Dispute

The first thing the various tribes saw was countless Honkai Beast corpses scattered on the beach.

There was also Xu Yanwu, who had transformed into a giant, wielding a spear and a massive axe, standing alone against all the Honkai Beasts, blocking them from the coastline...

Of course... it would have been better if they could ignore the giant barbecue grill Xu Yanwu had set up beyond the high tide line behind him...

"Emma, isn't that Brother Ying Long?"

The Bear Chieftain's eyes lit up. "Why is he at the seaside?"

"You... know Xu... Hmm... Ying Long?"

Ji Lin was taken aback. Xu Yanwu never participated in the usual inter-tribal trade, and Ji Lin herself hadn't expected that this boisterous Bear Chieftain would actually know Xu Yanwu.

"Of course! Brother Ying Long saved me and my tribe two years ago. How could I not know him?"

After the Bear Chieftain said this, a somewhat thin chieftain beside him also spoke up, "Actually... Lord Ying Long also saved our tribe once..."

"Mr. Ying Long saved our tribe too..."

A beautiful female chieftain also raised her hand.

"Lord Ying Long helped us solve the famine..."

"Lord Ying Long taught us how to farm..."

"Lord Ying Long taught us how to build houses..."

"Lord Ying Long taught us how to forge weapons..."

"Lord Ying Long taught us how to prepare herbal medicine..."

Suddenly, it seemed like all the tribes gathered on the stage knew Xu Yanwu...

And among the people below, some knew that Ying Long had helped their tribes, but this was the first time they learned that other tribes also knew Xu Yanwu...

Instantly, there was silence on the stage and among the audience.

Ji Lin was even more bewildered.

Was Xu Yanwu really that famous throughout the Land of Shenzhou? Why did it feel like everyone knew him?

Why didn't I know about this?

Even if I've been fighting Honkai Beasts frequently and neglecting my official duties...

But I don't even know when Xu Yanwu went out, how could he have helped so many tribes????

Ji Lin grumbled inwardly on the stage, while Lianshan quietly covered his face below.

Those things... were just done incidentally when he and Brother Xu went out to hunt Honkai Beasts...

Even the one about preparing herbal medicine was actually him organizing his knowledge of herbs for Brother Xu...

And every time Brother Xu finished helping them, he would also adjust their bodies...

Lianshan had seen this kind of adjustment on people who frequently interacted with Xu Yanwu in the Xuanyuan Tribe...

It was said to be a weakened, heritable version of the ability Xu Yanwu had used to modify Lianshan.

So Lianshan had always wanted to complain, had his Brother Xu treated him like a guinea pig...

Lianshan still remembered what Xu Yanwu had said to him at the time.

"Lianshan, don't be discouraged. It's precisely because of your pioneering efforts that the future of our great Divine Land of Foodies will exist... You'll be the ancestor of foodies from now on!"

So what exactly is a foodie? And I don't even eat that much now...

Lianshan thought carefully about his daily food intake.

It was just that he often didn't eat enough at the tribal meals and would go out to roast a Honkai Beast by himself...

Alright, Ji Lin's bewilderment has ended, and Lianshan's wild thoughts have also concluded. Let's get back to business.

Ji Lin said with a serious expression, "Since everyone knows Ying Long, I won't hide anything from you."

"Although these exotic beasts invaded from the sea, after our confirmation, they only landed within a few miles. They appear for about two hours every five hours or so."

"Ying Long has been holding them back for several days,"

"but we still haven't found any trace of the leader of the beast tide. It can be inferred that this is a much stronger entity than any before."

"I implore all the chieftains to lead their tribal forces and protect our Divine Land!"

--- The meeting concluded, preparations for battle are underway ---

Inside Ji Lin's tent, Ji Lin was resting with her eyes closed. Suddenly, Lianshan burst in carrying a wooden box.

Ji Lin opened her eyes and was slightly surprised to see Lianshan. She asked, "Lianshan? What are you doing here?"

After a long silence, Lianshan spoke, "Ji Lin, take me with you."

"No, you can't go."

Without a second thought, Ji Lin refused Lianshan's request, not hesitating at all.

"Why can't I go?"

"Lianshan, you're just a shamanic doctor. I won't be able to spare any attention to protect you on the battlefield. Besides, besides me, you're the most trusted person in the tribe. Even if I were there..."

Before Ji Lin could finish speaking, Lianshan grabbed her wrist.

"Ji Lin!"

"No, you absolutely cannot go..." Ji Lin originally wanted to break free from Lianshan's grasp, but to her surprise, she found that the strength in Lianshan's hand was far greater than hers, making it impossible for her to escape.

(Ji Lin's strength mostly comes from her Saint Marks, which provide the primary abilities, with physical enhancements being secondary. Lianshan's entire strength, however, comes from physical improvements. Their stat allocation is different... so this doesn't mean Lianshan is currently much stronger than Ji Lin.)

"Ji Lin, I'm not a shamanic doctor without combat ability! I also have the power to fight those Honkai Beasts!"

Lianshan looked directly at Ji Lin, his eyes filled with a determination she had never seen before.

"This battle is very dangerous. You... let go of me first."

Ji Lin, having finally broken free from Lianshan's grip, rubbed her slightly reddened wrist and commanded, "Lianshan, I don't know why you've become so strong! You are not going to this battle, I've decided! You and Chi Yuan will stay behind to ensure the tribe's normal operations!"

"What am I supposed to do by staying behind! Wait for you and the others to never return!"

Lianshan, uncharacteristically, lost his temper. "Ji Xuanyuan! Do you think this beast tide will be as easy as you imagine!"

Lianshan roared, "If a joint effort from multiple tribes could resolve this beast tide, do you think Brother Xu would go alone?"

Ji Lin: "Precisely because it's too dangerous! That's why we need to unite..."

Lianshan: "It's precisely because it's too dangerous! That's why Brother Xu is going alone! And I can't just watch you go to such a dangerous place!"

Ji Lin: "..."

Lianshan sighed before continuing, "Ji Lin, you are the core of the tribe. You cannot take this risk."

Ji Lin remained silent for a moment before looking up.

"...Lianshan, I order you, in the name of the tribe's Chieftain, to remain in the tribe with Chi Yuan and protect it!"

Ji Lin's face was filled with coldness.

"No matter the outcome, I will drive away the Honkai beast tide!"

"This is my duty as Ji Xuanyuan, the wielder of the Xuanyuan Sword!"