The thousand-year truce is finally over.
In the sky above Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range, there is always a layer of vague depression these days. The birds in the mountains seem to have sensed something, and have hid in their nests early and stopped chirping. The patrolling tribesmen come and go frequently, more than three times more than in the past, and everyone has a solemn face.
Lin Qin was wielding a knife in Azure Rock Valley's training room when he received the notification from Council of Elders.
Swinging the sword 100,000 times a day has been his habit of beating Immovable for thousands of years. Even though he is now Seven-Star Fiend in combat power, and even though he is only one step away from Highgod, he still hasn't let go of this habit he picked up from the Yulan Continent.
The blade cut through the air silently. Before he had finished swinging it a hundred thousand times, he put the sword into its sheath and stood up to go to the Azure Dragon Hall.
Azure Dragon Hall is located on the top of the main peak of the Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range, which is the core meeting place of the Four Divine Beasts Clan.
The entire palace is made of blue boulders. After thousands of years of wind and rain, it is still as majestic as a mountain. On both sides of the palace door, two Azure Dragon stone statues look down at the visitors, with faint light flowing in the dragon's eyes.
Lin Qin When he stepped into the palace gate, there were already more than twenty people sitting inside.
On both sides of the long stone table, the elders were chatting in low voices in groups of twos and threes. Some closed their eyes to rest, some were playing with the Godhead in their hands, and some were staring at the map on the stone table. The atmosphere seemed relaxed, but everyone had a murderous aura in them. Those who could sit here all had combat power of Seven-Star Fiend or above, and their hands were stained with the blood of Eight Great Clans strong men.
Lin Qin sat down at the end of the table. His position was close to the palace door. This was arranged according to seniority - although his combat prowess had long been recognized, he was still a newcomer when it came to joining the elders.
Sitting opposite was Emmanuel. This elder who had had a conflict with him over Azure Dragon Ring just glanced at him briefly and looked away. The ban from thousands of years ago had long been lifted, and Emmanuel had also restrained himself a lot. Lin Qin's record was there, and it was purely asking for trouble if he provoked him again.
"Everyone is here?"
Gaiseresen, who was in the main seat, opened his eyes and his own light swept across the whole place. He is the patriarch of the Azure Dragon Clan, the son of Chief Sovereign, and one of the top experts of Asura, but this line has stuck with him for countless years.
"We're all here." Elder Garvey sitting on his left responded.
Gaiseresen nodded, and when he raised his hand and touched the stone table, a huge three-dimensional map emerged. In the center of the map is Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range, surrounded by Black Stone Wasteland, Death Desert, Iron Spine Mountain, and Misty Swamp, which is the area where Eight Great Clans is located.
"Let's get down to business." Gaiseresen's voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, "The thousand-year armistice period has passed, and Eight Great Clans has begun to move."
He pointed to several points on the map. "Barbary Clan's people have gathered at the edge of Black Stone Wasteland. There are already three hundred people. Deen Clan's Hogan is stationed 20,000 miles away from Iron Spine Mountain. The people with five Seven-Star Fiend, Venner Clan, and Edric Clan are also moving closer. At this rate, Eight Great Clans will complete the encirclement around the Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range within three months at most."
"It's the same old thing again." Lie Shan, who was sitting diagonally across from Lin Qin, sneered. He was the elder of the White Tiger branch. He was a strong-willed man with a hot temper. "Besieged and refused to attack, forcing us to go out and fight. They have been here for ten thousand years, and that's all they have."
"But we have to accept this move." Elder Garvey sighed, "Eight Great Clans can surround us for ten thousand years, but we can't. The family needs to develop, the people need to practice, they need resources, and they need experience. If we are trapped in the mountains and can't get out, for a long time, we will collapse without them fighting."
There was silence in the hall for a moment.
These words hit home. Four Divine Beasts Clan has been trapped in the Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range for ten thousand years. The biggest pain is not the casualties in the battle, but watching the family decline day by day. The younger generation lacks opportunities for experience, the top experts do not get enough resources, and the branches fight openly and secretly for the limited training ground-these are the evil consequences of being trapped in the mountain.
"So Blood War Valley's patrol must be resumed." Gaiseresen answered, "According to the convention, ten teams are dispatched each time, each team is led by a Seven-Star Fiend, and Six-Star Fiend is a member. The route is fixed, the time is fixed, go out for three days, and return for three days. To put it bluntly, it means sending them out to kill, and also killing their people."
He paused and glanced at everyone. "This is a rule and an honor. Those who go out on patrol are my Four Divine Beasts Clan's top combatants. If any of you are willing to go, sign up yourself. If you don't want to, don't force it."
After the words fell, the hall became quiet again.
Lin Qin noticed that several elders lowered their eyes slightly. This is not the case for those who have been able to cultivate to Seven-Star Fiend. Who has never killed anyone?
This is the last dignity of the Four Divine Beasts Clan - if even Blood War Valley dare not go, then what is the difference between them and a coward?
