Chapter Sixty: Reinforcements

“All adult warriors of the tribe were taken away by Golden Crow Ridge seven days ago.”
With wounds all over his body, several bones broken, barely holding himself together by a sliver of hope, the Fire Leopard Tribe warrior who had escaped to Cold Creek Valley roared hoarsely, “There are only three hundred warriors left in the tribe who can still fight! The enemies from the Blood Crocodile Tribe and the Ghost Frog Tribe are many, far too many!”
His bloodied hands gripped Ji Xia’s arm with desperate strength, and the Fire Leopard warrior, teeth clenched, cried out fiercely, “Chief Ji Xia, please save my tribe, save my people! We are the largest tribe of the Fire Leopard Clan, our elderly, women, and children make up half of the entire Fire Leopard Clan!”
Ji Xia’s brow furrowed tightly, and he declared with resolve, “The Fire Leopard Clan are our brothers. If they’re in trouble, we must help. The Blood Crocodile Tribe and Ghost Frog Tribe? Lapdogs of the Blackwater Serpent Clan, nothing but sneak-thieves... We can easily smash their heads.”
Before Ji Xia could speak further, Ji Hao, standing nearby, interjected, “Father, the mineral veins of Cold Creek Valley are crucial, and you’ve been ordered to guard this place; you can’t just take people out. I’ve grown up now, I can contribute to the Fire Crow Clan too. Let me go this time!”
Ji Xia was momentarily stunned, mouth agape, as he sized up Ji Hao from head to toe, a hint of bewilderment in his gaze.
Ji Hao straightened his back, his eyes unwavering as he looked at Ji Xia. “Father, though I’m not that old, my mind is far sharper than many of the uncles and elders in the tribe. Besides, I’m already a Junior Shaman! A Junior Shaman stronger than most uncles and elders!”
All around, the people of the Fire Crow Clan glanced over at Ji Hao, their expressions complex.
Yes, in the blink of an eye, Ji Hao had soared like a rocket. While children his age were still undergoing basic warrior training, he had already become a Junior Shaman, his strength far surpassing ordinary tribesmen.
In the southern wilds, possessing strength above the fifth level of the Shaman realm meant you were a qualified tribal warrior.
When you broke through to the Junior Shaman realm, you became a true pillar of the tribe.
“My boy, Hao, you’re still just a child, but I know you won’t be taken advantage of. That much your father trusts!” Ji Xia slapped his head, laughing heartily. “Hao, my boy, you may be young, but you’ve truly grown up!”
Taking a deep breath, Ji Xia barked orders, “Ji Ying, Ji Lang, Qing Ying, each of you lead two thousand Fire Crow warriors and a hundred brothers from the Greenweed Tribe to rescue our brothers of the Fire Leopard Clan! The Blood Crocodile, Ghost Frog? Such worthless tribes dare to reach for us? Cold Creek Valley is short of mining slaves—bring back as many living captives as you can!”
In the southern wilds, when war called, as soon as the warrior chief gave the order, there was never any hesitation or delay. All warriors prepared at lightning speed. In just half a quarter hour, two thousand elite Fire Crow warriors mounted their battle beasts, and, led by the wounded Fire Leopard warrior, set out with piercing whistles into the dense forest.

