Several tribes gathered-what was their purpose?

A party of over a dozen figures appeared, fiery red as a tide. Before they even drew near, scorching heat rushed into the others' faces. The Fire Dragon Tribe's warriors made no effort to conceal their ferocity, their surging blood Qi filling the space around the warriors of the Surging Cloud and Inkstone Mountain Tribes.

"Brother Huo Zhen, you truly grow stronger with age. You don't look at all like someone nearing the end of his lifespan!"

The Inkstone Mountain Tribe's grand elder stirred his presence, extinguishing the onrushing heat, then spread his lips in a hearty laugh.

His words immediately turned the surrounding atmosphere strange. Huo Zhen, the Fire Dragon Tribe's grand elder, was already over a hundred and forty years old. For a Divine Treasure Realm warrior, that meant he had reached the twilight of his lifespan, with few years left to live.

But knowing was one thing. Was that something to say to his face?

"Brat Yan, when I was hunting in the Great Wilderness, you were still a suckling babe. Even if I do pass on, how could you be absent when it comes time to see me off?"

Yet the Fire Dragon elder's next words froze the smile on Yan Muya's face.

"You...!"

"No wonder that old ghost Qingyang keeps you pinned down!"

The Fire Dragon elder seemed not to see Yan Muya's anger at all. He kept talking, occasionally even showing a look of regret.

Among the grand elders of their major tribes, the Fire Dragon Tribe's was the oldest, followed closely by the Wandering Cloud Tribe's, then the Qingyang Clan's, with those of the Inkstone Mountain Tribe and Golden Spear Clan coming after.

"Brother Huo, Brother Muya, we haven't seen one another in years. Why bring up old affairs? We didn't gather today to quarrel."

Just then, Elder Yun Mu spoke at precisely the right moment, extinguishing the sparks between the two tribes.

"We're all here. When will the Golden Spear Clan arrive?"

"Jinge Lu has already sent word through his Golden Arrow Eagle. Apparently, on the road, a youngster from his Golden Spear Clan happened to gain an insight and was about to make a breakthrough, so they'll be delayed a few days!"

The Inkstone Mountain elder spoke in a deep voice. At their level, they naturally wouldn't come to blows over a few verbal jabs. Besides, they now shared the same purpose!

"The Golden Spear Clan has good fortune!"

Elder Yun Mu clapped his hands as he spoke, a gleam flickering in his eyes. Of their major tribes, the Golden Spear Clan had been founded last. Though it had existed for only a thousand years, its strength had continued to grow.

"Then let's wait a few days for the Golden Spear Clan and head to the Qingyang Mountain Range together. We old fellows haven't seen one another in so long; it's a good chance to catch up!"

"Ever since word spread ten years ago that Qingyang's guardian war beast was about to advance, the Qingyang Clan's might has grown by the day. Now that old ghost Qingyang Rong has also advanced to the Spirit Seizing Realm, the Qingyang Clan's power will climb another step. If this continues, our tribes may have to live at the mercy of the Qingyang Clan's very breath!"

At this moment, with the three major tribes gathered together, the three elders had shed their earlier hostility.

The five major tribes jointly defended the vast Great Wilderness north of the Ancient City of La Mountain, and often joined forces to encircle and eradicate other races. Since they belonged to different tribes, such joint campaigns naturally required someone to take charge. In the end, whoever had the harder fist had the right to speak.

Qingyang Mountain Range.

While the Surging Cloud, Fire Dragon, and Inkstone Mountain Tribes gathered at the Ancient Mountain of Tiezheng, Qingyang Huan returned to the Qingyang Tribe with Jin Wei, who carried the two Wandering Cloud Tribe youths.

"Oh, Brother Huan is back!"

They had just entered the depths of the mountain range when a cry rang out. A little figure like a monkey rushed out from the mountains, faint blood Qi curling around him as he bounded and leaped straight toward Qingyang Huan.

"Brother Huan, did you catch another fierce beast?"

The child was one of those he had previously caught and planted in a stone vat. Over the past few days, he seemed to have forgotten his earlier terror of being seized by Qingyang Huan and subjected to the erosion of blood Qi. Seeing him return, he came running up again.

