NOVEL NEXT Chapter 764: Follow Me, the High Priest Requests Your Presence
Shen Mo stepped out of the command tent.
He immediately saw the High Priest and others had appeared in the tribe.
Demonfolk of the Gangfeng Tribe gathered around.
Fu Zu's face lit up with joy as he hurried forward.
But Shen Mo grabbed his arm, whispering, "Senior, look at the person beside the High Priest."
Fu Zu focused his gaze.
The person beside the High Priest was burly and powerfully built, towering over the Gangfeng Tribe's demonfolk by a full head. His entire body exuded a ferocious aura.
Moreover, this person hadn't been with the High Priest when she departed.
How had she returned with an extra companion?
The High Priest pushed through the crowd, approaching Shen Mo and Fu Zu with a sigh. "You two, I failed to bring back the items."
"This beside me is the Guard Captain of the Kuangxue Tribe. The Kuangxue Tribe's High Priest wishes to meet you both."
The burly guard captain stepped forward, saying coldly, "So you're the human saints who want the Saint Demon Fruit and Saint Demon Tree Branch?"
"Follow me. The High Priest requests your presence."
Fu Zu's expression darkened.
The Kuangxue Tribe was one of the three great tribes in the Demonfolk Valley.
Its scale far surpassed the Gangfeng Tribe.
At this point, cooperation was their only option.
Shen Mo, however, seemed unsurprised.
He had foreseen this outcome.
Though the Saint Demon Tree had withered, it remained the spiritual symbol of the demonfolk.
Outsiders seeking Saint Demon Fruit or branches would inevitably alarm these three great tribes.
The Gangfeng Tribe was already among the strongest mid-sized tribes.
But obtaining Saint Demon Fruit and branches silently was impossible.
All of this was expected.
Mo Mingyu suddenly flashed forward, blocking Shen Mo. "Guard Captain, Shen Mo and Ancestor Fu helped us repel the Demon Army and killed Anpoluo! You cannot treat them this way!"
"Mingyu is right! Shen Mo protected our Gangfeng Tribe! They are our great benefactors!" another demonfolk shouted loudly.
Within moments, dozens had stepped forward.
The Kuangxue guard captain scanned the crowd, snorting coldly. "Precisely because of their achievements, our High Priest ordered me to treat you with courtesy."
He looked at Shen Mo and Fu Zu, repeating, "You two, follow me."
Shen Mo nodded, waving to the Gangfeng Tribe members. "Everyone, farewell."
The Gangfeng High Priest looked ashamed. "Mingyu, you go with these two."
Mo Mingyu nodded and immediately followed.
Outside the Gangfeng Tribe, a massive magic serpent rested.
It irritably groomed its whiskers.
The guard captain patted its head, calming it slightly.
"Get on."
"The distance to our Kuangxue Tribe is considerable. We must ride the magic serpent."
The guard captain pointed to the serpent's broad back.
Shen Mo, Fu Zu, and Mo Mingyu all climbed aboard.
...
Several days later.
The magic serpent slowed its pace.
Through the mist, the outline of a colossal city gradually emerged.
As they drew nearer.
The Kuangxue Tribe fully revealed itself before Shen Mo and the others.
Mo Mingyu gasped in awe.
"This is my first time in Kuangxue City... I never imagined it would be so magnificent. Truly worthy of being one of the Demonfolk Valley's three great tribes."
Shen Mo smiled. "You're a demonfolk, yet this is your first visit?"
Mo Mingyu smiled sheepishly. "The three great tribes aren't places we can visit freely."
The guard captain stated flatly, "She speaks truth. The Kuangxue, Tianshi, and Jiuyou tribes prohibit ordinary demonfolk from approaching."
"We guard the Saint Demon Tree."
"We've arrived. Disembark."
He pointed toward the city gates ahead.
Shen Mo leaped down from the magic serpent, gazing at the city before him.
Kuangxue City.
If one word could describe it, that word would be: wild.
Everything exuded roughness and primitiveness.
No discernible architectural style existed.
They used whatever materials were available.
This perfectly embodied the character of the Kuangbu Demon Clan.
The Kuangxue Tribe, descendants of the Kuangbu Demon Clan, naturally inherited these traits.
Born warlike and fierce, they were also as irascible as the Kuangbu Demon Clan.
Yet compared to true Kuangbu Demon Clan members, they were clearly more rational.
After all, true Kuangbu Demon Clan members might have muscles growing in their brains...
The guard captain's burly physique served as their passport.
Shen Mo and his party passed through the city gates smoothly, proceeding along Kuangxue City's main avenue toward the great hall.
The roads of Kuangxue City further highlighted the tribe's characteristics.
Vast!
Wide!
The main avenue could accommodate three magic serpents advancing side by side.
The arrival of Shen Mo and Fu Zu, two humans, immediately drew the attention of the Kuangxue Tribe's demonfolk.
Had the guard captain not been present, they would have likely swarmed forward, eager to challenge Shen Mo and Fu Zu to battle.
After all, human saints were exceedingly rare.
Defeating a human saint would make one renowned far and wide!
As these demonfolk observed him, Shen Mo observed them in return.
"Saints remain few. Most demonfolk are below the Saint Realm."
"Yet even a child possesses cultivation equivalent to a human's Core Formation Realm. This bloodline is truly formidable."
Shen Mo marled in astonishment.
A human birth, if blessed with spiritual roots, must progress through Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Divine Palace, Dharma Aspect, Nirvana, and Supreme Realms—nine stages in total—before reaching the Saint Realm.
But demonfolk were born at the Core Formation Realm, far surpassing humans.
No wonder many demonfolk, despite never having seen humans, inherently looked down upon them.
Soon, Shen Mo's party arrived at the great hall.
This hall was merely a pyramid constructed from massive square stones.
It was consistent inside and out.
Rough on the outside, rough on the inside.
But the ground was relatively flat.
Directly ahead stood a massive, blood-colored throne.
It appeared forged from blood-colored crystals.
Seated upon the throne was a demonfolk of immense stature, resembling a small giant.
Below the throne stood two rows of demonfolk.
All wore armor.
Around their necks hung various shrunken heads.
This was the custom of the Kuangxue Tribe.
They delighted in slaying powerful warriors, shrinking their heads, and wearing them as ornaments.
This applied even among their own kind.
They believed that dying gloriously in battle allowed one's soul to return faster to the Saint Demon Tree, achieving eternal life for the soul.
"Humans have arrived!"
"Is this the human who killed Anpoluo? He doesn't look formidable at all!"
"Indeed, with those thin arms and legs, he'd lack even chewing texture. I refuse to believe he killed Anpoluo."
The generals whispered among themselves, their words dripping with disdain for Shen Mo.
Though they spoke softly, to Shen Mo's ears, their voices were like thunder.
The guard captain announced loudly, "My King! I have brought these two back!"
The Kuangxue King nodded with a smile, "Excellent! Guard Captain, go rest now."
"You two, this king heard you were the ones who killed Anpoluo and saved all of the Gangfeng Tribe. Impressive! Truly impressive!"
"However, do you two not understand our demonfolk's ways? Why incite the Gangfeng Tribe's High Priest to steal Saint Demon Fruit and Saint Demon Tree Branches!"
With the final sentence, the Kuangxue King rose abruptly, his voice thick with threat.