Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

"The Lava Legion and the Crimson Flame Legion are the pride of our tribe. My elder brother is the commander of the Crimson Flame Legion." Shi Kui squeezed next to Xu Yang and said proudly, puffing out his chest and pointing to the hovering Crimson Flame Eagle, his face full of pride.

"Truly extraordinary," Xu Yang remarked sincerely, looking at the massive army of True Gods below, moving up and down the mountain ridge in perfect order like a giant ant colony. "Although I'm reluctant to admit it, those enemies' creations do surpass ours in some aspects..."

His gaze swept over the two war fortresses, which gleamed with a cold metallic sheen and intricate patterns. "I wonder when we will be able to return to those rich lands."

These words instantly extinguished the previous atmosphere of pride and clamor, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over it.

A brief silence fell over the bone boat.

Even the faint commotion coming from the plains below seemed to be separated by a barrier.

Shi Kui's smile froze, and his carefree and bold spirit receded like the tide, replaced by an unusual silence and heaviness.

He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something grand, but in the end he just clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turned white, the lines on his rugged face tightened, and his gaze was complicated as he looked at the surging mountain peaks of the chaotic ruins in the distance, or perhaps, he looked towards the more distant homeland that only existed in legends.

Mo Chen stood at the bow, controlling the bone boat, his back stiff.

He slowly turned around, his cold, handsome face still expressionless, but deep within his sharp, icy eyes surged an indescribable turmoil. He looked at Xu Yang, his voice much lower, carrying a suppressed solemnity: "Brother Bai Yu... what you say is also what we all think. However..."

He paused, "This land of abundance is no longer our homeland. To be able to protect this ancestral land beneath our feet, to safeguard the survival and prosperity of our people, and to draw upon the power of the Chaos Ruins to strengthen ourselves is something we... can only maintain by doing our utmost."

His words contained no lofty ambitions, only a kind of almost cruel clarity.

Those who can cultivate to the realm of Eternal True Gods, even someone as seemingly rough and uncouth as Shi Kui, are by no means dull-witted. As members of the tribe's upper echelons, they have access to core records and fragments of history passed down orally, and thus understand the true structure of the Origin Continent better than ordinary tribesmen.

The glory of ancient times has long since faded.

Those legendary "rich lands" and "ancestral divine lands" where chaotic energy rained down, rare treasures were everywhere, and laws manifested with every gesture had long been occupied and divided up by powerful foreign nations.

These indigenous forces, driven out and compressed, could only struggle to survive in relatively barren and harsh "borderlands" like the Eastern Arctic.

The Burning Flame Tribe was able to occupy and guard an entrance to the Chaos Ruins, making them one of the top tribes in the Flame Domain, seemingly enjoying boundless glory.

But this "top" status is relative to other indigenous tribes in the surrounding area!

Compared to those colossal beings that occupy the core areas of the continent, have been passed down for countless eons, and have God-Kings presiding over them, the Burning Flame Tribe... and even the entire indigenous alliance of the Wine Soul Chaos Continent, appear so small and fragile.

As for the claim that the situation is not critical?
That's because those truly colossal entities might not even consider this "remote and impoverished area" of the Eastern Pole.

But this is a mark etched into the bones of every strong native!
It is an indelible wound and humiliation that has continued to this day for our ethnic group!
Shi Kui replied sullenly, his voice low and rumbling like thunder: "Brother Bai Yu, you've seen the world... those places... sigh!" He sighed heavily, as if he felt there was no point in continuing, and slapped the cold gunwale beside him, making a dull sound.

Xu Yang took in their reactions and understood what was going on.

This heavy and oppressive atmosphere is a true reflection of the mentality of the indigenous strongmen in this era.

There is a longing for one's homeland, and resentment towards the enemy, but more than anything, there is a sense of helplessness and forbearance that forces one to lie low and accumulate strength in the face of a powerful reality.

Behind this lies so much blood, tears, and sacrifice...

"I misspoke," Xu Yang said, bowing slightly, his tone carrying a perfectly measured apology and empathy. "It's only natural to be reluctant to leave one's homeland. For your esteemed department to have established such a foundation under such circumstances is already a remarkable achievement, demonstrating your remarkable resilience. Who can predict the future?"

Upon hearing this, Mo Chen and Shi Kui's expressions softened slightly.

Xu Yang's words both gave them a way out and subtly expressed a certain level of agreement, which made them feel much better. The dissatisfaction they had felt earlier because Xu Yang had said discouraging things on such a joyous day also vanished... They could understand that Bai Yu had traveled far and seen many things, so it was inevitable that he would have more complicated thoughts.

“Brother Baiyu is right.” Mo Chen nodded, turned back to control the bone boat, and his voice became somewhat calmer. “Only by focusing on the present can we have a future. We… are almost there.”

