act by the Black Mountain Tribe was a provocation to the entire Gu Yuan Tribe, and to him, Xiao Chen!
"Xiong Yu, since you're so eager to seek death, don't blame me, the clan leader, for sending you on your way early."
Just as Xiao Chen was comforting the young girl, Lin Cai Er.
The people of the Gu Yuan Tribe saw Cao Er, who returned covered in injuries. Like a chick back to its nest, she tearfully recounted her ordeal to the tribe people.
After hearing Cao Er's account, the tribe people were enraged. They set aside their chores, grabbed their weapons, and gathered in groups toward Xiao Chen's courtyard.
One person, two people... a hundred people, two hundred people... a thousand people... slowly, more and more people gathered, encircling Xiao Chen's courtyard three layers deep inside and out, tightly packed and impenetrable.
These people were young and old, men and women. There were warriors in battle armor, strong men in coarse cloth, elders exhausted of blood Qi, women who cooked and washed...
Each person carried a war saber, held an iron spear, a wooden bow, and some even carried huge wooden stakes. There was no organization, no call, only endless silence and the limitless fury in their eyes.
To not perish in silence but to burst forth.
True warriors dare to face the grim realities of life, they dare to accept the enemy's challenge!
Facing provocation from the enemy, even knowing they are outmatched, they still dare to draw their swords!
These simple tribe people, facing wild beasts and vicious foreigners, did not shrink back or show fear. For the continuity of their race, they were ready to die without regret. Yet the Black Mountain Tribe, also of the human race, was so ruthless towards its own kin, pushing them to the brink.
Mu Qing was not only the tribe's most beautiful woman, but she was also one of the few medics, kind-hearted, and had helped many in the tribe. The captured girls were treasures of their tribe, not to be tormented by others.
The simple tribe people, not good with words, could only silently pick up their weapons and prove themselves through actions.
Xiao Chen, clad in green battle armor, holding a long spear, his face stern.
Looking at his tribe people united, his heart shuddered, his vision blurring. These were his tribe people, a group worthy of songs and tears.
Having experienced the complex human interactions over countless years, these nearly primitive tribe people still appeared too simple in Xiao Chen's eyes.
Looking at the crowded mass of dark figures, Xiao Chen finally understood the persistent obsession that haunted his heart—an intense feeling of unity, the indomitable belief of sharing honor and fate with tens of thousands.
Xiao Chen, who had strangely arrived in this world, seemed to have found his purpose to fight for.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Tens of thousands surrounded their king, looking at Xiao Chen with hopeful eyes, filled with hatred and rage that surged into the heavens, clearing the skies for tens of miles around.
"The ancestor is here, everyone make way."
Just then, a shout came from behind the crowd. Upon hearing this, everyone moved aside, and soon a narrow path just wide enough for one person emerged. At the end of the road, an old man, hunched over and using a cane, made his way toward Xiao Chen. Although he struggled to walk, he did not let anyone assist him, but slowly moved forward with slow yet firm steps.
Initially clinging to Xiao Chen's arm, Lin Cai Er, seeing the old man's arrival, let go and rushed to him, ignoring everyone's reactions as she supported the old man by his arms.
Despite being the chief, upon the old man's arrival, Xiao Chen did not act pretentiously but bowed respectfully to him, owing both publicly and privately to the old man's deserved honor.
"Great ancestor, Chen has successfully broken through to the Blood Refining Realm,"
As the old man reached him, Xiao Chen whispered into his ear, audible only to them both.
Upon hearing Xiao Chen's words, the old man trembled, a sharp gleam flashing in his murky eyes before it quickly disappeared. The moment he looked up, his face returned to calm, but the slight worry previously visible in his eyes disappeared completely after hearing Xiao Chen's words. However, all of this happened in a flash and went unnoticed by others.
Instead of speaking immediately upon reaching the middle of the tribe people, the old man stood a step behind Xiao Chen, in a posture showing reverence toward the Chief.
"Chief, give the order, I, Niu Dali, will certainly kill Xiong Yu and bring our sisters back."
"Yes, the Black Mountain Tribe has gone too far, let's fight them!"
...
"Those who offend the Gu Yuan, no matter how far, must be punished!"
Xiao Chen, gently pressing down with his hands to stop the tribe people from rioting, turned to them and shouted firmly.
You want war? Then have it!
Since subtlety was no longer an option, let it be spectacular!
"Those who offend the Gu Yuan, no matter how far, must be punished!"
"Those who offend the Gu Yuan, no matter how far, must be punished!"
...
Xiao Chen's words undoubtedly showed his stance; the tens of thousands of tribe people boiled with energy. Ever since the old chief had left, they had been oppressed by other tribes. As time passed, they had accumulated countless suppressed anger.
Xiao Chen's domineering declaration seemed to give them an outlet, passionately unleashing it all.
Watching his tribe people vent, Xiao Chen did not try to stop them; he understood they had been repressed for too long and needed this release. Thus, he stood motionless, watching them.
After a long while, the tribe people finally ceased their shouts, but Xiao Chen's words, "Those who offend the Gu Yuan, no matter how far must be punished," were deeply ingrained in their minds, unforgettable.
Looking back at the old man and receiving a nod, Xiao Chen spoke, "Lin Shan Commander, select a dozen elite Guardian Warriors from among us to accompany me to the Black Mountain Tribe. All other tribe people should return to their stations; our tribe must not be disorganized, to prevent attacks from other tribes."
"I disagree, the chief is the backbone of the Gu Yuan Tribe, and nothing should happen to him. I think I should lead our warriors to the Black Mountain Tribe. Even if something unexpected happens, the tribe can still function."
Hearing Xiao Chen's words, everyone instinctively wanted to argue, but Lin Shan preemptively voiced everyone's concerns.
Previously, Lin Shan did not take his agreement with Xiao Chen seriously; three days had passed without an answer from Xiao Chen, and he regarded the agreement as mere jest.
Boom!
Just as Lin Shan was about to persuade Xiao Chen to reconsider, a loud noise exploded above them. The immense sound made Lin Shan choke back his words.
Xiao Chen, raising his right hand with a spear angled toward the sky, wore a green gleam flowing along the spear, the tip twinkling fiercely, hissing as if to tear the heavens!
Seeing this, everyone was stunned. Qi leaking externally was only achievable by those who had unblocked the meridians within their body in the Blood Refining Realm, an ability possessed only by tribal chiefs within the Ten Thousand Mile Radius of the Chaotic Stone Plain.
Since their chief could release qi outwardly, it was clear that Xiao Chen had broken through to the Blood Refining Realm, officially becoming a chief-level figure.
Since the old chief had vanished, the Gu Yuan Tribe had once again produced a Blood Refining Realm Warrior, and it was their newly appointed chief, barely past his twenties. Such a young warrior in their 800-year tribal history was unprecedented, how could this not excite people?