Ghost Mountain, located at the border of the Black Mountain Tribe, the Withered Wood Tribe, and the Underground Scorpion Tribe, serves as a natural barrier between them and the Scorpion Clan.
It is said that a millennium ago, Ghost Mountain was the territory of a branch of the Ghost Tribe. However, their rampant evil deeds and countless murders incensed the Human Tribes living within tens of thousands of miles, resulting in the collective annihilation of this particular Ghost Tribe branch.
Ghost Mountain spans over a thousand miles, winding and undulating, with thousand-foot precipices, peculiar rocks, and dizzying cliffs at every turn. It is an unreachable ascent for monkeys and impassable for humans. Fearsome beasts and ghostly apparitions abound, even a fully-realized Bone-Tempering Realm warrior risks peril if even slightly careless.
Due to its treacherous terrain and continuing desolation, it was teeming with wild growth. Despite being noon, Ghost Mountain still emanated a gloomy, cold, and ghostly atmosphere that would send shivers down your spine.
Between the trees, dark spirits drifted, amidst wails of ghosts and howling wolves. Behind giant rocks, countless phantoms lurked as if each night was a ghost parade.
Yet, among these wild forests where demons roam freely, three human shadows stealthily flashed about.
"Xie Li, don't overstep your bounds. Do you really think this clan leader can't handle your sneaky little bugs?"
A robust man couldn't help but be the first to speak in frustration, his tone somewhat violent.
The man's anger only elicited a mocking speech full of schadenfreude from the Scorpion-headed and fiendish figure in front of him, "Ssss... Chief Xiong Li, is indeed powerful. Unable to fight back and having his child's head crushed to death, dying a tragic death, and then his Clan destroyed. What a shining reputation, eh...hehe, What was the story from the outside again? Ah yes, it goes like this: 'Gu Yuan Xiao's tribe leader is brave and tenacious, peerless and unmatched, the Black Mountain Bear Chieftain lost his son in his middle age, turned into a bear...' Haha! Wasn't the tribe leader correct, my Bear Chieftain?"
"Ah! Xie Li, you're courting death!" With Xie Li's cold mockery, how could Xiong Li bear it? He was about to rage.
"Enough! We did not come to this hellish place to show off our eloquence..."
Seeing the two becoming heated and about to throw punches immediately upon meeting, Mu Yan, standing aside, immediately intervened to mediate.
"You're right, Elder Mu. We didn't come to this godforsaken place to fight. I won't beat around the bush. Send over 1,000 boys and girls as appetizers for our warriors, and we will assist you in slaughtering the... "
"No way! You'll consume them all and die!"
Xie Li was interrupted by Xiong Li before he could finish. On hearing the Scorpion's demands, even Mu Yan's expression turned unpleasant.
The original demand of 500 boys and girls had already displeased the two of them, let alone Xie Li's increased price now. "Xie Li, don't push it. You should be clear how, throughout the years, your Scorpion Clan has committed terrible deeds and how you've managed to escape the pursuit of the human race."
As the Scorpion Clan leader, Xie Li had spread his influence over vast territories for several decades, evading encirclements by Human Tribes at least a hundred times, leading the Scorpion Clan to prosper. Of course, he wasn't foolish. He knew that he shouldn't push Xiong Li too hard, otherwise he would gain nothing in the end.
Although he mocked Xiong Li, it didn't mean Xie Li wanted to ruin things. He just took pleasure in the suffering of his old rival.
"Hehe! Since Elder Mu has spoken, it would be discourteous of me to insist. Besides, our three tribes have been neighbors for hundreds of years. We'll take 800 young boys and girls. After we conquer Gu Yuan, my Scorpion Clan takes half of the spoils."
"Since we can't reach an agreement, let's part ways. Without these vile creatures who can't stand the light, I, the clan leader, can still slaughter the Gu Yuan Tribe and get rid of that Xiao Chen." Xiong Li couldn't hold back his fury at Xie Li's outrageous demands.
