Chapter 1, The Catastrophe of Ji Shui Tian.

In the gaze of the black bean, there was a hint of compassion, for he deeply understood the cruelty of this reality. His father, Uncle Ya, had experienced this deeply many years ago.

This sudden change almost instantly shattered the tranquility and peace of the river's surface, a transformation that no one had anticipated, as the attack came with overwhelming ferocity

With a loud splash, the entire bamboo pole cracked, stirring up a large expanse of white water at the bottom, obscuring Mu Ai's line of sight, making it impossible to discern the location of the shadow in the water. However, the two halves of the bamboo pole cast an illusory shadow on the water's surface.

In fact, blaming anyone is futile; this is something everyone understands, yet no one has ever dared to voice it. Everyone knows that this matter is inherently a cruel decision. When people observe livestock or wild beasts being slaughtered, they typically show no reaction. However, when they witness their own kind being ruthlessly killed, they feel nauseated, experiencing an instinctive discomfort.

Xuan Yuan is seventeen years old this year, yet he has never participated in a hunting competition, nor has he taken part in a warrior contest. Even when hunting, he prefers to go alone. Therefore, he still cannot join the ranks of the warriors at this moment

The time has reached summer, and the sunlight is intense; however, only scattered spots of light filter through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, falling before the black beans. He merely squints his eyes, casually gazing at the flowing Jishui in front of him, occasionally glancing lazily at the opposite bank of the Jihe River.

With a thud, Mu Ai could not help but retreat several steps, as the impact from the piece of wood was indeed too forceful

The foot struck precisely on the already broken wooden post

Hualei fell out, and a half bamboo pole over one zhang long was also brought out of the water by him

Uncle Ya greatly appreciates Xuanyuan's unconventional style, believing that it is free from vulgarity

Uncle Ya has no regrets, only hatred. He does not hate those who cut off his tongue; rather, he hates that this led to the old patriarch falling ill and ultimately passing away. He always believes that the old patriarch died because of him, and in his kind heart, he feels that he owes the old patriarch a great deal.

Xuanyuan's hair is very short; he is the only one in the entire tribe who has cut his long hair. His messy short hair and his coarse linen garments have become his unique characteristics

With a loud crash, the wooden pillar swiftly flew off the platform and fell heavily into the river, which was also outside the range covered by those sharp bamboos

Because Hualei's sword is not what it seems; it is a trap set by a mysterious figure.

Be careful...! He Tian let out another mournful groan, as the sharp thorn that had pierced his calf was forcefully pulled out. The tip of the thorn was barbed, and with such a pull, a piece of flesh was torn away. How could he not feel pain

Unfortunately, she arrived at the time of the heavenly sacrifice. Some felt regret for Xuanyuan, as such a beautiful prize could not be enjoyed in time and was designated as an "offering" that could not be privately used. Others felt pity for the beauty, as such a lovely person was to be sacrificed to the Water Goddess, yet no one could change this fact. This was the decision of the three high priests. If one were to blame, one could only blame that this beauty was still a maiden, blame her for being captured at the wrong time, blame... Others also felt pity for the beauty, as such a lovely person was to be sacrificed to the Water Goddess, yet no one could change this fact. This was the decision of the three high priests. If one were to blame, one could only blame that this beauty was still a maiden, blame her for being captured at the wrong time, blame...

Hua Lei had not yet reacted when the bamboo pole was already thrust within a foot of his abdomen. In shock, he flipped backward, his sword slicing directly at the tip of the bamboo pole, but Mu Ai noticed a dark shadow swiftly rising from the bottom of the water

"It must be a rotten log!" Hualei speculated

May 28 of each year is the day when the "Youqiao Clan" and the "Youguo Clan" pay homage to the River God of Jishui

The moment he struck the sharp bamboo with his axe, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his left leg. In that instant of distraction, a torrent of fierce water splashed out, directly hitting his face and obstructing his line of sight

Within the clan, the three high priests possess an inviolable authority akin to that of the divine, not for any other reason, but because they are the messengers of the ancestors and because they wield martial skills that are enough to instill fear in people's hearts

sacred mountain

Ancient trees tower high, providing shade from the sun.

The sound of "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" echoed as countless bamboo arrows shot out from the苦竹林 like locusts, accurately targeting the wooden raft platform

The long bamboo pole in Hua Lei's hand seemed to have become a burden, as the sky was filled with water droplets and fragments of green lotus leaves that had already invaded his protective range, making it impossible for him to open his eyes. At that moment, the scattered wooden raft flowing past the edge of the large wooden platform also sprang away from the water's surface, crashing towards the large wooden platform with a powerful sound of wind.