Without the slightest hesitation, the child grabbed Qingyang Huan's beast-hide robe and rubbed the dirt clinging to his body onto it. His gaze swept around before finally landing on Jin Wei, his large eyes widening into perfect circles.

"Hey, Brother Huan, where's the fierce beast you promised? Why did you bring back a dark big brother instead?"

How had the fierce beast turned into a big, dark fellow?

Facing the child's blinking eyes, Jin Wei gave an honest, simple smile and instinctively reached up to rub the back of his head.

Was I really that dark? Weren't all men of the Great Wilderness this color?

Thud! Thud!

Two crashes immediately followed. The two Wandering Cloud Tribe youths he had been carrying on his shoulders fell to the ground, letting out muffled groans of pain in their unconscious state.

"This is your dark big brother."

Qingyang Huan burst out laughing. Ignoring the Wandering Cloud Tribe youths on the ground, he picked up the child and spoke to him.

At the sight of Qingyang Huan, Jin Wei's broad grin tightened. Naturally, he wouldn't quibble with a child, but he had long harbored resentment toward Qingyang Huan.

Qingyang Huan was not at all surprised by Jin Wei's sudden change of expression. Without a care, he continued, "I said I'd bring you into the Qingyang Guard. I'll go see my father right now. From now on, you're one of us Qingyang people!"

Without waiting for Jin Wei's response, Qingyang Huan spoke to the child again. "Xiao Que'er, take your dark big brother to the grand elder."

"Okay! I'll take dark big brother to the grand elder."

With that, Qingyang Huan headed toward the tribal hall. Returning to the tribe this time, he had far too much to tell his father. As for the two Wandering Cloud Tribe youths on Jin Wei's back, the grand elder would naturally deal with them.

As for the consequences, Qingyang had always had a tradition of protecting its own. They had beaten up people from the Wandering Cloud Tribe, and that was that. Given the Qingyang Clan's fine tradition of squeezing beast oil out of even a single beast bone, the Wandering Cloud Tribe would be lucky if Qingyang didn't come looking for trouble!

Watching Qingyang Huan's retreating figure, Jin Wei remained motionless. Only now did he finally realize that he had truly arrived in the Qingyang Mountain Range!

This youth he resented really hadn't lied to him!

"Is this the Qingyang Mountain Range?"

"Yes, dark big brother, this is Qingyang Mountain."

Hearing Jin Wei's murmur, Xiao Que'er looked puzzled. This was the Qingyang Mountain Range. The tribal elders, his grandfather, and his father had told him so since he was little. Why didn't this dark-skinned big brother know?

As he spoke, he tugged Jin Wei toward the depths of Qingyang Mountain, while Jin Wei hoisted the two Wandering Cloud Tribe youths onto his shoulders again and followed.

As Xiao Que'er walked, he called out to the tribal children gathering nearby, telling them that Brother Huan had brought back a dark big brother for them.

Before long, Jin Wei was surrounded by a whole string of children, all clamoring noisily.

"Dark big brother, can you catch lots and lots of fierce beasts?"

"Dark big brother, where did you come from? Are there really, really fierce beasts outside?"

"Dark big brother, why are you so dark?"

The children's clamor softened Jin Wei's expression. He was rather simple and honest by nature; otherwise, Qingyang Huan wouldn't have had him so firmly in his grasp. He no longer minded what the children called him. Dark big brother it was-who told him to be so dark?

The tribal hall.

"So this is the young warrior you brought back."

Before the hall's entrance, Qingyang Jue stood with his hands behind his back, watching Jin Wei carry the two Wandering Cloud Tribe youths toward a stone courtyard under the guidance of a crowd of children.

"Father, could you pass down a method for opening the treasures?"

P.S.

Since the book is still in its new-release period, your chieftain might not be able to put out bonus chapters very quickly. I can only do my best, and we'll see how many I can manage. I'll make good on the rest to all you readers once the book goes premium-that'll be the real time to repay the chapters I owe. Your chieftain's integrity is still guaranteed. I'll start with bonus chapters for the Helmsmen!

Your chieftain is asking for recommendation votes! The book has been out for over ten days and still hasn't made the top ten on the new-book rankings. There are only another ten-odd days before it leaves the rankings. Please vote!