Seeing the tension escalating between the two, Mu Yan had to step in to mediate again, "All right, we all came here to discuss and agree on an appropriate plan. It would be best if Clan Leader Xie Li could show some sincerity."
Having said this, Mu Yan looked at the two again. When he saw that both were looking at him, he continued, "Since the three tribes are attacking Gu Yuan, the spoils of war should be equally divided. As for Clan Leader Xie Li's food of blood, how about we all step back and stick to the original agreement of five hundred?"
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
After hearing Mu Yan's words, Xiong Li and Xie Li both agreed without hesitation.
"At that time, my Black Mountain Tribe and Withered Wood Tribe will lead the main attack from the front, and your Scorpion Clan... Hehe!"
Next, the three of them began to discuss the details of invading the Gu Yuan Tribe, with occasional sinister laughter echoing around.
After a long time, the three leaders dispersed, each becoming a beam of light shooting in different directions.
"Bear, remember, old ghost Mu, deliver the Blood Food to my tribe within ten days. Our leader will wait for your arrival in the tribe, hehe!"
"Let go of my child, what are you doing? He's still a child!"
"My daughter, you beasts! You even won't spare your own children."
"Mommy, save me! I'm really scared! Why are these uncles treating me like this?"
"Uncle, don't hit mommy. Lü Er will be good, won't cry or make any fuss."
Ever since Xiong Li and Mu Yan each returned to their tribes, such scenes had been playing out constantly in the two tribes, and it was even escalating.
The chieftain of the Withered Wood Tribe, Mu Wu Ya, clenched his fists tightly, his red-rimmed eyes watching his tribe's warriors turning into savages. He bit down hard on his teeth, blood already seeping from the corners of his mouth. But he was powerless to stop it.
As a clan leader, he was nothing more than a puppet manipulated by others. He stood powerless in the face of his tribe members—old and young alike—being persecuted. Even the thought of suicide surfaced in his heart. He was such a disgrace as a chief!
At this moment, a young man beside Mu Wu Ya, speaking with a bereaved tone, asked him, "Elder brother, what is our ancestor trying to do? These children are the lifeline of our Withered Wood Tribe."
This young man was Mu Wu Ya's brother, Mu Wu Feng, a Centurion of the Withered Wood Tribe. As a warrior of the tribe, he was the first to stand up against the edict of Elder Mu Yan. However, his objection earned him a powerful expulsion from the house by Mu Yan's hand, nearly costing him his life. Helplessly, he could only seek assistance from his elder brother, the clan leader, hoping that his elder brother could persuade Elder Mu Yan.
In response to his brother's question, the originally numb Mu Wu Ya sobered up instantly. He pulled out a black object from his bosom and stuffed it into his brother's hand, saying in a rather urgent tone, "Wu Feng, you must leave immediately. Take your hundred man team and protect the women and children of the tribe. Our ancestor has gone mad. For his own sake, he's willing to send his own tribesmen into the mouths of foreign races."
"Elder brother, what are you talking about? How could our ancestor..."
"Stop dawdling! If you don't leave now, it'll be too late. Save as many as you can. Go to the Gu Yuan Clan and find Xiao Chen. Tell him that Xiong Li has allied with the Scorpion Clan to besiege the Gu Yuan Clan. I hope that, for the sake of the message we are delivering, he will provide refuge for our Withered Wood lineage."
"Elder brother, if we are to leave, let's leave together!"
"Wu Feng! I've arranged for men to be waiting at the tribal north gate. I can't leave, as the clan leader, where can I go? The Withered Wood is my root! It's my home! The clanspeople are in disaster, and as their leader, I am powerless. I'm not fit to be their leader. Furthermore, if I leave, who will buy time for you to escape? Just leave!"
"Elder brother..."
"Go, tell Xiao Chen— tell him I, Mu Wu Ya, am not as good as he is. I hope he will take good care of you all. I, Mu Wu Ya, will repay his great kindness in my next life."
"Elder brother..."
"Go!"
