A New Target Has Appeared

On this day, a marvel unseen in ten thousand years occurred within the Burial Spirit Ruins:

The Spirit Beasts, who had always been used to looking down on others and speaking with their fists, learned for the first time what it meant to "make friends through martial arts":

Under the guidance of Great Officer Ye, the Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe's sole employee in its external affairs department, Ambassador of Amity, and department head, they studied thoroughly, gained a deep understanding of, and put into practice the unprecedented new Spirit Beast Tribe term, "courtesy before force,"

Laying the first cornerstone for building a friendly atmosphere among the Spirit Beast Tribe and providing favorable conditions for further development.

After their friendly exchange of force with the Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe, the virtuous and aspiring figures of the Spirit Beast Tribe represented by Warrior Han Shan formally expressed their recognition and support for the Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe's theory of mutual prosperity among Spirit Beasts.

After a full day and night of exchanges in martial virtue, fifteen young outstanding talents of the Spirit Beast Tribe stood out and earned the precious opportunity to enter the Small Body Refining Tower.

On the morning of the second day, Great Officer Ye delivered a passionate speech before the tower, calling upon the Spirit Beasts to rely as little as possible, or even not at all, on external aid after entering the Small Body Refining Tower. They were to maximize its effects through hardship and tempering, carrying forward the fine spirit of "endure one measure of hardship, reap one measure of reward." The Spirit Beasts responded fervently, and thunderous applause erupted below the stage.

After entering the tower, Great Officer Ye and the Four Great Vajras led by example, removing their spiritual energy protection and relying solely on the power of their fleshly bodies to resist the scorching sun above and the blazing heat of the desert below. Han Shan, Xu Kun, Zong Teng, and the others were greatly shocked. They resolved not to be arrogant or impatient, to firmly follow Officer Ye's footsteps, and formed the Spirit Beast Genius Ascetic Corps on the spot!

An hour later, the beasts' physical bodies had advanced greatly. They successfully passed through the first level's crimson light barrier and entered the frozen plains of the second level.

Amid the howling astral winds, Officer Ye gave another encouraging speech and advised those unable to endure to promptly use their protective treasures. This won widespread approval.

An hour and a half later, Han Shan, Mo Feng, Zong Teng, Xu Kun, and Huo Zhi voluntarily accepted the trials of biting cold winds and frozen snowfields with unwavering resolve. Under the pressure of the environment, their physical strength improved significantly, and their resolve to cultivate became even firmer.

Officer Ye praised this highly and awarded them the honorary title of Ascetic Warrior as encouragement.

Two hours later, the Ascetic Corps successfully passed through the third level's black Thunder World. Led by Officer Ye and the Four Great Vajras, the five Ascetic Warriors ascended the Thundercloud Platform in the deepest part of the third level, absorbed vast amounts of thunder marrow essence, tempered their bodies, and entered the fourth-level space.

Ten Spirit Beasts with insufficient strength and weak resolve beat their chests in regret. Remorseful beyond measure, they resolved to strive harder and grow stronger.

On the fourth level, ten people appeared beneath a stone monument forged from the flesh and blood of a Heaven-Devouring Divine Beast and nine bronze lamps, where they faced a new stage of tests for physical strength.

Huo Zhi of the Flame Crane Tribe unleashed a full-powered strike, lighting five and a half lamps. After absorbing the monument's reward of vital essence, she had no choice but to withdraw dejectedly.

Xu Kun of the Demon Elephant Tribe gathered all the strength in his body and unleashed an Iron Mountain Shoulder Strike, barely lighting six lamps and passing the test.

Zong Teng of the Sky Peng Tribe assumed his original form and lit six and a half lamps, secretly regretting not cultivating diligently in the past.

Mo Feng of the Nine Nether Tribe activated the Phoenix Tribe bloodline power within his body and successfully lit seven lamps.

Han Shan of the Rhinoceros Demon Tribe unleashed a secret technique and lit seven and a half lamps, standing proudly above the other five warriors.

The three Great Vajras, Lu Duowen, Lu Kaizhi, and Lu Lutong, acted in succession. None disappointed expectations, and each lit eight lamps.

Lu Hou's golden staff shook the heavens, displaying the strength of a top-tier prodigy. He lit nine lamps, shocking everyone inside and outside. Officer Ye praised him, "Well done. You didn't disgrace us."

Great Officer Ye showed little interest. Forming a sword seal with his fingers, he pointed once. All nine lamps lit at once, creating history! No one dared harbor any further dissent!

On the fifth level, nine people entered the Blood Beast Array established by the ancient Earth Sovereign, the Howling Heaven King. They fought with all their strength, each gaining something.

Great Officer Ye held the Burying Buddha Tablet in hand and slew five hundred blood beasts with First-grade Venerate cultivation using his sword, obtaining the Howling Heaven King's race essence blood—the Golden Nine-Headed Lion Essence Blood.

Thus, all matters concerning the Small Body Refining Tower came to an end.

