Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Second Young Master of the Jiang Family

In the underground space of the Yi tribe, Yi Tian had already merged the Star Mud avatar into the sacred statue of the ancestor, Shen Yi. This process lasted only about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn. The Star Mud avatar had completely imprinted the statue of Shen Yi's legacy.

“Today, I will impart to you the Heavenly Arts. These three Arts are the Wild Heaven Art, the Tiger Roar Heaven Art, and the Myriad Phenomena Heaven Art…” Yi Tian introduced the characteristics of each Heavenly Art to the members of the Samsara Squad, allowing them to choose which they wished to cultivate. Their previous cultivation methods did not affect their choices.

Yi Feng was the first to choose the Tiger Roar Heaven Art, drawn by its flamboyant nature, and Yi Kuang followed suit. Only Yi Shan chose the Wild Heaven Art. Yi Li and Yi Hong selected the Myriad Phenomena Heaven Art, as it allowed for broad development and possessed exceptional malleability.

Seated cross-legged before the statue of Shen Yi, Yi Tian addressed Yi Feng and Yi Kuang, “This is the cultivation method for the Tiger Roar Heaven Art. You must comprehend it earnestly; you have only one chance.”

With that, Yi Tian’s consciousness descended into the Star Mud avatar. The avatar, merged with the statue, suddenly transformed into an identical effigy, enveloping the original statue. Yi Feng and the others perceived no change.

At that moment, they witnessed the statue radiate hundreds and thousands of beams of light, projecting into the air to form points resembling stars, each representing a vital aperture within the human body, shining brilliantly. A thread began to weave through the apertures, gradually outlining an incomparably complex pattern. The thread seemed alive, each change imbued with profound cosmic mysteries, emanating enigmatic, unfathomable power.

Yi Feng and Yi Kuang immediately began to comprehend the subtleties of the Tiger Roar Heaven Art, memorizing the trajectory of its cultivation and its profound aura, engraving it deeply in their minds. It took them five full days to barely memorize it and grasp its essence.

Next, Yi Tian continued using the Star Mud avatar to manifest the statue of the ancestor, revealing the mysteries of each Heavenly Art for Yi Shan, Yi Li, and the others to comprehend.

By the time the five members of the Samsara Squad had finished comprehending all three Heavenly Arts, half a month had passed. Yi Tian, seizing a moment when no one was watching, retrieved the Star Mud. To his relief, the Star Mud had not been depleted as much as he feared after half a month of transformation as the statue, possibly due to absorbing the immense energy of the Dragon Pearl. The losses hadn't reverted the Star Mud to its primal red form; instead, it had turned a blackish-red, still within acceptable limits.

“At last, it is finished!” The five members of the Samsara Squad had comprehended the Heavenly Arts; now their task was to cultivate diligently. This was only five people—if the rest of the tribe joined in, the process would be immeasurably long, and his Star Mud would never withstand such prolonged consumption, possibly reverting to its most primitive white form. For the tribal chieftain, elders, and other high-ranking warriors, cultivating another Heavenly Art would likely be beyond their capability. Given their age and aptitude, their achievements would be extremely limited; it was better to focus on cultivating the Sun Shooting Heaven Art, which might yield greater progress.

The Samsara Squad returned to the tribe and began their cultivation. Yi Tian frequently answered their questions, enabling them to quickly master the key points of the Heavenly Arts. Yi Feng, Yi Shan, Yi Li, Yi Kuang, and Yi Hong’s cultivation proceeded smoothly, with nothing unexpected, and they soon succeeded.

However, cultivating two Heavenly Arts simultaneously greatly increased their consumption of Origin Stones. The Heavenly Arts powerfully refined the cultivator’s meridians, bones, organs, blood, and skin, constantly cleansing and fortifying them, requiring a vast amount of elemental energy to replenish and establish the strongest foundation.

Little Black, after devouring a human demon, felt no discomfort. Recently, it had not craved Origin Stones and often lay lazily on the ground, pretending to nap. This made Little Ting anxious, frequently picking up Little Black and inspecting it, afraid something was wrong.

Black Dragon City was in turmoil, with all major factions of the Tianfeng Empire sending representatives, making local powers nervous and restraining their subordinates for fear of provoking an unstoppable force and being wiped out in the blink of an eye, suffering calamity. Even so, Black Dragon City continued to experience frequent fighting. Outsiders battled among themselves, and conflicts erupted between outsiders and local warriors, resulting in constant skirmishes. The city had become a chaotic mix of characters.

At this time, the previously uninvolved Yi tribe was also targeted.

“Send someone to the Yi tribe and tell them our Jiang family will take them as vassals. Have them hand over that treasure.” In a luxurious hall, a young man arrogantly instructed an elder beside him.

The head and elders of the Chen family, standing respectfully below, could not help but speak up, “Second Young Master, that Yi Tian from the Yi tribe is the strongest in Black Dragon City. You must not underestimate him!”

They had to warn this Second Young Master of the Jiang family. The Yi tribe’s strength had recently soared, showing signs of becoming the city’s foremost power. Yi Tian, second only to the human demon, was the strongest. Neither the Jiang nor the Yi tribe was a force they could afford to provoke, and involvement would endanger their Chen family.

After all, the Jiang family’s power wasn't in Black Dragon City, but in Jingmu County. Of course, the Jiang family was extremely powerful, among the top in Jingmu County, capable of crushing any force in Black Dragon City. Rumor had it that the Jiang family even had an Earth-level expert overseeing them.

Even so, the Chen family did not wish to get involved. The Yi tribe was equally untouchable; their Grand Elder had been killed by Yi Tian in a single move. Though they still harbored some resentment, they dared not act rashly, and since then, the Yi tribe had not pursued the matter.

The Chen family had a slight connection to the Jiang family, which was why the Jiang family’s Second Young Master had come to stay with them. Upon hearing news that the Yi tribe had acquired treasure, he set his sights on it, planning to claim it under the Jiang family’s banner.

“Hmph, just a small tribe. Do they dare oppose my Jiang family? We could crush them with a single finger!” The Second Young Master of the Jiang family was proud and dismissive, paying no regard to Black Dragon City’s strongest or the small tribe.

He had seen the great powers and noble families of Jingmu County, and regarded Black Dragon City as a backwater, full of country bumpkins, with utter disdain.

“Luckily, I happened to be training near Yanlin Mountain, not far from Black Dragon City, when Father summoned me to investigate. I didn't expect a treasure to be waiting for me—surely plenty of Origin Stones, enough to indulge myself for quite a while.” The Second Young Master of the Jiang family was very pleased.

In his eyes, the treasure was merely a means to indulge himself for some time, not worthy of being called a true treasure. Perhaps, to these country bumpkins, it was already something to covet.

Country bumpkins, indeed, lack vision!

The Second Young Master suddenly felt a sense of superiority.

Meanwhile, the servants sent by the Second Young Master of the Jiang family had arrived at the gates of the Yi tribe.

“Open up! We come at the command of the Second Young Master of the Jiang family. We bring great news—let him come out to receive us!” These servants shouted arrogantly at the tribal warriors guarding the gates.

“What Jiang family? What Second Young Master? We’ve never heard of you. Get out!”

“How dare you act so arrogantly before the Yi tribe! Courting death!”

The gatekeepers were infuriated and wanted to rush forward to teach them a lesson.

The Jiang family’s servants were startled, retreating in panic, and threatened, “What are you doing? We are from the Jiang family of Jingmu County! If you dare lay a hand on us, your little tribe will face the Jiang family's wrath!”