Chapter 55

The surrounding tribes of Python Tooth Ridge recommended as many young people as they wished to participate in the trial, with no limit on the number, but the age had to be under eighteen; the Suwu Wei Mansion would issue twenty trial iron plates, and whoever ultimately held the trial iron plate of the Suwu Wei and reached Canglan City could become a disciple of the Canglan Academy.

The rules set by the Suwu Wei Mansion were that simple. Not only would the young people from the tribes north of the Black Mountain kill each other, but the tribes south of Python Tooth Ridge and east of the Black Mountain would also arrange for people to ambush and kill others along the way to gain an extra trial iron plate.

The Su family were never good-natured:

They threw out the bait, forcing the tribes to fight for it, and would never allow the tribes of Canglan to unite against the Su family.

The day before the gathering at Tianma Lake, Chen Xun, Zong Ya, Zong Ling, and Nan Xi, accompanied by the shaman Zong Tu and the Nanliao, arrived at the Black Mountain Stone Fort in advance.

"Without an alliance with the Black Python, how much hope do you have of keeping that trial iron plate?" the shaman Zong Tu, with his triangular old eyes, stared intently at Gu Hu, lowering his hoarse voice and asking straightforwardly.

As the price for the land on the south shore of Tianma Lake, Ge Yi, representing the Suwu Wei Mansion, agreed to directly hand over a trial iron plate to the Black Mountain tribe's young people to carry to Canglan.

For the Black Mountain tribe, it was extremely difficult to compete for a trial iron plate from other tribes, but with one trial iron plate in hand, sacrificing a few young people as bait to divert the attention of other tribes would increase the chances of keeping the trial iron plate.

Gu Hu did not expect Zong Tu to lead the Black Python's young people to come a day early, requesting an alliance with the Black Mountain tribe.

Gu Hu was uncertain and suspicious, but his eyes looked at Chen Xun, lowering his voice to ask, "According to General Ge Yi, General Su of the Suwu Wei favors you greatly and hopes you can go to Canglan with them without participating in the bloody competition among the tribal young people. Are you really going to give up this opportunity and travel with Zong Ya, Zong Ling, and Nan Xi?"

Chen Xun nodded and said, "Yes."

Chen Xun did not want Zong Ya, Zong Ling, or Nan Xi to be used as bait; such sacrifices were not worth it. Moreover, from Python Tooth Ridge to Canglan City, it was a long and dangerous journey of three thousand miles, and sacrificing one person as bait would not gain much time.

Chen Xun thought that if he could ally with the Black Mountain tribe and stick together, the chances of both of them keeping their trial iron plates and entering Canglan City would be greater.

Sometimes, Gu Hu could not help but envy the Black Python, who had taken in this young boy who had been separated from his father deep in Python Tooth Ridge four years ago.

Zong Ling and Nan Xi were the sons of Zong Sang and Nanliao, and it was clear that they had reached the peak of the fourth level of the Barbarian Martial arts. Zong Ya, who had his left arm bitten off by a green wolf during the harsh winter last year, had even hardened his bones to the point of being as hard as iron. However, for these three to keep the trial iron plate directly given to the Black Python by the Suwu Wei Mansion amidst the bloody competition among thousands of tribal young people, it would be as difficult as ascending to the sky.

But with Chen Xun, the situation was completely different.

That day, although Gu Hu did not manage to intercept Chen Xun in time, he saw from a distance how Chen Xun stood on the wall and shot down Shi Chuan. The mysterious young man, though still showing signs of youth, exuded a faint aura. Gu Hu had to admit that even he would not have been confident in escaping that strange arrow at such close range.

If they stuck together, the chances of carrying the trial iron plate into Canglan City would indeed increase significantly.

"No."

Chen Xun looked at the lower part of the stone hall and saw that the one who spoke to stop them was Gu Shan, whose legs he had crippled in the valley. He was not surprised.

Gu Shan's tendons at the bends of his legs had been cut by Chen Xun's bone blade. Although he had been saved and after more than half a year of recuperation, he could walk, it was not possible for his tendons to fully recover with ordinary spiritual medicines.

He was once a core Barbarian Warrior of the Black Mountain tribe, ranking just below Gu Hu and Gu Chen. Although the Black Mountain tribe's council had not excluded him, he knew that his current cultivation was even less than that of an ordinary Barbarian Warrior.

Although most of the Black Mountain tribe's people agreed to make peace with the Black Python, this situation was not something Gu Shan could reverse. But to extinguish his hatred, it would be difficult.

Chen Xun's heart was calm, and he looked at the ugly and fierce Gu Shan, asking, "Why not?"

