After a century of worship, I became the ancestor of the tribe.

Chapter 356 Starry Sky Caravan!

The territory of the Giant Mountain Range is vast, and since the alliance unified the northern and southern foothills, it has been consciously exploring the area.

Currently, the league has no shortage of food and drink.

The vast marshland in the southeast of Juyue alone is as large as several Yongzhou.

The swamp is home to tens of thousands of aquatic products, with plump shrimp and crabs, and giant fish over a hundred feet long. Various kinds of water chestnuts, lotus roots, and water lilies are also abundant.

The resources produced by this swamp alone are enough to feed the entire population of the alliance.

The only difficulty is that development is quite challenging.

The marshland is fraught with danger, and its development requires a great deal of effort. Currently, the alliance has invested a lot of energy and relocated dozens of tribes of varying sizes there to collect aquatic spiritual objects such as pearls.

However, various spiritual objects of the five elements are only auxiliary to the construction of the great formation. What the great formation needs most is a large amount of mineral materials of the five elements.

The higher the grade of the ore, the rarer it is. In addition, the source energy of the Giant Mountain Range has been thin for eight thousand years. Like living beings, mineral veins also need the nourishment of source energy to improve their grade.

Some high-grade mineral veins will also experience a decline in quality after the source energy decreases.

Over the years, the Alliance has discovered hundreds of thousands of mineral veins on both sides of the Giant Mountain Range, but not a single Tier 5 mineral vein. At most, they have found a few scattered Tier 5 ores at the core of individual mineral veins.

The fourth-tier magical artifacts currently used by the Alliance's Divine Treasure Warriors are mostly crafted from the bones, scales, and horns of high-level wild beasts.

Of the materials used in the construction of the great formation, those taken from wild beasts accounted for one-fifth of the total.

With minerals in short supply, Shen Can convened a large meeting in the Alliance Hall, which brought together hundreds of people.

Those attending the meeting included the array masters who built the great array, the hall masters of various departments of the alliance, the governors of various states, and the garrison commanders of cities.

The four states of Yongdai are the core breeding grounds of the human race, with a large population. In order to better govern the four states under the alliance and to better gather the strength of the people of the four states to build the great array, the alliance established the position of governor in Dai, Mu, and Yun.

As for Yongzhou, it is directly under the jurisdiction of the alliance.

The governor of Daizhou is the Old Master of Jishan, the governor of Muzhou is the Master of Qianze, and the governor of Yunzhou is Yanjiang.

In addition to the position of governor, the alliance established Guanzhou City in the former territory of the Guanxiong tribe, Lingbang City in the southeastern Daze, and Zeling City in the area in the eastern part of Dai where there are traces of the Zeling tribe's life. Each city was guarded by a garrison.

In addition to searching for and mining minerals in various regions, these garrisoned cities are also responsible for finding scattered human tribes in their respective areas.

"The outer array that is currently being built, although it can use the spirits and monsters in the underground caves as materials, requires far fewer materials than the inner star-guiding array."

However, the five elements of metal ores are also indispensable materials; third-tier ore veins are the bare minimum, and cannot be any lower.

Yan Zeng was the first to speak. As one of the three and a half level-five array masters of the original Blazing Flame Earl's tribe, he has now shed half of the title and become a true level-five array master.

"Now the Alliance is even throwing some of the abandoned armor and weapons into the blast furnace for smelting. We can't possibly use the armor and weapons in the treasury. If this continues, the Alliance's warships, airships, and various warship equipment will be in danger."

Yan Shu, the master of the Weapon Hall, is also Shen Can's grand-disciple and a fourth-tier high-grade blacksmith.

"If you ask me, we can't get it out of our own pockets; we have to find a way from the outside."

“Although our Juyue Mountain Range is very large, its source energy is depleted, and the quality of the mineral veins is not high to begin with. In the past few decades, everyone has almost mined them all out. Even if we want to upgrade the rank of the remaining first and second-tier mineral veins, it will take time.”

In order to obtain higher quality ore, the alliance has used a variety of methods, such as building star-attracting arrays on the ore veins to convert source energy to nourish the ore.

However, minerals are different from living beings in cultivation; they require a much longer period of time to undergo a transformation in quality.

"Expanding outwards is one approach. How's the investigation by the Wasteland Patrol Division going?"

When Wan Yang, the head of the patrol office, saw everyone looking at him, his old face showed a hint of helplessness.

The risks faced by a fourth-tier martial artist venturing out of the giant mountain to explore are unimaginable.

Since the alliance ceased its large-scale wars, the Seeking Wasteland Division has become the division with the highest casualty rate in the alliance.

Of course, the martial artists who stayed in the Wilderness Patrol Division all had a cultivation speed and combat power far exceeding those of other martial artists of the same level in the alliance.

"Four hundred thousand miles north of the Juyue Mountains lies the Zhongshan Wasteland, the edge of the Silver Wolf Clan's territory. We've had contact with this clan; they're very unfriendly and not suitable for trade."

