Battle Roar Startles, Witch Tribe Appears

The air in the valley seemed to solidify. The strong smell of blood mixed with the ferocious aura emanating from Zhen, making one feel nauseous.

Lin knelt on one knee, his chest heaving. Every breath pulled at the injuries in his internal organs, causing a burning pain. He stared intently at Zhen, who had temporarily lost the ability to move due to a relapse of old injuries, his mind racing, searching for any sliver of a chance to survive.

Run? In his current state, he definitely couldn't outrun even a crippled Zhen.

Fight? That was even more of a fantasy. That last strike was a fluke. Now, his arms were numb, his internal energy in disarray, and he could barely stand steady.

[System! Is there any way?] he cried out internally.

[Option 1: Use Minor Universe Shifting Talisman (on cooldown, unavailable). Option 2: Attempt to communicate with Zhen, express intent for peace (estimated success rate: less than 0.01%). Option 3: Pray for a passing deity to take pity and help you.] The system's response was calmly (or rather, indifferently) despair-inducing.

Was he really going to die here? Lin Xuan looked at Zhen's increasingly ferocious vertical pupils, which seemed on the verge of bleeding, knowing that the Fierce Beast's patience was nearing its limit. It would rather cripple a leg to tear apart this ant that had injured it!

Just as Zhen, enduring the intense pain, used its three tails to support its body and slowly rose again, preparing to launch its final attack—

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

Heavy, rhythmic footsteps, like beating war drums, approached rapidly from a distance! The ground itself trembled slightly!

These footsteps were full of power, completely different from the stampede of demonic beasts. They carried an aura of wildness, primal energy, yet also order!

Zhen's movements suddenly froze. For the first time, its blood-red vertical pupils showed clear vigilance and... a hint of fear? It abandoned its attack on Lin Xuan, turned towards the valley entrance, lowered its body, and let out a threatening growl, but anyone could hear the bluster in its roar.

Lin Xuan also struggled to turn his head and look.

At the valley entrance, five tall and sturdy figures appeared!

The newcomers were, on average, over two meters tall, with bronze skin and bulging muscles, radiating explosive power. They wore simple animal skin clothing adorned with mysterious totem patterns and wielded crude but massive stone axes, bone clubs, and other weapons. The one leading them was exceptionally imposing, holding a giant bone bow almost as tall as himself, with several spear-like arrows strapped to his back.

Just standing there, they exuded a mountain-like, dense Bloodline Power that washed over Lin Xuan, distinctly different from the spiritual energy fluctuations of cultivators, yet equally powerful! Especially the giant archer leading them, the pressure he exerted on Lin Xuan was not much less than that of a full-powered Zhen!

[Insight Technique!] Lin Xuan subconsciously cast it.

[Target: Witch Tribe (Houtu Tribe).]

[Cultivation: Qi and Blood Like Mercury (equivalent to late-stage Refining Essence into Qi or above). Status: Hunting patrol.]

[Warning: The Witch Tribe does not cultivate the primordial spirit; Insight Technique's judgment of specific cultivation is vague. Extremely dangerous! Recommend host remain still and avoid provoking hostility!]

The Witch Tribe! It was the Witch Tribe!

Lin Xuan's heart trembled violently! One of the masters of the Primordial Era, a race born from Pangu's essence blood! How could they be here?

The giant archer leading them, his gaze sharp as lightning, first swept over the injured and weakened Zhen, which was still maintaining a fighting stance. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, then he looked at the heavily wounded and miserable Lin Xuan, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Huh? An injured Zhen? And a... human?" The giant's voice boomed like a great bell, echoing through the valley. "Did you injure this Zhen?"

He clearly found it hard to believe. How could a human, appearing so weak (in his perception, Lin Xuan's Blood Essence was pitifully low), injure a peak-stage Refining Essence Fierce Beast like Zhen to this extent?

Sensing the terrifying Bloodline Power pressure from the Witch Tribe members, especially the fatal threat from the giant archer, Zhen let out a low growl and actually retreated a few steps. Its single eye was filled with unwillingness, but more so with apprehension towards the Witch Tribe. Its intelligence was not low; it understood that if it continued to linger, it might become prey for the Witch Tribe.

Finally, Zhen glared fiercely at Lin Xuan, as if to remember this little bug that had injured it. Then, with a powerful push from its three tails, and with the injury on its foreleg, it transformed into a red light and fled into the dense forest deep within the valley, disappearing in a rather pathetic manner.

With the formidable enemy gone, Lin Xuan's tense mind relaxed. He could no longer hold on, spitting out another mouthful of blood. His vision went black, and he almost fainted.

Seeing this, the giant archer waved his hand: "Go check if that human kid is dead."

A relatively young Witch Tribe warrior behind him responded, and with a few leaps, arrived beside Lin Xuan. He crouched down, placing his rough hand on Lin Xuan's wrist. A hot, life-giving surge of Bloodline Power flowed into Lin Xuan's body. Although domineering, it quickly stabilized his chaotic internal energy and temporarily suppressed his injuries.

"Brother Houyi, he's not lightly injured. Internal organs are shaken, and a few bones are cracked, but he won't die," the young Witch Tribe warrior called back.

Houyi?! Although Lin Xuan's consciousness was blurry, hearing that name made his heart tremble violently again! Houyi, the great Witch Tribe member who shot down nine suns?!

Houyi walked over with heavy steps, looking down at Lin Xuan. His bronze face held a hint of curiosity and scrutiny. "Kid, you're a human, how did you end up this deep in Buzhou Mountain? And you dared to provoke a ferocious beast like Zhen?"

Lin Xuan forced himself to maintain his consciousness and spoke weakly, his voice hoarse: "Thank you... everyone... for saving me. I... accidentally stumbled into this place and was discovered by that Fierce Beast... I had no choice... but to defend myself..."

What he said was half true and half false, deliberately omitting details. He didn't dare reveal too much until he understood the attitude of these Witch Tribe members.

Houyi looked at Lin Xuan's tattered clothes and blood-soaked body, then glanced in the direction Zhen had fled into the depths of the valley, and at the Vermilion Fruit tree exuding an enticing fragrance. He seemed to understand something. He grinned, revealing his white teeth, "Heh, you're an interesting kid. Your strength isn't much, but you've got guts. To escape from Zhen's jaws and keep your life, consider yourself lucky, and tough!"

He patted the shoulder of the young Witch Tribe warrior beside him. "Kuafu, take him with you. This kid suits my taste. Let's take him back to the tribe to have a look. This place has just seen a major battle, the smell of blood is too strong, and it will soon attract other things. We can't stay here long."

The young Witch Tribe warrior named Kuafu easily lifted Lin Xuan onto his back, as if picking up a chick.

Lin Xuan lay on Kuafu's broad, rock-like back, feeling the furnace-like, scorching Bloodline Power within him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He never expected that his life-or-death struggle with the Fierce Beast Zhen would end in such a way. Even more unexpectedly, his first formal encounter with the Primordial Era was with the legendary Witch Tribe, and with the great Witches Houyi and Kuafu!

Would being taken to the Witch Tribe's settlement be a blessing or a curse?