In a small creek near the Black Forest, a dense crowd of people stood, washing their bodies.
The originally clean and crystal-clear creek water had turned turbid and murky, with foam floating on the surface.
“Lan Xue, what exactly do these people want to do?” Song Guo whispered in Lan Xue’s ear while scrubbing his body with a soft-bristled brush.
After they crossed the trap, a group of Spark warriors had rushed out, brandishing fierce weapons and slaughtering all the Giant-horned bulls that came charging toward them.
What excited them the most was that among this group of people, quite a few were ordinary folk! They were not warriors born blessed by the gods.
Although individually, their combat power could not match that of warriors, when they worked together, they could still wipe out a herd of frenzied and savage wild bulls in one fell swoop.
For everyone, this was an incredibly shocking sight.
At that moment, they saw hope. If even ordinary people could be this formidable, then such a group would surely be able to defeat the people of the Fang Tribe.
And indeed, that was exactly the case. It was only a pity that the poisonous gas kept them from entering the Black Forest; otherwise, they would have skinned those man-eating demons alive, torn their tendons, and let them taste the pain of such torment for themselves.
The warriors of the Spark Tribe swiftly killed the scattered demons and gathered everyone together.
“Are you willing to join the Spark Tribe?” This was the first thing that the chieftain said to them.
No one would refuse; apart from joining the Spark Tribe, they had no other choice.
Their homes had already been destroyed, and this place was far away, the journey dangerous at every step. They had nowhere else to go.
Most of the survivors were ordinary people, and many of them did not even know each other.
The Fang Tribe had invaded and plundered along the way, capturing people from defeated tribes and slowly expanding their forces.
Along the way, they had captured many people from small tribes far more than they had now, but those people had already been eaten.
Everyone came from different tribes, which meant it was difficult to unite into a single force.
And without weapons or food, they were completely unfamiliar with everything here, making survival extremely difficult.
Therefore, even if this tribe might turn out to be another group of demons, if they wanted to live, they had no choice but to take the risk.
Lan Xue thought they would be taken back to the tribe, but instead, they were placed in this open area not far from the Black Forest.
Next, someone came holding a sharp little metal knife and shaved off everyone’s hair. Some people, whose bodies were covered with thick hair, were not spared either.
That little metal knife looked extremely delicate, and it was very sharp. With just a light stroke, it could cut the skin open.
At first, everyone thought they were going to use it to bleed them, or pry open their skulls while still alive, and swallow their brains raw.
The people of the Fang Tribe had once committed such cruel acts.
The first group of people dragged off to have their hair shaved all trembled uncontrollably, looking as if they were about to meet their deaths.
Many were already planning to escape, or else had sunk into utter despair, even harboring thoughts of ending their own lives.
They had thought hope was right before them, had run desperately toward it, only to find they had entered an even more terrifying hell. That crushing sense of contrast made it hard for anyone to want to keep living.
But soon everyone discovered that such a horrific scene did not happen. Those holding the little knives went swish, swish, swish, and shaved off their hair or their long beards in just a few quick motions.
Before they could even react to what had happened, those people impatiently shouted: “Next one, hurry up.”
Lan Xue, still in a dazed state, lost his own hair in this way. Although the cool, breezy feeling made him a little unaccustomed, without the biting of fleas and lice, he felt much cleaner and more comfortable.
He didn’t have much time to think before being driven toward the nearby creek, where they were required to wash themselves clean.
The standards for washing were extremely strict. If they weren’t clean enough, they wouldn’t be allowed ashore.
No one understood what this was for, including Lan Xue.
However, he noticed that most of the people in the Spark Tribe didn’t have long hair. Even those with longer hair had it neatly trimmed, and they all looked very clean.
Could this perhaps be their tradition?
“They’re not planning to wash us clean just to roast us for food, are they?!”
The more Song Guo thought about it, the more terrified he became. Aside from that possibility, he couldn’t think of any other reason they would do this.
“No, if that were the case, they wouldn’t bother giving us something so precious.”
