A tense wind blew through the myriad tribes surrounding Gui Xu, heralding a great war.
Since the appearance of the Beast Realm, the various tribes had been fighting fiercely against the invasion. Some had held their ground, while others had fallen.
Tribes that were once independent were now either enslaved or struggling to survive.
At this moment, news of the beast race reached the surrounding tribes, eliciting varied reactions.
The Treant tribe.
They resided in a vast forest, each member a towering ancient tree, a truly magnificent sight. The Treant King, reaching a thousand meters in height, spoke, "The Wind God Dragon Realm is attacking the Human Race. What should we do?"
A treant suggested, "My King, I propose we observe the situation."
The Treant King remained silent for a long while before saying, "Then we shall observe. Though the beast race is powerful and has destroyed the Human Race, our Treant tribe is not to be trifled with. We do not fear them."
On the other side.
The Titan Serpent tribe.
This tribe, though few in number, consisted of colossal serpents, each born mighty. The beasts had found themselves repelled when they attacked this tribe.
Now, numerous giant serpents coiled around small hills, a breathtaking spectacle from afar. Some were over a thousand meters long, others hundreds. A mere sway of their massive heads could stir the winds and shake the soul.
Suddenly, a black Titan Serpent spoke, "Have you all heard the news?"
"The Wind God Dragon Realm is besieging the Human Race. They are in grave danger," a white serpent said gently.
A golden Titan Serpent remarked, "The Human Race has an idiom: 'When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' If the Human Race falls, the beasts will likely target us next."
The black Titan Serpent scoffed, "Jin Tai, you worry too much. Our Titan tribe is inherently powerful, no weaker than the beast royal clans. They dare not come, but if they do, they will never return."
The white Titan Serpent worried, "Jin Tai's words are not without reason. Should we not offer some aid to the Human Race?"
The black Titan Serpent snorted, "If the Human Race is not annihilated, I cannot quell my hatred. It is already a sign of my noble character that I do not help the beasts slaughter them. You still wish for me to help the Human Race? What is your stance? Hmph, I rather hope the Human Race is wiped out!"
The other serpents fell silent, daring not to persuade further.
The white Titan Serpent stated, "Then we shall observe. However, to prevent the Human Race's defeat and the beasts from attacking our tribe, we should also make preparations as soon as possible."
Jin Tai, clearly displeased, snorted and turned away. None of the serpents dared to stop its departure.
Their tribe had been formed after the great changes on Blue Star, awakening ancient Titan Serpent bloodlines and undergoing several transformations. Some of them had once been pets of the Human Race, and some even ingredients for their meals. This black serpent, for instance, had been destined for the cooking pot, only to escape and awaken its Titan Serpent bloodline during Blue Star's upheaval. Because of this, it harbored a deep hatred for humans.
Jin Tai, however, was different. It had been a pet, raised by humans since it was young. Even after awakening its Titan Serpent bloodline, it maintained a fondness for the Human Race.
The black Titan Serpent declared, "Ignore it. Our Titan Serpent tribe fears no challenge and can form alliances with any race, except the Human Race. Bai Qing, go to the surrounding tribes and try to forge alliances!"
"Understood!"
Meanwhile, a thousand li west of the Titan Serpents, another tribe was holding a meeting. This tribe had also evolved from indigenous species of Blue Star. They resembled crows and were adept at using fire.
The Crow tribe lacked refinement. When they first evolved, they didn't know what to name themselves and thus sought help from the Human Race. Seeing their appearance, humans gave them the name "Golden Crow." The moment this name was uttered, some crows seemed to sense something from the depths of destiny, and thus evolved. Some of them shed their black feathers, growing lustrous golden ones. Their fire abilities underwent several transformations, a spectacle that astonished countless crows. What amazed them even more was that these golden crows could comprehend cultivation techniques from their bloodline. At this moment, even though they were not particularly intelligent, they understood that the name "Golden Crow" was deeply significant and could not be used lightly. Thus, they dared not use it anymore and named themselves "Fire Crow." And so, their tribal name was established.
At this time, the Fire Crow territory.
It was a range of active volcanoes, barren for hundreds of miles. Yet, it was home to countless Fire Crows, interspersed with a few golden crows. These golden crows were evolved Fire Crows and formed the ruling class of this tribe.
Deep within a volcanic cave in the Fire Crow territory, several golden Fire Crows gathered, discussing matters. One among them was the most powerful and the ruler of the tribe.
It asked, "I've heard the Human Race is in grave danger. Is this rumor true?"
"Your Majesty, the news is true. The beasts have chosen the Human Race as their next target, likely because they are the weakest."
The assembled crows nodded, acknowledging that among the remaining tribes, the Human Race indeed seemed the weakest. However, the Fire Crow King did not entirely agree. Years ago, a mysterious man had bestowed upon them their name, drawing the attention of destiny and granting them the Golden Crow bloodline. It seemed impossible for such a race to be weak.
The King declared, "The Human Race once showed us great kindness. We cannot stand idly by."
"Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?"
"Send some crows to support them!"
"How many should we send?"
"Three Ninth Order?"
"Too few!"
"Oh?"
"I fear they might perish on the battlefield if there are too few. Why not add three more?"
"So be it!"
Thus, they arranged for six Ninth Order Fire Crows to be dispatched to the Human Race's base.
On the other side.
This was a patch of dark, desolate land. Wandering across it were undead creatures; no other life existed here. Suddenly, a grave mound erupted, and a withered arm emerged, clawing at the ground before slowly pulling itself out of the grave.
Simultaneously, from nearby grave mounds, withered corpses began to emerge. There were ten such bodies, all humanoid. Although their faces were severely disfigured, it was still evident that they had been human in life. These ten corpses lifted their heads, and their soul fires flickered to life. Anyone witnessing them would surely cry out in shock: "Liches!"
Indeed, they were liches, and all had been resurrected from human corpses. Some wore armor, others dragon robes, some scholarly attire. Some held long swords, others rode skeletal undead horses. Each of them had been a renowned figure in history. Due to the cataclysm on Blue Star, they had become undead beings born on Blue Star itself.
At this moment, a lich clad in imperial robes spoke, "Esteemed sirs, the Human Race is in peril. What are your intentions?"
To his left, a powerfully built lich carrying a massive hammer sneered, "Whether the Human Race is in peril or not, what concern is it of mine? I have but one wish: to defy the heavens!"
A scholarly-dressed lich then retorted sarcastically, "Serves you right for being struck by lightning in life, you boaster, disrespecting heaven!"
"You..." the hammer-wielding lich glared angrily.
The Emperor lich intervened, "We were all human in life. Let us offer some aid to the Human Race, as repayment for our karma."
The scholarly lich snorted, "You go, then. I detest the Human Race!"
The liches were no longer living beings, and their mental states had changed dramatically.
At this, the hammer lich declared, "If you all are unwilling, I, Li Yuanba, will go!"
"I, too, shall make a trip. The Human Race must not be extinguished!" the Emperor stated sternly.
Most of the liches shook their heads, saying, "I died at the hands of the Human Race and have severed all karma with them. Their fate is of no consequence to me!"
In the end, only three liches were willing to go to the Human Race's aid. A hammer-wielding man, an Emperor, and a scholar. Yes, the scholar who had declared he wouldn't go, had now changed his mind and wished to join.