The bone boat passed over the plain before the ruins, and the busy true gods below looked like tiny black dots.

Their gaze swept over the vast warehouse districts, smelting workshops, and the layered residential areas built around the foot of the mountain. The closer they got to the mountain, the more they could feel the violent and pure energy fluctuations emanating from the crevices of the mountain walls, originating from the Chaos Ruins, as well as the ancient totems and defensive runes carved into the huge skeletons and rock strata on the mountain, which had been repeatedly reinforced and engraved by the powerful members of the Burning Flame Tribe with their own laws and blood essence.

These runes and totems, with their rugged and primitive style, are full of worship for the power of fire, earth, and giant beasts. They blend seamlessly with the mountain itself, exuding a vast and ancient aura.

However, Xu Yang keenly noticed that at some key points, especially near the joints where the huge skeletons and mountain rocks were fused together, there were also some relatively "fresh" secret rune patterns with obviously different engraving techniques, which were more "technical" and looked like patches, trying to connect the two power systems more closely.

This integration is even more evident in mountain defense.

Primal forces and foreign technologies intertwine, collide, and attempt to coexist here.

The bone boat finally landed at the foot of the mountain in front of a magnificent gate constructed of enormous animal bones and crimson crystals.

The gate was a hundred thousand feet high, with two rock giants, as big as small mountains, standing guard on either side. They were clad in heavy lava armor and wielded giant axes. Golden flames burned in their empty eye sockets, radiating the pressure of a true god of the void.

"The Ash Bone Gate!" Mo Chen said solemnly. "Brother Bai Yu, the main gate is usually only opened for large-scale exchanges between tribes. Please forgive us."

“I understand, that’s how it should be.” Xu Yang nodded.

The enormous door opened silently, and a wave of intense heat rushed out. Inside was a lava tunnel that stretched upwards, wide enough to allow even giant beasts to pass through. The tunnel walls were inlaid with glowing crystals and burning torches, leading all the way into the depths of the mountain.

Xu Yang followed Mo Chen inside. He could feel at least several powerful wills sweep over him the moment he stepped into the Ember Bone Gate, but they quickly subsided upon seeing Mo Chen and Shi Kui beside him. The massive Ember Bone Gate slowly closed behind them, emitting a deep, muffled thunderous sound that largely isolated the clamor of the Ruins Plain outside from the violent energy roar of the Chaos Ruins.

This is the passage to the return of the eternal true god; ordinary outsiders are not qualified to have it opened.

Stepping into the heart of Burning Flame City along the wide avenue is like entering a massive, winding lava tunnel.

The tunnels are exceptionally wide and over 100,000 feet high, enough for any creature that does not intentionally grow larger to pass through easily.

The cave walls are inlaid with countless fist-sized strange mineral crystals that emit a soft white light, as well as torches that burn intermittently with an inextinguishable crimson-gold flame.

The interplay of firelight and crystalline light illuminated the deep tunnel, making it bright and warm, and dispelling the chill deep within the mountain.

The road beneath our feet was paved with solidified dark red lava, polished to a relatively smooth surface, yet we could still feel the scorching power of the earth's veins beneath it.

The three of them walked up the wide tunnel.

Soon, Xu Yang sensed the bustling activity and order within this giant city.

Most of these people wore leather and bone armor similar to those worn by the true gods outside, but the styles were not so uniform, and the materials varied. They were covered with all sorts of totems, but the flame totems of the Burning Flame Tribe made up the vast majority.

Some were hurriedly carrying supplies, others were gathering in specific areas to practice simple battle formations, and still others were carrying out forging, rune engraving, and other work in stone chambers or platforms carved out on both sides of the cave walls.

When Mo Chen and Shi Kui appeared, all the tribespeople along the way, whether they were busy craftsmen, porters, or patrolling warriors, would immediately stop what they were doing, face the three of them, especially Mo Chen and Shi Kui, and respectfully bow.

The manner of bowing was not uniform, but it always conveyed a clear sense of respect and hierarchical distinction:

"Lord Mo Chen! Lord Shi Kui!"

"grown ups!"

Respectful greetings rose and fell.

Mo Chen simply kept his eyes straight ahead, walking steadily forward. Occasionally, he would nod slightly to a few elite warriors or captains whose auras clearly surpassed those of ordinary Void Gods, as a form of response. Shi Kui, on the other hand, appeared more casual. He would grin, nod, or even pat a captain on the shoulder if he recognized them, but he also exuded a natural sense of distance from a superior to a subordinate.

This strict hierarchy and pervasive sense of order stand in stark contrast to the relatively loose and egalitarian atmosphere of the Yongzan tribe, highlighting the majesty and more rigorous organization of the Fenyan tribe as a large and powerful clan.

