I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts

Chapter 411: Chapter 310: Jiuli Village, World Situation

I just helped you.

And you turn around to ask me to be your slave?

What kind of development is this?

Han Zhan was startled by Li Wu’s words, but fortunately, he quickly offered an explanation:

”We’ll be returning to the Jiuli Tribe’s village shortly. Most of the people there are Jiuli Clan People, and someone like you, a Fu Xi Clan Person, would be ostracized and targeted if you enter.”

”If you become my slave, with my status as a priest, they’d have to think twice before attacking you.”

”Or, if you’re really unwilling, we could part ways here.”

Li Wu was straightforward with his words, without hiding anything.

He presented Han Zhan with two choices: one, to follow him back to the Jiuli Tribe village but as a slave to ensure safety.

The other was to part ways.

If possible, Han Zhan didn’t really want to go back with Li Wu. The Jiuli People, as shown by Li Wu, were all giants with robust bodies, and he, with his ordinary human build, would clearly not fit in.

Not to mention, they are part of an opposing force.

However, were he not to follow Li Wu now and explore alone,

he might encounter evil again, and the entire exploration progress in the Fruit World would be significantly hindered.

After careful consideration, Han Zhan opted to compromise.

Li Lingzhen and Xia Youwei also entered this world with him, and it’s uncertain where they currently are. The slower his progress in exploring the Fruit World, the greater the danger they might face.

”I’ll go with you,” Han Zhan finally said.

Li Wu nodded and didn’t say much more.

The two of them rode on an Iron-Eating Beast, leisurely heading to the Jiuli Village.

Jiuli Village is located on a small hill. The wooden fences built from wood appear simple, but each piece of wood being a towering giant tree makes it quite impressive.

A giant stronghold, fitting the image of the Jiuli Clan.

As Han Zhan followed Li Wu back to the village, he realized along the way that there weren’t many Jiuli People with priest markings like Li Wu.

What are priest markings?

On the way back, Li Wu had already explained to Han Zhan that it was a white symbol painted on their foreheads.

This white symbol is the priest marking.

As a priest, one has the authority to recruit Jiu Li Warriors.

Each priest attracts Jiuli Clan Warriors through their reputation, wealth, or other means.

A priest can have up to ten warriors fighting for them, known as a ”squad.”

And all priests are managed by the High Priest.

The Jiuli Village they are currently in has its own name, called Hejian.

Hence, the High Priest overseeing this area is referred to as the High Priest of Hejian.

”The High Priest is busy and usually untraceable, if we have anything to report, we do so through the altar at the village center.”

Li Wu spoke to Han Zhan as he led him into the village.

Because his arm was marked with a ”Wu” character in white Holy Land soil, the surrounding Jiuli Clan People looked at him a few more times but didn’t cause any trouble.

”I need to go to the altar to report today’s events to the High Priest.”

”The Jiuli Tribe and the Yellow Emperor Tribe have been at war for many years, and anything concerning them cannot be delayed.”

The so-called altar is more like a large open square.

The perimeter of the square is enclosed with tall rectangular stone blocks, forming the prototype of a wall.

On these stone blocks, white symbols are inscribed.

Han Zhan glanced at them and couldn’t understand a thing.

If Second Senior Brother Lin Jingxuan was here, he would probably have a lot to say.

Han Zhan didn’t follow Li Wu inside; upon Li Wu’s gesture, he stopped at the edge of the stone wall.

But he could clearly see the situation inside the altar.

He saw Li Wu walk to the very center of the altar.

There lay a thick stack of unknown animal skins, weighed down by stones.

Li Wu pulled out one sheet, then gripped a pointed stone in his right hand, dabbed it in white Holy Land soil, and mumbled to himself as he wrote on it.

”High Priest, today I discovered traces of evil spirits near the Jianyuan Mountain Range, very close to the village. At the same time, there were people from the Yellow Emperor Tribe discovered...”

In Li Wu’s brief narrative, the entire story was described from start to finish.

After this, Li Wu took the burning torch that was inserted on the side and used it to ignite the animal skin in his hand.

Han Zhan noticed.

Once Li Wu lit the animal skin, the white symbols on the surrounding stone walls began to light up, flicker, and then extinguish again once the burning ceased.

This High Priest of the Jiuli is clearly skilled in more than just physical body enlargement.

Han Zhan gained more understanding of the Jiuli Tribe.

In the legends he knew, the Jiuli Tribe, where Chi You belonged, not only possessed copper heads and iron foreheads, with three heads and eight arms, but they also likely had witch-like abilities.

For example, manipulating the wind and rain, capturing souls.

In the previous display of combat power by Li Wu and Li Hui, all he saw was the most primitive form of strength-based combat.

He didn’t witness any abilities related to the Witch Race.

”Could it be that this white Holy Land soil is crafted by Jiuli Clan Wizards, using sorcery to drive out evil spirits? That seems to make sense,” Han Zhan pondered as he looked at the white Holy Land soil crafted symbols on the stone walls.

”Let’s go.” At this moment, Li Wu had finished the ritual and came out from the altar.

”Is that it?”

”Yes, I’ve informed the High Priest of the day’s events and should receive a reply by tomorrow,” Li Wu replied, patting the napping Iron-Eating Beast again.

”If there’s anything else you want to know, we can talk more when we get to my house.”

...

Li Wu’s home was essentially just a simple house that had been built.

It seems that the humans of ancient times didn’t have much talent for building houses.

Fortunately, the food was much tastier than Han Zhan had imagined.

The front leg of an unknown beast was skewered on an iron skewer, placed over a burning fire pit, and both of them sat on either side of the pit, eating and chatting.

”I want to know information related to the Yellow Emperor Tribe.”

Now that it was just him and Li Wu, Han Zhan didn’t pretend anymore and asked directly.

Li Wu showed a look of expected continuation: ”I don’t know much about the specifics of the Yellow Emperor Tribe; I’ll just tell you what I know.”

”As far as I know, large parts of the Yellow Emperor Tribe’s territory have fallen.”

”Fallen?” Han Zhan paused abruptly while cutting the grilled meat, ”Fallen to what?”

”Occupied and fallen to evil spirits.”

”So you’re saying that the Yellow Emperor Tribe is on the brink of extinction?”

”You could understand it that way.”