We have already explored 600,000 li west of Juyue, and there are no large tribes yet, but there are herds of wild beasts, the mountains and fields are barren, and miasma is everywhere, making it unsuitable for living and multiplying.

South of Juyue, the Huan Tou tribe has retreated to the Deep Water Marsh, which is part of the Southeast Great Marsh of Juyue. Further south lies a vast expanse of muddy waters, presumably connected to the Zhangshui Dragon Kingdom.

East of Juyue lies the ancient kingdom of Dapu, home to the Pu tribe, who are also unfriendly to our human race.

After Li Wanyang finished speaking, the crowd in the hall fell silent. In the Great Wilderness, it was actually quite risky to want to engage in trade with other ethnic groups.

There is no fair trade here; the relationship between the various tribes is more about eating and being eaten. Anyone who is not strong enough will never be able to return once they leave their tribe's territory.

Listen to the places around Juyue; it seems like none of them are easy to mess with.

Either the environment is bad, or they are a cannibalistic tribe.

"Yan Song, the garrison commander, could you increase the annual pearl harvesting quota of Lingbang City from fifty bushels to one hundred bushels?"

Yan Zeng looked at Yan Song.

Many years ago, when Shen Can was assigning positions to the human race to a dozen or so promising members of his clan, he placed them in the positions of governor or garrison commander.

In Shen Can's view, martial arts training is easy to improve, but the ability to get things done is the most important thing.

The job involves collecting materials for the construction of the great formation, as well as managing the people, arranging their livelihoods, and protecting the soldiers. It is a job with multiple experiences.

The pearls Yan Zeng wanted were at least of the third rank or higher, which required them to be collected from the depths of the Great Swamp, a very dangerous process.

One bushel can hold about 300 third-tier pearls, and the annual output is about 15,000 to 20,000 pearls. It is a type of water-based spiritual object needed to build a large array.

"I try my best."

Yan Song neither refused nor made any definitive statements. He did not feel any discomfort after being promoted from Deputy Director of the Wilderness Patrol Office to Lord of Lingbang City.

“My lord, I request that a trading caravan be established.”

As everyone discussed and tried to find a solution to the mineral shortage, Yan Jiang stood up and spoke.

"The alliance has the Star Tortoise, which can create a caravan that can travel through the skies."

Caravans could bypass the territory of large clans and instead seek out small tribes in the mountains and wilderness for trade.

"What if we encounter danger after leaving the Giant Mountain Range?"

Lord Jusha spoke up, “The giant tortoise is much safer suspended in the air, but once it leaves the giant mountain, it cannot be guaranteed. The great clans outside the mountain must have flying birds that can also soar into the sky.”

Our alliance currently only has one publicly acknowledged fifth-tier martial artist, the Alliance Leader. We can't expect the Alliance Leader to personally oversee the caravans.

"Correct."

Lord Xiashan hadn't thought much of it at first, but when he heard that the Alliance Leader would personally escort him, he suddenly realized something.

The alliance has two publicly known fifth-tier officials: the alliance leader and the hall master of the punishment hall.

However, the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall has never publicly admitted it, and everyone has tacitly accepted this fact.

At this moment, Lord Jusha said this, deliberately omitting the mention of the Hall Master of Punishment...

“Old Sha is right. There’s no reason for the Alliance Leader to personally escort the trade caravan. I’m willing to be a soldier in the trade caravan.”

"Brother Xiashan, it would be a waste for a dignified peak-level Divine Treasure cultivator like you to be a lowly soldier. People would think our alliance doesn't value Divine Treasure as food!"

Lord Jusha glared at Lord Xiashan.

At this moment, the other chieftains, such as those from the Juhuang, Qianze, Qianhu, and Zhishui tribes, also realized what was happening. Over the decades, all the chieftains present had advanced to the peak of the Divine Treasury realm.

This cultivation speed is comparable to the accumulation of hundreds of years in the past. It's just a pity that the alliance wasn't established sooner.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have broken through to the peak of the Divine Treasury when he was nearing the end of his lifespan.

Seeing that there was no hope of advancing to the fifth rank, the Alliance Leader's Volcanic Refining Stone Form to advance to the pseudo fifth rank became the most obvious path for everyone.

Even the leaders of the four tribes in the Southern Frontier, such as Zhishui and Qianze, who had resisted the Huan Tou tribe for many years, had the same eagerness when facing the challenge of achieving the fifth rank.

A pseudo-fifth order is still a fifth order.

Everyone's thinking was simple: the alliance leader needed to stay and couldn't leave the alliance.

As for the Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, everyone subconsciously excluded him.

I am willing to go through fire and water for the alliance.

“Brother Sha, you are a dignified Alliance Palace Master. Going to protect a caravan is putting the cart before the horse.”

Lord Xiashan didn't stand on ceremony. He knew that there was a stone spirit from the Mujiang clan within the alliance, which was perfect for him.