"Brother Baiyu, how's it going? Our Burning Flame City is lively enough, isn't it?" Shi Kui walked beside Xu Yang, slightly behind Mo Chen, and said to Xu Yang in a low voice with a hint of pride in showing off his family's wealth, "It's much more orderly than those small tribes, isn't it?"

"Your presence is remarkable, and your orderliness is impeccable, demonstrating the profound heritage of your tribe." Xu Yang nodded in response, his gaze calmly sweeping over the tribespeople who bowed along the way, showing no sign of unease despite their attention.

"Hehe," Shi Kui's smile widened as he received confirmation, and he began to "sell" the goods. "Brother Bai Yu, look at our tribe. We have land, people, and resources! We have such a huge Chaos Ruins, a sacred place for cultivation! You're wandering around outside, it must be so hard. Why don't you stay with our Burning Flame Tribe?"

He gently nudged Xu Yang's arm. "With your strength, you'll be a revered elder as soon as you arrive! Your status will be second only to the clan leader! You'll have plenty of good wine and meat, and you can use all the cultivation resources you need! As for those powerful treasures made by the enemies, as long as they're in the clan's warehouse or you can get the materials, I can find a way to get one for you!"

Shi Kui's words were straightforward and passionate.

Mo Chen also slowed down at this opportune moment, walking alongside Xu Yang, and added in a steady voice, "Shi Kui is straightforward, but what he says is true. Brother Bai Yu is exceptionally strong and knowledgeable, exactly the kind of powerful figure our tribe urgently needs. If he is willing to stay, the position of elder will be vacant. Moreover, our tribe occupies a unique core of the Chaos Ruins, where the energy essence is extremely violent, which will greatly benefit our understanding of the laws of chaos and our breakthrough to higher realms."

Mo Chen's recruitment strategy was even more sophisticated. For any Eternal True God powerhouse, the most useful recruitment offer was nothing more than treasures and a cultivation environment. Especially for someone like Xu Yang, who possessed his own mechanical treasure, he obviously had no shortage of treasures... So, a Chaos Ruins that he could use to his heart's content was his biggest bargaining chip!

The two exchanged pleasantries, and Xu Yang listened to their conversation with a thoughtful expression on his face. He neither immediately refused nor readily agreed: "Brother Mo Chen, Brother Shi Kui, I am deeply grateful for your kind offer. Your esteemed tribe is magnificent and profound, truly a place for the strong to reside. However, I, Bai Yu, have been wandering for a long time and am accustomed to traveling alone… This matter is of great importance. Please allow me a few days to consider it, and after meeting with your elders and gaining a better understanding of your tribe, I will make a decision. What do you say?"

Xu Yang also coveted the Chaos Ruins.

Coming to the Origin Continent is all about reaching a higher realm, isn't it? Even if one carries the Great Dao of Destruction, the external cultivation environment of the Chaos Ruins can greatly improve cultivation efficiency, so who could refuse it?

If the Burning Flame Clan is a suitable fit, staying here to cultivate peacefully wouldn't be bad.

A hint of joy flashed in Mo Chen's eyes. As long as he didn't refuse immediately, that was good!

Knowing that he couldn't rush things, Mo Chen smiled and changed the subject: "No problem. My Burning Flame Clan is the most hospitable. Brother Bai Yu, please follow me. We're almost at the Flame Heart Palace."

As they spoke, the three of them had already walked out of the long main road of the lava tunnel, passing through three checkpoints. Here, there were no more tribal residents, only the three of them.

Ahead, a huge natural cave appeared, as if it had been hollowed out from the mountain's belly!
In the center of the cave hall stands a magnificent palace entirely constructed of dark red crystal!
The hall emanated a powerful and intense energy fluctuation. Above the hall's entrance, a huge, strange rune made of pure fire energy floated, slowly rotating and exuding a chilling majesty.

And just above this cavern, the view suddenly opens up!
Through an enormous skylight in the ceiling of the cave, or rather, a giant hole leading straight to the mountain peak, Xu Yang looked up and saw the gushing vent of the Chaos Ruins, which resembled a boiling, raging sea!
The chaotic energy, even more violent and purer, almost solidified into a liquid, surged and clashed wildly there!
The purplish-blue chaotic arcs of electricity danced wildly like a raging dragon!

The scene of space being distorted and torn apart seemed to be right before my eyes!
Even Xu Yang felt a slight tremor in his soul from the immense power of the laws that intertwined destruction and creation, chaos and order!

This is the core entrance to the Ruins of Chaos!

The true source of power for the Burning Flame Tribe, and also its most forbidden place!

"The Flame Heart Palace...we've arrived." Mo Chen's voice was filled with utmost solemnity. "Brother Bai Yu, please. The elders are inside." (End of Chapter)