Chapter 456: Hua Mu Clan

Roar!

A brilliant blue dragon bared its fangs and claws, surging forward with crashing waves.

Splash!

The Lord of Fiery Wind stood unmoved, unrolling the crimson scroll in his hand.

Another colossal flame mountain rose, blocking his path.

The blue dragon slammed into the volcano and exploded violently, dissolving into mist that spread over tens of thousands of miles.

"Another capital army?"

The Lord of Fiery Wind frowned, preparing to unleash another divine art.

Suddenly, a sharp sense of danger arose in his heart.

A shadowy figure had appeared behind him without warning, extending one finger.

Puff!

The black hole force condensed into a sliver of dark light, piercing through his multiple defenses and striking his back.

Blood gushed from the Lord of Fiery Wind's back, igniting into a flame as he fled forward.

At the same time, he hurled the crimson scroll behind him.

"Imperial Artifact?"

Watching the terrifying aura erupt from the crimson scroll, Fang Xing chuckled and extended both hands.

Powerful gravitational force manifested, acting upon the crimson scroll.

He seized the Imperial Artifact and tore it with all his strength!

Rip!

The scroll split cleanly in two; flames burst forth, then scattered uselessly, not even scorching a single hair on him.

"My Imperial Artifact?"

The Lord of Fiery Wind stared at the scene, his heart bleeding—filled with deep terror: "Are you… the Black Dragon Imperial Son?"

"Correct… Lord of Fiery Wind. You dared invade my No-Boundary Mountain. It seems the Wei Huang Palace's outpost in the Green Wood Realm no longer wishes to exist."

Fang Xing stood with his hands behind his back, expression calm.

Facing merely the Lord of Fiery Wind, he didn't even need to activate the Void Ring—his own Black Hole-level physique alone could suppress him.

This confirmed to him that this Wei Huang Palace's Nascent Soul overlord was roughly equivalent to a Heaven Immortal of the first or second tier.

"I'll remember today's grudge…"

The Lord of Fiery Wind cast one final, deep look at Fang Xing, then turned into a streak of flame and fled without looking back.

Fang Xing watched him depart but made no move to pursue.

Within the Pangu Secret Realm, it was tacitly permitted for Imperial Sons to kill one another for the Pangu Tokens.

Outside, the rules were different.

No-Boundary Mountain was merely a major power in the Qingyuan Great Realm, not a dominant one—it couldn't protect someone determined to court death.

Moreover… an Imperial Son's importance was utterly different from that of a Nascent Soul overlord.

Fang Xing knew that if he killed the Lord of Fiery Wind, he'd never be able to leave the Green Wood Realm again.

Otherwise, he might face ambushes from peak Heaven Immortals—or even Chaos Realm cultivators…

"Jiao Chi!"

Watching the Lord of Fiery Wind depart, Fang Xing spoke an order.

"Imperial Son."

Jiao Chi's eyes burned with fervor—he was now utterly convinced of Fang Xing's power.

"Go down and take control of Qingming Fortress…"

Fang Xing issued his orders, then landed atop Qingming Fortress's ramparts: "All of you, your garrison duty has been arduous. I am the Black Dragon. From now on, I oversee all affairs in the Green Wood Realm…"

"Hail the Black Dragon Imperial Son!"

The Nascent Soul cultivators said nothing, bowing deeply.

No matter how wildly rumors flew within the Tai Xu Illusion, nothing compared to witnessing it firsthand.

They now confirmed: this Black Dragon disciple was truly a Nascent Soul overlord!

Among all factions, the status of a Nascent Soul overlord surpassed even that of ordinary Heaven Immortals or Heaven Demons.

'Damn… it's the Black Dragon Imperial Son overseeing this place…'

Huo Lingzi bowed deeply, his head nearly touching the ground, his heart trembling with dread.

'What should I do?'

'Now, if the Black Dragon Imperial Son gives one order, I'll be sent to die… No! If he so much as hints at a single disapproving glance, countless others will kill me!'

He was filled with profound regret—why had he ever stubbornly chosen to oppose the Black Dragon Imperial Son?

As Huo Lingzi trembled, Fang Xing clearly saw him—but ignored him completely, walking into Qingming Fortress.

Huo Lingzi rose, staring at the direction where Fang Xing's figure vanished, feeling both relief and a hollow loss: 'Ignored… yes, he and I now inhabit entirely different worlds…'

…

Inside Qingming Fortress.

Fang Xing briefly checked the accounts and, seeing that the books had minor irregularities under the watch of the Tai Xu Spirit, decided not to pursue it further.

After resting several days, he had a local Nascent Soul cultivator guide him to inspect nearby Yuan Crystal mines.

Yuan Crystals are highly condensed Yuan Stones; one Yuan Crystal could be exchanged for at least ten thousand Yuan Stones and yielded Yuan Spirit Fluid far more easily.

Even No-Boundary Mountain placed great importance on the Yuan Crystal mines near Qingming Fortress.

Cangming Mountain.

Fang Xing stood with his hands behind his back, gazing down at a massive mine pit.