The situation was urgent. At Ji Hao’s suggestion, three four-tusked mammoths acted as the vanguard, brutishly smashing through towering trees ahead, opening a broad highway through the woods for the rest of the party to charge forth.
“Two hours, uncle—just two hours and we’ll reach your tribe!” Ji Hao shouted loudly from atop Fat Bear, addressing the Fire Leopard warrior seated behind him. “Do you know why Golden Crow Ridge summoned all your tribe’s warriors?”
The Fire Leopard warrior shook his head in confusion; such a thing had never happened before. The southern wilds were rife with danger—not only from hostile tribes that might harass or invade at any moment, but also from countless predatory beasts that threatened the people.
In the past, when Golden Crow Ridge called warriors from vassal tribes for battle, they always left enough strength for the tribe to defend itself.
But this time, the Fire Leopard tribe’s thousands of elite warriors had been taken, leaving only three hundred of the weakest adults to guard the tribe—a practice tantamount to murder in the southern wilds. Yet the order from Golden Crow Ridge was absolute. As the most loyal allies of the Fire Crow Clan for countless generations, the Fire Leopard tribe sent out all their warriors without hesitation.
“Lady Hengluo, can you summon some more companions for me?” Gripping Fat Bear’s fur tightly, Ji Hao called out to Lady Hengluo, who rode an auburn leopard, running shoulder-to-shoulder with him. “Stronger ones, please—the weak ones are no use!”
Lady Hengluo raised her longbow high, her dark green hair fluttering gracefully behind her. With a charm like a goddess, she gazed skyward and unleashed a silent call.
Ripples visible to the naked eye spread out in waves, and soon the mountain forests echoed with prolonged howls. Strange winds rustled through the woods, and before long, curious figures appeared in the forests flanking the party, keeping pace with the group at a speed swift as a whirlwind.
These figures were neither beast nor true animal, their bodies shrouded in mysterious mist, hazy and indistinct—not ordinary fierce beasts, but arcane spirit creatures, born from the natural energies of the mountains and forests, drawn by some enigmatic presence.
Only mountain spirits like Lady Hengluo possessed the power to summon these strange, powerful, and mysterious beings. In the southern wilds, many minor tribes worshipped gods who were, in fact, these peculiar spirit creatures.
Old Stone sat astride a four-tusked mammoth at the head of the procession. He raised his massive fist and beat his chest in a peculiar rhythm—‘Bang, bang-bang, bang-bang-bang~ bang, bang-bang, bang-bang-bang~’—the resonant blows carried far on the wind, soon echoed by similarly stirring metallic sounds from mountains dozens of miles away.
“Brothers... I hear my brothers!” Old Stone muttered. “Hao, I’ve found three more brothers, even stronger than I am! Hmm, they’re asking me what ‘wine’ is, and what roasted meat tastes like!”
“Tell them there’s wine aplenty, and the meat is delicious! Our Fire Crow Clan welcomes them to stay as long as they wish! Haha, my father and mother are the most hospitable people you’ll ever meet.” Ji Hao grinned so wide his teeth crooked. Stone monsters like Old Stone were exceedingly rare in the wilds, and to have three summoned at once was a stroke of fortune!
Stone monsters were simple-minded, they barely had a drop of brain matter—give them enough fine wine and good food, and they were the easiest creatures to lure.

Years ago, Old Stone had been won over by Ji Hao with just a bowl of vintage wine and a piece of honeycomb, becoming Ji Hao’s ‘little companion’ and serving as his shield in countless woodland escapades.
The slow-moving Old Tree Demon also sat atop a four-tusked mammoth. Seeing Old Stone’s smugness, he refused to be outdone, raising his branch-like arms. Countless dark green lights floated from his limbs like butterflies and drifted into the surrounding forest.
The mammoths charged ahead, and after about half an hour, the ground ahead suddenly shook. Two ancient trees, each over three hundred yards tall and their crowns covering a thousand acres, suddenly stirred.
The earth split with a tremendous crack, and the two towering trees—indistinguishable from the other ancient trees—opened eyes glowing with emerald light. Slowly, they pulled their roots from the ground, which quickly contracted into two crude, massive legs.
Ji Hao was utterly dumbfounded. Was Old Tree Demon planning a massacre?
He remembered Old Tree Demon’s own tree body was only about one hundred seventy or eighty yards tall; these two enchanted ancient trees were nearly twice his height, their strength at least several times greater!
“Yoohoo~ Let’s have a glorious slaughter!” Ji Hao howled, punching the sky with exhilaration.
A black-furred giant ape, racing through the treetops with the party, snorted in defiance. It stood atop a tree and let out a resounding call that echoed like thunder.
Soon, sharp howls responded from all corners of the forest.
***
Recommendation votes, recommendation votes, please give your recommendation votes!