Northern Plains' Powerful Clans

Clan Leader Xiong Han of the Bear Hug Tribe was carried back by his tribesmen along with the leader of the Great Wave Tribe, Lang Hou Tian.

When they were first brought back, their bodies were scorched black, their hair curled from the heat, and their clothes covered in ash. Yet, they still clutched their weapons so tightly that they couldn't be pried open.

They looked like two war gods returning from emptying a furnace.

Wu Wang, along with a group of priests and an old general, rushed forward to greet them. He opened his mouth to call out, "Father..."

"Hahaha! Dad, what happened to you? Did you get roasted! Hahaha!"

Suddenly, a burly youth wearing a snow-white cloak leaped out from the side. He stood beside the leader of the Great Wave Tribe with his arms crossed, throwing his head back and roaring with laughter.

"You always call me dumb, but you're the truly dumb one! You can't hit something that big on the back, you have to hit its head!"

Before he could finish speaking, the two charred figures on the wooden frame trembled simultaneously, sat up, and let out low growls.

The black ash on their bodies rained down, revealing their undamaged bronze skin. The surging Blood Essence that erupted was immediately reined back into their bodies, making them appear like two ancient ferocious beasts in human form.

Lang Hou Tian, the leader of the Great Wave Tribe, glared at the burly youth and cursed:

"What are you shouting about! Aren't you afraid of being laughed at! You think it's something to be proud of that your father got beaten?"

"That's true," the youth with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a broad forehead pondered for a moment, then turned to rush out of the crowd. "I'll go find Dad some backup! I'll kill that ferocious beast!"

"Get back here!"

Lang Hou Tian grabbed the youth by the neck and tossed him towards a group of over a dozen burly men wrapped in white cloaks.

"Keep an eye on him, don't let him cause trouble!

He's always shouting and rushing around without thinking. I, Lang Hou Tian, have been wise for half my life, how could I have fathered such a stubborn fool!"

Wu Wang: Most likely his own son.

He strode forward and walked up to the burly man who was gazing at the memorial hall of the Old Chief Priest, calling out:

"Father."

"Mm," Xiong Han responded in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the memorial hall, unable to look away.

Looking at this leader...

His strong muscles were like the roots of an old tree, his imposing figure like a ferocious bear standing upright.

His scattered hair was quite thick, his face was square, his eyebrows were prominent, and his thick lips were still covered in a bit of ash. His neck, short due to his immense build, showed a slightly trembling Adam's apple.

"Your grandmother, did she say anything at the end?"

Wu Wang turned and shouted, "Suqing!"

Lin Suqing nervously stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Senior Old Chief Priest said that the Young Master is amazing, that the sky is too narrow for him to fly, and that it's good that there are no gods in the Human Domain."

Xiong Han stood there for a long time without moving.

Beside him, Lang Hou Tian, whose build was similar to Xiong Han's, leaned over, patted Xiong Han's shoulder, and comforted him, "She was still smiling after she left. She had no regrets at over six hundred years old."

Xiong Han took a deep breath, reached out, and hugged Wu Wang in front of him, squeezing him tightly.

"Don't be afraid, Dad is here.

Dad has already heard from them that you stepped forward to cover everyone's escape. You were only thirteen years old and had to face this... Ba'er, if you're scared, just cry.

Dad promises you, he will definitely avenge the fallen tribesmen!"

Lang Hou Tian praised, "This child truly has courage. Cry it out, it's not shameful."

The surrounding priests and elders were also looking at Wu Wang with loving eyes, waiting for the Young Master to let go of his previous 'toughness' and have a good cry here.

Wu Wang: ...

He couldn't possibly just whimper a few times, would that mean he had no dignity? Who would whimper for no reason?

Lin Suqing whispered from the side, "The Young Master isn't actually that scared."

The two clan leaders simultaneously turned their heads to look over. The fierce aura emanating from them made Lin Suqing stumble back several steps in fright.

What powerhouses, such strong Body Cultivators!

Lang Hou Tian clicked his tongue in amazement, "Xiong Han, is this your daughter-in-law? Not bad. Did you bravely break tradition and snatch her back from the Human Domain?"

"Who are you?" Xiong Han asked, puzzled.

"She is!"

Wu Wang seized the opportunity to break free from his father's arm, let out a long breath, and gestured for Lin Suqing to step forward.

