Opportunity

The setting sun, like blood, stained the plaza of the Mangu Tribe a deep crimson.

The youths participating in the Coming-of-Age Ceremony trial stood tall with chests puffed out, despite being covered in blood, as they lined up amidst the cheers of their kin.

The Tribal Chief, draped in a scarlet beast-hide robe embroidered with the totem of the Zhulong, walked slowly onto the high platform.

"Children!" The Tribal Chief's voice resonated across the entire plaza. "Facing an unprecedented beast tide, you have defended the glory of the Zhulong lineage with your blood! The Immortal Elder has personally decreed—everyone has passed the trial!"

Before the words had even faded, a mountain-toppling, sea-draining roar of cheers erupted from the plaza, and the sound of battle axes striking shields made the ground tremble.

As the Tribal Chief waved his scepter, dozens of personal guards pushed carts laden with treasure chests, filing in one after another.

"This is the reward you deserve!" the Tribal Chief announced loudly. "Each of you receives a full set of Tier 2 equipment, as well as Origin Gathering Crystals to assist in your Star Level cultivation!"

The moment the treasure chests were opened, cold light and golden radiance intertwined; the full sets of equipment included scale armor, battle boots, and the very weapons each had used during the trial.

Normally, after passing the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, the tribe would only issue a full set of Tier 1 equipment and various secret techniques, which held little value. Almost every family in the Mangu Tribe could afford such gear, so it was merely considered a consolation and encouragement.

But this time was different; not only had they encountered extraordinary danger, but they had also been hailed by the Immortal Elder as the most outstanding batch, so the rewards were naturally much more generous.

These rewards also carried a hint of compensation, though the bellicose members of the Zhulong lineage disliked the word "compensation," viewing it as an insult to their valor.

Therefore, the high-level members of the tribe often issued additional rewards under the guise of rewarding martial prowess and praising courage.

The personal guards then distributed jade boxes, inside which lay three Origin Gathering Crystals shimmering with a pale golden light.

"Consuming these will accelerate your force condensation and help you break through sooner!" The Tribal Chief's comforting words reached everyone's ears along with the evening breeze.

Ling Xue took out healing ointment and applied it to her wounds; the flesh torn by the sharp claws of the demonic beasts healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and a faint medicinal fragrance permeated the air.

When the last of the rewards had been distributed, the war drums on the stockade walls boomed.

Amidst shouts of "Zhulong bloodline, invincible in battle," the youths held their weapons high, letting the setting sun cast their silhouettes against the totem pillars like stanzas of an immortal war song.

That night, bonfires blazed in the Mangu Tribe's plaza, and the aroma of roasted meat intertwined with the cheers of the warriors.

Ling Xuan had just torn two large pieces of charred, fragrant Dragon Spine Meat from the grill and hadn't even had a chance to dig in when he heard a low call from behind: "Ling Xuan, come with me for a moment."

Ling Xuan turned his head to see the Tribal Chief standing in the shadows, beckoning to him.

Ling Xuan hurriedly stuffed the roasted meat into the bosom of his beast-hide tunic and trotted over to follow.

The two passed through the noisy crowd, their footsteps gradually left behind as they turned behind a stone house.

The moonlight slanted across the moss-covered stone wall, gilding the wrinkles on the Tribal Chief's face with a silver edge.

The Tribal Chief looked around vigilantly, and after confirming no one was there, he swept his hand across the wall. Fine runes immediately lit up among the vines, forming a sound-insulating barrier.

"In the secret realm, did you master a domain?" The Tribal Chief's voice was low and serious, yet his cloudy old eyes flickered with excitement.

Ling Xuan froze for a moment, then nodded.

"Good! Good!" The Tribal Chief said "good" twice, his thick palm patting Ling Xuan's shoulder heavily. "The youngest domain master in ten thousand years—our Mangu Tribe is going to produce a great figure!"

After the praise, the Tribal Chief's expression suddenly darkened, and he lowered his voice to ask, "Then, did you obtain any special treasures?"

Ling Xuan's heart tightened, but he maintained his composure on the surface and shook his head. "No, Tribal Chief."

