Chapter 137

The tribe engaged in incessant wars, continuously annexing other tribes, absorbing their essence, and merging it into itself.

The trial participants, who had originally been opposed due to victory or defeat, finally sensed something unusual.

They were not fools; no one continued to view each other as enemies. They earnestly observed the tribe's changes, and even the defeated tribes were still developing.

"It seems they have realized it!"

Deng Lingzi laughed, and they convened the Hundred Schools assembly, whose fundamental purpose was to guide these talented youths.

Taking the tribe as a basis, most of them had already achieved the extreme of their respective fields at this stage, and it was time to draw analogies and explore other schools and fields.

Embracing a hundred rivers, absorbing and merging the essences of all schools, ultimately forging one's own path—this is Jiuzhou's educational philosophy.

But before that, they must first determine what the mainstay is; otherwise they will end up like a bear trying to pick corn, dropping one ear after another.

This is also why the Hundred Schools gathered these outstanding students: they would not abandon their own strengths upon seeing others' advantages, but instead integrate those advantages into themselves to improve.

Jiuzhou has no fixed-framework path; they persist in the path they themselves blaze.

Just like a novice receiving a quest from the Newbie Village, on the day these four were born, they were summoned to the council hall of Teng Kingdom.

Some, heavily influenced by Buddhist, Legalist, and Confucian schools, embarked on a feudal caste system, advocating division of labor and cooperation, reincarnation, and karmic retribution.

Although Mu Yi found this template full of flaws, Mingyue and the others took it in stride, smoothly entering the role-play.

The big shots leisurely watched the earnest Zongwang Players of the chaotic camp; if this were reality, those guys would have been slapped dead long ago.

More accurately, in their original world, they were basically no different from this.

Beneath the dragon-like yet not-dragon totem at this moment, they were entrusted with great hopes, becoming the so-called saviors capable of mobilizing nearly half of the kingdom's resources.

Only Mu Yi felt extremely awkward, but fortunately he had also played many virtual online games, so he quickly accepted this role-playing template.

This, too, is a form of communication, except that the mode of communication is entirely unequal.

Namely, the path of separating military, political, and religious powers; after the reform was completed, the dynasty began to develop under the new institutional framework.

As expected, after the new system had been in place for a hundred years, a new round of war broke out.

The figures of Mu Yi and his three companions instantly vanished from the spot, entering the simulated world.

For Mu Yi and the others, it was merely a momentary daze, and they immediately appeared in the simulated world in full form.

The various schools of thought that had once been absorbed and accommodated took root and sprouted among the populace; some followed the path of outward Confucianism, inward Legalism, while others took the route of outward Mohism, inward Agrarianism…

By random means, these dynasties were flung from different directions into a new vast world.

Some, heavily influenced by Mohist, Legalist, and Agrarian schools, took the republican road, pursuing production development and capital accumulation.

When Mu Yi and the others appeared in the present-day Teng Dynasty, heavenly omens manifested.

Ideas collided, souls surged, and reform unfolded in bloodshed.

"It's those guys!" Mu Yi recognized these people; they were the ones previously detained by Shang Yang.

"Alas!" Mo Jia watched the disappearing Dong Hui quartet, emitting an angry sound; they had already been eliminated, naturally lacking the qualifications to participate in this stage of the competition.

"Isn't it about time? It's also time to let the little ones take the stage; although they are Evil Demons and Heretics, that one over there is already attempting to break through to the Land Immortal realm (Legend) via blood sacrifice!" Someone raised a question.

"Then I announce that the third stage of competition begins now!" accompanied by Shang Yang's proclamation.

Some, heavily influenced by Confucian, Legalist, and Military Strategist schools, embarked on the feudal militarist road, esteeming strength and emphasizing that the sovereign whose troops are strong and horses sturdy shall prevail.

Hailed as immortal reincarnations and the kingdom's saviors, they began their legendary lives.

Subsequently war erupted, just as in the Spring and Autumn hegemony of that year; several dynasties attacked each other, eliminating the internally unstable, non‑progressive, and those who committed grave strategic errors, leaving only seven states in the end.

Mu Yi and his tribe, after several wars, had developed and grown into a nation with a million inhabitants, long since incomparable to before.

As for the remaining dynasties, some, heavily influenced by Daoist, Legalist, and Yin-Yang schools, took the path of divine right of kings.