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The wooden artemisia was reflected back, and he had to find a favorable position. He could not allow the "sacrifice" to drift away with the current, yet he also had to guard against enemy attacks from the river. This predicament was something only he understood, leaving him with no opportunity to call for help from his clan. He had never imagined that he would find himself in such a dire situation.

Among the Youqiao and Youguo clans, there are not many individuals skilled in swimming, as the three high priests have issued a decree prohibiting clan members from playing in the Ji River. This is a sign of respect for the deity of the Ji River, ensuring that the mundane impurities of the mortal world do not contaminate its waters, especially since both clans rely on the river for drinking water

Hua Lei let out a mournful cry, as a half piece of bamboo pole, while he was still reeling from the pain of the recent moment, pierced deeply through his lower abdomen with a powerful force, an irresistible agony numbing all his nerves

Indeed, it is a rotten log. Damn it, whose raft has fallen apart again?" Mu Ai said with a laugh and a scold.

"Her grandmother, which fool did this? Truly useless, can't even tie a raft properly!" Hua Lei muttered a few curses in annoyance.

The gaze of the black bean fell upon the large wooden raft, where three individuals stood silently at that moment. The three guardians of the "sacrifice" were the warriors of the tribe—Mu Ai, Hua Lei, and He Tian

Mu Ai stood barefoot on the wooden raft, wearing only a pair of shorts, occasionally splashing the cool river water with his feet, creating countless droplets. His expression appeared quite content, and he would occasionally glance back at the beautiful woman tied to the wooden post, offering a few unusual laughs and comments. Hua Lei and He Tian joined in, echoing his sentiments.

This is a person appointed by the Earth Priest, and also one of the Earth Priest's faction. Hei Dou certainly recognizes him, but his gaze is mostly filled with disdain

Hualei and Hetian also realized that the materials were scattered wood coming from the raft, as there were several pieces of driftwood and a partially disassembled raft body floating down not far behind them.

Bang! He Tian also greatly underestimated his opponent. At the moment he kicked out, the person who had leaped up from the water had already taken the opportunity to enter, driving a knee into his lower abdomen

The clansmen can only bathe in another small river, but it is quite difficult to develop good swimming skills in that river. Therefore, there are not many individuals from both clans who are proficient in swimming. Mu Ai, He Tian, and Hua Lei are not particularly skilled swimmers either, but they can manage in a river of this width, like the Ji River.

The sound of "tap tap tap..." echoed as the sharp bamboo fell like rain onto the wooden raft, with some also landing in the water

Mu Ai and Hua Lei were taken aback, yet they did not notice the mysterious figure that had just leaped out from the water. At that moment, both felt a sudden emptiness beneath their feet

Xuanyuan never inquired about who his father was; he was like an outlier within the clan, an enigma that was difficult for others to fathom. However, Heidou understood him, comprehended him, and often assisted him. They were the best of friends in the clan

But who can stand up and speak a fair word? Who dares to step forward to save this innocent life

He understood his father's intentions very well, which is why Xuanyuan became his best friend

The gentle flow of the stream, accompanied by the crisp and distinctive calls of the birds in the bamboo forest, indeed presents a unique charm

A sharp iron spike was inserted into the calf of the rice field, and the other end of this spike seemed to be still tied to a thin thread

The "sacrifice" is used to worship the goddess of the water, and therefore, before the heavenly sacrifice, it is necessary to wash the "sacrifice" in the Ji River for three days, allowing the river water to cleanse it of its worldly aura. Of course, this is the assertion of the three high priests, as well as their proposition.

The sacrificial offering must be alive and pure. Therefore, it should not be allowed to be scorched to the brink of death by the blazing sun

Xuan Yuan's uniqueness lies in his preference for quietly contemplating matters alone, gazing at the sky, the divine mountain, and the Ji River. He can sit still for three days without moving. No one knows what he is thinking, and he never reveals his thoughts to others. Among the expatriate community, apart from Uncle Ya, he is the least talkative.

The reason Uncle Ya is mute is that he dared to stand up and vehemently denounce this cruel error, harshly criticizing the cold-blooded actions of the three high priests and the apathy of his people. In doing so, he offended divine authority and violated tribal rules, resulting in the price of never being able to speak again. Subsequently, people began to refer to him as Uncle Ya

Damn it, there really is a raft from the Guo tribe, and there’s even a lotus leaf on it, which must have drifted over from their territory. Hua Lei immediately noticed that a green lotus leaf was covering the approaching wooden raft, and such lotus leaves only grow in the territory of the Guo tribe.

As Mu Ai exclaimed the name of Hua Lei, he severed the other half of the long bamboo, which was like a sword, and the book pole into three segments. However, at the same time, he felt that the underwater end of the long bamboo pole had lost its strength to withstand. Just as a thought flashed through his mind, a sound of "splash" broke the surface of the water on his left side.

