Shentu Lie and Shentu Yu exchanged a glance, both of them feeling immense joy in their hearts.

The matter of the Molten Crystal Mine couldn't be hidden for long. The last time Shentu Yu failed in negotiations with Jiang Xuan, Shentu Lie and the senior members of the Shentu tribe had held several secret meetings to come up with a solution. Currently, there were two options: either they would find a way to delay the discovery of the mine until next month and then kill Jiang Xuan in the arena, or they would take action against Jiang Xuan directly and deal with him beforehand.

But the plan to assassinate Jiang Xuan was being treated with the utmost caution by Shentu Lie and the others.

The reason for their hesitation was the presence of the Inspector, Lei Hong, who for some unknown reason had recently stayed in the Jiang tribe’s earth city. It would be easy to send someone or hire an assassin to kill a half-step congenital warrior, but to do so under the nose of the Inspector, who was known for his power and influence, would be far too reckless. It could provoke Lei Hong's wrath, which would lead to the destruction of their tribe.

After multiple discussions, no one dared to make a move.

Regarding the plan to delay the discovery of the Molten Crystal Mine, some arrangements had already been made, and the plan was progressing.

Unexpectedly, a golden opportunity presented itself.

Jiang Bao’s return and his intentions to kill Jiang Xuan would be viewed as an internal conflict within the Jiang tribe! It wouldn't even violate the laws of the Empire!

"Good! Good! Good! Excellent!"

Shentu Lie said repeatedly in his excitement, grabbing Jiang Bao by the shoulder, "Good! You are a true warrior! Go ahead and do it! When you return with Jiang Xuan's head, I will officially recognize you as a Zanda warrior of our tribe. No! Not just a Zanda warrior! You can even take the surname Shentu, and I'll give you an Elder's position!"

Jiang Bao was stunned for a moment before being overcome with joy.

"Thank you, Chief! Rest assured, I will bring back Jiang Xuan’s head!" Jiang Bao said, his voice full of excitement. The man who had once grovelled before Shentu Lie now wore an arrogant smile, confident in his victory. "He is only a half-step congenital warrior, killing him will be as easy as slaughtering a sheep or cow!"

"Then I will wait for the news of my tribe’s Zanda warrior's victory, hahaha!" Shentu Lie laughed heartily and patted Jiang Bao on the shoulder.

At the side, Jiang Jingsheng was dumbfounded.

He didn’t understand why Shentu Lie wanted to end things so quickly. He hadn’t expected that, aside from promising the honor of being a "Zanda warrior," Shentu Lie would also offer an Elder's position!

Killing Jiang Xuan was such a grand achievement?

Jiang Jingsheng was anxious.

He wanted to make a contribution, but it seemed that Shentu Lie valued Jiang Bao, who could directly get things done, far more than him. Jiang Jingsheng felt that his position in the Shentu tribe was likely to be shaky, and it might even be worse than Jiang Bao, who had just defected!

This wouldn’t do!

"Chief, I have something here! It will ensure that this matter is foolproof!" Jiang Jingsheng suddenly raised his voice and pulled out a small jade bottle from his clothes. "This is the 'Blood Fury Pill'! I’ve treasured it for ten years! It is my life-saving item!"

"Blood Fury Pill!"

Shentu Lie, Shentu Yu, and Jiang Bao all looked up in shock. Clearly, they were all familiar with the reputation of this pill.

"This is a forbidden drug. It’s said that within half an hour of taking the Blood Fury Pill, one’s strength can increase several times, but the cost is the reduction of several years of life," Shentu Yu said.

"A reduction of life is only if it’s overused," Jiang Jingsheng explained, then looked at Jiang Bao and handed the bottle to him. "Abao, take this for your safety! Killing Jiang Xuan will be easy for you, but if things don't go smoothly, use this at a critical moment!"

"Thank you, Fifth Elder."

Knowing how precious the Blood Fury Pill was, Jiang Bao didn’t refuse, quickly accepting the gift.

"Good! Good! We will work together! This great task can be accomplished!" Shentu Lie turned to Jiang Jingsheng, "Rest assured, brother Jingsheng, once Jiang Xuan is dead, the credit will not escape you."

Shentu Lie’s "brother Jingsheng" was spoken with sincerity, and it warmed Jiang Jingsheng’s heart, making him feel that everything was worth it. He pretended to wave it off, "What credit or no credit, I’ve already submitted to the Shentu tribe, so naturally, I will do my duty for the tribe."

"Hahaha, well said!" Shentu Lie laughed.

Afterward, Jiang Bao promised to kill Jiang Xuan within a day and left with Shentu Lie.

"Father! It seems that the heavens are helping our tribe prosper, that ignorant boy’s time has come!"

Shentu Yu said, "He refused my offer to marry him, and even mocked me… Too bad he won’t be able to see the regret on his face as he dies."

"Hahaha, my dear daughter, are you still angry?" Shentu Lie chuckled.

Prideful people can sometimes be quite contradictory. She didn't want to become a tool for exchanging benefits, but at the same time, she was forced to exchange and felt humiliated when she wasn’t even chosen!