"Dad, this is a cultivator from the Human Domain I happened to save. I hired her as my tutor to teach me the poetry, songs, and music of the Human Domain."

Lin Suqing cupped her hands in a cultivator's salute from the Human Domain and replied with composure, "Greetings, Chief Xiong!"

Much less pressure than facing Lord Cangxue.

Xiong Han withdrew his gaze from Lin Suqing and said, "Remember to eat more meat. Since you're my son's teacher, why are you so thin?

If this gets back to the Human Domain, and they think we Northern Plains people can't get enough to eat or wear, we'll be thoroughly shamed."

Lin Suqing could only offer an awkward smile.

"A teacher from the Human Domain?"

Lang Hou Tian, standing nearby, clicked his tongue in wonder. He turned and shouted, "Later, I'll invite a few too, to teach my son!"

The dozen or so burly men who had followed him agreed in unison. The young man who had been thrown over earlier looked somewhat displeased.

"What are you comparing? Can you even compare?"

Xiong Han snorted, raising his head. "My son is now a Great Star Sacrifice, capable of directly facing blessed fierce beasts."

Lang Hou Tian shook the animal hide robe on his body. "My son just took down a thousand-year-old Lü Mi yesterday. See this robe? Made yesterday. Thousand-year-old beast hide, and it's fireproof too."

Xiong Han said, "My son invented the light crossbow when he was five, allowing our tribesmen to conserve their strength when hunting."

Lang Hou Tian scoffed, "My son took down a herd of Meng Ji beasts when he was five, killing seven in and seven out by himself."

"My son created a granary that can store food when he was seven, freeing our tribesmen from worry."

"Xiong Hanhan! Are you seriously trying to compete with me?!"

"You're the one who insisted on competing with me! Ever since Cang Xue married me, you've been holding a grudge, haven't you?"

With a bang, the two leaders' foreheads collided. They glared at each other fiercely, their mouths accelerating as they listed their sons' glorious deeds.

It was as if two bulls were floating behind them, their bellies growing larger and larger.

Wu Wang looked helplessly at the other person involved, only to find him standing tall and proud, seemingly… quite pleased.

The other's demeanor was the pure style of a Young Master of the Northern Plains.

Lin Suqing couldn't help but raise her hand to her forehead at this moment, suddenly feeling that their Young Master was a clear stream in the Northern Plains.

Seeing that the two big shots had only singed their hair and were not injured, Wu Wang finally relaxed and began to consider the words he would use later.

How to persuade his own father to listen to him?

As expected, he would have to use the 'dream visitation' method…

Suddenly, he heard:

"My son, Xiong Ba, will be able to soar through the heavens and traverse the earth in the future, daring to drink with the Star Gods!"

"My son, Xing Tian, will surely be able to march to Zhongshan in the future and take down Zhongshan's Heavenly Emperor!"

Wu Wang felt utterly speechless.

Zhongshan, the central region of the Great Wilderness, was said to stretch for an unknown number of miles, with countless famous mountains and rivers, and many powerful races.

The Heavenly Emperor was the ruler of Zhongshan and the most famous Primordial Deity among the Nine Regions of the Great Wilderness. Legend had it that he was named Di Jun, controlled everything in Zhongshan, and was the universally acknowledged strongest of the Primordial Deities.

This boasting was too much. Their Northern Plains Clans found it difficult even to go out to sea, and yet the Young Master of the Wave Tribe would go and… and…

Wait, Xing!

Wu Wang almost blurted out, "Which Xing Tian?"

"Me!"

The Young Master of the Great Wave Tribe stepped forward, arms crossed, head held high. His broad eyebrows flew, his nose was high-bridged, and his already robust physique exuded a strong masculine aura.

He put his hands on his hips and let out a few hearty laughs for no reason:

"I am Xing Tian! Hahaha! You must be my brother Xiong Ba? Come with me from now on, I'll cover for you!"

Xing Tian?

Although Wu Wang wasn't very familiar with myths and legends in his previous life, he had heard this great name more than once.

Xing Tian danced with his shield and axe, his fierce will forever present.

But it seemed Xing Tian was a fierce warrior who contended with the Yellow Emperor. In the current Human Domain, the two generations of Human Emperors praised by the world were 'Fire Emperor Suiren Shi' and 'Heavenly Emperor Fuxi Shi'. The current Human Emperor was 'Shennong Shi'.