The Tribal Chief's gaze was like a torch, staring fixedly at Ling Xuan as if to see through his soul.

After a long while, he sighed heavily and said earnestly, "Good child, remember, no matter who asks in the future, insist that you didn't. A man who treasures a jade ring commits a crime by harboring it—you must keep this principle deep in your heart."

Ling Xuan's expression was solemn as he nodded firmly, engraving the Tribal Chief's warning deep into his mind.

"Cultivate well, and in a month, come with me to the Inheritance Hall." The Tribal Chief looked into the distance, his gaze firm and full of expectation. "At that time, you must give it your all and obtain as much inheritance and benefit as possible.

The deeper the inheritance, the greater the help you will receive in the future. Awakening a domain at the Star Level—looking across the entire Zhulong Star Sector, there have been few like you in tens of thousands of years. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; you must cherish it!"

Having said this, the Tribal Chief turned and left, his figure gradually disappearing into the night.

Ling Xuan stood alone under the moonlight, watching the Tribal Chief's back, lost in thought.

The Inheritance Hall the Tribal Chief mentioned was located on the highest peak of Manlong Planet; that was the Inheritance Temple of the Zhulong, which had deep ties to the Zhulong Ancestor.

Every imperial main planet, such as Manlong Planet, had one such temple, and there were twelve in total across the twelve main planets of the Zhulong Star Sector.

The chiefs of the three major tribes on Manlong Planet had all stepped into this Inheritance Hall when they were young; clearly, this temple was related to the laws.

Thinking this through, Ling Xuan felt his blood boil.

He had already checked in the Virtual Universe that only ten years remained until the next Peak Genius Tournament held by the Giant Axe Martial Arena.

Originally, with his talent, the hope of participating was slim, but now, not only had he awakened the Heart of the Martial God and greatly improved his comprehension, but he also had the aid of treasures to help him comprehend the laws, plus the Star Level cultivation resources issued by the tribe. He firmly believed that he could break through to the Star Level within ten years and step onto the stage of the Peak Genius Tournament.

As long as he obtained an entry ticket, he would have a chance to break into the top one thousand in the entire universe, join the core layer of the Giant Axe Martial Arena, and truly take flight.

Filled with longing, Ling Xuan returned to the banquet.

He grabbed the roasted meat from the table and stuffed it into his mouth in large bites.

Seeing him wolfing down his food, Ling Yue hurriedly put down the dagger in her hand and helped pat his back. "Third brother, eat slowly, don't choke!"

Ling Xue, holding a clean-gnawed beast bone, laughed and provoked him: "Is that all you've got? Eldest brother, you're too refined. Watch me finish this bowl of Beast Milk Wine in one go!"

As she spoke, she picked up the large bowl of milk wine in front of her and gulped it down.

Ling Father and Ling Mother watched their vibrant son and daughter, unable to stop smiling.

This enthusiastic competitive atmosphere quickly infected the surrounding tribesmen, and several apprentice-level children also crowded to the table, clamoring to compete with them.

Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.

During this period, Ling Xuan practiced day and night, thoroughly mastering the Flame Domain and gaining an increasingly profound understanding of the domain.

One morning, as Ling Xuan was packing his gear and preparing to find the Tribal Chief, he heard the muffled thud of a heavy object striking the stone floor outside his tent.

"Little one, it's time to set off." The Tribal Chief raised his hand and lifted the curtain adorned with animal teeth.

Ling Xuan stuffed the roasted meat he hadn't yet had time to eat on the table into his mouth in a few quick bites, responding vaguely, "Coming!"

He turned his head and shouted into the room, "Sister, I'm heading to the Temple with the Tribal Chief!"

"Go on, follow the Tribal Chief well and cultivate, don't embarrass our family." Ling Xue's voice drifted from within the animal-hide tent, mixed with the rhythmic thumping of her pounding herbs.

Before the words had even faded, Ling Xuan felt his collar tighten, and he was hoisted up by the Tribal Chief.

The Origin Power erupting from the man formed an invisible lift, and the two of them tore through the morning mist like an arrow released from a bow.