Alliance

"Your Majesty is wise!" The short, stout priest bowed deeply in praise, but the fat on his face twitched twice, and he didn't move his feet, looking somewhat hesitant.

Chen Fan glanced at him and sneered.

"Are there maggots under your ass? Spit it out!"

The short, stout priest chuckled twice, his expression turning serious again. He carefully pulled out a wolf-head bone talisman radiating a dark red, malevolent aura from his sleeve.

"My lord, the trade route is easy to arrange, but right now... there's still a death knell."

Tell me about it.

"Within a radius of a thousand miles, besides our Blackstone Mountain, there are more than thirty medium-sized tribes. To prevent being completely swallowed up by the Profound Nether Main City, these tribes have formed a Black Wilderness Tribal Alliance."

The short, stout priest sighed.

"In the past, the leader of the Yuan Ba had to go to Sunset Gorge every year to participate in the alliance meeting. It was called an alliance, but in reality it was a battlefield where the strong divided up the territory and the weak paid tribute."

The short, stout priest glanced at Chen Fan, his voice growing softer and softer.

"Three days ago, news spread that Blackstone Mountain had changed hands. The Alliance's ruling Wild Wolf Tribe sent Blood Talisman, ordering the new leader to attend a meeting at Sunset Gorge within three days... If he fails to arrive by the deadline, the Alliance will consider the Fire Crow Tribe a provocation and will send troops to besiege Blackstone Mountain!"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The short, stout priest was apprehensive, fearing that the unpredictable young leader would fly into a rage and kill someone.

After all, the words of this Blood Talisman were extremely arrogant, clearly showing that it was trying to take advantage of the fact that the Fire Crow Tribe had just swallowed Blackstone Mountain and was not yet firmly established.

However, the expected outburst of anger did not occur.

Chen Fan wasn't angry at all; instead, he chuckled, his bright black and white eyes sparkling.

"Such a good thing?"

"Ah?"

The short, stout priest was stunned.

"Where does that guy, Yuan Ba, rank in the league normally?"

Chen Fan asked with great interest.

"Third to last... third from the bottom."

The short, stout priest blushed.

"Every time I go, I inevitably get extorted by the leaders of those large tribes. Not only do I have to hand over a large amount of spirit stones and minerals, but I even have to give away the high-level beast pets I hunt. It's very frustrating."

"Tsk, my ex has a mountain of debts."

Chen Fan stretched, his bones cracking, and a nonchalant smile appeared on his handsome face.

"I'm a man of principle and I love upholding justice. Since they've sent out invitations, wouldn't it make us Fire Crows seem ill-mannered if we didn't go for the feast?"

The short, stout priest gasped.

"My lord, are you really going? Sunset Gorge is the stronghold of the Wild Wolf Tribe. The Mad Wolf leader is a top-tier expert who has almost stepped into the Eighth-Order, and he also has several powerful tribes under his command, such as Blackwater and Bloodblade. Going there is no different from a lamb entering a tiger's den!"

"Sheep? We're not even sure who the sheep is yet."

Chen Fan patted his round belly, causing the short, fat priest's entire body to jiggle.

"Go prepare two fast-moving Black-Scaled Beasts, polish the armor, and you'll come with me."

"Even a little... little one is going?"

The short, stout priest's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

"What, you want to stay and watch the door for me?"

Chen Fan's smile was gentle, but in the eyes of the short, stout priest, he was like a devil.

"You know the way around Sunset Gorge well. If you lead the way well, I'll reward you with two Seventh Rank Beast Cores. If you dare to dawdle, I'll skewer you on a bone spear and roast you."

The short, stout priest shuddered and scrambled out, yelling, "I'll go prepare the beasts right now! Right now!"

Noon, at the Blackstone Main Stronghold.

Hundreds of fat, Wasteland Barbarians Bulls were slaughtered, skinned, and roasted over huge campfires until they sizzled and dripped with oil. The aroma of meat mixed with the scent of strong liquor permeated the entire camp.

Although the five hundred elite Fire Crows were fully armed, the tension and fear on their faces had long since disappeared, replaced by a fierceness and confidence that came from being well-fed and watered.

Chen Fan stood in front of the steps, and several old hunters from the Fire Crow Tribe were watching him expectantly.

"My lord, are you sure we don't need to bring the brothers along?" a scarred old soldier grumbled. "Those bastards in Sunset Gorge never follow the rules. We won't feel safe if you go alone!"

"What am I taking you guys there for? To watch you fight over meat?" Chen Fan chuckled, punching the veteran's iron armor on the chest. "Blackstone Mountain has just been taken; the Earth Vein Spirit Springs, and the mines all need to be guarded. Keep an eye on the house. If not a single brick is missing when I get back, I'll hold you responsible."

The veteran's eyes welled up with tears, and he pounded his chest heavily.

"As long as we live, the village will remain!"

"Alright, go eat your meat."

Chen Fan waved his hand, turned around, and climbed onto a unicorn beast covered in heavy black scales. The short, stout priest climbed onto the other one with trembling legs.

"Walking."

Chen Fan slightly squeezed his legs together, and the Black-Scaled Beast let out a low roar. Its four hooves shattered the hard frozen earth, transforming into a black whirlwind that roared down the treacherous mountain path.

The sky in the Great Wilderness can change in an instant.

Crossing the desolate Red Gobi, the originally dry sandstorms were gradually replaced by a biting, bloodthirsty aura.

Two days later, a massive rift valley, shrouded in the crimson sunset, stretched across the sky and earth.

The towering cliffs on both sides reach into the clouds, their dark brown rocks bearing the marks of chisels and axes, interspersed with countless dried, dark red bloodstains, recording countless brutal tribal battles. This is Sunset Gorge, a forbidden meeting place for thousands of miles around.

At the entrance to the canyon, a colossal Chariot Gate, tens of feet high, was erected, its entire structure pieced together from the ribs of a hundred-foot-tall beast.

More than thirty battle flags of different colors, embroidered with various ferocious birds and beasts, fluttered in the strong wind.

Beneath the Giant Gate, hundreds of the Barbarian Clan warriors, clad in heavy armor and wielding broadswords and giant axes, stood ready, each exuding Qi and Blood of at least the Sixth Stage, their eyes filled with savagery and bloodlust.

Da da da.

The crisp sound of animal hooves echoed through the empty valley.

The short, stout priest gripped the reins tightly, his teeth chattering, and forced himself to walk ahead.

Beside him, Chen Fan rode Black-Scaled Beast, wearing a plain black robe that was neither new nor old, with a rough White Bone Battle Saber casually hanging at his waist. He had his hands behind his head and was looking around at the desolate scenery with great interest, looking as relaxed as a rich young master who had come for a spring outing.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

At the Chariot Gate, a burly man in a wolfskin, his upper body covered in tattoos, suddenly stepped forward.

Boom!

The powerful baleful aura of the Seventh Rank Mid-Stage transformed into a phantom Blood Wolf, roaring up from above the strong man's head, causing the ground to shatter and scatter.

The burly man's cold gaze swept over the short, stout priest, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Yo, isn't this the cowardly priest of the Mountain Ape Tribe? What, that stupid Monkey Yuan Ba is dead, and you've put on a new skin? Your Mountain Ape Tribe's surrender order is really slow to arrive!"

The short, stout priest was so overwhelmed by the murderous aura that he gasped for breath and quickly gritted his teeth and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"You're blind! Standing before you is the new master of Blackstone Mountain, the King of King of the Fire Crows, Lord Chen Fan!"