368: Chapter 368 A Year of Travel

Internal conflicts existed within the Time Clan as well. The deep-seated animosity between the great families who controlled the time spirit springs and the small-to-medium families living in barren lands was profound. Those from the smaller families yearned for more cultivation resources, while the scions of the great families were arrogant and looked down upon their poor relatives.

Gao Feng quietly contacted several Cultivators from these smaller families and learned from them that the Time Clan was also very dissatisfied with the rule of the King of Ten Thousand Races. This was because the King of Ten Thousand Races always used the excuse of "the greater good" to demand that the Time Clan contribute more time spirit springs to nurture Cultivators from other Myriad Races.

"Those spirit springs were accumulated by our ancestors for generations; why should they be given to others?" a young Time Clan Cultivator said indignantly.

Gao Feng did not answer, only listening in silence.

The fifth stop was the territory of the Wood Clan.

The Wood Clan lived in the Green Wood Realm, which was Yao Guang's home. Gao Feng had been here before and had a vivid memory of the sights. When he stepped into the Green Wood Realm again, he found it much improved since his last visit. The power of the azure wood holy seed left by Yao Guang had allowed this plundered land to regain its vitality.

The people of the Wood Clan were skilled at manipulating plants, and their cultivation method centered on plundering the life force of spiritual plants. Gao Feng stayed here for a month, carefully observing their habits and weaknesses. He discovered that while the Wood Clan could control plants, they themselves were extremely dependent on them. Once they lost the support of spiritual plants, their strength would drop significantly.

Internal conflicts also existed within the Wood Clan. The great families living in the core areas controlled the most spiritual plant resources, while the small families on the fringes could only survive on the scraps left by the great families.

Gao Feng quietly contacted several Cultivators from the small families and learned that the Wood Clan was equally dissatisfied with the rule of the King of Ten Thousand Races. This was because the King of Ten Thousand Races always used "war needs" as a reason to demand large quantities of spiritual plant resources from the Wood Clan to refine Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts.

"The spiritual plants we worked so hard to Cultivate were all taken by them," a young Wood Clan Cultivator complained. "We end up with nothing for ourselves."

Gao Feng silently noted these words.

The sixth stop was the territory of the Charm Clan.

The Charm Clan lived in the Illusion Forest, a world shrouded in illusions. Gao Feng had fought the Charm Clan Commander during his last visit to the Tianyin Pavilion and was deeply impressed by their charm power. He slipped in cautiously, barely managing to resist the ubiquitous illusions thanks to the Pure Heart Illusion-Breaking Melody given to him by Luo Li.

The people of the Charm Clan were skilled in music and illusions, and their cultivation method centered on the power of the mind and spirit. Gao Feng stayed here for a month, carefully observing their habits and weaknesses. He found that although the Charm Clan could deceive the human heart, their own minds were unstable. Once they encountered a musical attack stronger than their own, it was easy for them to suffer a backlash.

The Charm Clan was also riddled with internal conflicts. There was a deep rift between the great families proficient in music and the small families with mediocre Aptitude. Those from the great families were arrogant and looked down on their kin with mediocre talent, while those from the small families were resentful, believing the great families monopolized the best cultivation resources.

Gao Feng quietly contacted several Cultivators from the small families and learned that the Charm Clan was also very dissatisfied with the rule of the King of Ten Thousand Races. This was because the King of Ten Thousand Races always used "charming the Human Race" as an excuse to demand the Charm Clan send a large number of their people to the front lines, resulting in heavy casualties.

"Our Charm Clan already has few people; if we keep dying like this, our race will go extinct," a young Charm Clan Cultivator said worriedly.

Gao Feng did not answer, only listening in silence.

The seventh stop was the territory of the Sea Clan.

The Sea Clan lived in the Star Sea, which was where Su Ning had obtained her Legacy. Gao Feng had been here before and had a decent impression of the place. When he stepped into the Star Sea again, he found it much calmer than before. The Sea Clan Commander, Chaosheng, had kept his promise and stopped causing trouble for humans.

The people of the Sea Clan were skilled in water-system Spells and sonic attacks, and their strength in the sea far exceeded that on land. Gao Feng stayed here for a month, carefully observing their habits and weaknesses. He found that although the Sea Clan was invincible in the sea, their strength would be greatly reduced once they left the seawater.

Internal conflicts also existed within the Sea Clan. The large tribes living in the deep sea and the small tribes living in the shallow sea often clashed over territory and resources. People from the large tribes were arrogant and looked down on the small tribes, while those from the small tribes were resentful, believing the large tribes used their power to bully others.

Gao Feng quietly contacted several Cultivators from the small tribes and learned that the Sea Clan was also very dissatisfied with the rule of the King of Ten Thousand Races. This was because the King of Ten Thousand Races always used the "maritime barrier" as an excuse to demand the Sea Clan send many tribesmen to guard the sea, which delayed their own cultivation and livelihoods.

"We Sea Clan could have lived well in the sea; why must we go fight humans?" a young Sea Clan Cultivator asked in confusion.

Gao Feng did not answer, only silently noting these words.

The eighth stop was the territory of the Array Clan.

The Array Clan lived on the Formation Plain north of Myriad Formations Mountain, a world shrouded by countless Formations. Gao Feng had fought the Array Clan commander at the Ten Thousand Array Sect last time and was deeply impressed by their Array-Breaking Technique. He slipped in cautiously, barely resisting the ubiquitous Formation attacks thanks to the Body-Protecting Grand Array given to him by Lin Yue.

The people of the Array Clan were skilled in the Dao of Formations, and their cultivation method centered on Formation Lines. Gao Feng stayed here for a month, carefully observing their habits and weaknesses. He found that although the Array Clan could set up powerful Formations, they themselves were extremely dependent on them. Once a Formation was broken, their strength would drop significantly.

The Array Clan was also riddled with internal conflicts. There was a deep rift between the great families who controlled powerful Formations and the small-to-medium families who only knew basic Formations. Those from the great families were arrogant and looked down on other Formation Masters, while those from the smaller families were resentful, believing the great families monopolized the best Formation legacies.

Gao Feng quietly contacted several Cultivators from the smaller families and learned that the Array Clan was also very dissatisfied with the rule of the King of Ten Thousand Races. This was because the King of Ten Thousand Races always used "breaking human Formations" as an excuse to demand the Array Clan send many tribesmen to the front lines to break the humans' mountain-protecting grand Formations, resulting in heavy casualties.

"Our Array Clan already has few people; if we keep dying like this, our Legacy will be severed," a young Array Clan Cultivator said worriedly.

Gao Feng did not answer, only silently noting these words.

A year passed in this manner during his travels.

Gao Feng walked through the volcanoes of the Demonic Flame Clan, the mountains of the Rock Demon Clan, the Shadow Realm of the Shadow Demon Clan, the Time Secret Realm of the Time Clan, the Green Wood Realm of the Wood Clan, the Illusion Forest of the Charm Clan, the Star Sea of the Sea Clan, and the Formation Plain of the Array Clan. He interacted with Cultivators of the Myriad Races, learning their languages and customs, and understanding their weaknesses and strengths. He witnessed the internal conflicts and struggles of the Myriad Races, as well as their dissatisfaction and grievances against the rule of the King of Ten Thousand Races.

During this year, he encountered danger many times.

In the Demonic Flame Clan, he was targeted by a Golden Core Stage expert and pursued for three days and three nights. Relying on his powerful Physical Body and keen perception, he managed to shake off the pursuit.

In the Shadow Demon Clan, he was nearly successfully ambushed by an expert proficient in assassination. Relying on the Dark Concealment Talisman given to him by Tianxin, he narrowly escaped a fatal blow.

In the Time Clan, he accidentally entered an area where time flowed extremely fast and nearly aged to death in just a few breaths. Relying on a branch of the Time Holy Vine given to him by Chu Lan, he barely stabilized his own time and escaped.

In the Array Clan, he triggered a killing Formation set by a Golden Core Stage expert and was trapped for a full seven days. Relying on the Body-Protecting Grand Array given by Lin Yue and the spring return golden pill from Yao Guang, he endured until the Formation dissipated on its own.

Every danger was a test of life and death. Every life-and-death test pushed his cultivation one step further.

Foundation Establishment Level Seven Perfection, Level Eight Early Stage, Level Eight Middle Stage, Level Eight Late Stage, Level Eight Peak, Level Nine Early Stage, Level Nine Middle Stage...

When he walked out of the Array Clan's territory, his cultivation had steadily entered the Foundation Establishment Level Nine Middle Stage!

Not only that, but his entire temperament had undergone a massive change. Previously, he always carried a sharp Killing Intent, a mark left by years of combat. Now, that Killing Intent had mostly been restrained, replaced by a sense of stability and tolerance.

He no longer hated the Myriad Races.

He began to understand that the Myriad Races, like humans, had both good and bad people, those who wanted war and those who wanted peace. The Cultivators from the small and medium tribes he had contacted, and the members of the Myriad Races who were dissatisfied with the rule of the King of Ten Thousand Races, were actually just like humans; they only wanted to live well and protect their families and homes.

He began to understand Elder Xinghui's final wish—not to eliminate the Myriad Races, but to coexist peacefully with them.

He also became more determined in his resolve—to become a true "War God of Ten Thousand Races," not a war god who slaughtered all the Myriad Races, but one who could allow the Myriad Races and humans to coexist in peace.

One day a year later, Gao Feng stood at the edge of the Myriad Races' territory and looked back at that vast land. There were the footprints he had left, the friends he had made, the dangers he had experienced, and the insights he had gained.

Then, he turned and strode toward the Meteor Realm.

It was time to go back.

He brought back a vast amount of intelligence on the Myriad Races, a profound understanding of their internal conflicts, and a more perfected state of mind.

Although he had not yet broken through to the Golden Core Stage, he knew that day would not be far off.

When Gao Feng's figure appeared in the teleportation array of the Meteor War God Realm, it was early morning.

The morning sun rose from the east, casting golden sunlight into the valley and gilding the lush spiritual plants with a warm glow.

In the distance, several defensive Formations glowed faintly—masterpieces set up by Lin Yue over the past six months. Further away, Disciples could be seen cultivating; some were working in the Spirit Plant Garden, some were practicing their voices by the cliffside, and some were practicing Formations on the plaza.

Everything appeared so peaceful and beautiful.

Gao Feng took a deep breath, feeling the familiar scent, and a surge of indescribable intimacy welled up in his heart. It had been a year, and he was finally back.