It is said that man has tears that he shouldn't shed easily, only until he is heart-broken. Watching Mu Wu Ya's desolate figure, Mu Wu Feng stood still, stomping his feet hard, then broke into a mad dash towards the northern tribal gate. As a warrior, he needed to fulfill the task his brother had given him.
"What, you still want to stop our ancestor?"
At that moment, Mu Wu Ya came to Mu Yan's room. Although it was day, Mu Yan's stone house was stillbrimmed with impenetrable darkness, appearing eerie and daunting. The once benevolent-looking Mu Yan was now enveloped in a shadow of gloom.
"Ancestor, our Withered Wood Tribe has a heritage of hundreds of years. Your actions would disgrace our ancestors."
"Silence! I have the future of the Withered Wood Tribe in my mind. What do you know?"
Looking at Mu Yan, who was already blinded by malicious thoughts, Mu Wu Ya roared, "I believe you're only thinking about your own future. You're no longer the respected Elder of the Withered Wood Tribe. You have become a heartless demon!"
"You're courting death! Do you think that because you're a clan leader, I, your ancestor, don't dare to kill you?" Hearing such accusation from Mu Wu Ya, Mu Yan's eyes flashed with rampant fury.
After a burst of desperate laughter, Mu Wu Ya said with an air of desolation, "Haha. Do you think I, Mu Wu Ya, am willing to be a clan leader? I am not fit. I can't even punish the perpetrator who has harmed our clanspeople. I'm not..."
Die!
Mu Yan on the chief's seat could not endure it any longer and made his move. Mu Wu Ya, who was speaking, was abruptly sent flying and severely injured.
"What, our great Elder Mu is angry and ashamed, haha." Clutching his war saber and struggling to stand up from the ground, Mu Wu Ya spurted blood from his mouth with every unclear word he uttered. His words were accompanied by a constant flow of blood from his mouth and nose.
"He's just a dying man. Why need I take him seriously?" Faced with Mu Wu Ya's ridicule, Mu Yan forced a casual attitude.
"Where's Wu Feng? You two brothers are always together. No, you're stalling for time!" The older you are, the craftier you get. It didn't take long for the experienced and cunning Mu Yan to realize that Mu Wu Ya was stalling.
Boom!
The deceived Mu Yan became even more enraged and launched an unforgiving attack, sending Mu Wu Ya flying out of the stone house.
"Ancestor... ancestors in heaven... the twenty-eighth generation clan leader of Withered Wood... Mu Wu Ya... has failed to protect the clanspeople... has failed... our ancestors"
Twice severely injured, Mu Wu Ya's body was badly wrecked with no place left untouched. Yet, the war saber was still firmly grasped in his hands. Leaning on the saber with painstaking effort to stand up, he used the saber to prop up his body to prevent himself from falling. He turned his head arduously, looked at the Withered Wood Tribe which was like in an apocalypse, then roared to the sky, "Wu Feng! Go! ..."
Before he could finish speaking, his head fell. The clan leader of a generation had thus fallen, his eyes wide in anger—dying unresigned!
"Whoever stands in this ancestor's way will die! Hahaha!" Seeing Mu Wu Ya die, Mu Yan burst out laughing maniacally, his eyes at this moment were completely lost to desire.
Hearing the commotion, his subordinates rushed over. Seeing the sight before them, they dared not even breathe.
"Worthless fools! Wu Feng fled with the children of the tribe. Go chase them down. If this messes up with my plan, I will skin you alive!" Seeing the inactivity of his men below, Mu Yan's eyes flashed with further devastation.
The crowd nodded in agreement, fleeing the scene like rats.
Meanwhile, in the Black Mountain Tribe, Xiong Li, the clan leader, was extremely domineering. It was 'those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me die.' Wherever there was rebellion in the tribe, Xiong Li wielding his war saber would kill in that direction, striking down those who dared to resist. The Black Mountain Tribe, once ravaged by Xiao Chen, was a river of blood and land of corpses once more.