The Guirong Clan

Gao Village Town, Land God Temple.

As the only place within a hundred miles where children can receive their early education, this place has always been very lively.

Even on weekdays when it's not market day, many Mountain Folk come here to pray for blessings, hoping to get a good fortune slip from the temple keeper.

However, since a month ago, the usually easy-going old woman has stopped running her elementary school classes.

Apart from the apprentice who had already been chosen as the next temple keeper, the old woman hardly ever saw any outsiders.

Even today, when the old woman shakily pushed open the door of that Land God Temple...

The townspeople living nearby were finally able to see the kind temple keeper again, and their worries were immediately put to rest.

Since the old woman took over as the temple keeper of the Land God Temple temple, Gao Village Town has enjoyed decades of peace.

This is extremely rare among Mountain Folk; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it unique.

From a small village with only a few dozen households, it has now become the most prosperous town within a radius of hundreds of miles...

Gao Village Town has, to some extent, transcended the category of "village" and become a hub connecting all the small villages within a radius of hundreds of miles.

Unfortunately, in this world where supernatural powers truly exist...

Gao Village Town lacks the strength of the Guifang Tribe, and therefore cannot build a city or state like the Guifang Tribe.

"Xiao'e, how many days has it been?"

Slowly raising her head to look up at the sky, the old woman, who hadn't seen the sun in a long time, asked softly.

It's already the twenty-seventh day.

Looking at the old woman with a worried expression, Xiao'e, with her dreadlocks, answered cautiously.

"So much time has passed..."

"It seems I really am getting old, so old that I've even forgotten about time."

A kind smile appeared on her aged face as the old woman gently stroked Xiao'e's head and said...

"Xiao'e, I'm going on a long trip later, so I'll leave this Land God Temple in your care for the time being."

"If I encounter something I can't handle..."

"You can go to a place called Li Household Village in the south and find a Red Boy named Red Boy who is entirely red, even his hair. He will help you."

Seemingly understanding the old woman's unspoken meaning, Xiao'e asked in a slightly trembling voice.

"Grandma, aren't you planning to come back?"

Looking into Xiao'e's hopeful eyes, the old woman did not answer her question directly.

"Xiao'e! After I leave, you will be the temple keeper of this Land God Temple temple."

You and I are different; you have the right to choose your own life.

"When you feel that being a temple keeper is a constraint, you can leave here; no one will stop you."

Xiao'e blinked, seemingly understanding Xiao'e not quite, and tried hard to remember the old woman's words.

Although she couldn't understand the meaning of these words for the time being, Xiao'e knew that the old woman wouldn't harm her.

"I understand, Grandma. Please be careful!"

A hint of lingering affection and reluctance flashed in her eyes, but the old woman ultimately smiled and waved goodbye to Xiao'e.

"Look at what you're saying, is Grandma the kind of person who causes trouble?"

Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers away on rural dirt roads.

An army of nearly 10,000 people is migrating, and their destination is naturally the direction of Gao Village Town.

Of course, calling it a "large army" is not entirely accurate.

Because in this migrating force of nearly 10,000 people, more than 90% were emaciated and sallow-faced slaves.

These slaves were originally Mountain Folk living in various forests.

Now, however, they are bound by various wooden shackles and chains, forced to join this massive migration.

For every ten meters they marched forward, multiple slaves would be abandoned because they couldn't keep up with the group, left to lie on the ground in despair and await their death.

The relentless migration day and night left these already physically weak slaves too weak to even utter a cry of pain.

A deathly silence continued to spread throughout the ranks.

Everyone knows they could die at any moment, but they are powerless to stop it from happening.

Because the true leader of this army was the Guirong Clan, a legion of the Guifang Kingdom that specifically served the gods.

The Guirong Clan had only eight hundred members, but it was the true army built by the Guifang Kingdom with the full strength of the nation.

All members who could join the Guirong Clan were collateral descendants of nobles from the Guifang Kingdom.

They received professional martial arts training from a young age, and each of them possessed the strength to fight a tiger.

When they are around ten years old, these noble children who have no right to inherit the family business will join the priest training program and learn various sacrificial rituals from the current high priest.

After about five years of training, the most outstanding children will become priest candidates.

Those children who were eliminated would become members of the Guirong Clan, fighting for the gods against those who disobeyed.

Especially after the massive "human sacrifice" began three years ago.

The Guirong Clan then waged war in all directions, sweeping away all the Mountain Folk villages surrounding the Guifang Kingdom.

After all, human sacrifice requires a large number of human offerings, and it can also help to eliminate those disobedient Mountain Folk.

This resulted in the Guirong Clan bringing back ten times their own number of slaves every time they returned to the Guifang Kingdom.

Its deterrent power has long been known throughout these Hundred Lands Mountain Range.

"Muzheng, should we continue?"

Riding a black mythical beast, a handsome young man arrived at the front of the group.

To escort this large group of slaves, the eight hundred members of the Guirong Clan were almost scattered throughout the entire force, relying entirely on specialized scouts to relay orders.

This handsome young man was the leader of the scout unit, as well as Muzheng's confidant and deputy.

"You Chong, when we're not in a crowd, you may call me by my name."

Muzheng glanced at You Chong sideways and said in a slightly low voice.

Muzheng the leader of the Guirong Clan, and also the strongest among all the children.

Don't let his age You Chong.

Whether in terms of personal strength or military capability, Muzheng is definitely among the top tier in the Guifang Kingdom.

"Okay, boa constrictor."

His calm voice showed no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.

You Chong seemed to be merely following Muzheng Ran's orders, which left the other party quite helpless.

This is the rule of the Guirong Clan, or rather the Guifang Kingdom —the orders of the superiors are absolute to the subordinates.

"Fine, call me whatever you want!"

With a soft sigh, Muzheng stopped correcting You Chong's form of address and directly issued the order.

"Let's move forward; we'll carry out one last raid."

"This time, the target is the village called Gao Village Town, which is also the last threat to the Guifang Kingdom in this region."

Monthly Pass / Recommendation Pass