Because Shennong Shi was still alive, there was no 'Emperor' prefix before his title.

According to the news circulating in the Human Domain, Shennong Shi had not appeared for over eight hundred years. Perhaps the next time he appeared, a new Human Emperor would ascend the throne.

Shennong was the Flame Emperor, so would the next successor be the Yellow Emperor?

Although Wu Wang couldn't be sure of the exact connection between the Great Wilderness world and the myths passed down in his old home;

Based on the information he had gathered, there was definitely a connection.

If he calculated from this perspective, Xing Tian, as the Young Master of the Northern Plains' greatest clan, would go on to contend with the future Human Emperor of the Human Domain…

Hiss, the human race's northern and southern major powers meeting at Zhongshan?

Was the mythological era he was currently in the transition of Yan and Huang, and the rise of the Human Domain?

Would he later witness the Yellow Emperor fighting Chi You?

He had been here for twelve or thirteen years, why hadn't he inquired about the names of the Young Masters of other clans?

Was this Xing Tian really that fierce warrior who contended with the Yellow Emperor, was beheaded by the Yellow Emperor but still didn't die, and used his navel as a mouth and his breasts as eyes?

"Hehehe~"

A head slowly poked out from the side, filling Wu Wang's vision, its owner raising an eyebrow repeatedly.

"What do you think, little brother Xiong Ba? I'm two years older than you, so I'm perfectly suited to be your big brother, right? Look how long I can stretch my neck, pretty impressive, huh?"

Wu Wang's forehead was covered in dark lines; he almost slapped the head away.

He's thinking too much, too much.

How could this simpleton be like the mighty Xing Tian from the myths?

It was already early morning.

Xiong Han and Lang Hou Tian were sitting at the main table, drinking. The two young masters were seated at the side, sharing a table to foster camaraderie.

The Clan Leader of the Quanrong Tribe and ten experts had just arrived. They had human bodies and dog heads, and wielded long, thin blades. They were also seated as guests, drinking with the human experts from the Xiong and Lang tribes.

The other four clans were still en route and would arrive by noon, ready for battle.

Lin Suqing, of course, had no part in such grand affairs. She was still guarding Wu Wang's spirit, burning paper for her great-grandmother.

Behind Wu Wang and Xing Tian was a low table where a young girl sat. She was stout, with two pigtails sticking straight up. Though she had forged a body of muscle at a young age, her face remained quite delicate.

This was Lang Xing Tian's sister, the second heir of the Great Lang tribe, Lang Gudu.

"Hey, second brother."

Xing Tian placed a hand on Wu Wang's shoulder and sighed with deep emotion, "In the Northern Plains, only our two tribes are human clans. If we don't become brothers, who will?

Even though we're far apart, if something happens to you, aren't we the first ones to rush over?"

Wu Wang nodded solemnly and said loudly, "Our two tribes have always watched over and helped each other since ancient times. We must continue to support each other in the future. May I ask, brother, what are your aspirations?"

The experts from both tribes, seeing this, immediately showed expressions of relief.

"Hahahaha!"

Xing Tian slapped Wu Wang's back, laughing heartily. Wu Wang felt his Blood Essence churn, almost spitting up blood.

This strength, it's going to kill me.

"That's more like it! Hahahaha!

From now on, you're my second brother, and I'm your big brother. If anyone bullies you, come find me!

As for aspirations, have you heard the story of Kuafu chasing the sun?"

"Cough, cough, cough, of course I have."

"Kuafu was a formidable man from our Northern Plains. He went to Zhongshan to venture out, even competing with the sun in a race. Although he was eventually ambushed and killed by the Heavenly Emperor's son, he left behind a legend, and his tribe was renamed the Kuafu tribe because of it."

Xing Tian's eyes flickered with a light Wu Wang couldn't understand.

He said, "In the future, big brother will also do earth-shattering deeds, so that our Great Lang tribe will be named after me!"

Wu Wang's heart suddenly understood...

Brother, you succeeded, even if your head is gone.

"Come, I'll toast you, brother!"

"Cheers! Later, big brother will go chop that Zhuhuai and get revenge for second brother!"

