84: Chapter 84 Reunion, Gathering of All Races

It was not yet dawn.

The spirit stone lamp in the East Chamber was dimmed to its lowest setting, casting a silver-blue glow like the wings of fireflies, barely illuminating a small area by the bedside.

Zhao Linger was curled up in Wang Sheng's arms, the collar of her spirit vine casual wear slightly open, revealing a collarbone as white as jade.

She was not asleep; her large, round eyes shone with a somewhat startling brightness in the dim light. The bandage on her right arm had been removed, leaving only a faint dark purple mark, like half a drop of grape juice accidentally spilled on white porcelain.

"Did you hear it again?" Wang Sheng asked in a low voice.

Zhao Linger nodded, her voice kept very low, as if afraid of disturbing something unseen:

"It's clearer than yesterday. Low-frequency sound waves, coming from the depths of the Savage Beast Forest. The frequency is exactly the same as the communication method used to control Savage Beasts. They mentioned Zhao Mang's name."

Her fingers unconsciously gripped the corner of the quilt, her slender knuckles turning slightly white.

"There was one more word: 'Northward Advance'."

Northward Advance.

Wang Sheng's gaze darkened.

Zhao Mang's Blood Wolf Tribe was located to the southeast of Guangming Village.

A Northward Advance meant his target was not just the Deer Spirit Tribe, but the entire northern part of the Central Wasteland Region. Including Guangming Village.

"Anything else?"

Zhao Linger closed her eyes, channeling her Spirit Sound Affinity to its limit. Her large, round eyes moved slightly beneath her lids, as if she were having an incredibly focused dream.

"The signal is too weak... I can only capture the edge frequencies; I can't decipher the full content."

She opened her eyes and bit her lip in frustration. "If my Barbarian Warrior rank were two tiers higher,"

"That's enough." Wang Sheng reached out to ruffle her short hair, the warmth of his palm transferring through the strands to her scalp. "You've done better than anyone else could."

Zhao Linger's face flushed slightly, but this time she didn't act coy. Instead, she solemnly buried her head back into his chest, listening to that heartbeat like a sun.

"Thump, thump, thump,"

Steady and powerful, just as it had been every day and night.

Outside the window, the skyline began to pale.

The morning light rose from the direction of the Lingxi River, golden-red rays passing through the lattice windows of the Chiefs Tent, casting ribbons of gold across the Savage Beast hide carpet in the main hall.

The core members were gathered.

Wang Sheng sat in the main seat of the Chiefs Tent, with a wilderness map drawn by White Deer in the beast race script spread out before him.

The Lingxi River flowed from north to south, like a winding silver-blue ribbon. Guangming Village was on the east bank of the middle section, and the Savage Beast Forest was on the west side.

To the east, south, and north, there was a force in each direction.

White Deer stood beside the map. The Deer Spirit Archer had changed into a light brown beast hide skirt, revealing her long, straight legs, the golden Spirit Rune on her calves flickering in the morning light.

Her golden eyes swept across the map, her beast ears twitching slightly, her voice crisp and serious:

"To the north, the Black Stone Tribe. Chief Shi Ba, Warrior Tier 6, a brute force warrior. Population of about three hundred. They worship brute force and often raid surrounding small tribes. My tribe... the Deer Spirit Tribe, was forced away by them."

When she mentioned the Deer Spirit Tribe, her voice trembled slightly, but she quickly suppressed it.

"To the east, the Green Vine Tribe. Chief Teng Ling, Rank 4 Barbarian Warrior, a vine warrior, and a woman. Population of about two hundred. Skilled in plant-based combat, maintains a neutral stance, and is currently observing."

"To the south, the Chiyan Tribe." White Deer's finger tapped the southern end of the map,

"Chief Yan Lie, Warrior Tier 7, a flame warrior. Population of about five hundred, the strongest tribe in the southern part of the Central Wasteland Region. They worship martial power but value honor and trust; they have an old grudge with Zhao Mang's Blood Wolf Tribe."