Most laborers in the pit were Nascent Soul cultivators, but some were natives.

These natives resembled humans but bore emerald-green stripes, radiating vibrant life.

Fang Xing needed only one glance to confirm these aliens lived extraordinarily long lives—even ordinary cultivators could live around five thousand years; even without cultivation, they could live five hundred.

As for Nascent Soul cultivators?

It seemed that no Nascent Soul who cultivated Qi could survive beyond ten thousand years.

"Imperial Son, we have one thousand and ninety-eight overseers and over thirty-six thousand miners here… daily output is roughly three hundred thousand Yuan Crystals…"

The man introducing him was none other than Huo Lingzi.

Yet now his demeanor was utterly humble, tinged with nervousness.

Fortunately, Fang Xing paid him no real attention—as if he were a stranger.

"These natives… they're called the Hua Mu Clan, right?"

Fang Xing grew interested, watching a Hua Mu woman with green markings and flowers blooming atop her head.

"Yes… the Hua Mu Clan are the indigenous people of the Green Wood Realm, with many branches—all extremely long-lived and exceptionally suited to Wood Dao principles. Among these natives, Nascent Soul cultivators are now countless…"

Huo Lingzi's face showed concern: "As the world matures, one day, one of these natives will reach Heaven Demon realm. But we cannot exterminate them first—not only because their numbers are terrifying, but because even attempting it would make us utterly reviled by the world's primordial source…"

The Qingyuan Great Realm had abundant experience conquering other worlds.

Fang Xing knew well: newly born worlds always favored their natives with certain advantages and "Heaven's Favor."

And because external Heaven Immortals and Heaven Demons caused too much destruction, they were strictly barred from entering.

But natives who achieved Heaven Immortal or Heaven Demon realm faced no such suppression.

'Among so many Hua Mu, there must be prodigies. If I soul-enslave them now, and wait until they grow into Heaven Demons… I'll profit immensely.'

A thought suddenly surfaced in Fang Xing's mind.

The Qingyuan Great Realm's many factions never recruited disciples from conquered minor realms—it was a lesson written in blood.

But acquiring soul slaves? That was a gray area.

'Perhaps other factions have already done this…'

The thought sent a pang of urgency through Fang Xing.

He looked at Huo Lingzi and spoke suddenly: "Huo Lingzi… I have an order for you."

"Imperial Son, please command."

Huo Lingzi bowed instantly.

"Bring me the most gifted Hua Mu individuals within our controlled territory… preferably Nascent Soul seventh tier or higher—ideally ninth tier!"

Fang Xing ordered.

Then he communicated with the Tai Xu Illusion and began purchasing transmissions on Wood Dao principles—specifically those that could be taught to outsiders.

…

Several days later.

Qingming Fortress.

In the square.

Each Hua Mu stood nervously.

"Duo Mi, why have these outsiders suddenly summoned us?"

A Hua Mu man with tattoos looked at a girl in the center, his eyes filled with indescribable emotion.

The girl named "Duo Mi" wore a green robe, her face marked with blue stripes, and tiny green flower buds blooming at her hair tips—her cultivation had reached Nascent Soul ninth tier.

She spoke softly, her voice like a mountain spring: "I don't know… but our tribe received orders: if the noble lord is satisfied with those sent, our tribe's tribute will be waived for ten years—that would give us breathing room to nurture more clan members. So… I came."

Her talent, beauty, and cultivation were the pinnacle of the "Duo La Tribe," and she had been raised as their sacred maiden.

But for the sake of the clan, even the Sacred Maiden must be sacrificed.

The Hua Mu clan members present came either under coercion or willingly, but their true motives no longer matter.

Several hours later, a shadow fell over the square, revealing the figure of a black-clad youth—Fang Xing.

"One hundred and thirty-two people!"

Fang Xing swept his gaze across them, his voice icy: "You already know the promises made to you… I've come here today to collect dogs—no, servants. The next phase is selection: all you must do is hold on, and try to be the last one standing."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a torrent of willpower crashed down.

In an instant, dozens of Hua Mu clan members above the Seventh Layer of Nascent Soul collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"This…"

"A single thought, and dozens of powerful clan members collapse—is this the true might of a great one?"

The remaining Hua Mu clan members stared in shock, gritting their teeth as the willpower grew ever more piercing.

"Hold on, Duo Mi… you must become the Master's servant!"

Duo Mi bit her lip until her eyes turned bloodshot.

As time passed, the Hua Mu clan members fell one by one until, in the end, only three remained.

"Good. What are your names?"

Fang Xing landed on the square, looking down at the three Hua Mu clan members.

"I am Sang Song!"

"Mo Yan!"

"Duo Mi, at your service, Master!"

The three Hua Mu clan members pressed their hands to their chests in salute.

"Hmm. Congratulations—you've passed the first trial. Now, the second trial begins!"

Fang Xing tossed down three blue stone tablets: "You have one day to comprehend the patterns on these tablets… then copy them. The one whose copy is most precise will be the last one standing."

If the first trial tested will and strength, the second naturally tested comprehension.

(End of Chapter)