Lord Jusha glanced at Xiashan, then stood up and bowed to Shen Can, who had been resting with his eyes closed, before bowing to the volcano.

"Master, Alliance Leader, since I joined the Alliance, I have risen to a high position through my own merits, but for many years I have been filled with fear every night."

Upon hearing these words, Lord Jusha's eyes widened in surprise.

Big Fool, what are you doing?!
"Now that the alliance has been established for decades, human warriors in various parts of the alliance have grown rapidly. I feel that it is time for me to step down and give way to a more capable person."

Fortunately, my frail body is still useful. If the Alliance still needs me, I'm willing to do whatever I can for them.

After speaking, Lord Jusha clasped his hands and bowed again.

He felt calm; this was something he had already planned for.

If he were to retire now, the Alliance... oh no, the Blazing Flame Clan would certainly not treat him unfairly.

Over the decades, the younger generation of Divine Treasures of the Giant Sands tribe have grown up, with three of them reaching the peak of the mid-stage of Divine Treasure cultivation.

After he retires, the entire clan will pool their resources to help the three of them break through to the late stage of the Divine Realm. At that time, one of them can serve as a deputy in one of the various departments of the alliance.

It's likely that the league will make proper arrangements for him after he leaves.

After several decades or even a hundred years, they can gradually establish themselves as chief officials in the tribal hall, which will ensure the development of the Jusha tribe for at least the next few hundred years.

Over the years, with the development of the league, it has indeed become a world dominated by young people.

There are many things that even this old fellow, who has been a duke for hundreds of years, is somewhat overwhelmed with.

Since that's the case, it's better to step down early and make way for younger people; that would definitely leave a good impression on the temple.

Besides, he didn't really want to retire to the tribe; he just wanted to stop taking charge of the alliance's affairs.

It would be even better if I could join the elders' advisory group around the Alliance Leader.

"Temple Master, Alliance Leader, me too!"

Lord Xiashan stood up abruptly.

You big idiot, you think you can monopolize this benefit? Forget about the door, you won't even get a window.

The meeting was originally supposed to discuss the ore shortage, but although the topic suddenly veered off course, things turned out well.

The alliance has been established for decades, and the thirteen executive elders selected based on the strength of each department to stabilize the situation are no longer suited to the alliance's rapid development.

Of course, the thirteen elders also made great contributions, at least in setting up the framework of the alliance.

Now, after decades of development, the younger generation has grown up in all parts of the alliance, and it's time for a handover.

These people don't all need to rush back to their hometowns; they can be recruited into the Alliance Elders Council.

They will no longer participate in the specific affairs of the alliance, but will be regarded as the foundation of the alliance and the think tank of the alliance leader.

"Please take a seat, both of you."

Volcano then spoke up, saying, "We'll discuss this separately later. Let's talk about forming a caravan first."

……

"Alliance Leader, it is dangerous to organize caravans to go out."

However, the alliance cannot stop developing just because there is danger.

Danger can strike any day; even staying at home can pose a risk of a meteorite falling from the sky.

Danger is not a reason not to develop.

Yan Jiang spoke up, saying that he had done a good job as governor, but the potential of each state was limited, and in terms of mineral mining, it had indeed reached the point of exhaustion.

Even if we continue to explore for new mineral veins, it probably won't increase production much.

Volcano nodded at Yan Jiang, then looked at the others present.

Internal output is insufficient, so we must obtain it from external sources.

War is also a means of plundering foreign lands. Right now, the only one the alliance can target is the Huan Tou tribe, but this alien race has already been decimated by the warriors within the alliance, so it has little value for plunder.

"Does anyone still have objections to forming a caravan?"

No one in the hall raised any further objections, and they began to discuss the specific details.

In order to engage in trade, in addition to being strong, one also needs to have goods.

During the clan meeting, Shen Can didn't say much, but the path he took was not wrong.

Danger is not a reason to stagnate.

When venturing out to trade, one can first test the waters with small tribes in the wilderness, and refrain from visiting large tribes for the time being.

After the clan council ended, Lord Jusha and Lord Xiashan did not leave. The two stayed in the hall and discussed matters with the alliance leader, Huoshan, for a long time.

Two weeks later.

Of the original thirteen elders of the alliance, eleven submitted applications to resign from their positions.

The Alliance retained their positions as executive elders and formed the Alliance Council of Elders.

The positions of the various department heads that the officials resigned from were quickly filled by their deputy heads.

The young Divine Warriors from each department were assigned different positions based on their martial arts level and experience working in the Alliance.

A month later, the Alliance Starship was officially established.

Led by the old Xuan Turtle, the force consisted of 30,000 elite soldiers, two fifth-tier warships, ten fourth-tier warships, five peak-level Divine Treasure warriors, varying numbers of other fourth-tier warriors, and one fifth-tier beast king.

They set off carrying the friendship of the Human Alliance of the Giant Mountain Range.

(End of this chapter)