"This boy is as cunning as a fox. If he says he wants to ally with our tribe, he must have some sinister plan. Chief, we cannot be deceived by him," Gu Shan ignored Chen Xun and directly stated his opinion to Gu Hu.

"Do I need any sinister plan to try to seize the trial iron plate from the Black Mountain tribe?" Chen Xun could not help but smile bitterly.

The Canglan Academy stipulated that tribal young people under eighteen could participate in the competition for the recommended slots. He did not think that anyone in the Black Mountain tribe, except for Gu Hu and Gu Chen, could be his match.

Although Chen Xun had a bitter smile on his face, the confidence and strength in his words made it difficult for Gu Shan to refute him. He choked, his ugly old face turning red, making him even more hideous.

Gu Hu was indeed moved by Zong Tu's words, but with Gu Shan opposing, he could not act unilaterally. He turned to Gu Chen, hoping he would support the Black Python's proposal.

Gu Chen looked at Chen Xun with a cold gaze, not knowing what kind of profound cultivation he had, but his aura was as cold and sharp as a peak, asking, "You could have directly followed General Ge Yi to Canglan, but you insist on traveling with the three sons of the Black Python. If you are not coveting the trial iron plate of the Black Mountain tribe, I want to ask you, how many people can enter the Canglan Academy with one trial iron plate?"

Chen Xun was speechless. He sincerely wanted to ally with the Black Mountain tribe and go to Canglan together, but he did not expect it to be so difficult to gain their trust.

The Black Mountain tribe's decision to make peace with the Black Python was out of necessity, or perhaps Gu Hu and his son Gu Jianfeng were more inclined to make peace with the Black Python, but the other members of the Black Mountain tribe still had their guard up against the Black Python.

"You are right. The Black Python has treated you well, and you want to repay them, so you give up the opportunity to travel with Ge Yi and ensure that Zong Ya, Zong Ling, and Nan Xi can reach Canglan smoothly. But to ensure that the Black Python can have someone enter the Canglan Academy, how do you plan to enter the Canglan Academy yourself? Aren't you just thinking of seizing our trial iron plate when you enter Canglan?" Gu Chen asked coldly, "Although the Black Mountain tribe may be ignorant, we are not stupid enough to be used by you."

Chen Xun was extremely angry.

The Su family clearly had intentions to both court and guard against the tribes of Canglan. Even if they recruited tribal young people into the Canglan Academy, they would not teach them the true profound cultivation techniques.

He wanted to enter the Canglan Academy to practice the first level of the Dragon Binding Technique. If necessary, he could still seek out Su Tang, or even stay in Canglan City for three more years until the next recruitment of disciples, and enter as an independent cultivator.

During these three years, even if he only practiced the Primordial Power Technique and the Dragon Binding Technique taught by Su Tang, his cultivation would not be delayed.

However, Chen Xun would not tell the Black Mountain tribe about Su Tang, and at this moment, he was speechless in the face of Gu Chen's questioning.

The shaman Zong Tu and Nanliao exchanged glances, stood up, and said, "Since the Black Mountain tribe is not interested in an alliance, let's forget it..."

Gu Hu saw that the tribal members present still had their guard up against the Black Python. Although he was the chief, he could not act unilaterally. He was very conflicted but could only say to Zong Tu, "Let us deliberate further and tell you our final decision tomorrow, okay?"

"Alright." The shaman Zong Tu nodded. He could see the regret in Gu Hu's eyes, but if this matter could not be resolved, they had no other choice. He and Nanliao stood up and left the Black Mountain tribe's stone hall, heading to Tianma Lake under the cover of night.

**************

Half a month had passed, and the empty slope on the south shore of Tianma Lake had now become a huge camp, even larger than the Black Python Stone Fort, making people secretly marvel at the speed of the Guixi tribe's actions.

Massive logs were deeply embedded in the ground, forming a ten-meter-high wall.

There was only one gate, facing the river mouth where Yema Creek flowed into Tianma Lake, and the watchtowers on both sides of the gate were much higher than the wall.

Although there were no buildings inside the wall, only animal skin tents, this was clearly not a trading post but a fort guarding the river mouth of Tianma Lake.

Chen Xun looked up and saw that in addition to several night guards, wooden watchtowers were equipped with huge metal crossbows, the crossbow arms extending beyond the parapet, thicker than a person's arm.

Under the moonlight, the three-edged blades gleamed with a cold, sharp light, as if everything in front of them would be shattered by their shots.

Chen Xun had excellent eyesight and could see that the side walls of the crossbows, slightly exposed from the parapet, were engraved with mysterious ancient runes, which