Chapter 18

Just as he had made up his mind, a figure turned the corner, none other than the old man in black who was the guardian of the ancestral hall.

In the Western Mountain Hundred Tribes, each tribe had its own priest who managed the sacrificial rites, basically everything that happened in the ancestral hall. Although the Bai Ling Tribe was small, it had all the necessary functions. This old man in black was precisely the priest of the Bai Ling Tribe. For the Great Trial of the Remnant Tribes, the chief of each tribe would always bring the priest to show solemnity. The status of priests in other tribes varied, but it was rare to find one as unnoticeable as the old man in black from the Bai Ling Tribe. If not for the Great Trial of the Remnant Tribes every five years, even Chief Bai Xu might forget that his tribe had such a priest.

"Chief, when are we setting off?" The old man's voice was devoid of any human warmth. Apart from Bu Li, no one in the tribe was willing to approach this black-clad priest.

"We're not going. This time we'll forfeit." Bai Xu said dejectedly.

"Bu Li will be back soon, I'm sure of it." The old man's words struck Bai Xu like a bolt of lightning. Bai Xu was momentarily overwhelmed with excitement, grabbing the old man's clothes, his hands trembling, his voice wavering, "Really?"

"It's just about finding someone to send to their death. Bu Li has no parents. If he doesn't go, who will?" The old man's tone was devoid of emotion, unclear whether he was stating a fact or mocking Bai Xu.

Bai Xu's face flushed red and then white. He was about to get angry, but then he thought about what the old man said, which wasn't far from the truth. Everyone, including himself, had been thinking about this. Which family would be willing to let their child participate in the Great Trial of the Remnant Tribes, a trial from which few returned? If someone else were willing, he wouldn't have to worry so much.

Not knowing what to say, he wanted to ask the old man when he had seen Bu Li, where Bu Li was now, and when he would arrive, but the words wouldn't come out. As he hesitated, he heard the old man say, "I told Bu Li where to go. We'll leave first, and when the time comes, Bu Li will naturally show up."

"What if something goes wrong?" Bai Xu asked.

"That would just be a loss of face in front of outsiders. Are you that afraid? Is it that important?" The old man's face was dry and expressionless, his words cutting and mocking, leaving no room for Bai Xu's feelings.

Bai Xu thought about it and realized the old man was right. Since the priest had said so, and he had no better plan, he could only do as he suggested.

His luggage was already packed, and Bai Xu didn't bring anyone else. The chief of a small tribe didn't have the pomp and circumstance of a larger one. If he brought the tribe's patterned warriors and delayed their hunting for a few days, the whole town might go hungry by winter.

Besides, it was better to avoid embarrassing situations with as few people as possible. Life was truly hard.

The Great Trial of the Remnant Tribes had started so long ago that no one remembered when. Only in old records were there vague mentions. It was said that the winning remnant tribe could move within a thousand miles of the Henshan Sect's mountain gate and receive direct teachings from the Henshan Sect. Whether in patterns or soul techniques, the teachings were far superior to what the remnant tribes had discovered on their own. Over the years, many remnant tribes had left the mountains and integrated with the races on the Soul澜 Continent, living better lives.

No one knew why the Western Mountain Remnant Tribes were called remnant tribes. They only knew that the Western Mountains stretched for thousands of miles, controlled by sects. Any remnant tribe member who dared to leave the Western Mountains without permission was executed without mercy. Being unable to leave the endless Western Mountains meant poverty and weakness.

Therefore, the Great Trial of the Remnant Tribes became a matter of utmost importance for these tribes.

It was no wonder that Chief Bai Xu of the Bai Ling Tribe was so agitated. This was a matter of the tribe's future prosperity or decline. Compared to the tribe's survival, what did a young man without parents like Bu Li matter?

When Bai Xu and the old man in black left Bai Ling Town, it was just dawn. As they walked away, the old man in black looked back at Bai Ling Town from a distance, as if he could see Bu Li's tall and strong figure heading towards the town.

"A little killing is good. Only by killing a million can one become the greatest. How can a man endure such humiliation?" The old man, like a shaman, seemed to foresee the future, muttering to himself.

As he approached Bai Ling Town, Bu Li slowed his steps, put Cai Xiaoxian down from his back, and held her hand, walking into Bai Ling Town step by step.

"Isn't that... isn't that Bu Li?" A man from a dilapidated house at the edge of the village, who was idly looking around, saw Bu Li carrying Cai Xiaoxian and leading a black bear back from the forest, and called out to him from a distance.

This would be a spectacle. The foolish boy really didn't know what he was doing. The whole town had almost dug the ground up looking for him, and now he was walking back so casually. How could there be such a foolish boy in the world? He could run away but chose to return. This time, we'll see how Bu Li dies!

The idler had no good intentions, just a desire to see the show. Even if Bu Li were beaten to death, he wouldn't feel regretful, only that it was a pity for the beautiful Cai Xiaoxian. What a waste! The idler thought bitterly.

Bu Li, of course, knew the idler's thoughts but didn't care. "Yes, I'm back to take care of some business, then I'll leave."

Saying this, Bu Li entered Bai Ling Town, following the only gravel path in the town straight to Bai Liang's house.

Bai Liang's house was a large and prominent residence in Bai Ling Town, easy to recognize, right in the center of the town. The gate was made of black poplar wood, with a stone-paved path leading up to it, looking quite grand.

Bu Li smiled and greeted the tribespeople he saw, chatting and laughing. Others didn't know what Bu Li was up to, some whispered, some had the same look of anticipation as the idler. Everyone knew that Bu Li was in for a rough time! Not only did he have to participate in the "Great Trial of the Remnant Tribes," but this time, the chief wasn't around, and he was likely to suffer. Even if he were crippled, no one would be surprised.

The townspeople had their own thoughts. Some secretly signaled to Bu Li, but out of fear of the Bai family's power, they didn't dare to speak. Bu Li, holding Cai Xiaoxian's hand, chatted and laughed, not paying attention.

When they reached Bai Liang's house, Bu Li didn't knock. He said to Dahei, "Go!"

The black bear's fur bristled, and with a low growl, he pushed off the gravel path with all four feet, causing the ground to tremble slightly. The black bear charged directly at the black poplar wood gate of the Bai family.