Chapter Fifty-Three: The Assault

In an elegant courtyard, Elder Wuke of the Wu clan, the two Guardians of the Black Dragon Society, and among the Four Gods of the Dark Skeleton Legion, the God of Killing, the Giant God, and the infamous Sky Fiend, sat around a stone table. They were discussing an alliance to attack the Yi tribe.

Both the Black Dragon Society and the Dark Skeleton Legion were stirred by rumors that the Yi tribe had recently unearthed a treasure. On this land, humanity had thrived for hundreds of thousands of years, witnessing countless rises and falls of powers. Tales of treasures appearing from time to time ignited fierce competitions among the great forces.

Thus, the Wu clan, the Black Dragon Society, and the Dark Skeleton Legion all agreed: the Yi tribe had likely discovered a treasure.

Sky Fiend, a ninth-tier warrior, could only listen from the sidelines. His strength was far from enough to contend with powers like the Black Dragon Society. If not for the Wu clan promising him a one percent share of the spoils, and the fact that their target was the tribe that had slain the Human Fiend years ago, he would not have easily joined forces with them.

Elder Wuke addressed the two Guardians of the Black Dragon Society, "The Yi tribe is formidable; even with our three factions allied, we may suffer heavy losses. Will your Dragon Head intervene?"

The Dragon Head—master of the Black Dragon Society—was shrouded in mystery; no one had ever seen his true form.

The Left Guardian of the Black Dragon Society chuckled, "The Yi tribe hardly warrants the Dragon Head's attention. Your Wu clan's Grand Elder hasn't shown up either!"

Wuke had no retort to this. He had merely been probing; surely, the Dragon Head would not act. Moreover, the Dragon Head, the Wu clan’s Grand Elder, and other ancient family figures were all secluded, striving to break through and become Human-tier powerhouses, extending their lifespan beyond two centuries. Unless their clan or faction faced extinction, they rarely appeared.

"By the way, why did the Dark Skeleton Legion only bring two Gods? Where are the Blood God and Ghost God?" Wuke shifted the topic.

This time, as they planned to attack the Yi tribe and divide its wealth, it was curious that the notoriously brutal and greedy Dark Skeleton Legion sent only the God of Killing and the Giant God, arousing suspicion among the Black Dragon Society and Wu clan.

The God of Killing stood aloof, shrouded in murderous aura, offering no answer.

Beside him sat a burly man, towering above the others like a small giant. His voice was deep, "The Blood God and Ghost God are on a mission and haven't returned yet. But with two Gods and three thousand legionnaires, we are more than enough!"

The Wu clan, the Black Dragon Society, and the Dark Skeleton Legion then discussed their respective forces and agreed on the time and place to rendezvous.

Afterward, each departed.

Ten days later, in a secluded valley twenty miles outside Black Dragon City, fierce warriors began to gather—at least ten thousand strong.

For this operation, the Wu clan sent its three great elders, the Black Dragon Society its two Guardians, and the Dark Skeleton Legion brought the God of Killing, the Giant God, and Sky Fiend, totaling eight ninth-tier warriors—the entirety of their top strength.

Moreover, they deployed over two hundred high-tier warriors, five to six thousand mid- and low-tier fighters, enough to raze the Yi tribe.

The three factions soon set out.

As thousands from the Wu clan, Black Dragon Society, and Dark Skeleton Legion rode Fire Dragon Horses and Wu Scale Steeds to the outskirts of the Yi tribe, dusk was falling. The thunderous approach immediately alarmed the entire tribe.

The warriors guarding the city walls sounded the alarm.

Yi Tian, dining at home with his mother Su Yue’e, Little Dragon, and Little Ting, was startled by the commotion outside. Yi Tian instructed his mother and the others to stay safe, letting Little Black guard them, before stepping out. Like a bolt of lightning, he swept across the land, reaching the stone wall at the mountain’s foot in moments.

Tribe warriors rushed out as well.

The five members of the Reincarnation Squad quickly joined Yi Tian, each eyeing the invading forces with keen interest.

Having survived countless beast tides and near death, the sight of ten thousand foes now brought them little pressure.

The three Wu clan elders, the Black Dragon Society’s Guardians, and the God of Killing, Giant God, and others gazed at the towering stone wall of the Yi tribe with furrowed brows.

To annihilate the Yi tribe, their first obstacle was the stone wall before them.

A frontal assault would be costly.

Without the wall’s defenses, the Yi tribe’s two thousand warriors would stand no chance against their ten thousand attackers.

Yet, the tribe’s most fearsome weapon was their archery.

This time, however, they had prepared—distributing shields to every warrior to mitigate casualties.

They had considered a sneak attack, but the Yi tribe, as a major force, was well guarded; surprise attacks would not yield much.

So, they resolved to storm the walls head-on.

"Attack!"

In an instant, over ten thousand warriors roared, their bloodlust surging.

The Wu clan, Black Dragon Society, and Dark Skeleton Legion launched their assault.

Warriors, their energies shimmering and murderous intent soaring, charged towards the Yi tribe, all knowing that a great treasure lay within.

On the stone wall, Chief Yi Ke surveyed the approaching thousands, quickly recognizing their insignia, banners, and attire—Wu clan, Black Dragon Society, and Dark Skeleton Legion.

The three forces had united to attack the Yi tribe.

This shocked Chief Yi Ke. Had the secret of their clandestine mining of the Yuan Vein leaked?

The Wu clan, Black Dragon Society, and Dark Skeleton Legion did not parley with the Yi tribe; upon arrival, they attacked—kill or be killed.

But now was not the time to ponder causes!

Chief Yi Ke’s eyes blazed as he shouted, "Slay every enemy who invades our tribe!"

In the next moment, the warriors atop the stone wall unleashed a storm of deadly arrows, bowstrings humming like a tempest, piercing shields and killing those who hid behind them.

Within mere breaths, hundreds of warriors fell.

The three Wu clan elders and the Black Dragon Society’s Guardians were stunned by the tribe’s devastating ranged attack. How could this be?

Clearly, the Yi tribe’s power exceeded their expectations.

To pierce shields of refined iron from hundreds of yards away and slay their men required high-tier warriors—mid-tier fighters could not achieve it.

They had estimated the tribe possessed only a few dozen high-tier warriors, whose threat was limited. Mid-tier warriors would only be lethal within a hundred yards.

For warriors, a hundred yards could be crossed in a breath.

Within this range, the tribe’s warriors might fire two or three arrows, making little difference to casualties.

Yet, as their ten thousand closed in, three to four thousand were lost.

"Kill them all!"

Now, the three Wu clan elders were frantic.

They had never imagined the tribe’s power to be so terrifying—losing three to four thousand within mere hundreds of yards, with Wu clan alone losing six or seven hundred.

This was half the loss they suffered during the beast tide.

The Black Dragon Society’s Guardians were less agitated; their reserves were vast, and the loss did not pain them, though the tribe’s power now made them wary.

As for the God of Killing and Giant God of the Dark Skeleton Legion, they cared little for these casualties. Their legionnaires were indifferent to life, driven only by greed, cruelty, and madness.

Yi Tian wielded his Dragon Roar Bow, firing armor-piercing arrows like thunderbolts, slaying more than ten high-tier warriors in those few hundred yards.

The other five of the Reincarnation Squad also took down four or five high-tier fighters.

Yi Tian had considered targeting the three Wu clan elders, the Guardians, and the God of Killing and Giant God—all ninth-tier powerhouses—but he was not confident he could kill them from such a distance.

Instead, he chose to hunt more high-tier warriors, greatly reducing the enemy’s elite strength and easing the tribe’s burden, minimizing further casualties.