Chapter 283: 283. Chapter 283: Conflict First Appears (Bonus Chapter for haruki z's 10,000-coin reward)

283. Chapter 283: Conflict First Appears (Bonus Chapter for haruki z's 10,000-coin reward)

The copper pillars standing at the previous border between the Wu Clan and the Heavenly Court were merely mundane objects, casually taken from the earth by those who arrived first from the Thunder Department.

After shaping them into pillars, they were casually stuck into the mountain base, each no taller than ten thousand zhang and no wider than nine zhang.

Only after being imbued with divine power did they stand firm in the mountain base without deforming or bending, able to withstand the floating clouds' gang wind from above and the enduring pressure from below the earth.

Eighteen copper pillars towered on the battlefield initially demarcated by the Heavenly Court for the two sides, splitting Xifang Dalu in two and becoming a thorn rooted in the Wu Clan's heart.

Now this thorn has just been pierced, making them quite uncomfortable; many senior shamans of the Wu Clan regard it as a great disgrace.

They feel that, were it not for the restrictions of the ancestral shamans, they could completely crush the Immortal Court, leaving it without even an awl's place to stand.

They are not lacking the ability to occupy more space, but now, due to the Heavenly Court's intervention, their hope of unifying Xifang Dalu has turned into an illusory bubble.

This idea even influenced many of the Wu Clan below, and those who share this view of disgrace are not limited to these ordinary shamans and senior shamans.

All eleven ancestral shamans still surviving in Xifang Dalu are like this; thus this attitude, allowed to spread by their tacit permission, also proliferates throughout the Wu Clan.

They and those senior shamans dare not cause trouble; at least now they distinguish priorities and will not treat the Heavenly Court's orders as nothing.

But the ordinary shamans below have never experienced the Heavenly Court's management, nor have they truly witnessed its power.

Under the encouragement of blood courage, they often cross those copper pillars to go to the areas now under the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction, hunting everywhere and taking pride in it, believing this behavior showcases their martial prowess.

They roam the nearby areas, capturing those Western peoples who have achieved cultivation, enslaving them or outright killing them to become their own blood food.

Such situations are actually considered normal in the myriad-clan wilderness, but their transgressive behavior has provoked the dislike of many heavenly soldiers and generals.

Over the past century, among these shamans, the Di Jiang Tribe, Zhu Jiuyin Tribe, and Gonggong Tribe have been the most rampant, with many of them treating the Heavenly Court's earlier words as nothing.

When they encounter heavenly soldiers and generals, at first they do show sense, voluntarily yielding and retreating, but upon discovering that the heavenly soldiers and generals will not act against them, their behavior becomes even more rampant.

Occasionally encountering some benevolent heavenly soldiers who verbally stop them or forcibly order them to release the living beings and retreat beyond the copper pillars, they actually still count as cooperating.

But over time, this also annoys those heavenly soldiers, most of whom harbor an antagonistic attitude toward the Wu Clan.

Treasure Ring Mountain.

"Yu Ge, is it truly safe for us to go beyond the copper pillars to capture slaves?"

The speaker, named Ya Hu, is about two zhang tall, wearing a leopard-skin skirt, chest bare, breasts exposed, his ancient bronze skin seeming coated with some plant sap, making it somewhat sticky.

Around his neck hangs a string of beast teeth inlaid in the necklace, all canine teeth of fierce beasts, showing he is an excellent hunter.

Although the beast teeth are not large in volume, they are filled with blood color in the gaps, obviously condensed through the Wu Clan's special tempering method.

Barefoot on the ground, his tone full of doubt, yet as he walks there is no hesitation whatsoever; branches and leaves brush his skin without leaving a trace.

Among them are also man-eating vicious vines, yet a light tug of his body easily snaps them, the barbs on the vines making it hard to feel even a hint of pain.

Furthermore, the person called Yu Ge wears a set of fine, sleeveless scale armor, about three zhang tall, with a green snake hanging from his left ear.

Besides the two of them, another eight or nine Wu Clan members walk together, their bodies similarly coated with the sticky sap, indicating they belong to the same tribe.

Facing the newcomer's question, Yu Ge showed no concern and laughed:

"Why ask so much? Over the past century we've walked this Treasure Boundary Mountain more than ten times; those heavenly soldiers and generals simply don't care."

"Moreover, the Wu Clan is strong; although the Heavenly Court issued orders, it cannot reach us."

"If you're scared, just turn back; but then you'll have no share of the slaves and game."

"Anyway, we didn't really want to add a newcomer; if it weren't for your father's acquaintance with me, I wouldn't let this kid get a cut of our spoils."

Ya Hu saw Yu Ge trying to ditch him and quickly smiled apologetically: "I'm not leaving, and who said I'm scared? I still want to capture a few more slaves, return to the tribe, and find a woman to have children."

Everyone hearing Ya Hu's words laughed; Yu Ge smirked even more:

"A kid who hasn't even grown hair yet actually wants to learn from others to find a woman and have children—how shameless."

Yu Ge and company were fortunate; after wandering the forests for half a month, they found a small village of wolf-people.

