The Survival of the Wild Tribe

126

Absorbing crystal fruit isn't straightforward. Furthermore, Lu Ming must utilize all absorbed energy for evolution, merging it completely with his antlers to maximize the effect. This process is lengthy. Luckily, Hei Yuan has been searching for this method for over a decade. Waiting another year or two is more promising than aimlessly continuing the search, so patience is key until Lu Ming completes his evolution.

Lu Ming was surprised that Hei Yuan handed over all the cloud crystals without hesitation. The keen senses of this high-ranking warrior and the current state of chasing wind reignited Lu Ming's long-dormant hope to see if his race could reclaim its former glory.

Lu Zhan gathered the cloud crystals into his backpack, perhaps to have a private conversation with Lu Ming. He assisted in returning them to the center of the lake, leaving Luo Zhen and Hei Yuan by the lakeside.

With the potential discovery of a cure for scaling disease, Hei Yuan's previously furrowed brow softened, replaced by a hint of a smile. Although Lu Ming's earlier words gave Luo Zhen pause, especially his reference to "slave," which didn't sit well with Luo Zhen's sensibilities, especially considering Lu Zhan's background in the Black Panther tribe.

Despite his reservations, Luo Zhen decided to voice his concerns. Since Hei Yuan is Lu Zhan's father and their relationship appears relaxed, Luo Zhen felt compelled to offer assistance or at least provide suggestions if Hei Yuan encountered trouble.

Lu Ming's mention of "Zhan Slaves" wasn't emphasized, and he didn't elaborate on the topic. Hei Yuan didn't anticipate Luo Zhen's notice or understanding of the significance. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before suddenly clapping his hands together. "Which ancient ethnic group do you belong to?" he inquired.

Luo Zhen was clearly frustrated with Hei Yuan for steering the conversation away like this. "The war slave that Lu Ming mentioned, is it the one from the wizard palace you mentioned? Are you working for the wizards?"

Hei Yuan glanced toward the center of the lake, where Lu Zhan and Lu Ming were still absent. "Yes and no," he began. "The Wizard Palace holds immense power, covering almost the entire continent, except for the Beast God Mountain. I've been assisting them in finding a solution to the scaling disease, and my current strength is largely thanks to their support."

His smile took on a cunning edge as he continued, reaching out to ruffle Luo Zhen's soft black hair. His tone softened, eyebrows relaxing. "Little guy, don't fret. My past identity holds no sway over me now. On this continent, eighth-level warriors are already at the peak. With my strength, should I fear the wizards in a few wizard halls?"

"A few?" queried Luo Zhen.

Hei Yuan cleared his throat. "Ahem. Let's just say, you only need to know I'll be fine and won't cause any trouble for your tribe."

Hei Yuan's reassurances brought some relief to Luo Zhen, though the mention of a slave across Changfeng Mountain lingered heavily on his mind.

"I'm not worried about you causing trouble for our tribe, I'm just concerned about your well-being, and so is Zhan," Luo Zhen added.

Hei Yuan remained silent, lips slightly curled, eyes tinged with melancholy.

During his stay with the Riyao tribe, Hei Yuan took an interest in the mud brick houses. Although he wasn't intrigued by the materials used, he found the internal structure and layout fascinating. One day, he eagerly presented Luo Zhen with a wooden board. "Zhenzhen, I want to build this," he declared with excitement.

Luo Zhen glanced over and spotted a two-story bungalow-style structure, likely intended for use as a public building like a conference hall. However, due to concerns about its temporary practicality and the load-bearing capacity of the house itself, he decided to temporarily set it aside. Instead, he opted to build a single-story residential house similar to the previous wooden ones. Even the roof remained predominantly wooden, leaving room for improvement in terms of cold resistance.