In some ways, this was an insult!

"There’s nothing to be angry about. I just find it ridiculous that he made those demands," Shentu Yu said, shaking her head.

"Prepare to celebrate!" Shentu Lie looked at his daughter, "This matter is yours to handle."

"Yes, father, I’ll arrange the celebration right away," Shentu Yu nodded.

At noon, in the Jiang tribe's earth city behind the mountain.

"This is the Thousand Threads Technique? With just a basic grasp, my perception range has expanded tenfold! Because I practice the Desireful Breathing Technique, my senses were already sharp. Now that I’ve mastered the Thousand Threads Technique, my perception is likely stronger than that of an average complete congenital warrior. Not to mention, the Thousand Threads Technique has terrifying penetration, allowing me to extend my perception underground..."

Jiang Xuan sat cross-legged in front of the transmission stone, his eyes closed, his palms pressed to the sky.

He was using his consciousness to feel everything around him, but in a way different from ordinary perception. At this moment, his consciousness was "thread-like"!

"Ordinary practitioners perceive the surroundings with their consciousness as if it were a puff of cotton expanding endlessly, with no gaps. But after practicing the Thousand Threads Technique, the consciousness can be shaped into threads, like spinning cotton into yarn, which connects and perceives things at a range thousands or even tens of thousands of times farther than before..."

"I’ve just mastered it, so I can’t yet reach that far. My thread-like consciousness is only in the initial stages, but there has been a qualitative change."

If a god or demon were present, they would be astonished to see that Jiang Xuan’s consciousness had transformed into hundreds of pure white threads extending from his body like tentacles, some even burrowing underground. Although they were hindered by the earth and couldn't penetrate deeply, the depth was far greater than what other practitioners at the same level could achieve.

Additionally, some of the threads were weaving around Jiang Xuan, clearly forming a protective net.

This was clearly a defensive measure, where any sudden movement or attack would first trigger this web of consciousness, alerting Jiang Xuan to potential danger.

Putting everything else aside, in terms of danger prediction alone, the Thousand Threads Technique was truly terrifying!

"Mm? Why is Qinghong here so early?" Jiang Xuan sensed someone’s arrival and opened his eyes.

He had been in closed-door cultivation, eating only two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Normally, Qinghong would come around one and a half hours after noon to deliver his lunch, but for some reason, she was here early today.

Jiang Qinghong came running.

"Xiao Xuan, the hunting team’s Bao, Uncle Bao, he’s back!" Qinghong came running to him.

"Uncle Bao?" Jiang Xuan immediately stood up. Of course, he knew who Qinghong was referring to. Uncle Bao, whose real name was Jiang Bao, was a congenital warrior of the tribe who had fled over a year ago out of fear of battle and had been missing ever since.

"Where is he?" Jiang Xuan asked.

"He’s at Granny Jin Hua’s place. The others have already gone there. Granny Jin Hua asked me to inform you to come," Qinghong replied.

A moment later, in a courtyard of the Jiang tribe's earth city.

A few of the tribe’s remaining congenital female warriors had gathered, along with managers from the patrol, hunting teams, medicinal gardens, mining teams, and merchants. Most of them were women, ranging in age from their thirties to forties.

The three-year life-and-death battle had nearly wiped out all the male warriors of the Jiang tribe. Now, the women were the ones keeping the tribe’s operations going.

"Uncle Bao is back!"

"That’s good to hear!"

"Uncle Bao, you’ve lost weight!"

"It’s great that you’re back!"

"Xiao Xuan isn’t alone anymore."

The women who were familiar with Jiang Bao were chatting with him. Most of them stayed silent about the fact that he had once fled, but a few casually greeted him, showing no signs of reproach.

In truth, it was hard to blame anyone for this.

Because the life-and-death battle had long since turned into a one-sided slaughter. Jiang Bao was not the only one to flee the Jiang tribe; many of the escaping congenital warriors had taken their wives and children with them. They were not afraid of death; some even returned to the tribe after settling their families to die in the arena!

So, despite Jiang Bao having been gone for more than a year, he returned just before the battle ended. Once he showed up, leaving again wouldn’t be easy. Next month, he would have to enter the arena, and he would be considered a hero, even tragically so!

In the crowd, an elderly woman in animal hide armor, carrying a knife, was surrounded by several congenital female warriors. She had a serious face and a sprightly demeanor. Though over sixty, she stood tall and commanded great presence.

She was the de facto leader of the Jiang tribe—Granny Jin Hua!

Her husband, the tribe’s Third Elder, had already died in the arena.

Facing Jiang Bao’s return, Granny Jin Hua showed no joy.

Jiang Xuan and Jiang Qinghong entered the courtyard together, their footsteps drawing the attention of everyone present.

"Xiao Xuan!" Jiang Bao greeted Jiang Xuan. Before Jiang Xuan could speak, he gave him a bear hug, clapped him on the back, and then stepped back to size him up, laughing loudly, "Hahaha, it’s been more than a year! You’ve grown taller, looking more like a man now! You’re becoming more like your father!"