"What a path of blood and vitality!"
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf mulled over the path of blood and vitality Mingye had described. No demon had ever explored such a path.
Yet they recalled that some powerful humans did hunt Beasts and seek out spirit herbs to strengthen themselves.
But in this world, demons had always looked down on humans. Why would they pay any attention to the methods of human cultivators?
"Such wisdom at so young an age! This boy truly will bring prosperity to our Demon Wolf Tribe!"
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf's eyes burned with fervor. A descendant who could forge such a path was truly extraordinary-no, he was remarkable!
Sensing the Three-Headed Demon Wolf's gaze, Mingye could not help frowning and discreetly took a step back.
"All right, boy. You've passed the trial. The Five Thunder Finger is yours. The future of the Demon Wolf Tribe is in your hands!"
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf cleared their throats and spoke solemnly.
They saw hope for the Demon Wolf Tribe's rise in Mingye. After all, their tribe had once been a great tribe too.
After so long in decline, it was time for the Demon Wolf Tribe to rise again.
Mingye nodded slightly and looked at the precious mirror behind the Three-Headed Demon Wolf. They stepped aside.
Mingye walked forward. The mirror resembled a pool of deep, dark water, reflecting a strangely shaped claw.
Mingye reached out to touch its surface. The moment the Five Thunder Finger met his large hand, it burst into dazzling light.
That brilliant golden beam pierced the mist overhead. Streaks of golden lightning flickered in midair, dancing like golden snakes.
Mingye looked at the Five Thunder Finger fitted over his right hand and sensed the explosive power within it. Once unleashed, it could destroy rock and mountain with ease.
"It's just that the design really is ugly..."
Mingye finally could not resist complaining. The Five Thunder Finger looked dreadful. Even a pair of gloves would have been more elegant.
"Boy, this has been our Demon Wolf Tribe's Sacred Artifact all this time, and you dare call it ugly?!"
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf immediately flew into a rage and advanced to teach Mingye a lesson.
But after a few steps, they stopped. Recalling the power the boy had unleashed earlier, they realized they probably could not beat him.
"How could this Sacred Artifact be so simple? It is not an object of this world!"
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf explained that the artifact had been formed from the soul power of countless Demon Wolf Tribe ancestors.
"Not of this world? You mean it's from the Otherworld?!"
Mingye was slightly startled. The Otherworld was also known as the realm of the dead, the Underworld. An object like this was far more valuable than its appearance suggested.
Mingye knew the Underworld existed in this world, and that there were ways to enter it. But once someone went there, returning required the power of the Otherworld!
And the Five Thunder Finger before him was actually an artifact of the Otherworld. It truly lived up to its status as the Demon Wolf Tribe's Sacred Artifact.
In other words, the Five Thunder Finger could slay demons of the Underworld. Only objects from the Underworld could kill its demons!
The Tenseiga in Tōga's possession, for example, had the power to slay Underworld creatures and bring the dead back to life.
The Demon Wolf Tribe's Five Thunder Finger, meanwhile, could slay not only Underworld demons, but demons of the living world as well.
Although it could not resurrect others like the Tenseiga, the value it had revealed was already a delightful surprise to Mingye.
"So slaying Underworld demons is where the Five Thunder Finger's true value lies!"
Mingye looked at the unimpressive Five Thunder Finger on his hand. This truly was an unexpected gain.
Perhaps this detail had been mentioned in Inuyasha, which he had watched in his previous life, but after so many years, many details were genuinely difficult to recall.
"Hmph, of course! How could our tribe's sacred treasure be so simple?"
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf raised their heads proudly. Otherwise, what would have been so remarkable about an artifact that merely wielded lightning that it deserved their protection for so many years?
"Good, very good. Still, I wonder if it could be melted down and forged into a demon sword..."
Looking at the Five Thunder Finger, Mingye still had not abandoned his idea of melting it down and forging it into a demon sword.
"Melt it down into a sword?! You really have some nerve, boy!"
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf gaped, chunks of stone shaking loose from their bodies. After all that explanation, the boy still disliked the Five Thunder Finger's ugly appearance!
"Since it belongs to me now, naturally, I decide what to do with it. What, are you going back on your word?"
Mingye flexed the Five Thunder Finger and raised an eyebrow, a trace of mockery in his eyes. How could he ever surrender something already in his grasp?
Now that the Five Thunder Finger was his, no one could take it away. Even the wills of the many ancestors within it would have to behave themselves!
"You..."
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf glared furiously and nearly hurled abuse at him. But sensing the steadily rising aura around the boy, and seeing that the Five Thunder Finger had already been subdued and refined, they finally sighed and fell silent.
"Fine, fine. As long as you can revive our Demon Wolf Tribe, do whatever you like with the Five Thunder Finger!"
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf gritted their teeth and abandoned the idea of fighting Mingye. They simply could not beat him.
Even before, they had been no match for him. Now that Mingye had obtained the Five Thunder Finger, they stood even less of a chance.
This was not fear. This was judging the situation wisely. A wise person knew when to yield.
"Then you have my thanks."
With a thought from Mingye, the Five Thunder Finger on his right hand flashed with golden light and vanished.
In fact, it had turned into a golden wolf-claw mark, appearing in Mingye's palm.
That was quite convenient. He would not have to wear it every day; a single thought would let him use it.
After thanking them, Mingye was ready to leave the graveyard.
"Boy, once you've led the Demon Wolf Tribe to greatness, don't forget to come back and tell us!"
The Three-Headed Demon Wolf offered those final words. Having witnessed Mingye's strength, they firmly believed the Demon Wolf Tribe would one day flourish.
They only hoped that day would not be too far away.
Mingye did not look back. He merely waved a hand and continued toward the mouth of the valley.
"With this boy here, our tribe's prosperity cannot be far off!"
"This boy will go far along his path!"
"He may even surpass our ancestors!"
Within the graveyard, the heroic spirits of the Demon Wolf Tribe's ancestors conversed. Ancient demon wolves, weathered by time, stood upon the hilltops and watched Mingye leave.
Mingye's performance had utterly won over these demon wolf ancestors. They were willing to stake everything on this one young man.
Naturally, Mingye could sense each ancestor's gaze. Now that he possessed the Five Thunder Finger and had successfully refined it, those gazes were as clear to him as lamps in the night.
He understood that the Demon Wolf Tribe had been in decline for far too long. The old man on Bluestone Mountain felt that way.
Even his late father had hoped the Demon Wolf Tribe would flourish again and become a great, powerful tribe in the demon world!
"This world is so rich and wondrous. How could our Demon Wolf Tribe be absent from it..."
Mingye strode forward. His path was firm and broad, and he would certainly test himself against the many powerful beings in this world.
The Demon Wolf Tribe was no weak tribe!
Before you continue