Lan Xue rinsed the soft-bristled brush in the spring water, then picked up from the bank a yellowish item, no wider than three fingers, which they called sulfur soap. He brushed the surface of the soap with the brush, scraping off quite a bit, then continued scrubbing his body.
The dirt and grime on his skin came off easily, while foam bubbled up, carrying a faint fragrance.
At first, he thought the smell wasn’t very pleasant. But after a while, it seemed rather nice.
Lan Xue had never seen this thing called sulfur soap before, yet he could tell it was very precious.
He didn’t know what it was made from. It looked beautiful and smooth. To someone unaware of its use, it could easily be mistaken for an ornament.
According to the people of the Spark Tribe, this sulfur soap could kill the filth and parasites on the body and had certain preventive and auxiliary treatment effects for skin diseases.
It was not only for cleaning, but it was also a kind of medicine.
Lan Xue didn’t know if that was really true, but using it now felt truly comfortable. In all his life, this was the first time he had ever washed himself so clean.
If they only intended to eat them, there would be no need to go through so much trouble.
Moreover, it wasn’t just them who had to bathe. The Spark Tribe warriors, whose bodies were covered in blood and grime, also came to the creek to wash, and they used the same sulfur soap.
“Lan Xue, am I so hungry that I’m hallucinating? Do you smell something?”
Song Guo sniffed sharply. The creek, which had been filled with the smell of sulfur soap, now had another scent weaving its way in.
That scent grew stronger and stronger, stealing everyone’s attention.
“What’s that smell? It’s so fragrant!”
“Is this the smell of food? They have food. Does that mean they don’t plan to eat us?”
“I’ve never smelled anything like this before. If I could just taste a little… no, even if I could only lick it once, my life would be complete!”
“…”
The Spark Tribe man on the bank, who was supervising their bathing, raised his voice and shouted: “Wash yourselves clean. There’s a share for everyone!”
“Is that for real?!”
“That can’t be! That’s fresh meat!”
The entire place instantly erupted. What? This was for them to eat?!
No one could believe their ears.
“Since you’re willing to join our Spark Tribe, you’ll be our tribespeople, and you’ll be able to share the same food as us.” That Spark Tribe man’s expression carried a hint of pride.
“I can tell you, the food of our Spark Tribe is absolutely a delicacy none of you has ever tasted before!”
The group, now cleaner than they had ever been in their lives, had just come ashore when they were led to another spot.
“Line up, line up! No cutting in line. There’s enough for everyone, so no need to rush.”
A slightly plump woman shouted loudly. In front of her were two metal buckets, each filled with food giving off a rich aroma, and beside them was a rattan basket brimming with ground fruits.
She held a large ladle in her hand and, with swift movements, scooped from the pot and dropped the contents into the large bowls in people’s hands. Everyone’s portion was roughly the same.
While people were drawn to the food, their gazes were also drawn to this woman. They had never seen such a plump woman before.
By Earth’s standards, she would at most be considered slightly chubby, but here, she was a rare sight indeed.
Only someone who ate their fill yet did not expend much energy could have such a figure. This was a sign of wealth.
“This… this black pottery is for us?”
When the person at the front of the line received the exquisite black ceramic, their hands trembled uncontrollably. Yet they still clutched it tightly, afraid that using too much force might shatter it. The whole person was extremely tense.
The one handing out the bowls said, “For holding your food. We didn’t bring many. Once you finish eating, wash it quickly and pass it on to the next person.”
Everyone queued in a daze, received their food in a daze, and then, still dazed, walked to the designated spot. Clearly, they were extremely hungry, yet they did not immediately eat the food in their hands.
“Hurry up and eat! What are you spacing out for? There are a lot of people still waiting!” the Spark Tribe man urged.
Only then did everyone come back to their senses. Not caring about the heat, they held their bowls and took a fierce slurp, shoveling the large chunks of meat along with the soup and vegetables straight into their mouths.
Heaven’s blessing!
What kind of flavor was this? Was he really still alive? Was this really not a dream?!
