I am the sacred tree, evergreen for eternity.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The moment those four words were uttered, the air in the valley seemed to freeze.

Hong's hand, gripping the iron knife, veins bulging, the tip of the knife pointed motionless at the black-robed man's throat.

His breathing had not yet fully calmed down, his chest was heaving violently, and there was no sign of retreat in his old eyes.

The man in black robes stiffened slightly.

Beneath the hood, his dark green pupils suddenly contracted, as if he had been stung by something.

He slowly raised his hands and pulled the hood off his head.

Its silvery-white fur gleamed coldly under the dark clouds. Its facial features were sharp, with high cheekbones, a broad jaw, and a section of gleaming white fangs.

It was a long, narrow face, somewhere between a human and a wolf.

Silver Wolf Demon Clan.

"Can a tree cultivate into a demonic form?"

"No... this aura... isn't demonic energy?!"

"Looks like I didn't come to the wrong place."

Silver Wolf's voice was dry and rough, like rusted iron grinding together, with a hint of amusement in his tone.

Yu Su did not respond.

His branches rustled and swayed, and the light flowing through the canopy rose and fell like waves, unhurried and composed.

Silver Wolf shifted his gaze from Yu Su to the Xia clan members pouring out of the sheds.

Those ordinary mortals, those totem walkers, those old people, women, and children...

They gathered behind Hong from all directions, clutching weapons, tools, and everything they could find.

Thousands of eyes were fixed on the silver wolf, their gazes devoid of fear, but filled with an almost obstinate resolve.

Silver Wolf's lips curled up slightly, revealing a mocking smile.

"interesting."

"I have traveled all over the world and eaten many humans."

"You are the most fearless of all."

His gaze returned to Hong, a cold glint flashing in his vertical pupils.

"And also... the most foolish."

Hong didn't reply, but simply raised the blade an inch.

"I'm not here to eat people today."

"I'm just here to talk to you..."

Silver Wolf stopped, put his hands behind his back, and looked down at Hong.

"Negotiation? There's no point in negotiating a blood feud between humans and demons!"

Hong's gaze was cold, and his tone was resolute.

Silver Wolf's voice was calm and unhurried, as if stating an undeniable fact.

"The various demon clans, large and small, that occupy the four directions of your Xia clan have grown tired of meaningless fighting."

"So, we sat down and discussed it, and decided to give you a chance."

Hong's eyes flickered slightly.

He sensed the subtle shift in Silver Wolf's words—

It's not "the demon race and the human race negotiating".

Instead, it was "after discussion, the demon race gave the human race a chance."

This is not negotiation, it's an ultimatum.

Silver Wolf extended three fingers, a greedy glint flashing in his eerie green vertical pupils.

"First, starting this year, you will pay tribute of 500 people to the demon races of the four directions every year."

"Among them, there must be at least one hundred children."

"The meat is tender and delicious."

As he spoke, the silver wolf couldn't help but lick his lips, revealing his cold fangs.

Hong gripped the knife hilt tightly, his knuckles cracking.

From behind, the Xia clan members could be heard suppressing, gritted-teeth breathing.

Silver Wolf seemed pleased with the reaction and continued speaking.

"Secondly, the four demon races can tolerate your human race continuing to live in your current territory."

"We'll tolerate the space you're occupying now."

"But you are not allowed to expand any further."

"third--"

Silver Wolf paused, his cold gaze passing over Hong and looking at the towering tree with its canopy reaching the sky.

"The demon race wants this tree."

"This valley, everything here..."

"We want them all, including the demon race!"

After he finished speaking, the valley fell into a deathly silence.

Even the wind stopped, as if heaven and earth were holding their breath in anticipation.

Yu Su's branches and leaves remained motionless, and the spiritual light receded into the tree trunk without any response.

Even with such a momentous decision, he still returned the power of decision to humanity itself.

Hong slowly turned around and looked at his clansmen behind him.

Thousands of eyes, thousands of faces.

Those young and old faces, those faces born and raised under the protection of the tree god.

Hong's gaze swept across every face, as if trying to etch these features into his very bones.

He understood.

Then he smiled.

The smile was light and faint, like the last leaf on a branch in late autumn that refused to fall.

But within those veins surged a power that made one's heart tremble.

"really--"

Hong's voice was low and resolute, as if he were speaking to himself, or perhaps to all his people.

"Once you get used to standing, you can never kneel down again."

