Bloodlust! (Seeking collection! Seeking everything!)

"Fled?"

Motai Jie sat atop a Black Sly Beast, a black leopard following lazily by his side.

Looking at the chaotic, abandoned camp before him, Motai Jie's expression turned ugly.

"Young Master." Renzha carefully examined the traces in the camp and chuckled, "It looks like they migrated just today; the dung left by the Wild Oxen hasn't even dried yet. Since the entire tribe moved together, they won't have gotten far."

"I only told the Iron Ox Tribe to pay an additional hundred Wild Oxen yesterday, and today they migrate? This is a clear sign they don't hold our Black Hand Tribe in any regard." Motai Jie said coldly, "Pursue! Once we catch them, slaughter every man in the Iron Ox Tribe, capture the women, and sell off the children."

"Yes!" one hundred warriors, all clad in half-body armor, roared in excitement.

They loved nothing more than following the Young Master out to slaughter small tribes like the Iron Ox Tribe.

With the strength of their hundred-man armored guard, they could sweep through a small tribe of only thirty-some warriors with ease, not to mention the black leopard at the Young Master's side.

That was a spirit beast at the level of an Innate Great Demon!

To a tribe without any Innate lifeforms, a Great Demon was an invincible existence.

Thinking of the women they could capture and do as they pleased with after wiping out the Iron Ox Tribe, the warriors of the armored guard felt as if their blood were surging.

Rumble, rumble~~~~

A pack of Black Sly Beasts kicked up dust as they followed the tracks left by the Iron Ox Tribe's herd, with the black leopard, looking as if it were about to fall asleep, following along nonchalantly.

On the back of a Wild Ox.

Zhou Hao toyed with a dagger about twenty-five or twenty-six centimeters long, its blade as thin as paper and shimmering with a chilling aura.

Under the sunlight, faint, broken ancient patterns could be seen on the surface of the blade.

"A pity." Zhou Hao shook his head with a sigh.

Although he had yet to see the magic treasures used by the cultivators of this world, Zhou Hao possessed divine sense.

After trading for this dagger with Zhamu, he had gone to a secluded spot to test it by manipulating it with his divine sense.

Not only was it dozens of times faster than manipulating mundane objects like stones or wood, but the drain on his soul was also practically negligible.

Even manipulating lighter arrowheads couldn't compare to this dagger, and in terms of sharpness, the difference was even greater.

This must be a magic treasure flying dagger of a cultivator. The patterns on the blade are broken, so the treasure is clearly severely damaged; it can only be used as a weapon now, Zhou Hao guessed to himself.

"I heard you traded all your Wild Oxen to Brother Zhamu for that Cold Iron Dagger of his?"

Hearing that crisp voice, Zhou Hao knew who it was.

"Not all of them." Zhou Hao shook his head.

Xiangcao was speechless. She looked at the dagger he was toying with and thought, I saw it with my own eyes.

"I kept one for myself to ride." Zhou Hao patted the Wild Ox beneath him.

After experiencing a "flying ox" once, this beast had become incredibly obedient, even adjusting its speed based on the force and rhythm of Zhou Hao's pats on its back.

"What will you eat without the Wild Oxen?" Xiangcao asked, feeling frustrated on his behalf.

One had to understand that for tribes like theirs, roaming the Great Wild Plains, Wild Oxen were the foundation of survival and their greatest wealth.

To trade all that wealth for a dagger that could only be used to skin and butcher meat?

What a spendthrift.

The most critical part was that those Wild Oxen were the ones her family had just allocated to Zhou Hao.

"I can hunt." Zhou Hao said nonchalantly, "This Cold Iron Dagger can even slice through the hide and flesh of a Great Demon. If I run into a demonic beast on the road, slaughtering one will be enough to eat."

Do you really think I came here to raise cattle?

"Slaughter a demonic beast? With just this little dagger?" Xiangcao scoffed, "Do you think demonic beasts are like those silly Gray Wolves?"

What was a demonic beast?

Only those that possessed intelligence and could absorb the essence of heaven and earth to cultivate were called demonic beasts.

Compared to wild beasts, demonic beasts were not only more intelligent—some even wiser than humans—but more importantly, they possessed special abilities through their cultivation.

Some could control fire or water, others could command the wind or spit poison... Warriors of an ordinary tribe needed at least a dozen people working in coordination to hunt a single demonic beast, and even then, casualties were inevitable.

If they encountered a Great Demon that had reached the Innate lifeform realm, it would be a catastrophe.

When a Great Demon fought, even ordinary Innate lifeforms were no match for it.

Seeing that Zhou Hao didn't speak, Xiangcao's tone softened: "Even if you want to hunt, you need a proper weapon. You... what kind of weapons are you skilled with? I'll go find one for you."

Skilled with?

Zhou Hao was stunned.

He had practiced Wudang Innate Taiji Fist with his master since he was a child, but because the secret tattoo devoured his vitality, he focused on health-preserving methods and rarely practiced combat techniques.

As for weapons... even a slightly long fruit knife was considered a controlled weapon back home; where would he have had the chance to practice?

However, the combat techniques of Taiji were incredibly fierce and powerful. The three types of force—cannon, hammer, and whip—corresponded to heavy weapons, and when he considered his own strength, which had increased several times over...

"I haven't practiced with swords, sabers, or spears, and it won't be easy to master them in a short time." Zhou Hao pondered, "A heavy hammer, an iron whip, a heavy staff... any of those will do. Help me find a heavy weapon."

These types of heavy weapons all share one advantage: simplicity.

As long as you have the strength, you just swing them and smash.

Once familiarized, if one integrates the techniques of the Innate Taiji Fist, the power can be further increased—it is exactly what Zhou Hao needs right now.

"Alright." Xiangcao nodded. "My brother used an iron rod before. Wait here, I'll go get it."

Watching Xiangcao walk away, Zhou Hao shook his head slightly. "Women..."

Inexplicable hostility, followed by inexplicable concern, and now, inexplicably finding him a weapon.

He couldn't figure it out.

"Set up camp! Set up camp!"

"Drive the Wild Oxen to the perimeter and enclose the camp."

The tribal warriors rode back and forth on their Black Sly Beasts, shouting orders to prepare the campsite for the night.

The massive Wild Oxen formed a circle like a thick earthen wall, which not only blocked the wind but also made it difficult for ordinary wild beasts to leap inside.

The men were busy setting up felt tents for the night, while the women began preparing dinner.

They couldn't stop during the day's journey, so everyone had been surviving on dried beef and the like; now that they were camping for the night, they needed something hot.

Zhou Hao was alone and couldn't be bothered with a tent; he drove his Wild Ox to a flat patch of grass, intending to sleep against it for the night.

As for dinner... Xiangcao had told him to come over to eat when she brought the iron rod.

The entire temporary camp was a hive of activity. Since Zhou Hao couldn't help, he took the iron rod to familiarize himself with it.

Though called an iron rod, it was actually an iron whip or an iron mace, about four feet long, without edges, and weighing around one hundred and twenty catties.

On the ancient battlefields of Earth, maces were heavy; unless one possessed great strength, they could not be wielded with ease. Their lethality was considerable, capable of crushing a person to death even through armor.

However, in the hands of Zhou Hao, whose strength had surged, this weight felt a bit light.

The twin axes Iron Ox currently used weighed over six hundred catties each. Zhou Hao swung the iron mace a few times, estimating that for it to be truly suitable for him, it would need to be at least one or two times heavier.

Just make do for now, Zhou Hao thought to himself.

He was penniless, so having anything at all was good enough.

Besides, once he reached Jade Dragon City, he would certainly seek out a cultivation technique to practice. Once his strength increased, he would have to change weapons anyway, so there was no need to dwell on it.

Furthermore, he still had his divine sense to control the Cold Iron Dagger.

...Inside Iron Ox's felt tent.

"Mmm... so fragrant!"

Zhou Hao grabbed a piece of meat from the stone basin on the ground and shoved it straight into his mouth.

After gnawing on dry, hard beef all day, eating this rich, savory stew was truly a delicacy of the mortal world.

"Auntie's stew is the best." Zhuzi was also wolfing down his food.

"If you like it, eat more." Xiangcao brought over two more basins of freshly scooped meat and set them on the ground.

Just then, the animal-hide curtain was lifted, and Iron Ox returned.

As the leader, Iron Ox was undoubtedly conscientious; he had to see for himself that every household in the tribe was settled before returning home.

"Dad, Auntie made stew, eat quickly." Iron Pillar said, his small mouth stuffed with meat, his words slurred.

"Alright, eat up, Zhuzi, so you can grow fast." Iron Ox patted Iron Pillar's small head, nodded at Zhou Hao, and then stared blankly at the fire.

Xiangcao placed a basin of stew in front of Iron Ox and handed soft, baked flatbread to Zhou Hao and Iron Pillar. Seeing Iron Ox hadn't moved, she asked, "What's wrong, brother?"

"We only covered less than five hundred li today; it's too slow." Iron Ox shook his head. "At this speed, it will take at least three months to reach Jade Dragon City, and that's if everything goes smoothly. If we run into beasts or even Gods and Devils... sigh."

Iron Ox let out a long sigh, and a look of worry appeared on Xiangcao's face.

In these Great Wild Plains where Gods and Devils lurked and beasts ran rampant, migration was never that simple.

"It's all my fault." Xiangcao said softly. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had to leave the Liu Clan, and now you have to risk going to Jade Dragon City..."

"How could it be your fault! It's all that bastard's doing." Iron Ox interrupted directly. "With the Second Miss's orders, that bastard didn't dare do anything, but now the Second Miss is no longer with the Liu Clan. Besides, we are migrating to Jade Dragon City so that children like Iron Pillar might have a hope of cultivation in the future. Zhamu and the others are all willing to take the gamble."

"Mm." Xiangcao nodded.

Even so, if they hadn't been left without a choice, who would truly be willing to risk their lives and embark on such an unknown path?

"Little Zhuzi, you're only four, don't eat so much, you'll get a stomachache."

"Uncle Zhou Hao, you've already eaten four pieces!"

Over there, Zhou Hao and Iron Pillar were fighting over the last piece of flatbread.

