The Master of Beasts

Chapter 820 266: Recruiting the Small Settlements (Part 2)

"So what do you want to do?" Song Bei frowned.

Feng Cang shook his head, unable to think of a solution.

After pondering for a long time, Meng Ze said, "Perhaps we can actively showcase our strength and first win over those in the small settlements!"

"How much strength can those settlements really have? Of what use are they?" Jialouluo replied, somewhat dissatisfied.

Gathering a bunch of trash, they're still just cannon fodder, and we don't need cannon fodder.

"It's not quite like that. The leaders of these small settlements are quite capable. We don't expect them to be at Ku Tou's level; if they're at Akam's strength, they can be of considerable help to us!" Meng Ze explained.

"Each settlement has only one. And this isn't something only we would think of; the other tribes will surely consider it, too. I'm afraid we won't be able to win over many," Chen Jiuge frowned.

"We'll take what we can get. The Eye of the Yellow Spring hasn't unleashed any monsters yet; we shouldn't waste this time!"

"Then let's split up and take action!" Chen Jiuge nodded slowly.

"Alright!"

"Drip, drip."

The thick blood from the carcass of the Yellow Springs Fierce Beast hanging on the branch dripped down, making a sound like raindrops.

"Are we sure this is the place?" Chen Jiuge looked at the dense forest in front of him, somewhat puzzled.

This environment isn't suited to fend off Yellow Springs Fierce Beasts. Could there really be a settlement set up here?

Ku Tou said confidently, "Absolutely. Don't underestimate those settlements. The ones that survive in the wild with just a handful of people tend to have unique secret techniques."

"I met people from this settlement in my youth. They can move freely in the dense forest and are even faster here than in open spaces. So this environment suits them best!"

"Really? Then let's go in and check it out!"

Pushing aside the massive bushes taller than himself, suddenly a voice came from above: "Hold there, this is the territory of Feiyan!"

"Hmm?"

Looking up at the sound, Chen Jiuge saw a native, painted all over and almost blending with the canopy, holding a large bow and looking seriously at them.

"Ahem, Ku Tou, it's your turn!" Chen Jiuge gestured.

"Leave it to me, my lord!" Ku Tou grinned with a somewhat menacing smile.

"Boom!"

After a few exchanges, the native of Feiyan was captured by Ku Tou.

"Who are you people? Aren't you afraid of the Nine Dragon Tribe's retribution?"

"Nine Dragon Tribe? Haha, haven't you checked your surroundings?" Ku Tou said with some surprise.

But thinking about it, it's just a settlement; of course, the Nine Dragon Tribe would treat the Three Lives Tribe as cannon fodder, so these settlements wouldn't know the inside story.

Frankly speaking, even if you told them something was wrong, they wouldn't have the capability to send someone to investigate.

"Who are you people? Let go of my clan member!"

The Clan Leader of the Feiyan settlement rushed over upon hearing the commotion, just in time to see his kin pinned to the ground by Ku Tou.

"The Clan Leader of the Feiyan settlement?" Chen Jiuge looked him over.

"Who are you? We don't know each other, do we?" Yan Hong frowned.

"Yes, that's right."

"Ku Tou, capture him!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Yan Hong was quite strong, especially with the large bow in his hands—each arrow fired like a missile, leaving a long trench on the ground.

His unique fighting style also granted him exceptional agility.

It took enduring a dozen arrows and nearly an hour before Ku Tou finally captured Yan Hong!

"Phew, finally got him!" Ku Tou wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Almost, almost slipped up just now; this guy is way too agile in the forest. While his physical strength is on par with Akam, his difficulty was ten times more!

"Submit, or face death?" Chen Jiuge said from above.

Struggling for a bit and seeing no way out, Yan Hong shouted harshly, "Aren't you afraid of the Nine Dragon Tribe?"

"You seriously don't know?" Chen Jiuge replied oddly.

"Know what?"

"Haven't you noticed there's not a single person from the Nine Dragon Tribe here? We're all cannon fodder here, the kind that faces certain death!"