If this was a dream, may he never wake up.
Lan Xue also froze for a long time after receiving the food. They had already heard from Hua Sui before about the Spark Tribe’s meals.
Back then, Hua Ban had been swallowing her saliva as she relayed Hua Sui’s descriptions.
But they had assumed the Spark Tribe only treated Hua Sui well to achieve some goal. Once the Fang Tribe was destroyed, if they were taken away, they would not receive such treatment.
They were all outsiders, and all ordinary people. With such a huge number of them, being taken away would only make them the lowest slaves.
Doing the hardest labor, eating the least and the worst food.
But they had never expected that they, too, would be able to eat such good food.
A big bowl full of meat, vegetables, and ground fruits. Not just a small taste, but a whole big bowl!
“Anyone who’s still not full can have offal and soup. No fighting over it. Anyone who does will be driven out of the tribe!”
Hearing those words, many people’s eyes turned red.
The empty, hopeless looks they had before were all replaced with yearning for the life ahead.
They knew that even in their previous tribe, they had never been given such good and plentiful food. As ordinary people, they could only get offal, or stale meat from old storage, carrying a moldy taste.
This meat was all fresh wild Giant-horned bulls killed today. Although there was a lot of meat, there were also many people.
In the past, they would never have wasted food like this.
Before, when they saw the Spark Tribe take out an abundance of supplies—metal weapons, containers, stoves, and so on—they had felt awe at the tribe’s strength and wealth, far greater than they had imagined.
If the Fang Tribe had known they possessed such things, they would never have recklessly traveled such a great distance, risking their lives to invade this new tribe.
But back then, it had only been a feeling of wonder, something that still felt far removed from themselves. Yet, when they were given so much, such high-quality food, the shock became far more direct and tangible.
Lan Xue secretly glanced around and saw that the Spark warriors were eating the same food as them.
“It’s so delicious, it’s truly so delicious! I’ve never eaten anything this good in my life.”
Song Guo was moved almost to tears. He couldn’t help wanting to eat quickly, yet worried that once it was gone, there would be no more. He was deeply conflicted.
On the journey here, they had lived in constant fear, surviving only on wild fruits, frogs, small animals, and insects. Sometimes, when hunger became unbearable, they had even chewed raw wild grass. They had never imagined they could live such a good life.
The steaming hot soup was filled with large chunks of meat and vegetables, and had a distinct salty flavor. Once it entered the stomach, the whole body felt full of strength.
Salt was extremely precious. In the past, they had always used it sparingly—nothing like here, where it was sprinkled generously without hesitation.
Lan Xue also devoured his food ravenously, his eyes shining brightly with a burning light.
Zheng was right. That man was a kind and generous person who did not look down on ordinary people. Under his leadership, they would surely be able to live very well!
But this shock was only the beginning. When they arrived at the Spark Tribe itself, they could hardly believe their eyes.
Everyone’s eyes went wide, unwilling to even blink, afraid they might miss something.
The first thing that came into view was the lush, verdant farmland. They didn’t know what those plants were, but the neat divisions instantly revealed clear signs of human cultivation.
Those from tribes that also did some farming had their eyes light up even more.
There were also rows upon rows of orderly houses, strange devices that would spray water with just a push, chickens, ducks, geese running about…
The entire tribe was full of vitality, everywhere filled with things they couldn’t quite understand.
But what shocked them most wasn’t these physical things. It was the people at work.
No whips, no shouting. Everyone worked with smiles on their faces. Each person was doing something different, yet everyone’s demeanor was relaxed.
They could genuinely feel that the entire environment was so free. No oppression, no dictatorship.
Even though everything was unfamiliar, the tension they had carried with them seemed to melt away as soon as they arrived here.
“Congratulations on your triumphant return.”
A tall man came over to greet them, his loud, resonant voice carrying to everyone present. His whole presence radiated an overwhelming sense of pressure.
This was an extremely powerful warrior!