Wu Wang raised his large bowl and clinked it with Xing Tian's, casually finding a topic that didn't require too much thought to converse with this elder brother.

"Young Master Diplomacy."

After a few rounds of drinks, Wu Wang was called by General Xiong San to begin the pre-battle preparations.

Wu Wang needed to direct the Giant Wolf Riders to assemble some small devices and to divide the Priests who would be participating in the upcoming battle into different teams based on their favored Star Invocation Technique.

Raid, party up!

Although Wu Wang wished he could wave his hand and make the giant beast disappear, then pat his stomach and say "It was nothing";

To eliminate a beast of this caliber without paying a heavy price was already the limit of what they could achieve.

Amidst the busyness, Wu Wang also attracted the attention of experts from other clans.

They watched him continuously issue orders to a group of Priests and arrange formations;

They watched him light up ancient runes on various iron frames;

They watched him arrange for Priests to chant blessings over wooden arrows as thick as a person...

"Clan Leader, will the Priests of the Bear Hug Tribe also attack the blessed fierce beasts?"

"Why is this different from what our Priests believe in?"

"Don't ask about other people's business," the Quanrong Tribe Leader glared at his subordinate general and cursed, "We still have such handsome heads and such smooth fur that can ward off the cold. Do they humans have that?"

The Quanrong experts' hearts immediately felt much more balanced, and they revealed the smiles of Northern Plains Shiba Inus.

At noon, drums rumbled across the grassland.

Horns sounded continuously, and four more waves of reinforcements arrived one after another; nearly a hundred experts from the Seven Great Northern Tribes gathered, with men and women roughly equal, each as strong as a mountain.

As this group sat together, the surging Blood Essence almost overturned the tent.

Outside the tent, Wu Wang handed a sheepskin scroll to his father. Xiong Han took a closer look...

"What is this? Today our tribe faces such a challenge, and you thank all the heroes of the Northern Plains for coming to help? What are you doing here, just go in and say it!"

"Dad, I'm the Young Master, you're the leader."

"Aren't you going to be the leader sooner or later? It's only a matter of time, isn't it?"

Xiong Han glared at Wu Wang. Before Wu Wang could retort, he directly lifted the tent flap and strode in:

"For today's battle, my son will be in command!"

A group of experts frowned and looked at Wu Wang, who was clearly still a bit immature, with some hesitation.

Xiong Han added, "The giant crossbows I promised you are ready. I'll give them to you after the fight!"

"Yeah—"

A thunderous roar came from inside the tent.

Mission accomplished.

Wu Wang took a light breath, his gaze no longer hesitant, his expression quite firm, and he strode into the main tent.

"Everyone, let's first understand the physical structure of this giant beast, find its weak points for attack, and identify vital areas where a one-hit kill might be possible."

An hour later.

The drums beat deafeningly, and the sound of horns formed a continuous stream.

Countless Giant Wolf Riders galloped back and forth across the grassland, but the tremors of the earth quieted down.

Strong men, carrying bed crossbows several yards long, approached the beast's back as closely as possible, entering their designated fire support zones.

Priests, seated on the backs of flying bats or on wooden chairs carried by four people, entered the predetermined locations in groups.

Nearly a hundred experts from the seven great clans of the Northern Plains received the blessings of the priests, lit up their weapons, and stirred up their own Blood Essence.

Streams of Blood Essence, like wolf smoke, shot up into the sky, almost dyeing it red!

Wu Wang put on his Young Master helmet, his Ice Wings spread out on his back, and hovered directly above the giant beast with a group of priests.

He raised his hand, and his voice carried for a hundred miles:

"Condense ice, gather wind!"

The priests simultaneously formed seals and chanted incantations. Streams of extreme cold gathered beneath their feet, and a magnificent ice mountain took shape at a visible speed.

Everyone knew that this giant beast could not be easily defeated. The first wave of attacks had to inflict as much damage as possible.

What Wu Wang didn't notice was that during one of the few glorious moments of his thirteen years of life, a young girl looked up, imprinting his somewhat slender figure in her heart.

"Second brother is so impressive. What's so great about the Star Invocation Technique anyway."

Lang Xing Tian, unable to participate in the battle, picked up a lemon fruit, a specialty of the Human Domain, and took a bite. He didn't notice the brightness in his sister's large eyes at all.