The sky stretched high, the clouds were thin, and autumn was in full swing!
On the cliffs of High Barbarian Mountain.
The gray-black-winged Eaglemen Envoy hovered in midair, holding a two-meter bone spear as he looked down with disdain.
He swept his gaze over the Eaglemen of the High Barbarian Mountain Tribe. A flicker of contempt crossed his eyes at the sight of these feeble kin, and then he proclaimed loudly.
"High Barbarian Mountain Tribe, by order of the Royal Court! Fifty Eaglemen warriors are to be conscripted! You have thirteen days to reach the Vast Sea Forest and await the commands of the God of Thunder!"
The familiar conscription order rang across the cliffs. The Royal Court truly must have thought nothing of a small tribe like High Barbarian Mountain. Decades had passed, yet they had not bothered to change a single word of the order.
Perhaps this was the same conscription order issued to every small Eaglemen tribe outside the Royal Court throughout the vast mountains!
But fifty was still far too many.
Even counting the newborn babies, the Eaglemen tribe barely numbered two hundred, and there were only thirty-odd adult males in Jiang You's generation.
At that moment, Jiang You finally understood the grief and helplessness his Eagleman father had felt back then.
How bleak must things have been for him to utter those words: "May my son grow up healthy."
On the cliffs, the Eaglemen all lowered their heads.
Standing at the front, Jiang You clenched his talons and forced down his anger. He drew a deep breath and pleaded just as his father once had.
"Honored Envoy, as you can see, our tribe truly cannot muster fifty Eaglemen warriors now. Could you show us some leniency? I am willing to lead every adult male Eagleman into battle for the God of Thunder and the Royal Court!"
"Hmph! Do you think the Royal Court's decree is open to negotiation?"
The gray-black-winged Eaglemen Envoy snorted and spoke icily.
"For an insignificant little tribe like yours, being allowed to survive here under the Royal Court's protection is already a gift from the Royal Court."
As he spoke, he noticed Jiang You's clenched talons and unwavering stare, and the urge to kill stirred within him.
Small tribes like High Barbarian Mountain were like weeds on the grasslands. One crop died, another sprang up. Even wiping them out would make no difference.
It was only a matter of time!
The Royal Court never cared whether they lived or died.
As killing intent stirred, the Eaglemen Envoy's gaze sharpened, and the gentle breeze around them began to gust.
This was actually a Transcendent power-Wind Power!
A chill shot through Jiang You as he stood before the cliffs, making him shudder. He hurriedly lowered his head and called out.
"Honored Envoy, High Barbarian Mountain will obey the conscription order!"
For several breaths, everything fell silent. Only the wind stirred overhead.
On the cliffs, Jiang You stayed alert, ready to spring into action!
A long while passed.
In the end, the cold-faced Eaglemen Envoy hovering in midair did not strike. He left them with a harsh warning, then beat his wings and flew away.
"Fifty warriors, within thirteen days. Remember this: one warrior short or one day late, and I will wipe out your entire tribe!"
On the cliffs, fury surged through Jiang You at those words.
"Damn it, sooner or later I'll rise up against your bullshit Eaglemen Royal Court!"
Once the Eaglemen Envoy was far away, the tribespeople began to lament.
"When will this war ever end? When will our lives truly get better?"
"We're too weak."
"Our fathers never returned. I'm afraid we'll meet the same fate."
Seeing the grief on his tribespeople's faces, Jiang You immediately stepped forward and declared.
"Please trust me, everyone. This time, I will bring you all back!"
"If we cannot return, I will die before any of you!"
"And to fill the fifty places, I ask our adult sisters to march with us. The boys who have not yet come of age will remain in the tribe."
"Yes, Chief."
At once, a dozen or so adult women stepped forward, all female Eaglemen of their generation.
With that, the High Barbarian Mountain Tribe would truly have only the old and the young left.
Jiang You sighed inwardly. He looked toward the oldest Eagleman boy in the crowd and smiled at him.
"Cha, after we leave, you will be the strongest male Eagleman in the tribe. You must lead the boys and protect everyone!"
Tears filled Cha's eyes as he answered solemnly.
"Yes, Brother You!"
Jiang You nodded, then reassured his mother before stepping forward to address the Eaglemen who would be going to war.
"All right, we must not delay. Go back now, put on your bronze armor, and take up your weapons. We leave for the Vast Sea Forest in fifteen minutes."
One Eagleman asked in confusion.
"You, don't we have three days? Why are we in such a hurry?"
Jiang You shook his head.
"Over the past few generations, not one of our forebears who went to war ever returned. This time, we need to scout ahead, find out exactly what is happening in the Vast Sea Forest, and prepare properly!"
The idea of bathing in Titan Blood was too shocking. He was not ready to reveal it yet, so he gave them an excuse he had already thought up.
Of course, it was not entirely an excuse. There was sound reasoning behind what he said.
"All right, we understand. We'll go back and get our weapons and equipment now, then leave in fifteen minutes!"
The Eaglemen nodded.
They did not doubt Jiang You's words. Over the years, they had practically grown up alongside him, and their trust in him ran far deeper than most.
And so it was.
Fifteen minutes later.
Fifty Eaglemen stood ready with bronze swords and spears. At Jiang You's command, they flew west beneath the reluctant gazes of the old and young Eaglemen staying behind.
Before you continue