Shocking news spread across the Northern Plains as cold water poured over the land.
The Wolf King Chang Shan Yin had allied with the Ge tribe, destroyed the Man tribe, and seized their wealth and slaves!. In a single day and night, one of the large tribes of the Northern Plains had become history, while the Ge tribe's strength rose several times beyond what it once was!.
These reports were so unbelievable and shocking that no one could process them immediately. The sudden reappearance of the Wolf King Chang Shan Yin, his return from the dead, and the terrifying strength of his enslavement path which proved his identity.
As well as the collapse of a large tribe overnight and the deaths of two rank four experts such as Ge Tribe Leader and Man Tribe Leader.
After the initial shock, Northern Plains erupted into an enormous uproar. Many wanted to accuse the Ge tribe of falling into the demonic path and attacking the Man tribe without reason. However, Chang Shan Yin produced a pile of "irrefutable evidence," and the righteous path had no choice but to accept that the Man tribe had initiated the attack first.
Experienced people sighed at the cruel cycle of life.
"When the ten-year blizzard approaches, old experts emerge while tribes inevitably fall. It is a cycle that repeats endlessly every ten years…"
"The Wolf King Chang Shan Yin has returned, and with such strength. It seems he did not weaken after disappearing for twenty years… if anything, he likely became even stronger."
At the same time that people were worried and tense over the beginning of a chaotic era, the Ge tribe was both sorrowful and incredibly happy.
On the very same day their tribe leader died, they had fallen into despair. Yet Ge Guang and Chang Shan Yin rallied them toward revenge and launched a powerful assault upon the Man tribe.
The wolves paved the way for them, while Chang Shan Yin displayed divine strength in wolf enslavement!. Man tribe was defeated with ease, much of the credit belonging to the Wolf King Chang Shan Yin who had forced them into an unfavorable position.
All captured Gu Masters were enslaved, while the Man tribe was completely plundered. This caused the Ge tribe to resemble a starving man on the verge of death who had suddenly swallowed an enormous feast and now suffered from indigestion.
Amidst all this chaos, Ge Yao and Ge Guang moved everywhere, issuing orders to organize the spoils of war while supervising the tense state of the tribe.
They were truly miserable. Their father had died, yet they could not even mourn him and were instead forced to work continuously for days with barely any rest. But even if they held complaints, they never showed them.
Unlike them, Fang Yuan was having a wonderful time cultivating tirelessly. The restraints upon his cultivation had already loosened, and he had reached rank five initial stage in both apertures.
At the same time, little Hu Immortal had sent him a large quantity of guts Gu. Although he could not produce airsac Gu to sell guts Gu, he could still use them on himself.
"With guts Gu, my soul will grow stronger and stronger… but after a certain limit, the conflict between dao marks will begin, making my soul cultivation less effective than I desire." Fang Yuan possessed methods to reduce dao mark conflict, and not merely one or two, but many. However, if the number of dao marks from a certain path vastly exceeded the dao marks of one's primary path, dao mark conflict would begin. Once that happened, even the simplest movements would become difficult.
For example, if he used a strength path Gu worm, he should theoretically release one hundred percent of its power, or even more, due to the strength path Dao marks on his body. But if the Dao Mark conflict existed, he would release at most ninety percent… or even less of the Gu worm's strength.
Thus, although he could cultivate two paths within each aperture, he did not wish to do so. Dao mark conflict was the main reason, while the resources required were merely a secondary issue. He could simply cultivate the strength path and time path within each aperture without any dao mark conflict whatsoever.
This suited him perfectly.
Time path possessed many uses, whether for support, nurturing the immortal aperture, or even engaging in trade by slowing the flow of time within the immortal aperture. As for combat, it was also extremely powerful. Time path methods were mysterious and terrifying, usually carrying fatal effects when used by a great expert of time path.
Meanwhile, the strength path was extraordinarily powerful in terms of battle strength!. One only had to look at Fang Yuan in his previous life. Despite being an immortal zombie with few dao marks, he still possessed rank seven battle strength even while being at the very bottom of rank six!.
And at that time, he had only possessed a few suitable immortal strength path Gu, while his attainment level, though at Grand master, was no longer impressive from his current perspective!.
Fang Yuan crushed the Last airsac Gu, causing the guts Gu inside to explode. Fang Yuan felt the ecstasy of his soul growing stronger. He intended to continue cultivating when he suddenly heard someone calling out.
"Lord Chang Shan Yin, may I enter?". Fang Yuan recognized Ge Guang's voice. The young man's tone sounded hoarse and exhausted, yet there was also a trace of joy hidden within it.
"Little Guang, you may enter." Fang Yuan spoke indifferently toward Ge Guang, who was now the new Ge Tribe Leader. Yet Ge Guang did not mind. It was understandable—Chang Shan Yin was a peak rank four Gu Master while he himself was merely a rank three upper-stage Gu Master.
Furthermore, he held immense respect and reverence toward Chang Shan Yin. Without him, he would never have avenged his father, nor would the Ge tribe have become what it is now.
"Lord Chang Shan Yin, these past days have been difficult. We were forced to exert ourselves beyond our limits in order to stabilize the situation, absorb the spoils, control and enslave the Gu Masters of Man tribe… and our spoils are simply enormous. There are thousands of rank one and rank two Gu worms, around six hundred rank three Gu, eighty-three rank four Gu, and twelve rank five Gu worms!.. There are also countless resources, Gu worm recipes, and primeval stones!"
Ge Guang's face was flushed with excitement despite the dark circles beneath his eyes caused by exhaustion and lack of sleep. He handed Fang Yuan a bookworm Gu as he spoke.
"Lord Chang Shan Yin, you made the greatest contribution during the assault on the Man tribe, you have the right to choose anything from the spoils. This is the list."
Fang Yuan merely glanced through the list once before memorizing everything, whether it be Gu recipes, formations, or even Gu worms.
"This is good. Little Ge, you are a good person who never forgets kindness… however, I do not need anything. You may leave." Fang Yuan dismissed Ge Guang, causing the latter to become somewhat hesitant.
Fang Yuan snorted inwardly before speaking gently. "Little Ge, our relationship is extremely close. After all, we are practically family now since Little Yao my fiancé. If there is something you wish to say, then speak."
Ge Guang immediately felt relieved and finally revealed what he wanted. "Lord Chang Shan Yin, my father died because of Man Tu's treacherous attack, and with him died the rank four Gu Master who protected our tribe. I have been thinking of appointing you as the tribe's supreme elder!… and also…"
Ge Guang wanted to continue speaking, but Fang Yuan interrupted him with a laugh.
"Ge Guang, you understand your situation very well. Fine, I accept… and as the Ge tribe's supreme elder, I decree that after making preparations, the tribe shall move toward Crescent Lake. We will spend most of our time there before the Imperial Court contest begins!.. If there is nothing else, then leave. I must focus on my cultivation."
Ge Guang had wanted to bring up Ge Yao's engagement, but Fang Yuan dismissed him as though dismissing a subordinate. Yet he did not feel insulted in the slightest.
"Elder Chang Shan Yin has far too many matters demanding his attention. Increasing his strength means increasing the strength of our tribe. Sister Yao can wait before marriage!.. Ah, I must also carry out his orders and prepare the tribe for departure toward Crescent Lake!"
Ge Guang hurried away at once to ensure the Ge tribe's preparations were complete.