Wang Sheng's gaze lingered on the map for a long time.

Three forces, three attitudes. The Chiyan Tribe could be allied with, the Green Vine Tribe could be won over, and the Black Stone Tribe,

"Must be deterred."

A cold and determined voice rang out from the crowd.

Heavenly Strategist Shangguan Xuan stepped forward.

The Heavenly Strategist was wearing a dark blue long robe with narrow sleeves today, with a silver Savage Beast hide belt tied around her waist, cinching her slender waist perfectly and making her look capable and sharp.

Her long hair was tied into a simple bun at the back of her head, revealing a pair of delicate ears and a fair, slender neck.

Her beautiful eyes swept over the map, like the most precise ruler, measuring the location of every river, every tribe, and every force with perfect clarity.

"The Chiyan Tribe can be allied with, the Green Vine Tribe can be won over, and the Black Stone Tribe," her fingertip tapped lightly on the north of the map, "must be deterred. But not now."

She made an instinctive gesture, reaching up to push against the bridge of her nose.

There were no glasses there.

Heavenly Strategist Shangguan Xuan froze for a fraction of a second, then lowered her hand as if nothing had happened and continued:

"We have just cleared the outer perimeter of the Savage Beast Forest. Resources are sufficient, but our forces need to recover. My suggestion is to first go to the Myriad Races Market to gather intelligence, then use the Myriad Races Market as a neutral ground to meet with Chief Yan Lie of the Chiyan Tribe. The Myriad Races Market has rules for the Central Wasteland Region; violence is prohibited within the market. If we go there, our safety is guaranteed."

Shen Xun'er stood beside Wang Sheng and nodded slightly. The Moonlight Priestess was wearing moon-white ceremonial robes today, her jet-black hair cascading down to her waist like a waterfall, swaying gently as she moved.

Her moist, almond-shaped eyes were steady and clear, her voice gentle yet decisive: "Heavenly Strategist Shangguan Xuan is right. The Myriad Races Market is not just a trading zone; it is the intelligence center of the Central Wasteland Region. Going there allows us to gather intelligence on surrounding tribes and also contact the Chiyan and Green Vine Tribes in a diplomatic capacity."

Wang Sheng looked at Zhao Linger.

The Spirit Sound Master stood at his left hand, wearing a white spirit vine short shirt, the faint dark purple mark on her right arm resembling a pattern on white porcelain.

Her baby face was tightly set, her large, round eyes filled with unprecedented seriousness.

"Linger, are you certain about the Shadow Clan passing information to Zhao Mang?"

Zhao Linger nodded vigorously, her voice clear and well-organized: "What I heard was a low-frequency sound wave transmission. The frequency is the same as the communication method the Shadow Clan uses to control Savage Beasts in the Savage Beast Forest. They mentioned Zhao Mang's name and were also transmitting a word: 'Northward Advance'."

"Northward Advance," Wang Sheng repeated the word.

Zhao Mang's Blood Wolf Tribe was in the southeast. "Northward Advance" meant that Zhao Mang's target was not just the Deer Spirit Tribe, but the northern part of the Central Wasteland Region, including Guangming Village.

And the fact that the Shadow Clan was passing information for him meant that Zhao Mang might have already become a pawn of the Shadow Clan in this region.

Heavenly Strategist Shangguan Xuan adjusted her non-existent glasses and added: "If Zhao Mang really has connections with the Shadow Clan, then he will sooner or later make a move against Guangming Village. We must establish our own alliance before he takes action. Chief Yan Lie of the Chiyan Tribe has an old grudge with Zhao Mang; the enemy of an enemy is a friend."

"There is one more thing," Shen Xun'er's voice was like moonlight falling into the Lingxi River, gentle and determined. "The Myriad Races Market is the intelligence center of the Central Wasteland Region. Who is friends with whom, who has a grudge against whom, and who is trading what in secret—once we are there, everything will be clear at a glance."

Wang Sheng tapped his fist lightly on the table.

"Everyone prepare. Destination: Myriad Races Market."