"I'll go."
The sound came from the last seat, not loud but clear.
Everyone looked in that direction. Lin Qin stood up with a calm expression, as if he just said "the weather is good today"
A smile flashed in Gaiseresen's eyes, but he quickly restrained it. He looked at Lin Qin and asked, "Are you sure?"
"OK."
Just two words, without any heroic words.
Elder Garvey nodded slightly and said, "Everyone knows the strength of Lin Qin. In the battle of Rock Fortress, one person killed three Seven-Star Fiend carrying Sovereign’s Might. This record was not achieved by many people present. I have no objection to him going on patrol."
"I have no objection either." Lie Shan followed suit, "Rock Fortress I went there that time and saw him kill him with my own eyes. It was clean and neat, with three swords and three lives. You can't accept it."
The other elders also nodded. No one questions Lin Qin because he is the middle god. Anyone who can sit here is not a fool. The record of the past thousand years is there. Rock Fortress's blood has not dried yet. Anyone who questions it will slap themselves in the face.
But not everyone is so happy.
A young elder sitting next to Emmanuel said, "Of course we recognize the combat power of elder Lin Qin."
Lin Qin glanced at the man and recognized him as the cousin of Fulhan and the cousin of Emmanuel, named Ian. He had just been promoted to elder not long ago, and he was young and energetic. He probably felt that Lin Qin, a middle-level god, was sitting here and was an eyesore.
He didn't speak in a hurry, just looked at the other person quietly.
Elder Garvey frowned and was about to speak, but Gaiseresen raised his hand to stop him. The patriarch looked at Ian and said calmly, "What do you think?"
Ian was stunned, then he said bravely, "I think it's better to follow the rules. Elder Lin Qin will be the captain."
Gaiseresen glanced at Ian with a half-smile, and then turned to everyone. "Mark Lin Qin's name. He will be one of the first batch of patrols. Because it is his first time to participate in Blood War Valley, he will be the deputy captain first to familiarize himself with the situation. As for the captain, let Tyron lead him. He is experienced and stable."
Everyone has no objection. Tyron is a veteran elder of the White Tiger branch, and is indeed the most suitable candidate.
The meeting continued. The next step was to determine the lists of the other nine teams and coordinate the training resources of each branch. Lin Qin did not speak anymore, but listened quietly. He did not care much about these things as long as the resources were sufficient, and no amount of more would buy time. All he wanted was to fight.
At the end of the meeting, Gaiseresen suddenly stopped him. "Lin Qin, stay here for a moment."
The others dispersed one after another. Soon, only three people, Gaiseresen, Garvey and Lin Qin, were left in the hall.
"Sit." Gaiseresen pointed to the chair next to him.
Lin Qin sat down and waited for him to speak.
Gaiseresen was silent for a moment, then said, "Eight Great Clans might be targeting you if you go out this time. Your reward has been mentioned at the price of fifteen drops of Sovereign’s Might, which is enough to make Seven-Star Fiend desperate."
Lin Qin nodded. He knew his bounty. After Rock Fortress's battle, his name was on Eight Great Clans's hunting list, and his ranking jumped directly from 47th to 9th, becoming the only median god to enter the top ten.
Garvey smiled, but his smile faded quickly, "Be careful. Those old guys Eight Great Clans are very shady. They dare not disobey Lord Beirut's orders on the surface, but secretly they will use any means - like last time Rock Fortress, didn't they just let three Seven-Star Fiend and Sovereign’s Might ambush you?"
Lin Qin nodded, indicating that he had taken note of it.
"Okay, let's go." Gaiseresen waved his hand, "We will set off in three days and have a good rest these two days."
Lin Qin stood up, bowed slightly to the two of them, turned and left.
When Azure Dragon Hall walked out, it was almost dusk. The setting sun dyed Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range a dark red, like coagulated blood. Lin Qin stood outside the palace gate and looked into the distance.
Lei Luo is waiting for him at the entrance of Azure Rock Valley.
"I heard you are going to Blood War Valley?" Lei Luo got straight to the point.
Lin Qin nodded.
"I'm with you." Lei Luo said simply, "It's been two hundred years since I broke through Seven-Star Fiend. It's time to go out and see the blood."
Lin Qin glanced at him and shook his head. "Wait a little longer."
"What are you waiting for?" Lei Luo said anxiously, "You've gone and I'm still hiding in the mountains?"
"You just broke through and need time to stabilize." Lin Qin said slowly, but his tone was unquestionable, "Blood War Valley This is not a competition. If you go there, you may never come back. Wait another two hundred years to lay a solid foundation."
Lei Luo opened his mouth and wanted to refute, but finally sighed. He knew that Lin Qin was doing it for his own good - in a place like Blood War Valley, if the foundation is not strong, he would really die.
"Then be careful." Lei Luo patted his shoulder, "Come back alive."
Lin Qin nodded and walked into his training room.
The door was closed behind him, cutting off everything from the outside world. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing.