Chapter 300: Surging
Duan’s bold words earned him the first whipping of his life.
In a thriving tribe, such blasphemy against the gods would result in immediate execution. But in this nameless tribe, no one wanted to kill a newly matured male.
Zi said nothing. She simply stared at Duan with eyes like obsidian, then nodded slightly to Deer and turned to leave.
Duan’s punishment was carried out by the chief, Deer. Deer believed firmly in the Invisible King and found such blasphemy utterly unacceptable.
The coming-of-age ceremony ended unhappily. Duan’s attempt to question and challenge Zi’s actions was reckless. He tried to seize religious interpretation rights using his own methods, but he was not a successor in the line of Witches and lacked natural legitimacy.
Duan was banned from participating in male hunting activities and could only gather berries with the women.
On the other hand, because she received the offerings of the entire tribe, Zi consumed boiled hot animal blood and roasted hearts and thigh meat every day. Combined with the fixed posture exercises, her body’s vitality gradually became abundant.
After the last snow of winter, Blood Qi was born within Zi. The vitality extracted from the fifty trillion cells of her body condensed into Blood Qi at this moment.
The surging Blood Qi followed the muscle textures and vascular channels, gradually gathering at the pit of her stomach, settling and being stored there.
Because she had extracted Blood Qi, all of Zi’s body cells were in a state of starvation. That day, she ate two wild boar legs and an entire boar head.
The tribe members stared, their eyes almost popping out. Deer was speechless with shock. As the strongest man in the tribe with the largest appetite, he could only eat one whole wild boar leg a day.
“Zi, are you alright?”
Deer asked somewhat worriedly.
Zi looked at the burly Deer and smiled, “Don’t worry, I am very well.”
She indeed felt very well. The condensation of Blood Qi caused inertial hunger in her body cells, but relying on the tribe’s support, Zi successfully passed this period, and her body developed rapidly.
She ate at least the equivalent of one and a half whole pig legs of meat every day. Her body didn’t get fat but became slender and well-proportioned.
In just two months, Zi’s height exceeded 1.6 meters, similar to many men. Already fourteen, she was recognized as an adult by the tribe.
During this period, Duan attempted to challenge Chief Deer. This was a serious matter. Unlike designated succession, challenging the chief was also solemn and legal.
If successful, Duan would become the new chief, and Deer would be expelled; if he failed, Duan would be expelled.
The battle ended quickly. Although Duan used some petty tricks, he was no match for the strong Deer and was ultimately knocked to the ground by Deer.
“Expel! Expel! Expel!”
The surrounding people shouted loudly. This was an ancient tradition; since he acted, he had to accept the punishment.
Duan looked around somewhat wretchedly. He had to leave. Since he couldn’t realize his ideas, he would leave.
But Deer pressed his hands down gently and said to the crowd:
“I watched Duan grow up. He just wanted to implement his own ideas. In fact, this is my problem as the chief. I didn’t listen well to the voice of a newly matured tribe member, nor did I explain to him why it wouldn’t work, which caused the current situation.
“Don’t blame Duan; blame me!
“I hope everyone gives Duan another chance and lets him stay. The tribe needs a young man, and the young man also needs the tribe!”
Duan looked at Deer in disbelief. Since he decided to challenge, he had thought of the possible consequences. From Deer’s perspective, his challenge was simply unforgivable, but Deer forgave him and wanted him to stay.
Duan’s eyes grew moist. He prostrated on the ground, crying, ” Deer, I was wrong.”
Zi watched everything happen, and Ace watched and commented simultaneously.
“Deer is a tolerant chief, and Duan is an ambitious young man with ideas. This is a great combination. This tribe must develop, gain more population, walk out of the caves, develop agriculture, raise livestock, and constantly cultivate Blood Qi Warriors to verify my experimental purpose as soon as possible!”
Ace pondered. His purpose was clear: to experiment and deduce the future of the Warrior’s path, solving the problems of his own mottled Mental Power and the conversion efficiency of foreign Mana.
As for the long-term goals, they were to explore the mysteries of this small spatial world, the reason for the No-Mana environment, the reason for the rapid passage of time, and why the Life Level here was so low.
Following Ace’s whispers, Zi walked up to Deer and Duan. The wooden clogs made of animal skin and wood creaked. She wore a super-short tiger-skin skirt and a tiger-skin chest wrap, showing off her perfect curves.
Because of Blood Qi cultivation, Zi’s skin had become even more delicate. Standing there, she seemed to be the embodiment of a young girl’s charm.
Zi spoke very little; all her time and mind were spent serving and believing in the Invisible King. At this moment, she spoke in a cold tone:
“You two, come at me together. Fight me.”
Deer, who had just reached out to pull Duan up, heard Zi’s emotionless voice.
His temples throbbed. Why won’t anyone let me worry less? Our small tribe simply can’t withstand such things.
“Zi, you are the messenger of the Invisible King. We cannot raise a hand against you.”
Zi replied in a cold tone, “This is the King’s will.”
Hearing Zi say this, Deer’s expression became serious.
“Zi, is what you say true?”
Zi nodded and assumed a fighting stance.
Deer closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he had become incredibly serious. He patted Duan’s arm and said, “Use your full strength. This is the King’s test.”
The two rushed towards Zi quickly. Deer once again showed everyone why he was called Deer—his movements were fast and agile, his punches fierce and steady.
But Zi was faster. It had been two months since she extracted Blood Qi from the fifty trillion cells of her whole body. Her body had also grown immensely due to continuous nourishment. Not only was her entire being filled with vitality, but she could also mobilize Blood Qi for combat.
Her Blood Qi condensed in her legs. Acting later but arriving first, her left leg lifted swiftly, her instep taut and straight. Her shin and instep kicked directly into Duan’s abdomen, instantly sending him flying more than five meters to hit the cave wall before sliding down slowly.
Deer didn’t have time to marvel. With a donkey roll, he barely dodged Zi’s punch condensed with Blood Qi.
Zi stood still and said expressionlessly, “Deer, use the spear to fight me!”
Deer hesitated. Even if it was the King’s will, once a stone spear was used, it would be difficult to hold back.
He ultimately chose the spear because he believed Zi truly represented the King’s will.
As the best hunter, the moment Deer picked up the spear, his entire aura changed. His figure seemed one with the spear, his whole body like a great bow. He slowly circled Zi. After a few probing attacks, Deer steeled his heart—Thrust!
The sharp stone spear was actually firmly gripped in Zi’s hand, without a single trace of blood flowing.
Deer considered this a miracle. He threw away the spear, prostrated on the ground, and shouted, “Zi!”
Zi looked at the tribe members. Suddenly, a flush appeared on her face like peach blossoms. She shouted loudly, mixed with some murmuring, “This is the grace of the Invisible King, the power bestowed upon our tribe—Blood Qi!”
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