Everyone was stunned. Many had thought Tu was the strongest warrior in the Spark Tribe. After all, they had faced the Fang Tribe, so surely they would send their best.
But they had never imagined there was another such figure within the tribe.
Even from a distance, they could feel the sheer intimidation emanating from this man.
It was a crushing weight of immense power. Though he wasn’t targeting anyone in particular, his sheer strength made people instinctively lower their heads.
Even Lan Xue, who had mentally prepared himself, was still shaken.
Beyond fear, what he felt more was fervor.
The strong always inspired yearning and admiration, making people want to submit at their feet.
“We have not shamed our mission.” Tu clenched his fist in salute, then turned toward Yang Yi at the man’s side, his demeanor becoming respectful.
“Divine Envoy, we have brought back new tribespeople.”
Only then did Lan Xue notice the man standing beside that powerful warrior. This man was actually striking in his own way. Though he wasn’t as tall or imposing as the warrior, simply standing there, he radiated an aura unlike anyone else.
He looked very gentle, yet at the same time, very different from ordinary people.
If the powerful warrior was the kind of person one longed to become—strong yet making others think, “Maybe I could be like that someday”—then this man, called the Divine Envoy, inspired a completely different feeling. Even though one couldn’t sense any obvious strength from him, he still made people feel they wouldn’t dare to easily offend him.
He was a special existence, truly different from everyone else.
“Who is that?” Song Guo asked in a low voice.
Lan Xue shook his head. Zheng had never mentioned such a person.
Thinking of all those strange things in the Spark Tribe’s possession, an idea popped into his mind—
Could those things be connected to this man?
Yang Yi looked at the large crowd of people and felt very pleased. This was all labor power!
At the same time, he began to worry. With so many people, so many mouths to feed, food was going to be a serious problem.
“They’re all willing to join our Spark Tribe?”
“Yes. Those demons who slipped in among them, I’ve already cleared them out.”
Following Hei Lie’s instructions, Tu had spent three days killing all the demons hiding among the crowd.
In truth, even without an investigation, one could pick them out with the naked eye.
Those captives who had been treated as food were all thinner and weaker than the rest.
Along the way, they had no means to hunt or search for food, and the Fang Tribe hadn’t provided them with any. They had survived by eating grass, insects, and the like.
Those who couldn’t find food and couldn’t hold out any longer ended up becoming the Fang Tribe’s food.
The ones who survived were all sallow-faced and emaciated.
Especially after being washed clean, the differences became obvious.
Those cannibal scum had eaten well the whole way, and their overall condition was entirely different.
And since no one wanted such demons around, now that the Fang Tribe was gone, there was no longer any fear or hesitation. Tu didn’t even have to lift a hand before others rushed in to tear them to pieces.
“Assign them into groups first. Before starting work, give them ideological instruction so they understand the tribe’s rules. They must know what they should and shouldn’t do. They must follow those rules strictly.”
These people had been poisoned by the Fang Tribe’s ways all along the journey. Their mindset had to be corrected, so they wouldn’t be influenced by those demons.
Out of this group of captives, only 1,635 people remained, of which just 38 were warriors. Their combat strength was weak. Only one was a level-two warrior, and the rest were all level-one.
The closer they had gotten to the Black Forest, the more those demons had eaten warriors, causing their numbers to drop sharply.
If the Spark Tribe hadn’t intervened midway, those thirty-eight warriors would have all been eaten that very night.
“Divine Envoy, I will see to it,” Jiao said.
Tu’s mission was complete; from here on, it was the others’ work.
Yang Yi looked over the group of captives before him. None of them wore a single animal hide, using only leaves to cover their bodies.
Their previous coverings had been discarded, and now they all wore newly picked leaves fashioned into makeshift garments. Everyone looked relatively alert, though there was a probing wariness in their eyes.
“There are coral fleece blankets in the temple. Distribute them to all of them.”
The weather was still somewhat cold at night. Leaves were completely inadequate for keeping warm.
Although the people here were highly resistant to the cold, their bodies were currently weak, making them far more vulnerable to illnesses.