After a brief farewell, Officer Ye led the Four Great Vajras and the five Ascetic Warriors aboard the Flying Boat. Under the watchful gazes of the Spirit Beasts, they gradually flew into the sky.

Inside the Flying Boat's cockpit, Ye Kong held the steering wheel and flew the vessel toward the ruins of an ancient Divine Beast according to the directions provided by the Flame Crane Tribe and Sky Peng Tribe.

Lu Hou and Lu Kaizhi were fighting, eating meat, and making friends with people from the other three tribes. Vajra Two, Lu Lutong, sat in the co-pilot's seat, ready at any moment to take over when Ye Kong needed rest,

While Vajra Four, Lu Duowen, watched the scenery below the Flying Boat. At Ye Kong's request, he sketched maps and kept records, intending to hand them over to their tribe later as a work report for this operation and to supplement the intelligence archives.

Before they departed, the Flame Crane Tribe had claimed they possessed important intelligence to report to their new big brother and followed them aboard the Flying Boat;

The other three tribes, unwilling to fall behind, all declared that they were willing to climb mountains of blades and descend into seas of fire for Officer Ye, and that they would not hesitate to explore ruins or dig graves!

The reason the Flame Crane Tribe's directions matched those of the Sky Peng Tribe was that Huo Zhi, the Flame Crane Tribe's leader, had directly revealed the whereabouts of her tribe's former boss—the Heavenly Crane Tribe—to Officer Ye. She even declared that she was willing to take the lead in helping Officer Ye subjugate the Heavenly Crane Tribe!

When this happened, Ye Kong barely managed to keep his expression from collapsing. Inwardly, he remarked that the Heavenly Crane Tribe was truly blessed to have such "loyal and devoted" little brothers!

Suspecting that this woman might be unreliable, Ye Kong immediately sent a secret voice transmission to Lu Duowen, asking him to compile intelligence on her, the Flame Crane Tribe, and the Heavenly Crane Tribe.

After learning more, Ye Kong and Lu Duowen understood why she had sold them out so thoroughly:

Feng Xingkui, the captain leading the Heavenly Crane Tribe this time, was a lecherous beast who could never have enough women. Relying on the fact that his parents were Earth Sovereigns and his grandfather was an elder at the Heavenly Sovereign level, he had harmed women within the tribe since childhood.

After gaining the ability to assume human form, the fellow became even more reckless. Unsatisfied with merely preying on women of his own tribe, he also enjoyed targeting beauties from other Beast Tribes. Naturally, subordinate races of the Heavenly Crane Tribe like the Flame Crane Tribe were among his targets.

Huo Zhi was beautiful and refined, with excellent talent and bloodline. Feng Xingkui had taken a liking to her after seeing her once, and his repeated harassment had left her utterly vexed and furious.

According to Huo Zhi herself, if she had not been the Flame Crane Tribe's most outstanding prodigy of this generation and the Clan Leader's daughter,

She feared that certain clansmen seeking benefits would have long since sent her away as a sacrifice to curry favor with Feng Xingkui and his grandfather!

Although many members of the Flame Crane Tribe knew of Feng Xingkui's vile habits, they still supported the matter. Though Huo Zhi possessed extraordinary talent, her life within the tribe had not been pleasant.

Not only were there often people secretly mocking her for "disregarding the greater good and wasting the tribe's cultivation resources," but some geniuses from her own tribe with greater cultivation than hers would also step forward to suppress her.

Over time, Huo Zhi had long come to hate Feng Xingkui and those clansmen to the bone!

This was also why she had felt sympathy after hearing Zong Teng's words earlier. Liu Qing being coveted by the Kunpeng Tribe was false, but she truly had been coveted and even pressured by the Heavenly Crane Tribe!

After the tearful tale of grievances ended, Huo Zhi gritted her teeth and declared that as long as Officer Ye could help her resolve this great trouble, she was willing to swear a blood oath. Once her cultivation improved, she would become a proper "leader of surrender" and bring the entire Flame Crane Tribe under the Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe's banner.

In response, Officer Ye inwardly remarked, As expected, there are plenty of beasts among the Beast Tribes who don't deserve to be called people, then began considering how to cook this fellow.

There was no helping it. After learning more from Huo Zhi and Lu Duowen, he realized that Feng Xingkui was simply an utterly unscrupulous fiend. Spirit Beasts of land, sea, and sky had nearly all suffered at his hands. He had even dared stretch his filthy claws toward the subordinate races of the Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe.

If he encountered such a great scourge and demon king but did not kill him, was he supposed to save him for the New Year?

There was no place for such a monstrously evil person in the relatively harmonious and peaceful Spirit Beast world Officer Ye sought to build!

A new target had appeared: hunt the Heavenly Crane Tribe!

Thanks to "Ink Stains Are Not Words,"

"Blood Ink Lord,"

And "Meteor Streaks Across Life"

For the recommendation votes. Little Meng Xin offers his thanks here.

Sorry, I was careless earlier and failed to notice the recommendation vote from "Ink Stains Are Not Words." Little Meng Xin bows to you here.