The pain is not important; what matters is the life of the "sacrifice," for he discovered that an arrow, shot from an unknown source, was piercing directly into the heart of the "sacrifice"

The river water is exceptionally clear, almost allowing one to see the sand and fish swimming beneath the surface. However, this water is not shallow; it is at least more than 3 meters deep

Mu Ai, without a moment's hesitation, turned and drew his sword based on instinct. An overwhelming sense of murderous intent and anger surged within him, yet until now, he had still been unable to discern the true identity of the mysterious figure. This was indeed a tragedy; to speak of it would undoubtedly be a joke, yet it remained a fact.

Quick, precise, and ruthless, this left Hetian no time to think, as he raised his sword and struck at the arrow that was piercing through the air.

The sacrificial offering, approximately fifteen years old, with slightly disheveled hair and tightly closed eyes, possessed a pure and delicate beauty, reminiscent of a water lily, evoking a sense of heartache and pity. However, at this moment, she had lost all consciousness, as the earth priest had administered a peculiar drug to her, which would only allow her to awaken during the time of the sacrifice to the heavens

The gentle flow of the river, like a jade belt encircling, adds a touch of charm and allure to the majestic peaks that pierce the sky. At this moment, the season is approaching the height of summer

The status of the Xuanjian Warriors is extremely high in the eyes of their clansmen, and among the Qiao clan, there are only a little over ten individuals who qualify to be called Xuanjian Warriors. The swords wielded by the Xuanjian Warriors are made from the mystical bamboo of the Sacred Mountain, which is harder than stone and possesses exceptional toughness. Therefore, swords made from this bamboo are more lethal and flexible than those made from copper or iron. The Sacred Mountain bamboo grows only one stalk every ten years, and a single stalk can only be crafted into four bamboo swords. Thus, those who can wield the bamboo demonstrate their uniqueness. Mu Ai is one of the Xuanjian Warriors and is particularly admired by the Earth Priest, but at this moment, he is facing the most challenging moment of his life.

Mu Ai and Hua Lei struggled to fend off the deadly sharp bamboos. Turning their heads, they discovered that He Tian had already met his demise, while the "sacrifice" was drifting away with the wooden pillar, slowly sinking into the water

Hua Lei found himself in a state of confusion, startled and retreating. At that moment, the surface of the water suddenly broke open, and a shadowy figure lunged directly towards the "sacrifice".

Seeing that Hetian had made a statement, Hualei and Muai naturally did not want to waste their efforts. Instead, they used a bamboo pole to pull the lotus leaves closer, so as to scoop them up to shield themselves from the sun

Everything seems to have been calculated with precision, with every inch of space on the raft platform included within the shooting range

What is that?" Mu Ai suddenly pointed at a black dot drifting down from upstream.

After that mysterious figure pressed a knee against the lower abdomen of the rice field, they swiftly leaped into the water. However, Mu Ai and Hua Lei were completely distracted by those sharp bamboos and did not notice the movements of the mysterious figure at all. Once the mysterious figure entered the water, they did not cease their actions; instead, they quickly cut the ropes binding the raft and accurately targeted the positions of Mu Ai and Hua Lei, launching a direct attack.

In the field, one felt as if the sky had collapsed and the earth had sunk, with all internal organs torn apart, and then there was no longer any awareness.

"What is there to be surprised about? This thing falls down every day, there are plenty of them," He Tian said dismissively

Mu Ai and Hua Lei were even more astonished; they could not comprehend what was happening. How could someone suddenly appear in the water, and who had set such a terrifying trap in the bamboo forest? However, they had no time to ponder these questions. They needed to ensure their own safety and, more importantly, protect the "sacrifice"

The black bean leisurely sits on a rope strung between two bamboo poles, gently holding a slender bamboo twig in its mouth, swaying freely like a playful monkey

The incident occurred suddenly, leaving Hualei astonished. At the same time, Mu Ai was also taken aback. As Mu Ai was surprised, He Tian let out a mournful groan, withdrawing his feet from the water at an astonishing speed, but blood had already bloomed into a beautiful little flower on the surface of the river

On top of the wooden pillar, there was a remarkably beautiful woman bound, a trophy of Xuanyuan Fuhui's conquest

"I have no time for this!" He Tian sat down on the edge of the wooden raft, his legs submerged in the river water. He glanced sideways at the drifting logs and lotus leaves by the wooden posts, stretched lazily, and said.

The bamboo pole split in two, resembling two sharp swords, simultaneously flashing as they attacked in two directions towards Mu Ai and Hua Lei.

Puff... Boom... When Hetian's sword intercepted the incoming arrow, Muai's sword had already struck the wooden beam that was flying towards the raft's surface

With a soft sound, the lotus leaves shattered into countless small pieces under the gentle touch of the bamboo pole, resembling a flurry of green butterflies taking flight. Water droplets sparkled, creating a dazzling scene that splashed directly onto Hualei's face

"There must be members of the Guo clan; only they would have such foolish individuals among them!" He Tian laughed loudly.

With a soft crack, the bamboo pole unexpectedly split in two.

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Mu Ai drew his sword; he had to block the several scattered logs that were crashing towards Hua Lei, otherwise Hua Lei would likely suffer serious injuries.

The killing of Hetian, the destruction of the raft in the water, followed by the slaying of Hualei with a bamboo pole, all while using the splashes of water as cover to shift and evade in the water, and then launching another attack—everything demonstrates the cunning and cleverness of the mysterious assassin

Since the wooden pillar is originally circular, the buoyant force it experiences is essentially the same. However, with the addition of a person's weight, the heavier side naturally sinks to the bottom of the water, while the lighter side floats to the surface. At this moment, the "offering" has already submerged in the water

Ah... Mu Ai could not help but let out a mournful groan as the sharp weapon that had pierced his leg was pulled out. He felt a piece of flesh torn from his leg, a barbed thorn that had been freely moving in and out.

The sword peak shrouded in mist, ethereal and otherworldly

This is a meticulous plan, a terrifying killing scheme, but the opponent's purpose is not something Mu Ai can fully comprehend. However, Mu Ai does not need to understand; he only needs to eliminate his opponent and ensure the protection of the "sacrifice".

No one blamed Xuanyuan for cutting his long hair, for he had no father, and his mother passed away when he was seven, leaving him an orphan. Among the Qiao tribe, Xuanyuan was the first to cut his long hair in a hundred years. Coupled with his peculiar behavior, this made him an outlier. However, Xuanyuan never cared about how others viewed him, for every piece of game he brought back was sufficient, leaving his clansmen with nothing to say.

On the opposite bank, there are the Guo tribe and the Qiao tribe, who face each other across the river. This is one of the reasons for the friendly relations between the two tribes, as the saying goes, "You see each other when you look up and down." However, at this moment, Hei Dou did not see the person he wanted to see on the opposite bank; instead, the large wooden pillar in the river and the platform made of several wooden rafts were quite conspicuous.

However, at this moment, this has become a task that is very difficult to accomplish, with a level of difficulty that even exceeds his imagination

Hua Lei's bamboo pole lightly touched the lotus leaf, and his expression appeared exceedingly languid

Hétián was taken aback; blood was gushing from his calf, and the excruciating pain made it nearly impossible for him to stand upright. Yet, he had no choice but to step forward to block the person who was shooting towards the "sacrifice." However, Hétián's speed had significantly diminished, and before his sword could even be thrust out, he heard a loud "crack..." as the wooden pillar standing in the middle of the river was violently broken.

This is indeed a fact; his enemies are too cunning and frighteningly astute. Taking advantage of the scattered wooden rafts as cover, they used lotus leaves as bait to submerge beneath the large wooden raft platform. If it were not for this, who could possibly conceal themselves in such clear river water?

The thunderous roar was as terrifying as death, yet this could not change anything, for the split bamboo pole, like a living snake, accurately pierced into his lower abdomen

It is akin to being completely exposed beneath the sharp tips of bamboo; if left unprotected, one would only be shot through with countless wounds. However, with the fields in disarray, how could there be any opportunity to protect the "sacrificial offerings"? Thus, he had no choice but to take action.

In the clan, he has always held himself in high regard, and he is also a Xuánjiàn warrior

He cast another glance towards the opposite bank, but did not see Xuan Yuan's figure. Thus, his gaze fell upon the wooden pillar standing in the middle of the river. However, he had no interest in admiring the beauty, as her head was obscured by several large banana leaves.

Boom... The wooden raft beneath Mu Ai's feet shook violently, and his mind seemed to become somewhat sluggish all at once. Amidst the jolting, coupled with the sound of water "whooshing," a powerful spray of mist before his eyes further muddled his senses beyond recognition

Xuanyuan is the only grandson of the old clan leader, but not many people know who his father is. Perhaps many are aware, but everyone is simply unwilling to mention it.

Hetian thought of the only way to properly protect the "sacrifice," for at this moment the wooden pillar had broken, the "sacrifice"

With a loud bang, the wooden raft on which the two stood shattered into splinters, and a long bamboo pole shot up from the depths of the water like a sharp arrow

From the series of reactions and actions of the mysterious figure, it is evident how challenging it is for Mu Ai to protect the "sacrifice"

I can't be bothered with him; after all, it's not our raft anyway!" Mu Ai suggested

Mu Ai and Hua Lei couldn't help but laugh, seemingly resonating deeply with He Tian's words

The river flows gently, with a width of over ten zhang, its surface shimmering with light, the azure waves rippling, presenting a picturesque scene.