Lan Xue, with his sharp ears, caught these words, though he didn’t quite understand what the Divine Envoy meant.
Fleece? Why give them that?
What use would such a thing be for them?
It wasn’t until Lan Xue saw the brightly colored coral fleece blankets that his eyes went wide.
So beautiful, so soft, so warm!
The arrival of over a thousand people made everyone’s work much busier.
They needed to complete their household registrations, learn about their skills, family relationships, and so on.
“Don’t send anyone to the pottery workshop for now. This group still needs further observation. Only after confirming they have no disloyal intentions can they truly become people of the Spark Tribe. For now, they’re only in the probation stage.”
Yang Yi was a cautious person. Even though Tu had already carried out a round of cleansing, and although the people here were generally straightforward without too many hidden schemes, he still wouldn’t dare to fully trust them from the start.
Black pottery would become one of their key items for external trade. Its secret recipe could not be leaked easily.
Black pottery was different from ordinary pottery. It required a certain level of technical skill. If they hadn’t stumbled upon the right method by chance, and if the clay hadn’t happened to be suitable, they wouldn’t have been able to produce it so quickly.
Its value lay in its rarity. Only then could it be exchanged for more of what they wanted. They couldn’t possibly produce everything themselves; there were still things worth trading for.
The Spark Tribe’s nearby resources weren’t as abundant as those of the Green Python Tribe. The crops in the fields would take time to grow, and their poultry were still young. With so many new people joining, the food problem had become pressing.
Most of these newcomers were ordinary people who hadn’t undergone training, so they couldn’t go hunting for the time being. Their ability to acquire food was relatively weak.
For a while, it would still fall on the original Spark Tribe members to find ways to obtain enough food for everyone.
The Green Python Tribe currently wasn’t willing to send people over to work, but they were willing to trade some food.
The ground fruits that group had eaten earlier were obtained by trading black pottery, along with a complimentary set of cosmetics, for Green Python’s food, which had solved an urgent crisis.
The Green Python Tribe had an abundance of food and didn’t particularly value the wild ground fruits growing all over the mountains, so they were willing to make the deal.
They liked black pottery very much. With a large population, their demand for it was considerable.
For the time being, the Spark Tribe could continue using black pottery to trade with the Green Python Tribe.
Hei Lie agreed with this view, though for a different reason.
“Even if they are trustworthy, they should still be placed at the back of the line. Making pottery is easier than other work. New members don’t yet have the qualifications to take on such a job.”
“You’re right,” Yang Yi praised. “It seems you’ve learned quite a bit recently.”
“I quite appreciate the method of ‘distribution according to labor’. I think it can be applied in many areas. It’s more useful for motivating everyone and also a way to unite all people.”
“Although I trust our tribespeople—they are all very diligent and willing to contribute everything—communal meals still have their drawbacks.”
Yang Yi chuckled. “You even know about communal meals?”
“This has given me a lot of inspiration. Once you allow people to have their own private property, certain thoughts and behaviors become difficult to control. So why not make use of it? Some things are indeed unavoidable, and that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad. It all depends on how you handle them.”
Thinking back to the past, Hei Lie said with emotion:
“When I was in the Blackstone Tribe, the chief and I unintentionally formed two separate factions. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was one of the main reasons he saw me as a thorn in his side.”
“Who hasn’t been young before?” Yang Yi smiled. “Our tribe will keep growing, and our people will become more and more diverse. It’s not easy to keep everyone of one mind, so we must guide them with tangible benefits.”
“The greater the contribution to the tribe, the more conveniences one should receive. That’s our principle,” Hei Lie agreed. “But we can’t focus solely on material rewards. That would breed many who value profit over loyalty. The spiritual reassurance and unity must come from you, as the Divine Envoy.”
Yang Yi understood this as well and sighed. “In that regard, I’m afraid I’m still not as good as you.”
“Jiao will handle everything well,” Hei Lie said with a smile. “All you need to do is build the city in your heart. Everyone will regard you as a god.”
