Chapter 24: Fighting with Stone Village
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Just as he had expected, they found a rune-like mark on the desolate beast's bones.
To be fair, they were lucky to have met a desolate beast with runes on its body.
"Copy everything. It might have other uses," said the bishop.
It wasn't that they didn't plan to inquire about the cultivation methods of this continent, but how could one guarantee that a local would reveal everything just because another asked? Especially if the person who asked was an Outsider.
Moreover, they didn't think that a desert civilization like Sand Eagle Tribe would be a credible source of information. It was better for them to figure things out by themselves.
The group eventually killed over a hundred desolate beasts between dawn and noon. All just to confirm that the magical beasts here did not have soul rings.
At least the desolate beasts had another cultivation resource for the people who lived on this continent. Being able to cultivate from the runes of the desolate beasts' bones was like a bonus for the Outsiders' hard work from the day, from hunting to obtaining self-taught and self-obtained knowledge.
Now, they were even more curious about Stone Village the others had been talking about.
The person from yesterday had told them that Stone Village possessed the ancient great willow tree and a peerless treasure.
Even if they didn't know the abilities of that village, they could roughly form an impression of them based on their impression of Sand Eagle Tribe.
The Outsiders saw no reason to worry. They had three Great Soul Masters in their team, each with their own terrifying set of abilities. If they used force, Stone Village would definitely have to surrender.
Moreover, unlike the towns in Martial Soul Continent, the settlements here were very isolated and far apart from each other. They were basically independent entities and hardly made contact with one another. There was no need to divide anymore, all there was left was to conquer.
And since they had heard that the people of Stone Village were not very kind, especially after killing members of other villagers, the Outsiders had one less thing to feel guilty about.
The Outsiders quickly set off in the direction of Stone Village. The path there was easily recognizable thanks to the sword Qi from last time. If one stood at the beginning of the path, one could already see the towering ancient willow tree in the distance.
——
The sky was still dark and there was no sign of the sun even though it was already daytime, all because there was still a slight drizzle. The villagers who went out to hunt had also returned to the village, intending to offer sacrifices. No matter how scarce their catch had been, they still had to make sacrificial offerings.
The people in the village bussed through the drizzle, not worried about the rainy weather as they had been training their bodies for all conditions since they were young. Thus, their bodies had become strong and would not get sick so easily over something so small.
Shi Hao had stopped cultivating under the willow tree. He wanted to but he kept feeling the tremors in the ground where he liked to sit, and the tremors were especially intense that day. Moreover, it did not stop, unlike previous times. It was as if something was about to rush out from the soil.
The return of those who had gone out to hunt became a distraction from cultivating for him as he ran off to greet and help them with the sacrificial offering.
Suddenly, more than ten people wearing strange clothes appeared at the entrance of the village. Their clothes were graceful and one could tell that they had come to Stone Village with a strong desire. They were the people from Martial Soul Hall.
Rather than making a move on the villagers immediately, the Outsiders stood and observed their surroundings. Finally, their gaze stopped on the willow tree.
"This is the biggest lightning-struck tree I've ever seen. I'm not sure if this willow tree has activated its intelligence. Can we communicate with it?" The bishop ignored the villagers of Stone Village and kept observing the willow tree.
"Who are you?" Noticing that more than ten people dressed in luxurious clothes were slandering the willow tree in such a manner, the people of Stone Village could not help but feel angry.
When he heard the villagers speak, the bishop responded to them with another question. "Where's your village chief?"
"That would be me. How may I help you?" The village chief had heard the Outsider speak and stepped forward. He wasted no time observing the strange group that had arrived at their doorstep with faces full of hidden intentions.
The village chief had traveled throughout the Great Wastelands before, so he knew very well that this was not the only continent or world out there.
He noticed that this group of people's Qi flow was rippling. They were probably Outsiders.
Then, he turned to Huang Feijiao with a look that warned him and the others to be on high alert.
Shi Hao also sensed that something was wrong. He clenched his fists and looked at the Outsiders solemnly and coldly.
The bishop noticed that the people of Stone Village were on guard and could not help but laugh.
"Why are you so vigilant? We are not bad people, we are just asking if your village has any magic treasures. Oh right, can I also study the willow tree?"
Everyone was furious.
The willow tree was their guardian spirit, an entity to which they must worship and respect.
Why was this group of people from who-knows-where so unbridled! Not only did they disrespect the willow tree, they even dared to want to study it!
Could it be that they planned to cut the willow tree and split it up to do so?
"My dear guests from afar, it's not that we are unreasonable. But I'm sure that you understand how impudent your requests are." The village chief did not hold back his anger.
But he could also sense that the person before him was not an ordinary person. If that person attacked, both sides would suffer heavy losses.
"Impudent? Aren't you the impudent ones? From what I heard, Stone Village killed people from other villages for the sake of obtaining precious treasures all to themselves." The bishop responded provocatively.
Or at least that was what he had heard from that person from Wolf Village.
"Don't talk nonsense. We didn't kill people from other villages." Shi Hao was still a child and had no fear of standing up for what was right and true. Due to his anger, his face flushed red as an unceasing stream of Qi spread out from his body and the runic light in his palm flashed.
"Hey, little brat, how about you get your manners checked? How dare you speak like that to our bishop?" A certain person behind the bishop with his soul ring aglow suddenly appear. His eyes were filled with anger.
But because he had been facing the bishop's back, he did not realize that the bishop was looking shocked.
"Why is the Qi flow around this child so shocking?"
The bishop was one of the best cultivators in Martial Soul Continent and this was the first time he had met a child with such Qi flow. How could he not be shocked?
"Could it be that he has a treasure hidden within him?"
"Shi Hao, go to your room," said the chief when he noticed that something was wrong.
He had to protect the village's cultivation prodigy, even if it meant that he had to fight the Outsiders head-on.
"I refuse, Village Chief!"
Shi Hao might be young, but he was not a coward.
"Alright, alright. Let's not get too emotional. Village Chief, right? If you know what's good for you, you should hand over the treasures immediately. Oh right, and hand over the blood essence that you've plundered too. If you don't agree, then I will have to use force."
As soon as the bishop finished speaking, his team members behind him quickly displayed their martial soul power flow, ready to attack at any time.
-- Gift
received