Soon after, an anomaly occurred; the flow of time slowed, and the silhouettes of several uninvited guests appeared among the seven states.

Although it is a false Legend, it is still a Legend; for this group of disciples whose upper bound has been sealed, it represents an insurmountable level.

Unlike before, this time all dynasties were thrown into this war.

However, Mu Yi had not expected his torment to end; upon obtaining the data on the Evil Demons and Heretics, he felt an even greater sense of helplessness.

"It seems we are about to enter the final step!" Mu Yi surveyed the changes of the few remaining dynasties, his mind clear.

They began wreaking havoc—blood sacrifices, massacres, seduction, establishing evil cults… various darkness and depravity started to spread among the seven states.

On the side of the Liuli monk were ground‑bursting golden lotuses and a hundred flowers in bloom; on the side of the Mingyue Daoist were falling heavenly blossoms and purple energy coming from the east; on the side of Dong Hui was boundless righteous energy filling the sky.

As for Mu Yi… it was a blood‑red expanse stretching a thousand li, with metal weapons clashing in resonance.

Yet in this illusory simulated world, they were keenly interested in subsequent developments, after all, the Zongwang Players of the chaotic camp also bore traits of Western lineage culture.

"Fate really is a miraculous thing, and again there are seven nations?" Even the spectators among the big shots were somewhat surprised this time.

And Mu Yi and his tribe strangely embarked on a road that they themselves had never imagined.

"Hehehe, Lord Shang's plan this time is truly interesting! Dragging extraterrestrial heavenly demons into the trial as well—what a novel idea!"

Because their powers were roughly equal, or due to alliances and such causing a stalemate, the seven states began a brief peace.

Moreover, the expansion of scale also brought more problems; although Dong Hui and his ilk had initially left a framework, the present reality is now completely different, making reform an urgent matter.

And their task is to defeat the world‑wrecking Evil Demons and Heretics, lead the kingdom's revival, and defeat the other states to unify all under heaven.

Zongwang Players are a bunch who can really stir things up, and the chaotic‑camp Zongwang Players are even more so, yet Mu Yi never imagined they could cause such trouble.

Originally there should have been five chaotic‑camp Zongwang Players, but one of them, being rather stupid, was counter‑killed by three local natives during the turmoil.

The three natives divided the foundation that Zongwang Player had established and went their separate ways, thereby giving rise to the so‑called Evil Demons and Heretics, a total of seven.

Each entrenched itself within a state, and their territories were dubbed the Seven Great Dark Forbidden Zones.

Over these years of development, they have almost established strength not inferior to that of the kingdoms; indeed, because of their leaders, they can even turn around and suppress the various kingdoms.

Each time the Dark Forbidden Zones act, they inflict on the kingdoms wounds that are hard to heal, also being called dark turmoil.

However, after each Dark Forbidden Zone triggers a dark turmoil, twenty years elapse; and since there is still one year before Teng Kingdom faces its third dark turmoil, they are therefore regarded as the kingdom's saviors.

Even setting aside the Zongwang Players, these three native chieftains are also capable of this; Mu Yi has no doubt that the big shots have fed them resources, precisely to create a relatively fair competitive environment.

And Mu Yi and his group's current task is to deal with these guys using their respective methods, while also assisting the kingdom in achieving unification.

The former is a cooperative‑competitive relationship, after all each Evil Demons and Heretics is worth five points; who wouldn't want to claim them all? The latter is competitive cooperation, because when the Teng Kingdom loses, all four of them lose.

Mingyue, Liuli, and Dong Hui turned and left in perfect sync, leaving Mu Yi alone, disheveled in the wind; he racked his brain for ages but still couldn't figure it out, since everyone's family background and education differ.

Compared with those three, Mu Yi's starting point is truly too low; there is a fundamental gap in these aspects.

Yet the more one relies on scheming, the more one is bound by that scheming; Mu Yi chose to rush headlong.

From the Teng Kingdom army he requisitioned eight hundred and eighty‑eight elite among the elites, all of whom had mastered three Elite Talents and had honed the Tenfold Versatility to its limit.

However, with the passage of time, the three Elite Talents transformed into Iron Body, Tenfold Versatility, and Burning Ember, representing Heart, Body, and Technique respectively; combined, they indeed work better.

Even in terms of Tenfold Versatility alone, Mu Yi lacks the depth that these elites possess.

With these elites, Mu Yi charged straight toward the so‑called Dark Forbidden Zone; why overthink it? Just do it.

Having long understood how to unleash his greatest power, Mu Yi naturally chose the combat style that suited him best, fighting to fuel more fighting.

In fact the kingdom was willing to give Mu Yi more people, but for Mu Yi, eight hundred and eighty‑eight is already the current limit of the Six Paths Reincarnation Barrier.

The Teng Kingdom's Dark Forbidden Zone lies within a mountain range.

The sky drapes low, the ridges winding and undulating in a vast desolation.

Mu Yi led his squad through the hills; the reason it is called a Dark Forbidden Zone is, of course, justified.

Because the boss inside this zone is an Undead Mage, the entire mountain range is almost saturated with undead aura.

Marching in the wild is already hard, let alone in such a gloomy place; ordinary people can't even traverse it, and even standing there a few seconds might let the undead aura corrupt them, causing a serious illness.

But this level is no problem for Mu Yi and his men; the Ember Fire burns within their bodies, helping them dispel the undead aura's intrusion.

These elites are mostly veterans who survived the last dark upheaval, so they naturally understand the dread of the Dark Forbidden Zone; they dare not let their guard down, their sharp gazes constantly monitoring the surroundings.

At that moment, a veteran sprinted back, cupping his hands and saying, "General, we have already found a place to set up camp!"

Each of these veterans has a specialty; they are not mere foot soldiers—some excel at divination, capturing omens to pinpoint a safe camp location.

The camp site is excellent: backed by a cliff for wind shelter, distant forests on both sides, and a stream opposite, making safety maximized.

Erecting tents, setting up watches, building fire for cooking…

The veterans are all elites, so these tasks are performed with great skill; without Mu Yi's command they proceed orderly, and in no time the camp is set up.

Mu Yi stands atop the cliff, bow in hand, scanning all directions; his senses tell him he seems to have been singled out.

Beast? Or have they been discovered?

Mu Yi's sharp gaze sweeps the surrounding woods and wasteland; the dense forest is silent, birds and beasts absent, only the north wind howls.

After a long while, Mu Yi still finds nothing abnormal.

Yet that feeling in his heart refuses to fade.

"What a cunning fellow!" Mu Yi mutters to himself, becoming even more vigilant.

But he is not worried about the enemy coming; he himself came to stir trouble, to test his own hypothesis.

If the hypothesis holds, he might find, amid this grand gathering, a breakthrough method unique to him.

"General, the meal is ready!"

Mu Yi glances around, then leaps off the cliff.

"General, freshly simmered bone broth!" A subordinate brings a wooden bowl; as Mu Yi reaches to take it, a streak of black light shoots toward him.

"General, watch out!" No sooner had the words left his mouth than smoke suddenly rose all around, surging toward Mu Yi and his group.

The black light hits Mu Yi, but the shield attached to his ring successfully blocks the damage.

Mu Yi ignores it; the instant the opponent strikes, he has already locked onto their position.

Mu Yi detected the attack earlier than his soldiers; he could have dodged, but he didn't, choosing instead to gather power in place.

"To come without returning is impolite; hit me!"

Mu Yi, wielding delayed justice, fires a power‑charged explosive arrow; the shaft follows his will, lands, and detonates instantly.

【Gained a level of "Fierce" mark, current mark count: 1】

A fragment of soul also flies into Mu Yi's Six Paths Reincarnation Barrier.

Mu Yi's face breaks into a strange grin; to deal with villains, one must be worse than them, and to confront Evil Demons and Heretics, one must be even more fanatically ruthless.

Undead Mage, huh? Then let's see whether the undying spirit is stronger or the blood‑sea Asura more terrifying.

Amid the smoke, a claw suddenly shoots out.

Rotten black, fingertips darkening, like a corpse…

"It's a walking corpse!" the veterans who have dealt with it instantly recognize their enemy.

A type of undead creature, its body reinforced by undead aura is extremely hard, its strength formidable, but its speed is relatively slow.

But at this moment, within the smoke, it nicely compensates for that drawback.

Unexplained panic spreads among the veterans; Mu Yi immediately notices a force in the smoke that stirs hearts, clearly a spell of negative emotion at work.