"The suppression worked!"
The Fire God Mantis King, who had been ready to renew the suppression at the critical moment, felt relief wash over him. "What a powerful treasure!"
A flicker of greed flashed in the Fire God Mantis King's eyes, but he swiftly suppressed it.
Greed was an instinct shared by every living being.
Fortunately, instinct was only instinct.
The Fire God Mantis King had long since left behind the days when instinct alone governed his thoughts.
"Now that things have come this far, Fire God Mantis King, your clan and I are inseparably bound. I can reveal my true identity."
Lin Ke smiled slightly. "I had reservations earlier because my identity is particularly important, and I have enemies in Cloud Dream Marsh. That was why I dared not reveal it. Please forgive me."
"No matter." The Fire God Mantis King did not pursue the issue. "A name is merely an external thing. Knowing you as a person is enough."
"My name is Lin Ke." Lin Ke nodded. "Now that the matter is settled, may I recruit some warriors from your clan?"
"Lin Ke? Your name is Lin Ke?!"
The Fire God Mantis King froze, then finally remembered where he had heard that name.
Some time ago, poems had spread throughout the world!
Their author seemed to have been Lin Ke!
"To think I stand before a brilliant Human Prodigy..." The Fire God Mantis King descended from the air and stopped before Lin Ke. "Young Master Lin, my clansmen ask for only one thing: full bellies. As long as they can eat their fill, they can be mountain-guarding spirit beasts, warriors serving as guards, or even pets!"
The Fire God Mantis Clan had gone hungry for far too long!
There were too many mantises, and they reproduced prolifically. Each