"I really wish..." Xiangcao watched the two of them, who had finally decided to split the bread in half. "I really wish there was someone to rely on..."

Suddenly—

"Iron Ox, Iron Ox."

Outside the tent, Zhamu's voice sounded urgent. "A troop of a hundred armored guards is heading this way. It looks like they're coming for us."

"A hundred armored guards?" Iron Ox strode out of the tent, his axe already in hand. "Get the women and children back into the tents first. All men, grab your weapons and come out."

"Good."

Zhamu agreed and quickly ran off to gather the men.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

"Women and children, go back inside!"

"Men, come over here!"

The once peaceful and quiet temporary camp suddenly erupted into noise and chaos.

Xiangcao took her bow and arrows down from the wall. Just as she was about to step out of the felt tent, she saw Zhou Hao rising quickly as well. She paused for a moment, then said, "You... you stay here and look after Zhuzi."

"If anyone is staying behind, it should be you. Looking after children is women's work."

Zhou Hao gripped his Iron Mace, strode past Xiangcao, and headed outside. "Zhuzi, stay in the tent and don't come out."

Watching Zhou Hao's straight, broad back, Xiangcao felt a strange warmth bloom in her heart.

...Reaching the Wild Oxen that served as the camp's perimeter wall, Zhou Hao leaped up in a single bound.

Tieniu and Zhamu had already arrived and were gazing into the distance.

Dust billowed more than ten miles away as a troop clad in half-body armor galloped toward them, closing the distance to just a few miles in the blink of an eye.

"It's the Black Armor Guard of the Black Hand Tribe," Zhamu whispered to Tieniu. "It's not time for tax collection yet. Why are they here so soon?"

"Ask them their intentions first," Tieniu said.

"Are you brothers from the Black Hand Tribe?" Zhamu shouted. "We are the Iron Ox Tribe. Are you brothers out hunting?"

"Hahaha..."

Hearing the inquiry, a middle-aged man in the troop with dozens of braids laughed loudly. "That's right, we are out hunting."

"Since you are hunting, are you looking for some food from us?" Zhamu continued. "Our leader Tieniu says we are willing to give you ten Wild Oxen for your dinner. We are in the middle of a nomadic migration today, and the camp is in disarray, so we won't be able to host you."

Seeing that every member of the Black Hand Tribe troop held a weapon and radiated murderous intent, Zhou Hao frowned slightly.

Swish.

Xiangcao leaped from behind onto the back of a Wild Ox nearby.

"What does the Black Hand Tribe want?" Xiangcao's delicate brows furrowed as she took her bow into her hands.

"I fear they come with ill intent," Zhou Hao said.

...Within the Black Armor Guard.

"Renzha, stop wasting breath on them," Motai Jie said impatiently.

"As you command, Young Master," Renzha chuckled.

He also came from a small tribe and had suffered endlessly under the bullying of larger ones.

After latching onto the Black Hand Tribe, his favorite pastime became tormenting other small tribes.

Every time he faced these small tribes, the sense of superiority and the ability to do whatever he pleased was his greatest joy.

"Hm?" Motai Jie suddenly caught sight of the young man and the girl standing on the backs of the Wild Oxen opposite them, and his eyes lit up.

"Is that Tieniu's sister?"

Although he had never met her, Motai Jie was instantly certain.

How could an ordinary tribe produce such a beautiful girl?

Looking at her slender, graceful figure, the way she held her bow and arrows gave her a unique, wild beauty.

"Kill that brat for me and capture the girl," Motai Jie commanded, pointing at Zhou Hao and Xiangcao.

The fire that had been stoked by four young girls the previous night flared up again, especially when he thought of the person he longed for being sent away by his father today. Motai Jie just wanted to vent.

"Kill all the men! Seize the women!"

One hundred Black Armor Guards roared, waving their scimitars and steering their Black Sly Beasts as they charged toward the Iron Ox Tribe.

Renzha liked to toy with small tribes before the slaughter, but the others lacked that hobby.

It was the bloody carnage and the subsequent looting feast that drove these warriors into a frenzy.

"Prepare for battle!"

Tieniu barked the order, grabbed his two great axes, and leaped from the back of the Wild Ox.

The other warriors also rushed out from behind the Wild Oxen, forming a battle formation in front of the camp.

The temporary camp, walled off by Wild Oxen, was fine for blocking wild beasts, but it was useless against elite warriors who were also at the Houtian realm.

"Xiangcao, your archery is excellent. Stay here and provide long-range support."

Hearing the enemy roar their slogans of 'kill the men, seize the women' as they charged like beasts, endless fury surged in Zhou Hao's heart.

Although he had learned of the cruelty of the Great Wild Plains from the tribespeople, to be slaughtered for no reason was something no man with a shred of spirit could endure.

Master, your disciple is going to start a massacre today!

Zhou Hao leaped, the immense strength in his legs causing the Wild Ox beneath him to collapse to the ground.

The wind whistled past his ears. Zhou Hao felt his entire body's energy and blood fuse into one, his spirit clearer than it had ever been before.

"Be careful."

The voice from behind made Zhou Hao grin.

The ones who should be careful... are them!