Wolf-people resemble standing gray wolves, quite valuable as slaves, but with low cultivation; Yu Ge and company smashed the village gate and captured over a hundred.

Besides the strong men and women kept as slaves, the old and young were all roasted and eaten.

These wolf-people were linked together with a specially made green vine, their hands bound tight, forming a long line as they were dragged through the forest. After several days of travel, just as they were about to reach the area of the copper pillars, Yu Ge suddenly frowned and said:

"Hu Zi, your plan to find a woman and have children will have to be delayed."

Ya Hu heard this, startled, and asked doubtfully: "Ah? What's wrong?"

Yu Ge's face turned somewhat bluish-black as he said: "Bad luck; we've run into heavenly soldiers just ahead not far off, and most of these slaves we captured will likely be forced to be released by them."

Ya Hu felt reluctant, as several of these people were his good slaves; he still hoped to sell them to find a woman and have children! Feeling somewhat aggrieved, Ya Hu looked hopefully at Yu Ge and asked: "Can we detour? After all, we struggled long to catch these, and moreover, Yu Ge, you were even grabbed a few times by them."

Yu Ge merely replied helplessly: "We can't detour; they've spotted us. Next time, next time Yu Ge will bring you to recapture, then we'll grab more to compensate for this loss."

Seeing this, Ya Hu could only reluctantly agree.

As expected, after walking another half day without success, they saw a white cloud slowly descending from the sky, and a silver-armored heavenly soldier shouted:

"Who let you lot cross the border? Release these wolf-people, then get lost!"

Yu Ge and company, having experienced this several times, were already accustomed to the presence of heavenly soldiers; as for their bad attitude, they simply didn't care.

Skillfully untying the vines binding the wolf-people, Yu Ge said indifferently: "Let's go."

Having said that, Yu Ge led the way turning away, and the few behind him did likewise; crossing the border to capture people inevitably leads to this, and they are all used to it.

But they hadn't expected that Ya Hu, having just experienced this for the first time, being young and thinking of women, would feel a surge of resentment facing the lofty heavenly soldiers.

As the group was about to walk away, he muttered a curse:

"Just a lackey of the Heavenly Court, not knowing what he's being arrogant about."

Yu Ge and those who heard it instantly changed expression, turned back, and saw the heavenly soldier's face darken, clearly the words had reached his ears.

Sure enough, a furious shout rang out, hearing only his words: "Great gall!"

A fierce wind surged around; even in the dense forest it blew everything askew, the wind carrying fine blades—just a slight stir and the shamans on the spot were instantly wounded.

A white cloud on the horizon drooped down, forming a giant hand that reached straight for Ya Hu.

Seeing this, Yu Ge's qi and blood boiled, as if igniting thick blood flames; within the blood flames, killing intent permeated, and he surged forward, directly shattering the giant hand.

The heavenly soldier's gaze instantly locked onto Yu Ge, the surrounding air fell silent, and Yu Ge immediately gave an apologetic smile: "Sir, why bother with a child's level? Let us pass; if you raise your hand high, compensation will naturally be offered."

The heavenly soldier saw the Wu people faintly forming an encirclement, and couldn't help but sneer:

"How come, you still want to make a move? Spare us, that's fine. You leave, but this brat stays."

Seeing the other side unwilling to let go, Yu Ge felt a hint of bitterness; Ya Hu was the son of his good friend—how could he abandon him?

"Sir, you jest; we have merely offended the Heavenly Court's might with a cold, that nonsense talk is just brainless."

"This person is merely a kid who hasn't even grown a full hair—how could he dirty your eyes, sir? Better to treat us as a fart and let us go."

Seeing his greatly respected elder brother act so humbly because of his own matter, Ya Hu felt the anger from when the heavenly soldiers forced him to release the slaves flare up again.

Recalling the Wu Clan honor taught since childhood, and seeing their side now outnumbered, Ya Hu couldn't help but shout angrily:

"Yu Ge, why are we being so servile? I wasn't wrong—aren't we just the Heavenly Court's lackeys? What do we fear them for?"

"How can the Wu Clan's honor be trampled by others? Xifang Dalu should rightfully be ours; why does the Heavenly Court barge in and demand half of Xifang Dalu?"

"Moreover, the Heavenly Court forcibly released our slaves, yet still wants us to cower! What's wrong with cursing them once?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Ge realized things were bad, while the heavenly soldier opposite turned black-faced and shouted angrily: "So this is the Wu Clan's plan? What boldness—when did Xifang Dalu become Wu Clan territory? How has the Heavenly Court never known?"

"Today, whoever offends the Heavenly Court's majesty shall die; you may yet live, otherwise, all will be executed!"

"This will let you know what may be said and what may not, remember it well, and understand that disaster comes from the mouth."

The heavenly soldier's eyes revealed killing intent, obviously truly enraged, while Yu Ge at this point found himself in a bind, unable to dismount the tiger.

PS: Thanks to the reward from reader harukiz, I added an extra chapter; it was late, but I still wrote it. (End of chapter)