The tribesmen behind him did not respond; they simply gripped their weapons tighter.

Hong turned around and faced the silver wolf.

His back was ramrod straight, and his voice was as calm as still water.

"Go back and tell those beasts—"

"Then let's start the war."

"Until complete victory, or the annihilation of the entire race."

The mocking smile on Silver Wolf's lips vanished, replaced by an almost cruel scrutiny.

"You actually refused the demon race's gift?"

Hong answered with the tip of his knife.

The iron blade whistled through the air, aiming straight for the silver wolf's throat!

However, the next second.

The howling, bloody wind dispersed Hong's offensive.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the silver wolf's body suddenly began to swell.

The black robe was torn from the inside out, and the pieces of cloth scattered like butterflies.

Silvery-white hair sprouted from under the skin, muscles bulged like pythons, bones crackled and popped, and the body grew taller and taller.

In the blink of an eye, the human form vanished.

A terrifying behemoth exuding a ferocious aura appeared in the Valley of the Divine Trees—

Silverbacked Grey Wolf.

Beyond the ordinary, the true form of a great demon!

The fierce wind howled and swirled around it, whipping up sand and stones and bending grass and trees.

Those of the Xia clan who were within a few feet of it felt as if they could hardly breathe, and their chests felt as if they were being crushed by a boulder.

The silverback wolf lowered its head, its eerie green vertical pupils looking down at the tiny humans at its feet, its mouth splitting open to reveal its interlocking fangs.

"I never intended to talk to you 'lambs' anyway."

"Perfect timing, I arrived in such a hurry and I'm still hungry..."

"Let's eat first and then talk about it!"

It raised one of its front paws, the tip aimed at Hong's head.

The wind condensed and compressed at the tip of the claw, transforming into a visible cyan wind blade that emitted a buzzing vibration.

"Die."

The wind blade was about to strike—

Its body suddenly froze.

wind.

The winds, surging in from all directions, were like countless iron chains, tightly binding its limbs, torso, neck, and tail.

The great wolf's pupils suddenly contracted, and it abruptly looked up at the giant tree.

The trunk of Yu Su tree is brimming with spiritual light.

Aura surged from the tree canopy and condensed into clouds in the sky.

Within the clouds, lightning was brewing, gathering, and roaring.

The silverback wolf's body struggled wildly in the wind, its turbid air surging, trying to break free from those invisible chains.

But it discovered that it couldn't break free.

Those wind forces were purer, more condensed, and more domineering than the demonic winds it controlled.

"How is that possible?!"

A hint of horror flashed in the silverback wolf's eyes.

In its plan, it would have a hearty meal and then ride the wind away.

What can this immovable giant tree do to me?

But unexpectedly...

"boom--"

A thunderbolt struck down from the spiritual clouds.

The lightning struck the silverback wolf's head with pinpoint accuracy.

It runs straight down the top of the head.

Amidst the dazzling lightning, the arrogant head of the demon wolf was actually struck down and forced to bow.

Just for a moment.

The ferocious wolf knelt on the ground, its head wound grotesque and blood flowing from its mouth.

Like a defeated dog.

Hong gripped the iron knife and walked up to the enormous demon wolf.

The giant wolf was several times taller than him.

But now, its head is lowered, and only a fierce, but actually cowardly, glint remains in its eerie green vertical pupils.

"You... dare to kill me?"

Hong ignored the curse-like threat and simply raised his knife slowly.

The blade was aimed at the wound on the wolf's neck, cleaved open by lightning—where the fur was torn, revealing the fragile neck bone beneath.

next moment.

The broadsword slashed down.

The wolf's head rolled off, severed in two by a single stroke.

Scalding hot blood gushed from the severed neck, splattering all over Hong's face.

He didn't wipe it; he simply grabbed the silver-white wolf head and held it high.

Blood streamed down his arm, dripping into the soil and seeping into the roots of the tree god.

At Yu Su's feet, thousands of eyes were fixed on the blood-soaked old man and the ferocious wolf's head.

Then--

It's unclear who raised their weapon first.

An iron knife, a spear, a stone axe, and a hard bow.

One after another, piece after piece.

Thousands of Xia clan members raised their weapons high above their heads.

Hong hurled the wolf's head onto the tree god's altar, its blood splattering onto the bluestone.

He slowly raised the iron knife in his hand and pointed it at the sky.

"By the Tree God."

"Xia Clan, accept the challenge!"