"Impossible! The Nine Dragon Tribe wouldn't do such a thing!"

Yan Hong shook his head frantically. He wasn't new to the Eye of the Yellow Spring, and while it was dangerous, it couldn't be as dangerous as Chen Jiuge claimed.

"Don't believe me? Haha, if I'm telling the truth, then everyone in the Feiyan settlement must submit to me!"

"Fine!" Yan Hong wasn't without a brain.

If it's really as Chen Jiuge said, then he and his kin are likely doomed.

"Gather your clan up; I'll take you to see for yourself!"

"This..." Yan Hong hesitated.

Chen Jiuge said flatly, "Think about it; if I wanted to capture all your clan, would it really require that much effort?"

"Uh, seems you're right!" Yan Hong scratched his head bashfully.

"Let's go!"

Picking a direction at random, the four of them moved straight ahead.

"We're here!"

"Here? What's different?" Yan Hong questioned, looking at the trees in front of him.

"Take two steps forward!"

"Alright then!"

With large strides, he took two steps forward, then the third.

"Thud!"

Yan Hong staggered back, clutching his nose, his eyes wide open: "What's going on?"

His calloused hand felt around in front of him, and a faint film appeared before his eyes.

"This is?"

"This is a barrier. Perhaps you don't understand; simply put, the Nine Dragon Tribe has encircled this place, and now we can't get out!"

Pointing to the Eye of the Yellow Spring in the sky, Chen Jiuge sneered, "Now it's either us or the Eye of the Yellow Spring surviving; do you get it now?"

"Damn it, how dare they!" Yan Hong fumed.

"So, it's time for you to fulfill your promise!"

"You won't send us to die, will you?" Yan Hong asked sternly.

"Send you to die?"

Chen Jiuge shook his head, "We're already half-dead. This is about seeking life in the face of death!"

"Really? Alright, I agree. But if you send my clan to die, I'm not going along with it!"

"Rest assured!"

Chen Jiuge smiled slightly, but thought nothing of it. Does he even need instructions? When the Eye of the Yellow Spring erupts next, not going to die will become going to die!

Recruiting the settlements went very smoothly, without even encountering any other tribes, perhaps because Chen Jiuge and his team chose relatively remote locations.

Though the strength of many settlements wasn't much, they preferred to be near strong tribes, as it felt a bit safer.

Settlements like the Feiyan Tribe, small in number but with exceptional skills in each member, were rare.

"Let's go!"

The five of them split into five teams, and in just one day, recruited thirteen settlements. Though each settlement was small in number, together they nearly amassed a thousand people!

"That's all there is!" Meng Ze was a bit disappointed.

The surrounding settlements weren't just these; though Chen Jiuge and the others moved quickly, compared to larger tribes, they were still a step behind.

Some of the more sensitive settlements even directly sided with the major tribes, leaving Chen Jiuge and the others unable to conquer many settlements.

"Actually, we could risk a bit more!" Bai Li frowned.

"Compete with those big tribes?" Feng Cang shook his head slightly, "I don't think it's necessary. The big tribes are too strong; whether we can compete is one thing, but even if we can, we'd end up pissing them off."

"Compared to the gains, it's not worth it."

"Indeed, and besides, isn't the Eye of the Yellow Spring about to erupt again!"

With a rumble, the Eye of the Yellow Spring in the air began to rise slowly. The eye opening turned gradually pitch black, and the falling Yellow Spring Water was no longer golden, but turned black and yellow.

One could faintly see some large monsters mixed in with the changing color of the Yellow Spring Water, falling down.

"It's started again; only a day's time, really leaves no room to breathe!" Chen Jiuge frowned. The interval seemed way too short!

One monster after another fell from the sky, and soon some flew in the direction of Chen Jiuge and his team.

"Roar!"

With three heads, four legs, two tails, resembling the face of a Saber-toothed Tiger, full of ferocity.

"Look at its eyes!" Song Bei reminded.

"The eyes?"

Chen Jiuge stared closely, surprised, "White? Does it look like it's being controlled?"