NOVPUBHaving journeyed for a while and now nearing the Phoenix Perching Mountain Range, Xu Zimei was more certain of her conjecture.
Around the mountain range, thousands of people had already arrived.
After inquiring among themselves, many had come to understand the situation.
There was someone causing trouble in secret.
But this was destined to be an open plot since it related to the War God’s Nine Transformations.
Who wouldn’t want it?
It could possibly change one’s destiny for life.
At the moment, many people were hesitating at the edge of the Phoenix Perching Mountain Range.
Just then, another group hurried over from behind.
This group was like a disciplined troop, clearly more orderly.
About a thousand in number, they took control of the situation as soon as they arrived.
"They are the direct descendants of the JiuLi Tribe," someone in the crowd whispered.
The JiuLi Tribe also had its direct lineage and collateral branches.
The so-called collateral branches were like Xu Zimei – people who had just joined the JiuLi Tribe with no sense of belonging or any contributions to the tribe.
To put it plainly, they were seeking a place of shelter.
Whereas the direct descendants had lived in the tribe for a long time, made contributions to it, and some were offspring of the direct lineage.
"Everyone, please quickly join the tribe of your choice and gather, I have a few words to say," a man in yellow robes called out from the crowd.
"Who is that person?" Xu Zimei curiously looked at the person next to her and asked.
"The Clan Leader of the ChiLi Tribe, Chi Yi," someone explained softly, "because their tribe won the great competition last year.
He is now also the Great Clan Leader of the entire JiuLi Tribe."
Upon hearing the explanation, Xu Zimei nodded in understanding.
It turned out that each year, the nine tribes of the JiuLi Tribe would hold a great competition.
The winning tribe would not only look after the War God’s Nine Transformations for a year, but their clan leader would also become the Great Clan Leader who commanded the entire JiuLi Tribe.
Xu Zimei had previously chosen the BaiLi Tribe, so naturally, she gathered where the BaiLi Tribe was located.
Once everyone had gathered,
the man in yellow robes, Chi Yi, stepped forward and spoke aloud, "I think everyone has heard in recent times.
Our ChiLi Tribe’s War God’s Nine Transformations has been stolen.
I don’t want to talk much about the responsibility.
Now, the thief has lured everyone here with the War God’s Nine Transformations.
The purpose is unknown, but before searching through the Phoenix Perching Mountain Range, I can make everyone a promise.
If anyone can catch the thief and find the War God’s Nine Transformations,
I will promote him to direct lineage status and reward them with an opportunity to train in the War God’s Nine Transformations, along with a substantial amount of cultivation resources."
Hearing these words, the hearts of many were aflame.
Any single condition from those mentioned, if taken separately, could provoke a fierce competition.
At that moment, the Clan Leader of the Fengli Tribe, Bai Zhuo, timely stood up and spoke, "Clan Leader Chi, I disagree with your proposal.
We know nothing about the thief.
The Phoenix Perching Mountain Range is a paradise for monsters, and if we provoke any powerful ones, we might all be annihilated.
And it’s not even certain whether the thief is in the Phoenix Perching Mountain Range; what if it’s a trap?"
"The thief is definitely in the Phoenix Perching Mountain Range. He must have a plot for doing this," Chi Yi said indifferently.
"My mind is made up; Clan Leader Bai, if you are unwilling, you may take your people and leave."
Having said that, Chi Yi scanned everyone present and spoke loudly, "I will not force anyone in this matter. Those who are unwilling are free to leave at any time.
The rewards I spoke of earlier still stand.
After the War God’s Nine Transformations is found, I will relinquish my position as Great Clan Leader."
"Where does Clan Leader Chi speak of such matters? Our Jiu Li tribe has always advanced and retreated together since ancient times," Clan Leader Yu Hong of the Yu Li tribe said with a smile.
"Our Chi Li tribe is willing to take the lead. Everyone, be careful and search separately."
After Chi Yi finished speaking, he led the people of the Chi Li tribe straight into the Phoenix Perching Mountain Range.
Behind them, the other eight tribes also followed closely.
...
Concerning the Phoenix Perching Mountain Range, a story tinged with legend has always been circulating among the Jiu Li tribes.
It is said that a long time ago, the Phoenix Perching Mountain Range was just a small thicket on the verge of dying out.
One day, an Ancient Phoenix suddenly descended and settled in the thicket.
This Ancient Phoenix came there to undergo its tribulation, and thunder and lightning battered the thicket for seven days and nights, leaving the land riddled with scars.
It was not until the eighth day, following the Ancient Phoenix’s piercing cry, that it successfully transcended the tribulation and ascended as a Divine Beast.
Afterward, the flames burning on its body covered the entire thicket.
But strangely, as the flames burned, the thicket was not destroyed; instead, the trees grew taller and more robust.
The originally dying thicket almost instantly transformed into the vast Sky-reaching Forest.
It was later discovered that these flames that burned the thicket were the Ancient Phoenix’s own Innate True Fire.
"The fire of Nirvana."
...
Within the forest of the mountain range, there was a sense of tranquility.
Only the occasional distant roar of beasts caused a chill of fear to run down one’s spine.
The clan leaders of the Jiu Li tribes were all beings of the Saint Vein Realm.
In the early periods of the Mythical Era, having such strength meant that one was already at the pinnacle of the human race’s combat power.
Yet even with such might, they could only struggle to survive under the monsters’ reign.
This was a dark era.
The common people did not strive to live better lives or to achieve glory.
They only sought the simplest thing, to survive, nothing more.
Xu Zimei gazed in the direction of the main force for a moment, then his figure gradually disappeared in the mountain range.
......
Not long after the Jiu Li tribes entered the Phoenix Perching Mountain Range, the entire mountain range became violent.
The activity of the monsters seemed to become more frequent.
The people of the tribes began to clash fiercely with the monsters, resulting in casualties on both sides.
But this was, after all, a paradise for monsters, and if things continued this way, the Jiu Li tribes were destined to suffer heavy losses.
After some discussion, a few of the tribe’s clan leaders decided to lead their people to retreat for the time being.
After all, they could not find the cause of the monsters’ ferocity.
But when everyone started to retreat, they found that the entire periphery of the forest in the mountain range was blocked by a transparent barrier.
No matter how the people attacked, they could not break the barrier.
"It seems someone wants to trap us here," Bai Zhuo said with an awkward expression.
Feng Yu, the Clan Leader of the Fengli Tribe, nodded gravely, "Not just trap us.
To be precise, they want to farm us.
There are many monsters in this forest, and if we want to survive, we must kill all the monsters."
"This barrier couldn’t have been set up in a short amount of time, and I’ve never seen such a barrier before," Yu Hong said indifferently.
"It seems that stealing the War God’s Nine Transformations, including luring us here, was all planned."
The other clan leaders all shook their heads and sighed.
Bai Zhuo looked at everyone and said lightly, "Gentlemen, don’t you think something is off?"
"What do you mean?"
"Where have the people of the Chi Li tribe gone?"
